IAM members of Local 2766 and Local 44 held a recent rally in Madison, Alabama to demand a fair contract at Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) facilities. Contracts are about to expire for nearly 1,500 Machinists at seven Boeing locations in
October 30, 2005
Labor Quote of the week! be
When Reagan and Bush were running in 1980, they said, "We're going to get American industry moving again." And they did--to Taiwan, Mexico, saudi Arabia--everywhere except here.
Jim Hightower
Taken from "Great Labor Quotations" Sourcebook and Reader
Posted 4:30 PM
IAM members of Local 2766 and Local 44 held a recent rally in Madison, Alabama to demand a fair contract at Boeing’s Integrated Defense Systems (IDS) facilities. Contracts are about to expire for nearly 1,500 Machinists at seven Boeing locations in
Nearly 1,500 IAM members at seven Boeing facilities in California, Alabama and Florida are poised to strike the company’s space and defense division following contract offers that slashed retiree benefits, raised health care premiums, and failed to include adequate pension increases.
The so-called “final offer” from Boeing is similar to proposals that led to a massive walkout by more than 18,000 IAM members at the company’s commercial aircraft assembly plants in Oregon, Kansas and Washington state. IAM members in California, Alabama and Florida are covered by separate agreements from those covering IAM members at Boeing’s commercial aircraft facilities.
Machinists at Boeing’s locations in Huntington Beach, California, Torrance, California, Vandenberg AFB, Edwards AFB and Cape Canaveral, Florida voted by an overwhelming 85 percent majority to strike if a better contract offer was not received from the aerospace giant.
Strike preparations are underway while negotiations continue in California, as well as in Decatur Alabama and Huntsville, Alabama, where a strike vote by IAM members is set to take place on October 29.
“The offer from Boeing seeks to pit active employees against retirees, single workers against workers with families and older workers against younger workers,” said Aerospace Coordinator Dick Schneider.
“Boeing executives should have learned from the strike they brought on themselves last month that Machinists will not be played against one another. But if they insist, we’re more than ready to teach them that lesson again.”
Taken from imail
Posted 4:30 PM
Bowing to pressure from working families and Democratic lawmakers, the Bush administration reinstated the Davis-Bacon Act yesterday. Following the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought to the Gulf Coast, Bush suspended the key wage protection, which ensures quality work standards and requires contractors to pay employees the prevailing local wage.
In response, working families and grassroots activists sent more than 350,000 messages to the White House and Congress demanding fair wages for workers in the Gulf Coast.
Even Congressional Republicans stepped up efforts to force the White House to reverse the suspension, which was leaving Gulf Coast residents out of the recovery effort.
“The President reversed decades of protections for working people when, by executive decree, he overruled fair wage standards in hurricane stricken areas. As thousands of workers who had lost so much returned to rebuild the Gulf Coast, the Bush Administration forced them to work for lower wages,” House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement.
“Facing a Congressional showdown, the President has had to rescind this unfair and unjustified action.
The Davis-Bacon Act is set to go back into effect November 8, two months after it was suspended.
Taken from imail
Posted 4:16 PM
Nearly 1,500 Workers at Foster Farms, a chicken processing plant in Livingston, California, have begun an Unfair Labor Practice Action in response to employer tactics designed to stall negotiations on a new contract. A committee of the workers, who recently voted overwhelmingly to be represented by the IAM, showed up at the facility and set up informational pickets. The company responded by locking the doors of the facility and not letting the workers out to join the demonstration.
Since the IAM was chosen by the workers on September 11, by an NLRB certified and monitored vote, Foster Farms has refused to recognize the election, and has stalled the negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement. Several Unfair Labor Practice charges have been filed by the union, and nearly every one has been found to have merit by the Board.
Today’s action is intended to bring attention to the plight of the workers at Foster Farms, and hopefully move the negotiations process forward. Ralph Meraz, spokesperson for the group, said “We hope that we can sit with Foster Farms and negotiate a fair contract soon. We want to be able to deliver an agreement that gives justice and dignity to these workers, and lets them concentrate on keeping Foster Farms as the leader in this industry.”
Taken from imail
Posted 4:03 PM
After weeks of unrelenting pressure from the conservative wing of the Republican party, Harriet Meirs abruptly withdrew from consideration as President George Bush's nominee to the Supreme Court.
Miers told the president in her letter of withdrawal that she was "concerned that the confirmation process presents a burden for the White House and our staff that is not in the best interests of the country."
Bush accepted Meirs withdrawal "reluctantly" and said that he shared her concern about the "about the current state of the Supreme Court confirmation process."
The party's right-wing base had been hectoring Bush to appoint a nominee that would join justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas on a more partisan court and made their disappointment apparent when Miers was chosen.
Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.), who supported Miers, called the withdrawal a victory for "the radical right wing" of the Republican Party.
Taken from imail
Posted 3:30 PM
“The Air Transport and Railroad industries are ripe with attractive opportunities to organize tens of thousands of workers,” said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr.
“Based on the input from our Local Lodge Presidents, the Transportation Department has developed a new organizing structure, identified targets and is launching aggressive organizing campaigns for all air and rail workers who are not members of an AFL-CIO union.”
Former Assistant Transportation Coordinator Jay Cronk has been named to the new position of Transportation Coordinator and is responsible for all Transportation Department organizing activities.
Additionally, three Grand Lodge Representatives will serve as Territorial Organizing Leaders (TOLs). Each TOL is responsible for one of three geographical regions of the United States; East, Midwest or West.
Airlines and railroads in the United States must organize under the Railway Labor Act (RLA). The RLA requires all of a company’s employees in a classification to be organized nationwide at the same time.
“All three Air Transport District Lodges and Railroad District 19 each have at least one full-time organizer dedicated to the task of growing our union and showing workers the benefits of IAM representation,” said Roach.
“With the leads and assistance provided by our Local Lodges, we will be successful.”
Taken from imail
Posted 3:20 PM
The Bush administration is scrambling in the face of multiple GOP leadership scandals in Congress, plummeting public approval ratings for the President and the prospect of senior White House officials facing criminal indictments for leaking a CIA operative’s identity.
The Bush White House may also have to deal with startling revelations from Lawrence Wilkerson, who served as chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin L. Powell from 2002 to 2005. Wilkerson described a secretive “White House cabal”, led by Vice President Dick Cheney and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who made key decisions involving U.S. national security without the required advice and consent of other agencies.
In an op-ed piece for the Los Angeles Times, Wilkenson answers critics who ask why anyone should be surprised or even care about such an end run by senior officials with long established contempt for openness or accountability.
“I believe that there are two reasons we should care,” wrote Wilkenson. “First, such departures from the process have in the past led us into a host of disasters, including the last years of the Vietnam War, the national embarrassment of Watergate (and the first resignation of a president in our history), the Iran-Contra scandal and now the ruinous foreign policy of George W. Bush.”
Taken from imail
Posted 3:07 PM
October 20, 2005
Labor Quote of the week! be
A scab in labor unions is the same as a traitor to his country.
Eugene Debs
Taken from "Great Labor Quotations" Sourcebook and Reader
Posted 7:30 PM
Have you seen this man? A Texas court issued a warrant this week for the arrest of former GOP strongman Tom DeLay, aka The Hammer
A Texas state court issued an arrest warrant on Wednesday for former House Republican Leader Tom DeLay (R-TX), indicted earlier this month on conspiracy and money laundering charges. The court also set bail at $10,000 for the former exterminator.
DeLay and two political cronies were charged by a pair of Texas grand juries in an alleged scheme to violate state election law, by funneling corporate donations to candidates for the Texas Legislature. State law prohibits use of corporate donations to finance state campaigns. The indictments also charge that a Texas political committee established by DeLay sent corporate donations to the Republican National Committee in Washington, and the national party sent funds back to the state for 2002 campaigns.
The diminutive DeLay, who was known in Washington for his aggressive manner and practice of holding floor votes open until a desired result was achieved, was forced to step down as U.S. House majority leader under House rules requiring him to relinquish the leadership post if charged with a felony.
Taken from imail
Posted 8:40PM
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) announced it awarded a $64,994 grant to IAM Local 1438 and Federal Mogul Wausau (FMW). The grant is intended to assist in the HPWO Partnership development process started in 2003.
When LL 1438 and FMW applied for the grant, it was to address several workplace challenges, including the lack of an effective communication process, shift-work issues and inconsistencies in training and education. The grant will be used to educate and train employees in software and computer skills, enhance the shared decision-making process, make benchmarking visits, and foster effective and consistent communications through meetings and newsletters.
The grant program began in 1981, under the direction of the Labor-Management Cooperation Act of 1978, and has provided funds for a variety of projects, including outreach, communications, strategic planning, minority recruitment and process development.
Taken from imail
Posted 7:54 PM
A well-respected trade publication, Manufacturing and Technology News (MTN), has released a startling report about how the Bush administration stalled a taxpayer-funded study on outsourcing prior to the 2004 election.
Using a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, MTN discovered the report was completed but delayed for clearance by the White House and the Republican controlled Congress “due to the controversial nature of the subject.” Offshore outsourcing had become a major campaign issue at the time.
Congress originally slated $335,000 for the report by the Commerce Department’s Technology Administration with a six-month deadline of June 2004, well before the November 2004 presidential election.
The report by MTN also notes that after the election a draft of the report was vetted by political appointees at the Commerce Department and the White House, resulting in version that focused only on the positive impacts for the U.S. economy of offshore outsourcing and failed to include any negative impact from shifting jobs overseas.
Taken from imail
Posted 8:10 PM
Among the many community-based efforts using the Internet to raise funds and social awareness is Means For Dreams, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ensure that Washington, D.C. public school teachers have the resources needed to properly teach their students. Donors using the MeansForDreams website can securely provide funds for materials that provide significant benefits for an individual student, class or school.
The website is a “philanthropic exchange” where teachers can request specific materials or services and individuals can fund a proposal. Teachers submit proposals requesting materials, services or other resources that range from books, to transportation to a museum, to a microscope for a lab, paints or clay for art class, software, arrangements for a guest speaker and more.
Means For Dreams is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which purchases the materials or makes the arrangements for delivery directly to the teacher. The group also forwards thank you notes and photographs from the students, a receipt for the purchases and a record for tax deduction to the donor. 100 percent of the donation goes to the project.
Taken from imail
Posted 8:22 PM
In a blow to lower and middle-income working families, Congressional Republicans are looking to cut $50 billion in vital programs for the poor, including food stamps, Medicaid, health care and education.
Despite demanding $70 billion in tax cuts designed to benefit the rich, Republicans claim the cuts are needed to help fund relief efforts in the Gulf Coast.
Democratic lawmakers are pledging to fight the efforts of the GOP, who have already denied lower income workers fair wages by suspending the Davis-Bacon Act as well as oppose efforts to extend Medicaid coverage to the hurricane survivors.
“Once again, the Majority is using a misfortune in our country as a Trojan horse. They are wheeling in this Trojan horse on the guise of assistance and using it instead as a way to give tax cuts to the wealthiest people in our country,” said House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) in a statement.
Congressional Republicans once again failed to help lift the nation’s lowest paid workers out of poverty yesterday, defeating a proposal from Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) that would have increased the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $6.25 an hour.
However, Congressional Democrats were able to defeat a horrendous amendment from Sen. Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.). Enzi’s proposal would have used a minimal increase in the minimum wage to disguise provisions that would cut overtime pay, exempt millions of workers from the minimum wage and weaken job safety.
Workers who are currently working full-time at minimum wage make $5,378 less than it would take to lift a family of three out of poverty. The Economic Policy Institute www.epinet.org estimates that a straightforward raise of $1.10 in the minimum wage could directly benefit roughly 1.8 million workers.
Taken from imail
Posted 8:30 PM
October 13, 2005
Labor Quote of the week! be
It is not the employer who pays the wages-he only handles the money. It is the product that pays the wages.
Henery Ford
Taken from "Great Labor Quotations" Sourcebook and Reader
Posted 10:03 PM
Northwest Airlines filed a motion in bankruptcy court to abrogate its collective bargaining agreements with its unions..
Lawyers for bankrupt Northwest Airlines filed a widely expected motion in a New York Bankruptcy Court this week asking a judge to abrogate its collective bargaining agreements with the carrier’s unions.
District 143 of the IAM represents 14,200 employees in the Equipment Service, Office & Clerical, Passenger Service, Plant Protection and Flight Simulator Operator classifications.
The court filing initiates a timeline during which the parties must either reach a mutual agreement on modified contract terms or face the decision of a judge.
If the judge is forced to rule on Northwest’s motion, he is limited by law to only two options. He must either rule that the IAM’s collective bargaining agreements should remain intact without any modifications, or he can rule that the contracts should be terminated in their entirety. The judge does not have the authority to order a compromise.
“The Machinists Union, our attorneys and financial professionals are prepared for an 1113(c) trial on the company’s motion to abrogate, but direct negotiations with Northwest will continue,” said District 143 President Bobby DePace.
“Although we are prepared to defend our members’ agreements in court, we hope Northwest is as committed, as we are, to reach a fair and equitable agreement that can be presented to the membership for ratification.”
Taken from imail
Posted 6:49 PM
The two hundred IAM members working at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant near Burlington, Iowa ended their nine-day strike after ratifying a new four-year labor agreement. Local 1010 members at the plant make munitions for the military at the facility operated by American Ordinance.
Key issues causing the strike were wages, increases in the employee portion of health insurance premiums and pension benefits. The contract deadline was originally extended until September 10, 2005 at which time members rejected the company’s offer.
“Our members’ solidarity and professionalism on the picket line allowed the bargaining committee to negotiate a successful end to the strike,” said IAM District 6 Business Representative Ed Miller.
The new agreement includes wages and pension increases over the life of the agreement. The employee portion of insurance rates will remain frozen until December 31, 2006, followed by modest increases.
“We appreciate their hard work and dedication seeking the wages, benefits and working conditions our members at Local 1010 deserve,” said Midwest Territory GVP James E. Brown, who praised BR Ed Miller and the Local 1010 bargaining committee. “We congratulate our members on their new contract and wish them continued success in the future.”
Taken from imail
Posted 7:03 PM
Despite an infusion of $12 million from Pratt & Whitney to fund a study searching for links between chemical exposure in the workplace and a rare form of brain cancer, researchers are concerned that not enough workers will participate in the study to produce a valid study.
Only 16 percent of workers contacted agreed to take part in a “case control” study involving release of medical records and tissue samples. “We need 70 percent participating to have a statistically valid study,” said Gary Marsh in the Hartford Courant. Marsh is a biostatistician from the University of Pittsburgh who is leading the study.
Demand for the study followed the death of about 36 workers since the 1960’s from an aggressive form of brain cancer known as glioblastoma multiforme. Families of the victims who demanded the study now say there have been at least 87 cases of the rare disease.
The study is being overseen by the Connecticut Department of Public Health, which is seeking to find out if a cancer cluster exists at Pratt & Whitney.
Taken from imail
Posted 7:10 PM
President George W. Bush’s approval rating has reached an all-time low of just 39 percent, according to the latest NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll released yesterday.
In a clear indication that both liberals and conservatives alike have become increasingly frustrated with Bush’s performance, only 28 percent or respondents now believe the country is heading in the right direction.
Heading into the 2006 Congressional elections, the poll also found 48 percent of those polled would like to see a Democratic-controlled Congress, compared with only 39 percent who wish to see Republican leadership.
Taken from imail
Posted 7:16 PM
Longtime Michigan State Machinists Council President Dick Cummins inspires delegates to contribute generously to the MNPL
The Michigan State Council met in East Tawas, Michigan recently, where 51 delegates and guests focused on the importance of political involvement.
Also attending were Grand Lodge Representatives James Smith, Karl Heim and Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer.
The Michigan State Council once again demonstrated their commitment in the legislative and political arena, raising over $2,140 for the Machinists Non-Partisan Political League.
“On behalf of the Eastern Territory, we extend our thanks to Council President Dick Cummings and all the Council Delegates for a job well done,” said Eastern Territory GVP Lynn D. Tucker, Jr.
Taken from imail
Posted 7:28 PM
With gas prices continuing to hover around $3 a gallon, Americans can expect even greater financial hardships this winter as a government forecast released yesterday indicates gas and oil heating costs are set to soar.
Households using natural gas can expect a 48 percent, or $350, increase in costs this winter, according to the Energy Information Administration. Homes using heating oil can expect a 32 percent jump in costs, which translates into an additional $378.
Congress has been under pressure to fund a program that would provide financial assistance to low-income people expected to struggle with increasing heating costs this winter.
Taken from imail
Posted 7:36 PM
October 10, 2005
Labor Quote of the week! be
Today, we say that when you pick a fight with any of us, you pick a fight with all of us! And that when you push us, we will push back.
Richard Trumka secretary-treasurer AFL-CIO 10/26/1995
Taken from "Great Labor Quotations" Sourcebook and Reader
Posted 7:30 PM
Two hundred Machinists at Pemco World Air Services in Dothan, Alabama are back at work today after ratifying a new contract by a three-to-one margin.
Two hundred Machinists at Pemco World Air Services in Dothan, Alabama are back at work today after ratifying a new contract by a three-to-one margin. The contract ends a two-month lockout by Pemco and represents a complete turnaround from the original company proposal rejected by Local 1632 members in August.
In the previous proposal, Pemco demanded a five-year contract with no raises, poor health care, no pension raises, outsourcing of many job classifications and heavy use of contract workers.
“We won 3.5 percent raises every year of the three-year deal, good health insurance and a raise in our pensions,” said District 75 Directing Business Representative Steve Pridgen.
“There are no jobs being outsourced, and we won a great apprenticeship program for the Wiregrass area.”
“It’s a fantastic win,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “This is a strong and powerful group of people. With the community, other unions and the IAM behind them, they stood their ground until they won their demands."
" I’m very proud of the members of LL 1632. They truly are Fighting Machinists. Congratulations to them all.”
Taken from imail
Posted 7:47 PM
The cutoff date for discounted hotel room reservations at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel is fast approaching for the 2005 William W. Winpisinger Charity Banquet to benefit Guide Dogs of America.
A special room rate of $139 per night is available only until October 14, 2005. Room reservations made after October 15 will be significantly higher. Call the Paris Las Vegas Hotel directly at 1-888-266-5687 to make your reservations. Be sure to identify yourself as attending the Guide Dogs banquet to get the special rate.
The twenty-fifth annual charity banquet will take place on November 19, 2005 and will honor IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger; Kevin Kelly, president of Kelly Press and Mark Egan of K&R Industries for their steadfast support of the Sylmar, CA-based puppy breeding and training facility.
Since its founding through donations by the IAM in 1948, Guide Dogs of America (GDA) has helped blind men and women recover their ability to move freely and regain independence through partnership with these remarkable animals. GDA services are free of charge to the blind community and rely solely on voluntary donations, bequests, fundraising events, clubs and organizations to support the program.
To breed, raise and train a fully-qualified guide dog and provide instruction in the use of these special dogs costs approximately $38,000. Because of the continued support we receive from our donors, GDA has succeeded in providing all its services - guide dogs, specially designed harness, individualized in-residence training and lifetime follow-up, at no cost, to more than 2,500 blind recipients.
Taken from imail
Posted 7:59 PM
IAM members of Local 354 in Newington, CT hit the picket line at 12:01 AM on October 4, 2005 after weeks of negotiations failed to produce an acceptable agreement with management representatives for Hartford Compressor.
“After notifying the federal mediator and agreeing to extending the contract a few extra days, in an attempt to work things out, the company's offer remained the same,” said Carl Bailey, President of Local 354. Key issues in the strike are wages, sick leave, severance pay and work rules.
“We would like to give a special thanks to District 26 Directing Business Representative Everett Cory and Business Representative Steve Merrick for their assistance and support,” said Bailey. “We appreciate all the help we're getting.”
Taken from imail
Posted 8:07 PM
Local Lodge 41’s Benjamin Castic won first-place for his photograph entitled, “Submerged Arc Welding.”
The IAM has announced the winners of the annual IAM Photography Contest. Local Lodge 41’s Benjamin Castic won first-place for his photograph entitled, “Submerged Arc Welding” showing IAM member Gary Gorham welding a 72-inch diameter gear blank. David B. Cummins from Local 2003 won second-place, and Local 1345’s Ellen O. Arbogast took third-place honors.
Winning photographs are included in the 2006 IAM calendar. A portion of proceeds from sales of the calendar are donated to the Guide Dogs of America. The IAM raised more than $25,000 for the GDA from the 2005 calendar sales.
Winning photos from this year’s competition and earlier years can be found at:www.goiam.org/publications/
pcwinners/winners2005.htm
Taken from imail
Posted 8:15 PM
The gubernatorial race in Virginia is heating up with Democratic candidate Timothy M. Kaine moving into a virtual tie in the polls with Republican candidate Jerry W. Kilgore. By taking a strong stance on issues that matter to working families, including education and social security, Kaine has steadily gained ground on Kilgore and is now positioned to overtake his challenger in the weeks leading up to the November 8 election.
With 280 volunteers canvassing Virginia, union households are doing their part to get Kaine elected. Currently, 68 percent of union members in Virginia are registered to vote.
In the only other state holding a gubernatorial election this year, New Jersey Democrat Jon Corzine continues to hold a 7-point lead over Republican Doug Forrester.
Taken from imail
Posted 8:21 PM
October 06, 2005
Labor Quote of the week! be
No issue can be negotiated unless you first have the clout to compel negotiation."
Saul Alinsky
Taken from "Great Labor Quotations" Sourcebook and Reader
Posted 4:30 PM
In order to produce unique and effective strategies for organizing, the participants took part in a historic e-brainstorming session in which over 120 inter-connected computers allowed members to simultaneously exchange a free flow of ideas on how to better organize new members.
Nearly 1,000 Machinists from all over North America gathered in Chicago yesterday to kick off the IAM Organizing Summit.
International President Tom Buffenbarger, who called on each and every participant to organize and help grow the Union, announced effective November 1, 2005 the Grand Lodge will place a one year moratorium on per capita taxes for each new member organized.
“We know just as the founders of this Union did, we need something bigger than any one of us. We need a union, and we need one damn big union if we’re going to succeed for our families and the future generations of North Americans,” said Buffenbarger.
In order to produce unique and effective strategies for organizing, the participants took part in a historic e-brainstorming session in which over 120 interconnected computers allowed members to simultaneously exchange a free flow of ideas on how to better organize new members.
Conference delegates also heard from best-selling author Harry Beckwith and IAM members who have helped lead successful organizing drives.
“The IAM has definitely made a difference for not only me, but others who have also had to fight to get proper representation in their workplace,” said Renell Manns, who played a pivotal role in organizing P&B Transport in Florida.
Other sessions allowed the participants the chance to take part in educational workshops covering a variety of topics, including bargaining to organize, tools and techniques for organizing, strategic targeting and positive message development.
The conference, which wraps up Friday, is a critical step in making the IAM a high performance organizing union.
“Today we have the activists, the leadership, the movers and shakers all sitting in one room. Look around because we need help from each and every one of you to organize and help grow this Union again,” said Buffenbarger.
Taken form imail
Posted 4:45 PM
The law firm that Supreme Court nominee Harriet Miers belonged to before joining the Bush administration in 2001 offers a comprehensive "union avoidance" strategy for businesses.
The Locke Liddell & Sapp website details services to prevent businesses from being organized:
" . . . we handle all matters that arise under the National Labor Relations Act, including NLRB elections, anti-union campaign materials, collective bargaining, arbitrations, strikes and picketing . . .For union-free companies, we provide union-avoidance advice and strategies in emerging situations."
While it is not known whether Miers personally provided anti-union services, she was a co-managing partner of the firm and was elected its president in 1996. She began working at what is now Locke Liddell & Sapp in 1972.
Taken from imail
Posted 4:57 PM
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments this week on whether the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) mandates that workers be paid to wait in line and walk between equipment stations in order to retrieve and return the safety and sanitary equipment that they are required to wear.
Workers at a meat processing facility in Washington and a poultry processing plant in Maine, both filed suit under the FLSA seeking compensation for time spent putting on and taking off required sanitary and safety equipment, as well as time spent waiting in line and walking between equipment stations to retrieve and return their gear.
The United States argued in support of the workers saying that the workers should prevail on the basis of deference to longstanding Department of Labor regulations.
This is the first case Chief Justice John Roberts heard following his recent confirmation.
Taken from imail
Posted 5:06 PM
This year's debate over Social Security has focused primarily on retiree benefits and has largely neglected the survivors and disability portions of the program.
The fact that two-thirds of retirees receive at least half of their income from Social Security has become well-known. Yet many people seem unaware that about one in six Social Security beneficiaries receive survivor benefits as the spouses and dependents of deceased workers and another sixth receive disability benefits.
In 2003, some 1.9 million children received survivor benefits at an average of $603 per month, totaling $14 billion a year. For many families, Social Security provides the only form of life insurance for their children.
An Economic Policy Institute analysis of the Federal Reserve's 2001 Survey of Consumer Finance shows that 31% of families with children under the age of 18 have not purchased life insurance in the private market. This translates into roughly 24.5 million children without life insurance other than Social Security.
Taken from imail
Posted 5:20 PM
GOP House Majority Leader Tom DeLay at a press conference following his indictment on allegations of violating campaign finance laws.
Tom DeLay, the one-time exterminator from Houston, TX who rose to the pinnacle of political power in Washington, D.C., was indicted Sept. 28 for his alleged part in a campaign finance scheme linked to congressional redistricting in Texas that led, ultimately, to Republican control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Under House rules, the former bug catcher was forced to immediately step down from his position as House Majority Leader, where he had earned the nickname “The Hammer” for his ruthless partisan leadership style. DeLay could serve two years in prison if convicted on the single charge of criminal conspiracy.
The indictment is not connected to multiple ethical charges that led to three rebukes by the House Ethics Committee in 2004, or to outrage over DeLay’s practice of extending floor votes on controversial legislation until a Republican majority could be achieved. The “vote-whipping” practice drew widespread attention when it was revealed the 58-year old DeLay told one lawmaker he would support his son’s bid for Congress if the lawmaker would change his vote on the GOP’s deeply flawed Medicare prescription drug bill.
Voting is underway on the revised contract offer for 18,400 IAM members working at Boeing facilities in Kansas, Oregon and Washington state. Results will be posted late this evening at www.iam751.org and www.goiam.org following tabulation of ballots from all locations.
A simple majority of those voting is required to ratify the offer. If members ratify the contract, the strike would end and members could return to work as early as 11 p.m. on Sept. 29, 2005.
The deadline to register for the 2005 Communications Conference is fast approaching and members wishing to attend this important event should complete the attached registration form and return it immediately VIA FAX to the IAM Communications Dept. at 301-967-4586. This year’s conference will be held Oct. 30-Nov. 2 in Wichita, KS.
Among the guests at this year’s conference will be nationally known author Thomas Frank, who’s book “What’s The Matter With Kansas” drew critical raves for its analysis of the 2004 election cycle. Also featured at the conference will be the winners of the IAM Newsletter and Web Steward Competition, who will be honored at an Awards Ceremony on Oct. 31.
A group of 31 mine workers employed by Feldspar Corporation in Edgar, FL, the state’s oldest continually operated mine, voted recently to join the IAM. “The biggest issue was respect and a voice on the job,” said District 112 Directing Business Representative Steve Hernandez. “Wages and benefits are very important, but people want fair treatment.” The group will join other surface mine contracts with the IAM in Local Lodge 1098.
District 75 also won a recent vote at Ft. Rucker, AL for 12 Flight Simulator Operators with L-3 Communications. The Technicians join over 3,000 IAM members already at Ft. Rucker.
Rounding out the trio of organizing victories, District 110 recently organized 5 Airframe and Powerplant Maintenance Technicians at Cherry Point, NC. The new members there work for Dyncorp.
“I’m happy to welcome our newest members,” said Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez. “Congratulations to these Districts and Locals who put in the hard work necessary to bring these new members into the Machinists family.”
Omaha's Septemberfest is one of Nebraska's largest Labor Day salutes to working families.
Members of Local 31 played a pivotal role in this year’s Septemberfest: the annual Labor celebration in Omaha, Nebraska. GVP Jim Brown of the Midwest Territory helped lead the parade at Omaha’s annual salute to working men and women in the community. GVP Brown was joined by Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman, Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and Omaha Federation of Labor President Terry Moore.
Local 31 members also marched in the parade, many riding on Harley-Davidson motorcycles as part of the Harley-Davidson Traveling Museum. Members worked all day at the event, showing over 2,000 guests what the Harley-Davidson exhibit had to offer.
Local 31, IP Tom Buffenbarger, GVP Brown, Harley-Davidson and the Omaha Federation of Labor all helped make this year’s celebration a success.
The Chinese government is continuing its efforts to limit free speech on the Internet in China, announcing new restrictions on what the Communist government considers to be “unhealthy news.”
Only “healthy and civilized news and information that is beneficial to the improvement of the quality of the nation, beneficial to its economic development and conducive to social progress” will be permitted, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
U.S. firms such as Yahoo and Google have already shown a willingness to comply with China’s censorship as they compete to serve China’s 100-million citizens on the Internet.
Yahoo, for instance, recently admitted to providing China with private e-mail information that helped lead to the jailing of a Chinese journalist who sent an email that the government called a ‘state secret’. Google and Microsoft have also reportedly both helped China in their efforts to censor content on the Internet.
Members of District Lodge 98, Local Lodge 175 in York, PA, the Eastern Territory staff and the Harley-Davidson company sponsored a bike build booth at the All-Star Choppers show in Ocean City, Maryland. Local 175 members built and then raffled a 2006 Harley-Davidson Street Guide FLHX, which raised more than $15,000 for Guide Dogs of America.
District Lodge 98, Local Lodge 175 and the Harley-Davidson company sponsored a bike build booth at the All-Star Choppers show in Ocean City, MD that attracted thousands of motorcycle enthusiasts from across the East coast.
Members of Local 175 from York, Pennsylvania’s Harley-Davidson facility built a 2006 Harley-Davidson Street Guide FLHX during the event. On the last day the bike was raffled off. Mike Edwards from Ellicott City, MD won the bike and $15,391.00 in raffle proceeds went to Guide Dogs of America.
“On behalf of the entire Eastern Territory, I extend our congratulations and appreciation to District Lodge 98, DBR Tom Boger, Local 175 President Paul Quickel, Recording Secretary Donna Kaltreider, members Edna Gorby, Eric Williams, Joe Sinclair, Harley Davidson's Bill Law, the bike build team and all the volunteers who sold tickets,” said Eastern Territory GVP Lynn Tucker, Jr.
Determined to promote a radical conservative agenda of less government at any cost, a group of Republican House members is calling for cuts to some federal retirees' benefits to help offset the cost of Hurricane Katrina recovery.
The House Republican Study Committee released a package of recommendations known as “Operation Offset” Wednesday that called for calculating retirement annuities for federal employees based on an average of their five highest-earning years of service. Employees' current annuities are based on a high three-year average. Adding two years of lower pay would decrease the average, and thus reduce retirees' defined benefits.
The Republican Study Committee, headed up by Rep. Mike Pence, R-IN, is made up of about 100 House Republicans who push conservative social and economic policies. The RSC said it estimates the change in retirement calculations would cut $5.2 billion in benefits over ten years.