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Industrial Unions Demand Results February 6, 2003
The day began with a conference that was part pep-rally and part policy briefing with members of the 12 manufacturing unions under the new Industrial Union Council banner. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney introduced the morning session by warning delegates that they would not like much of what they were about to hear about the dimensions of the industrial crisis. "Its a sorry tale of purposeful destruction of the high-wage, good benefit manufacturing jobs that have elevated the jobs of all working families in our country," Sweeney said. "Its a tale that makes me angry and I know that those of you who live this take every day are already angry."
Congressman Miller forcefully decried President George W. Bushs continuing advocacy of tax breaks for the wealthy over the interests of working Americans. "Its amazing that the administration would come to the highest office in this town and the first thing they do is declare war on the middle class of America," Miller said. "How do you do that and by what right? Well it cant be and its not right." The delegates received a crash course on the economic consequences of international trade imbalances. When the North American Free Trade was enacted in 1994, companies moved production overseas, resulting in a ballooning of the trade deficit, or the difference between the amount the United States exports to overseas markets and the amount of imported goods sold here. The $9 billion annual deficit exploded to $83 billion last year, said Thea Lee of the AFL-CIOs public policy department, and the trade deals keep coming. "Growth has been mediocre in the 20 years since weve put trade policies into place," Lee said. "Poverty rates are still high around the world and wages for the majority of American workers are stagnant." For photos, materials and more information on the conference, click here to read the AFL-CIO web site. On Monday, the 200 members of IBEW met for a day of a strategy sessions and guest speakers. "Manufacturing is in crisis," IBEW Manufacturing Department Director Bob Stander told the delegates at the legislative conference. "The United States is losing industrial capacity and good jobs at an enormous rate. Brothers and sisters, there is no good news in manufacturing." December marked the 29th consecutive month manufacturing employment declined in the United States, the longest decline since the Great Depression 70 years ago, said Bob Baugh, the director of the AFL-CIOs new council. He said the continuing decline is dangerous to the United States economy as well as our national security. The jobto stem to tide of manufacturing lossesis a mighty one that every member must take home.
International President Edwin D. Hill was the first speaker of the day. He said an incident in St. Louis two weeks ago illustrated the conflict in America over manufacturing. President Bush gave a speech at a warehouse in front of a screen made to appear as boxes printed with the words "Made in the USA." But the real boxes, stacked in front of the podium, bore tape covering their country of origin, China. "Never have I seen such an obvious example of a politician telling the truth by accident," President Hill said. "Think about it. If Bush really believes in the unrestricted free trade that he and past presidents including, sadly, Bill Clinton pushed, then why cover up the made in China label? If he is so proud of the global economy, why try to hide a fact that is obvious to any American in any store in the land: we are awash in cheap foreign imports, made by people with little or no labor rights, or even civil or human rights for that matter. That tape didnt cover up anything. It really uncovered the fact that Americans must still care about having a domestic industrial base and creating decent, well-paying jobs for our own people." International Secretary-Treasurer Jerry OConnor decried the hypocrisy of President that used the war on terror as a reason to send the long shore workers back to the piers last fall during the port lockout. "But the real reason that President Bush stepped in with an emergency order was because the flow of cheap goods from Asia was being interrupted, and the corporations were furious," OConnor said. "He even decried the fact that some missile parts needed for our war on terrorism that were on their way from Japan were being held up. Imagine that, Japan is supplying us with something vital to our national security. The real story about how Asians are doing the work that Americans once did somehow got lost in the shuffle." IBEW Political Department Director Rick Diegel said he is mad about last falls disappointing performance on Election Day by many candidates supported by the IBEW. "Im mad at myself and Im mad at you," Diegel told the delegates. "We have very little power and not nearly enough friends in Congress. I need you to make our political program stronger and richer. If you dont, then you dont care if you have a job in a union." Representatives Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Denise Majette (D-Georgia) also spoke to the group. Brown encouraged delegates to see through the "compassionate conservative" rhetoric by President Bush to the actions he takes. "President Bush is going to continue to be motivated by helping his rich friends," Brown said. "Thats what this guy is all about. The sooner we can get that information out to the rest of the country, the better off well be."
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IBEW to Congress: ‘Working Americans
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