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Political/Legislative Department
Rich Michalski, Director
Under the leadership of our International President, R.
Thomas Buffenbarger, the
Political/Legislative Department has set goals in order that we are
prepared to advance economic opportunities for the benefit of our
members. President Buffenbarger is committed to providing the resources
which will ensure that IAM stays in the forefront of political and
legislative action as we move into the new millennium.
The IAM is constantly asking members of Congress what kind of new and
innovative
approaches to job creation and job retention are they taking, in order
that our members and the companies they work for do not become
vulnerable to international competition caused by a global economy.
While the primary functions of the Political and Legislative Department
include the
promotion of workers rights, job security, job creation, training and
political education through work with the Executive and Legislative
Branches of the federal government, the
Department must continually be prepared to confront the attacks
presented to us by the
Right Wing Radicals of Congress.
The agenda these Right Wing Radicals have promoted has brought a battery
of assaults to the overall economic security of the working men and
women of our country. There are those in Congress who are content in
promoting the following agenda, an agenda that only serves the best
interest of corporate money mongers and multi-nationals and not working
families.
• Weakened OSHA Standards through attempted budgets cuts which would
affect oversight and compliance.
• The Team Act - Nothing more than a move by the Right Wing and
Corporate America to avoid Unions and their representatives and revert
back to company unions.
• Service Contract Act - Attempts are currently being made to weaken
the Act by allowing federal contractors to subcontract work they bid
on and avoid paying prevailing wages.
• The Fair Labor Standards Act is under assault by a bill the Right
Wing has been trying to push called "Comp Time". If Comp
Time were to be passed it would drastically undermine the 40 hour work
week and paying a "premium" for overtime.
Thanks to the grassroots efforts of our State Councils, District and
Local Lodges and the overall solidarity of the labor movement, these
types of issues have been beaten back. However, it is also these types
of issues that prevent us from being proactive on our own legislative
agenda.
The Legislative Department will continue to work with all the levels and
branches of
government to develop sound economic policies to rebuild our nations
once strong industrial base--policies that will provide high wage jobs
with good benefits, job security, jobs with dignity and ultimately the
economic security and well being of the men, women and families of this
great nation.
The
Political / Legislative Department of the IAM
The
United States Senate This site includes links to
Senators' offices and also includes bills, calendars, notices of
committee hearings, and a daily digest of Senate action (usually with a
one day delay)
U.S.
House of Representatives This site includes Member
Offices, schedule of hearings, "real time" reports on floor
action, a schedule for the week and other current information.
Congress.org
This site has been updated for the 105th Congress. It includes a page
for each U.S. Senator and Congressman. All committee assignments are
listed as well. The site provides a guide for contacting your Senator or
Congressman and an e-mail form for doing so.
THOMAS
Full text of legislation, all versions of House & Senate bills are
searchable by keywords or by number. Full text of the Congressional
Record from 1994. This site has links to other useful government
information and historical documents.
Political Action by State
The
Illinois State Legislature Office addresses, e-mail
addresses and other important information about the Illinois State
Legislature.
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