Labor Day Re-Visited

Written by John Hilkey / Intro by Wes Brain, 04.09.2009 18:48

John
Hilkey with the Machinist Union wrote me: "Wes, How can I get this in
either the Ashland or Medford paper? Our union is on a push to use
newspapers. Greg Stiles used to be a contact for me, but he doesn't
respond."

I responded: "Brother John Hilkey, Nice to hear from
you. It has been awhile. I'm probably not the best to help out due to
the fact that I have a long standing feud with corporate media and most
so here at home (Southern Oregon). I'm talking about the Tribune and
Tidings newspapers. Working on some "free press" right now for our
Labor Day picnic. We'll see. If I was the Tribune editor I would print
your piece on the front page and use it for an in-depth edition on
Labor Day. There would be extensive coverage of how workers are getting
stiffed and how we demand a bail-out for working people! Yea. Tooth
fairies, Santa Clause and me the editor."

"Hey, I will post it
on the Rogue IMC... Any photos or graphics you might want to use? I'll
send it to KSKQ and ask that it be read on Labor Day, a bunch of times!
They'll do it. This is small stuff I know, however it is media we
control and its growing."

With this introduction take a look at John Hilkey's article--Wes Brain, Rogue IMC volunteer

IAMAW - John Hilkey's Union

Labor Day Re-visited

America
has lost its way. We have forgotten who and how this country was built.
We have wondered away from the American dream and replaced it with a
nightmare of low wage jobs, millions of families without health care,
and business practices that destroy families.

The American
dream was based on the ideals of full employment, home ownership, a
retirement with dignity, early retirement, and the notion that our
children’s future would be better than our own. Instead, today we rely
on imported products manufactured in deplorable work conditions
purchased by workers with credit cards. Home ownership is beyond the
grasp of many and our children are being relegated to minimum wage
jobs.

What went wrong? We as a nation allowed our political
and business leaders to abandon full employment policies and a strong
manufacturing sector. As a result jobs were shifted overseas,
unemployment increased, and wages fell.

Instead of sharing
the wealth derived from the increased productivity of US workers we
altered the tax codes, failed to enforce labor laws, and allowed
minimum wages to fall. As productivity increased, and the GNP
increased, workers wages decreased. In order to keep workers from
taking actions to undo excessive corporate profits, cheap goods were
imported; and even then more family members had to work and some to
work multiple jobs just to keep what they already had.

In the
end, the combination of these failed policies resulted in the current
economic collapse. Just like in the game of Monopoly when one player
(or group of players) gets all the money the game is over.

The
way forward requires altering our tax code to incent investments in
domestic production and be a disincentive for imports, especially from
countries who routinely abuse their natural and human resources. We
must go back to the tax rates of the Eisenhower administration so that
monies are available to pay down our debt and support new US
manufacturing jobs in order to grow ourselves out of our economic
crisis. Preventing US corporations from moving off shore and then
importing products back into the US exploiting workers in both
countries is not protectionism, it is common sense.

We can
regain our greatness but only if we put people before profits and
understand that without goods made in America others will ultimately
control our future. We need to hold our electorate accountable
regardless of party affiliation. They are elected by the people to
represent the people and it’s about time “The Working Class of America”
get represented again.

Submitted by Business Representive John
Hilkey, District W1, Woodworkers Department of the Machinist Union and
Local Lodge W261 President Michael W. Hicks, branch office:4480 Rogue
Valley Hwy #11, Central Point, OR 97502 . Office: 3427 Ash, North Bend,
OR 97459