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Labor Dept. Pick Draws
Fire
President Bush’s recess appointment of
Eugene Scalia to a high labor Dept. post drew scorching fire from union
leaders. “It’s another installment on Bush’s debt to his fat cat
corporate cronies,” scoffed IP Tom Buffenbarger. “How could any
President pick such an avowed foe of working families to a position that is
supposed to support policies and programs to aid working people?”
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney called it a “slap in the face of American
workers” to appoint such an outspoken opponent of ergonomics and other
worker protection measures to be solicitor of Labor.
Scalia has openly and public ally called ergonomics “quackery” and
questioned whether repetitive strain injuries are real. He has said,
“employees most likely to complain of musculoskeletal discomfort are those
who do not like their jobs.”
He is the son of Justice Antonin Scalia, one of five Supreme Court justices
who handed Bush a favorable decision in the disputed Florida electoral vote
affair. The new solicitor will have jurisdiction over an array of issues
ranging from workplace safety to pension.
Since the appointment was made while Congress was in recess, Scalia will not
face Senate confirmation hearings where his record would have come under
close scrutiny
IAM, UAL Go Back to Work
Negotiations resumed today between
mechanic-and-related employees represented by District 141-M and United Air
Lines. The talks began after Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) hearings
ended last week. Negotiators for District 141 will meet separately with
United next week.
The three-member PEB has until Jan.19 to issue its recommendations to
President Bush. The board urged both parties in the dispute to bend every
effort to reach agreement on a new contract.
“The board recognized that it is in the best interests of everyone for the
parties to return to the bargaining table and negotiate a voluntary
settlement,” said Transpo GVP Robert Roach, Jr.
Earlier, a federal district court judge in Washington, DC, rejected the
IAM’s request for a preliminary injunction to set aside the presidential
order establishing the PEB
National Rail Talks
Resume
Rail negotiations covering more than
10,000 IAM members of District 19 covered by the national agreement are
underway in Nashville; TN. Job security remains a priority in the
negotiations to replace the contract that became amendable in Jan 2000.
A rail labor coalition made up of representatives of the Sheet Metal
Workers, Boilermakers and Machinists are meeting with members of the
National Carriers Conference Committee in an effort to hammer out a new
contract.
Working Woman Survey
Ends Feb.25
The AFL-CIO’s Ask a Working Woman
online survey wraps up Feb.25. “If you haven’t filled out the survey,
please do so immediately,” urges Cheryl Eastburn, IAM Women’s Dept.
director. The federation’s Working Women’s Depart. Says the survey
reports and analysis will be released by early summer. Make your voice heard
by filling out the survey. Simply go to website at http://www.goiam.org/women_survey.asp
IAM
Offers Sites to Locals, Districts
To vastly expand the number of local and district lodges with their own
websites, the IAM will launch its Micro Site Program on March 1, 2002.
This new service will provide pre-designed website templates, an easy way
for lodges to add news and other content to their sites, and free website
hosting on the IAM server.
“Internet websites are the fastest and the most revolutionary means of
mass communication since the invention of the radio,” said IP Tom
Buffenbarger. “More members than ever before are using the web as the
primary means to acquire and distribute union information. The Micro Site
program is aimed at increasing member’s access to this important
communications technology.”
Letters have been mailed to each local and district lodge announcing dates
and details of the new program. Sites will be offered on a first come,
first served basis.
Fatal
Accident at Boeing
Guy Pillow, 49, a 17-year IAM member, died yesterday after an accident
during routine maintenance of a hydraulic press at Boeing's Auburn,
Washington facility. The accident is under investigation.
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