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Tuesday,  February 11, 2003

 

DeLay’s ‘Denial’ Bugs RTW Chieftain
House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-TX, backed away from an over-heated fundraising letter bearing his signature that sparked a firestorm of criticism from union leaders, including IP Tom Buffenbarger.

The letter, a fundraising ploy by the National Right-to-Work Legal Defense and Education Fund, painted a lurid—and highly distorted—picture of unions. The letter questioned the patriotism of unions and their members and pointed to “the union bosses’ drive to use the national emergencies we face today to grab more power.” It went on to say this alleged campaign “presents a clear and present danger to the security of the United States."

DeLay’s spokesman Stuart Roy said DeLay disavowed the letter and had not seen until well after it had been mailed.

That “disavowal” surprised Stefan Gleason, the RTW foundation’s vice president for public affairs. “I know we deal with the people who have the authority,” he said in a New York Times article. “It’s up to them. Presumably it’s his view because he signed the letter,” Gleason explained.

DeLay’s office said a staff person made a mistake in approving the letter. The letter was on DeLay’s “Majority Leader” letterhead and carried his signature.

Late night comedians ran with the gaffe and Capitol Hill wits noted that DeLay, who owned a pest control business, might have inhaled more than the recommended dosage of roach spray.

Warren Mart Brings Decades of Experience
The next General Secretary Treasurer (GST) of the Machinists Union joined the IAM in 1966, initiating a union career that includes service as Local Lodge Shop Steward, Territorial General Vice President and practically everything in between.

By 1980, Warren Mart was District Business Representative for IAM District 153, serving members and the community in a wide variety of roles. In 1988, he was elected Vice President of the Indiana State AFL-CIO and vice president of the Southern Indiana Central Labor Council. 

Mart was appointed IAM Special Representative in 1987 and Grand Lodge Representative in 1989. During that time he handled coordinated bargaining for Rockwell and Square D Company. In 1997, Warren Mart was nominated and elected General Vice President for the Eastern Territory, directing programs and activities for IAM members in 14 states and the District of Columbia.

His appointment to succeed current GST Don Wharton will take effect in July 2003, upon Wharton’s retirement after nearly a half century of service to the IAM and its members.

Lynn Tucker a Unanimous Choice
When the IAM Executive Council voted unanimously to appoint Lynn Tucker to succeed GVP Warren Mart, they chose an IAM member who began his career as a Sweco Operator at Miller Brewery in Fulton, New York.

In the 27 years that followed, Tucker served as Shop Steward, Senior Steward, Local Lodge Vice President and President of the Greater Syracuse, New York Labor Council. Community service work included positions as Director of the United Way in Fulton, NY and President of the Industrial Relations Research Association in Syracuse.

In 1986, Tucker was elected Business Representative for District 137 and advanced from Special Representative to Grand Lodge Representative in 1991. Since 1992, he has served as Administrative Assistant to the General Vice President for the Eastern Territory, managing the regional office and the servicing the territory in the absence of the GVP.

Pit Crew Contest Highlights Student Skills
Twenty Chicago-area schools and ten technical colleges competed in this year’s Chi-Town Tear Down Pit Crew Competition, where automotive students race the clock to tear down and fully reassemble a modern automotive engine.

The 3^rd annual competition was held before thousands of spectators at the World of Wheels Custom Car Show and is sponsored primarily by IAM Local Lodge 701 and Jasper Engines and Transmissions.

Winners in this year’s competition include Palantine High School and Lincoln Technical Institute. Each winning school will receive a new Ford F150 pickup.

Additional information about the competition is available on the Local 701 website and an online video of the competition can be viewed at www.goiam.org.

Estrada Nomination Draws Opposition
The nomination of Miguel Estrada for a lifetime appointment to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit is drawing opposition from unions, civil rights organizations, Latino organizations and others.

Estrada is a member of the law firm that represented George W. Bush in his successful Supreme Court fight for the presidency. Many fear this payback appointment is part of Bush's attempt to pack the court with right-wing ideologues.

Estrada, who never served a day as a judge, is also considered to be a possible nominee for the Supreme Court in the event of a vacancy. Legislators expressed frustration with Estrada’s unwillingness to provide information before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

“Either this nominee knows nothing or he feels he needs to hide something,'' said Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle. “Neither is acceptable when it comes to a lifetime position on the second highest court in the land.”

Amtrak Funding At Risk
The IAM is calling on the membership to contact their U.S. Representatives and Senators today and urge Congress to support a $1.2 billion Amtrak appropriation for Fiscal Year 2003. 

The President's recommendation of $521 million is not enough to keep our nation’s passenger rail system running.  An Action Alert on the IAM web site at www.iamaw.org/politics.asp has additional information and a pre-written letter that can be automatically emailed to your elected representatives.

On behalf of our Amtrak brothers and sisters and their families, please take the time to voice your opinion.  Call, write, email, or visit your legislators personally.  Let them know you are a registered voter and are watching how they vote on this issue of vital importance to you and the nation.

Radio Talk Show a Hit at MNPL Meet
A parade of anti-worker talk show gurus more than met their match when they traded shots with panelists picked from among the delegates to last week’s MNPL Planning Committee meeting.

Ellen Ratner of Talk News Service and talk radio host Blanquita Cullum emceed the three-hour session, with on-air radio hosts in outlying areas of the nation grilling the MNPL panelists on a variety of topics.  MNPL members generated the questions used during the show, which also encouraged listeners to phone in with their opinions.

Discussion topics ranged from right-to-work (for less) standards to trade issues, from health care to retirement security. IP Tom Buffenbarger contrasted the public extent of union records, including union salary and benefit schedules with the secretive and hidden accounting rules followed by the National Right-to-Work (for less) Committee.

“Our records are public. We have nothing to hide,” Buffenbarger said and challenged his RTW opponent to open their financial records to public scrutiny. “Corporate corruption like that at Enron, WorldCom and other major corporations far outpaces any such wrong doing on our side of the table.”

At the show’s end, Ratner praised the MNPL delegates for their participation and their enthusiasm. “Your questions drove the show,” she said. Ratner urged delegates to become active with similar talk shows in their area. “If you and your fellow workers make as few as 10 calls a month on pertinent issues, you can have a tremendous impact.”

Guam Typhoon Victims Need Help
The typhoon that ripped through the Island of Guam in December left a trail of wrecked homes, cars, property and business. Many of the 325 IAM members who work and live on the South Pacific island lost everything, according to Maria Cordone, IAM Director of Community Services and Retirees Dept.

“In time of tragedy such as this, we appeal to our membership as a whole for donations to help those who have suffered,” said Cordone. “Invariably, IAM members have responded with warm-hearted generosity. In simple terms, our Sisters and Brothers need our help and they need it fast.”

Donations can be made to the “IAM Disaster Relief Fund” in care of General Secretary Donald Wharton, 9000 Machinists Place, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772.

Unions Host ‘Blue-Green’ Summit
The Indiana State Council is one of the co-sponsors of an innovative summit meeting bringing together representatives of the trade union and environmental movements to plan common strategies to deal with common problems. The Alliance for Sustainable Jobs and the Environment (ASJE) organized the event.

With a hostile political climate in Washington, DC, and mixed control of State Houses across the Midwest, it is critical that unions and environmentalists work together more effectively.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-OH, is expected to develop that theme in her keynote address.  She is serving her 11^th term in Congress and is a leader on trade issues as well as human and labor rights.

The sessions open Feb. 28 at the Holiday Inn in South Bend, IN. For more information, contact ASJE at 503-736-9777.