www.goiam.org
Friday, May
10, 2002
Aerospace Delegates Vow
War on Economic Terrorism
More than 200 IAM aerospace delegates left Seattle and headed home to
fight the battle for jobs, security and prosperity in towns and cities
across North America.
“When we see
thousands of our members receiving pink slips and being laid off day
after day while industry profits go through the roof, that is war,
brothers and sisters. That is economic terrorism,” said GVP Bob Thayer
in his closing remarks to the 2002 Aerospace Conference.
“I
realize these are strong words, but there are no other words for the systematic
elimination of jobs; education and skills training; cuts in health care, child
and elder care,” Thayer said. “There is a reason job security is the number one
issue everywhere we go. If you don’t think we’re fighting a war, ask our
members. They know. We are fighting for our very existence – for our right to
have a job and make a decent living for our families.”
Delegates spent four full days studying methods to save jobs and promote
domestic production; to build political and community support and to communicate
and organize the struggle inside the workplace.
“We have a great
program,” Thayer said. “Now it’s up to each of us to go home and put it into
action.”
Senate Eyes Flawed Trade Pact
Senate negotiators cleared the path for a
patched-up Fast Track trade promotion authority measure to go to a floor
vote—perhaps as early as next week. Democrats successfully amended the
bill to provide greater protections to workers who lose jobs to unfair
trade deals. A Senate vote on the measure could come as early as next
week.
The
House passed a stripped-down Fast Track bill by a single vote earlier this year.
That measure lacked any worker protections whatsoever.
Additional amendments to the trade bill are likely during floor debates next
week. Those amendments are needed to protect U.S. trade, health, safety and
environmental laws from Fast Track’s impact. Negotiations to resolve the
differences between the Senate and House versions could reach fever pitch.
Fast Track gives the
President sole authority to negotiate trade deals and forbids Congress any
opportunity to correct flaws or problems, including lack of environmental or
worker protections. “This is not how Congress is supposed to work,” said IP Tom
Buffenbarger. “These issues demand open discussion and debate before any
legislation is adopted. That’s how it should work.”
‘Day of Action’ Shows IAM Solidarity
Thousands of IAM members from Boston to Hawaii took part in the IAM’s
Transportation Day of Action on May 8. The goal of the Day of Action was
to bring awareness to the crucial job IAM members have in rebuilding
America’s transportation system. Activities in more than three-dozen
cities included press conferences, marches, rallies and providing
information and gifts to the traveling public.
“The
benefits of rebuilding America’s transportation system are far reaching,” said
IP Tom Buffenbarger at a rally in Seattle. “The advantages extend beyond the
airports and rail stations into the communities where our members live, pay
taxes, and school their children.”
“This
day grew from an idea at our Transportation Conference last August to become a
historic event that displayed the solidarity of the Machinists Union,” said GVP
Robert Roach, Jr., who led activities at Washington DC’s Union Station, and at
National and Dulles Airports. “The tragic events of 9/11 have made this day even
more important. The strength of a union comes from its members, and your support
in making this day such a success showed why we are the strongest transportation
union in the world.”
Addressing the crowd at Washington, DC’s National Airport, United States Deputy
Secretary of Transportation Michael Jackson acknowledged the role the IAM has
played in providing increased security in the wake of September 11. He also
urged laid-off IAM members to take advantage of their priority hiring status for
positions with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).
The IAM began discussions with
the Department of Transportation immediately after the airline lay-offs began
suggesting that displaced airline workers be offered jobs with the TSA.
Retirement ‘Boom’ Goes Bust
That much-ballyhooed stock market boom in the 1990s didn’t do much to
boost retirement security for middle-income workers. In fact, those
workers saw their retirement wealth fall, according to a study by the
Economic Policy Institute. Only the richest Americans saw their
retirement increase during that period, EPI says.
The
study highlights the importance of the working families campaign to protect and
strengthen Social Security, the only source of retirement income that—unlike the
stock market—is guaranteed, lifelong and rises with inflation.
“The
study sheds a whole new light on the debate over Social Security,” says Jeff
Faux, EPI president. “It shows we’ve been trying to fix the part of the
retirement system that’s not broken.”
President Bush and his allies have proposed partially privatizing Social
Security, a move that would cut benefits or raise the retirement age.
“It’s
time to stop talking about shifting Social Security money to private accounts
and start talking about how we can make sure that working Americans will have
adequate pensions that will enable them to live decently in retirement.” Faux
says.
Working Mothers
Work Longer Hours
Two in three working mothers, 66 percent,
work 40 or more hours every week, compared with 60 percent of women
without children, according to the AFL-CIO’s Ask a Working Woman
Survey 2000.
The
survey found that 28 percent of working mothers work nights or weekends, and
that 40 percent work different schedules than their spouse or partner. Women of
color are more likely than white women to work a schedule that is different from
their spouse.
Among
all women, 63 percent work more than 40 hours per week.
The survey is the third
in a series of such reports, and was part of a yearlong national effort that
included a field survey of more than 20,000 working women.
Here’s a Chance to Win a Hawg!
The Harley Davidson Corporation donated a stylish 2002 model motorcycle
to some lucky winner at the inaugural CBTU golf tournament to be held
May 25, 2002 in Las Vegas, Nevada. “All you have to do is score a
hole-in-one,” explained IP Tom Buffenbarger.
This
tournament will benefit the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists’ Scholarship Fund
and the community issues education project of the Congressional Black Caucus
PAC.
The challenging 9th
hole is 165 yards long, and is cosponsored by the PACE and the IAM, added Diane
Babineaux, executive assistant.
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