Washington, D.C., May 17, 2007 – The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today will lead as many as 10,000 transportation workers in a rally on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to declare “Enough is Enough” over Bush administration policies that have plagued air and rail workers since 2001.
“This nation’s air and rail workers suffered one grievous assault after another under the present administration,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “Hundreds of thousands of workers lost jobs, pensions and health care while CEO’s and senior executives gorged themselves with outrageous compensation packages. It’s time for a president who isn’t deaf and blind to this kind of rampant injustice.”
Presidential candidates Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) will address the workers who came from as far as Guam, Alaska and Hawaii to attend the rally. Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson will also appear via video.
“The sacrifices, contributions and needs of transportation workers are lost on the Bush Administration,” said IAM Transportation General Vice President Robert Roach, Jr. “Airlines dumped more than $12 billion in pensions on the federal government. While the IAM negotiated replacement pension plans for its members, there are still more than a hundred thousand airline workers without real retirement security. Today we begin our search for a president who will work with transportation labor to provide the secure jobs, pensions and benefits workers deserve.”
The Machinists Union represents more than 200,000 North American transportation workers, including Flight Attendants, Aircraft Mechanics, Railroad Machinists, Ramp Service Workers, Customer Service Agents, Reservation Agents, Food Service Employees, Instructors, and Flight Simulator Technicians. For more information about the Transportation Day of Action and the effect Bush administration policies have had on transportation workers, visit www.17may07.org.
