Something as simple as a pair of “Cars” sneakers can make a huge difference in a family’s budget.  UAW Local 685 in Kokomo, Ind., handed out school supplies and shoes to more than 200 children Tuesday at its headquarters during the annual UAW giveaway, the Kokomo Tribune reported.

Union Sportsmen's Alliance sends us a preview of this week's "Brotherhood Outdoors" on the Sportsman Channel at 8 p.m. (EST) which airs Thursday, August 2.

Scott Walsh, a third generation member of Fire Fighters (IAFF Local 1561), from Eastpointe, Mich., grew up hunting small game and deer. But in 2010, when Walsh and his family decided to take a risk and adopt a rescued bird dog, everything changed.

The DVDs of the Reuther/UAW legacy film “Brothers on the Line” are now available for exclusive pre-sale to all union locals, state federations and central labor councils for delivery in time for Labor Day events. 

An excerpt from a USA Today column by UAW President Bob King:

The bankruptcy restructuring of General Motors (GM) and Chrysler in 2009 through the creation of new companies formed with assets purchased from those troubled companies was highly successful. Today GM and Chrysler are profitable, investing in America and creating jobs.

USA

This week, leading up to July 4, we're highlighting American products, jobs and stories for our Made in America series. What are your favorite Made in America products? Please comment and share your ideas.

What better way to spend July 4 than barbecuing and hosting a cookout that’s actually Made in America? We’ve made it easy for you this year by compiling a holiday shopping list from Union Plus, the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM), the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor's LA Labor 411's website and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) for all your union-made products. Here are some highlights:

In the past decade, 50,000 manufacturing sites closed and 6 million American jobs were lost because of outsourcing. Today, the AFL-CIO union movement launches the first of several nationwide Bring Jobs Home events, with an action near Master Lock's flagship factory in Milwaukee, Wis., which has been producing the iconic padlocks since 1921.

Last year, under a new contract between UAW Local 469 and Master Lock, the company brought jobs back from China—a move union members at Master Lock and around the country would like to see become a trend in American manufacturing.

Squash (lots of it), peppers, green beans and tomatoes will be sprouting soon at the 11,200-square-foot community garden in Monroe, Mich., planted recently by workers at the Chrysler Dundee engine plant, members of UAW  Local 723. The annual community garden provides fresh produce to community food pantries, Godworks Community Meals and local families hurt by the economic downturn.

The documentary “Brothers on the Line,” which chronicles the lives of UAW leader Walter Reuther and his brothers, Roy and Victor—from the Great Depression to the Great Society, is picking up awards and packing theaters in special screenings around the nation. Take a look at this new trailer. 

This is a cross-post form Crooks and Liars

Thursday, I reported that several major labor unions expressed support for Barack Obama's statement that he supports the right of all Americans to marry, regardless of their sexual orientation. More unions expressed their support for the president and marriage equality in a move that, as I pointed out yesterday, is good for Obama, for unions and for LGBT Americans.

In Michigan, a labor coalition, including the UAW and the Michigan Education Association, has launched a campaign called “Protect Our Jobs.” The goal is to protect collective bargaining rights and also to pre-empt any effort to make Michigan a so-called “right to work” state.