www.goiam.org Thursday, January 16, 2003
GE
Striker Killed on Picket Line Two unions, the IUE and the Electrical Workers, mounted a two-day strike to protest GE’s actions on the health care hikes. The company said it would seek further increases when national bargaining with its unions, including the IAM, begins later this spring. “Sister Rodgers stood up to corporate greed and she paid the ultimate price. We salute her courage and her commitment,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “On behalf of this union and all of its members, I offer our condolences to her family.” The CWA has established a fund to assist the Rodgers children. Contributions may be made to the IUE-CWA Rodgers Children Benefit Fund. Contributions may be sent to Communications Workers of America, 501 Third St. NW, Washington, DC 20001, attn: Janine Brown.
Army’s ‘Third Wave’
Erodes U.S. Security The “Third Wave” ploy would outsource highly skilled, core positions that are essential to both wartime readiness and national security. “We’re talking about jobs that are so critical that they have always been protected from outside influences,” Carelli said. Nearly 70 House members have signed a letter calling for congressional hearings on the initiative.
“With our nation
already involved in one war and preparing for another, our national
defense could be severely encumbered due to the loss of institutional
capabilities, technical competencies and human resources through
implementation of this plan,” the letter said. “It would be
unconscionable to put our fighting men and women in harm’s way in such a
chaotic transformation.”
Bush ‘Ally’ Pans Tax
Plan The blunt-spoken O’Neill once characterized a House GOP economic stimulus package as “show business” and described traders on Wall Street as people “who sit in front of a flickering green screen” all day, not the sort of people you want to help you think about complex questions. At the same time, numerous economists warn that the massive Bush tax cut, combined with a looming war against Iraq, could push federal deficits to historic highs, as much as $350 billion as soon as next year. That huge shortfall easily eclipses the $290 billion deficit record set in 1992, the last year of George H.W. Bush’s administration. It is also a far cry from the record $236 billion surplus Bush inherited from the Clinton administration. When interest on the federal debt is added into the Bush plan, its price tag soars to a staggering $925 billion. Bush’s plan is “remarkably inefficient as stimulus, costing $925 billion to inject barely $100 billion into the economy…remarkable in its fiscal profligacy, swelling budget deficits for years to come, and remarkably tilted toward those at the pinnacle of the income scale,” notes the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities.
Lockout Prompts Call
for Coors Boycott AFL-CIO and PACE (the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical & Energy Workers International Union) are urging union members to boycott companies whose products are packaged in cartons from Graphic Packaging, including General Mills, Quaker Oats and Kraft Foods. “It is my firm belief that the Coors family is engaged in union busting,” said PACE President Boyd Young, whose union represents the 429 locked out workers. “Rather than trying to reach a compromise, the Coors family and Graphic Packaging have made further regressive proposals since the lockout.” The packaging company has operated with inexperienced replacement workers since the lockout began on July 27, 2002. On November 8, 2002, a temporary worker was crushed to death.
Southern Territory Notches Texas Win The workers service the U.S. Customs surveillance aircraft. They are comprised of mechanics and parts people. "We had a lot of help from Local Lodge 2916 members, also on the base. They helped a lot with the organizing. They would let the folks know what the union did for them," said Huddleston. Southern Territory General Vice President George Hooper said, "Congratulations to District 776 for the win. We work hard to be the best union to represent people who support our national security efforts. I want to welcome our newest IAM members."
Communications
Conference in March
The Conference will
feature workshops, guest speakers and a tour of labor landmarks in the
Chicago area. This year’s event will also honor winners of the 2002 IAM
Annual Newsletter and Website contest and announce recipients of the
2002 George Kourpias and Robert J. Kalaski awards. For a list of
contest winners, go to:
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