Members in Politics: Part of the Solution

Until Brenda Jones was elected last November, the Detroit City Council hadn't had a member from labor for more than 25 years.

But CWA, the UAW and many other Detroit unions came together to change that when Jones, then president of CWA Local 4004, decided to run. Her last name spelled out her platform: Jobs, Opportunities, Neighborhoods, Education, Safety.

"My mother always taught me that I could be part of the problem or part of the solution. I made the decision that I didn't want to be part of the problem," Jones says.

She got on the primary ballot last August after collecting thousands of signatures on petitions. Out of 175 candidates, she was one of 18 to go onto the citywide council election, and one of nine who won. She took vacation time to speak to community groups and go door-to-door, and says when it came to labor support, "I couldn't have asked for anything better."

As a union leader and 26-year employee of what's now AT&T, Jones is especially sensitive to workers' issues and makes sure labor has a voice at the table when council decisions affect workers. "First of all, I represent the city of Detroit," she says. "But I always say, 'If you listen to labor you can't go wrong, because labor isn't trying to hurt the city of Detroit, labor is trying to help.'"