february - IAM Local Lodge 839

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Page 8 MACHINISTS MATTERS FEB RU ARY 2009 December 26, 2008 Lack of good wages, not unions, to blame for crisis NEWS-LEADER.COM Springfield, Mo. This column is in response to Paul Schneider's letter, "Union assisted companies' decline." I can understand his frustration. I am, as well as most workers in America, frustrated at the loss of good-paying jobs in the U.S. What I don't agree with is his statement, "....they are the main reason that the automakers are in such bad shape. The union has demanded such huge salaries, such complete health care coverage and such outrageous pensions that the cost of a new car or truck has become unaffordable for many Americans." The union did not demand salaries and benefits. Wages and benefits were negotiated between management and labor. They were agreed to and a contract was signed. Union leaders didn't demand, they negotiated, as well as management, in good faith. The problem now being that time, the economy and situations beyond our control have changed. What made good sense in the past may now be misunderstood or even look ridiculous. "Complete health care coverage" that Mr. Schneider refers to as being part of the fall of the automakers was given to almost all American workers in the past. America had an abundance of good-paying jobs. These were factory jobs where goods were being made in America. Americans could actually work, pay taxes and provide for their families with these jobs. Corporate America did have a problem, though -- that being too much work and not enough workers. Companies lost employees to competitors. One way companies solved this was by offering free health care to employees. Health care was very cheap and a good benefit to give employees. This benefit was not forced on companies; it was just a good deal for all concerned at the time. The automakers do pay a weekly wage to employees who have been laid off. In the past this probably made sense. The assembling of an automobile takes many highly trained employees. They were probably paid during retooling times so as to retain their skills. It was cheaper than training new workers. I believe the UAW negotiators and union leaders understand that America, as well as American workers, have a horrendous problem. They are willing to talk and negotiate with the automakers. Mr. Schneider implies that auto workers need to lower their wages and benefits in order to compete. As I have said in the past, low wages have never brought prosperity to America. What brings prosperity to us is lots of good-paying jobs. Paychecks to spend. Automobiles made in America and across seas cost about the same; the difference is in how the company splits the pie. It is a dangerous situation when American workers agree to lower their wages and benefits to "compete." It doesn't matter what the UAW negotiates as a wage concession if they choose that route; the imports will move somewhat below that amount. It's a vicious cycle. All workers in America, no matter what their occupation, should make a wage that will give them the ability and dignity to raise a family and save for the future. Right now, that is not the case. We should not ask employees to work for less. The solution is to bring back good-paying American jobs where workers can make a good living and pay taxes. We should be trying to bring the low-paying jobs up in pay and stop trying to bring good-paying jobs down. Mike Brumley is president, Local 1553, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW, Springfield. Editor’s Note; I was in Springfield , Mo. For Christmas. The article above was in the Springfield News- Leader on December 26th. I felt Brother Brumley spoke about the lack of good wages and the rush to blame the Unions in a way that made sense for everyone to understand. I contacted him and he has given me permission to reprint his letter to the editor. L.S. Quote from Robert B. Reich January 26, 2009 in an article for the Los Angles Times “Go back about 50 years, when America's middle class was expanding and the economy was soaring. Paychecks were big enough to allow us to buy all the goods and services we produced. It was a virtuous circle. Good pay meant more purchases, and more purchases meant more jobs. At the center of this virtuous circle were unions. In 1955, more than a third of working Americans belonged to one. Unions gave them the bargaining leverage they needed to get the paychecks that kept the economy going. So many Americans were unionized that wage agreements spilled over to nonunionized workplaces as well. Employers knew they had to match union wages to compete for workers and to recruit the best ones.”
Page 9 MACHINISTS MATTERS FEB RU ARY 2009 IAM Organizers Plan for Post-Bush Era The IAM Organizing Department is preparing to take full advantage of a political landscape that is shifting decidedly in its favor. “What a difference it makes having a little help at the top,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger at a planning summit of the IAM Organizing Department. “In addition to pro-labor executive orders and a pledge to sign the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), we’re looking forward to federal agencies that don’t use their power to aggressively block the basic right of workers to join a union.” Unlike previous administrations that failed to protect the rights of workers seeking to organize, President Obama recently signed a remarkable series of pro-labor executive orders, including one that prohibits government contractors from using any federal funds to finance anti-union campaigns. Buffenbarger urged the organizers to have campaigns ready to go. International President Tom Buffenbarger (center) addresses IAM Organizers during a planning meeting this week in Nashville, TN “Winning the EFCA fight won’t be easy, our adversaries are spending millions and are ready to spend millions more, but now is the time to develop plans for when we do win,” said Buffenbarger. While the political landscape has shifted, the economic landscape is changing too, with mass layoffs, bankruptcies and factory closings sending shock waves through the economy and adding a new dimension to the job of union organizers. “We have something workers desperately need and want in times of economic turmoil,” said Organizing Director George Myers. “And that’s the promise in writing that their rights will be protected, their pensions defended and their voice will be every bit as loud as shareholders, managers or investors.” In addition to planning for upcoming campaigns, the organizers took time to salute Larry Washam, the much loved and recently retired former director of the IAM Organizing Department. “Thousands of men and women all across the country are living better, richer lives because of the work this man has done over the years,” said Headquarters Vice President Rich Michalski, who hosted the event attended by more than 100 friends, family and co-workers. “Larry Washam has always been one of those people who makes you proud to belong to the Machinists union.” http://www.goiam.org/ publications/imail/ imail_02_12_2009.htm LOCAL LODGE NO. 839 ORGANIZING PROGRAM FOR 2009 1. Program to start with applications submitted to Company for first payroll deduction in January 2009 and end with those submitted for the first payroll deduction in December 2009. 2. To be eligible for this Program, the new member’s application must be a payroll deduction, not cash pay. 3. One Union Shirt will be given to the new Union member. 4. Only one application is accepted for any new member. If member joins at the Interview Desk, no one gets ‘credit’ for the application. When called back to Spirit within one year’s time, the member is automatically reinstated. No one gets ‘credit’ for reinstatements. 5. Any eligible member who signs up a new member will receive $10 for every new member’s application turned in and paid at the monthly Union meeting. 6. The Local Lodge Organizing Committee will assist this Program. 7. The money generated from the new members will support part of the expense of this Program. *Any tax liability incurred by the winners of prizes, under this Organizing Program, is the responsibility of the winner. Local Lodge No. 839 will accept no responsibility. 8. Full time Union Representatives, Organizers, Staff of Lodge No. 839 and persons assigned to the Interview Desk will not be eligible for prizes. 9. With the adoption of this Program and inception, effective January 01, 2009, all past Programs are concluded. *All eligible members must fill out a W4 Federal and State withholding form and turn in to the Local Lodge to receive any pay out.
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