Biden Task Force Hears from IUE-CWA Members in Minnesota

CWA members and leaders, community residents and business leaders welcomed Vice President Joe Biden to the floor of the New Flyer bus manufacturing plant in St. Cloud, Minn., for the second meeting of the White House Task Force on Middle Class Families. New Flyer, whose employees are members of IUE-CWA Local 7304, is a leader in the production of hybrid, low-emission and alternative-fuel buses and other vehicles.  

Vice President Biden, with other members of the Administration's economic team, held a town hall meeting at the plant to spotlight what can be achieved by President Obama's economic stimulus program – the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- and by companies focusing on creating quality green jobs.  

Dan Rock, president of IUE-CWA Local 7304, and other leaders of the local were on hand as Vice President Biden took questions and listened as residents offered their ideas on how to strengthen the middle class.

CWA President Larry Cohen has pointed out that "New Flyer shows how investment in green technology can create thriving businesses and quality jobs." He also noted that "New Flyer is a leader in another way, by respecting workers' rights to majority signup for choosing union representation." This same choice would be restored to all workers by the Employee Free Choice Act, Cohen noted.  

Tim Lovaasen, president of the CWA Minnesota State Council, said New Flyer "hits all the points President Obama has been talking about," combining green technology, investment in our communities, business growth and respect for workers' rights.

Since 2002, the year when New Flyer recognized the workers' decision for union representation, employment at the company has grown steadily.