Members invited to attend AFL-CIO Union Industries Show
The AFL-CIO Industries Show is coming to the Cobo Center, in Detroit, on May 16-18, 2008. The show is a cooperative effort of unions and companies. There are usually 12-15 companies, whose members are represented by the IAM, that set up booths in our area of the show. It is a colorful, exciting, and educational exhibition of union-made, American made products and services. The main theme of the show is to give the public a first-hand look at the men and women of organized labor in action. The IAM is inviting all members and their families who live in Detroit, and the surrounding areas to visit the show, and visit the IAM represented exhibits. And, to stop by the IAM are and recieve a free IAM t-shirt, or IAM cap. Hours: Friday, Saturday & Sunday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.- FREE ADMISSION - THE BIGGEST EVER EXPO OF UNION-MADE-IN-THE-USA PRODUCTS ON SALE - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SPECIAL SHOW PRICES
This summer, the AFL-CIO Turn Around America tour is coming to Detroit. The goal is to build grassroots momentum to elect leaders who will fight for health care, good jobs, an economy that works for all and the freedom to form unions and bargain for a better life. Retired steelworker Steve Skvara inspired the Turn Around America tour when he asked at last summer’s AFL-CIO Presidential Forum, “What’s wrong with America and what will you do to change it?” The Turn Around America Online Video Competition, which launched last week, gives you the opportunity to answer Steve Skvara’s question. We want to know: How should we turn things around? What’s not working? What changes would you like to see? And how do we get it done?
On Thursday, April 10, the AFL-CIO launched the Turn Around America Online Video Competition, with national winners as well as city and youth winners. Along with the winners of the Grand Prize, Young Activist and “Our America” awards categories, one winner will be selected from each of up to 10 cities where the AFL-CIO will be making a tour stop. A list of tour cities can be found at www.turnaroundvideocontest.com and are subject to change. We’ll announce the winners of the video competition in cities and states across the country, including: Chicago; Cincinnati; Cleveland; Columbus, Ohio; Denver; Detroit; Maine; New Hampshire; Philadelphia; Pittsburgh; Portland, Ore.; St. Louis; and St. Paul/Minneapolis/Rochester, Minn. Turn Around America rallies and events are being planned for the summer in these cities and states. At a time when working people are struggling as never before—home foreclosures, bankruptcies, soaring health care costs, jobs sent overseas—we want to know what you think we should do to turn around America. The Turn Around America Online Video Competition is meant to start a new kind of national conversation. It’s about making your voice heard and earning a platform in our national conversation on the future, the upcoming election and beyond. While the contest prohibits videos that mention specific candidates or political figures, it is meant to give average people a way to influence our wider national conversation—including the plans and visions of the 2008 candidates for office. .
Most winners will receive cash prizes, and selected videos will be featured in TV ads. Our panel of celebrity judges will pick several of the winners, while visitors to the website will choose the recipient of the “Our America” award. Participants will be invited to submit online videos in any creative form. Your video must be no longer than 3 minutes and 30 seconds. Our judging panel includes activists, producers, directors, actors, writers, artists and unionists. Learn more about the judges here. For the official rules and guidelines, click here.
AFL-CIO launches 2008 Executive PayWatch Website
“It seems like CEOs hit the lottery even when their companies collapse,” Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said at a recent hearing on CEO pay and the mortgage crisis. He was absolutely right. Just about any way you look at it, runaway pay packages led CEOs to take on excessive risk and are one of the real causes of the mortgage crisis. Too often, compensation programs encouraged top corporate executives to maximize short-term financial gains at the expense of long-term sustainability. In effect, boards of directors rewarded their CEOs for generating financial results that were often based on taking on irresponsible levels of subprime mortgage risk. The brand-new AFL-CIO 2008 Executive PayWatch website exposes CEO pay packages, including those of the chief executives whose companies helped create the subprime mortgage meltdown.
Click here to learn more at the 2008 Executive PayWatch site.
And you can do something about this corporate greed:
1) Click here to tell your representative and senators to help homeowners affected by the irresponsible corporate lending practices that led to the mortgage meltdown.
2) Click here to urge your senators to support giving shareholders a say on CEO pay.
While chief executive officers say their pay is linked to company performance, many CEOs received large paychecks and bonuses while their company’s performance suffered. No CEO epitomizes that better than Countrywide Financial Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Angelo Mozilo. As the real estate bubble deflated in the second half of 2007, Countrywide suffered $1.6 billion in mortgage-related losses. But even though CEO Mozilo is on his way out, he’s not leaving Countrywide empty-handed. He’s entitled to an enhanced supplemental executive retirement plan with a lump sum worth $22.4 million, a pension plan with a present value of $1.3 million and $20.6 million in deferred compensation. And while Countrywide shareholders have seen the value of their investment fall a whopping 85 percent since February 2007, Mozilo also will keep his $414 million in stock options that he exercised between 2004 and 2007. Read more of our new Executive PayWatch case studies that show how CEO pay packages led to risky business at firms, including Merrill Lynch, Citigroup, Bear Sterns and others. Also at the PayWatch website, you can find out about the recent trends in 2007 CEO pay. Want to see how your wage compares with the major CEOs and learn how to track down executive pay? Click here to see the CEO Pay Database.
Visitors to PayWatch can take action by urging their legislators to help homeowners and to limit the economic fallout from faulty lending practices.
Over the past several years, CEO pay has exploded at many of the companies responsible for creating the subprime mortgage crisis. Too often, their compensation programs encouraged corporate executives to maximize short-term financial gains at the expense of long-term sustainability. In effect, boards of directors rewarded their CEOs for generating financial results that were often based on taking on irresponsible levels of subprime mortgage risk. Their actions have had devastating effects. Real estate prices are dropping, foreclosures are on the rise and many homeowners find that they owe more on their mortgage than what their home is worth.
Also, please send a message to your senators today and urge them to support giving shareholders a “say on pay.”
Frequently, the pay that corporate chief executives receive has little connection with the performance of the companies they lead. Unfortunately, shareholders do not have a meaningful voice in the way boards of directors establish and approve executive pay, and thus cannot ensure a link between CEO pay and corporate performance. In order for shareholders to have a voice in the process, Congress needs to pass a “say on pay” law requiring publicly traded companies to submit executive pay plans to a nonbinding shareholder vote each year. “Say on pay” legislation would provide a cost-effective and efficient way to curb excessive executive pay and encourage long-term value creation at public companies. Click here to take action today.
Lawmakers Petitioned to Block Airline Mergers
Continuing the IAM Transportation Merger Team’s efforts to use political pressure to block potential mergers of the nation’s major airlines, International President R. Thomas Buffenbarger has contacted the governors of all fifty states and every Congressional Representative and Senator to express the Machinists Union’s concerns.
“The Machinists Union, through its merger team of professional economists, lawyers, and consumer advocates, has evaluated every possible merger scenario involving United Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines and/or Continental Airline,” said IP Buffenbarger. “Our research reveals that any combination of these carriers will result in tremendous job loss, a reduction of airline hubs, elimination of service to small communities, increased fares and fewer choices for passengers.”
All IAM members are asked to contact their elected representatives and urge their opposition for airline mergers that will only benefit airline executives and bankers. Click here to send pre-written emails or to compose your own personal message to send to your elected leaders.
Apply Now to Win Outdoor Trip of a Lifetime
IAM members have until June 1, 2008, to apply for a chance to win an all-expense-paid hunting or fishing trip of a lifetime on season three of Escape to the Wild, the union-sponsored television series of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP). An application and instructions are available from TRCP’ Union Sportsmen’s Alliance website at www.UnionSportsmen.org “I think the concept of a union-dedicated hunting and fishing show is a fresh change and long overdue,” said Jason Berkley, a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and winner of the elk hunt on season two. “This show stands out in the way it tells a story about the winner’s life and struggles, while engaging viewers in the hunt. I feel very blessed to have been involved in such a truly great show.”
“The whole experience was something I’d never get to do on my own. It was the ultimate adventure experience – unbelievable,” said District 751 member Scott Karelsen, after winning a trip to hunt Caribou in Quebec on season one. “I will always remember this and am truly thankful I had the opportunity to participate.”
Bush Flogs Trade Pact With Columbia
Ignoring a blood-soaked record of human rights violations that includes murder, kidnapping and torture of trade union leaders, President George Bush is urging Congress to approve a free trade agreement with Columbia, calling it essential to America’s national security interests.
The bid by the Bush administration to secure yet another free trade deal was immediately attacked by lawmakers, labor leaders and human rights activists across the hemisphere.
“The IAM strongly opposes the U.S. Columbia Free Trade Act (FTA) and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure its defeat,” declared IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “Forcing consideration of this NAFTA-style trade agreement is especially outrageous given the hundreds of murders that have been committed against trade unionists over the past few years. Moreover, this trade deal comes at a time when record numbers of U.S. workers are losing their jobs as more and more corporations relocate outside our country.”
The chances for the legislation to win Congressional approval appear slim, with Rep. Mike Michaud (D-ME), co-founder of the House Trade Working Group, declaring the Columbia FTA dead on arrival. “If the Bush administration really believes this agreement is vital to national security interests, it would not send it to certain defeat,” said Michaud. “They would work with Democrats to stop labor leader assassinations and address forced displacement and murder of Afro-Columbians.”
Click here to send a message to your legislator to oppose the flawed Columbian Free Trade Agreement.
26,000 Share Health Care Horror Stories
An overwhelming 95 percent of workers believe America’s health care system needs fundamental changes or should be completely overhauled, according to the results of a survey released yesterday by the AFL-CIO and Working America.
For many families, the astronomical cost of health care is hindering their day-to-day life. One-third of respondents said they are skipping medical care because of the cost, with one-quarter saying they had “serious problems” paying for the care they need. Furthermore, 95 percent of those surveyed said they are concerned about being able to afford health insurance in the coming years.
Concerns about the nation’s health care system are set to have a huge impact in the upcoming presidential election as well. Nearly 80 percent of respondents said health care is a very important voting issue, and 97 percent said they plan to vote in the November elections.
More than 26,000 people took the 2008 AFL-CIO / Working America Health Care for America survey with 7,500 of those sharing their personal stories about the nation’s fundamentally flawed health care system.
Northwest Airlines FMLA Request Forms Available
The revised Northwest Airlines FMLA request forms are available for download here. If FMLA is for your own serious health condition or the serious health condition of a qualifying family member, you will be required to provide medical certification of the need for leave from your health care provider. You can get a Medical Certification form from your manager or, where applicable, your FMLA manager or central administration. Also available are the"how to" help instructions for each form.
IAM Members Can Vote in Online Presidential Poll
Beginning today, IAM members can visit GOIAM.org and vote for the presidential candidate they would like to see win their party’s nomination.
The poll comes weeks ahead of the IAM’s “Conversations with the Candidates,” in which both Democratic and Republican presidential candidates will appear before nearly 600 IAM leaders at the IAM National Staff Conference in Orlando.
The candidate conversations in Orlando, coupled with the new poll on GOIAM.org, will help guide the IAM leadership as they move forward in making a historic dual-endorsement in the primaries.
“We want each and every IAM member to let us know who they think should be this country’s next president,” said IP Tom Buffenbarger. “It is time for a fundamental change in the way this country is run and our members know the importance of electing a president who cares about jobs, health care, trade and other issues that impact America’s middle class.”
The flurry of activity surrounding the 2008 presidential primaries is a direct result of the accelerated schedule of primaries that could lead to Democratic and Republican nominees as early as mid-February. Twenty-five states will hold primaries or caucuses between January 14 and February 5, 2008, with another sixteen voting by March 4, 2008.
The IAM will make its customary recommendation for U.S. President and Vice President following input from elected delegates at the IAM Convention in September 2008.
To vote for a Democratic candidate click here and to vote for a Republican candidate click here.
Working America Invites You to ‘Ask a Lawyer’
Working America, the 1.6 million member community affiliate of the AFL-CIO is offering a free online service to help workers understand their legal rights on the job.
Ask A Lawyer is not a substitute for personal legal representation, but a forum where workers can submit questions on work-related topics and get answers from recognized legal experts.
Among the recent topics addressed in the Ask a Lawyer forum are: “Is there anything I can safely write about in a blog for which my employer cannot fire me?” and “Can my employer fire me for what I do on my own time outside of work?” For answers to these and other questions about work-related issues and to learn more about Working America, visit www.workingamerica.org