1984-02 February IBEW Journal.pdf - International Brotherhood of ...

1984 Most Important Year in Labor History
By Richard J . Calistri, Editor, Labor Newspaper
This yea r, 1984, may be one of the
most important yea rs in the hislery
of the labor movement. It is an election
yea r, a time to usc the ballot
box to turn around current political
POitCICS which center on union-busling
techniques and on the dcmcanmg
and downgradmg of the worker of
America, their skill s and their contributions
to the nation.
This is the year when workers
must resolve to take actions designed
to cnh:lI1cc the qllality of their lives
and to right the wrongs fOisted off
on them by a seemingly uncaring
political climate in WashingtOn.
As one labor leader put it (ceemi)"
"the enemies of the trade union
movement arc taking advantage of
the drastic economic and political
problems we fa ce today and arc
spending millions and millions of
dollars on uniOn -busting activities to
weaken organized labor and to prevent
unions from making further
gai ns at the bargall1lng table that
would bring more and more improvements
for our members."
But these enemies arc at work not
only at the bargaining ta ble but in
every facet of workers'lives. And not
JUSt active workers, btl! retirees as
well. For evidencc, witness the
administra tion 's bnttle to destroy the
Railroad Retirement Sys tem and its
lack of action to kill legislation fa ­
voring the job-destroYlllg coal slurry
pipeline bill- two battles which rail ·
road workcrs and their unions won
in Congress.
.. Also witness the lack of administration
action to prevent such umonbusting
tactics as are now being engaged
in by such compumes as Continental
Ai r LlI1es, usmg the nation's
bankruptcy laws to litera ll y destroy
the work fo rce.
Organized labor, worklllg under
the umbrella of the AFL-CIO, has
already endorsed a favonte son candidate
for the 1984 presidential run
for the roses. He IS former Vice President
Walter Mondale, a cnndldate
worthy of the conSideration of every
.,.,.. working American.
However, Mondale IS not the only
candidate worthy of your examlllation.
Nearly all of the Democratic
candidates now nlnning have pledged
themselves to the cnusc of workers-
. and thereby to the well-being of the
nation.
A tum-around in presidential policies
is necessary if workers arc to
avoid being returned to the tWO class
system of master-slave, haves and
have nots, wealthy and destitute. But
the struggle doesn't end in the chOice
for the top job. All of us must also
be concerned-and mightily-with
the make-up of the next Congress.
If workers arc to achieve their goals
they must have the help of a Congress
which recognizes their needs
and is willing to act upon them.
Looking at the record, we ca n easily
understand that it does little good to
have a Senate, as we now ha ve, or a
House of Representatives which ad ­
heres strictly to the anti-worker policies
of the administration.
The best way to change this situation
is at the ballot box. If workers
arc to tum back such policies, then
workers must start thinkll1g right
now of how they will vote in November,
1984. Then, on election day,
they must vote for the candidates
who beSt fit their own ideas and
philosoph y.
But, in 1984 more than ever, voting
right at the ballot box may not be
enough. Workers muSt insure that
the right ca ndidates are nominated
and have the financial means to conduct
a proper campaign. In other
words, all of us must dig down into
our pockets to help the candidates
of chOice With some cold hard cash.
That does not mean that we have
to stuff our favorite candidate'S pockets
with our paychecks. Probably the
easiest way to help out financinlly is
through our unions' political action
or political education committees
and probably the best way to work
With such committees is through
regular contributions through payroll
deductions, where possible.
Bear in mll1d that your union wantS
the same th ings you want and your
union 's political education committee
is most knowledgeable in knowing
exactly how to hel p your ca ndidates.
Actually, making political COntributions
through your union's political
committee takes you back to the
old adage: We can do together what
none of us can do alone. Pooling
resources means that none of us have
to suffer any great financial drain to
help clect the men and women who
can help us retain our liv ing standards
and help us to lift ourselves out
of the promised subjugation.
If you're not on a pnyroll deduction
plan already for a buck or two a
week, you ought to be. If you can't
be on such a plan, contact your local
union to find out JUSt how you can
make regular contributions.
After all , the future you save may
be your own- and that of your fam ·
i1y.
'Now, There's Something Going for rou!'
\ \
( \
,
IBEW JOURNAL! FEBRUARY 1984 I 11