Governor Chris Gregoire despite a great first-term record, is not getting her deserved appreciation from the populace yet.
Views Archives for August-December 2008
TEAMSTERS OBJECT TO PROPOSED IRS REGULATIONS ON PUBLIC APPROVAL OF BONDS (December 5, 2008, Washington, D.C.) Today, the Teamsters Union submitted comments strongly objecting to the Internal Revenue Service's (IRS) proposed changes to the public approval requirements for tax-exempt private activity bonds. The Teamsters wrote in comments to the IRS that the proposed regulations conflict with the best interests of the public, and would significantly undermine this critical public approval process. Changes to the regulations would include:
"These changes would diminish transparency and erode public oversight of private development projects," said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer C. Thomas Keegel. "In today's economic crisis, the public must be given every opportunity to question their elected officials and the private developers seeking tax-exempt bonds." Currently, all state and local government entities must follow a public approval process before issuing bonds to private entities. This includes holding public hearings where concerned citizens may speak for or against a proposed project. Public notices of hearings must also provide the public with project details. These existing regulations ensure at least some transparency and accountability on the part of public officials in the area of public-private financing. The Teamsters strongly believe that the public must have sufficient time to analyze and understand proposals, and to respond to hearing notices. Reducing both notification time and request time would significantly inhibit public participation. And if the public is not provided with sufficient information concerning the details of a project, it cannot form an educated opinion.
(December 4, 2008, Washington, D.C.) The Teamsters Rail Conference pledged this week to fight a new Labor Department Rule proposed by the Bush Administration that would make it much harder for the Government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals that workers get exposed to on the job. The proposed Rule is supported by Rail Corporations and would further delay the development of workplace safety standards designed to protect workers’ health. President-elect Barack Obama opposes the Rule. “All workers deserve safe workplaces,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “It’s not surprising that the Bush Administration would try to push through this new Rule as a gift to Big Business before leaving office. The Teamsters will work with the new Congress and the Obama Administration to overturn this outrageous Rule if it gets issued.” Rail workers are increasingly exposed to hazardous materials as freight rail and passenger rail traffic has increased across the country. A two-page pamphlet or 10-minute video presentation are the only evidence of a so-called training program that rail corporations offer workers, despite their claims that workers are adequately trained on the safe handling of hazardous materials. “Some of our members have died as a result of exposure to toxic chemicals such as nuclear waste, anhydrous ammonia, and chlorine,” said Ed Rodzwicz, President of the Teamsters Rail Conference and National President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET). “Had they had the proper training and safety equipment, lives might have been saved.” The Teamsters Rail Conference represents the more than 35,000 locomotive engineers and trainmen of the BLET and 35,000 maintenance of way workers of the BMWED on freight, passenger and commuter Rail Lines across the United States. The Conference is a Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
TEAMSTERS, YRC WORLDWIDE REACH AGREEMENT ON ECONOMIC RELIEF (December 1, 2008, Washington, D.C.) Facing the worst economy since the 1930s, the Teamsters Union and the freight companies of YRC Worldwide Inc. (YRCW) have reached an agreement to provide TEAMSTERS ORGANIZE 40,000 WORKERS IN 2008 UNION REACHES GOAL EARLY, ACHIEVES BIGGEST ORGANIZING YEAR IN DECADES (November 26, 2008, Washington, D.C.) The Teamsters Union has reached an important milestone for workers across the nation, reaching its goal of organizing 40,000 workers into the Union so far in 2008. With five weeks remaining in the year, the Union is well on its way to surpassing that number. “We announced two goals for the Teamsters in 2008: To organize 40,000 workers and to elect Barack Obama President of the United States,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “I am proud to say that thanks to the hard work by so many in our Union, the Teamsters delivered on both promises.” The successful, bold organizing plan focused on the Teamster core industries — particularly those in the global supply chain — and under the leadership of General President Hoffa and the Teamsters Organizing Department involved the work of the whole Union. ORGANIZING A CENTRAL FOCUS Hoffa’s growth agenda has paid off. The Union has achieved an annual increase in organizing gains every year since, with 2008 marking a record-breaking year. Contributing to the great success in organizing this year were several key campaigns, including: UPS Freight: More than 120 Local Unions under the leadership of International Vice President Ken Hall, in partnership with the Parcel and Freight Divisions and Organizing Department, organized 12,000 drivers and dockworkers. These former Overnite Freight workers became Teamsters thanks to an organizing rights agreement negotiated with UPS. Canadian National Rail: Earlier this year, Teamsters Canada added 3,200 workers at Canadian National Rail. School Bus and Transit workers at private and public organizations, including First Student, First Transit, MV Transportation and STA were organized this year as part of “Drive Up Standards”, the Teamsters’ National School Bus and Transit Campaign. Over 40 Teamster Locals have organized more than 8,700 workers so far this year, bringing the total for the campaign to more than 14,000 workers organized since the campaign began in May 2006. United Airlines mechanics: 8,600 United Airlines mechanics would not have won Teamster representation without the support of seven key Airline Locals and the Airline Division. BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS IBT CAMPAIGNS BECOME WORKER MOVEMENTS “It’s bigger than just our yard, even bigger than our whole company,” said Gloria Beasley, a First Student bus driver and new Teamster. “You get a sense that we’re changing the whole industry — if not the whole world.” The Teamsters are on the verge of explosive growth by organizing port drivers, airline workers and school bus and transit workers, among other major campaigns of the whole Union. ORGANIZING ON A GRAND SCALE
TEAMSTERS: HOURS-OF-SERVICE RULE A DANGEROUS MIDNIGHT MOVE (November 19, 2008) Washington, D.C. — Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today said the Bush Administration is undermining highway safety with its last-minute regulation that lets truckers drive longer hours. UPS FREIGHT UPDATE TEAMSTERS NOW REPRESENT NEARLY 99 PERCENT OF UPS FREIGHT DRIVERS AND DOCKWORKERS ELIGIBLE UNDER CARD CHECK (November 17, 2008} On November 17, a first contract covering more than 750 UPS Freight drivers and dockworkers nationwide was ratified by a margin of 94 percent. The agreement improves wages, benefits and working conditions. “I am proud to welcome these UPS Freight workers to the Teamsters Union,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “These workers now have a terrific Teamster-negotiated contract that guarantees them job security and many other benefits. These workers deserve to be rewarded for the great work they do every day.” “With this latest vote the Teamsters now represent almost 99 percent of the UPS Freight workers eligible under our card-check and neutrality agreement,” said Teamsters Package Division Director Ken Hall. “UPS Freight workers nationwide have shown true Teamster spirit by sticking together to form their union and gain a great contract.” Workers at five terminals in four states voted: Arkansas, Iowa, Oregon and Pennsylvania. The Locals involved in the Nov. 17 vote were Local 90 in Des Moines, Iowa; Local 776 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Local 384 in Norristown, Pennsylvania; Local 832 in Joplin, Missouri; and Local 962 in Central Point, Oregon. “These UPS Freight employees have taken a unanimous step forward and were able to stand up for the improvement of their jobs and the future of their families and our Union has become stronger for their efforts,” said Claudia Pettit, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 90. “Our workers absolutely wanted to become Teamsters and stuck together as a group,” said Michael Bonaduce, President of Local 384. “Their main concern was a guaranteed 8-hour workday, better working conditions and better relations between the employees and management.” “Without a contract, our workers were at the company’s mercy,” said Jim McCall, President of Local 823. “Now they have a great union-negotiated contract that provides them with better wages, health benefits and job security.” “Health and welfare issues and retiree coverage were the most pressing concerns for the workers we represent and all those issues are addressed in the contract,” said Dan W. Ratty, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 962. Ron Hicks, the UPS Freight Business Agent from Local 776, said workers at the Mechanicsburg terminal were glad to see the issue of subcontracting addressed in the contract. The contract expires on July 31, 2013. Among the contract’s highlights:
This latest vote brings to a close a year’s worth of organizing throughout the country. The Teamsters now represent more than 12,600 UPS Freight workers in 42 states. In April, a new UPS Freight contract covering 9,900 workers was ratified by an 89 percent margin. In August, a second group of terminals voted and ratified an agreement by a 94 percent margin. These efforts built upon the success of organizing and negotiating a model agreement for the 125 drivers and dockworkers at Local 135 in Indianapolis in 2007. As the year comes to a close the Teamsters are looking forward to building upon this organizing success, Hall said. “We have fought hard on behalf of UPS Freight workers and we have been ramping up our efforts with FedEx workers at all FedEx units — FedEx Express, FedEx Ground and FedEx Freight,” Hall said. “The Teamsters and FedEx workers see there is a real opportunity for organizing.” There are about 140 UPS Freight workers who are now members of Local 174. BACKGROUND: A PREVIOUS MESSAGE FROM IBT PACKAGE DIVISION DIRECTOR KEN HALL “Across the United States, families are getting battered by skyrocketing energy and food costs, a poor economy in general and a corporate America that squeezes working families while rewarding top management, even when profits are flat. The priorities are upside down today. “That’s why a victory like the one at UPS Freight, after a more than half-century struggle, is so gratifying. The hardworking men and women at UPS Freight will finally have the security, protections and rights on the job that they deserve. These are the priorities we and the rest of the Teamsters Union are fighting for every day. “I echo General President Hoffa’s words of thanks to you, our UPS Teamsters. Many of you took the time out of your busy schedules to talk to UPS Freight workers about your experiences as Teamsters. Those words from you carry much weight in our organizing efforts. “By organizing UPS Freight and FedEx, we are increasing our leverage in the package delivery industry. This helps all our UPS Teamsters and employees at the other companies as we fight for increased wages and protecting benefits. The more we organize in this industry, the more clout we have in creating a brighter future for all workers. “Thank you for your help so far, and let’s keep up the fight today and in the future.” TEAMSTERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVE AGREEMENT WITH IBC MODIFICATIONS PAVE WAY FOR COMPANY TO EXIT BANKRUPTCY (November 13, 2008) Washington, D.C. — Teamster members from across the country voted to accept modifications of their agreements with Interstate Brands Corporation (IBC) by an overwhelming majority yesterday. The modification agreement, covering more than 9,000 workers, was the culmination of months of work by the union negotiating team to find an appropriate financial partner for IBC that was committed to bringing the Company out of bankruptcy and preserving good jobs. “IBC Teamsters were faced with a difficult decision and they voted loud and clear to preserve good American jobs at Interstate Brands Corporation,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “ The newly ratified agreement paves the way for the company to exit bankruptcy as a stand-alone entity which is the best opportunity for our members to keep their jobs.” Ripplewood Holdings and the Teamsters reached a tentative labor agreement in September that enabled Ripplewood to line up financing with Silver Point Capital and present IBC management and other stakeholders with a plan to bring IBC out of bankruptcy. The ratification of the labor agreements clears the way for IBC to exit bankruptcy as early as December 2008 and no later than February 2009. “Our members knew this agreement was, by far, the best choice in order to provide IBC with a sound financial footing,” said Richard Volpe, Director of the Teamsters Bakery and Laundry Conference. “During negotiations our priority was to protect Teamster jobs, achieve value for our sacrifices and put the company in the best position to grow. We have confidence in Ripplewood Holdings and believe that we can work together with the new management team at IBC so that it may survive and rebuild.” For at least the past 40 years, Teamsters have been delivering products from IBC bakeries across the country — products including Wonder Bread, Twinkies and others.
IBT COMMENT ON DHL  IBT Express Division Director Bill Hamilton “This weekend DHL Express informed top leadership of our union of its intent to withdraw from the U.S. domestic market — an 80 percent cut in package volume. This drastic move by the Company will result in significant loss of jobs for our membership at DHL Express. We will do everything within our power to assist our members through this difficult time. "Over the past five years DHL has struggled to penetrate the U.S. domestic ground market. Operational missteps coupled now with the failing economy have contributed to $8 billion dollars of losses for the Company since 2003. We are disappointed by DHL’s inability to avoid the pitfalls that have led to this decision. "DHL indicated it is committed to its international product and this decision will not adversely impact the parts of the operation that service those products. Similarly, this decision does not affect its freight forwarding operation, Air Express International (AEI). "Our union will remain vigilant as this situation develops to ensure that our members affected by this cut will be treated fairly through this difficult process.” IBT eDISPATCH ARTICLES ABOUT THE DHL SITUATION FOLLOWING ARE JUST A FEW ENTRIES CIRCULATED ON THE INTERNET AND SENT TO LOCAL 174 BY THE IBT’S EDISPATCH NEWS RELEASE SYSTEM FOR SOME FURTHER INFORMATION DHL plans more restructuring after 100 Seattle-area job cuts The CEO of DHL Express, its U.S. parcel delivery service headquartered in Florida, also has scheduled a teleconference for 1:45 p.m. (10:45 a.m. Pacific) the same day. DHL earlier this year announced it was outsourcing some air transport to UPS and closing some smaller facilities in the United States.
DHL Press Release DHL Express to focus its U.S. Business on its core international services: U.S. Domestic-only services end January 30, 2009, International shipping to/from U.S. remains intact, Will reduce U.S. operating costs by over 80%, U.S. stays an integral part of DHL’s global network DHL, the world’s number one international logistics and express service provider, today announced a repositioning of its U.S. Express business. Beginning January 30, 2009, DHL’s U.S. Express business will focus entirely on its international offerings and will discontinue its domestic-only air and ground services. However, the company will retain a strong international presence and capability in the U.S. going forward. The announcement was made this morning at a press conference held in Bonn, Germany by Deutsche Post World Net, parent company of DHL U.S. Express. “This is the right move for our U.S. Express operations given the current economic climate and for the long run,” said John Mullen, Global CEO of DHL Express. “Focusing our U.S. Express efforts on what we do better than anyone else — international shipping — serves the best interests of our customers, employees and shareholders around the world.” In order to meet its financial goals, DHL U.S. Express will close its U.S. ground hubs, and reduce the number of stations from 412 to 103. This will result in an additional reduction of 9,500 U.S. jobs at DHL Express on top of the approximately 5,400 positions already reduced since January. The company will retain 3,000 to 4,000 U.S. Express employees, tailored to the needs of international express customers. These measures will allow DHL’s U.S. Express business to reduce its operating costs from $5.4 billion to under $1 billion, a decrease of over 80%. “Making a decision that affects the lives of many dedicated employees is never easy, but this is the best path forward for our company,” said Mullen. The company will maintain its international express service in the U.S. at today’s levels and the U.S. will remain an integral part of DHL’s global network. All international shipments to and from the U.S. will still be delivered, while 99 percent will be picked up. “DHL remains committed to the U.S. express market,” said Mullen. “A continued U.S. presence is essential to our entire global Express network: Close to half of our top 200 customers are based in the U.S., and U.S. trade lanes make up close to half of our global volume, and half of our global shipments touch the U.S. We are here to stay.” There will be no impact to services offered by the other DHL/DPWN businesses in the U.S. such as Global Forwarding/Freight, Supply Chain/Customer Information Services (CIS) and DHL Global Mail. With more than 25,000 employees across the country, these divisions will continue to conduct their successful U.S. operations. … GENERAL INFORMATION DHL offers expertise in express, air and ocean freight, overland transport, contract logistic solutions as well as international mail services, combined with worldwide coverage and an in-depth understanding of local markets. DHL's international network links more than 220 countries and territories worldwide. Some 300,000 employees are dedicated to providing fast and reliable services that exceed customers' expectations. Founded in San Francisco in 1969, DHL is a Deutsche Post World Net brand. The group generated revenues of more than 63 billion euros (more than $93 billion) in 2007. …
Teamsters Concerned Over DHL Cutback “This weekend DHL Express informed top leadership of our union of its intent to withdraw from the U.S. domestic market — an 80 percent cut in package volume,” said Bill Hamilton, express division director. “This drastic move by the company will result in significant loss of jobs for our membership at DHL Express. We will do everything within our power to assist our members through this difficult time.” A failing economy and what the union characterized as “operational missteps” led to $8 billion in losses for DHL since 2003, when it first launched an effort to compete with UPS and FedEx for primacy in the U.S. domestic ground market. DHL said at a press conference on Monday it will maintain its international services and its freight forwarding operation, Air Express International. The union said it will watch the developing situation to ensure fair treatment for its members.
Deutsche Post to Cut Jobs at DHL In a statement released Monday, the German company said that new round of cuts are on top of 4,500 job cuts it already announced and blamed heavy losses at the unit, which competes with rivals UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp. The cuts are part of a wider plan to curtail operations in the U.S., including ground deliveries, and are likely to affect drivers, shipping clerks and warehouse workers. The express unit employs some 18,000 workers. DHL has incurred billions of dollars in losses in the U.S. since it bought Airborne Inc. in 2003. Deutsche Post expects to report a net loss for the full year of 3 billion euros ($3.87 billion), mainly due to increased U.S. restructuring costs. The company said it still expects 2008 adjusted earnings before interest and tax, or EBIT, of about 2.4 billion euros, and adjusted EBIT to grow in 2009. Deutsche Post Oct. 27 issued a profit warning for 2008 adjusted EBIT and withdrew its 2009 guidance. Third-quarter net profit jumped to 805 million euros from 350 million euros a year earlier. A Dow Jones Newswires poll of seven analysts had forecast net profit of around 993 million euros. The company said third-quarter sales rose 4.1% to 13.8 billion euros from 13.26 billion euros a year ago, surpassing analyst expectations of 13.18 billion euros. The former state monopoly’s closely watched, third-quarter EBIT was 962 million euros compared with 469 million euros in the same period last year, in line with analyst expectations of 960 million euros. Adjusted EBIT came in at 429 million euros compared with 469 million euros a year earlier. Chief Financial Officer John Allan said that the company is on track to reach the targeted 500 million euros in efficiency improvements in 2008. Noncore divestments will add more than 4.4 billion euros in cash by early 2009, “way ahead of our original target,” Mr. Allan said.
DHL Likely to Curtail U.S. Expansion Plan The decision is likely to be announced during Deutsche Post’s third-quarter earnings release in Bonn. DHL has sustained billions of dollars in U.S. losses since it bought Airborne Inc. in 2003 for $1.05 billion. A spokesman for DHL declined to comment, saying the company couldn’t make public remarks during the quiet period ahead of the earnings report. The announcement next week won’t mean DHL and its trademark yellow brand will disappear completely from the U.S., according to several people briefed on the plans. DHL is expected to maintain its freight-forwarding operation in the U.S., which employs thousands of workers. DHL also will continue to handle international deliveries in the U.S. and maintain its own operations in major metropolitan areas. According to people familiar with the situation, packages addressed to remote areas could be delivered by intermediaries such as the U.S. Postal Service, which already does so for low-cost residential service from DHL, FedEx and other companies. But DHL’s domestic business — in which it was competing to transport packages within the U.S. — is expected to be largely shuttered. It wasn’t clear how many of that division’s 13,000 workers will lose their jobs. The company also relies on more than 20,000 contract workers. DHL is expected to follow through on an agreement with UPS, announced in May, under which DHL would outsource the airlift, or airport-to-airport leg, of its domestic U.S. delivery business to UPS. Under the proposed deal, much of DHL’s Wilmington, Ohio, operation would be shifted to UPS’s air hub in Louisville, Ky. “They’ve been weaning people not only in the Wilmington area but the Cleveland area for about a year,” said Keith Hyde of Workforce Services Unlimited Inc., a nonprofit company based in Circleville, Ohio, that has been providing job retraining to laid-off DHL workers. Analyst Donald Broughton of Avondale Partners said DHL seems destined to leave the U.S. market. “Eventually DHL will beat a full-scale retreat,” he said. “The question is, how long does it take and what does it look like?” Wilmington workers said Friday they are bracing for bad news regardless of whether DHL announces a shutdown on Monday or more shifting of operations to another company. Either way, workers lose, said Mary Houghtaling, whose husband is a pilot for ABX Air Inc., one of the private companies that flies air freight for DHL. Some DHL customers already are hedging their bets. Unishippers Global Logistics LLC, a Utah-based company that coordinates shipping for 100,000 small- and medium-size businesses, used to steer virtually all its business to DHL but, as of last month, will also use UPS, company spokesman Shane Smith said Friday.
Deutsche Post to cut 9,500 jobs in US The Bonn-based company said the new round of cuts are on top of another 5,400 job cuts it already announced and blamed heavy losses at the unit, which competes with rivals UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp. Deutsche Post investors cheered the decision, sending the company’s shares up 7 percent to 10 euros ($12.90) in Frankfurt trading. The cuts are part of a wider plan to curtail operations in the U.S., including domestic ground and delivery services though its international shipping to and from the U.S. would continue. The Express unit currently employs some 18,000 workers. It wasn’t immediately clear how Deutsche Post’s decision might affect a proposed collaboration announced in May between DHL and Atlanta-based UPS in which UPS would carry some air packages for DHL. The deal, if completed as initially proposed, could last up to 10 years and infuse up to $1 billion in annual revenue for UPS. A person familiar with UPS’ talks with DHL said Friday that if DHL made significant cuts to its ground operations in the U.S., it wouldn’t necessarily affect UPS and DHL reaching a deal since their talks have solely involved air delivery of packages, not ground delivery. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the talks. A spokesman for UPS said Monday the company would have to review Deutsche Post’s statement before commenting. “The international Express offering in the U.S. will be maintained on today’s levels and the region will remain an integral part of DHL’s global Express network,” the company added. Deutsche Post said it expects to spend another $1.9 billion (1.5 billion euros) on the restructuring, bringing the cost to $3.9 billion (3 billion euros) over two years. Most of that will be booked this year. Because of the restructuring, Deutsche Post said the total losses at its U.S. Express business would reach $1.5 billion (1.2 billion euros) for the year. The decision was announced as Deutsche Post said its third-quarter net profit more than doubled to 805 million euros ($1 billion) compared with 350 million euros a year earlier. Sales rose 4.1 percent to nearly 14 billion euros ($18 billion).
Deutsche Post to cut 9,500 jobs in US The Bonn-based company said that new round of cuts are on top of another 5,400 job cuts it already announced and blamed heavy losses at the unit, which competes with rivals UPS Inc. and FedEx Corp. The cuts are part of a wider plan to curtail operations in the U.S., including domestic ground and delivery services though its international shipping to and from the U.S. will continue. The Express unit currently employs some 18,000 workers. Part of the plan calls for the halt to domestic shipping by Jan. 30, the company said after it closes all of its ground hubs. “The retained U.S. international Express network with a total of 3,000 to 4,000 employees will be tailored to the needs of the group’s international Express service customers,” the company said in a statement. “All international shipments into the U.S. will still be delivered, while 99 percent of the outbound shipments will be picked up.” It wasn’t immediately clear how Deutsche Post’s decision might affect a proposed collaboration announced in May between DHL and Atlanta-based UPS in which UPS would carry some air packages for DHL. The deal, if completed as initially proposed, could last up to 10 years and infuse up to $1 billion in annual revenue for UPS. Deutsche Post’s announcement Monday appeared to go beyond the elimination of ground products within the U.S. Deutsche Post said it will discontinue U.S. domestic-only air and ground products on Jan. 30 to focus entirely on its international offering. A spokesman for UPS said Monday the company would have to review Deutsche Post’s statement before commenting. Deutsche Post’s decision is expected to reduce operating costs at the U.S. Express unit from $5.4 billion (4.2 billion euros) to less than $1 billion (770 million euros). “The international Express offering in the U.S. will be maintained on today’s levels and the region will remain an integral part of DHL’s global Express network,” the company added. Deutsche Post said it expects to spend an additional $1.9 billion (1.5 billion euros) on the restructuring, bringing the cost to $3.9 billion (3 billion euros) over two years. Most of that will be booked this year. Because of the restructuring, Deutsche Post said the total losses at its U.S. Express business would reach $1.5 billion (1.2 billion euros) for the year. Next year, the loss should not be more than $900 million (692 million euros). Deutsche Post’s U.S. logistics unit employs more than 25,000 workers in the U.S. Shares of Deutsche Post were trading up 9 percent at 10.20 euros ($13.16) in Frankfurt trading.
DHL cuts 9,500 U.S. jobs DHL said its DHL Express will continue to operate between the United States and other nations. But the company said it was dropping “domestic-only” air and ground services within the United States by Jan. 30 “to minimize future uncertainties.” DHL’s 9,500 job cuts are on top of 5,400 job reductions announced earlier this year. After these job losses, between 3,000 and 4,000 employees will remain at DHL’s U.S. operations, the company said. The company also said it was shutting down all ground hubs and reducing its number of stations to 103 from 412. DHL said it was making the cuts to improve profitability and “to prepare the company for the economic challenges ahead.” The company said this latest action would add $1.9 billion to its restructuring costs, for a total of $3.8 billion over two years, most of it during 2008. The company said the cuts would reduce the annual operating costs of DHL U.S. Express to less than $1 billion, from its current cost of $5.4 billion. DHL is owned by the German company Deutsche Post World Net. DHL’s U.S. pullback should help competitors FedEx Corp and UPS Inc., said Donald Broughton, analyst for Avondale Partners. "Obviously, it’s good news for FedEx and UPS, because this puts the 3-4% market share that DHL had [for domestic ground and air shipping within the U.S.] up for grabs,” said Broughton. “Makes it a jump ball, if you will.” UPS stock rose nearly 5% in the first hour of Monday trading, and FedEx stock rose about 4%. Both outperformed the Dow Jones industrial average, the Nasdaq and the S&P 500. DHL has been hammering out a deal that would extend its airport-to-airport shipping services within the U.S. to competitor UPS. DHL spokesman Robert Mintz told CNN that the company is still “in full negotiations with UPS [and] expects to reach an agreement by the end of the year.” The U.S. job market has been bleeding jobs all year. The Labor Department said nearly 1.2 million jobs were lost in the first 10 months of this year, with 240,000 jobs lost in October alone. DHL’s main hub is in Wilmington, Ohio, a town of about 12,000 people. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., visited Wilmington in August as part of his bid for the presidency, noting at the time that he was “deeply troubled by the specter of job loss confronting Wilmington” and the surrounding area. But a DHL spokesperson said the cuts would take place nationwide “so it’s not concentrated in the one place.”
DHL to cut 9,500 jobs in U.S. Sluggish consumer spending and shrinking investments by businesses are hurting shippers around the world, with the United States being hit hardest. Retail sales there dropped for a third consecutive month in September, posting their biggest decline in more than three years. To battle sliding demand in the United States, Deutsche Post now planned to shut down its domestic U.S. express business and focus on international shipping there. It would spend $3.9 billion on restructuring, $1.9 billion more than previously planned. The U.S. DHL unit’s full-year EBIT loss would reach $1.5 billion this year, more than the $1.3 billion previously expected. Europe’s biggest mail and express delivery company already last month cut its full-year profit outlook for this and next year, citing slowing global economic growth, which hit especially its U.S. business. Deutsche Post on Monday confirmed it saw full-year EBIT at about 2.4 billion euros, excluding one-time effects and its Deutsche Postbank unit. It held off giving a new outlook for next year. Rival United Parcel Service Inc last month said it recorded a third-quarter slide in profit of almost 10 percent on a sharp fall in demand in September, and European competitor TNT posted a bigger-than-expected profit slump for the quarter, citing lower demand for express air delivery. Deutsche Post had agreed to cooperate with UPS on air freight in the United States, but talks have stumbled as sliding demand squeezed margins and the crisis cut into companies’ spending. UPS Chief Executive Scott Davis said last month the size and scope of the agreement may be changed, arguing that customers may not be happy about Deutsche Post’s plans to downsize its business in the United States. Deutsche Post’s third-quarter adjusted earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) fell 8.5 percent to 429 million euros from 787 million a year earlier, slightly missing an average estimate of 433 million euros in a Reuters poll of analysts. Report: Deutsche Post to cut costs 11/10/2008 Associated Press (AP) Deutsche Post AG plans to announce a cost-saving program that could result in thousands of layoffs at its DHL cargo shipper in the United States, a German weekly reported Sunday. Deutsche Post spokeswoman Barbara Scheil refused to comment on the report in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, ahead of a news conference planned for Monday. The paper reported that as many as 40,000 jobs could be threatened, roughly half of them at the DHL’s U.S. Express business. DHL employs thousands at an air cargo facility in Wilmington, Ohio, whose jobs could be threatened. Deutsche Post slashed its earnings forecasts for both 2008 and 2009 late last month, saying it expects pretax profit to fall 8 percent in the third quarter “as the global economic environment deteriorated markedly.” Tough competition from UPS and FedEx also has taken some of DHL’s share of the valuable U.S. market. Reports suggest that both FedEx and UPS have taken major customers from DHL in recent weeks, including online merchants, major drug store chains and franchise businesses. NEW ANHEUSER-BUSCH PACTTEAMSTERS RATIFY NEW FIVE-YEAR AGREEMENT WITH COMPANY AFFECTING MORE THAN 6,500 WORKERS (November 6, 2008) Washington, D.C. — By an overwhelming majority, Teamster members at Anheuser-Busch's breweries in the United States voted to ratify a five-year agreement covering more than 6,S00 workers. This is the first contract members voted or, since the proposed takeover by InBev was announced earlier this year. “The U.S. beer industry is that much stronger now that our members voted to keep doing their best work at Anheuser-Busch breweries,” said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. “American-made beer, especially a hallmark brand such as Anheuser-Busch, needs to succeed in America. Our members, by ratifying a new collective bargaining agreement, will be a critical reason for that success.” Part of the new agreement is an assurance from Anheuser-Busch that the 12 breweries in the United States will not close for the next five years. All 12 breweries employ members of the Teamsters that brew and bottle the multiple brands produced by Anheuser-Busch. The brewery locations are: Los Angeles; St. Louis, Jacksonville; Florida, Newark, New Jersey; Houston; Texas, Ft. Collins, Colorado; Williamsburg, Virginia; Cartersville, Georgia; Merrimack, New Hampshire; Fairfield, California; Columbus, Ohio, and Baldwinsville, New York. “Our negotiating team urged Anheuser-Busch to keep their promises,” said Jack Cipriani, Director of the Teamsters Brewery and Soft Drink Workers Conference and International Vice President. “And, we succeeded because this contract provides good wages and benefits plus secure retirement plans — all crucial elements for our members nationwide. As a result of keeping these jobs strong, communities where Anheuser-Busch breweries are located will continue growing. In today’s economy, the stability of a Teamster-collective bargaining agreement is priceless.”
IBT COMMENT ON DHL IBT Express Division Director Bill Hamilton “This weekend DHL Express informed top leadership of our union of its intent to withdraw from the U.S. domestic market - an 80 percent cut in package volume. This drastic move by the Company will result in significant loss of jobs for our membership at DHL Express. We will do everything within our power to assist our members through this difficult time. Over the past five years DHL has struggled to penetrate the U.S. domestic ground market. Operational missteps coupled now with the failing economy have contributed to $8 billion dollars of losses for the Company since 2003. We are disappointed by DHL’s inability to avoid the pitfalls that have led to this decision. DHL indicated it is committed to its international product and this decision will not adversely impact the parts of the operation that service those products. Similarly, this decision does not affect its freight forwarding operation, Air Express International (AEI). Our union will remain vigilant as this situation develops to ensure that our members affected by this cut will be treated fairly through this difficult process.”
DEVIOUS DINO
(November 3, 2008) Real estate salesman turned Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi has a single claim to legislative fame for the two terms he served as a State Senator from 1997-2003: that he balanced the State's budget in the face of a significant revenue shortfall, like the one our Governor will face next year. The only problem is, he didn't. THE MYTH See the following: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030402&slug=senate02m THE TRUTH TODAY’S FIBBING Perhaps it should surprise no one that a politician tries to take credit for something he didn't really do. But this seems unique. Dino Rossi is taking a victory lap — albeit a premature one — in his bid to become Governor of Washington State. And yet, here's a guy with only one public-service accomplishment, and it wasn't even his. FOR MORE DINO INFORMATION His 6% voting record with the Washington State Labor Council ranks among the worst — and most partisan — of any State Legislator during his 1997-2003 tenure in the State Senate.
ANTI-WORKER DINO
If you haven't previously heard about Rossi's positions on these cuts, don't blame yourself. He only mentions them in front of the corporate special-interest groups that are financing his bid for Governor. Among the rest of us, he is deliberately vague about how he intends to "improve Washington's business climate" -- for the same reasons he lists himself as "prefers GOP" instead of Republican on your ballot. He knows his conservative Republican positions on these issues may please his base supporters, but they are out of step with Washington's working families and would kill his chances of getting elected if widely known. Rossi recently got himself in trouble when he addressed the Association of Washington Business and he let slip that he would like to establish a sub-minimum "training wage" in Washington state. In a previous article (“Flip-Flopping Dino”, printed right below this entry), we described Rossi's subsequent damage-control efforts, his false outrage over the criticism he has faced, and his demonstrated history of support for lowering Washington's minimum wage. ROSSI ALSO AGAINST UI AND WC BENEFITS As with the minimum wage, his stance comes as no surprise to those who have looked at his voting record on working families' issues. In 2003, then-State Sen. Dino Rossi voted for the biggest cut in unemployment benefits in state history, which targeted construction and other intermittent workers with cuts of more than $200 a week. After that legislative session, an exuberant Rossi told AP reporter Paul Queary that those unemployment benefit cuts were "just the first step. We have to do more. We have to go farther." Fortunately, over the years since 2003, Gov. Chris Gregoire and the Democratic-controlled State Legislature have gradually restored those benefits nearly to pre-2003 levels. But now, Rossi is telling business groups he would like to cut those unemployment benefits again, at a time many in Washington face layoffs because of the national economic crisis. RELENTLESS ANTI-UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS STANCE One of the main purposes of unemployment benefits is to provide economic stability to counter the effects of unemployment and recession. The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that for every $1 of unemployment benefits, $2.15 of purchasing power is created in local economies. That means that during the recent recession in 2002, $2 billion in state and federal UI benefits paid in Washington state created purchasing power on Main Street of $4.3 billion, keeping a significant number of small businesses afloat. In other words, as we enter a national recession in 2008 is the worst possible time to cut unemployment benefits if you want to mitigate the impact on small businesses in Washington. DISTURBING ANTI-WORKER ATTITUDE Rossi is very careful and deliberate when he says and repeats the phrase that our state workers' compensation system has "the third highest payouts in America." He wants his audience to assume that high benefits must mean that employers pay high taxes. They don't. In fact, Washington employers pay demonstrably less than employers in most other states. And Dino Rossi knows this. Washington has one of the few workers' compensation systems remaining in the United States that has resisted privatization. Our State Fund is considered a model system among other states. Why? The system's most recent comprehensive performance audit ranked it in the top 25% of states in terms of benefits paid, and the bottom 25% in terms of employer costs. Subsequent state-by-state rate studies have consistently ranked our state in the bottom third in terms of workers' compensation costs for employers. DISTORTIONS, TWISTING OF FACTS Any objective look at Washington's business environment and economy argues the opposite. While we maintain worker-friendly policies -- like our voter-mandated minimum wage that is the highest in the nation -- our economy has fared better than many states around the country. Our unemployment rate is lower than the national rate. Analysts from outside the "Washington Sucks" echo chamber consistently rank our state as a great place to do business. (Forbes magazine says we're 3rd best in the nation.) That makes candidate Dino Rossi's position all the more despicable. Here's a real estate salesman turned politician aiming to score political points by portraying workers who are injured on the job as harming our state's business climate with their exorbitant benefits. Clearly he has no understanding of what it is like to lose your income due to injury and no compassion for those who receive these benefits that only temporarily and partially replace their family's lost income. MORE INFORMATION ON HIS RECORD
FLIP-FLOPPING DINO
This from the man who — thanks to an astounding $4.1 million injection of new cash by his sponsors at the Building Industry Association of Washington — is bombarding the airwaves and Voters’ mailboxes with fear-mongering ads featuring photos of child rapists and claiming that Gregoire has placed our children in danger by losing track of sex offenders. (Rossi's claim was debunked by a report yesterday that the number of sex offenders unaccounted for has decreased significantly since Gregoire took office, in part because of increased funding she supported for “face to face” monitoring.) VOTING RECORD TELLS TRUE STORY In 2003, Rossi voted to lower Washington's state minimum wage FOR EVERYBODY — adults and teenagers alike. If enacted into law, Rossi's minimum wage bill (SB 5697) would have blocked the< annual inflationary increases -- which were mandated by an initiative that Washington voters approved by a 2-to-1 margin -- in four of the past five years. If Rossi had his way back in 2003, Washington's state minimum wage would be nearly a dollar less per hour today — at $7.13, instead of $8.07. DINO’S DENIALS LAUGHABLE
Rossi — who will find out today whether a judge will let him avoid deposition regarding his involvement in the BuilderGate campaign cash scandal — is clearly in no position to lecture Gregoire about what kind of campaigning is demeaning to the Governor's Office. But given his fresh infusion of $4.1 million from the very special-interest group involved in that scandal, expect Rossi's aggressive false attacks against Gov. Gregoire not only to continue, but to increase. IGNORE ROSSI’S TV AND RADIO ADS
You can follow the following link to learn more, and then decide for yourself which Governor candidate will fight for your interests: www.unionvoice.org/ct/Ip_42Vp1PcGP/ Hoffa Comments on the Bailout
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 IBT General President James P. Hoffa |
One positive development for working families was the decision by Congress to fund a $25 billion loan package to automakers as part of a giant spending bill. The idea, say lawmakers, is that America’s auto-industry will jump start itself through a government-funded revamp of auto manufacturing.
The Energy Department is expected to parcel out the 25-year loans at an interest rate of around 5 percent in anywhere from six to 18 months.
In the meantime, U.S. auto workers — those who are left, anyway — are breathing a sigh of relief. Approval of the appropriations couldn’t have come a moment too soon.
Everywhere we look, families are being forced from their homes thanks to job loss, high mortgage rates and a flat-lining market. The future of our economy is not looking up and to compete competitively in a global market, America can and must do better.
Finding a fix to our problem, however, isn’t just about saving face with the rest of the world. It is about restoring the U.S. work force to its once-prosperous position.
Just decades ago, the United States prided itself on being the world’s foremost economic power, and that power was supplied by millions of working men and women. These workers, who filled factories, occupied assembly lines, and dotted our interstate system with trucks en route from point A to point B, were and are the backbone of this great nation — and nowhere was that more inherently true than in Michigan.
Fueled by a once-strong automotive industry, Michigan was able to provide solid jobs and steady paychecks and good pensions to people from all walks of life. Not anymore. Now faced with strict competition from Asian automakers, high fuel prices and a shift in the wants and needs of the American driver, Michigan’s auto industry is finding it tough to keep itself between the white-dotted lines on the path to prosperity.
Since 2000, Michigan has seen 369,000 jobs disappear, making its current unemployment rate of 8.5 percent the highest in the nation. As one might guess, the majority of jobs lost are centered on automobile manufacturing. So bad are the economic shortfalls that experts estimate Michigan’s employment and GDP losses for the last eight years to be greater than that of the nation’s economy during the first eight years of the Great Depression.
It was out of acts of desperation that executives from Ford, GM and Chrysler asked the U.S. government for financial assistance — $50 billion, to be exact. Though the automakers only received half of what they asked for, it’s certain the money will be put to good use. Unlike bailouts to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac or the insurance corporation AIG, the auto industry has pledged to help taxpayers. One way is by using some of the funds to develop more fuel-efficient vehicles, lowering consumers’ fuel costs.
Such actions will not only boost interest in American-made cars, but also will create jobs for American workers. …
But it isn’t just jobs that the government bailouts have the potential to affect. The pensions of hundreds of thousands of working men and women are also at stake. While CEOs and upper management may be at the head of this crisis, it is imperative that the government not forget Main Street to take care of Wall Street.
Thanks to this recently-approved appropriations package, new hope has been given to our manufacturing base — a base which provides millions of jobs for Americans. It’s about time Republicans and Democrats worked together for a greater good.
In the world of unions, there is a creed we live by — solidarity. Today, America must unite and stand behind the automakers of this great country because, as those in Michigan know, “as GM goes, so goes the nation.” Without government action, we may all fall victim to economic depression.
[To read the full text of President Hoffa’s column, follow this link: http://www.teamster.org/smallstep.aspx.]
HOFFA EXPRESSES SOLIDARITY WITH SUGARCANE WORKERS IN COLOMBIA
TEAMSTERS LEADER SAYS STATE DEPARTMENT SHOULD MONITOR SITUATION
 General President Jim Hoffa at the 2008 IBT Unity Conference |
(October 3, 2008) Washington, D.C – Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa today said it is up to Colombian President Alvaro Uribe to guarantee protection for striking sugarcane workers.
More than 25 striking sugarcane workers in Colombia have been injured so far by the anti-riot police, according to Colombian Sen. Lopez Maya, president of the Colombian Senate Human Rights Commission.
Hoffa said Uribe should compel the sugarcane industry to negotiate promptly with the workers.
“Year after year after year, Colombia is the most dangerous country in the world to be a trade unionist,” Hoffa said. “Not only have 41 trade unionists been murdered so far in 2008, but 18,000 striking sugarcane workers are under attack by government forces.”
“President Uribe can start to make good on his claims that he cares about protecting human rights by making sure his government refrains from violence against the sugarcane workers,” Hoffa said.
Approximately 18,000 sugarcane workers have been striking since Sept. 15 to protest their working conditions. They work from 12-14 hours a day in a dangerous environment for about $200 a month. They have no job stability, health insurance or social security.
“The abuse of the sugarcane workers is just one more reason to oppose a trade deal with Colombia,” Hoffa said. “A trade deal would help the Colombian sugarcane industry as it attempts to tap into the market for biofuels. We stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Colombia.”
Earlier this year, President Bush introduced the Colombia Free Trade Agreement in Congress, but it has been sidelined in the House of Representatives. The Teamsters strongly oppose a trade deal with Colombia because of the unpunished violence against trade unionists in that country.
Hoffa also called on the U.S. State Department to require the U.S. Embassy in Colombia to closely monitor the situation involving the striking sugarcane workers.
AUGUST 19 PRIMARY RESULTS
GOVERNOR GREGOIRE WINNING, BUT IT IS CLOSE
By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
 Governor Gregoire is having to cope with her opponent’s hate campaign, shown clearly by this billboard. |
Gregoire is being backed very strongly by the Teamsters Union from top down to the Local Unions — the IBT, Joint Council 28, Local 174 and all the other JC-28 Locals. Why? Because she has had an excellent pro-worker, pro-family record during her first term and deserves prompt and solid re-election to a second term.
Unfortunately, her opponent is conducting a hate campaign against Gregoire, and it is, like most Republican hate campaigns, very effective.
The second race the Teamsters are especially deeply concerned about is that for the 8th Congressional District U.S. Representative seat. This Union is backing Democrat Darcy Burner.
WHAT THE SEATTLE DAILY NEWSPAPERS HAD TO SAY
About the Primary voting on these two key votes, the Seattle Times wrote:
WORDS FROM THE GOVERNOR
Eighth Congressional District Democratic candidate Darcy Burner is putting up a spirited battle against the incumbent.“If Washington voters are angry or anguished, they did not express it… Philosophically, they seem to be about where they were four years ago. For example, in the governor’s race, incumbent Gov. Christine Gregoiare will have to fight harder than most incumbent governors for re-election. She was doing no better — and for that matter, no worse — than four years ago when she and Republican challenger Dino Rossi were in a tight race. Her rematch with Rossi will be close in November…
“The best read of the 2008 electorate is they were as conflicated as they were in 2004 about the red-hot Congressional race in the 8th District of eastern King and Pierce Counties. Incumbent Rep. Dave Reichert, Republican, will have another squeaky-close race against Democratic challenger Darcy Burner.”
And the Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote of the two key contests:
“The two big rematches in the November General Election could once again hinge on razor thin margins… Gov. Chris Gregoire, who won office four years ago by 133 votes after two recounts, had a big lead in King County, and was ahead in Snohomish and Pierce Counties. … Rossi’s voters kept him in the race with strong return from eastern and rural Washington.
“In the Eastside’s 8th Congressional District, Republican Rep. Dave Reichert was closely hounded by Democrat Darcy Burner….”
Governor Chris Gregoire despite a great first-term record, is not getting her deserved appreciation from the populace yet. |
“Friends, I am proud to be your Governor. For three years, we’ve been taking on challenges and getting results for our families and communities.
“When I was elected, the state had the highest unemployment rate in the country. There were 46,000 of our kids in danger of losing their healthcare coverage. Washington had a $2.2 billion deficit and did not save for a rainy day. But we took on these challenges and got results that moved our families and communities in the right direction.
“We got results that strengthened our economic foundation, like creating more than 200,000 new jobs and doubling our exports. Recently, Forbes Magazine even called Washington one of the top-three states to do business.
“Like you, I believe healthcare is a right, not a perk. So we got results that provided healthcare coverage to 84,000 more of our kids and thousands more adults. With your support, I took the next step and established a goal of covering all kids by 2010. We got results that have helped protect all of our children, like requiring sex offenders to submit their DNA to law enforcement officers.
“We cut government red tape and programs that didn’t get results for us. The independent Pew Center on the States recently ranked Washington first for managing public resources.
“I want to continue getting results like these for another four years, but I’ll need your support and your vote to make it happen. Thank you.”
BUSHWHACKED TILL THE END
JUDGE WHAT THEY DO, NOT HOW THEY MISSPEAK
By BILL McCARTHY, Communications Specialist
 James Carville, longtime Democratic operative, urges people to judge Republicans by what they do, not by what they say, which is often purposefully misleading. |
(August 16, 2008) The Labor Movement has endured a nearly eight-year-long assault on it by Republican President George W. Bush and his anti-union, pro-business Administration. With secretive “Executive Orders” thought up by his braintrust and signed by him, our Imperial Chief Executive has had the major role in hamstringing most of the pro-worker legislation and resulting Labor Law fought for so hard by so many Labor activists and their friends over the past 60 or so years.
Through “Exective Orders” and other sneaky regulations and rules he has promulgated, Bush has pretty well rendered useless Labor Laws going back all the way to the end of World War II in 1945 — a time when Labor Unions and workers were respected and powerful, and strong. And Bush is not done yet. He is planning other anti-Labor moves including the one talked about below having to do with workplace safety. Bush’s anti-worker quacking is loud and clear as his term lameducks its way to a conclusion.
THE CLOWN ACT HAS MASKED BAD BEHAVIOR
The attack on Labor by Bush has been astoundingly unnoticed by most people. For nearly eight years the nation has laughed at his personal foibles and bizarre language, marveled at his swaggering pseudo-cowboy persona, and wondered if he is in charge at the White House or just carrying out the orders of Vice President Dick Cheney. But this has all been a clever side show by the GOP, masking what Bush and Company have been doing “behind the scenes.”
His “Executive Orders” especially have been devastating to Labor — and nearly all of them were dictated by Bush without any discussion with the Senate or House.
ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF GOP TACTICS
President Bush is not the only Republican who obscures his actions behind disarmingly weird behavior and statements. Others do it, too. It is a GOP tactic. One of the others to do it recently was Presidential candidate U.S. Senator John McCain’s main economic adviser, former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm. If McCain were to win the Presidency, he would probably make Gramm the U.S. Treasury Secretary.
Gramm did some unwise campaign talking, and his words were so strange that for a couple of weeks no one asked McCain economic questions. As is so often the case, the pundits and the public were more intrigued by Gramm’s gaffs and the Political Sideshow than the real issues of the day.
But let’s let an outspoken Democrat “operative” with a gift of gab tell the story. He is Republican “operative” Mary Matalin’s husband, James Carville. She publicly insultingly calls him Serpenthead, which is odd because he’s actually better looking than she is. Inside Carville’s bald serpenty head though is a first-class mind. Speaking in mid-July to the nation via an e-mail letter on the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s website, Carville wrote of Gramm:
“How's this for the latest Republican outrage? A few days ago, John McCain's top economic honcho called America ‘a nation of whiners’ and said that we're only in ‘a mental recession.’
“Are we all just imagining $4.00 a gallon gas? Were the 438,000 jobs that America lost already this year all just in our heads?
“This is exactly the kind of garbage that Republicans get away with unless you and I stand up and hold them accountable. …
“ I'm counting on all of you to really let John McCain have it for this one. Tell John McCain that what you just paid for gas and groceries this week was no figment of your imagination. …
“Now nobody ever said that John McCain exactly had his finger on the pulse of the pain that families are feeling thanks to George Bush putting our economy in the cesspool. But letting your top economic advisor call Americans a bunch of 'whiners' is a new low even for Team McCain.
“Senator McCain already admitted that he doesn't know much about the economy. He's proving it more and more every week.
“This is the same John McCain that called George Bush's disastrous economic record 'great progress.' Now he lets his point-man on the economy call decent hardworking folks who fell on hard times because of George Bush a bunch of 'whiners.' These comments insult the dignity of every single American fighting hard to make ends meet in George Bush's economy.”
DAMAGE DONE AND MORE DAMAGE PLANNED
In his years in office Bush has stacked the U.S. Supreme Court with pro-business justices who will never give workers back the union power he has deliberately taken away. He has turned the National Labor Relations Board into a National Anti-Labor Relations Board. He has put into place a Department of Labor whose directors see that it spends most of its time policing unions and making sure they have little strength in bargaining, organizing and striking situations. He and his buddies lie about the Employee Free Choice Act and say it takes away workers’ protections against “those terrible Labor Union bosses.”
Now, check this recent New York Times editorial out. It is about “Last-Minute Mischief for Labor“ and has to do with still one more way the Bushies hope to zap workers before the voters remove them from office in the November 4, 2008 General Election:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/04/opinion/04mon3.html?th&emc=th.
RECKLESS DISREGARD
 IBT General President James P. Hoffa |
By James P. Hoffa, Teamsters General President
(August 8, 2008) Even as he heads toward the exit, George Bush is sabotaging the safety of American working families. His transportation secretary, Mary Peters, announced Monday that the border will be kept open to dangerous Mexican trucks for two more years. I’m mad as hell about it, but I’m not surprised… Bush’s decision to keep the border open fits with his pattern of reckless disregard for the safety of the American people.
It was about a year ago that he first allowed trucks from Mexico to travel freely on U.S. highways. He called it a “one-year pilot program.” In reality, it’s the first step toward unfettered access for trucks from anywhere south of the border.
WHY BUSH IS BEING SNEAKY
Most Americans think this is a terrible idea. That’s why the Bush administration first tried to sneak the pilot program into existence last year. It was only after the Teamsters outed the administration that officials admitted they really were opening the border to dangerous trucks from Mexico.
The program’s unpopularity is also why the Bush administration announced a few days ago that the border would stay open for two more years. Announcing bad news in August, when most people aren’t paying much attention, is an age-old trick in Washington.
Members of Congress did hear the news as they wrapped up their work before the August recess. Some were furious that Bush had once again defied them.
Congress had already passed one law closing the border to these trucks, which don’t meet the same safety standards as U.S. trucks.
But the Bush administration simply ignores the law. That’s why Congress is in the process of passing more legislation to stop the lawbreaking.
DeFAZIO DESERVES CREDIT
Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., chairman of the House Highways subcommittee, issued a blistering statement after he found out the Bush administration planned to keep the border open.
“This administration has been hell-bent on opening up our border but over the past year has failed to show they can adequately inspect Mexican carriers while also maintaining a robust U.S. safety inspection program,” DeFazio said. “There is no reason to believe these problems will be addressed over the next two years. The safety of the traveling public must come first – before the administration's fantasies about free trade.”
McCAIN BACKS BUSH POSITION AS EXPECTED
Republican Sen. John McCain didn’t voice any outrage. He strongly supports opening the border to unsafe Mexican trucks. Sen. Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic nominee, pledged to the Teamsters that he will close the border if he’s elected.
House Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., said the Bush administration is flouting the law. Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., said the Bush administration showed “reckless arrogance for the law.”
Well said.
We have laws here in the United States that require certain safety standards to be met before the border can be opened. Border inspectors must be able to make sure Mexican drivers speak English.
Inspectors must also be able to check every Mexican truck every time it crosses the border. Mexican drivers must be tested for drugs and alcohol according to U.S. standards. Mexican trucks must be as safe as U.S. trucks.
The agency that opened the border, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), claimed that all those conditions were met. That isn’t true.
IBT AWAITING COURT OPINION
The Teamsters have taken our case to court, asking that the border be closed. We are still awaiting the judges’ opinion. Unfortunately, it will take more than judicial intervention to force FMCSA to do its job.
Since Bush became president 7-1/2 long years ago, FMCSA has changed the rules so that employers can require truck drivers to spend more hours behind the wheel.
The Teamsters have taken our case to court, asking that the border be closed. We are still awaiting the judges’ opinion. Unfortunately, it will take more than judicial intervention to force FMCSA to do its job.
Since Bush became president 7-1/2 long years ago, FMCSA has changed the rules so that employers can require truck drivers to spend more hours behind the wheel.
The agency does a lousy job enforcing existing safety regulations. It won’t report to Congress on the most dangerous motor carriers, as it is required to do. It refuses to enforce the Americans With Disabilities Act, despite a court order.
Keeping America safe means more than making sure terrorists don’t attack. It means making sure our families … throughout the … country don’t have to dodge 90,000-pound unguided missiles from Mexico on our highways.
(Mr. Hoffa's commentary originally appeared in The Detroit News on August 8, 2008.)
