IAM: America Needs Manufacturing Policy Now
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Unlike our competitors, the United States does not have a national manufacturing strategy. The “Make It in America” agenda, proposed by House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.), is a step toward pursuing policies that will support and create manufacturing jobs, says Machinists (IAM) President Tom Buffenbarger. He urged support for the agenda and praised parts of it as critical to restoring the nation’s economic and national security.
Each month that passes without a comprehensive national plan to rebuild our manufacturing infrastructure is another month this nation suffers needlessly. The time for debate and lip service to the notion of large-scale job creation has past. We need big ideas, big enough to put hundreds of thousands of Americans back to work every month. Our economy will remain stuck in neutral until we do.
AFL-CIO and Other Union Statements on U.S.-Korea Free Trade Deal
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka today issued a statement opposing the Korea–U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS). See the entire statement below. Also, read statements issued today from the United Steelworkers (USW), Communications Workers of America CWA and Machinists (IAM).
AFL-CIO President Trumka:
For more than a decade, the labor movement, environmental groups, development advocates and others have advocated for a new trade policy that is part of a more coordinated and coherent national economic strategy. The proposed U.S.-Korea trade deal does not live up to that model and does not contribute to a sustainable global future. We believe we must move towards a more democratic, sustainable and fair global economy with broadly shared prosperity for working people around the world. Reaching that goal will require deep-seated reforms in current trade policy, as well as in our own domestic labor laws and other policies. Read the rest of this entry »
NFL Players to Join State Federations
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It happens too often. Workers become more productive, often risking serious injury on the job, and make the owners more money. But instead of sharing the wealth, the owners demand givebacks and threaten to shut down the company if the workers don’t agree.
The only difference this time is that the workers include such household names as Drew Brees, Ray Lewis, Peyton Manning and James Harrison—all stars of the National Football League. NFL team owners are threatening to lock out players next season, and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) is joining with the other workers in the stadiums and the rest of the union movement to fight management’s greed. Today, the NFLPA announced that its members will fully affiliate with all AFL-CIO state federations and the central labor councils where their NFL teams are based.
Restoring Manufacturing Key to Saving American Dream
A much larger and more robust manufacturing sector is the key to rebuilding the American economy and restoring faith in the American Dream, political, business and labor leaders said yesterday.
At the Conference on the Renaissance of American Manufacturing in Washington, D.C., several speakers agreed the free fall in U.S. manufacturing has cost millions of good jobs and put the country at a competitive disadvantage in the global economy. The future could be even dimmer if polices aren’t adopted to staunch the decline–because as the nation loses manufacturing, we also lose the research and development that lead to future innovations and new industries, they said.
Former U.S. Sen. Don Riegle (D-Mich.) noted that U.S. competitors—China, Germany and other European countries—utilize strategies that emphasize domestic development and production. The United States has no strategy, just a mistaken blind faith in free trade. In effect, the United States gives away jobs, production and technology to China and other countries, then buys back the products in the form of imports, he said.
What’s the Word for Nov. 2? JOBS!
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What are working families looking for in a candidate this fall? Let Machinists (IAM) President R. Thomas Buffenbarger explain. Speaking to members of IAM, Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) and other Washington State unions at a rally for Sen. Patty Murray in Seattle, he said:
Our candidates are the type of candidates who bring the one word we want to hear to a campaign. What word is that brothers?
A booming chorus of “JOBS!” was the answer.
Buffenbarger said Murray has a solid jobs track record, especially in preserving and attracting aerospace jobs—like the Air Force’s new air tanker—to Washington State.
‘Buy America’ Puts People to Work
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A new report presents clear evidence that including Buy America provisions in last year’s stimulus package has created jobs and makes the case that the rules should be strengthened in jobs legislation being considered on Capitol Hill.
The 17-page report, “Buy America Works,” by the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), highlights success stories showing how Buy America provisions have benefited U.S. companies. Like United Streetcar in Oregon, that is manufacturing the first U.S.-made streetcars in 60 years and supporting a supply chain across the nation. Or Arcelor Mittal in Pennsylvania, that is building rail tracks for southeastern Pennsylvania.
Earlier this week, AAM field staff converged on Capitol Hill to urge their lawmakers to maintain and enhance Buy America requirements in jobs legislation now before the Senate, where some Republicans want to weaken the rules.
Seniors Honor Kourpias, Set to Carry on Fight for Health Care
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Even though his title may have changed, George Kourpias is still as active as ever in the fight for the rights of America’s workers. Kourpias, who retired as president of the Alliance for Retired Americans in February, was honored last night at the organization’s national legislative conference.
Kourpias, the former president of the Machinists (IAM), was the first president of the Alliance. During his tenure, the Alliance grew to 3.5 million members and built a strong grassroots political force that played a key role in the 2006 and 2008 elections. This week, the retirees displayed their political energy by lobbying on Capitol Hill for affordable health care for everyone.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka praised Kourpias as
a man who every day of his life…has been devoted to combating the forces of greed and privatization that threaten the dignity of those who work for their daily bread.
Believe me, anybody who has ever confronted him on an issue of principle—whether corporate executive, congressman or senator—has come away knowing that George Kourpias is a man of towering convictions.
Retirees Set to Tell Lawmakers: Health Care Reform Now
For three hours before the formal opening of their annual legislative conference today, members of the Alliance for Retired Americans got down to business by taking part in workshops on health care reform and Social Security. They will be joined by speakers such as Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).
Throughout the June 15-18 conference in Washington, D.C., delegates and many high-level officials and union leaders will discuss the best solutions to the nation’s health care crisis and develop strategies to protect and strengthen Social Security.
In her opening address, Alliance President Barbara Easterling said seniors are in a unique position to influence the debate on health care. It is important for seniors to define the health care issue for Congress and the American people, Easterling said.
Currency Reform Bill Could Help Create New Jobs
Unfair currency manipulation in the global economy is costing millions of American manufacturing jobs—and a coalition of labor, business and agriculture leaders say the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (CRFTA) is the best vehicle to stop the wholesale destruction of our manufacturing base.
At a Capitol Hill press conference today, members of the Fair Currency Coalition endorsed the bipartisan legislation introduced by Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) and Sens. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.). The bill would treat prolonged currency manipulation as an illegal subsidy and dumping under U.S. trade laws.
In a statement, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer and Fair Currency Coalition Co-Chair Richard Trumka says job creation is the number one issue on the minds of the federation’s members.
While enacting the stimulus has provided critical short-term relief, the United States will not see sustained employment growth until our government stops China, Japan and others from using their undervalued currency to steal American jobs. That’s why Congress must pass the Ryan-Murphy CRFTA as quickly as possible.
Sportsmen’s Alliance Works to Conserve and Protect Wildlife
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The coalition of union members and environmental groups is growing stronger as both groups push for green jobs and organizations like the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council join the drive to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. Now you can add another group to the mix—the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA).
For 18 months, the USA has been working to build support within the union movement for preserving our hunting and fishing heritage. Launched in 2007, the USA is a joint venture of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP) and 21 unions. The hunting and fishing club is open to union members, retirees and their families.
One of USA’s main goals is to support the TRCP’s longstanding dedication to guaranteeing access for hunters and anglers, conserving the fish and wildlife habitat and increasing funding for conservation.
