Orphaned children in Calcutta, India smile at the sight of IAM member Ray O’Brien (below), who brings clothing, school supplies and hope all the way from Medford, Massachusetts.

In the Company of Angels

For IAM Local 447 member Ray O’Brien, what started as a simple wish to improve one child’s life has grown into a community effort that helps hundreds of poor children and embodies the holiday spirit of giving to others.

A truck mechanic for Ryder, O’Brien lives in Medford, MA with his wife Patricia and three adopted children who came to them from India. In 1996, their eldest daughter Joanna asked O’Brien what India was like. O’Brien decided to visit Calcutta, Joanna’s birthplace. After seeing the crushing poverty and meeting the legendary Mother Theresa, O’Brien knew he must help.

Since then, O’Brien has made nine more trips to India, each time bringing a little more help and hope to the children not as fortunate as his own.

“My first trip was something that I will never forget,” said O’Brien. “Many of the things I took for granted, such as a house to live in, good schools for my kids, or just clean hot and cold running water don’t exist for many. ”

Ray O'Brien (left) with Samita, one of the Calcutta orphans.

The O’Brien’s modest efforts grew as local churches, businesses and unions joined his efforts to help. A little goes a long way in India, explained O’Brien, who uses small donations of clothing, toys, classroom supplies and money to help the schools, orphanages and other organizations that care for India’s poorest children.

“It takes a lot of people to make this possible, I’m just the person who puts all of their efforts together,” says O’Brien. “I’ve been a union member for 32 years. I’m always amazed at the generosity of my co-workers, their families and our community. Many are struggling, too, but they always find a way to help others who are struggling even more.”

“We’re proud of the work Ray is doing. He is an extraordinary person,” said Local 447 Business Rep. Russell Gittlen. “He embodies the holiday spirit of caring for others, only he does it every day of the year.”

For more information about Ray O’Brien’s efforts, go to http://childrenareangels.org

The Summit to Sink Social Security

The normally thin line that separates the White House and Wall Street disappeared altogether last week as investors, campaign contributors and lobbyists attended a partisan pep rally to kick off the president’s campaign to privatize Social Security.

The invitation-only gala, billed as the White House Conference on the Economy, was totally devoid of dissent or serious debate and was widely dismissed as a 2-day photo-op for the president and his most loyal allies. Sen. John Corzine (D-NJ) described the event as an “infomercial” for privatizing Social Security. Not surprisingly, the guest list did not include representatives from labor unions, consumer groups or retiree associations.

Using the same brand misleading rhetoric that characterized the debate over weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, President Bush is now calling Social Security a “crisis” that must be addressed with his $2 trillion plan that calls for diverting an unspecified portion of Social Security contributions to private accounts. Critics argue the plan would lead to an increase in the retirement age, an increase in the federal deficit and expose retirees to the risks of the stock market.

With the national debt at $7.5 trillion and rising by the hour, many economists are aghast at what they see as a massive refinancing program to “fix” Social Security, when far less drastic changes, such as lifting the cap on FICA taxes, would stabilize the popular and successful retirement insurance program for many years to come.

US Airways Judge to Rule Jan. 6

The bankruptcy hearings on US Airways’ motions to terminate labor agreements and retiree insurance benefits concluded on December 17 in Alexandria, VA, where Judge Mitchell indicated he would issue his ruling on January 6, 2005.

In sworn testimony before the court, Grand Lodge Representative Tom Brickner explained that the IAM’s goal was not simply to reach a consensual agreement with US Airways, but to reach a agreement that can be ratified and protects the economic livelihood of IAM members. “We represent the interests of airline workers, not airlines,” said District 141 President Randy Canale in a bulletin to members.

If a consensual agreement is not possible, IAM negotiators indicated the company’s final offer would be presented to the membership for ratification prior to a ruling by the bankruptcy court.

“If US Airways management is equally committed to completing agreements, I am confident they will be reached quickly,” said Canale. “If management’s true goal is to abrogate our contracts, it will be clear through their final proposal, which will be presented to you absent a consensual agreement.” Additional discussions with US Airways are planned during the week of Dec. 20.

Three IAM Members Win Scholarships

Three IAM members were among the 29 union activists who received this year’s scholarships provided by the Union Plus Education Foundation to attend the George Meany Center – National Labor College (GMC-NLC).

The three IAM scholarship recipients are: Tyler Skillings of Local 2202, Morna MacDonald-Rector of Local 628 and Local 709 Business Representative Stephen Brown.

Skillings is a graduate of leadership training at the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center and serves Local 2202 as a shop steward, auditor and member of both the Human Rights and Legislative committees.

Morna MacDonald-Rector is a Flight Attendant with Continental Airlines stationed on Guam in Barrigada. She is vice president and grievance chair at Local 2339G.

Steve Brown of Local 709 has earned academic credits from three different colleges over the years, and from the William W. Winpisinger Education and Technology Center. Through the GMC-NLC, he can apply all his credits toward a BA in labor studies. “I feel very fortunate,” said Brown, “to have this opportunity through the efforts of people both at the Winpisinger Center and at the GMC-NLC.”

Rumsfeld Plan Targets Unions, Government Workers

The 750,000 civilian employees employed by the Department of Defense (DoD) are bracing for a series of sweeping new workplace rules that could spell the end of their collective bargaining rights and civil service protections.

Under a program approved by Congress in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the DoD was authorized to modify workplace rules, including union rules, for federal employees to help the giant department respond to the needs of a nation at war.

The program, known as the National Security Personnel System (NSPS), quickly became the vehicle for an anti-union agenda that included proposals sponsored by DoD Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and the Bush administration designed to give managers unchecked control over hiring, firing and promotion of employees. Additional proposals called for the elimination of due process for employees facing discipline and an end to collective bargaining over wages and working conditions – all in the name of “national security.”

As it became clear that anti-worker zealots had hijacked the program, union leaders turned to lawmakers for help. A letter now circulating among elected representatives calls for administration officials to observe the original intent of the program and to provide specific details of the changes they seek.

Union members can help by contacting their representative and urging them to sign the Inslee-Van Hollen letter and join the fight against the administration’s campaign to eliminate union protections for hundreds of thousands of hardworking government employees.

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