Minnesota Presentation

Good news/bad news: People all over America are as angry as union households about what’s happening to our economy, to our jobs, to our way of life.

The good news: Washington responded. The Democratic controlled House and Senate pushed progressive, pro-worker initiatives.

The bad news: There’s a lot to be angry about. Republican obstructionism on both sides of PA Ave blocked these initiatives.

Our job in Washington is to stay focused on what Congress is doing this year -- while we work with you to elect a better Congress and a better President.

I’m going to talk about what we’re expecting on the economy, trade, labor law, health care, energy. In every one of those areas, we’ve made some progress with your help – and we need more of your help so we can make a lot more progress.

I. Economic Stimulus Package

• Main component: tax rebates to individuals from original agreement between Bush administration and House Congressional leaders.

• For businesses: greater expensing and bonus depreciation, supposedly to encourage additional investment.

• Senate added tax rebates to low income seniors and veterans.

• Republican filibuster blocked effort by Senate Democrats to add

• extended unemployment insurance benefits,

• low-income heating assistance

• Eight Republican Senators, including Norm Coleman, joined all Democrats in voting to cut off the filibuster, but failed by a single vote.

• And we know the reason Coleman was on the right side was that he was hearing from all of you in an election year.

• Unions will be pressing Democratic Congressional leaders to include extended unemployment insurance benefits in future stimulus packages.
  

II. Trade

A) Colombia FTA

• Colombian paramilitary groups – rightwing vigilantes -- have killed 2000 trade union officials since 1991.

• Government looks other way. If government can’t trace the killers and kidnappers of prominent public figures, how can it ever enforce laws of fair trade?

• No trade deal until there is a sustained period in which killings are halted, and those responsible are brought to justice

Korea FTA

• U.S. unions are opposed.

• Although Korea has been a major exporter of vehicles to the U.S., it has kept its market virtually closed to U.S.-built automotive products.

• In 2006, Korea exported 700,000 vehicles to the U.S. while importing 5000

• In 1990’s, Korea twice promised to dismantle non-tariff barriers to U.S.-built automotive products, but nothing happened;

• Auto trade deficit with Korea rose to $12 billion in 2006, cosing the US tens of thousands of auto jobs

• In 2007 the Bush administration negotiated a free trade deal with Korea. Poses major threat to auto jobs in U.S.

• Would require U.S. to eliminate immediately its tariffs on autos, and to phase out our 25% tariff on imported pickups,

• But no guarantees that Korea would have to dismantle its non-tariff barriers and allow U.S.-built automotive products to have access to its market

• Net result - surge in automotive imports from Korea; increase in our auto trade deficit; loss of tens of thousands of additional auto jobs in U.S.

• ITC report confirms; statements by Korean government also confirm
  

• Korean Unions are opposed, too:

• Reduction in Korean domestic content requirements under the Agreement would allow transfer of manufacturing jobs from Korea to China

• FTA modifies Korea’s trade laws, but leaves untouched restrictions on the right to freedom of association for public sector workers and limits on the right to organize and bargain collectively.

• President of Korean Metal Workers’ Federation (KMWF) arrested last year protesting government’s effort to allow use of more temporary and non-regular workers to stymie union organizing.

• Good news

• No action in 2007

• House Democratic leaders oppose

• Democratic presidential candidates oppose

• But Bush administration has vowed to push ahead with the agreement

• Is still subject to fast track procedures Need to remain vigilant; keep up pressure on Members to oppose Korea trade deal.

C). Fast Track

• Expired June 30, 2007

• Bush administration wants to reinstate/extend

• Greases skids for NAFTA style trade deals; no amendments; limited debate; can’t filibuster

• Should not give Bush more rope to destroy more manufacturing jobs with bad trade deals; oppose any extension of fast track for Bush administration

D). TAA Legislation

• Passed House – expand, reformed TAA program; greater funding; broader eligibility

• includes UI modernization

• includes strengthening of WARN Act

• Senate Republicans are blocking action; want to link to extension of fast track

• Bush veto threat

• Need to keep up pressure on Senate to approve TAA legislation

III. Labor Law Reform

A). RESPECT Act

• Terrible NLRB decisions in Oakwood cases vastly expanded the definition of a “supervisor”; would exclude millions of workers from NLRA protections; this could include charge nurses, team leaders, and anyone who gives assignments to co-workers

• RESPECT Act (S. 800; H.R. 1644) introduced by Senator Dodd, Representative Andrews; would overturn Oakwood decisions and restore longstanding definition of "supervisor" to only include persons who have the authority to hire, fire, discipline other workers, and who spend a majority of their time on supervisory duties. (acronym stands for Re-employment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Trades workers)

• House Labor Committee has reported this bill; hope to move this legislation in House and Senate early in 2008

• Urge Representatives and Senators to cosponsor and support this legislation

B). NLRB September Massacre

• 60 decisions by Bush NLRB – rolled back rights of workers in variety of areas; overturned past precedents; e.g., decisions curtailed ability of unions to organize by using card check recognition procedures and “salting” workplaces with union supporters

• Need to educate Members about terrible assault on worker rights; urge Senate not to allow Bush to fill vacancies on NLRB with more anti-worker appointees

IV. Health Care

A). SCHIP

• House and Senate passed legislation providing an additional $35 billion to cover 4 million more uninsured children

• Bush vetoed; House could not override

• 2nd compromise bill met same fate

• Congressional Democrats remained committed to this issue; will raise again during 2008

B). Retiree Health Care Legacy Costs

• Continues to be major problem; retirees see benefits curtailed or eliminated; places older manufacturing companies at a competitive disadvantage

• Need legislation to protect benefits for retirees; and to help level playing field for older companies

• Unions will be pushing proposals for: Medicare “Buy-in” for pre-65 retirees; federal “catastrophic” reinsurance

• Need to let Congress know that this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed
  

V. Corporate Bankruptcy Reform

• Companies increasingly use bankruptcy process to reject CBAs; slash wages, benefits and jobs

• Meanwhile, give lucrative benefits to executives; shift resources overseas

• Steel, airlines, and auto parts – Delphi and many others

• Durbin-Kennedy and Conyers-Sanchez have introduced the labor-backed corporate bankruptcy reform legislation (S. 2092; H.R. 3652).

• House Judiciary hearing; UAW member testified

• Need to educate Members about abuses; urge to cosponsor and support

VI. Energy

A). CAFE

• Grassroots pressure by union activists led to an energy bill that safeguards American jobs AND decreases our dependence on foreign oil, fights climate change.
  • In the House, Hill-Terry bill (H.R. 2927)
  • maintained domestic-foreign distinction;
  • maintained car-truck distinction;
  • and established an easier timetable;
  • More co-sponsors than versions lacking these protections

• That put us in a strong position for the House-Senate informal conference, which fixed the worst problems with the Senate bill – no distinctions between domestic and foreign production, and no distinction between cars and trucks.

• The resulting compromise, which the President signed:
  • protects domestic production of small passenger cars,
  • and preserves car-truck distinction

• Senate bill’s aggressive timetable for fuel economy improvements remains; but it is softened by extending flex fuel credits, and by establishment of loan program to assist companies in retooling facilities

B). Climate Change

• UAW, other unions supporting Bingaman-Specter bill (S. 1766); includes $39 billion in incentives to encourage domestic production of advanced technology vehicles (UAW’s Marshall Plan proposal for the auto industry– help environment and create jobs)

• Main vehicle in Senate – Lieberman-Warner bill (S. 2191); reported by EPW Committee last year; could be on floor in spring; has UAW Marshall Plan provisions to encourage domestic production of advanced vehicles; but has other problems (stringency; no safety valve); likely to be negotiations with Bingaman

• Dingell may try to move a bill in the House

• Need to emphasize importance of including the auto industry Marshall Plan provisions in any climate change legislation

VIII. Grass Roots Lobbying

• Makes huge difference

• Members pay attention to constituents

IX. Political Landscape

• Bush is low in polls; but so is Congress

• Frustration re Iraq; do-nothing on other issues

• But GOP blocks action – Senate filibusters; Bush vetoes

• Min Wage; no clean bill because of filibuster

• EFCA; Medicare drug nego; D.C. voting rights all blocked by GOP filibusters

• SCHIP; progressive appropriations bills; hate crimes prevention legislation blocked by vetoes

• Same fate for TAA legislation, other measures

• So what’s the message here? Good start in 2006 Election; 2007 showed that we can get some things done, passing CAFÉ, blocking FTAs.

• But there are obstacles: a lot of obstacles in the House and Senate, and one very big obstacle at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. So we need to stay vigilant. We need to finish job in 2008. And we need to start at the top.

X. McCAIN'S ANTI-WORKER VOTING RECORD

Media likes to portray Senator McCain as a "maverick" and a "moderate."
Very long, consistently conservative and anti-worker voting record. In too many ways, electing Senator McCain is like giving America a third term of George W. Bush.

Trade

A Washington think tank gave Senator McCain its top “free trader” rating. He has consistently voted for free trade deals that threatened the jobs of American workers. Specifically, he voted for:

• Fast track, to grease the skids for free trade deals
• NAFTA
• GATT
• China PNTR
• CAFTA
• Allowing Mexican trucks to enter the U.S. without meeting U.S. Safety standards

He also supported:

• A free trade deal with Thailand that threatened U.S. pickup truck production and jobs

• The pending free trade deal with Korea that threatens U.S. auto production and employment

• Proposals to weaken the trade adjustment assistance program for workers who have lost their jobs due to trade

Senator McCain opposed:

• The inclusion of worker rights and environmental protections in trade deals

• Measures to strengthen Buy American requirements

Worker Rights

Senator McCain has consistently voted against basic worker rights measures. Specifically, he voted against:

• The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)

• Anti-scab legislation
  

• Davis Bacon prevailing wage protections for construction workers

• Efforts to block Bush administration regulations that made millions of workers ineligible for overtime pay

• Measures to increase the Minimum Wage

• Extended UI benefits for laid off workers

He also voted for:

• A National Right to Work law prohibiting mandatory union membership in represented workplaces.

• Comp Time legislation to undermine overtime pay

• Allowing company-dominated sham unions

• Efforts to weaken Family and Medical Leave legislation

• Repeal of the ergonomics standard that protected workers from repetitive motion injuries

• Paycheck deception legislation that would silence the voice of working families in the political process

• Weakening the Hatch Act reform legislation that allowed federal and postal employees to participate in the political process

• An amendment that killed efforts by the UAW and other unions to organize workers at Fed Ex

• Legislation allowing employers to engage in "blacklisting" by firing union sympathizers

Taxes and Budget

Senator McCain has consistently voted against progressive budget and tax policies that benefit working families. His idea of how to fix our weak economy is more tax cuts for the wealthy.

He voted for:

• The 2001 Bush tax cuts for the rich

• Proposals to repeal or greatly reduce the estate tax on the wealthiest families in America

• Reducing funding for vital domestic programs, including health care, education and homeland security.

Stimulus Package

• McCain said he was “too busy” to vote on the version of the stimulus package that would have included extended unemployment insurance benefits – though every other Senator who is running for President made it back to vote.

Health Care Reform

Senator McCain opposes national health care reform to guarantee access to comprehensive, quality, affordable health care for all Americans. Instead, he

• Wants to tax our employer-sponsored healthcare benefits just like wages, an instant tax hike for millions of working Americans.

• His plan is an open invitation to businesses to stop covering their workers – leaving more Americans without health coverage.

• Supports expansion of dangerous health savings accounts that would undermine good, negotiated group health care plans, and shift the risk of health care costs onto working men and women.
  

Social Security and Medicare

Senator McCain has been a staunch opponent of social insurance programs to provide basic retirement and health care protection to working families.

He has supported:

• Privatization of Social Security

• Efforts to increase the eligibility age for Medicare

• Measures to slash funding on Medicare and Medicaid

He has opposed:

• Labor-backed proposals to establish a good Medicare prescription drug program

• Efforts to eliminate discrimination against retirees who already have good drug coverage from their former employer

• A measure to prohibit physicians from "balance billing" seniors under Medicare

Civil and Human Rights

Senator McCain has opposed:

• Hate crimes prevention legislation

• Legislation to overturn anti-civil rights court decisions

• D.C. voting rights legislation

• Funding to implement election reforms

• Adequate funding for the Legal Services Corp., which provides legal services to the poor

• Motor-voter legislation to make it easier for individual to register to vote

• Anti-redlining legislation

He has supported:

• Right wing nominees to the Supreme Court who are committed to turning back the clock on civil and human rights.

• Terrible consumer bankruptcy legislation that helped the banks and credit card companies at the expense of families facing financial difficulties.

• Private school voucher programs that would undermine our public schools

• Said he is “fine” with keeping troops in Iraq “100 years or more.”

Auto Industry

Senator McCain has publicly stated that we can't do anything to stop the loss of manufacturing jobs in this country, and has failed to support measures to encourage investment in domestic production of the cars and trucks of the future and their key components.