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Machinists Celebrate
Dr. King's Birthday
Delegates distributed goods to the community, registered new voters and participated in forums designed to strengthen the bonds between labor, community and civil rights activists. Hundreds took part in two Martin Luther King Parades in Orlando and Etonville, FL, the oldest surviving incorporated black municipality in the U.S. The conference also held an awards ceremony, where the “Eyes on the Prize Awards” went to Sister Teresa McElwee, of the Sister of Notre Dame; Namur Ezzie Thomas of the Florida Voters’ League; Florida Rep. Corrine Brown and Debra M. Booth, president of the Central Florida AFL-CIO among others.
“Dr. King’s legacy is
so important to the labor movement, as well as the country,” said Southern
Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “We will never forget Dr. King’s achievement.
We meet every year, not just to celebrate, but to remember the fight is
not yet over for the principles he stood for.” Newspapers, radio stations and television reports carried the story of the 40-foot wall dubbed “George Bush’s Wall of Shame,” which traveled more than 1000 miles across the state to honor jobless workers and to highlight the human toll of unfair trade deals. Led by IP Buffenbarger and Midwest Territory GVP Jim Brown, the memorial made stops at union events in more than a dozen Iowa cities. “This country owes so much to the men and women whose names are inscribed on this wall,” said IP Buffenbarger. “For them, and nearly 3 million others whose jobs were destroyed since George Bush became president, we will continue to demand accountability from the candidates of both political parties.”
Democratic caucus
voters in Iowa propelled Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry to a strong first
place finish in the opening contest of the 2004 election season, ahead of
North Carolina Sen. John Edwards and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.
Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt finished fourth and indicated he would
withdraw from the race. “No candidate was stronger on the issues of jobs,
trade and respect for America’s workers than Dick Gephardt,” said IP
Buffenbarger. “His lifetime of loyalty to the men and women who built this
country is truly a badge of honor the other candidates can only aspire
to.”
Up to 18 Allegheny Dash-8-100 aircraft would be transferred
to Piedmont and the remaining Allegheny aircraft would be parked or
disposed of on an accelerated basis beginning on or about March 31, 2004.
“This announcement
and the company’s intended timeline will no doubt raise many questions
among the membership,” said District 141-M President Scotty Ford in a
letter to the 210 IAM-represented Piedmont Mechanic & Related, Flight
Dispatchers and Stock Clerks. Not waiting for an invitation, Greater Bangor Area Central Labor Council members Kendal Dunbar (IAM), Chris Tucker (Laborers) and Jack McKay (UNITE) showed up to see what Secretary Chao had to stay. “We tried to walk in but they told us this was by invitation only,” said McKay. Husson college police pushed the group away and across the parking lot. “It calls into question whether it was a real exercise in creating and pursuing policy or whether this was a step on the 2004 campaign trail,” McKay told the Bangor Daily News. The site of the roundtable was Husson College’s Dyke Center, which was funded by the family of conservative Richard Dyke. Dyke served as state finance director for Bush’s 2000 election.
IAM Members at Oilgear
Win First Agreement Students and job seekers can meet training and apprenticeship coordinators and representatives from dozens of industries. For information about the show, visit www.unionindustriesshow.org. “The IAM has been a long-time participant in the Union Industries Show and we are proud to work with our local and district lodges and employers to showcase the products our members make and the services they provide,” said IAM Special Assistant Coet Combs who coordinates IAM participation in the show. Local or district lodges who are interested in showcasing their company’s products or services can contact Coet Combs at IAM Headquarters at 301-967-4770. Past iMail|Your Email|Visit www.goiam.org|Print Version|Sign-Up for iMail
| President Bush's promise of new jobs is falling far short. Find out how much at www.jobwatch.org |