Election 2016: Special Series “I love the Right-towork. I like it better because it is lower. You are not paying the big fees to the unions.” [Donald Trump speaking to SC Radio Network, 2/17/16] TRUMP HIRES UNION BUSTERS, NOT UNION WORKERS Trump Ruffin Commercial LLC hired a prominent antiunion consulting firm to fight workers’ effort to unionize. On March 3, 2015, Donald Trump himself signed the paperwork required by the Department of Labor to report hiring the antiunion consultant Labor Relations Institute (LRI) Consulting Services, Inc. Workers rejected management’s efforts and voted to form a union. Trump Ruffin then sued, asking the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to overturn the election result. The NLRB rejected the claims of Trump Ruffin and recently certified the union as the exclusive bargaining agent. Trump Ruffin still refuses to sit down and bargain with the hotel workers. The contract Trump signed hiring the anti-union consultant calls for them to develop the Trump International Hotel into “a ‘hard target’ by making it difficult for an organizer to get cards signed using typical tactics.” The contract with Trump Ruffin and LRI can be found on the Department of Labor website – a link to it is also on the www. engineersaction.org website. This is not the first time Trump has hired anti-union consulting firms. In 2007 and 2008, Trump hired Kulture Consulting to conduct “informational” meetings intended to persuade workers in Atlantic City not organize at his properties there. TRUMP SUPPORTS OUTSOURCING AMERICAN JOBS In a blog post written for his now defunct Trump University, the Republican nominee wrote, “I understand that outsourcing means that employees lose jobs. Because work is often outsourced to other countries, it means Americans lose jobs.” Despite the harm outsourcing does, Trump concludes that “sometimes it’s a necessary step.” He said that sometimes workers need to “look at the bigger picture.” Trump has stated one way to stop automakers’ expansion to Mexico is to close union plants in Michigan and open them in lower-wage states. In April, Ford Motor Co. said it would add 3,800 jobs in Mexico as part of a .5 billion investment — on top of the 11,300 Ford already employs in Mexico. Trump suggested those jobs could remain in the U.S. if they were moved from Michigan and the Midwest to a lowerwage state, presumably a right to work state with low union density. “You can go to different parts of the United States and then ultimately you’d do full-circle — you’ll come back to Michigan because those guys are going to want their jobs back even if it is less,” Trump said. In his own words, Trump says he is prepared to lower the wages of unionized American workers, increasing their economic insecurity and making them more vulnerable. Links to the blog post are at www.engineersaction.org. Clinton Addresses Building Trades Conference SECRETARY HILLARY CLINTON, the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, repeatedly brought 3,000 construction workers to their feet with strong pro-worker pledges – and a few jabs at the leading Republican hopeful – when she addressed the annual Legislative Conference of North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) in Washington, DC. In her remarks, she committed to always standing up for prevailing wages, project labor agreements, and the men and women of the building and construction trades. “I will not let anyone undermine collective bargaining rights, and I will not let anyone undermine prevailing wages or project labor agreements,” Clinton said. In his keynote address, NABTU President Sean McGarvey said, “…only one candidate has shown respect for Building Trades members, their jobs, and their families. And that’s Hillary Clinton.” The thousands of union construction workers in attendance roared their approval, waving signs in the cavernous hotel hall included the slogan “Hardhats for Hillary.” Ten of the 13 member NABTU member unions, including the IUOE, had previously endorsed Clinton’s candidacy, with many of their members pounding the pavement for her this election season. Clinton backed her sweeping statements with specific proposals. She repeated her proposal for a 5-year 5 billion plan to rebuild U.S. bridges, roads and mass transit, now funded by the federal gas tax. She added a public-private partnership, funding a 0 billion national infrastructure development bank, for “projects of regional or national significance.” Clinton was particularly passionate, and got a storm of applause, when she described the infrastructure disaster, and partisan political moves, that poisoned the drinking water in Flint, Michigan with lead. And she praised the quick response by labor unions in the face of this crisis and others like it. “American workers don’t quit and I won’t quit on them,” Clinton pledged. www.engineersaction.org [above] Secretary Hillary Clinton with General President Callahan at North America’s Building Trades Unions Legislative Conference in April. [left] Former President Bill Clinton spoke at IUOE Local 649 in Peoria, Illinois while campaigning for his wife in March. [L to R] Teresa Braun, Vice President; Lisa Kohl, Trustee; Aric Gartner, Business Rep; Frank Bollinger, President; Darren Smith, Business Manager; President Clinton; Brett Villarreal, Financial Secretary/Business Rep; Tony O’Brian, Business Rep; Danny Hollenback, Apprenticeship Coordinator; Joe VanDran, Business Rep; Matt Ulm, Instructor. The IUOE has taken the time to research the records of the candidates on key pocketbook issues important to Operating Engineers. We understand that your vote is a personal decision. We hope that you find this information helpful when you make that decision in the privacy of the voting booth. Please see www.engineersaction.org for more information. 18 INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER SPRING 2016 19
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