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Protestors Demand
‘Freedom to Organize’
“More and more
employers today are illegally threatening, intimidating and firing workers
to prevent them from gaining a stronger voice on pay and conditions in the
workplace,” said Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-MA, at a rally in Washington, DC.
“But the laws are so poorly enforced today that in one-quarter of all
union organizing drives, employers fire workers illegally and with
impunity.”
Supreme Court OK’s
Campaign Finance Law The Court’s 5-4 ruling bans so-called “soft money” contributions, gifts that are not subject to federal caps, and upholds provisions of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, sponsored by Senators John McCain, R-AZ, and Russ Feingold, D-WI. Huge campaign contributions from wealthy individuals and the deep pockets of Corporate America fed the growing belief that government was for sale to the highest bidders and fueled a growing cynicism toward politicians from the voters. That cynicism left far too many citizens feeling that their votes didn’t count, with fewer and fewer of them even bothering to cast ballots. In its Summer 2002 issue, the IAM Journal published a comprehensive article on the rising tide of political money and its debasing impact on the political system. Titled “Honest Graft,” the article noted that Big Business spent $2.2 billion on lobbying, political action committees (PACs) and soft money campaign contributions in the months leading up to the 2002 midyear elections. The labor movement spent $107 million during that same period.
“Working families, not
the rich, make up the majority of people in this country. If we register
to vote, register our friends and our families, and show up at the polls,
we win. It’s as simple as that,” Buffenbarger said.
Federal Workers
Bushwacked by Rule Changes “We are being force-fed a bad piece of legislation dictated to the Congress by the Bush administration,” said Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Robert Byrd (D-WV). “The administration’s policies encourage unfair treatment of dedicated public servants, many of whom are being forced into early retirement or the prospect of reduced benefits and lower pay.” Language originally agreed upon by the 2004 Transportation-Treasury Appropriations conference committee gave federal employees new rights in the complicated A-76 process that allows outside contractors to bid on work performed by government workers. The agreement also stated that an outside contractor's bid would need to cost 10 percent or $10 million less than the agency's proposal in order to win. Additionally, the conference report gave federal workers the right to appeal decisions to the General Accounting Office. In new language dictated by the White House, the 10 percent or $10 million cost advantage is gone, the right for in-house entity to appeal is gone, and the right of in-house federal employees to make a bid only applies to Transportation and Treasury employees, not the whole federal government.
“We are sick and tired
of this administration sticking it to federal employees,” said Federal
District 1 President and DBR Richard Brown. “Let this be a reminder that
this administration is dangerous, especially to federal employees.”
Lewis Named Chairman
of Pullman Porter Museum
“I look forward to working with the board and working to involve the larger community in the museum’s programs and activities,” said Lewis. “I want to work more with local labor organizations, schools, political and business leaders to forge a partnership that can benefit our whole community.”
Ed has been an IAM member for over 35 years and has received
numerous awards for civic and union achievements.
Members Make All the
Right Moves The dramatic episode began when Pacey was found unconscious and without a pulse on the shop floor. A call for help brought nearby co-workers who immediately began mouth to mouth resuscitation while another employee, Chris Bauman, looked for a CPR certified employee.
“I’m happy that my EMT training and volunteer ambulance duty with the St. Louis Fire Department Emergency Medical Services prepared me for this situation,” said Miano, a 16-year IAM member. Proper care during the first few minutes of heart failure are critical to a patient’s chances of survival. The rapid response by Miano, Bauman and fellow employees gave Pacey’s oxygen starved brain and organs the chance they needed to recover without permanent and extensive damage.
A grateful Duane Pacey is currently undergoing therapy to
strengthen his cardiovascular system and hopes to return to work after the
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Yesterday’s
events marked International Human Rights Day, Dec. 10. The date marks the
ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948, which
recognizes the rights of workers in every country to organize unions and
to bargain contracts.
Lewis
said he hopes to help the museum expand as a living memorial to A. Philip
Randolph, the Pullman Porters and Chamber Maids. Randolph was the driving
force behind the International Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and
helped negotiate their first collective bargaining agreement in1937.
Miano,
a licensed Emergency Medical Technician, rushed to Duane’s side and took
over the chest compressions while the company nurse brought a
defibrillator and oxygen equipment to the scene. Pacey’s heart began to
respond and Miano continued to assist the nurse and accompanied Pacey in
the ambulance to the hospital. When the doctors took over Joe quietly
slipped back to work.
