A Sri Lankan woman washes clothes amid the wreckage of her home which was destroyed in the recent tsunami disaster.

IAM Donates $50,000 to Tsunami Relief Effort

The IAM has joined thousands of members of the labor movement worldwide and donated a total of $50,000 to aid the victims of the largest natural disaster in recent history. Donated funds will help the millions of survivors of the Dec. 26 tsunami that claimed more than 150,000 lives and devastated coastal areas of the Indian Ocean. Survivors are in desperate need of clean water, food, medical supplies and shelter.

The Canadian Territory will donate $25,000 to Oxfam Canada, a humanitarian relief organization. “We want to do our part to lessen the suffering for the people of these regions as quickly as possible,” said Dave Ritchie, General Vice President for Canada. “The fact that the Canadian government will match this contribution dollar for dollar effectively doubles our donation to $50,000, providing Oxfam with greater resources to achieve that goal.”

The other $25,000 from the IAM in the United States will be donated to the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center, which has set up a Tsunami Relief Fund to aid Solidarity Center’s offices in Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Thailand help the region's unions respond to the immediate humanitarian crisis. The Bush Administration has not made any similar effort as the Canadian government to match labor donations.

“This tragedy is beyond belief,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “I urge all of our members to join the effort to save lives and help survivors repair their devastated homes.”

Unions and individuals in the United States may donate to the Solidarity Center’s Tsunami Relief Fund with a check made payable to the Solidarity Center Education Fund. Mark the memo section “Tsunami Relief Fund” and send it to Tsunami Relief Fund, Solidarity Center, 1925 K St., N.W., Suite 300, Washington, DC, 20006-1105.

IAM files for Election at Kansas Cessna Plant

The IAM has filed with the National Labor Relations Board for a vote to organize more than 400 workers at the Cessna Aircraft assembly plant in Independence, KS.

Workers at the plant assemble single-engine Skyhawk and Skylane general aviation aircraft. Cessna plans to hire up to 500 more employees as the new Mustang jet production ramps up at Independence.

IAM Local Lodge 774 represents workers at two Cessna plants in Wichita, KS. District 70 in Kansas also represents workers at Boeing, Raytheon and Lear Jet.

"The workers in Independence are interested in the things that a strong IAM aerospace contract can bring," said General Vice President Bob Martinez. "The IAM and Cessna have had a strong working relationship for many years that is beneficial for both Cessna and our members."

EPI Issues Study on Social Security Proposals

As President Bush’s plan to privatize social security picks up steam, the Economic Policy Institute has released an updated guide detailing the United States’ Social Security system and the effects Bush’s proposals would have on it.

The guide, includes facts, FAQ, and reports on Social Security, as well as links to advocacy groups looking to strengthen Social Security.

The EPI report states “The Bush Administration’s privatization proposal will not ‘save’ Social Security but will do just the opposite—it will erode a vital social insurance program that provides American workers and their families with a core level of income during retirement, disability, and early death.”

Wal-Mart Elected “Grinch of the Year” for 2004

The retailing giant Wal-Mart was crowned “Grinch of the Year” for 2004 in a national online poll conducted by Jobs with Justice. Over 60 percent of the total votes cast in this year’s election were for Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart enjoys $9 billion a year in profits and continuously sees sales numbers rise. Yet, a study in California found that Wal-Mart employees seek $86 billion a year in state aid because of inadequate wages and benefits.

It’s no surprise Wal-Mart won the “Grinch of the Year” award when earlier this year they admitted to routinely locking overnight workers in the stores, in addition to be sued this year in the largest sex-discrimination case in history.

“The overwhelming vote to name Wal-Mart ‘Grinch of the Year’ reflects the growing concern that working families have with this mega-corporation,” said Executive Director of Jobs with Justice Fred Azcarte.

Jobless Claims Rise

The number of first time jobless claims increased by 43,000 to 364,000 last week, according to the Labor Department, who said it was the largest jump in claims since March 2002.

The seasonally adjusted 364,000 people applying for unemployment insurance for the first time is the highest level since late September. Meanwhile, those already collecting jobless benefits rose by 61,000 to 2.84 million.

The employment report for the entire month of December will be released on Friday.

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