MT. PLEASANT - For workers in Michigan and around the nation, the fight for respect, fair wages and safe workplaces never ends.

That concept formed the foundation of the 45th Annual Convention of the Michigan Building Trades Council (MBTC) held Aug. 20-22, as delegates were reminded what organized labor has done, what it can do - and what can be done to it.

"The men and women in the building trades made us all proud to be part of this movement after what happened on Nine-Eleven," said MBTC Secretary-Treasurer Tom Boensch. "There were 62 of our people who died in the attack, and many more walked, ran or came by truck to help out with the rescue effort

"There were many lessons to be learned from the attacks of Sept. 11. They sound trite, but they're true: Don't take things for granted. Don't sit on the sidelines if you can help people. And be aware of your enemies."

The national sense of fellowship proved to be short-term. Any goodwill unions earned after 9-11 was supplanted by news of corporate accounting scandals that shook the nation's economy, which was already in a recession. Small investors lost tremendous amounts of money. Lawmakers bickered over how much to spend on national defense, and whether or not the new Homeland workers should be unionized.

"Our unions have kept us strong and effective," Boensch said. "But our state and nation face profound economic hardships. Part of the solution will be in the political choices we make this fall."

The choices on the ballots of Michigan voters will be particularly crucial this year. Michiganians will choose: a new governor, attorney general and secretary of state, university regents, lawmakers in the state Senate and House, hundreds of judges, as well as county commissioners and some local officials.

Michigan Senate Minority Leader John Cherry (D-Flint) told delegates that Michigan has been ruled by a "corporate democracy" for the past 12 years of state government - "how many shares you own determines how many votes you get" with the Engler Administration.

"Unions associated with the Michigan building trades have provided the essentials for workers to live a good life," Cherry said. "But as far as your government is concerned, I've watched over the last 12 years as the Engler Administration has dismantled MIOSHA, and health and safety laws, and have wreaked havoc with worker compensation and attacked public schools. Well that's all about to change.

"It's time to take back the state, and that's our job and challenge this fall."

Greater Detroit Building and Construction Trades Council Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Devlin told delegates that gun rights are one subject building trades unions reps and politicians are going to have to start discussing.

"Of course, we're going to have to do the traditional things that labor does - including the get-out-the-vote efforts and the spending of PAC money," Devlin said. "But we also have some other work to do - and that means making sure that we have our own members' needs in mind.

"Frankly, in the building trades, gun owners are either a huge minority or a majority of our membership. Throughout our recent history, our legislative goals have been dominated by preserving our incomes through prevailing wage, maintaining job safety, and initiating project labor agreements.

"We should continue to pursue those goals, but isn't it time we started listening to a huge faction of our members and started talking about gun owners' rights? We don't need to ram the issue down anyone's throat - but we should point out to candidates that gun owners' rights are a major issue with our membership, and that winning their vote could depend on the position that candidate takes toward gun owners."