I’ve been deeply involved with supporting the union movement in Southern California and around the country for over 15 years now. It’s what I do and a cause I firmly believe in.
Starting in 2008 my company began partnering with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor in what I felt was a very important endeavor – publishing a yellow pages for the union movement so it would be easy for members and other activists on the front line to find good quality union-made products. LA Labor 411 was born – the first directory for union goods and services.

During that time one of the taglines we’ve used to promote the directory is “Living our values with every dollar we spend.” I’ve been thinking a lot about that line recently, especially while I’ve been driving my foreign-made Volvo. I like the car, but what am I doing as a union activist driving a foreign-made vehicle? There seemed like such a disconnect between what I was driving, the sputtering economy and consumers standing at the docks waving good-bye to American manufacturing.

So, I talked it over with my husband and family and decided it was time to put my money where my mouth is. It’s time to turn in the Volvo and buy an American made, UNION built vehicle. The thing I discovered is that not all vehicles sold by American automakers are made in America or even union-built. I want to get it right this time and that’s going to take some research.

I’m going to document that process through this blog and I hope you’ll join me as I shop for my first union-built car. Maybe it’ll inspire you and other people with heart to take similar steps in their own lives. Let’s see. Maybe we can start a movement.

Check back next week to see how the journey is progressing!

Cherri Senders
Publisher of LA Labor 411