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IUE-CWA Builds Political Support, Union Solidarity
IUE-CWA is awaiting Delphi's response to its Oct. 31 written request for details on cost savings the company expects to reap through its draconian proposals to gut the union's collective bargaining agreements.
Meanwhile, IUE-CWA leaders have met with the staff of a bipartisan coalition of congressional representatives with Delphi facilities in their districts.
"The meeting provided a good opportunity to set the record straight on Delphi's exaggerated claims of $65-an-hour wages and so on," said IUE-CWA President Jim Clark. "It also ensured that the Delphi bankruptcy and its impact on workers will have high visibility on Capitol Hill going forward."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in late October wrote to President Bush, calling for an automotive summit to include the administration, members of Congress, state and local officials, industry executives and labor representatives, to address so-called "legacy costs" like health care and pensions for American workers, as well as fuel efficiency, foreign competition and trade.
"The crisis facing auto makers and their suppliers is of such significance that it not only calls for, but demands, the attention and focus of our national leaders," Clinton wrote. "The economic consequences of the government's failure to address these matters will be severe unless we demonstrate the will and the leadership to deal with them head on," she said, pointing out that more than 1 million Americans work in the automotive industry.
The president has not responded to her letter, nor has Delphi responded to the union's lengthy request, compiled after a thorough analysis of the company's proposals in comparison to the competitive agreements IUE-CWA already has in place at every facility. The company is seeking wage cuts of $9 to $10 an hour for production workers, cuts in dental and vision coverage, reduced holiday and vacation time, excessive health care cost-shifting and frozen accrual of service credited toward a pension as of Jan. 1. 2006.
"Delphi's current proposal is totally unreasonable on so many levels," stated IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board Chairman Henry Reichard. "For the past 20 years IUE-CWA has responded responsibly to Delphi's legitimate concerns about competitive operations."
In other news, IUE-CWA formally notified U.S. Trustee Dierdre Martini that it would represent its retired members in the bankruptcy proceedings. Delphi said it wants to eliminate medical and life insurance for future and hourly retirees. Retiree interests are handled by a separate committee governed by Section 114 of the bankruptcy code.
"IUE-CWA will vigorously defend the rights of our current retirees who rely on these benefits," Clark said. "Once again Delphi is being hypocritical in its requests. It wants hourly workers to cut their wages while management gets huge bonus guarantees. And here it wants some hourly retirees to get less than what management retirees get."
Reichard and conference board staff attended a meeting of the UAW on Nov. 2 as Delphi rolled out its proposals to that union's leadership. Steelworkers leaders also attended. Reichard said that solidarity and coordination are especially important now.
Meanwhile, IUE-CWA leaders have met with the staff of a bipartisan coalition of congressional representatives with Delphi facilities in their districts.
"The meeting provided a good opportunity to set the record straight on Delphi's exaggerated claims of $65-an-hour wages and so on," said IUE-CWA President Jim Clark. "It also ensured that the Delphi bankruptcy and its impact on workers will have high visibility on Capitol Hill going forward."
Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) in late October wrote to President Bush, calling for an automotive summit to include the administration, members of Congress, state and local officials, industry executives and labor representatives, to address so-called "legacy costs" like health care and pensions for American workers, as well as fuel efficiency, foreign competition and trade.
"The crisis facing auto makers and their suppliers is of such significance that it not only calls for, but demands, the attention and focus of our national leaders," Clinton wrote. "The economic consequences of the government's failure to address these matters will be severe unless we demonstrate the will and the leadership to deal with them head on," she said, pointing out that more than 1 million Americans work in the automotive industry.
The president has not responded to her letter, nor has Delphi responded to the union's lengthy request, compiled after a thorough analysis of the company's proposals in comparison to the competitive agreements IUE-CWA already has in place at every facility. The company is seeking wage cuts of $9 to $10 an hour for production workers, cuts in dental and vision coverage, reduced holiday and vacation time, excessive health care cost-shifting and frozen accrual of service credited toward a pension as of Jan. 1. 2006.
"Delphi's current proposal is totally unreasonable on so many levels," stated IUE-CWA Automotive Conference Board Chairman Henry Reichard. "For the past 20 years IUE-CWA has responded responsibly to Delphi's legitimate concerns about competitive operations."
In other news, IUE-CWA formally notified U.S. Trustee Dierdre Martini that it would represent its retired members in the bankruptcy proceedings. Delphi said it wants to eliminate medical and life insurance for future and hourly retirees. Retiree interests are handled by a separate committee governed by Section 114 of the bankruptcy code.
"IUE-CWA will vigorously defend the rights of our current retirees who rely on these benefits," Clark said. "Once again Delphi is being hypocritical in its requests. It wants hourly workers to cut their wages while management gets huge bonus guarantees. And here it wants some hourly retirees to get less than what management retirees get."
Reichard and conference board staff attended a meeting of the UAW on Nov. 2 as Delphi rolled out its proposals to that union's leadership. Steelworkers leaders also attended. Reichard said that solidarity and coordination are especially important now.