DECEMBER 1971 - International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

DECEMBER 1971

Editorial COIllIllellt
By Charles H. Pillard
Intern/ltional President
2
Phase II Economic Program To Overshadow
9th Constitutional Convention of AFL-CIO
... As this issue of our Journal is going 10 press, a most important 9th
Constitutional Convention of the AFL-CIO was begmning to convene. The
Executive Boards of the various Afl-CIO Departments have met and final
preparations are being made for the Convention Itself. Overshadowing
many important items which wilt be discussed at the Convention is
President Nixon's Phase It economic program.
We want all members of our Brotherhood to be fully aware of the goals
and aims of the AFl·CIO for 1972. The legislative program and hopes of
organized labor will be detailed fully at the Convention. As an affiliate-union,
the ISEW will be striving to carryon the fight to fulfill the unrealized
goa ls of this decade. Noting thill il freeze on wages has been applied
by the Nixon Administration, with no limits on profits, interest rates. or
dividends and that many of the general legislative goals of labor have not
yet been fulfilled. this 1971 AFL·CIO Convention will be a most important
meeting for working people.
As in the past. the IBEW will be well represented. The Convention
will gather delegates from International and National unions. trade
departments, state organizations and local central bodies representing
nearly 14 million members.
The importance of the 1972 National Elections will be emphasized at
the Convention. The election of progressive Congressmen and Senators
is imperative; also, the election of Governors and State legislators who
are friends of labor is vita l. If working men and women are to receive
equal and just treatment in the halls of government at all levels on matters
affecting them, we must follow the advice of the founder of tht! American
Federation of Labor Samuel Gompers who accurately said. "Support our
friends; defeat ou r enemies." National elections are less than 12 months
away. Labor·backed candidates nt!ed ou r help and financial support now.
Giving a buck to COPE is pa rt icularly important this year.
Other Important areas the AfL·CIO Convention will focus attention
on Include: Increases in Social Security benefits, a National Health Insurance,
a lowering of mortgage interest rates, a full employment economy. expanding
and funding of educational programs to ensure educational of1rortunities
for all youth, adequate public transportation systems in our cities. and
many other important areas.
We wish for the 9th AFL·CIO Convenlion a most fruitful and successful
meeting and hope the delegates will return home to receive the full support
of all union members. In the next issue of our Journal we will report to
you in detail the proceedings and actions taken at this important meeting.
THE EL ECTlICAt WO,tKUS'

10th District
Progress Meeting
In Denver,
Colorado
JOURNAL FO_ OECiMIU, 1971
International President
Charles H. Pillard, the
principal speaker at the
10th Oll.tncl Meeting.
spoke on a number of
issues including the
continuing deterioration
uf rdl' passenger
seN.ee
10th Dlstnct
Vice President
Frank T. Gladney
welcomes the
delegates and guests
10 the District
Progress Meetin8 held
In Denver, Culun.du.
September 16·17, 1971.
,

YOU
Can Help!. Support legislation that will held
imports down t:l a reasonable share of
the American market
• Work fer an Import trulh·ln·laceling
law Iha: lets the consumer know what
he is getting and where It comes from.
• Wnte your Congressman and Senators
and the President, asking them to
back these programs.
• When you shop, look for the union
label of the ISEW or other AFL·CrO
affiliates. This will assure that the
items you buy are made in th e United
States under fair labor conditions.
• Without your action the flood of low·
wage imports will continue to disrupt
au r economy.
ACT TODAY
The Job
you save
may be
your own!
----- ------- - - ------ --------- ------- --- -
TE AR
INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD Of ELECTRICAL VlORKERS
(AFL·CIO & ClC)
WASH INGTON. D.C.
HERE
HELP
STOP
THE FLOOD OF
IMPORTS

ISEW members are losing jobs because
ou r foreign trade has virtually become a
one·way street. Ou r expo rts have fallen
to the lowest levels in nearly 40 years
while a ri sing flood of imports can·
tinues to shut down American factories.
No other nation permits unregulated
imports to jeopardize ItS economy.
Goods produced in the United States
are hampered and barred in t he export
ma rket by the po icles of foreign
governments.
This situ::Ition makes no sense to
American workers--or to American
consumers who pay full price for
foreign goods produced under sweat·
shop condit ons.
We ask all IBEw members to help
avert the threat of rising im,::orts that
threaten the stability of the dollar and
the American standard of livmg.
Hundreds
of
thousands
of
workers
are
out of
jobs
today
because . ..
current government :>oIICles have crea
ted a riSing flood of imports produced
under subs:andard conditions
More than half a million U.S. jobs
have been wiped out by this flood of
fo'elgn goods that Includes radiOS. TV
sets. stereos. tape recorders. automobiles.
bicycles. dresses. sewing
machines, shoes, SUitS, sportin g goods.
and typewriters
In the past five years. there has
been a 25 per cent cu tback In Jobs In
the consumer electronic industry alone.
Much of this flood of imports IS pro·
duced by runaway llultinational com·
panies financed by American capital.
Since World War II, American business
has sel up nearly 8,000 foreign sub­
Sidiaries to take advantage of wages
that ru n as low as 10 and 15 cents an
hour.
But American consumers get no
benefit from these shameful condltJons.
These exports are sold in the Unl\eo
States for :op dollar prices under well·
known brand names. The onli purpose
of these runaway plants IS to in fla te
tl-e profit of greedy owners,
If this situation is not changed ou r
factories will be disaster areas in a few
more yea rs . Every month. mare and
more American companies are deciding
to close up their shops. expo rt their
machinery, raw materials, and manage·
ment, leaving unemploymen: and de·
spai r behind.
"
_](1]_

What would happen II your mcome was
drastically cut? What then? Wh"'r'"
would your lamlly turn? Social Security
mIght be an answer.
"
Social
security
information
for
young
families
Editor's Note: The loUow/ns WJIU3ble luticle explaining the
Social Security system to younS work"ers was prepared Irom
a Social Security Administralion publication entitled "Socia'
Security inlofmation for younS families."
THE ElECTRICAL WORKER S'

Ready
for
Winter?
BRAKES-check, adjust . or
reline, if necessary. TRUNK
-be prepared for an erneI"
gency with sand or traction
mats, a shovel, chains,
fla r es. and battery jumper
cables. E X HAUST- inspect
muffler and tailpipe for
leaks. Always leave one win·
dow "cracked" for better
ventilation. BATTERY ­
check water level, c lean ter ­
minals. Replace battery if
questionable. WINDSHIELD
- check for live wiper
b lades. Use a solvent with
anti-freeze in the washer
system. TIRES-snow tires
are recommended, eve n better
are st udded tires, if allowed
by state law. LIGHTS
- c heck all light s for operation
and adj ust m ent. RADI­
ATOR - fill with correct
anti-freeze suitab le f o r your
area. C heck radiator for
leak s and fan belt for dan·
gerous w ear .
A M o nthly ISEW Safety Reminder