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Special Election Issue
In
view of the extreme importance of the 2004 election, we have asked union
officials to answer a few questions regarding their opinions.
Brother
RUDY FINNE, President, Local 19, feels it should be obvious to all of us that
John Kerry as president would be much more helpful to the ILWU and all unions
than George W. Bush. Kerry has stated that outsourcing jobs, cutting overtime
pay and unfair laws against union organizing must be eliminated. Furthermore,
well-paying jobs, he says, are necessary for a strong America.
Kerry's
position on outsourcing is not too clear, but we think we stand a far better
chance of handling it with Kerry than with anti-labor Bush. Our present struggle
with the PMA over outsourcing clerks' jobs is an immediate threat. Furthermore,
a future threat is the possibility of laws being passed by an anti-labor
President to allow foreign seamen to unload longshore cargo in U.S.
ports.
Kerry would be more pro-labor on that issue than Bush.
I
strongly urge all our members to support the Democratic ticket all the way. To
vote Republican is to vote not only against the interest of labor, but the
interests of the American people as a whole.
Also, don't forget to send in your $50.00 special PAC contribution if you
haven't done so. It is
sorely
needed.
Brother
RUDOLPH MARTINEZ, President of Seattle Longshore Pensioners club, points out
that Bush has already cut overtime pay and has stated that if you are receiving
Social security you should not be receiving a company pension. He has given high
tax breaks to the large corporations, he has given contracts to Cheney's company
without any other company being able to bid on the contracts. He is taking care
of his cronies.
Privatizing
Social Security by Bush will be worse for the future of ILWU pensions. Putting
Social Security on Wall Street, which is what privatization means, we would lose
buying power. Furthermore,
privatization means if the stock market goes down, we will be taking a very
dramatic cut in our pensions.
Anything
Kerry does for a single payer health plan would be far and above anything Bush
has done for a peoples' health plan. Bush
cut appropriations for health care.
I would tell my membership to vote for Kerry. Bush has already tried to
break our union. When we were negotiating our last contract he got us locked
out. If he was not so involved with the war in Iraq we would have
gotten
his full attention to break the ILWU.
I
am taking this opportunity to thank the brothers and sisters who voluntarily
donated fifty dollars to the Seattle ILWU Pensioners Club for their contribution
to our political fund.
I
am asking the brothers and sisters that have not donated to please donate now.
we would like to meet our goal of ten thousand dollars. We have reached 90%.
I
urge every member to campaign for Kerry. Talk to your neighbors, relatives,
friends. Ask them to vote for Kerry and the Democratic ticket. We cannot allow
the present administration to be re-elected in November.
Finally,
I am sad to report that Brother HECTOR GOULET, the last member of local 19 who
was on the picket line in the 1934 strike where we got our dispatch hall and our
Union, the ILWU, passed away July 12, 2004.
Fraternally,
RUDOLPH MARTINEZ
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