The Seafarers LOG reserves the right to edit letters for grammar as well as space provisions without changing the writer’s intent. The LOG welcomes letters from members, pensioners, their families and shipmates and will publish them on a timely basis.Recognizing a Rep
On March 25, 2002, the Three Rivers Chapter of the American Merchant Marine Veterans chartered a bus to Harrisburg, the state capital. Members of the Mon Valley, High Seas Mariners, and John Brown chapters also attended.
House Bill 2450 was introduced on this day. The bill is for a $500 bonus for the seamen from World War II. These seamen must be residents of Pennsylvania.
When we left Harrisburg, we had 62 cosponsors. When I arrived home, I went to the office of State Representative John A. Maher and got the phone numbers of the 203 state reps plus the phone numbers of 48 state senators. At the end of the year, we had 195 cosponsors. This bill did not get voted on. So, John introduced House Bill 56 earlier this year. We have 118 cosponsors and the bill is in committee.
On April 24, 2003, our chapter presented John a plaque that reads: Presented to State Representative John A. Maher, In grateful appreciation for your outstanding and dedicated service on behalf of the Pennsylvania Merchant Mariners.
Leo Bebout
President, Three Rivers Chapter
Bethel Park, Pa.
(The following letter was sent last month to SIU President Michael Sacco)
Buy Union
I am sending this plea out to all international unions in an effort to assist what is left of our domestic UNION manufacturers in the textile and apparel industry. For the past three decades, I and many of you have continued to fight the battles trying to stave off the annihilation of our industries.
But, like many of you, we have continued to lose ground through the dumping of imports into our domestic markets and/or the exporting of jobs in search of cheap global labor. None of this, of course, was any fault of U.S. workers, including our members. Much of the problem has to do with the pressures being placed on manufacturing through retailers like Wal-Mart and others constantly squeezing their margins. In the end, if you can’t produce your product at the same price as China or some other Third World nation, then they pull the plug.
Back at home in the U.S., we watch all kinds of games being played by businesses to retain a “Made in USA” label, including sweatshops like Kathy Lee Gifford’s brands (naturally) at Wal-Mart; Ralph Lauren brands made in Saipan (which qualifies through a Made in USA loophole); and, of course, just plain sweatshops that people set up around major cities where large numbers of immigrants reside who can be exploited. Once (or if) caught violating wage and hour or other laws, they simply move operations and set up under a different name.
We’ve all seen and heard the stories and worked very hard to educate the public on what it means to “Buy American and Keep America Working.” But, as illustrated in the examples above, buying American doesn’t always mean that products will be made under the conditions and values we as trade unionists believe in.
We in the labor movement can influence our membership and the public only so far. But, as leaders and heads of various organizations, we can decide whether we sign a check or approve an invoice. We can say that “Made in USA” is not good enough when there are union-made products available.
I hear every day from our unionized manufacturers getting their throats cut by non-union domestic competitors selling to organized labor who say “Made in USA” is good enough, as long as they can save a dollar here and there. And when others in the movement say it’s our responsibility to go out and organize these non-union shops, I can tell you that when we try, the companies take the profits (made from sales to labor) and hire the best union busters money can buy.
When confronted, these manufacturers will look you straight in the eye and say, “WHY NOT keep the union out? I’m getting your business anyway.” And they’re right! They are getting our business and we have only ourselves in the labor movement to blame.
I am asking in this letter for a concerted effort by organized labor to demand a union label, bug or card on products or services that we as organizations purchase. Can we control OUR market? That is the question we need to ask ourselves.
Dave Johnson
UFCW International Vice President
President, UFCW Textile & Garment Council
Hermitage, Tenn.
Thanks for Bonus
As a pensioner, I would like to thank the trustees of the NMU for their consideration of retirees by giving us an extra pension check earlier this year for a bonus. It is much appreciated and I am glad to see that we are not forgotten for the years we spent at sea.
A percentage increase in the future would be nice, considering the cost of living in this country.
Tyrone Patrick
Navarre, Fla.
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