Congressional Legislative Alert

1. Marshall Plan for U.S. Automotive Industry. To stop the off-shoring of automotive jobs, the federal government should provide assistance to help auto manufacturers and auto parts companies retool and expand existing U.S. facilities to produce flexible fuel and advanced technology (hybrid, diesel, fuel cell) vehicles and their key components. In addition, to make sure there is a level playing field among all automotive companies, both domestically and internationally, this assistance should be structured so that it addresses the retiree health care costs of older automotive and other manufacturing companies. Please urge Representatives and Senators to strongly support legislation to establish this type of Marshall Plan for the U.S. automotive industry. Tell them this will create thousands of jobs for American workers and help protect the pensions and health care benefits that retirees have earned. At the same time, it will enhance our national security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. It will reduce global warming emissions and improve the environment. And it will benefit consumers by lowering the cost of flexible fuel and advanced technology vehicles and by providing them with substantially greater fuel economy.

2. Reform Bankruptcy Laws. In recent years, employers have increasingly tried to use the bankruptcy process as a way to evade their obligations under collective bargaining agreements, and to slash wages, health care, pension and other benefits for active and retired workers. At the same time, unscrupulous executives have continued to pad their own pockets with outrageous bonuses and other types of compensation. We have seen this scenario in the steel and airline company bankruptcies, and now Steve Miller is trying to follow the same game plan at Delphi. Please urge Representatives and Senators to support corporate bankruptcy reforms that will put a stop to these abuses of our bankruptcy laws.

3. Thailand Free Trade Deal. The Bush administration hopes to complete negotiations on a free trade deal with Thailand and to present it to Congress for approval later this year. Accordingly, we must keep up the pressure on Congress to oppose any agreement that eliminates or substantially reduces the existing 25% U.S. tariff on imported pickup trucks. Thailand is the second leading producer of pickup trucks in the world. If the 25% U.S. tariff were eliminated or reduced in any free trade deal with Thailand, we could be flooded with cheap imported pickup trucks from Thailand. Also, Japanese and other foreign automakers would use their facilities in Thailand as a platform to gain duty-free access to the U.S. auto market, while their countries remain closed to U.S.-built automotive products. This would directly threaten the jobs of 42,000 UAW members who work in plants that assemble pickup trucks, and well as the jobs of 40,000 UAW members who produce engines, transmissions, stampings and other key parts for pickup trucks. Please urge Representatives and Senators to oppose elimination or any reduction of the 25 percent U.S. tariff on imported pickup trucks. Tell them to send a strong message to U.S. trade negotiators not to tamper with this tariff in any trade deal with Thailand.

4. Pension Legislation. The House and Senate have passed different versions of legislation intended to strengthen the funding of private pension plans and to shore up the financing of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC). While the UAW supports these worthy objectives, unfortunately some provisions in these bills could have a negative impact on companies, workers and retirees, and the entire defined benefit pension system. In particular, certain provisions in the Senate bill would impose sharply higher costs on older manufacturing companies that are already experiencing financial difficulties and have lower credit ratings. This could lead to more bankruptcies, plant closings and layoffs, and could encourage more companies to terminate their pension plans, thereby hurting the retirement security of workers and retirees. Please urge Representatives and Senators to insist that the "credit rating" provisions in the Senate bill must be dropped. Tell them to make sure that any pension legislation does not hurt manufacturing companies that are already struggling, jeopardize pension benefits and credits for hundreds of thousands of workers and retirees, or undermine the entire defined benefit pension system.

5. Tax Fairness. The Bush administration and GOP Congressional leaders are continuing to push proposals for additional tax cuts for the rich. This includes proposals to extend the lower tax rates on dividends and capital gains. At the same time, President Bush s Tax Reform Commission and key GOP Congressional leaders have advocated that workers' health care benefits should be taxed. This would impose a huge tax increase on working families, and undermine comprehensive, negotiated health care coverage. Please urge your Representative and Senators to oppose any proposals that would provide more tax cuts for wealthy individuals. At the same time, tell them to oppose any proposals that would tax workers' health care benefits.

6. Extension of the Voting Rights Act. The historic Voting Rights Act was enacted in 1965 to eliminate abusive practices in many Southern states that had long denied African Americans the right to vote. Since that time, the Voting Rights Act has been extended several times, and broadened to address problems that have disenfranchised Hispanics and other minorities. However, the Voting Rights Act is currently scheduled to expire in 2007. The UAW and our allies in the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights Act will be supporting bipartisan legislation to extend this critically important law. Please urge Representatives and Senators to support immediate passage of legislation to reauthorize and extend the Voting Rights Act to ensure that all Americans are able to exercise their constitutional right to vote.

7. Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). Senators Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) and Representatives George Miller (D-Calif.) and Peter King (R-N.Y.) have introduced the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) to restore the right of workers to organize and bargain collectively, free from employer intimidation and coercion. This legislation (S. 842; H.R. 1696) would require employers to recognize unions based on card-check procedures. It would also provide for mediation and arbitration in first contract situations, and increase penalities on employers that violate workers' rights to organize. Thanks to a fantastic effort by UAW and other union activists, 42 Senators and 207 Representatives have already sponsored this labor law reform bill. Please thank these Senators and Representatives for sponsoring EFCA. In addition, please urge those Senators and Representatives who have not already sponsored this legislation to sign on as cosponsors right away!

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