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Thursday,  October 17, 2002


Progress Reported in UPS Talks

IAM negotiators kicked off four days of planned talks with United Parcel Service (UPS) by delivering economic proposals designed to boost pay and benefits for 3,200 IAM mechanics and maintenance workers at the package delivery service.

“The first two days of national negotiations went well,” said Boysen Anderson, overall coordinator for the IAM team. “We made progress on a number of economic issues and we’re reviewing a health care proposal from the company that responds to many of our members’ concerns. I’m confident the personnel and framework is here for a productive week of bargaining.”

More than 20 IAM representatives joined the talks from UPS locations nationwide, where local issues were largely resolved in prior meetings with management.

“We’re on course to move through the outstanding issues by week’s end,” said Steve Sleigh, IAM director of Strategic Resources. The negotiations, being held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL will continue through Friday. 


Stanley’s Offshore Strategy Continues
Stanley Works announced it may shift U.S. production of its popular tape measures, wrenches and screwdrivers to offshore, low-wage locations in a move that could cost hundreds of skilled jobs at the Connecticut-based company.

Stanley CEO John Trani made the threat in an effort to pressure Congress to provide tax relief in the wake of Stanley’s thwarted bid to relocate to tax-friendly Bermuda.

The Senate is considering legislation to restrict U.S. corporations from setting up shell headquarters in tax havens such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Stanley is complaining they face an unfair advantage from companies that have already completed the offshore move, known as a ‘corporate inversion.’

Stanley’s offshore aspirations are nothing new. During the past six years, the company shipped thousands of highly skilled toolmaker jobs to China, leaving towns like New Britain, CT without an economic foundation.

“Holding workers and communities hostage is nothing new for Stanley,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “By any measure, this company is fast becoming the national poster child for global corporate greed.”


House GOP Rejects Jobless Aid
Republicans in the House of Representatives this week scuttled their own proposal to grant a limited extension of unemployment benefits for millions of Americans who are out of work and running out of benefits.

House GOP leaders pulled the plug when conservatives in their own party objected to separate provisions aimed at preventing U.S. companies from relocating in offshore tax havens such as Bermuda.

The GOP plan provided limited help to workers in only three states and did nothing for long-term unemployed workers who have already exhausted benefits.

In addition, the Republican proposal did nothing to address the devastating job losses in the U.S. manufacturing sector. More than 2.2 million manufacturing jobs have been lost since January 2000, with the greatest losses in Pennsylvania, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio and other heartland states.


Political Ploys Snarl Congress
Congressional leaders and White House flacks swap salvos of acerbic accusations while a hefty legislative agenda lies dormant on Capitol Hill. November’s looming elections blocked action in both House and Senate as party leaders on both sides of the aisle maneuver for strategic position.

The delays forced the House to pass a “continuing resolution” that authorizes funding for domestic programs until Nov. 22. The fiscal year ended Oct.1, but Congress only approved measures covering defense and military construction. Many observers say Congress is almost certain to be called back for a “lame duck” session after the Nov. 5 election.

Senators and their House counterparts are chafing at the bit to get out of town and onto the campaign circuit as the clock ticks down to the crucial election. One-third of the Senate, the entire House membership and 36 gubernatorial races make for a full political plate.

Republicans need to pick up a Senate seat to win control of that chamber. Democrats need six House seats to gain a majority there. “Those numbers mean our votes are vital,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “Working families hold the balance of power in this election. Let’s use it.”


Senate Passes Election Reform Bill
The Senate passed an election reform measure that could spell an end to the spectacle of confusion amid a blizzard of “dimpled chads” that marked Florida’s ballot debacle during the 2000 presidential election.

The bill authorizes $3.86 billion over the next four years to upgrade voting equipment, improve election administration and poll-worker training and make it easier for Americans to cast their ballots with reasonable assurances they will be counted.

Some election observers claim as many as 175,000 Florida ballots went uncounted during the presidential election that was finally decided by a 5-4 vote of the Supreme Court.

The Senate voted 92-2 for the bill. The House passed a similar measure last week. President Bush has said he will sign the law. Provisions of the measure will not apply to this year’s election.


White House Waffles on Homeland Security
As the White House sees it, federal workers covered by Civil Service protections and jointly negotiated collective bargaining rights are as threatening to homeland security as Osama bin Laden and his terrorist gang.

President Bush’s entire cabinet signed a letter to Senate leaders demanding that they approve Bush’s authority to strip away such rights from employees in the proposed Homeland Security Department.

Democrats charge the White House is playing politics with the issue in a bid for votes in next month’s election. They may have some reason for that belief. “I think (our candidates) should talk about it constantly,” advised Marc Racicot, who chairs the Republican National Committee. “That issue cuts our way, I think, very persuasively.”

The new department will be comprised of more that 170,000 workers, most of them currently working in various federal agencies.