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2004 UAW National
CAP Legislative Conference Day Three
Industrial Union Council Chair and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka called the meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance. Secretary-Treasurer Trumka offered his opening remarks. “The past year has seen a lot of activity as we
have laid the foundation to bring the manufacturing crisis in America
to the forefront of the American consciousness and before Congress and
the presidential campaigns. President Bush has the worse record in modern
times on the jobs and economy. He proposed to offer goods made in foreign
companies that supported the War in Iraq as American made. The recent
move to eliminate overtime provisions for 8 million Americans wasn’t
enough; he then had the gall to send notices out to employers to teach
them how to get around paying overtime. This administration says the recesses ended two years ago. However, next month another 365,000 unemployed workers will leave the ranks of unemployment. Not because they found jobs, but because they have exhausted their unemployment benefits. Two weeks ago President Bush rolled out a 63-point plan for manufacturing, and named a cabinet position on manufacturing. His answer to the loss of 2.6 million manufacturing jobs during his term is to appoint one person. I guess he things swapping one job for 2.6 million evens the scales. Guest speakers during the morning session included Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschel and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi spoke of the need to make a change in Washington, to put manufacturing and working families ahead of corporate profits. Senator Daschel stated that three times they had proposed legislation to close the loopholes that allow corporations to move off shore for tax shelters, but the Bush administration blocked all three attempts. |
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