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Bearing the names of more than 1,000 Iowa workers whose jobs were sacrificed in the name of free trade and the global race to the bottom, the ‘Wall’ memorial is slated to visit union events in nearly a dozen locations across the state. “The loss of manufacturing jobs impacts entire communities, with 3 to 4 additional jobs lost for every manufacturing job that disappears,” said IP Buffenbarger to union members in Waterloo, Iowa. “High quality jobs pay economic dividends that create and maintain the kind of clean, safe and well maintained cities and towns where we want to live.” The “Wall of Shame” tour is also aimed at motivating workers in Iowa and across the country to get involved in the political process. “Job loss from bad trade deals is at epidemic proportions,” said Midwest Territory GVP Jim Brown. “Politicians need to be held accountable for the damage done to workers, their families and communities.” "Too many people don't understand," said IAM District 6 President Jerry Nowadski, in a Jan 12 Chicago Tribune article on the impact of unfair trade deals. "They think, ‘Oh, that's not going to happen to me. I've been working at [one place] for 50 years.’ Well, it will, if they don't do something to change it or stop it. That job will be in Mexico or Taiwan or whoever will do it the cheapest."
New Jobs Data Shows
‘Mission Unaccomplished’ “As far as jobs go, it’s Mission Unaccomplished for President Bush,” declared IP Tom Buffenbarger. “That’s why we are here in Iowa this week. Average Americans know that the jobs aren’t there. And the jobs won’t be there tomorrow unless we get a new President who will stop selling our jobs to the country with the lowest pay rates.” Manufacturing jobs hit the 41st straight month of declines, shedding 26,000 jobs for a total of 1.3 million jobs lost during the current “recovery.” EPI analysts point out that the nation’s unemployment rate drop, from 5.9 percent to 5.7 is wholly due to drop in the total number of Americans with jobs, not from people finding work.
The Machinists Union and US Airways each were allotted fifteen (15) minutes to argue their respective cases. IAM attorneys were present to support the injunction and defend our members’ rights under the Railway Labor Act. “Our position remains simple and unchanged,” said District 141-M representatives in a letter to the membership. “This work must be performed by IAM members employed by US Airways in the carrier’s maintenance facilities.” A decision from the Court of Appeals may take several weeks. Separately, public statements by CEO David Siegel accusing the unions at US Airways of refusing to discuss details of the company’s latest attempt at a business plan also drew a sharp response. “The leadership of the Machinists Union has repeatedly notified US Airways’ management that we are committed to discussing plans to ensure the airline remains a viable employer,” responded the District 141-M representatives. “However, we will not participate in any discussions that would require changes to our collective bargaining agreements. The agreements in place today contain the concessions David Siegel told his employees, creditors and the bankruptcy court he needed to run a successful airline. The employees of US Airways have already provided David Siegel with all the tools he needs to build a competitive airline, and no further amount of employee sacrifice will reverse his failure.”
Further negotiations with the carrier are scheduled for January 13-16, 2004; February 10-13, 2004; and February 24-27, 2004. |