Employee Free Choice~Part of Economic Cure !

Leading Economists: Employee Free Choice Key to Rebuilding Economy
by Seth Michaels, Feb 25, 2009

In a statement delivered today to Capitol Hill and published as a full-page advertisement in The Washington Post, more than three dozen of the nation’s top economists call on Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act to help restore an economy that works for everyone, built on a sustainable, wage-based growth. The statement, signed by 39 of America’s top economists, including two Nobel Prize winners, points to the failure of U.S. labor laws to protect employees’ freedom to form a union and bargain as a major factor in our economic crisis. The statement says in part: Indeed, from 2000 to 2007, the income of the median working-age household fell by $2,000—an unprecedented decline. In that time, virtually all of the nation’s economic growth went to a small number of wealthy Americans. An important reason for the shift from broadly shared prosperity to growing inequality is the erosion of workers’ ability to form unions and bargain collectively.These economists, representing respected universities and policy institutions from across the nation, point to the corporate-dominated system for forming unions—and the coercion and anti-union campaigning by management—as the causes for declining wages and a gravely weakened economy. A rising tide lifts all boats only when labor and management bargain on relatively equal terms. In recent decades, most bargaining power has resided with management. The current recession will further weaken the ability of workers to bargain individually. More than ever, workers will need to act together. Although current headlines are dominated by the crises in the stock market and the financial sector, working families have been struggling for years under the weight of an unbalanced economy. These economists say that restoring bargaining power and ensuring working people have a voice in their workplace, and in their health care, pensions and wages, is critical to rebuilding our economy. James K. Galbraith of the University of Texas, one of the economists who has signed on, says the freedom to form unions and bargain has many benefits for the economy and the country. I support the Employee Free Choice Act for two reasons. First, it levels the playing field after a generation of anti-union policies, and in a world where far more workers are in decentralized, hard-to-organize workplaces than was true a generation back. Second, unions are a proven ally of progress, not only in politics but also in economics: unionized workforces promote technical change and productivity growth, because they make it possible to distribute more fairly and less brutally the costs of change. Eileen Appelbaum, of Rutgers University, says:
To get our economy back on track and growing again we need to strengthen wages, make sure that workers have health and retirement benefits, and reduce inequality. Unions play a unique and significant role in achieving equity and efficiency in the workplace and, more broadly, in society. You can view the ad as it ran in today’s Washington Post here. It includes a full list of the prominent economists who have signed on.

PerhapstheBestFordCommercialEver

I have been a critic of American automobiles, the quality in which they were built ! I have recently looked at the new Ford Fusion`s ! "Have you driven a Ford lately" ? Their quality now surpasses Toyota and Nissan ! I am no longer a Ford critic.

More Badyear/Goodyear News

400 will lose their jobs under Goodyear agreement.

February 23, 2009

The United Steelworkers Local 831 union has approved an agreement with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. that will mean more than 400 Danville employees will lose their jobs through buyouts and layoffs starting in March. Under the plan, all workers will work 8-hour shifts over five-day weeks. About 200 employees will be offered buyouts. The plant currently operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The plan also includes week long furloughs in March and August.
The plant employs more than 2,400 people. (Danville Register & Bee)

Editorial : Negotiations are tough during Bad times ! Union City, count you`re blessing`s !

Social Security ~ Don`t Mess With Success...

Social Security, Medicare Under Attack (Sen. Bernie Sanders)

February 23rd, 2009

Social Security and Medicare are likely to come under new attack at a “fiscal responsibility summit meeting” on Monday at the White House. The huge and growing national debt is a major problem which must be addressed, but there are ways of doing that without cutting Social Security benefits or decimating Medicare. During the last decade the wealthiest people in our country have become wealthier while working people have struggled desperately to keep their heads above water. It would be a betrayal of the needs of the middle class of this country if we lowered Social Security benefits or raised the retirement age for Social Security eligibility.The truth is that there is no crisis in Social Security. Social Security will remain solvent until 2041, according to projections by the system’s trustees. I am unalterably opposed to raising the retirement age or lowering benefits. I will propose legislation to strengthen Social Security by lifting the cap on contributions that now allows upper-income wage earners avoid payments. It is absurd that billionaires are contributing the same amount into Social Security as those who earn $105,000 a year.
There is a financial crisis in Medicare, but it is directly related to the disintegration of our entire health care system – the most costly and wasteful in the world. The way to address that crisis is to join the rest of the industrialized world and create a national health care program guaranteeing health care for all.

Health Care Reform ~ Part of American Recovery Act

The Buzz around Washington is growing – and the news is not good.

It's becoming clear that some members of Congress want to put health reform on the backburner until at least 2010. But with medical costs rising fast, Americans need action on health care now. President Obama is outlining his priorities when he addresses the nation tomorrow night. Will you join me in calling on the president to put health care reform at the top of his list?
Click here to ask President Obama to make health reform a top priority in his speech tomorrow. We can't truly fix our economy without fixing our health care system. Until we reduce medical costs and improve access to quality care, there will be Americans forced to choose between seeing a doctor and making a house payment. And that is unacceptable.The president's speech tomorrow has the ability to put health reform back on Congress' radar – where it needs to be if we're going to have meaningful reform in 2009. The good news is that we know President Obama agrees with us. Health care was at the top of the president's agenda throughout his campaign. Now let's make sure he knows we're counting on him to follow through when he addresses Congress – and the nation – tomorrow night.
Click here to tell the president that health care must be a top priority in tomorrow's speech.

Thanks for your help in making sure health care stays on the agenda for 2009.

Sincerely, Don = Underdog...

Common Sense Died Yesterday...

An Obituary printed in the London Times -

Interesting and sadly rather true "Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; Why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn't always fair; and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition. Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.. Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault. Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason...

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights. I Want It Now. Someone Else Is To Blame. I'm A Victim. Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

Editorial : How sad ! Thanks to, Bro. Mike Stanley for this one.

Does America Still Need UNIONS ? Absolutely !

Does America Still Need Labor Unions?

The Employee Free Choice Act, or “Card Check” for short, is one of the most controversial measures Congress faces this year. The bill—first introduced in the Senate in 2007 by Ted Kennedy and co-sponsored by then-Senators Barack Obama and Joe Biden—would make it easier for workers to join unions and would tighten penalties for employers who try to stop them. Supporters such as Human Rights Watch and the NAACP say the bill provides important protections for the middle class. Opponents like the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Restaurant Association say it increases labor costs and hurts the bottom line. Both sides have spent millions on lobbyists and advertising to make their case.
Does America still need labor unions?
Yes No > http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/intelligence-report/archive/does-america-still-need-labor-unions.html
View Results With only 12% of American workers in unions, why should the rest of us care? Professor Clete Daniel, a labor expert at Cornell University, says a revived labor movement could benefit workers both in and out of unions. “ There is definitely a need for forces that promote a fairer sharing of wealth,” he says, noting that the gap between America’s rich and poor is the largest it’s been since 1928. Over the last 75 years, unions helped secure benefits like unemployment insurance, Social Security, and the 40-hour work week. Others contend that unions have outlived their usefulness. “The workplace is much better today,” says Michael Eastman of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “Employers know they need to offer certain benefits and good wages to keep good workers.” Professor Daniel says Card Check likely would not increase union membership until the economy improves, since workers are currently more concerned about job security than wages and benefits. “ Today, most workers are too fearful to take a risk for unions,” he adds. — Lyric Wallwork Winik

Editorial : Does a fish need water ? You bet, just to survive ! Workers need UNIONS for the same reason, it gives them a voice in their work place. We have had it without UNIONS, it Did`nt work. Just look at history. The Mine workers for a start. Then the auto workers. Now, the Rubber Workers ! Free Democratic Trade UNIONS are a must ! Click on the title or link to vote ! Remember the Chamber of Commerce is a UNION, it is just for business`s, but, it`s a UNION !

The Salary`s of Lamar Alexander(R) & Bob Corker(R)Tennessee

The U.$. Senators Budget to keep them in Washington DC...

Ever wonder how much it cost you to keep our Senator`s in Washington DC ? Click on the title or the link, it will take you to where you find out ! We keep them in a pretty good manner....I`d smile too ! These are our`s, Senator Lamar Alexander(R) and Bob Corker(R) Tennessee

http://www.legistorm.com/browse_by_senator.html

Managers Overpaid, Not Workers !

Managers, Not Workers, Overpaid in Manufacturing Jobs
by James Parks, Feb 17, 2009

Some pundits and lawmakers—Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) comes to mind—falsely claim that union workers are overpaid and are to blame for the decline of U.S. manufacturing. But a new report, released last week by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), busts that myth and shows the convenient conventional wisdom to be wrong. EPI economist Josh Bivens lays out the facts in Squandering the Blue-Collar Advantage, which show that U.S. manufacturing’s blue-collar workforce, far from destroying U.S. competitiveness, is actually one of the key elements making a positive contribution to competitiveness—a contribution being undermined by a variety of other factors. Click here to read the entire report. Says Bivens: If the story of U.S. manufacturing began and ended with its blue-collar workers, the outcome would be far different from what we’re seeing today. In hourly pay and productivity, U.S. manufacturing workers give their companies a significant competitive edge—one that is being drained away by other negative forces. Bivens identifies three key factors undermining U.S. competitiveness: The overvalued U.S. dollar, which artificially drives up the price of U.S. goods abroad and drives down the cost of foreign-produced goods here. Over the past 10 years, this imbalance alone has created a 10 percent to 16 percent cost disadvantage for U.S. goods, compared with the previous decade.
The high cost of U.S. health care is another significant factor. Reducing these costs to the same level as our comparable trading partners could create a 4.6 percent cost advantage. U.S. managers—not workers—are overpaid. Bringing white-collar wages in line with those in comparable countries could result in a 6.4 percent cost advantage for U.S. manufacturers. Bivens adds: If we want to restore the strength of U.S. manufacturing in our economy and in the world, we have to address the real anti-competitive factors that are dragging it down. In this effort, the wages and productivity of the unionized blue-collar workforce are an important asset.

Editorial : Poor ole Bob Corker(R)TN, he just does`nt get it ! Or Does He ? Hey Bob, still have illegal aliens working for you ? Bob, are you listening ?

Bad Year for Goodyear !

Bad Year For Goodyear

Lisa LaMotta, 02.18.09

Tire maker cuts jobs in an effort to compensate for slumping sales.
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

As automakers plead with the government for further bailout money due to fear of bankruptcy, one of their key suppliers, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, is taking aggressive actions to cut costs and save its business from being dragged down by Detroit. Akron, Ohio-based Goodyear, the world's third-largest tire maker, has been trying to adjust to the recession and the increasingly depressed sales of automobiles. The company has tried to concentrate on replacement tires instead, and has been increasing prices to make up for the shortfall.
Article Controls forbes: > http://www.forbes.com/< partner="yahoobuzz">Yahoo! Buzz During the tire maker's announcement of its fourth-quarter earnings, Goodyear Tire & Rubber (nyse: GT - news - people ) also announced a plan to raise its cost savings to $2.5 billion, including $700.0 million for 2009. The company will be achieving those cost targets by cutting 5,000 jobs, on top of the 4,000 reductions that it made in the second half of 2008. It has also decided to freeze salaries and eliminate unnecessary discretionary spending. Goodyear intends to significantly cut capacity, eliminating 15 million to 25 million units of additional manufacturing capacity worldwide, as well as lowering capital expenditures to between $700.0 million and $800.0 million.
"Collectively, these actions address the new economic realities," said Chairman Robert J. Keegan. "We will remain flexible and are prepared to take additional actions if market conditions warrant. Our goal is to ensure Goodyear is positioned for success when tire markets recover."
Shares of Goodyear were off 2.6%, or 16 cents, to $5.86, after the news on Wednesday morning. The company said that the number of tires sold during the fourth quarter declined by 19.0%, but revenue per tire increased due to pricing changes. Goodyear lost $330.0 million, $1.37 per share, in the fourth quarter, compared with a profit of $52.0 million, or 23 cents per share, in the year-prior period. Excluding one-time items, it lost $1.18 per share, wider than analyst estimates of a loss of $1.03 per share. Revenues fell 21.2% to $4.1 billion.

Editorial : Ya Think Good Ole Bob Keegan will get another big Bonu$ ?

Tennessee County Clerks ~ Doing a Outstanding Job ~ Organ Donation

Monday, February 16, 2009

Obion County Clerk Vollie Boehms recently announced more than a quarter of a million dollars ($260,790) was raised by county clerks across Tennessee this past year for organ donor awareness. Tennesseans have given generously when renewing vehicle tags and helped educate more people than ever on the importance of organ donation and “saying yes” when applying for or renewing their driver’s license.“The Tennessee County Clerks Organ Donation Awareness Foundation (TCCODAF) provided the funds for the development, implementation and public launch of the “Donate Life Tennessee” Registry. The foundation collects money to support statewide donation education through its program that gives Tennesseans the opportunity to “Donate a Dollar” for organ and tissue donation when they visit a county clerk office. Over $2 million has been raised since the inception in 1996. We will continue to expand our efforts across Tennessee,” said Tom McRedmond, executive director of TCCODAF.This is great news for the more than 2,164 Tennesseans currently waiting for a life-saving organ transplant and the thousands more who need tissue transplants to enhance there quality of life. “We are proud of the role the citizens of Obion County have played in funding the efforts of Donate Life Tennessee Registry. This registry will increase the number of registered donors and save lives. We are making it easier for all Tennesseans to join their one million fellow citizens who have already decided to give the gift of life.” Mrs. Boehms said.“Today marks a significant historical milestone for the field of organ and tissue donation and transplantation education in Tennessee, thanks to the generosity of Tennesseans” said Lisa Clark, senior public relations spokesman for Donate Life Tennessee. “On behalf of Donate Life Tennessee and the thousands of Tennesseans waiting for live-saving transplants that will have renewed spirits, we celebrate the success and thank the Obion County Clerk and staff. More importantly, action has been taken that will save lives, restore sight, heal burns and enhance the lives of thousands of Tennesseans,” said Ms. Clark.“Tragically, one-third of the more than 99,000 Americans currently waiting for life-saving organ transplants could die due to the critical shortage of donors; but, Tennesseans can make a positive impact on that statistic. Anyone who checks ‘yes’ to become a donor when applying for or renewing a driver’s license or I.D. card will be registered in the official Donate Life Tennessee registry. A small red heart is placed in the upper right-hand corner of the driver’s license photo to show that person is registered. A donor has the potential to save eight lives as an organ donor and improve up to 50 others as a tissue donor” said Ms. Clark.Tennesseans can register to be a donor with Donate Life Tennessee at www.tndonorregistry.org or at any TDOS Driver License Center. For those who have previously registered as a donor through TDOS, Donate Life Tennessee will help them fulfill their desire to donate by adding them to the Tennessee Organ and Tissue Donor Registry. State law requires that every time an applicant renews a driver license, he or she must mark ‘yes’ on the application to be a registered donor. Donate Life Tennessee is a non-profit, state-authorized organ and tissue donor registry, administered by the state’s two organ procurement organizations (OPO), responsible for facilitating the donation process in Tennessee: Tennessee Donor Services and Mid-South Transplant Foundation. The Donate Life Registry assures that all personal information is kept confidential and stored in a secure database, accessible only to authorized OPO personnel.

Editorial : If you did`nt know, State Senator Roy B. Herron Dresden and your`s truly, Don Jones were the individuals who got this passed in the state legislature. However it is the County Court Clerks who volunteered to this job, that needed to be done. My personal Thanks to all of you, who have helped aided and assisted so many ! "The Gift of Life" What a wonderful legacy ! Thanks Buddy for this !

Goodyear`s Pension Program ? I`m Worried, Are You ?

FEBRUARY 12, 2009

By: JOHN JANNARONE

Investors already have seen their equity holdings hammered by the economic crisis. But, in some cases, they are discovering that companies are exposed to the down cycle twice over. Operating profits are collapsing. But pension deficits also are ballooning because of the stock-market dive. Absent a sudden market recovery, those will likely be made up in hard cash, undermining profits for years to come.S&P 500 companies had a combined pension deficit of $376 billion at the end of 2008, according to Bank of America. Many companies with defined-benefit plans had more than half their assets in equities at the end of 2007. If all that was in the U.S., they still lost 40% last year. Falling interest rates, meanwhile, increased the present value of pension obligations for some. Shares of technology-services company NCR fell 15% Feb. 5 after the company said it would contribute $120 million to its pension in 2009 and another $200 million to $250 million in 2010. NCR, with a $1.6 billion market capitalization, previously disclosed that 66% of its $3.4 billion in U.S. pension assets were in equities at the end of 2007.The pension headache is hitting companies already under huge pressure to cut costs. Caterpillar recently announced 20,000 job cuts and warned that it may post its first quarterly loss since 1992.Caterpillar's U.S. pension had $10.4 billion in assets at the end of 2007 -- $700 million less than its obligations. Caterpillar's pension assets likely shrank by about $2.8 billion last year, assuming the 70% of its portfolio dedicated to equities fell 40% and, generously, the 25% invested in debt rose 5%. The company says it will contribute close to $1 billion to its pension this year. But that could still leave a hole of as much as $2.5 billion.Others might follow suit. Goodyear Tire & Rubber had U.S. pension assets worth $4.5 billion at the end of 2007, when liabilities totaled $5.1 billion. With 68% of its portfolio in equities and the rest in debt, Goodyear's portfolio may have lost $1.1 billion last year. The company, with a market value of $1.7 billion, plans to announce its earnings Feb. 18. Some are postponing the reckoning. Under the Pension Protection Act, companies only need to show progress toward closing their deficits over a seven-year period -- so they don't need to start injecting cash immediately. If there was a sudden turnaround in the economy and equity markets, high-deficit companies would get a double boost.But the last large pension deficit in 2002 was less than half as large, and still took five years of healthy markets to correct. Investors should assume that deficits will soak up large amounts of hard cash for years to come.

__________________I've always wondered what the 1920's and 1930's were like, but I never wanted to see it from the German perspective.....

Editorial : Being one of Goodyear`s retiree`s, I`m worried are you ? Thanks Buddy, for this one !

Buy American ! Help Yourself !

Senator John McCain wanted to be President of America. Now he tried to strip

” Buy American “out of the Stimulus Package that passed the US Senate. McCain sponsored an Amendment that would take the Buy American paragraph out of the Stimulus Package. What in the world is he thinking? Thank goodness the American people did not vote him into the White House. McCain and 29 other Republicans and 1 Independent voted for the Amendment to strip the Buy American out of the Stimulus Package. Below are the US Senators that voted to strip Buy American out of the package. All Democrat US Senators voted against stripping Buy American out of the Stimulus Package. How did your US Senator Vote. Those listed below Voted No to "Buy America"

Alexander ( R ) TN Barrasso ( R ) WY Bennett ( R ) UT

Bond ( R ) MO Bunning ( R ) KY Chambliss ( R ) GA

Coburn ( R ) OK Cochran ( R ) MS Corker ( R ) TN

Cornyn ( R) TX Crapo ( R ) ID DeMint ( R ) SC

Ensign ( R ) WY Enzi ( R ) WY Hatch ( R ) UT

Inhofe ( R ) OK Isakson ( R ) GA Johanns ( R ) NE

Kyl ( R ) AZ Lugar ( R ) IN Martinez ( R ) FL

McCain ( R ) AZ McConnell ( R ) KY Murkowski ( R ) AK

Risch ( R ) KS Roberts ( R ) KS Sessions ( R ) AL

Shelby ( R ) AL Thune ( R ) SD Wicker ( R ) MS

Lieberman ( ID ) CT

Editorial : Good ole Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker (R`s)Tennessee, are`nt we proud of Them ? Sure we are ! Both Tennessee Senators voted against Buy America ! Shame on You both. lest we forget our turncoat Lieberman.

Wall Street CEO`S Out of Control...You Bet !

Subject: Help stop Wall Street's Greed

Did you hear that Wall Street gave out $18.4 billion in bonuses in 2008? $18.4 billion to the people who crippled our economy with their recklessness and greed and then took $700 billion of our money. Outrageous, right? Well, I just signed a petition urging Congress to put enforceable, common-sense limits on salaries at all the banks taking taxpayer dollars. Can you join me at the link below? Or Click on the title of this blog.

http://pol.moveon.org/bonus/?r_by=15503-10206651-qW4X1Kx&rc=paste

Thanks!

American Recovery & Reinvestment Plan ~YES !

This week the U.S. Senate is debating President Obama’s American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan, known as (S. 1.) The bill contains several important provisions that directly affect retirees.

The key retiree provisions are:

Retiree Stimulus Payment - A $300 payment for all retirees receiving Social Security, SSI Benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits, or Veterans Benefits.· Nursing Home Help - $87 billion in help for state Medicaid programs. Medicaid funds are the single largest source for nursing home care.· COBRA Help – A 65% percent subsidy for 9 months for workers who have lost their jobs from September 1, 2008 through December 31, 2009 so they can keep their health insurance. What you can do to tell your senators to keep these provisions and pass (S. 1):
· Use the toll free number 1-888-460-0813 to call their offices· Click on the link below or title above to send an email to your senators: > www.unionvoice.org/campaign/StimulusS1<

Editorial : Senators Alexander and Corker (R`s) Tennessee will not vote for it, but you can tell them how you feel !

Older Americans & The Economic Recovery Bill !

Hello All,

I just sent an email to my senators, because a crucial vote on the economic recovery bill is about to hit the Senate floor, and I want to make sure older Americans receive real relief during the crisis. Will you join me?
The legislation the House of Representatives passed is a wide-ranging plan that would directly address the most immediate, day-to-day needs of the Americans who need relief the most. Now the ball is in the Senate’s court, and it’s up to us to make sure that the bill that lands on President Obama’s desk provides real relief for older Americans. Right now, the Senate is deciding what to keep, what to add and what to cut. That's why it's urgent that they hear from people like you and me today – to make sure that Congress doesn’t just move fast, but also gets it right!
Click here to tell your senators to pass this crucial relief legislation today!
It's no secret that older Americans have been among the hardest hit by the economic crisis. That's why this legislation must include important relief for older Americans. As it stands, the plan is wide-ranging and strong, but the Senate can make it even better to ensure that the hardest hit by the economic crisis do not get left behind. Every day your AARP representatives in Washington are working hard to make sure that older Americans get real relief in this economic recovery plan. But they can never be as effective as the voices of real Americans. That’s why your voice is so crucial to making sure the Senate doesn’t forget older Americans when they go to cast their votes.
Take just two minutes and click here to tell your senators to pass this economic recovery plan – to ensure older Americans get the relief they deserve.
As our nation faces this critical challenge, thank you for all your hard work in making sure Congress gets the economic recovery bill right.

– Don Jones = Underdog

Editorial : Remember the Senate Republicans are opposed to this bill for the middle class. Even though they voted for the Banks bailout ! If your Senator is Republican, be sure and contact them letting them know how you would like them to vote ! They will probably not vote for this bill, but you can let them know how you feel !

Loyalty to America...Yes !

ANALYSIS STATEMENT BY DR. ROBERT SCOTT, EPI ECONOMIST-- (JAN. 30, 2009)

Economic Policy Institute...
Big business lobbies for importers

By: Robert E. Scott

Multinational companies such as General Electric and Caterpillar, and their allies in the Chamber of Commerce, are attacking “Buy American” provisions included in the economic recovery bill passed by the House on January 28th. They claim that these provisions will provoke a “trade war” with foreign governments, but foreign governments have long histories of supporting their own domestic companies. These companies are self-interested, simply wanting unlimited access to imports, many of which are illegally subsidized and unfairly traded. U.S. and foreign multinational companies (MNCs) were responsible for nearly two-thirds of all U.S. imports in 2006, as shown in the chart below. U.S. firms led the way with $678 billion in imports, 36.4% of all U.S. goods imports. Foreign MNCs pulled in an additional $482.4 billion in goods, 25.6% of the U.S. import bill. Companies like Caterpillar, which will benefit from billions of dollars of infrastructure spending in the stimulus package, want unfettered access to cheap steel from countries like China, which poured more than $15 billion into energy subsidies into that sector in 2007 alone. Chinese steel imports more than doubled between January and November, while U.S. steel production fell nearly 40%. The Chamber of Commerce, which also opposes further “Buy American” provisions, represents the interests of U.S. companies like Caterpillar and IBM as well as foreign multinationals like Toyota and Siemens, all represented on its board of directors. Congress has finally realized that what’s good for big business is not always good for America, and that new rules are needed to rein in runaway corporations. That’s real progress.

Editorial : Which do you prefer, loyalty to America or foreign imports ? It seems that some like money/greed better.

Hoo-Ray for President Obama...At Last an Even Playing Field ?

Executive Order Could Effectively Prevent Federal Contractors From Opposing Union Organizing Efforts...
January 30, 2009-

The new administration is moving swiftly to change the playing field between labor and management.

Today the President signed three executive orders. The important one provides government contractors cannot use federal funds to "support or deter their employees' exercise of the right to form unions and engage in collective bargaining." In June 2008 the Supreme Court held that an almost identically phrased California law was preempted by the National Labor Relations Act. The Court expressly noted the law clearly was designed to facilitate union organizing and would virtually prevent government contractors from opposing union organizing efforts. Thus, the Executive Order clearly is contrary to the Supreme Court's interpretation of employer's free speech rights under the National Labor Relations Act. The Executive Order, if it says what the media reports, clearly provides that an employer who receives federal funds pursuant to a federal contract doesn't have First Amendment free speech rights to talk with employees about unions. Here is the kicker--the First Amendment says "Congress shall pass no law . . . abridging freedom of speech." It doesn't say the President can't issue Executive Orders to accomplish the same thing.

By: Zan Blue
Nashville, TN

Editorial : Remember these attorney`s represent Employers ! Not Employee`s, in essence they are the Union for Employers ~ See how they spin words into saying what they want it too ? Excuse me, but it is time you and your employers were exposed ! I realize that it is difficult to give up your exclusive rights to freedom of speech as you see it. "LMAON"! Working men and women are at last getting an even playing field. Thanks Mr. President !