IAM District 725 Area Director Virginia Cobb, a fifty year member, led about two dozen IAM members and retirees as they joined with hundreds of labor and community activist in a protest outside the San Diego office of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). The protest was coordinated by the San Diego and Imperia Cosunty Labor Councils, in response to the persistent attacks on workers rights by the right-wing Issa.
Issa has used his position as Chair of the House Oversight Committee to interfere and try to block an investigation of the Boeing Company, by the National Labor Relations Board. The IAM had filed charges against Boeing, due to activities that Boeing itself characterized as retaliation against IAM members. The NLRB found the charges had merit and is conducting further investigation on the matter. Issa has repeatedly interfered with NLRB counsel, including issuing subpoena's with the intent of stopping the investigation.
IAM General Vice-President, Gary Allen, said "Issa ought to be ashamed of himself. We know that he is not a friend of American workers, but we are amazed at how low his morals are. He shows no limit in how far he will go to protect corporate greed and arrogance. I am proud of Sister Cobb, and all our members who showed up and sent a strong message to Issa. Our nation's laws are not for sale, no person or corporation is above them!"
In addition to Issa's attacks on the rights of IAM members, as if that wasn't enough, he has also been spending time trying to privatize the post office and attack the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC). His willingness to sell out his constituents in exchange for a campaign contribution or a pat on the back is quite extraordinary - and disgusting.
Since taking over as Chair of the House Oversight Committee, one of Congressman Issa’s main objectives has been to try to reduce the pay, benefits, and collective bargaining rights of postal employees. His legislation is designed to eliminate thousands of middle-class positions from the current Postal Service workforce and to close thousands of community Post Offices across the nation.
Despite the fact that everyone in several counties knew of the planned protest, Issa was not there. However, Sister Cobb was part of a delegation of 10 that went to Issa's office. She joined Ricardo Guzman of NALC and Terry Bunting from the Nurses Union, to give our messages to Issa's District Director, Phil Paule. According to Cobb, "Paule listened, thanked us for our professionalism, but he didn't even take notes - he didn't care a bit about what we had to say."
After the meeting, the delegation returned to chant, march and lob insults toward Issa's office; a bull horn and a stand up portable microphone were put to good use. When Sister Cobb got ready to leave, and return to her office, the group was not ready to stop. They called on her to stay and sing and chant a while longer - which she did for a short while. When she finally left, there were still about fifty strong protesters going strong.
The rally included a table set up literature about the subpoenas and Issa's attacks on public sector workers.
The table also included a call for donation for an organization called VetDogs, Veteran's K9 Corps. They breed, train and donate service dogs to soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq who have lost limbs or suffered serious injuries (deaf/blind)or emotional trauma. The activists loved the idea of supporting this group, and many donations were received.
Virginia summed up her feelings in her typical succinct fashion - "It was a good day".
Thank you. Brother Croswell and Miller were both in attendance at the demonstration. Brian should have some great photos of the group and of the event. Those assigned to count the crowd, counted 247 at the peak (not counting the Vista Police and folks that worked in the building that came outside). All 6 that were authorized lost time were present. Lester Pagel DL725 Del, declined to participate even with lost time. DL725 Del and alternate Del from LL726 were both there and send their thanks for allowing them to attend without loss of compensation. LL726 President Terrell Moose and LL1125 President Rob York were present taking personal time off to attend, naturally Carl Cobb, Wayne Ihrig and Joe from the Machinists Retirees Club were there, along with one Machinists that came from Orange County. All in all we had about 20 IAM members and retirees including Juanita Rivera and Leo TL from our office, both wore Machinists shirts. The NALC union and Nurses took the prize. The Labor Council turned out its staff sand Lorena Gonzales was with us until she had to leave for the airport. Cara did not show up.
Naturally, Issa was not there but a delegation of 10 went to visit Issa's office. Your truley represented the IAM, Ricardo Guzman represented NALC and Terry Bunting from the Nurses Union, to give our messages to Issa's District Director, Phil Paule. He listened, but did not take notes, thanked us for our "professionalism" and then we returned to chant, march and insult Issa through the use of the bull horn and a stand up portable mic.
We had a table set up with donuts, water, coffee, literature about the subpeons and Issa. We conducted a voluntary collection for an organization called VetDogs, Veteran's K9 Corps. They bree, train and donate service dogs to soldiers returning from Afghanistan and Iraq who have lost limbs or suffered serious injuries (deaf/blind)or emotional trauma. The government. The nurses and Vet's loved that we cared and we did receive donations but I haven't counted how much. Maybe you all could consider a service dog for a returning blind vet.....????
At 9:40 a.m. we thanked everyone and said we would do it again but then something strange happened. No one wanted to leave, they wanted me to continue singing...yes, someone likes my singing. That inspired me but we had to pack up and return to the Union hall. When we left, there were still about 50 or so people still out there. It was a good day.
Brian Miller will send film and photo's as fast as he can.
Tomorrow, this office will not open until after 10 a.m. We are having our annual SDICLC Labor Day Breakfast, the local's bought 3 tables and 30 of us will attend without lost time but excuse letters. The Labor council sold 1000 seats. We decided this year to start the program by allowing rank and file (50-60 union folks)...literally file past the microphone and state their name, where they work, what they do and name their union. We will be represented by 9 members, 3 from our DL and we included one from LL389 who will be seated with us. Breakfast is at 7:00 a.m.. Since Juanita and Leo made signs with me and helped put this event together today on their own time, I did not think it fair to dock them tomorrow. Happy Labor Day.
