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Michigan Union Members Kick Off Fight Against Attacks on Workers |
Barbara Stack White of the United Steelworkers (USW) sends us this first-hand account of the USW’s rally yesterday to challenge attempts by well-funded zealots to make Michigan a “right to work” for less state.
In Lansing, Mich., yesterday, an alliance of labor organizations led by the United Steelworkers’ Rapid Response activist network, launched a counterattack to defeat right-wing extremists who have audaciously brought their falsely titled “right to work” campaign to the home of America’s autoworkers union.
Three-hundred trade unionists rallied at the Capitol and then fanned out into lawmakers’ offices seeking signatures on pledges opposing any effort to place “right to work” into law in Michigan.
In states with “right to work” for less laws, the average pay for workers is 15 percent less than in states where workers have rights to collectively bargain contracts (including wages and benefits).
Despite a looming budget crisis in which Michigan’s governor threatened to shut down the government, those at the rally persuaded dozens of senators and house members to sign pledges against “right to work.”
State Sen. Mike Prusi (D), a former president of USW Local 4950, told the crowd:
“Right to work” has nothing to do with jobs or rights. It is about corporate profits continuing to skyrocket while workers’ wages remain stagnant or fall.
The AFL-CIO’s own Fred Azcarate, national director of organizing, was among speakers at the rally who helped fire up the signature gatherers. He warned that losing to the outside interests is not an option because if the corporate forces behind “right to work” could succeed in Michigan, they could take down workers in any state. “But, brothers and sisters, together, we are going to win!” he told the crowd to cheers.
USW District 2 Director Jon Geenen, a key organizer of the event and the alliance Michigan United for a Better Economy, explained why “right to work” isn’t about jobs or rights.
In “RTW” states, unions must represent all workers in bargaining, grievances, safety issues, legal matters and all other union business, even though workers don’t have to pay union dues or a fee in lieu of dues. This costly policy is designed to kill unions.
The mission of Michigan United for a Better Economy is beating back a referendum that outside corporate interests want to place on the ballot to make it the 23rd “right to work” state.
The USW, the Teamsters, AFSCME, the Communication Workers of America (CWA) and the AFL-CIO are among those involved at this point, but Geenen announced at the rally that Michigan United will ask community and religious groups across the state to join as well.
The activists at the rally in Lansing didn’t have to travel far to get several signatures on pledges against “right to work.” Numerous lawmakers went to the event to sign. Among them was Sen. John Gleason, who told the group:
I have worked since I was 12. I have always had the right to work. We don’t need any more of that. What we need more of it’s the right to collectively bargain!
He could barely be heard over the applause and shouts of supports as he concluded with, “Right to work: Get your ass back to where you came from! We do not need you in Michigan!”
Earlier in the day, members of the USW Rapid Response activist network attended a District 2 Rapid Response conference, where they learned about how the “right to work” campaign in Michigan is part of a well-heeled corporate effort that has swept the country, resulting in five new “right to work” laws in recent years, funded by “foundations” including the one started by the family that owns Wal-Mart.
Michigan AFL-CIO President Mark Gaffney was among those who reiterated those points at the rally. He told those seeking pledges from lawmakers:
After you visit your legislator, they will be able to tell those out-of-state, right-wing, right-to-work, fringe groups, “We do not want you here because we have heard from organized labor.”
After the rally, hundreds of workers went into the Capitol to win pledges from their lawmakers to oppose “right to work” legislation. They received an unequivocal pledge from State House Labor Committee Chairman Fred Miler (D), who said:
As long as I am chairman, “right to work” legislation will not pass the Michigan House of Representatives.
The Michigan workers hope to follow the same victorious path that lead Kentucky and Indiana working family activists to victories in “right to work” battles last year.
If you live in Michigan, click here to a send a message to your lawmaker to opposes “right to work” for less legislation. For more information from the Michigan AFL-CIO, click here.
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AMERICANS FOR HONEST GOVERNMENT
3406 MAITLAND-SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78259
FAX: 210-481-9725 PHONE: 210-481-9725
Sept. 28th, 2007
OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH, ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY.
President, Felipe calderon seems to forgot that The United State is a sovereign nation, that he nor any one have the right to demand that we open our border to any one that at will want to come to our country in violation of our immigration laws, we have our laws and we will enforce our laws. We the American people will not rest until all of our corrupt politicians that fail to enforce the immigration laws, support the North American Union and fail to protect the American people from import that are of dangerous to our health and our economic well being, will be voted out of office.
Our country is a Country by the people and for the people. We have the power to place in government responsible representatives of the people, statesmen that follow our constitution and enforce our laws, our tolerance have being such that our corrupt politicians ignored our laws and foster an open border policy to their benefit and of the cronies that they represent.
We the people said, enough is enough do your job and represent the people that send you Washington, or we will get you out of office.
Mexican President: We Are Coming!
Friday, September 28, 2007 10:19 AM
PUERTO PENASCO, Mexico — Mexican President Felipe Calderon told U.S. governors Thursday that immigration is an inevitable, natural phenomenon and he urged the U.S. Congress to approve reforms that would allow more Mexicans to work legally north of the border.
Calderon demanded that the United States respect “the right to work wherever one can make the greatest contribution.”
“Immigration is a natural phenomenon that is economically and socially inevitable,” he told the meeting in this Sonora seaside resort town.
In a rare acknowledgment of the costs of migration for Mexico, Calderon said his country “doesn’t not celebrate migration … our best people are the ones who go.”
Immigration and border security were among the top issues at the meeting, the 25th annual such event between Mexican and U.S. governors from states along the two countries’ common border. Mexican officials were focused on stopping the illegal flow of U.S. weapons into Mexico and protesting expansion of U.S. border fencing. For the Americans, the drug trade, migration and border security topped the list.
On Monday, the U.S. government announced plans to erect about 370 miles (600 kilometers) of fencing and 200 miles (320 kilometers) of vehicle barriers by the end of 2008.
Tension over the fences — which have drawn criticism from environmentalists, land owners and politicians both in Mexico and the United States — surfaced at the meeting.
“This is the great tragedy,” said Carlos de la Parra, a participant in the conference’s environmental panel, as he pointed to a map of proposed border fences separating nature reserves. Mentioning a list of wildlife that migrates across the border, Parra, of Mexico’s Colegio de la Frontera, noted “these animals don’t cross the border to shop. They do it out of necessity.”
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has opposed the border fencing, praised Mexico and its cooperation with its northern neighbor.
“The relationship has become stronger and stronger each year,” he said. “We have become more than just good neighbors. We have become great friends.”
Describing his many visits to Mexico since his first one 40 years ago, Schwarzenegger lifted a line from his movie “Terminator,” quipping, “I always look forward to saying, ‘I’ll be back.”
Eduardo Bours, governor of the border state of Sonora, called for more border crossings, saying those that exist between Arizona and Sonora are saturated.
“There are lines of three, four and five hours, and so we have to invest much more in border crossings,” he said.
He also called for a crackdown on U.S. weapons that “cross the border all too easily.” Calderon said weapons illicitly smuggled in from the U.S. had been responsible for killing dozens of Mexican policemen
While all the Mexican governors were scheduled to attend, half of the U.S. contingent of governors — New Mexico’s Bill Richardson and Texas’ Rick Perry were not coming.
Richardson, who is making a presidential bid, did not give a reason for his absence; Perry’s office cited a scheduling conflict.