Teamsters

Hi Everybody!

The cool thing I had to wait to tell you about is a speech I gave to a statewide meeting of Teamsters Local leaders. I was invited to address today's meeting -- the only candidate from the 25th district who was invited and one of the few legislative candidates, period. I've been committed to the issues of working people for a long time, and have a history of the kind of grassroots action and activities they like, so they asked me to come in and say hello.

Here is the speech I gave:

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Good afternoon. My name is Sean Spence. I’m a pro-labor, pro-Teamster Democrat and I’m running to represent Missouri’s working men and women in the Missouri Legislature.

I came here today so we could continue getting to know each other. I say “continue” because I first got to know Jim Kabell and other Missouri Teamsters in 1993, fifteen years ago, working to elect other pro-labor Democrats. I’ve also worked with Teamsters in 10 other states, and you have always, always treated me right.

But my history with Labor goes back much further, and is much more personal. It goes back to my grandfather, a hard working, small town man who didn’t finish high school. My grandfather worked in the Fenton, Missouri Chrysler plant and was a union man until the day he died. It was his union healthcare plan that paid his bills when he got lung cancer and his union pension that supported by grandmother for the 20 years she outlived him.

And if that isn’t enough to let you know how important the Labor movement is to the Spence family, then you need to know about my big brother Paul Spence, another lifelong union member. My brother is mentally challenged, but he’s supported himself for over 20 years, stocking shelves in a grocery store. About five years ago, Paul developed a digestive condition that was literally eating away his insides. For two years, he missed work and ran up six-figure medical bills. But let me tell you what, thanks to his union-won benefits, Paul’s medical bills were covered and his job was waiting for him when he got better. My family still thanks god for that union – without it, my brother would be dead, or my family would be drowning in medical bills, or both.

So I’m here to tell you that I’m with you. I’m with you like you are my blood family – a room full of my own brothers and sister, because without the men and women of labor, I can’t tell you where the Spences would be today.

And one way or another, I’ll stay with you. I’ll stay with you in the fight for the rights we have all earned as working men and women. I’ll stay with you in the fight to ensure that every Missourian is educated, employed and insured. Just like you have been there for me, you can count on me to be there for you.

I’m Sean Spence, running to represent working Missouri in the state House. Thank you.
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As you can tell, working with the men and women of Missouri's Labor movement is very important to me. They are the ones who too often get forgotten, or are targeted by one interest group or another. Helping them have the voice they deserve will be a key feature of my time in the Missouri House, if I am lucky enough to be elected.

- sean

Sean Spence
Candidate, Missouri's 25th House District
www.SpenceCampaign.com
seanspence@earthlink.net
573-823-1308 (mobile)