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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.
Issues
that affect you and your job 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 Wisconsin State Legislature
Office addresses, e-mail addresses and other important
information about the Iowa State Legislature.
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