www.goiam.org |
Bush Orders
Manufacturing ‘Czar’ Bush indicated his understanding of the jobs crisis in remarks to the crowd, saying the nation has lost “thousands of jobs in manufacturing.” In reality, the nation lost nearly 3 million manufacturing jobs since the recession began in 2001.
“By aggressively
promoting NAFTA-like trade policies and ignoring their effect on U.S.
jobs, George Bush is destined to go down as the only president since
Herbert Hoover to oversee a net loss in the nation’s employment level,”
said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “Hiring a single GOP hack in Washington does
nothing to address the jobs crisis facing this country.”
Fight to Preserve OT
Pay Gets Underway Under the Bush overtime scheme, millions of salaried workers earning from $22,101 to $65,000 would be “reclassified” as executive or administrative employees, and would no longer qualify for overtime pay rates. The proposal would not directly affect union workers with overtime rights defined in collective bargaining agreements, however, employers would be free to shift workloads and dramatically limit the amount of overtime available for protected workers. Just back from their month long recess, Bush allies in the GOP-controlled Congress are expected to intensify their drive for the controversial changes and a vote in the Senate could come as soon as this week or next.
For more information,
members can click on
www.goiam.org and view ‘The Fight in Congress,’ an in-depth video
discussion of the broad assault on workers’ rights under the FSLA.
Additionally, workers are urged to take action by clicking on
http://capwiz.com/iamaw/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=2996961 to send
a message to their representatives in Congress urging a strong stand in
the fight to protect overtime pay.
Grow Kansas Campaign
Launched The Machinists Union, the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA) and the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation used the occasion to formally launch ‘Grow Kansas’, a campaign to build public and political support for preserving a strong manufacturing base in Kansas. “We are losing jobs to other countries that will never return to Kansas,” said IAM District 70 Organizer and Grow Kansas Coordinator James ‘Rody’ Rodehorst. The aviation industry, for instance, was built from nothing in Kansas. It should stay here. “We need to mobilize our communities to fight the rampant outsourcing of our jobs – the future of our state. The Governor has endorsed our program, and last week the County Commission issued a proclamation in support of Grow Kansas. That’s what this is about. It’s about jobs – jobs worth fighting for,” said Rodehorst.
More information about
the campaign is available at
www.growkansas.com.
Kentucky Auto Techs Win
Pension, Health Benefits “Under their last contract, these mechanics did not have a pension plan,” said Anderson. “Following a successful round of negotiations, the group joined the IAM Pension Plan, established health care coverage without co-pays and won improved holidays and vacations.” “This is a great example of the International working with Local Lodges to improve contracts,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “I want to thank Brother Anderson, District Lodge 27 Business Representative Pat Maloney and the entire Negotiating Committee for a job well done.”
The new members will
be part of Local Lodge 681.
GOP Farms-Out Fund
Raising to India For more information: http://www.businessstandard.com/archives/2003/jan/50310103.016.asp
|