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December 4, 2008 |
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Dec. 2: ATU 1576 members picket CT |
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Thursday, December 4, 2008
Bender: Congress must
assist U.S. automakers
In
a letter to the state's Congressional delegation, Washington State Labor
Council President Rick Bender writes: "Congress must act
in December to avoid the terrible consequences that would result from a
collapse of domestic automakers. We ask that you work to pass legislation
providing an emergency bridge loan to enable the domestic auto companies
to continue operations, but at the same time, to include requirements to
protect taxpayers and ensure accountability and long term viability of our
domestic auto industry." More.
► At AFL-CIO Now -- Auto crisis threatens entire economy; union ready to do its part -- again -- Says UAW's Ron Gettelfinger: "We’re willing to take the extra step here. The important thing is to secure these jobs and we cannot do it as the UAW. It’s got to be something that’s done for this country. We have to get this loan. Main Street, side street and rural America are all impacted by what the Congress does."
► In today's NY Times -- UAW makes concessions in bid to help automakers -- UAW says its members are willing to sacrifice job security provisions and financing for retiree health care to keep the two most troubled companies of the Big Three, GM and Chrysler, out of bankruptcy.
► In today's LA Times -- GM may pull plug on Saturn -- The brand was created to compete with efficient imports but has never shown a profit, making it vulnerable as automakers struggle.
► From AP -- Automakers back to try to sell Congress on rescue -- They return for hearings they hope will persuade skeptical lawmakers to save their troubled industry with $34 billion in emergency aid, but a top Senate Democrat wants to hand their problem to the Federal Reserve.
Local news:
► In today's Everett Herald -- Details scant on latest stimulus proposal -- Sen. Patty Murray and Rep. Rick Larsen say they hope Congress can pass the stimulus package by Jan. 20 -- the inauguration day for President-elect Obama. It will aim to create numerous construction jobs to revive the bad economy and to build strong, sustainable infrastructures for the future, they say.
► From AP -- WEA settles campaign money case -- The teachers' union and Attorney General Rob McKenna settle a long-running suit over whether the WEA violated a state law that says workers must “opt in” before spending their money on political causes. The union will pay the state $735,000 and refund $240,000 to workers who didn’t want their fees used on politics.
► In today's Olympian -- Community health centers worry about budget reductions -- A new study says that the centers are a $1.2 billion a year benefit to the state's economy that makes up for some of their cost to taxpayers. But the study's release coincides with the colossal budget mess emerging at the state Capitol that threatens sustained public funding for health care.
► In today's Seattle Times -- Port of Seattle probe exposes fraud, "get it done" culture -- A Port of Seattle employee leaked sensitive documents to a major contractor who later made an "astonishing" 30% profit on a $125 million construction job at SeaTac Airport, the probe finds.
► In today's Spokesman-Review -- Spokane County plans to cut 58 positions -- Some of the cuts will result from county employees working fewer hours while retaining full-time benefits.
► In today's Seattle P-I -- Seattle schools chief alters closure plans -- The district will implement additional cost-cutting measures, including an immediate hiring freeze throughout the district.
► In today's Tri-City Herald -- DOE set to fine Hanford contractor Bechtel $385,000 -- The contractor failed to correct problems in the ordering and manufacturing of piping to be used in black cells.
► In today's News Tribune -- Tacoma, Pierce County plan a bold swap -- A deal in the works would give the city control of Cheney Stadium and the county possession of the County-City Building.
► In today's Olympian -- Tumwater glass plant fined in death -- L&I cites Cardinal Coated Glass for two safety violations after a 23-year-old worker tripped, cut his neck and died. The fine: $3,500.
Legislative news:
► In today's Olympian -- State may outsource health plan -- State employees' favorite health plan, the Uniform Medical Plan covering 181,000 in the state, plans to move to private management next year, which the Health Care Authority says will entice more doctors to accept it. The move should expand the number of providers in the network, but should not change the premiums, co-pays and deductibles of the plan, says WFSE Executive Director Greg Devereux.
► In today's Everett Herald -- Third-party campaign cash surges to record -- Business groups, labor unions, political parties and coalitions shelled out a record-setting $24.7 million trying to influence the outcome of legislative races and initiative battles this year, according to a report to be discussed today by the state Public Disclosure Commission.
Your daily dose of condescension from the local press:
► In today's Everett Herald -- Now turn the focus to Boeing's future, here (editorial) -- Industry observers note that plenty of Southern states covet Boeing, and have right-to-work laws that put a damper on union power. Combine that with lower business costs for things like unemployment insurance and workers compensation, along with potential freebies that our state Constitution doesn't allow, and Boeing may decide to open production lines there. It would behoove the Machinists' and engineers' union leaders to weigh their members' future and build a significantly more constructive relationship with the company -- now. Regular work stoppages make Boeing an unreliable supplier. The fact that the unions had some legitimate issues (Boeing did, too) doesn't negate the fact that the company gets to decide where its planes will be built.
National news:
► In today's Seattle P-I -- Obama needs to bail out workers (Derrick Jackson column) -- Obama needs to publicly and personally urge Bush to not utterly abandon the American worker by instituting the "industry-by-industry" toxics regulation, or move as swiftly as Bush did in 2001 to kill it. It'd be a strong sign that his White House will be one where the working stiff is not stiffed.
► In today's Washington Post -- On health care, Obama policymakers turn to campaign tools -- His incoming administration has begun to draw on the high-tech organizational tools that helped get him elected to lay the groundwork for an attempt to restructure the U.S. health-care system.
Employee Free Choice Act news:
► From NBC 24 (OH) -- Fired union supporters allowed back to work -- They were fired six years ago while trying to unionize a plant. "We had an election. I was fired the day after the election," said Bill Lawhorn. "I'm sure they have a plan in place to fire me as soon as possible."
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2008
Bender: Congress must assist U.S. automakers
The following
letter was sent last week by Rick Bender, President of the Washington
State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, to the state's Congressional delegation:
Dear (Representative/Senator):
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, is very pleased that Democratic Congressional leaders have indicated their support for government action to assist domestic automakers and have said that bankruptcy is not an option because of the devastating consequences to workers, retirees and our country’s entire economy.
The automakers will submit plans to Congress by December 2nd that demonstrates their viability and accountability. Once the companies have satisfied this requirement, we understand that Democratic leaders are prepared to bring Congress back after December 8th to consider legislation for providing assistance to our domestic automakers.
We believe that any legislation crafted by Congress should meet certain basic principles:
It must provide an emergency bridge loan to the companies to ensure that they can continue operations and avoid bankruptcy.
It should impose tough limits on executive compensation, prohibit the companies from paying dividends, and give the government an equity stake in the companies to protect the interests of taxpayers.
It should establish a Government Advisory Board that will oversee the operations of the companies to ensure that any taxpayer funds are expended in the United States, and that all expenditures are consistent with the business viability plans and any additional requirements imposed by Congress.
It should require the Obama Administration, in early 2009, to develop and submit to Congress a plan for the long term revitalization of the domestic auto industry. This plan should involve all stakeholders, and should include commitments by the automakers to retool facilities in the U.S. to produce more fuel efficient vehicles, as well as approaches for dealing with retiree health care and pension legacy costs and other issues.
It is critically important that Congress acts this year to approve legislation containing these essential principles. The consequences of a collapse by the domestic auto companies would be truly devastating:
Three million lost jobs;
Health care and pension benefits cut for one million retirees, spouses and dependents;
Thousands of other businesses (dealers, suppliers, etc.) would be threatened;
Huge pension and health care costs shifted to the federal government;
Negative impact on the entire economy, making the current recession much, much worse;
Major drop in revenues to federal, state and local governments, forcing cuts in vital social services.
Congress must act in December to avoid the terrible consequences that would result from a collapse of domestic automakers. We ask that you work to pass legislation providing an emergency bridge loan to enable the domestic auto companies to continue operations, but at the same time, to include requirements to protect taxpayers and ensure accountability and long term viability of our domestic auto industry.
Sincerely,
Rick S. Bender, President
Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
Copyright © 2008 -- Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO