"I believe in the labor movement and in strengthening our political power," said John Murray, a bus operator for MBTA in Boston. That is why he jumped at the opportunity to work on behalf of his local with the AFL-CIO’s Labor 2006 program.

"The Labor 2006 program is a great tool for organizing our efforts to be effective in the political arena," said Murray. He has helped organize and has participated in Labor Neighbor walks and phone banks in the Boston area and has recruited other ATU members to volunteer their time to the effort.

In addition to his union activism, Murray is active in his town Democratic committee and presides over town meetings as the town moderator. He also a member of the VFW, the American Legion and the Semper Fidelis Society.

Proud to be ATU

Above all else, he is most proud of being an ATU member. "Everywhere I go, people know that I am a union member," he said. "I feel that I represent not only myself, but the labor movement in general and I am proud of it. All that I have is because of what union members did for me. We all have a debt of gratitude to pay toward those who struggled before us."