Posted September 8, 2006

1. Are working Americans' wages keeping up with the cost of living?

Absolutely not. A lot of people have to work two jobs and cut out basic luxuries to keep up with the cost of living. The cost of gasoline is also sky high. Americans shouldn't have to work two jobs and worry about the cost of gasoline to make ends meet.

2. Can you recall a situation where you struggled to pay the bills? How did you overcome it?

When I started at UPS, I also worked on my family's ranch. At that time, I had work two jobs to make ends meet. When I started working a full-time union job, I was able to get by without a problem.

3. What is your message to working families struggling to make ends meet?

Get involved in the political process, and speak out and be heard. Write your representatives and tell them about the struggles you face. We need to do everything we can to influence change from ground up.

4. What are you hearing from your colleagues about the challenges facing working Americans?

They're concerned about things like the state of the economy, access to health care and the cost of prescription drugs. Unemployment is high, but we constantly hear that unemployment is going down. America is supposed to be the most powerful country in the world, but we have trouble helping the people who need it most.

5. What can government do to help lift people out of poverty?

Government can raise the minimum wage, which will have a direct impact on working families. Second, government can encourage companies not to move good paying jobs overseas. Third, government can help Americans realize the dream of a good education. Too many people are leaving education at an early age. When I was younger, I couldn't go to college because I had to care for my daughter. With the hours I work now, there's no time to take classes.

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