Political/Legislative Department
Matthew R. McKinnon, 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.
Political Action
Issues
that affect you and your job
Voter Guides
Indiana
http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/voters/index.html
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
110th 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 Indiana
State Legislature Legislator listings alphabetically and by district.
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