Hartford Goes Green with Hydrogen Fuel Bus Commuters in Hartford, CT are enjoying the first hybrid electric fuel-cell bus in New England, built by Local 1746/District 26 members working at UTC Power in South Windsor. Fuel cell technology combines hydrogen with oxygen to produce electricity without creating clouds of exhaust. IAM Women Stand Up for Pay RightsGender-based wage discrimination is largely a thing of the past in union workplaces, but that hasn’t stopped IAM activists from demanding equal pay rights for all workers. In the video A Level Playing Field at http://www.goiam.org/content.cfm?cID=10300, IAM members recall personal experiences with wage discrimination and describe why they’re fighting to eliminate it. Caption: Equal pay for equal work is a personal issue for participants in the IAM Women’s Specialized Training class at the William W. Winpisinger Center in Southern Maryland.
Gas Prices Causing ‘Severe Hardship’While oil giants continue to rack up record profits, working families are struggling to keep up with gas prices that jumped another eight cents the past two weeks to a national average of $2.87 a gallon. Two-thirds of Americans say that rising gas prices are causing hardship for their families, according to a CNN/Opinion Research Poll released last week. Nearly 20 percent of those polled said the rising gas prices were causing them “severe hardship.” Also released last week was Fortune magazine’s annual list of the 500 largest corporations. Oil giants ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, whose income is impacted by gas prices, all found themselves in the top five. National gas prices, which many experts expect to increase even further in coming months, have skyrocketed 69 cents since late January.
Workers’ Memorial Day is April 28This Saturday, April 28, is Workers’ Memorial Day. Now observed internationally, the commemoration was established by the labor movement as a day to remember those who were killed, injured or became ill because of their jobs. Tens of thousands of people around the world will be taking part in memorial activities. Because April 28 falls on a Saturday this year, many unions, including the IAM, will recognize Workers’ Memorial Day on Monday, April 30. The IAM’s memorial service will be held at the William W.Winpisinger Education & Technology Center. “We’ve come a long way in workplace safety, but too many are still killed or injured each year,” said Mike Flynn, IAM Director of Safety and Health. “As we continue to fight for a safer, healthier working environment for our members, it’s important that we pause and remember those we’ve lost.”
CBO Study Finds Middle Class Wages in Free Fall For many middle class families, wages are not only stagnant, they are taking a complete nose-dive. A report prepared for Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Jim Webb (D-VA) by the Congressional Budget Office found that roughly one-in-five workers saw their earnings fall by more than 25 percent between 2002 and 2003. About one-in-seven saw their earnings fall by more than 50 percent. Edward Kuss Named Special Representative Eastern Territory GVP Lynn Tucker, Jr. has announced effective May 1, Edward J. Kuss will begin serving as a Special Representative for the Eastern Territory.
New Web Address for GrowJobsCTHome to nearly 200,000 manufacturing jobs and a long history in the aerospace, firearms, hand tool and shipbuilding industries, the State of Connecticut remains a hub of high wage jobs despite relentless efforts by corporations to move home grown manufacturing jobs to overseas locations.GrowJobsCT, a key ally in the fight to keep jobs where they belong, is a coalition of business, labor and community groups and elected officials who are focused on keeping and expanding manufacturing jobs in Connecticut. The coalition was launched by District 26, and is supported by the District and the Grand Lodge, in addition to grants for funding various projects. For more information about jobs in Connecticut and the effort to keep them there, visit the GrowJobsCT new website at http://www.growjobsct.org |