MT. PLEASANT - In a speech clearly geared to her audience, Democratic Michigan gubernatorial candidate Jennifer Granholm pointed out the reasons she - and not Republican candidate Dick Posthumus - is the best candidate to protect the interests of Michigan's construction workers.

She spoke to delegates to the Michigan Building Trades Council's 45th convention on Aug. 21, and was endorsed by the delegates shortly afterward.

"For 12 years under the Engler Administration you have been out of the loop," Granholm said. "When I am governor, organized labor and the building trades will have a voice at the table. My administration will be partners with you and you will be able to give recommendations on boards and commissions and draft regulations. I will turn to you for input on critical issues that affect your job, your family and personal issues like health care."

Granholm told delegates that she realized the building trades "are a trade union organization, not a Democratic Party organization." She then proceeded to talk about three major issues of importance to the building trades:

Prevailing wage: "I have been to battle with you to protect prevailing wage," she said. "Prevailing wage will be sacrosanct. It will be protected and preferred."

On the issue of firearms: "Take comfort in the fact the Michigan Democratic Party is establishing a hunting and fishing caucus which will be talking about preserving peoples' right to carry weapons and to hunt and fish and make Michigan the great state that it is," Granholm said. "Please know that I believe in the Second Amendment.

"I will not take away your guns. But they (Republicans) will take away your right to organize.

"I will not take away your guns. They will take away the prevailing wage.

"I will not take away your guns. They will try to take away your unemployment benefits.

Be very clear about this. You have a friend on this issue."

Unemployment benefits: This spring, the Republican-controlled Michigan House and Senate finally agreed to raise the maximum jobless benefit level to $362 per week after the level had been kept at $300 per week since 1995. Republicans pushed for a waiting week for workers to receive benefits, but that was beaten back through the lobbying efforts of organized labor.

"I am glad we were able to win the fight on the penalty week, but obviously the benefits levels leave a lot to be desired," Granholm said. "One of the draconian moves of this administration was to cap the level at $300."

"They talk about tax cuts, but the tax cuts they talk about will only help the wealthy and are not the tax cuts that are most beneficial to stimulating the economy. That's what unemployment benefits do. We need to index unemployment benefits to the inflation rate."

Granholm said the state's workers "have been playing defensive ball" for the last 12 years, "and now it's time for us to start writing the laws." She said the Department of Labor will be made independent again and taken out from under the state Department of Industry and Consumer Services.

"When I am governor labor and the building trades will have a voice at the table," she said. "No more getting kicked in the teeth. For 12 years you have been out of the loop and finally the welcome mat will be put out."