The
Official Newsletter of the
Prepared by
Volume 10, Number 3, March, 2009
‘Buy American’ resolution sent to General Assembly
Jeff Wiggins, council
president, is calling on the Kentucky General Assembly to show support for a USWA
resolution that urges companies that benefit from President Barack Obama’s
stimulus plan to pledge themselves “to every extent possible…to
buy materials, goods and services for projects from companies that are produced
within the United States, thus employing the very workers that pay the taxes
for the economic recovery plan spending in the first place.”
Wiggins sent a copy of the resolution to
local and state governments with a cover letter explaining, “Working Families all
over
The letter adds, “We need you more today than
ever before. We are only asking for one simple favor, and that is to help us
[by passing] this resolution…We need more today to buy American to put working
people back to work and to strengthen our economy. Please help us help American
working families.”
The resolution reads:
WHEREAS, the economic downturn is
having a critical impact on everyday Americans who are struggling to maintain
or find jobs in an increasingly difficult environment, and
WHEREAS,
those same Americans are the taxpayers that provide the
revenue needed to operate essential government services, and
WHEREAS,
Congress and President Obama are planning a
taxpayer-sponsored economic recovery package that will provide billions of
dollars to help economically devastated cities and states immediately provide
jobs to millions of out-of-work Americans through
considerable infrastructure rebuilding, green energy projects and other
projects that will require manufactured components, and
WHEREAS,
our taxpayer dollars should be spent to maximize the
creation of American jobs and restoring the economic vitality of our
communities, and
WHEREAS,
any domestically produced products that are purchased
with economic recovery plan
monies will immediately help
struggling American families and will help stabilize our greater economy, and
WHEREAS,
any economic recovery plan spending should – to every
extent possible – include a
Commitment…to
buy materials, goods and services for projects from companies that are produced
within the
pay the taxes for the
economic recovery plan spending in the first place.
THEREFORE,
BE
IT RESOLVED THAT, we the undersigned will work to maximize the creation of
American jobs and restoring economic growth and opportunity by spending
economic recovery plan funds on products and services that both create jobs and
help keep Americans employed.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, we commit to purchasing only
products and services that are made or performed in the
economic recovery monies
provided to…by the American
taxpayers, and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT, as legislators…we commit to publish
any requests to waive these procurement priorities so as to give American
workers and producers the opportunity to identify and provide the American
products and services that will maximize the success of our nation’s economic
recovery program.
The resolution has also been sent to
individuals, companies and state and local governments across the country.
Wiggins sent a copy to the Paducah City Commission and the
President
Jeff Wiggins expects the council to contribute its share to the national
AFL-CIO’s Turn Around America Media Fund.
“This is our program to counteract the $200
million propaganda campaign being wages by corporations and their anti-union
allies in the media and in government to spread lies and distortions about the
Employee Free Choice Act,” Wiggins said. Wiggins
received a letter signed by the eight federation and labor council
representatives on the national AFL-CIO General Board explaining the Turn Around American Media Fund.
The letter reads: “We have seen the ads.
Corporate lobbyists are making wild, crazy-sounding claims about the
legislation by saying that it will “end” workplace democracy,
result in union coercion, and suggesting that it bring about the start of
Armageddon and lead to the end of civilization. They are lying, and we all know
it – but we need to push back against them quickly and aggressively. Those of
us on the front lines in states and communities need to step up and do our part
right now. The Turn Around
America Media Fund will enable us to go on the airwaves and in print and
online ads to set the record straight. To get our message out effectively, the
AFL-CIO needs to raise $15 million for this Fund.
“As your
state federation and labor council representatives on the AFL-CIO
General Board, we are pledging ourselves, and asking
each and every state
federation and labor council join us, to raise at least the
equivalent amount of ten
cents for every union member affiliated to our labor
councils by May 1st. For a
council of 5,000 members – that’s a $500 contribution. For
a state federation of
100,000 members – that’s $10,000.”
Return to Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council Home Page
Minutes of the February Council Meeting
EDITOR’S NOTE: Space permitting, minutes of
the preceding month’s council meeting will be published in the newsletter.
There was no Executive Board Meeting.
President
Jeff Wiggins, USWA Local 9447-5, gaveled the February Council meeting to order
at 7:15 p.m., Feb. 9. He led the prayer and pledge of allegiance.
All officers
were present except Howard “Bubba” Dawes, Wayne Chambers and David Childress.
Financial
Secretary-Treasurer Donna Steele, USWA Local 5-550, read the financial report,
which was approved unanimously. A motion not to read the January meeting
minutes also was approved without a dissenting vote.
Wiggins went
over the previous month’s correspondence – two newsletters, one mass mailing
and a magazine.
There was no
Executive Board Report, no Labor Day Committee Report and no Education Report.
Wiggins
announced in the event of another disaster like the ice storm, the council hall
would be open to delegates and their families. He also said he had sent copies
of the “Buy American” resolution (see story on page 1) to the
In addition,
he outlined bills that the state AFL-CIO is supporting, including Senate Bill
33, which requires flags for public buildings in
Before
swearing in new officers, Wiggins thanked Steele and Recording Secretary Hardy
Williams, IAM retirees’ council – both of whom are stepping down – for their
long and outstanding service to the council.
Also before
the swearing in ceremony, Wiggins asked for nominees for the W.C. Young Award. Delegate
Ron Spann nominated Kip Phillips, a USWA international vice president; Williams
nominated Benny Adair, council vice president; and Delegate Don Shelby
nominated Charles Williams, who is retired from AFSCME Local 1586.
Wiggins
swore in himself for another term as president. He also swore in Adair as vice
president; Brandon Duncan as financial secretary-treasurer; Berry Craig as
recording secretary and Nathan Torian as trustee. Officers who were absent will
be sworn in at the next meeting they attend.
In addition,
Wiggins announced that Adair is the new president of the Jackson House-Sanders
House Board of Directors, succeeding Charles Allred, who died unexpectedly in
December. Craig was elected to another term as vice president and Kyle
Henderson was elected financial-recording secretary, Wiggins also announced
that Mike Vincent will serve on the board.
Also,
Wiggins praised
Return to Western Kentucky AFL-CIO Area Council Home Page
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We Won on Buy America. Now Let's Make
It Work. We won an important victory when Buy America rules, which require the purchase of U.S.
materials for infrastructure projects, were included in the final
economic recovery bill signed by President Obama. (Visit our AAM
Action page
to see your terrific work in communities like Elkhart, IN; Peoria,
IL; and Ft. Myers, FL.) Only massive public support
for Buy America (84%
of the American people) helped push this through a reluctant
Congress. And your voices didn't just help. In this fight,
all of you who called and emailed Congress actually made it happen.
But there's more work to do. Believe
it or not, we could still be thwarted. There is still
well-placed opposition that can block Buy America during the actual implementation
phase. So, step two
involves getting Buy America resolutions
passed at the State and Local levels to ensure that the promise of the
law is fulfilled for American manufacturing. Our Alliance for American
Manufacturing (AAM) field team -- AAM Action-- will
be working with local elected officials to ensure that Buy America is
strictly enforced. Now, you need to get involved with your state
legislative representatives, and even your city hall. If we don't
fight for our jobs and our children's future, who will? To learn more about Buy America
at the state level, click here, or watch our video
and download a fact
sheet. You can also attend one of the upcoming Town
Hall meetings and rallies. To find a meeting near you, click here.
Lastly, we want
you to tell us about your efforts. Send us an email. If we publish your email on our blog, we'll send you a
limited edition "Keep It Made in America" t-shirt. Keep fighting the good fight.
Bonnie Edwards
resigns as council trustee Bonnie Edwards, a longtime
local labor activist, has resigned as a council trustee, according to
Jeff Wiggins, council president. Edwards, from Possum Trot,
sent Wiggins a letter also saying she is stepping down from the Jackson
House-Sanders House Board of Directors and leaving AIM-UNITE! Chapter 22. Wiggins said the council
will seek a replacement for Edwards at the March meeting. The Jackson
House-Sanders House Board will discuss her replacement at its April
meeting.
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