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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
Digital Library Collections
This is a PDF of a folder from our textual collections.
Collection: Blackwell, Morton: Files
Folder Title: Unions
Box: 27
To see more digitized collections visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/archives/digital-library
To see all Ronald Reagan Presidential Library inventories visit:
https://reaganlibrary.gov/document-collection
Contact a reference archivist at: [email protected]
Citation Guidelines: https://reaganlibrary.gov/citing
National Archives Catalogue: https://catalog.archives.gov/
tile HFL -CIC
AFL-CIO News
MEMO
FROM
COPE
PAGE 8
Vol. XXVII
AFL
Saturday, August 7, 1982
No. 31
INDUSTRIAL
Council Assails Reagan Policies
As Cause of "Domestic Tragedy'
Asks Emergency Aid
For Recession Victims
By John M. Barry
New York-The AFL-CIO sharpened its attack on the Reagan Administra-
tion's economic policies for creating a "huge domestic. tragedy of unemployment"
while transferring income from workers and the poor into the pockets of rich
individuals and corporations.
THE COUNTRY
30%
UNEMPLOYED
The Executive Council renewed organized labor's call to Congress to reverse
LOYED
UP
WAKE UP
the course set by President Reagan and pledged an unrelenting fight for economic
DREGRS
THE COUNTRY
and social policies that will halt the recession and ease the suffering of its victims.
IS COING
PLOYED
Just three days after the council spoke out on the human toll of rising jobless-
ness, the Bureau of Labor Statistics re-
SOCIAL
JUSTICE
PROSPERITY
ported that the nation's unemployment
rate continued to mount in July, reaching
ERS OF AMERICA
Maryland State
VAW
Jobless Rate
9.8 percent, with 10,8 million Americans
officially classified as jobless. (Story this
mic and social progress
page.)
Hits 9.8% as
THE
COUNCH
accused
the
tration of "empty slogans and hollow
First Anniversary of Reaganomics
promises of better days ahead" that fail to
conceal the devastating effects of the re-
Layoffs Soar
"Wake up, Mr. President. Your economic program's not working. We
cession on American families.
The nation's jobless rate climbed to 9.8
need jobs."
"The lowest-paid workers have been
percent in July as 10.8 million Americans
That's the message these steel and auto workers from Maryland, Dela-
hurled into a frightening abyss of sub-
hunted for work in an economy ravaged
ware and Pennsylvania brought to the gates of the White House at 4 a.m.
poverty," the council said in a statement
by layoffs and plant closings.
on Aug. 4. The date marked the first anniversary of the enactment of the
at its summer meeting here. "They are
President's Economic Recovery Tax Act, which brought huge windfalls to
being joined increasingly by workers with
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported
valuable, hard-won skills who previously
that the number of unemployed was up
the rich but unemployment and high interest rates to the rest of America.
had a respected place in the community.
360,000 from the previous month, when
the rate was 9.5 percent. Unemployment
After their wake-up call at the White House, the union members moved
"For all groups, the damage is magni-
was 2.9 million more than a year ago,
on to the Capitol for early-morning coffee and donuts with congressmen.
fied by the deep budget cuts in social pro-
when the rate was 7.2 percent.
grams at the exact moment the recession
makes them so needed. These are the very
AFL-CIO PRESIDENT Lane Kirkland
programs workers have paid for through-
termed the "shocking" rise in unemploy-
General Board to Weigh
out their lives."
ment a call for Congress "to reverse the
devastating, discredited policies of the Rea-
THE STATEMENT on the "Reagan
gan Administration."
Recession and Its Victims" was one of 16
July's unemployment rate, the highest
Early Endorsement Plan
on domestic and international concerns
since the depression 41 years ago, trans-
adopted by the council. It also received
lates in human terms to "a line of jobless
committee and staff reports and took ac-
men and women 4,000 miles long, stretch-
tion on trade union matters as detailed in
ing from coast to coast and from Canada
New York-The question of a pre-
Political Works Committee and will draft
stories elsewhere in this issue.
to Mexico," Kirkland said.
primary endorsement by the AFL-CIO in
a resolution for the federation's October
the 1984 presidential election will be put
1983 convention calling the meeting and
AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland, at
"Even that is incomplete," he noted. "To
to the federation's General Board, expand-
setting a specific date and place.
daily news conferences during the three-
the 10.8 million officially reported as un-
ed-to include state and local central body
THE BOARD, under the AFL-CIO
(Continued on Page 3)
(Continued on Page 6)
officers, at a meeting early in December
constitution, consists of members of the
1983, the Executive Council voted.
Executive Council and the principal
The council unanimously approved the
executive officers of national and interna-
Senate Backs Budget Plank,
of the General Board meeting
tional union affiliates. The council voted
other recommendations of its
to expand this body for the endorsement
meeting to include the chief officers of
N
state and local central labor bodies, each
Labor Asks House Rejection
28/L/8
20006.
of whom will be entitled to a single vote
The
and
as at AFL-CIO conventions.
By David L. Perlman
show the courage the Senate lacked and
kill the amendment.
1sej
Voting by affiliated unions will be
It's up to the House now to block a
weighted according to membership per
balanced budget constitutional amendment
McEntee, who is president of the State,
Washington, changes to D.C. Room Subscriptions 209, 815 16th Street, year. N.W., Washington, D.C.
year
capita payments to the federation. AFL-
NON 210
that the AFL-CIO charged would leave
County & Municipal Employees, took
CIO President Lane Kirkland will cast the
the nation helpless against recession and
time out from the Executive Council meet-
VA
votes of Directly Affiliated Local Unions
hamstrung in its ability to respond to
ing in New York to testify on behalf of the
the
on the same weighted basis.
AFL-CIO at the House hearings. The
military threats.
year.
A two-thirds vote will be required for
Senate-passed amendment would "lock our
The Senate approved the amendment by
22201
01$
AFL-CIO NEWS (ISSN 001-1165) Second published Class postage weekly paid except
an endorsement, as is the case in all COPE
country into a course of social and eco-
a 69-31 vote, which AFL-CIO President
per
endorsements.
nomic disaster," he warned.
Lane Kirkland assailed as "political cow-
KIRKLAND stressed at a news con-
ardice" and "a flight from responsibility."
In New York, the Executive Council
ference, however, that the proposition be-
It still must get a two-thirds approval in
followed up a resolution strongly critical
POSTMASTER:
fore the General Board meeting will be
the House before it can be sent to the
of the proposed amendment with telegrams
whether a pre-primary endorsement is de-
states for ratification.
to senators before the vote warning of the
sirable and feasible.
ON THE DAY the Senate acted, AFL-
"massive damage" that would be caused
Address
CIO Vice President Gerald W. McEntee
by such a defacing of the Constitution.
"All the options are open" he said.
urged the House Judiciary Committee to
(Continued Page 2)
(Continued on Page 3)
Page Two
AFL-CIO NEWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 7, 1982
Structure, Program Outlined
Public Affairs Institute
Director, Board Named
AF&CME
New York-The AFL-CIO's new Labor
the Public Broadcasting System, and "On
Institute of Public Affairs has begun op-
the Line," a magazine-type show on labor
erations with the appointment of Larry
issues, sponsored by six AFL-CIO affili-
Kirkman as executive director and the
ates.
approval by the Executive Council of a
Kirkman, who has been working as a
22-member board of directors.
consultant to the federation's Dept. of In-
Accepting a report of its Committee on
formation pending formal establishment
Public Relations, the council noted that
of the institute, has proposed for its first
papers incorporating the institute have
television production venture a series of
been filed with the District of Columbia,
four-minute programs dealing with the
where the institute will be based at AFL-
crucial issues facing the nation, starting
CIO headquarters.
with the many facets of unemployment.
These would be distributed for a national
THE EXECUTIVE board, with Fed-
ON THE AIR with the labor move-
audience this fall and again in January.
eration President Lane Kirkland serving
ment's first nationwide satellite news
as chairman, includes 17 vice presidents
THE EXECUTIVE Council also re-
broadcast is President Gerald W.
who are members of the public relations
viewed the recent changes in the AFL-
McEntee of the State, County &
committee and five persons drawn from
CIO News, including the incorporation
Municipal Employees in AFSCME's
outside the labor movement, who have
of Memo from COPE, Legislative Alert,
headquarters studio. McEntee out-
already agreed to serve. They are:
and the Federationist, as well as the new
lined the devastating effects of the
Robben Fleming, a law professor at
system of free distribution to affiliated
Reagan Administration's programs
the University of Michigan and former
unions on the basis of per capita pay-
and policies not only on public work-
president of the Corporation for Public
ments.
ers but on the nation. AFSCME
Broadcasting.
The report also took note of the fede-
Alexis Herman, former director of
ration's audio news service which makes
beamed its Labor News Network
the Women's Bureau in the Labor Dept.
available to radio stations short versions
broadcast to commercial, cable and
public television stations via its roof-
and currently vice president of a Wash-
of AFL-CIO statements. These messages
ington consulting firm, Green-Hermán &
are also distributed by communications
top satellite signal "dish," demon-
Associates, which specializes in personnel
satellite to nearly 1,200 radio stations.
strated here by the program's mana-
and training issues.
ger, Jim Dunn.
Caryl Rivers, former Washington
Time Subsidiary
newspaper correspondent who is now an
associate professor of journalism at Boston
University's School of Public Communi-
Charity Concept 'Perverted'
Hit for Reneging
cations.
Richard Scammon, director of the
On CWA Accord
Elections Research Center in Washington
By Inclusion of 'R-T-W' Fund
and a former director of the U.S. Census
New York-Capital Cable Co. of Aus-
Bureau.
tin, Tex., was denounced by the AFL-CIO
New York-The Reagan Administra-
very worthy organizations," Kirkland said.
Kurt Villadsen, director of creative
Executive Council for scrapping ten years
tion's decision to allow the National Right
services for CRM-McGraw Hill Produc-
of stable collective bargaining relations
The council statement welcomed the as-
to Work Committee's Legal Defense Fund
tions and partner in Constant C. Produc-
and bringing in a union-busting consultant
surance of the United Way that its local
to participate in the annual charity drive
tions, Malibu, Calif.
after it was bought by Time Inc.
affiliates.
designated contributions from federal
AFL-CIO INFORMATION Director
the concept of charity, the AFL-CIO Ex-
Time Inc. took over the cable television
Murray Seeger will be president of the
ecutive Council charged.
workers, will see that such money goes
system in the midst of a contract with
"only to those agencies that have histori-
institute and Sec.-Treas. Thomas R.
workers represented by the Communica-
The council statement stressed that "un-
cally received such funds and not to groups
Donahue its secrétary-treasurer. There
tions Workers. While trying to negotiate
ion members are willing to do their share"
such as the Right to Work Foundation.
will also be an advisory committee made
a new contract, the 79 union members
for the genuinely humanitarian groups so-
up of public relations directors of the
liciting funds for the Combined Federal
The council urged government workers
struck the company in October 1981, but
AFL-CIO's affiliated unions.
returned to work this June under the
Campaign. But it termed inclusion of no-
to earmark their contributions in this fall's
Kirkman, the institute's new director,
terms of an agreement worked out
toriously anti-labor groups "an affront to
campaign to "the agency or agencies that
is 36 years old and was educated as a
through the Federal Mediation & Concilia-
all union members."
meet their definition of a true charity."
teacher. He holds a master's degree from
tion Service.
FEDERATION President Lane Kirk-
Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO and its affili-
Harvard and taught school in the District
The back-to-work agreement included
land met before the council meeting with
ates will explore whether the current struc-
of Columbia where he was a member of
a commitment from the company to re-
leaders of both affiliated and unaffiliated
ture "best serves the needs of the nation's
the American Federation of Teachers.
sume good faith bargaining with a new
unions of federal and postal workers, and
voluntary agencies and the desire of fed-
eral and postal employees to support de-
He is an experienced producer of tele-
committee, but the workers still do not
the council statement reflected their out-
vision programs and a former professor
have a contract, the council noted.
rage at the Administration's action.
serving charities."
of media studies and television production
The introduction of an Atlanta-based
Kirkland and union leaders participating
The. council statement noted that Rea-
at American University. Most recently, he
union-busting consultant and other man-
in the meeting told reporters that every
ganomics has added to unemployment and
was television and video director of the
agement tactics have made it clear, the
effort will be made to assure that the "right
poverty. "Resources of agencies that min-
American Film Institute where he orga-
council said, that "the intention is to de-
to work" group doesn't inadvertently get
ister to those who cannot provide for
nized the annual National-Video Festival
stroy the existing contract and decertify
money intended for a legitimate charity.
themselves are strained to the limit," it
held in both Washington and Los Angeles.
the union."
stressed. These groups are "in desperate
"We're not conducting a boycott be-
He has many television production
The council urged affiliates to inform
need" of the funds raised through the Com-
cause to do so would damage a great many
credits, including a 1980 program, "None
bined Federal Campaign.
their members of the activities of Time,
of the Above," about non-voters done for
Inc. and Capital Cable.
Fight on Balanced Budget Plank Shifts to House
(Continued from Page-1)
protest has no place in the Constitution.
tive Council meeting, Kirkland expressed
If the balanced budget amendment were
It charged that Reagan is using the bal-
labor's outrage at the "cowardice and
now in the Constitution, the council
THE SENATE also voted to include in
anced budget amendment to divert atten-
chicanery" of senators who know how
warned, social security benefits would
the amendment a requirement for a three-
tion from the huge deficits brought on by
damaging such an amendment would be
have to be drastically slashed and the na-
fifths vote to raise the national debt limit-
his Administration's economic policies and
but nevertheless vote for it.
tional economy would sink from recession
a provision that could periodically immo-
that members of Congress who support it
"into a disastrous depression."
bilize the federal government until tax
Kirkland termed Reagan's embrace of
see it as a means of avoiding responsibility
collections come due.
the amendment "pure, raw and naked hy-
for their actions.
AS PASSED by the Senate, a cumber-
pocrisy." If the President considers a bal-
The 24 Senate Democrats who voted
some seven-section, 337-word addition to
Seven Republicans broke with President
anced budget so inexcusable "that it war-
against the balanced budget amendment
the Constitution would require that federal
Reagan to vote against the amendment, as
rants trifling and degrading the Constitu-
are: Baucus (Mont.), Biden (Del.), Bradley
spending each year not exceed anticipated
did 24 Democrats. But 22 Democrats voted
tion," what's to stop him from submitting
(NJ.), Bumpers (Ark.), Cranston (Calif.),
tax revenues, except in time of war. A
with 47 Republicans to pass the amend-
a balanced budget, Kirkland asked. "He's
Dodd (Conn.), Eagleton (Mo.), Ford (Ky.),
three-fifths vote of the House and Senate
ment with a two-thirds majority and two
giving these sermons against sin while he's
Glenn (Ohio), Hart (Colo.), Inouye (Ha-
would be required to allow an exception.
votes to spare.
molesting the choir girls."
waii), Jackson (Wash.), Kennedy (Mass.),
Further, tax receipts would not be
Except among the Senate's right-wing
The Executive Council resolution and
Leahy (Vt.), Levin (Mich.), Matsunaga
allowed to rise "by a rate greater than the
contingent, there was little obvious enthusi-
McEntee's testimony at the House hearings
(Hawaii), Metzenbaum (Ohio), Mitchell
rate of increase in national income in the
asm for the amendment. And Sen. Patrick
made clear that the labor movement does
(Me.), Moynihan (N.Y.), Pell (R.I.), Ran-
last calendar year ending before such fiscal
J. Leahy (D-Vt.) contended in the debate
not advocate continuous unbalanced bud-
dolph (W.Va.), Riegle (Mich.), Sarbanes
year, unless a majority of the whole num-
that "if this were a secret ballot, it
gets.
(Md.) and Tsongas (Mass.).
ber of both houses of Congress shall have
wouldn't get 15 votes." Sen. Alan Cran-
But "the AFL-CIO firmly believes that
Republicans who opposed the amend-
passed a bill directed solely to approving
ston (D-Calif.), the Democratic whip, has
the only way to balance the budget is to
ment are: Chafee (R.I.), Cohen (Me.),
specific additional receipts and such bill
said many of the senators who gave lip
first balance the economy," the council
Gorton (Wash.), Heinz (Pa.), Kassebaum
has become law."
service to the amendment were counting
said. "That means overturning the policies
(Kan.), Mathias (Md.) and Weicker
It's that type of statutory language that
on the House to block it.
of this Administration and reaffirming the
(Conn.)
constitutional scholars almost unanimously
goal and the programs to achieve full em-
At a news conference during the Execu-
All other senators voted for the amend-
ployment."
ment.
AFL-CIO NEWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 7, 1982
Page Three
Council Asks Aid to Recession Victims
(Continued from Page 1)
On El Salvador, the federation is
day council meeting, responded to ques-
"far from being satisfied with the degree
tions on a broad range of issues:
of progress" toward the restoration of civil
rights and is continuing to press for more
On Labor Sec. Raymond Donovan,
action. "We intend to use every means at
the federation's concern is with the way
our disposal to press for the fulfillment of
he is running the Labor Dept. Instead of
the land reform program and the enhance-
enforcing laws to protect the well-being
ment of the rights of free trade unionists
of workers, women, children, old people
in that country."
and the handicapped, the department is
"wrecking" those laws by stripping the
THE COUNCIL'S statement on the
budget of enforcement machinery and
Reagan recession was accompanied by an
writing new regulations that "clearly and
analysis of the economic decline under the
flatly contradict the declared purposes of
current Administration presented by Re-
the law."
search Director Rudy Oswald.
On the first anniversary of the Air
The statement reiterated labor's pro-
Traffic Controllers' strike, the continued
gram to pull the nation out of recession
denial of re-employment by the Adminis-
through public service employment pro-
tration is still hampering airline service
grams, job training programs, housing as-
and, together with the training of strike-
sistance, domestic content legislation to
breakers, imposes extraordinary costs and
curb job-destroying imports, creation of a
burdens on the public and the taxpayers
new Reconstruction Finance Corp. to re-
AT EXECUTIVE COUNCIL session, AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland dis-
and "serves only one purpose at this stage
build the nation's industrial base, and a
cusses labor's response to Administration policies that have destroyed jobs,
-sheer vindictiveness."
reversal of the Federal Reserve Board's
widened tax inequities and pushed more families below the poverty line.
On the coming congressional elec-
tight-money policies.
tions, the shift in the public mood
But the central foçus of the council's
bility could injure the entire social fabric,
Trades, Industrial Union, Maritime
heightens the prospect of "a substantial
outrage was the plight of the poor and the
perhaps for decades."
Trades, Food & Beverage Trades, Public
improvement in the complexion of Con-
jobless, especially the long-term jobless
THE SOCIAL costs of the recession,
Employee, Professional Employees, Metal
gress," but he has no predictions. The
whose unemployment benefits are being
federation's appeal to make November 2
chopped off in state after state.
it pointed out, are chronicled in the rise
Trades, and Union Label & Service Trades.
the next Solidarity Day "has caught on"
in heart attacks, alcohol abuse, suicides,
"TENS OF millions of Americans are
KIRKLAND designated three new coun-
at all levels of the trade union movement
divorce, child abuse, mental illness and
cil committees. One, chaired by Donahue,
and will "spur us on to a more effective
suffering with little or no help from the
crime.
will examine the changing nature of the
effort" in registration, education and get-
government or private sources," the coun-
"The soup kitchens of the Depression
workforce and the organizing outlook. Its
ting union members and families to vote.
cil observed.
are reappearing and the haunting despair
members will include Vice Presidents John
Administration proposals for further
It charged that "the Reagan policies are
of joblessness is undermining the very
J. Sweeney, Lloyd McBride, Barbara
cuts in social programs to compensate for
creating a generation of grievously injured
spirit of the nation."
Hutchinson, William H. Wynn, Albert
increased defense spending underscore the
families, without funds for schooling,
To alleviate the suffering of the unem-
Shanker, Richard I. Kilroy, Watts and
importance of the November elections "so
health care or adequate food or housing,
ployed and the poor, the council called on
Pillard.
that we can enlarge the number of people
without respected family role models of
Congress to extend maximum unemploy-
A new committee to promote and de-
in the Congress who have a balanced view
breadwinners with the pride of a steady
ment benefits to 65 weeks and restore
velop more effective means of involving
of the obligations of government to pro-
well-paying job, and without hope for the
Trade Adjustment Assistance for workers
retired union members in the pursuit of
vide for the common defense and promote
further advancement of their children.
who lose their jobs because of imports;
labor's objectives is headed by Vice Presi-
the general welfare."
"The resulting family stress and insta-
reject any further cuts in Medicare and
dent Douglas A. Fraser and includes Vice
Medicaid; enact a program of health in-
Presidents Sol C. Chaikin, Joyce Miller,
General Board to Consider
surance for the unemployed and restore
John DeConcini, Wayne E. Glenn,
health care coverage for the working poor;
Sweeney and Pillard.
strengthen the fragile system of welfare by
A committee to coordinate labor's con-
restoring Aid to Families with Dependent
Pre-Primary Endorsement
Children to Reagan benefit levels and
stitutional amendment requiring bal-
maintain food stamp benefits for all those
anced federal budget includes Vice Pres-
those in need.
idents Gerald W. McEntee as chairman,
(Continued from Page 1)
exchange of views on issues that concern
IN OTHER actions, the council heard
Vincent R. Sombrotto, Watts, Shanker,
As alternatives to an immediate collec-
the trade union movement.
reports from Kirkland on this year's re-
Turner and McBride.
tive endorsement, the board could decide
A THIRD potential candidate, Sen.
gional conferences, Donahue on internal
Alan Cranston (Calif.) was forced to can-
disputes matters and the federation's fi-
TWO MERGERS and the titles of the
to delay action until some later date or to
make no endorsement at all until after
cel his scheduled visit by the timing of
nances, Vice Presidents John H. Lyons on
resulting organizations were approved. The
the party conventions.
the Senate vote on the constitutional
defense and on pension investment, Glenn
Pottery Workers and the Glass Bottle
E. Watts on public relations, Charles H.
Blowers are merging to become the Glass,
amendment requiring a balanced federal
IF THE LAST course is chosen, the
Pillard on housing, J. C. Turner on the
Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers Inter-
AFL-CIO and its state federations would
budget.
COPE checkoff drive, and John J. O'Don-
national Union, while the Aluminum,
not involve themselves in the primaries,
Kirkland said that as other candidates
nell on the creation of a labor advisory
Brick & Clay Workers and the Glass &
and the national union affiliates would
emerge, they too would be given the op-
committee to the Republican National
Ceramic Workers are now united as the
take whatever position they saw fit, as
portunity to appear before the council
Committee.
Aluminum, Brick & Glass Workers Inter-
has been the case in recent elections,
"in a manner and in a setting that gives
national Union.
them the best opportunity to give a serious
Congressional developments were re-
Kirkland said.
exposition of their views."
viewed by Legislative Director Ray Deni-
The council approved the administra-
He explained that the timing of the
He noted that the two front runners for
son, and Organization & Field Services
tive budget and Impact Projects fund of
General Board meeting is dictated by the
Director Alan Kistler gave a progress re-
the African-American Labor Center, as
various state filing deadlines for candi-
the Democratic nomination-Sen. Edward
port on the Houston Organizing Project.
well as contributions from the Special
dates' delegate slates. If the meeting were
M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and former Vice
International Affairs Director Irving
Purposes Fund to the following organiza-
held in mid-February 1984, for example,
President Walter Mondale-spoke at the
tions: Jewish Labor Committee, Center for
last AFL-CIO convention in 1981 and
Brown recounted developments at the
the deadlines already would have passed
June conference of the International La-
the Study of Welfare Policy, Citizens for
in 13 key states. If the meeting were de-
had met frequently over the years with
the Executive Council.
bor Organization in Geneva, and COPE
Tax Justice, League for Industrial Democ-
layed until after the first primary in
Director John Perkins reported on the re-
racy, National Planning Association,
March, five more state filing deadlines
Similar invitations would be extended
cent mid-term conference of the Demo-
United Negro College Fund, Leadership
would have come and gone.
to: Republican candidates should that
party's nomination open up, Kirkland
cratic Party.
Conference on Civil Rights, United Way
As a practical matter, to assure an
of the National Capital Area, and the
opportunity for full participation by the
said, and he would not rule out the possi-
Under a new schedule adopted at the
American Political Foundation.
bility that labor might endorse candidates
1981 convention, reports also were pre-
AFL-CIO and its member unions in the
in both the Democratic and Republican
sented by the federation's constitutional
The next council meeting will be held
candidate selection process; the endorse-
Feb. 21-28, 1983, in Bal Harbour, Fla.
ment session of the board must be held
primaries.
departments-Building & Construction
no later than mid-December 1983, Kirk-
land said.
THE COUNCIL'S action flowed from
a decision at its May meeting in Washing-
ton to explore the possibility of a pre-
primary endorsement of a presidential
candidate rather than wait until after the
parties choose their nominees. The goal
is to strengthen labor's role in the selec-
tion of candidates and to avoid the splin-
tering of labor support during the pri-
maries.
The May council meeting urged affili-
ates to withhold their individual endorse-
ments of candidates pending a decision on
a collective pre-primary endorsement, and
the council's Political Works Committee
was directed to draw up appropriate pro-
cedures.
At its summer meeting here, the council
POTENTIONAL CANDIDATES for the presidency meet
Joyce Miller. At right, Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio) discusses
met with two potential Democratic presi-
the Executive Council. At left, Sen. Gary Hart (D-Colo.)
issues. From left are Vice Presidents Douglas A. Fraser and
dential candidates, Senators Gary Hart
(Colo.) and John Glenn (Ohio), for an
confers with AFL-CIO Vice Presidents Robert Goss and
Murray H. Finley and Sec.-Treas. Thomas R. Donahue.
Page Four
AFL-CIO NEWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 7, 1982
Congress Pressed to Halt Cutoff of Jobless Aid
New York-America's unions pressed
at the prodding of the Reagan Adminis-
The Senate on Aug. 5 voted 84-13 for
able to all unemployed workers who have
Congress to salvage the extended unem-
tration. A second phase of the cutbacks is
a non-binding resolution urging the con-
exhausted benefits, whether or not their
ployment compensation program and
scheduled for Sept. 25-and will come
ferees to postpone the Sept. 25 changes
state is in an extended benefit period," he
close to. wiping out the program unless
in the extended benefits program and to
urged.
lengthen its duration.
Congress intervenes.
approve an additional 10 to 13 weeks of
An Executive Council statement and
unemployment benefits.
THE REAGAN Administration has
Senate testimony by AFL-CIO Social Se-
The council called on Congress to re-
waffled on the issue. On the same day that
curity Director Bert Seidman stressed the
pair the damage done to the program,
Earlier, at Senate Finance Committee
Seidman testified for the AFL-CIO, As-
plight of recession victims who have al-
and to restore the national trigger which
hearings, Seidman termed a bill introduced
sistant Sec. of Labor John Cogan testified
ready used up all available unemployment
at present levels of unemployment would
by Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.) "a step in the
that the Administration "strongly opposes
benefits or will do so in the weeks ahead.
make extended benefits available in every
right direction," although short of the
AFL-CIO's goal. It would provide an addi-
any of the currently proposed extensions
state.
THE COUNCIL statement spotlighted
tional 13 weeks of supplemental benefits
of unemployment insurance benefits at this
time."
the paradox of state after state "triggering-
IT ALSO URGED a lengthening of the
fully financed from general revenues and
off" the extended benefit program at a
present 13-week extended period, prefer-
restore the original formula for triggering
The Administration's position came
time when unemployment has risen to
ably to the levels established by Congress
extended benefits programs.
under strong fire from Republicans as
near-record levels. Only 26 states still have
during the last major recession. That pro-
As an example of the inequity of the
well as Democrats from states facing the
extended benefit programs and 300,000
vided up to 65 weeks of combined state
new trigger formula imposed by Congress,
cutoff of benefits to their unemployed.
workers a month are running out of bene-
and federal benefits.
Seidman noted that Michigan was forced
White House spokesman Larry Speakes
fits, the council noted.
A move is under way in Congress to
to stop paying extended benefits for a 13-
then said the President would be willing
But unless Congress acts, worse is still
write an emergency extension of unem-
week period during the height of the cur-
to accept "some form of extension," but
to come. The cutbacks already felt are
ployment benefits into the tax bill now
rent recession even though it had Depres-
there would be no promise of presidential
from the first phase of changes in the
being considered by a House-Senate con-
sion levels of unemployment.
support until the legislation is in final
program that Congress adopted last year
ference committee.
"Supplemental benefits should be avail-
shape.
State, Local
Slashes Seen
Self-Defeating
New York The AFL-CIO voiced
strong support of public employee unions
in their efforts to convince state and local
governments that it is a "false economy"
to respond to the Reagan budget squeeze
and recession by dismantling services and
destroying public sector jobs.
ELECTION STRATEGY is mapped by the AFL-CIO
many state elections where the labor movement's aim is to
State and local government activities, the
elect responsive candidates, particularly in districts held by
AFL-CIO Executive Council said in a
COPE Operating Committee at its meeting in conjunction
with the Executive Council sessions in New York. COPE
anti-union representatives who have been insensitive to con-
statement, require adequate funding and
Director John Perkins and the committee members discussed
cerns such as the Reagan Administration's recession, unem-
experienced workers who can meet the
"qualifications and demands of public ser-
progress and goals for the November congressional and
ployment and the needs of the poor and elderly.
vice" in areas such as fire and police pro-
tection, health and hospital services and
Built-In Security NFL Players Contract Goal
education.
MANY STATE and local governments,
Measure Urged
faced with the Administration's budget
Backed as 'Fair, Equitable'
slashes, its recession, falling revenues and
skyrocketing interest rates are turning to
On Airline Jobs
cost-cutting measures that are undermining
New York-The National Football
the immense audiences from which the
"the health, safety and education of citi-
League Players Association has the sup-
owners derive their income."
zens and the jobs, wages, protections and
New York-The Airline Deregulation
Act of 1978 should be repealed and a
port of the AFL-CIO in its efforts to ne-
But the owners have repeatedly refused
standards of public employees," the coun-
"sound regulatory system" that includes
gotiate a "fair and equitable contract"
cil said.
to bargain in good faith with NFLPA.
employee protections should be put in its
with team owners.
They have tried to break the union and
President Reagan's so-called New Fed-
place, the AFL-CIO Executive Council
An Executive Council statement stressed
have harassed and pressured its leaders,
eralism proposal is another threat to these
declared.
that the NFLPA, an affiliate of the Pro-
the council said.
services, the council statement declared.
The council also urged the Reagan Ad-
fessional Athletes, wants to win for its
BEHIND THE glamour of professional
THE COUNCIL pointed out that a
ministration to act now to issue rules to
members a share "of the enormous reve-
protect all airline industry employees who
nues generated each year by the National
football, the statement said, are players
number of local governments are reducing
Football League from ticket sales and
whose lives are "marred by frequent in-
the "quality as well as the quantity" of
have felt the adverse effects of the deregu-
lation law.
juries," whose average playing careers are
public services by looking for ways to cut
television revenues," funds which are
shared by the NFL owners.
only 4.2 years and who average the lowest
public employees' jobs.
DEREGULATION has caused "tur-
pay in professional team sports.
Some governments are "flirting" with
moil" in the industry, including widespread
THE UNION, the council noted, is ask-
The players are asking for improved
contracting out services traditionally per-
unemployment and reductions in wages
ing that 55 percent of this money be used
pension benefits and medical, life and dis-
formed by public workers to non-union,
and working conditions, as well as hurting
for players' salaries and benefits.
ability insurance, a speedy grievance pro-
low-wage companies, the council noted.
consumers, the council said.
The players "are the game in profes-
cedure and the right to get medical treat-
Such tactics "inevitably cost the tax-
Tied in with the elimination of the
sional football," the statement emphasized.
ment from doctors other than those chosen
payer more for reduced levels of service,"
Civil Aeronautics Board in 1985, the state-
"It is their skill and courage which attracts
by the teams.
the statement said.
ment pointed out, is the expiration of cur-
rent "adjustment mechanisms" that pro-
tect airline jobs, seniority and bargained
working conditions from the adverse effects
Israel's Invasion 'Justified' by PLO Threat
of decontrol, mergers and acquisitions.
New York-Israel's invasion of Lebanon
The federation statement pressed Con-
lives in the current fighting and pointed
bassy staffs, journalists and Lebanese from
gress and the Administration on pending
is "entirely justified" by the military threat
to the PLO's tactic of "deliberately locat-
both the military and civilian populations.
legislation that would require the long-
to its security posed by the Palestine Lib-
ing its forces in residential areas and
Donahue said Lebanese who had felt the
term, continued use of adjustment mecha-
eration Organization, the Executive Coun-
storing its ammunition in schools, hospi-
brunt of PLO occupation welcomed the
cil said.
nisms.
tals and other public facilities."
Israelis as "liberators."
The unanimous council statement in
These safeguards, the council said, have
The PLO, in effect, "is holding the
The council in its statement called for
support of Israel called for immediate
civilian population of West Beirut hos-
successfully prevented labor-management
worldwide pressure to demand that the
strife, layoffs, lost revenues and widespread
withdrawal of the PLO and Syrian forces
tage," the council charged.
PLO and Syria leave Lebanon immediately
from Lebanon.
disruption of the air transportation system
The council said the United States should
"and allow the Lebanese to proceed with
that could come as a result of decontrol
FOR SEVEN years, the statement said,
continue withholding recognition from the
the task of reconstruction and the creation
and the effects of mergers and acquisitions
the people of Lebanon have endured a
PLO and steer clear "of any actions which
of an independent central government."
among passenger and cargo air carriers.
"reign of terror at the hands of the PLO
would encourage the PLO to believe it can
When those forces are gone, the state-
WITH THE mechanisms, changes can
and Syria, which together occupied 60 per-
snatch a political victory from military
ment said, the Israeli's "must also with-
defeat."
be made "with an orderly integration of
cent of the country."
draw, as they have committed themselves
work forces and the preservation of seni-
Before adopting the statement, the coun-
to do."
ority rights" and without forcing workers
Over that time, nearly 100,000 people
cil heard a report by AFL-CIO Sec.-Treas.
were killed, some 250,000 were wounded
The Executive Council urged the U.S.
to compete against other workers for jobs
and 800,000 Christians and 500,000 Mos-
Thomas R. Donahue who led a factfinding
government to assist the Lebanese "in
while the companies "reap considerable
mission to Israel and Lebanon in July.
profits" at the expense of their employees,
lems were left homeless, the council said.
every way possible" and to make humani-
the council said.
Lebanon's political structure and institu-
WITH DONAHUE were Service Em-
tarian aid available to the Lebanese and
tions of authority were "shattered."
ployees President John J. Sweeney and
the Palestinian people.
Although Congress promised protections
Tom Kahn, assistant to AFL-CIO Presi-
In Lebanon, the council emphasized,
Weakening of PLO and Soviet influence
of job rights when deregulation was passed,
"the world could see what a PLO state
dent Lane Kirkland. The four-day trip in-
in the Middle East may set the stage for
"to date, not a single employee whose job
would look like."
chided meetings with government officials
fruitful discussions with moderate Arab
was lost as a result of that legislation has
and with representatives of Israel's Labor
forces for a solution to the Palestinian
received the promised protections and
The statement stressed that the AFL-
Party and Histadrut, the Israeli trade un-
problem, the council suggested in its state-
compensation," the statement pointed out.
CIO "deeply regrets" the loss of civilian
ion center. It included talks with U.S. em-
ment.
AFL-CIO NEWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 7, 1982
Page Five
To Benefit Rich
Flat-Tax Scheme Seen
Creating New Inequities
New York-America needs tax justice,
the destruction of a progressive tax sys-
but the flat-rate tax schemes the Reagan
tem."
Administration is flirting with are not the
The council cited an analysis by the
answer, the AFL-CIO Executive Council
Congressional Joint Committee on Taxa-
declared.
tion which compared the effect of flat tax
"The cornerstone of tax justice is a
rates ranging from 12 percent to 18 per-
progressive tax based on the principle of
cent on taxpayers at various income levels.
ability to pay," the council said in a state-
In every case, the council noted, the low-
ment.
and middle-income groups would pay
It reaffirmed the federation's support
more in taxes while the upper-income
for tax simplification with tax equity while
groups would enjoy substantial tax cuts.
maintaining a progressive tax structure.
THE RATIONALE put forth by the
OFFICIALS OF the new Glass, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers union are
BUT THE flat-tax proposals would
flat-tax proponents is that it would enable
welcomed at the Executive Council meeting by AFL-CIO President Lane Kirk-
abandon the basic principle of equity and
Congress to end many deductions, credits
land and Sec.-Treas. Thomas R. Donahue. The new union grows out of the
instead apply a single percentage rate for
and exclusions and eliminate many long-
merger of the Glass Bottle Blowers, headed by James E. Hatfield, second from
all, regardless of income level or ability
standing loopholes and preferences.
left, and the Pottery Workers, headed by Lester H. Null, second from right.
to pay, the council noted.
But if Congress were inclined to close
"The Reagan Administration that
existing loopholes-like foreign tax cred-
stacked the 1981 tax changes to benefit
its, oil depletion allowances and the pref-
Potters Union Okays Merger
the wealthy now flirts with the flat tax
erential treatment of capital gains-it
as another scheme to further shift the tax
could do so now while maintaining a
burden to low and middle-income Amer-
progressive tax structure, the council
With Glass Bottle Blowers
icans," the statement said. "The wealthy
stressed.
are saying indirectly that they might give
"Loophole closing is the key to tax jus-
up a few of their preferences in exchange
tice, but that has nothing to do with flat
Hollywood, Fla.-Delegates to a special
Pottery Workers since 1969, will serve in
for a drastic reduction in the top rate and
rates," the statement pointed out. "Even
convention of the Pottery Workers voted
the merged union as assistant to Hatfield.
if the income that currently slips through
159-17 approval of merger with the Glass
The union's veteran secretary-treasurer,
Federal Reserve
the loopholes and escape hatches were in-
Bottle Blowers, clearing the way for final
George H. Barbaree, will be international
cluded, a flat tax would still be far more
action by the executive boards of the two
auditor following completion of the mer-
inequitable than the present system despite
unions.
ger.
Action Pressed
its many flaws."
Under the merger agreement, the new
THE ENLARGED union will have its
Glass, Pottery, Plastics & Allied Workers
headquarters in Media, Pa., where the
DECLARING the AFL-CIO's unalter-
will unite 80,000 members of the GBBA
On Interest Rates
GBBA offices are located. The Pottery
able opposition to flat-rate tax schemes,
and 11,000 members of the pottery work-
Workers headquarters in East Liverpool,
the council called for steps to achieve tax
ers.
Ohio, will be used as offices for interna-
justice by "undoing the damage done to
New York-High interest rates are
tional representatives of the union, serving
the tax structure by the Reagan Adminis-
BOTH UNIONS have their roots deep
devastating the American economy and
the Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania
tration" and enacting measures to:
in America's labor history, going back to
the Federal Reserve Board should act im-
areas.
mediately to lower them, the AFL-CIO
End the double standard under which
the 19th Century, and have faced prob-
lems of imports and mechanizations over
The Pottery Workers were briefly part
Executive Council urged.
wages are taxed at far higher rates than
unearned income from capital gains.
the years.
of the Seafarers, as an autonomous af-
The council also called on Congress to
filiate from 1976 to 1978, but the ar-
Reinstate the corporate income tax
GBBA President James E. Hatfield,
re-establish the credit control authority
rangement was dissolved by mutual agree-
that expired June 30 and said the Presi-
as
a source of federal revenue and equity
speaking to the Pottery Workers conven-
ment
dent and the Fed should then use it "to
and eliminate so-called incentives "that
tion, said labor must have unity and
subsidize mergers, takeovers, plant shut-
strength" and the planned merger "makes
A week earlier, another union merger
assure the availability of credit at much
good sense."
was completed by the Aluminum, Brick
lower interest rates for housing, agricul-
downs, overseas investments and other
& Clay Workers-itself the product of
business activities that conflict with the
Potters President Lester H. Null told
ture, and productive industrial invest-
a recent merger-and the Glass &
ment."
national interest.
the delegates that the merger will enable
Ceramic Workers. That new 70,000-
Provide a basic structure of grad-
the union to deal with its employers from
member organization is the Aluminum,
A STATEMENT by the council stressed
uated rates that fully reflect the principle
strength.
Brick & Glass Workers International
that continued high interest rates are a
of ability to pay.
Null, who has been president of the
Union.
major cause of the current high rates of
unemployment and high levels of bank-
ruptcies, causing shutdowns of productive
facilities in many basic industries, remov-
Pension Investment Progress Cited
ing any incentive for new investment, and
creating a barrier to sustained recovery.
New York-The AFL-CIO Executive
as a valuable source of information on
The exercise of shareholder rights
can
"Repeated financial and industrial fail-
Council called for a continuation and
pension fund investment.
be an effective investment tool, but maxi-
ures could spread throughout the economy
expansion of efforts to assure that union-
A computer tracking project being
mum and effective results will be achieved
and produce a depression reminiscent of
negotiated pension funds are invested to
undertaken by the AFL-CIO to better
only if all elements of the labor movement
the 1930s," the statement warned.
serve the interests of plan participants by
enable union-influenced pension funds to
work together and support these efforts."
Despite President Reagan's repeated
creating jobs and meeting social needs.
exercise shareholder rights associated with
The council warned that the desire to
professions of faith in his program, the
The council reviewed programs in this
their equity holdings, and the work of the
target negotiated pension funds more ef-
evidence is clear that "it is not working,"
area since its August 1980 policy state-
Food & Beverage Trades Dept. in encour-
fectively in the interest of workers should
the council observed. It noted that long-
ment setting forth broad guidelines for
aging the exercise of such rights.
not outweigh the need to avoid high-risk
term bond rates and home mortgage in-
the investment of pension funds, which it
"THESE KINDS of activities provide
investments, and it urged extra care in
terest rates are higher than when Reagan
found in many cases were being invested
new opportunities and should be contin-
the selection of outside investment ad-
took office. The recent declines in short-
in ways inimical to workers' interests.
ued and expanded," the council statement
visers.
term interest rates, the council said, reflect
AMONG THE notable recent develop-
said. "The pooling of funds can provide
It warned, too, that a number of large
the greatly weakened demand for business
loans in the current recession.
ments, the council cited:
greater financial strength and effectiveness
corporations have manipulated pension
and, at the same time, greater safety
plan provisions to gain access to pen-
A new AFL-CIO Housing Invest-
AND THE Administration's touted
through diversification and the spreading
sion fund assets for corporate use, in sev-
ment Trust now awaiting approval by the
"victory" over inflation "has proven to
of risk. Worthwhile social objectives can
eral instances using unrealistic actuarial
Securities & Exchange Commission, which
be more faith than fact," the council state-
be achieved and jobs created through such
assumptions to create artificial surpluses
will provide long-term government in-
ment said. It noted that oil and food
efforts as union-built affordable housing
and to minimize benefit payments.
sured mortgages to finance union-built
prices are heading up again now that over-
for workers," the statement noted.
housing and other construction.
It called for action by federal agencies
supplies are disappearing, and prices in
"Political leaders and public employee
or Congress to prevent this sort of manip-
two other major sectors-housing and
A program by the Building & Con-
funds can work with union leaders and
ulation and assure that pension fund assets
medical care-continue to fuel inflation.
struction Trades Dept. to acquaint pen-
private pension funds to support economic
are used solely for the payment and fund-
sion fund trustees and other plan fiducia-
The statement stressed that high interest
development and industrial reinvestment.
ing of pension benefits.
ries with opportunities for investment in
rates themselves are a major contributor
job-creating projects.
to inflation. It pointed out that interest
Oil Workers Supported in Petrofina Strike
payments on the federal debt are the fast-
Creation of financing foundations or
est growing part of the federal budget, and
pooling arrangements by a number of
New York-Striking members of Oil,
attitude. OCAW workers also struck
the high cost of borrowing by builders,
construction union pension funds to pro-
Chemical & Atomic Workers Local 4-23
Texaco's Port Arthur plant in January.
industry and merchants is passed on in
mote union-built construction.
in Port Arthur, Tex., got a strong vote
The council noted that American
higher prices that escalate inflation.
Increasing pressure from unions to
of support from the AFL-CIO Executive
Petrofina rebuffed a request by the Fed-
And by raising the value of the dollar
gain a greater voice in the control of their
Council in their dispute with American
eral Mediation & Conciliation Service to
in relation to foreign currencies, high in-
pension funds and investment policy
Petrofina.
extend the contract while negotiations
terest rates raise the price of American
where traditionally such decisions have
More than 400 members of the union
went on.
goods, acting as a drag on exports while
been left solely to management.
have been on strike against the company
The key issues, in addition to wages,
encouraging more imports at relatively
The growing support of public offi-
and its subsidiary, Amdel Pipeline, since
are the company's challenges to longstand-
lower prices, the statement noted.
cials for the use of public employee re-
their contract expired Jan. 8.
ing work practices that have for years
This has led to the loss of American
tirement funds to strengthen state and
American Petrofina forced the strike
been part of the contracts.
jobs as the U.S. trade deficit mounted to a
local economies through appropriate in-
when it refused to accept a number of
The council urged affiliates to inform
record $40 billion in 1981 and to more
vestments.
contract provisions already agreed to by
their members on Petrofina's tactics
than $18 billion in the first half of 1982,
Establishment of the Industrial Union
most of the industry, the council said,
against its workers, Company products
the council noted.
Dept. publication, Labor and Investments,
adding that Texaco has adopted a similar
are sold under the brand name Fina.
Page Six
AFL-CIO NEWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 7, 1982
House, Senate Disagree
'82 Human Rights Award
On Cost-of-Living Slash
Cites Two South Africans
For Government Retirees
New York-The Executive Council voted the George Meany International
Human Rights Award for 1982 to two champions of black rights in South Africa,
Neal Aggett and Mangosuthu Gatsha Buthelezi.
The House balked at cutting pensions
the budget resolution. If the Republicans
Dr. Aggett, a white officer of the African Food & Canning Workers, a union
of retired government workers in order
and their conservative Democratic allies
of black workers, was honored posthumously. He was only 28 years old when
to meet congressional budget targets, but
who adopted it wanted to penalize retired
found dead in Johannesburg jail. He was held by police without being charged.
a slim 51-48 majority of the Senate voted
federal and postal workers and military
to impose a 4 percent limit on cost-of-
retirees, let them vote to do so.
Buthelezi is head of the largest black liberation movement in South Africa
living adjustments for retirees in each of
and is chief minister of the Zulu tribe.
RETIREMENT benefits for government
the next three years.
employees are the equivalent of social se-
Aggett and Buthelezi are the second recipients of the Meany award. Last
That's one of the conflicts the Demo-
curity benefits in the private sector, they
year, the inaugural award was presented collectively to Solidarnose, the Polish
cratic-controlled House and the Republi-
noted, funded by payments from worker
labor federation. Lech Walesa was scheduled to accept it at the November 1981
can Senate will have to settle before
paychecks and from the government in its
AFL-CIO Convention, but was unable to attend. Martial law was imposed in
agreeing on legislation that is supposed
role as employer. Congress had declared
Poland a few weeks later.
to provide spending cuts and revenue in-
the social security system's COLA im-
creases mandated by the budget Congress
mune from budget-cutting, and there was
An AFL-CIO delegation will visit South Africa in September.
adopted last month.
no just reason to single out federal work-
ers.
REPUBLICANS ducked a direct con-
frontation of the issue in the House after
House Republicans fumed at the "un-
losing a key procedural vote. The Demo-
fair" tactics of forcing them to vote on
cratic majority on the House Post Office
Layoffs, Plant Closings Push
the effects of their budget actions and
& Civil Service Committee flatly refused
sought to get around the issue with a mo-
to approve a COLA cutback, and brought
tion to send the bill back to committee
to the floor a bill carrying substantially
with instructions to cut an additional $344
Jobless Rate to 9.8 Percent
less "savings" than called for in the con-
million in fiscal 1983 budget savings. But
gressional budget resolutions.
the recommittal motion was beaten, 236-
(Continued from Page 1)
sion began, while employment among men
The committee majority's reasoning was
180, and the House then approved the
employed must be added 1.5 million more
is down. A major reason, she suggested, is
simple and blunt: they had not supported
committee bill without the cost-of-living
who have given up searching for jobs that
that "women are far more likely than men
ceiling by a 268-128 vote.
do not exist, along with half of the 5.5
to work in the service-producing sector of
The Senate, however, went along with
million who are working only part time be-
the economy. Since July 1981, employ-
House Approves
a Governmental Affairs Committee recom-
cause full time jobs are unavailable." Thus
ment in the service-producing sector in-
mendation for a 4 percent annual ceiling,
an unemployment rate of 13.6 percent,
creased by 280,000. Jobs in the goods-pro-
but by a surprisingly slim majority.
with 15.2 million persons jobless, is
ducing sector, however, declined by 1.8
Job Training Bill
"nearer the truth."
million," she noted.
The Senate calculated the "savings" on
the retirement cut at $5 billion over three
Manufacturing jobs continued to de-
AND DESPITE repeated Administra-
To Replace CETA
years. In the same bill, it made more mod-
cline, with cutbacks in the machinery in-
tion predictions of an upturn in the econ-
est trims in veterans' benefits by rounding
dustry accounting for nearly half the 90,-
omy, Norwood told the congressional panel
The House voted 356-52 approval of a
off cost-of-living adjustments to the next
000 job loss over the month. Manufactur-
that the employment data for July show
lower dollar. Food stamp entitlements were
ing jobs are down by 1.5 million from a
"little labor market strength."
labor-supported job training program to
cut more vigorously, for an estimated $2.5
replace the Comprehensive Employment
year ago.
She told the committee that job losses
billion reduction over three years.
& Training Act (CETA), which expires on
FOR ADULTS, unemployment con-
during the first portion of the recession
were concentrated in the construction and
Sept. 30.
IN ANOTHER area, the AFL-CIO
tinued to rise-to 8.8 percent for men and
CETA was decimated by last year's
urged a House-Senate conference commit-
8.4 percent for women. A year ago, the
consumer durable goods industry along
with their "feeder" industries.
budget cuts and its anti-recession public
tee to remedy some of the inequities in
corresponding rates were 5.8 percent for
service jobs program was abolished early
the tax increase bill passed by the Senate
adult men and 6.7 percent for adult
But since April, the big job declines
in the Reagan Administration.
last month.
women.
were in mining and machinery. Especially
Many of the Senate provisions are de-
Teenage unemployment rose over the
hard hit were oil and gas field services and
THE HOUSE bill, like an earlier Sen-
sirable, AFL-CIO Legislative Director Ray
month from 22.3 to a record 24.1 percent
oil field machinery.
ate-passed version, emphasizes job train-
Denison wrote the conferees. But there
and Kirkland noted the irony that the in-
FROM JUNE to July, unemployment
ing for disadvantaged youth and authorizes
are provisions that add to "the tax burdens
crease "came in the month in which the
among whites rose from 8.4 to 8.8 percent.
special help for laid-off workers.
of low- and middle-income Americans who
Reagan Administration proposed to in-
For blacks, it was unchanged at 18.5 per-
Differences between the two bills were
were shortchanged last year" and further
crease the teen-age labor pool by offering
cent. For Hispanics, unemployment rose
somewhat narrowed by compromise
penalize the needy and elderly.
14- and 15-year-olds to the job market at
from 13.5 to 13.9 percent.
amendments adopted by the House. But
He cited higher excise taxes on con-
a subminimum wage."
By industry, construction unemployment
generally, the Senate bill gives greater con-
sumers, a new hospital insurance tax on
BLS Commissioner Janet Norwood told
rose over the year from 15.2 to 20.3 per-
trol over training programs to governors
federal workers, curtailment of medical
the Joint Economic Committee of Con-
cent, manufacturing unemployment from
while the House version has more local
deductions and casualty losses, among
gress that employment of women is up
7.3 to 12 percent, retail and wholesale
involvement, somewhat stronger labor
others.
from a year ago, when the current reces-
trade from 7.9 to 10.5 percent.
standards and lesser employer domination
of the training programs. One amendment
adopted by the House earmarks funds to
continue Job Corps programs.
Child Labor Policy 'Rewriting Law'
Rep. Augustus F. Hawkins (D-Calif.),
who steered the House bill to passage, has
New York The Reagan Administra-
olds on Aug. 16. But after a blast of pub-
The council pointed to a Government
also sponsored a labor-supported public
tion's move to gut child labor regulations
lic protest - including critical testimony
Accounting Office study that links teen-
service bill which the House leadership
is an attempt to rewrite the law "in com-
by the AFL-CIO and others at congres-
age unemployment to poor reading, writ-
has promised to schedule for floor action.
plete disregard of the intent of Congress,"
sional hearings and plans for introduction
ing and math skills. The work of school
But its prospects in the Senate are dimmer
the AFL-CIO Executive Council charged.
of a joint resolution to block the cuts by
age children "is their school work," the
because of Administration opposition.
A council statement stressed that if the
Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and Sen.
statement said, warning that the Labor
Before passing the job training bill, the
Labor Dept. is permitted to issue new reg-
Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.)-the Admin-
Dept.'s plans to gut labor standards will
House defeated by a 308-87 vote an
ulations that would substantially extend
istration put the changes on hold and ex-
have a "long-term, devastating effect."
amendment that sought to bar any train-
the hours 14- and 15-year-old children
tended the original 30-day comment period
ing funds from going to farm worker or-
can be required to work and permit them
to 180 days, after the November elections.
BY THE LABOR Dept.'s own admis-
ganizations and rejected, 218-189, a Re-
to hold some jobs deemed hazardous, the
sion, the council said, it is the fast-food
The delay also applies to a companion
result will be a new pool of cheap, part-
and amusement park industries that are
publican-sponsored amendment to bring
proposal that would have removed the Γe-
the House version closer in line with the
time labor that could be hired "to replace
quirement that employers reapply annual-
pressing for the new rules.
Senate bill.
not only their older brothers and sisters
ly for certification to pay full-time stu-
It is no surprise, the council pointed out,
but also their mothers and fathers."
Differences between the two measures
dents less than the minimum wage.
that the first attempts to weaken the 1938
Fair Labor Standards Act "are directed at
will now be dealt with by a House-Senate
THE LABOR DEPT. had planned to
At a press conference, AFL-CIO Presi-
conference committee.
dent Lane Kirkland said he welcomed the
supplying cheap labor for the retail and
roll back protections for 14- and 15-year-
Labor Dept.'s postponements. He hoped
service industries which the statement cited
as "the worst violators" of the FLSA ac-
Economic 'Summit' Criticized for Platitudes
it indicated "that they are now prepared
to do what they should have done before
cording to records of the Minimum Wage
New York-Leaders of the world's
tration has taken. But it said the AFL-
they put out this idiotic proposition, that
Study Commission.
is, talk to the people who have some con-
The council accused the Labor Dept. of
leading industrial nations came up with
CIO was "dismayed" by the failure of
the seven heads of state who met at
cern and experience and interest in these
attempting to put in place a youth sub-
platitudes instead of solutions to unem-
matters-other than the fry kitchens and
ployment at last June's summit meeting
Versailles, France, last June to come to
minimum wage by manipulating the certi-
junk food joints of this land."
fication regulations and "flooding the mar-
of the Organization for Economic Coop-
grips with basic issues.
ket" with younger children.
eration & Development (OECD).
From the heads of Britain, Canada,
THE COUNCIL asserted that the real
That was the evaluation of the AFL-
France, West Germany, Italy, Japan and
motive of the Administration's rule
IT WARNED that drastic cuts in the
CIO Executive Council, and of the
the United States came "only platitudes"
changes was not to open jobs for youth
department's enforcement staff undermine
OECD's Trade Union Advisory Commit-
and continued reliance "on unsuccessful
but to put more children to work at 50c
safeguards against exploitation and assure
tee, which had urged international. co-
monetarist policies," the council said.
less than minimum wage.
that violations will go undetected.
operation in developing policies on full
The AFL-CIO will "intensify its par-
"This is an Administration attempt to
Again, the statement said, the Reagan
employment and job création.
ticipation" in the Trade Union Advisory
roll back the clock on child labor at a time
Administration Labor Dept. is acting as a
THE COUNCIL found one virtue in
Committee to the OECD, the Executive
when it refuses to offer job-creating pro-
'law-wrecker and not a law-enforcer." It
the OECD's economic analysis-a more
Council said, "and continue to press for
grams for adults and vetoes those pro-
sees its role "as reducing worker protec-
realistic look at the weaknesses of the
a greater voice for the trade union move-
posed by Congress," the statement em-
tions rather than maintaining them" and
U.S. economy than the Reagan Adminis-
ment in the deliberations of the OECD."
phasized.
as a cheap labor recruiter for employers.
AFL-CIO NEWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 7, 1982
Page Seven
Flat Out Inequitable
THE AFTUE that HAS LONG supported reforms in the tax
would lead to tax justice. The cornerstone of
tax justice is a progressive tax based on the principle of ability to
pay. A variety of new tax proposals has been put forth, some as
COST OF LIVING
flat taxes, some as hybrids, each offering to bring simplification
to the tax structure. The AFL-CIO supports tax simplification with
tax equity and the maintenance of a progressive tax structure.
The flat-rate tax schemes would abandon the-basic principle of
equity, and instead apply a single percentage rate for all regardless
of income level or ability to pay. The Reagan Administration that
stacked the 1981 tax changes to benefit the wealthy now flirts with
the flat tax as yet another scheme to further shift the tax burden
to low- and middle-income Americans.
THE WEALTHY are saying indirectly that they might have to
give up a few of their preferences in exchange for a drastic reduc-
tion in the top rate and the destruction of a progressive tax system.
REAL
In spite of the general impression that the current system is not
equitable, the greater inequity of a flat-rate tax is borne out in
EARNINGS
an analysis prepared by the Congressional Joint Committee on
Taxation. The analysis compares the effect of flat tax rates, rang-
ing from 12 percent to 18 percent, on taxpayers of various income
levels. In every case, low- and middle-income taxpayers suffer tax
increases while those with higher incomes enjoy substantial tax
cuts.
THE FLAT-TAX schemes are based on the theory that Con-
gress would end many deductions, credits, and exclusions and
eliminate many longstanding loopholes and preferences. However,
if Congress were inclined to eliminate longstanding and clearly
identifiable loopholes and preferences, like capital gains, foreign
tax credits and oil depletion allowances, it could do so now-and
could do SO while maintaining a progressive tax structure.
This it has not done. Loophole closing is the key to tax juštice,
but that has nothing to do with flat rates. Even if the income that
currently slips through the loopholes and escape hatches were in-
cluded, a flat tax would still be far more inequitable than the
present system despite its many flaws.
The AFL-CIO is unalterably opposed to flat-rate tax schemes.
Washington Window
TAX JUSTICE must begin with undoing the damage done to
the tax structure by the Reagan Administration and enacting the
Top Economists Expose Folly
full range of measures necessary to:
End the double standard which taxes workers' wages and
salaries at far higher rates than "unearned income" from capital
Of Balanced Budget Scheme
gains and estates of the wealthy.
By Press Associates, Inc.
Economist and lawyer Robert R. Nathan said
Reinstate the corporate income tax as a source of federal
the amendment would "degrade" the Constitu-
revenue and equity and eliminate the so-called "incentives" that
PEOPLE are overwhelmed by frustra-
tion and he called it "purely political. Charles
subsidize mergers, takeovers, plant shutdowns, overseas invest-
tion in a situation they can't do anything
Schultze, President Carter's economic adviser,
ments and other activities that conflict with the national interest.
about, it often feels good to say, "There oughta
said it would "wreck or trivialize" the budget
be a law."
Provide a basic structure of graduated rates which fully re-
process.
flect the principle of ability to pay.
That's one explanation of the movement in
James Tobin, the 1981 Nobel Prize winner,
Congress for a constitutional amendment to bal-
said the theory behind the amendment is "un-
-AFL-CIO Executive Council statement adopted Aug. 3,
ance the federal budget.
substantiated and dubious." Andrew Brimmer,
1982, in New York.
But when President Reagan went to Capitol
former governor of the Federal Reserve Board,
Hill to lead a pro-amendment rally, it inspired
tied the deficit to the recession and huge 1981
speculation that he might have twin motives.
tax cut.
AFL-CIO News
He may have sensed that deep frustration; then,
too, he also may want to blame his own historic
IN AN EARLIER analysis of Senate Joint
deficit on the Democratic-controlled House if it
Resolution 58, which embodies the amendment,
blocks the amendment.
Ackley said the amendment rests on the theory
that most of the nation's economic problems are
THE VERY simplicity of the balanced budget
attributable to federal deficits and fiscal policies.
amendment holds great appeal for hardline con-
Official Weekly Publication
He said such a theory has no support in either
servatives who finally have one of their own in
of the
professional opinion or analysis.
American Federation of Labor and
the White House. And it probably also makes
sense for many Americans who view the federal
Ackley also noted that the amendment's pro-
Congress of Industrial Organizations
LANE KIRKLAND, President
budget as a hodgepodge of bewildering numbers.
vision enables 40 percent of either the House or
Senate to block actions backed by a substantial
THOMAS R. DONAHUE, Secretary-Treasurer
It was in this atmosphere that a group of lead-
majority. This has serious implications in a rep-
Executive Council
ing economists held a press conference in Wash-
resentative system, he said, for issues involving
ington to inject some reason into the debate.
John H. Lyons
Thomas W. Gleason
Frederick O'Neal
education, foreign affairs and civil rights, which
S. Frank Raftery
Martin J. Ward
Murray H. Finley
Gardner Ackley, a former chairman of the
are related to spending decisions.
Albert Shanker
Glenn E. Watts
Sol C. Chaikin
Council of Economic Advisers and now teaching
Taking on other myths behind the amendment,
Edward T. Hanley
Angelo Fosco
Charles H. Pillard
at the University of Michigan, took responsibility
Ackley's analysis dealt with the belief that govern-
J. C. Turner
Lloyd McBride
David J. Fitzmaurice
for promoting an open letter in opposition to the
Kenneth T. Blaylock
Alvin E. Heaps
Wm. W. Winpisinger
ment has an insatiable appetite for tax revenues.
balanced budget amendment.
William H. Wynn
John J. O'Donnell
John DeConcini
It may be true, he said, that total government
Wayne E. Glenn
Robert F. Goss
William Konyha
THE LETTER of opposition was signed by
spending rose over the past quarter century from
Joyce D. Miller
John J. Sweeney
Douglas A. Fraser
181 leading economists including Nobel Laureates
24.8 percent of GNP to 33.5 percent. But a
Frank Drozak
James E. Hatfield
Barbara Hutchinson
Kenneth Arrow, Lawrence Klein, Wassily Leon-
closer look reveals, he said, that nearly the entire
Richard I. Kilroy
Vincent R. Sombrotto Gerald W. McEntee
tief, Paul Samuelson, Herbert Simon and James
increase was in federal transfer payments as social
Director of Information: Murray Seeger
Tobin. Eleven former presidents of the American
security matured. This drew no net resources
Managing Editor: John M. Barry
Economics Association also signed the letter.
from the private sector to public use, he added.
Assistant Editors:
Ackley, current president of the AEA, told the
ACKLEY ALSO disposed of the belief that the
Susan Dunlop
John R. Oravec
press that the professional economists of America
federal payroll has swollen out of control. He
David L. Perlman
James M. Shevis
regard the proposed amendment as "bad public
noted the small and stable size of the federal
AFL-CIO Headquarters: 815 Sixteenth St., N.W.
policy."
workforce as a proportion of the labor force; it
Washington, D.C. 20006
Hendrik Houthakker, who teaches at Harvard
has actually shrunk to 2.8 percent now from 3.5
Telephone: (202) 637-5032
and served on the Council of Economic Advisers
percent in 1956.
under President Nixon, said the amendment is
He also noted that national deficits in most
Vol. XXVII
Saturday, August 7, 1982
No. 31
"as phoney as a three-dollar bill."
years are the lowest of any of six other leading
The AFL-CIO News (ISSN 001-1185) is issued weekly except
Houthakker, a Republican, said there are bet-
industrial nations. Over a five-year period, he
for the last week of the year at 815 Sixteenth St., N.W., Wash-
ington, D.C. 20006. $10 a year. Second class postage paid at
LABOR PRESS
ter ways to pursue it, as through the Employ-
said both Japan and West Germany-often point-
Washington, D.C. The AFL-CIO does not accept paid adver-
tising in any of its official publications. No one is authorized
ment Act or the Humphrey-Hawkins Act. A
ed to for their economic performances-in each
to solicit advertising for any publications in the name of the
<<<<<<<<<<<<
AFL-CIO.
budget by nature is an estimate, he said, and can
year have had much larger deficits than the
be biased.
United States.
Page Eight
AFL-CIO NEWS, WASHINGTON, D.C., AUGUST 7, 1982
MEMO FROM COPE
AFL
Risks of Prophecy:
New Right Zap Losing Zip
Troughs, Transitions
Are "new right" political committees losing their
constitutional amendments, and his basic economic
knockout punch? It's not too early in the political
program is exactly what rightists have been clamor-
And Bottoming Out
year to ask the question, though it's too soon to
ing for for years, but it isn't working-and they can
provide a definitive answer.
neither understand nor excuse the Reagan deficits.
"Our economic plan is to begin with the 1982
The fact is, there is evidence that the haymakers
Actually, one right-wing PAC leader—Terry Do-
fiscal year on October 1 (1981) I am as convinced
they connected with in 1980 in helping defeat a
lan of NCPAC-pins the blame on Reagan for what
today as I was when we introduced the package that
platoon of progressive U.S. Senators so far are not
he (Dolan) predicts will be a low-yield year for
this economic plan is as good as money in the bank
scoring this year. In 1980, their "negative" inde-
his gang politically.
-and if I were a betting man, I would wager the
pendent expenditures campaigns caught their target-
Even if the notion that the right-wing PACs will
rent money on it."
-President Reagan 9/18/81
ed candidates off guard. They had a field day.
swing roundhouse rights and hit mostly air this year
But this year, targets of new right PACs have
turns out to be wrong, it will simply have been two,
"I think this is a light, and I hope short, reces-
their fists up and are counter-punching. The new
or perhaps four, years premature. What's happening
sion,"
-President Reagan 10/18/81
right took off after Maryland Sen. Paul Sarbanes a
to the right is what happens to most rabidly ideo-
year age, shelled out $500,000 for TV ads to dis-
logical, uncompromising movements. They find
"Forces already are in motion" that will reverse
credit him, earmarked another $500,000 through
they at their best as the "out" group, when they
the recession.
election day.
can carp from ringside.
-Murray Wiedenbaum, then chairman of
When they're in the ring and don't score a quick
Council of Economic Advisers 10/18/81
Unlike the incumbents so treated in 1980, Sar-
KO, their followers-without stomach for the long
banes was ready. He threw his own flurry against
haul-leave the arena and go on to other things.
"1982 and subsequent years will show vigorous,
"the politics of fear and smear." The public seemed
perhaps unprecedented, economic growth."
ready, too, and polls showed little decrease in Sar-
-Treasury Secretary Donald Regan 10/31/81
banes' standing with voters, despite constant new
right negative ads on TV and radio.
Odds'n Ends
"We have laid a firm foundation for economic
recovery in 1982.
Our plan for economic re-
New right PACs are pulling the same stunt
covery is sound."
against Sen. Ted Kennedy (Mass.), Robert Byrd
MILLIONS OF CHILDREN victimized by
President Reagan 11/10/81
(W.Va.), Quentin Burdick (N.D.), George Mitchell
Reagan-GOP budget cuts, Children's Defense Fund
He (President Reagan) believes that the tax cuts
(Maine), John Melcher (Mont.), and other Senate
reports. Group's estimate: 661,000 children lose
already in place will contain the recession and pro-
and House incumbents-without the impact of their
Medicaid protections; 900,000 poor and near-poor
1980 campaigns. The zip is going out of their zap.
youngsters lose free and reduced-cost school
duce a sustained recovery by next spring or early
lunches; 280,000 lose free or reduced-price break-
summer.
-Business Week 11/23/81
Their problem is not lack of money. Funding for
fasts. In addition: 150,000 poor working families
major new right PACs runs well ahead of the 1979-
"At the time this report was prepared
it ap-
on verge of losing eligibility for government-sup-
1980 election cycle. For example, right-wing Sen.
peared that the recession
will
be
by
the
ported day care for their children; 200,000 fewer
over
Jesse Helms's personal political toy, the Congres-
second quarter of 1982
Output and employ-
pregnant women, new mothers, infants and children
sional Club, already has hauled in more than $7
ment are expected to increase slightly in the second
are receiving special federal coupons for milk, juice
million; the National Conservative PAC (NCPAC)
quarter and at a brisk pace through the rest of the
and other diet supplements; one million persons-
more than $6. million.
year."
many of them children-are dumped from food
Part of their problem could be some of their own
-President Reagan, Report to Congress 2/10/82
stamp rolls.
troops-while continuing to kick in cash-just don't
believe the promises with the same blind faith of
FROM CONSERVATIVE commentator Kevin
"Obviously, we are not out of the woods yet.
two years ago, when the election of Reagan and a
Phillips comes this observation: "Over the 60 years
There will still be some difficult days ahead. But at
GOP-controlled Senate was hailed as the advent of
prior to January 1981, six out of seven GOP ad-
least we're heading in the right direction."
a new Eden, right-wing style. Some of this stems
ministrations managed to 'squeeze' liberal economics
-President Reagan 2/18/82
from the peppering many right-wing leaders have
enough to help trigger a recession by their second
been giving President Reagan, whom they spent
year, just in time for the congressional elections.
"We all agree the second quarter will be the turn-
years worshipping and trying to elect.
Inasmuch as Reaganite planners took office either
ing point."
-Murray Wiedenbaum 2/18/82
They're mad at him for all the wrong reasons, but
unaware of or determined to ignore this electoral-
their complaints are widely broadcast among the
economic history, the record now stands at seven
President Reagan urged Republican faithful today
faithful. They crab about some of his key appoint-
out of eight.
(May 14) to stick with his economic program, say-
ing that, despite continued high interest rates and
ments as if he recruited from the Red Army. They
STILL ZOOMING on upward spiral is cost of
record levels of unemployment, there are signs that
beef endlessly about his "palace guard" of advisers
medical care, which soared by 15.1 percent in 1981,
"We've been in the trough; we've been at the bot-
who, they contend, don't put their social issues on
soaking up 9.8 percent of the gross national product.
the front burner.
tom."
-Washington Post 5/15/82
Total health care tab for the year: $287 billion-or
Yet, here is the President pushing all their pet
$1,225 per person in U.S.
"We believe economic recovery is imminent."
-President Reagan 6/3/82
5 Races
Votes
Poof, There Goes the Senate!
"The economy is at a very delicate stage. It's in a
turning zone from low growth and high inflation to
It's conceded from the top that you can play
winner's edge would have been seven-tenths of
high growth and low inflation."
a lot of games with numbers. But a case can be
one percent of the total vote.
-Budget Director David Stockman 6/30/82
made that Republicans now hold numerical con-
That aggregate seven-tenths retained one in-
trol of the U.S. Senate on the strength of only
cumbent and installed four newcomers into the
"You can't turn it around in a hundred days,"
33,191 votes out of 4,556,211 votes cast in five
Senate, clinching a lock on that body by the GOP
said a senior (Reagan Administration) official.
Senate elections-three in 1980, two in 1978.
and solidifying right-wing ideological control. The
-NY Times 7/10/82
Had those figures occurred in one election, the
following chart lists the five close races.
STATE/YEAR
WINNER/LOSER
VOTE MARGIN
TOTAL VOTES CAST
"Clearly, we have bottomed out of the recession.
Things are beginning to turn up."
Idaho 1980
Steve Symms/
4,262
433,140
Frank Church
-Murray Wiedenbaum 7/21/82
North Carolina 1980
John East/
10,411
1,785,717
"Our current economic troubles are the direct re-
Robert Morgan
sult of the mistakes of the past-mistakes we've
Arizona 1980
Barry Goldwater/
9,389
855,343
begun to correct. We've begun to rescue this econ-
Bill Schulz
omy, and the first evidence of recovery has been
New Hamp. 1978
Gordon Humphrey/
4,408
260,268
sighted.
Slowly and surely, we're working our
Tom McIntyre
way back to prosperity.
Virginia 1978
John Warner/
4,721
1,221,743
"It is going to be slow, and it's slow now. But
Andrew Miller
we are in a transition period
and I think we're
going to see an improvement in the second half of
One Vote
Your Vote
Every Vote Counts!
this year.
-President Reagan 7/28/82
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
Copy sent to:-
Tom Winter
Richard Dingman
Howard Phillips
Richard Thompson
Ed Feulner
John Rees
M Stanton Evans
Reed Larsen
John Lofton
F van der Linden
James Wheelan
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
August 30, 1982
Mr. Tom Winter
Human Events
422 First Street, S. E.
Washington, D. C. 20003
Dear Tom:
Our old friend Buz Lukens gave me this packet of informa-
tion.
What do you make of it?
Buz said he had backup material if anyone needs it. He can
be reached at:
1110 Vermont Avenue, Suite 425
Washington, D. C. 20005
(202) 342-0770
or
Ohio State Senate
State House
Columbus, Ohio 43216
(614) 466-8072
I thought you would be interested in it.
Cordially,
Morten
Morton C. Blackwell
Special Assistant to the President
for Public Liaison
DETERMINED TO BE
ADMINISTRATIVE MARKING
BY
E.O. 12958, RW as amended, Sect. 3.3(c)
NARA
DATE
6/24/11
CONFIDENTIAL REPORT: A Trumka led United Mineworkers and its effects
on U.S. Latin American policy
Traditional U.S. foreign policy commitments are seriously threatened
by current organizing of revolutionary groups inside the nation's
labor unions.
The domestic revolutionists, cheerleaders for America's Marxist enemies
in this hemisphere and abroad, are publicly mobilized behind such union
"dissidents" as United Mine Workers (UMWA) presidential candidate Rich
Trumka.
Should Trumka take the UMWA -- or should parallel "dissidents" seize
the steel, postal or Teamsters unions -- a breach would thus occur. in
the traditional, anti-communist foreign policy posture of America's
labor leadership.
Liberal U.S. politicians, often naive in their appraisal of the nation's
treacherous opponents, would receive new backing for their views from
significant labor sources. Faithful U.S. allies in other countries
could be seriously undermined.
The revolutionary groups which give crucial manpower, publicity and
counsel to Trumka and running mate Cecil Roberts -- the Communist Party,
the Institute for Policy Studies, (IPS), and International Socialists
back such enemies of the U.S. as Fidel Castro, Nicaragua's "Sandinistas,"
and other Latin and Carribean Marxists.
The Washington, D.C. based IPS in particular is known as a "think tank,"
lobbying center and training ground for Latin American extremists. Now
these leftists, ordinarily an irrelevant minority in the U.S., seek to
ally with the "muscle" of organized labor.
Trumka, moreover, indicates he knows he "owes" his radical backers.
Trumka loyalist Steve Weber, a UMWA officer, has already invited repre-
sentatives of El Salvador's pro-communist "National Liberation Front"
to address the UMWA District 31 convention.
Of course, other U.S. union leaders have also embarrassed the administra-
tion -- and delighted domestic radicals -- by giving aid to foreign
adversaries. Screen Actors Guild (AFL-CIO) President Ed Asner has publicly
fundraised for Salvadoran radicals.
While Asner's Hollywood union is small -- only 30,000 members -- his
"martyrdom" (CBS-TV recently cancelled Asner's show) gained him support.
Asner has been' invited to give his leftist pitch to conventions of such
large unions as the Communications Workers of America.
-2-
William Winpisinger, self-professed "socialist" president of the
International Association of Machinists (IAM) is another labor asset
of U.S. Castroites. Winpisinger, on his 1981 trip to Cuba: "It
was lovely. I went with seven others, and we met with Ramon Castro,
Fidel's older brother in charge of agriculture."
But capturing the Mine Workers is a particularly important goal for
the radicals. The UMWA is not a member of the AFL-CIO, and is there-
fore not bound by the traditionally strong anti-communist outlook of
that body or its international affiliate, the International Labor Organ-
ization.
Foreign policy concerns of the UMWA are determined exclusively by its
president, and by those who influence him on these questions.
Below, we profile the leftist supporters of Rich Trumka, and the foreign
policy concessions they would exact from him should he win the presidency
of the union with their support.
TRUMKA BACKERS -- THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISTS
The Trotskyite I.S. is one of the most radical groups in the U.S.
today. Sample quotes from its magazine, Changes: "We stand for:
Support for all genuine national liberation movements. Victory to
the African liberation fighters of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa.
Free Puerto Rico
Our job (in the U.S.) is to build a revolutionary
movement to overthrow our own capitalist, imperialist ruling class."
I.S.'s "labor" publication is called Labor Notes, and the group has made
dangerous inroads into such U.S. unions as the Teamsters, Steelworkers
and UMWA. Labor Notes backs Trumka, and has repeatedly given him
prominent coverage (11/23/81: "Slate Formed to Oppose Sam Church in
Miners Election" -- lead story. 1/21/82: "UMWA Presidential Candidate
Rich Trumka Talks About the Challenges Facing the Miners.")
The foreign policy commitments I.S. expects from "its" labor leaders
become clear in the pages of Labor Notes. "Air Force Employees Local
Opposes El Salvador Aid," exclaims this year's May 26 issue. A similar
piece ("Gutting of Land Reform Program Will Test AFL-CIO Policy on El
Salvador") demands unions "educate the American people about the tragedy
of U.S. involvement in El Salvador."
I.S. was a principal backer of socialist Ed Sadlowski's presidential
campaign inside the Steelworkers union, a campaign proven in Supreme
Court testimony to be a recipient of non-union, East Coast-based financial
contributions. Sadlowski has repeatedly appeared on public platforms
in support of U.S. opponents in El Salvador.
Since the failure of Sadlowski in capturing the Steelworkers presidency,
I.S. has geared up its national apparat for Trumka. Trumka's election
would add significant prestige to I.S.'s stated international line.
-3-
TRUMKA BACKERS -- INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES
The leading "think tank" for U.S. leftists is the Washington, D.C.
Institute for Policy Studies. Tied to anti-American guerilla movements
in Latin America and around the world, IPS has made clear its sophisticated
goal: takeover of the Democratic Party and allied labor unions, and
penetration of government agencies. IPS has extensive ties to the Trumka
Mine Workers campaign.
* Edgar James, a board member of the IPS-backed Working Papers magazine
(along with indicted "Weatherman" terrorist Bo Burlingham) is a major
Trumka backer. James was one of the infamous staff radicals who attempted
to take over the UMWA in the early '70s -- before James and cohorts were
fired for their antics by UMWA President Arnold Miller in 1975, they
actually prevailed on Miller to address an IPS convention.
Working Papers prints coalfield coverage by Trumka press liason and
Communist Party ally Paul Nyden.
* In These Times, a "democratic socialist" newspaper published by IPS,
has backed Trumka. Columnist Dave Moberg declares: "Trumka can appeal
to the obviously deep-seated opposition to Church's leadership in the
last contract
and to the desire for forceful, intelligent leadership."
* IPS Fellow Curtis Seltzer, the U.S. left's premier "coal expert," has
backed Trumka, and is the source of Washington Post slanders against
the UMWA's National Bank of Washington.
Regarding IPS's foreign policies, we confine ourselves to reporting those
IPS commitments which concern supporters of pro-U.S. Latin American regimes
and opponents of international terrorism.
* The late Orlando Letellier, cabinet loyalist of Chilean Marxist Salvador
Allende, was an IPS fellow and difector of IPS's Transnational Institute.
His wife, Isabelle, is now an IPS fellow, director of the TNI, and lobbies
the United Nations in behalf of barely-disguised Cuban policies.
*
IPS fellow Saul Landau is a personal friend of Fidel Castro, and
publicly attacked international advocates of Cuba's most famous political
prisoner, Huber Matos: "He was put in jail for correct reasons."
In 1977, IPS's ad hoc "Working Group on Latin America" issued a report
entitled "The Southern Connection." Its simple conclusion, according
to the New York Times: "The first imperative is that the world be
safe for revolution.' The report hailed Cuba and Michael Manley's socialist
Jamaica, and demanded an end to U.S. arms aid to Latin America "being
used in the struggle against internal movements, chiefly urban guerillas."
Two members of the "Working Group" were subsequently appointed to President
Jimmy Carter's National Security Council.
-4-
* IPS and TNI were major advocates of asylum for anti-CIA renegade
Philip Agee, the man whose Counterspy Magazine targets U.S. intelligence
operatives for assasination. Through TNI's auspices, Agee was granted
temporary asylum in Holland.
IPS, the most sophisticated backer of Trumka on foreign policy questions
would probably be his central advisor on these issues. With their existing
influence in the Democratic Party IPS can be expected to wield Trumka
effectively in influential policy circles.
TRUMKA BACKERS -- COMMUNIST PARTY USA
Inevitably, the Communist Party, USA -- a satellite for Soviet outlooks
-- attempts to subordinate U.S. union to "progressive" international
campaigns of Soviet design. The current U.S. recession has provoked a
new Communist offensive in the unions already detected by U.S. labor watchers.
Labor expert Victor Riesel (July 22 column, attached) warns that "Soviet
sleepers" in U.S. unions "are coming out of the closet" to take advantage
of economic hard times. "The new call is for support of the Soviet line,"
Riesel warns, "getting resolutions passed to complicate American strategy
In this connection, it is well known that Paul Nyden, Trumka's unofficial
press liason, is a Communist Party "sleeper." Nyden's wife, Linda, writes
for the Communists' Daily World. When Nyden was fired from his professor's
position at the University of Pittsburgh, two prominent Soviet scholars
officially protested to Pitt trustees.
Also worthy of note: Riesel, in his column on the Soviets, quotes a
blast from United Autoworkers president Doug Fraser against a Detroit
"radical group
that is dedicated to revolution and wildcat strikes."
The group to which Fraser refers, the Maoist Motor City Labor League,
was formerly headed by John Taylor, now a Trumka backer and attorney
for Miners locals in District 17 of the UMWA.
Taylor previously served as District 17's staff attorney under Trumka
running mate and District vice-president Cecil Robers. Taylor is
credited with bringing an epidemic of anarchic wildcat strikes, praised
by Roberts, to the District 17 fields.
Both the Soviet leaning Nyden and the Maoist Taylor would exercise con-
siderable influence over a Trumka administration. Certainly both would
push Trumka to give propaganda and material support to Latin American
revolutionary movements.
CONCLUSIONS
Our research conclusions: A Trumka victory would place the UMWA in
the hands of the IPS, CPUSA and other supporters of Marxist solutions
for Latin America. UMWA recruitment to their camp would further the
radicals' stated goal of influencing the policies of the Democratic
Party, its nominees and officeholders. Of particular importance would
be the 1984 presidential elections.
-5-
UMWA support for the nation's opponents in this hemisphere would be
of greater significance than previously described actions of Ed Asner
and Machinists Chief Winpisinger. Asner's union membership is small
and specialized; Winpisinger has been consistently isolated by his
radical outbursts, and his Machinists Union is constrained within the
boundaries of the anti-communist AFL-CIO.
Control of the independent and highly-respected UMWA would therefore
be a particular prize for the radicals. Its 160,000 miner members
and their families are an impressive base for lobbying efforts. Union
dues and National Bank related financial resources constitute a
considerable pool of funds thus far unavailable to these forces.
The precedent of a Trumka victory could embolden radicals within other
unions, bringing thousands of other U.S. workers under leadership of
those who oppose stable institutions for the nations of Latin America.
Watch Out for Rich Trumka
Sunday, August 8, 1982
A young, upstart coal miner with a law degree
is struggling to take over one of America's surliest
unions and bring it into the late 20th century
By James Warren
R
ICHARD TRUMKA drives slowly up a
hill called "Bosses Row," recalling his
first encounter with disaster at the coal mines
in the valley below. "Have you ever felt a
dead man's blood?" he asks. "Feel his warm
flesh? Put him in a bag? You don't forget."
Then he points toward two-story houses
that once were management's mansions in
the tiny company town of Nemacolin, his
birthplace and home in southwestern Penn-
sylvania. "Bosses Row" is not Trumka's turf.
He comes from the other side of town, where
you grew up with a sense of boundaries not to
cross, where many a coal miner's kid tries to
scram to the big city as fast as possible.
Trumka left, too. He went first to Penn
State. But he came back every other semester
to work in the coal mines, where two men
died in one week during his freshman year.
The Washington Post
He went on to law school at Villanova, and he
came back every other semester to work in
the mines. And after the Phi Betta Kappa
key and the law degree and two stints as an
attorney in Washington, he came back again.
It was a tribal instinct and a frustration
with the tribe's institution - the United
Mine Workers of America - that drove him
to become a UMW attorney and a trouble-
shooter in Washington and then a member of
the union's executive board from his corner of
Pennsylvania.
Once the nation's largest, surliest union,
the UMW has had little but headaches since
the passing of the days when John L. Lewis
took on anybody, cut deals with anybody, to
press the miners' case; the days when coal
was king. The problems since have been
myriad: dwindling jobs and growing nonunion
mines, deaths in the fields, murder in union
politics, a scandal over a UMW-founded bank
in Washington, to name some.
So at the tender age of 33, pin-striped Rich
Trumka wants to become boss of one of the
Associated Press
roughest bunch of workers in America. He
Richard Trumka
wants to bring coal miners into the era of
years. But the smart money is on Church or
giant corporations gobbling up the mines, of
the kid from nowhere - especially since last
complex legislation and litigation, of trans-
week.
formed energy markets, and of traditional
That's when the voting ended in the
goals he feels have been betrayed. This new-
UMW's presidential nominating process.
fangled kid from nowhere wants the presi-
With the union's 900 locals each picking one
dency of the UMW - and the way things are
candidate, contenders have to win at least 25
going, don't bet against him. If he wins, he
locals to get on the ballot for the final election
will be a totally new kind of American labor
showdown in November. Though the count
leader and the youngest head of any major
won't be completed for a week, the word is
U.S. union.
out that the kid from nowhere did all right, to
Trumka's target is a combative chunk of a
man named Sam Church Jr., who was ap-
put mildly: Trumka reportedly took half or
more of the locals.
Editorials
pointed UMW president three years ago and
Watch out for Rich Trumk
is himself making his first race for a full five-
year term. There are other candidates, in-
cluding Arnold Miller, a former union presi-
dent who went from nationally heralded re-
A maroon gob of saliva and chewing to
former to abused bumbler in a few short
bacco spouts from the mouth of Sam Church
and descends into a waste basket. He bows
his massive, bearded head for 30 seconds,
James Warren is a labor and law re-
then raises it.
porter for The Chicago Sun-Times.
See UMW, C5, Col. 1
ID
Senators' answers complied by Washington
UMW, From C1
The president of the UMW, all 230 pounds
Watch Out for Rich Trum
of him, has just been offered a prospective,
partial description of himself. It goes like this:
"Huge, generally amiable, resembles a
glowering bear, sings union songs, likes to spit
A young, upstart miner with a law degree is tryi
Red Man chewing tobacco. into a waste bas-
ket, largely ineffective as union vice president
that money and incumbency and red-baiting
tions. He'll need all the help he can get fre
in areas of responsibility (organizing and
are no sure tickets to success either.
both retired and active miners (245,000
safety), adeptly ran union's convention as
Nor, evidently, is the support of the powers
whom are eligible to vote), and chatting W
president in 1979, clobbered staffer Rick
that be, which Church has. The 16 million-
those who do know him or have listened
Bank for allegedly leaking a story to Jack An-
member AFL-CIO and the coal companies
him talk suggests why he's been scori
derson, struck secretary-treasurer Bill Essel-
are both inclined toward him.
points with both groups.
styn, fought safety director Everett Acord on
Says an AFL-CIO official of the 45-year-
Start with the elderly, with 72-year-
the street outside the Washington, D.C.,
old Church: "He may not be a super-sophisti-
Biondi Vecchiolla, who heads à UMW p
headquarters, and is thus deemed a bully by
cate, but he's a solid trade unionist, and
sioners' group in Trumka's neck of the Per
some."
everybody from [AFL-CIO president] Lane
sylvania woods. Trumka, it turns out, 1
"Well," says Church with a grin, a pause,
Kirkland on down likes him. He's brought a
been running what amounts to his own fi
and a delicate grab for his pouch of Red Man,
certain stability to the union, as well as sup-
legal clinic there for anyone affiliated W
"I don't consider myself a bully. But the rest
port of our programs."
the union.
of that doesn't bother me too much."
Church surely has had some pluses. He has,
"He helped me get my black lung bei
Church clearly is not one to take challenges
for example, successfully fought Reagan ad-
fits," Vecchiolla says. "Everybody with pro
lightly. He has not been doing so in the case
ministration moves to freeze mine inspector
lems he'd help. He'd come to their house,
of Rich Trumka, who's been charging Church
hiring and to tighten eligibility requirements
ten to us explain our problems all eveni
with being inept, out of touch with the times,
for federal black lung benefits.
and help us fill out our forms. A lot of th
beholden to outside forces and a lot else.
But he also suffered a humiliating setback
attorneys here were socking our people W
Church will imply to you that Trumka is
negotiating the 1981 national coal contract.
big fees. Rich took these cases himself a
part of a left-wing, near-commie plot against
He reached a tentative accord with the com-
did it for nothing. He never turned any of (
him. He says a columnist recently suggested
panies and then saw himself vilified as "Sell-
people down."
that the Soviets, stung by their problems in
out Sam" by members who overwhelmingly
Or, on a rainy night in Canton, III., listen
Poland, have told "the few thousand commu-
rejected the agreement. After a 72-day strike,
Trumka, clad in gray suit, white shirt a
nists within most labor organizations" here to
the final pact brought heftier wage and bene-
burgundy pin-dot necktie, address a gath
"step up their activities to create problems to
fit hikes, but labor lawyers believe it also fur-
ing of 150, primarily pensioners.
sort of offset what's happening to the labor
ther opened the door to more nonunion
He starts with tragedies that bind the g
unions there." Does he really buy that? "I
operations and emasculation of a multiem-
erations, with memories of the more th
think he could very possibly be right,"
ployer pension plan.
100,000 miners who have died in accidents
Church says.
Beyond this, Church has been tarnished by
this century: "I've worked as a deep miner
Church also has certain benefits of incum-
involvement with the UMW-founded Na-
seven years. I laid track, laid pipe, ran a sh
bency. It's an intriguing coincidence, for ex-
tional Bank of Washington, the capital's
tle car, ran the continuous miner, was a ti
ample, that he's had Trumka tromping regu-
third-largest bank, whose suspect loan prac-
berman and roof, bolter. I witnessed des
larly for over a year to Oklahoma - far from
tices prompted the government to end union
and injury. One of my best friends was
the main UMW campaign circuits in Appala-
control. While Church staunchly denies.
helper on the continuous miner and was in
chia and the Midwest - to handle a bitter
wrongdoing, the episode has raised questions
accident and was killed before my eyes."
UMW strike out there. Church's men will tell
in some people's minds, and Rich Trumka
He goes on to bemoan UMW probler
you that Trumka's talents are needed in that
tries his best not to let them forget it. (One of
says he won't cooperate with the compan
fight between 160 UMW workers and Gar-
Church's two campaign co-chairmen also
like Church, discusses pension troubl
land Coal and Mining. Oh, sure, it also makes
happens to be a man who was once convicted
health and safety issues, the share of c
fund raising harder for the kid.
of misusing the union's funds.)
from nonunion mines growing from 25 to
No question, Church has a large leg up on
To the coal companies, Church is a known
percent in 10 years. There's loud applau
money. Not long ago, for example, Church
quantity and, at least in bargaining with
and a pensioner with a cane is touched: T
held a $200-a-ticket cocktail party at Wash-
them, relatively moderate. As for Trumka,
kid seems a lot smarter than "that fat fell
ington's Sheraton Carlton Hotel, with cash
they don't really know quite what to make of
Church," he says.
coming from some unusual places, including
him.
That's no small gain for Trumka, sir
other unions. The United Food and Commer-
"Miners are a naturally dissatisfied lot, and
pensioners traditionally are counted in 1
cial Workers, for one, forked over a check for
despite what the Church people may think,
column of the incumbent.
$5,600.
this will be a horse race," says a concerned
Nearby stands a rugged, handsome you
The same day Trumka was having a $4-a--
top management source.
man in down jacket and blue jeans. He's a
ticket fund-raiser at a Croatian fraternal hall
You can confirm that by listening to
year-old high-school graduate named Darr
in Pennsylvania. That's his usual modus
Charles Heflin, a stout, 43-year-old miner
McCombs who'll earn $40,000 this year WOI
operandi: traveling in rented campers, often
doffing a baseball cap as he entered a Carrier
ing above ground at one of the strip min
covering 1,000 miles in a weekend, speaking
Mills, III., high school to hear Trumka talk in
that increasingly dominate America's a
to coal miners at schools or mine entrances or
the spring. "Well, it's like this," he said. "I've
fields. McCombs, too, is impressed.
VFW halls, accepting small donations from
never heard or seen this man. But I do know
"He speaks real well and stressed
them. He refuses to take cash from anybody
one thing. If you've got a stove and it ain't
else.
givin' out no heat, you gotta get another one."
things that are important to young peop
like me, like safety," he says.
Church's advantages, though, don't seem to
Watch out for Rich Trumka.
Young people like him are also critical
have dented Trumka's armor so far, as indi-
Trumka. Young people like him have be
cated by the nomination voting. While get-
jumping into coal miners' ranks in growi
ting local nominations doesn't mean you au-
Trumka's task is not merely articulating
numbers, particularly since the 1970s ener
tomatically win final elections, it does tell you
miner dissatisfaction but bridging genera-
crisis made coal a prized commodity again.
taff writer Nicholas D. Kristof with assistance from staff researcher Maralee Schwartz. Design by Gall this cianal
U.S. Supreme Court law clerks, to the UMW.
a
One who came was Rich Trumka.
Miller turned out to be a leader woefully
lacking in administrative skills and ridden
to take over the UMW
with anxiety - some say paranoia - about
conspiracies being hatched around him. He
even had the door from his personal secre-
1965 a mere 11.7 percent of the union's mem-
tary's office removed. Before long the newly
bership was 34 years old or younger. Today,
attracted intellectuals started leaving, one by
52.7 percent is 34 or younger.
one. But not Trumka.
"The younger miner is in many instances
A former member of the Miller inner circle,
newly married, in the process of buying a
now practicing law in Washington, recalls:
house," says Trumka back in his camper.
"Rich was different from the rest of us. We
"They're a lot more educated in some aspects
always knew we had different choices, always
than the older men. We have miners with
knew we could leave. It was different with
master's degrees in business, engineering and
Rich. He always had one foot in the mines.'
teaching. The older miners were required to
fight to get a union in. The newer miners
Miller was reelected in 1977, but the end
haven't had that same struggle. Their fights
was near for him. Among other things, his
are shifting into different areas. They're
health deteriorated, and in 1979 he quit.
forced to battle through the grievance proce-
Church, then a vice president and onetime
dure, through the courts, through legislation."
Boyle ally, was appointed Miller's replace-
ment.
In the camper he's surrounded by this new
kind of union. The seven staffers and running
Trumka served the early Church adminis-
mates on this trip are all miners, nearly all
tration in Washington. He was versatile, and
college educated and with one exception
they knew it. Though young, he was savvy
(John Banovic, head of the union's 20,000-
enough to be a political troubleshooter in the
member Illinois district), 35 or younger.
fields and a crack litigator in court. Church
men could badmouth the "egghead" Eastern
A couple, like Trumka's vice presidential
liberals Miller had brought in - the left-wing
running mate, Cecil Roberts, are Vietnam
schemers Church sees - but not Trumka.
veterans, and they get particularly angry with
any red-baiting by Church people. At one
Their miner-lawyer hybrid, however, be-
steamy, emotional meeting at a Du Quoin,
came frustrated. A friend recalls Trumka in
III., VFW Hall, Roberts shouts, "The only
his office, for example, cursing the union for
communist I ever saw had black pajamas, and
not using the law to its advantage. He wanted
he tried to kill me and I tried to kill him!"
to sue the companies more, especially on
Watch out for Rich Trumka's guys.
safety matters, rather than always be on the
defensive.
"I thought our position was foolhardy,'
Trumka says.
Rich Trumka didn't start out to be in
union politics. His mother recalls him sitting
He also felt Church was limited, didn't like
near the Monongahela River with her father,
his violent streak, and objected to his reliance
spending hours listening to accounts of the
on aides - his publicist, his key outside con-
union's history. In 8th grade Rich asked his
sultant and fund-raiser - who weren't union
grandfather how to best devote himself to
members.
miners. Politics? No, said his grandfather.
It wasn't long before he concluded that to
Become a lawyer.
make a real difference, to bring the UMW
When he did, Trumka joined the UMW
into the new era he sees, he had to be an
staff in Washington, at a time when the mine
elected official himself. So Rich Trumka went
workers were recovering from the turmoil
home again to the minés of southwest Penn-
that followed the 1963 ascent of W. A.
sylvania, and he ran for his district's seat to
"Tony" Boyle to the UMW presidency. Boyle
the union executive board. He was the under-
had blatantly misused union funds and, run-
dog - and he won.
nintg as a convicted felon in 1968, arranged
the murder of a reform-minded opponent, Jo-
Now he's running again, with far more at
seph "Jock" Yablonski, and Yablonski's wife
stake, and he's still the underdog. He's very
and daughter.
young, up against the established machine,
When the government ordered a new elec-
short on funds, often exhausted as his rented
tion, Boyle was defeated by Arnold Miller
campaign camper rumbles down pitch-dark
and was soon sent to federal prison for order-
country roads with a dying alternator and
ing the Yablonski killings.
failing lights.
A retired miner, Miller galvanized two
Is it all worth it? With most of his cam-
separate forces spreading about the coal
paign crew asleep, he muses about the time,
fields - one for greater democracy, one for
the effort, the obstacles, his weariness, his
legislation to compensate black lung victims.
girlfriend, his hopes to marry and settle
These drives lured a flock of activists, includ-
down. But he keeps heading for the next stop,
ing VISTA volunteers, college professors,
the next talk, the next vote, in November.
journalists, former seminarians and recent
Watch out for Rich Trumka.
Tuesday, August 10, 1982
The State Journal-Register Springfield. Illinois
UMW lobbyist blames
firing on union politics
Longtime United Mine
Workers lobbyist Jerry
"I decided to
Hawkins said Monday he was
fired because of an internal
support Rich
union political battle.
Trumka for
Hawkins, 38, of Du Quoin
said UMW President Sam
president last year
Church ordered him fired
Friday because he supports
and that is why
Church's opponent in the No-
Church fired me,"
vember election for the
UMW International presi-
Jerry Hawkins
dency.
said. "I don't hold
"I decided to support Rich
Trumka for president last
any animosity
year and that is why Church
fired me," Hawkins said. "I
toward Church,
don't hold any animosity to-
he's just not smart
ward Church, he's just not
smart enough to do the job."
enough to do the
A spokesman for Church
in Washington said Hawkins
job."
was fired because he has
been campaigning for county
tion at the time, and he pre-
commissioner in Perry
viously had told the secre-
County instead of doing his
tary not to help him with
union job.
political chores on union
The firing "has nothing to
time.
do with union politics," said
Although he said he was
spokesman Arnell Church,
not familiar with the two
who is not related to the
investigations, Arnell Church
UMW president.
said the Incident with the
"He has been campaigning
secretary "substantially con-
full-time for commissioner in
firms" the union's allega-
Perry County. We need all
tions against Hawkins.
the help we can get in fight-
ing Reaganomics and that's a
Hawkins said the firing
will weaken the union's abil-
full-time job."
Hawkins said Sam Church
ity to fight acid rain regula-
sent two teams of union in-
tions now being discussed in
vestigators to Illinois to "try
Congress, and he predicted it
aiso will hurt Church's
to find something on me" at
a cost of $15,000. The first
chances of getting votes in
Illinois.
team audited all of his ex-
pense account records for
John Banovic, the presi-
the eight years he has served
dent of the UMW district that
as a lobbyist, Hawkins said,
covers Illinois, is running on
and found no Irregularities.
Trumka's ticket as a candi-
A second team attempted
date for international secre-
to determine whether he was
tary-treasurer.
campaigning for the county
Hawkins will return to
job when he was supposed to
work as an underground
be working for the union.
miner next week at the Pea-
Hawkins said it found that
body Baldwin Mine near
his secretary "typed a couple
Marissa. He worked In un- .
of thank-you notes to people
dergound mines for four
who put up my vard signs."
years before assuming the
TO: FRIENDS AND MEMBERS OF THE UMWA
FROM: INTELLICO, INC.
SUBJECT: RADICAL AND REVOLUTIONARY BACKERS
OF TRUMKA-ROBERTS CAMPAIGN
The Trumka-Roberts takeover effort inside the United
Mineworkers of America is part of a dangerous, radical
campaign to make the American labor movement an "Italy"-
modelled communist force.
Victory of this campaign could significantly
weaken U.S. coalfield production performance, and under-
mine the perceived reliability of the U.S. coal industry
in domestic and foreign markets.
Key Trumka-Roberts supporters include the Communist
Party U.S.A., the Socialist Workers Party, the Maoist
Revolutionary Communist Party and the International So-
cialists. These groups are also active in, among others,
the steel, Teamsters and postal unions, and hope a
Trumka victory will further similar aims in these unions.
The radicals provide Trumka's slate free publicity, and
feed pro-Trumka propaganda to sympathetic national press.
They stand ready to fundraise for Trumka among sympathetic
"limousine liberals" and fellow travellers on both coasts.
Trumka and Roberts may in part be dupes of these
forces. The candidates are opportunists, and appreciate
the campaign manpower provided by revolutionaries and
Marxists in their corner.
But the revolutionists would undoubtedly fill key
staff positions in a Trumka-run UMWA. Their goal is to
use 180,000 union miners as a force for radical and
international causes.
An early signal of this goal: Trumka backer Steve
Weber, International Executive Board member from UMWA
District 31, invited a speaker from El Salvador's pro-
communist National Liberation Front to address a
District 31 convention. (The NLF, like the Nicaraguan
Sandinistas, support expropriation of American busi-
nesses in Central and Latin America.)
Trumka gives every indication that he knows he "owes"
his radical supporters should he win. His constant re-
ferences to using the union for "broader political and
social issues among its members" is the relevant signal.
Should Trumka win, a major push would be made for
UMWA endorsement of anti-American guerillas in Central
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America. U.S. foreign policy goals in that region could
be seriously undermined.
There is a well-known precedent for the current
radical drive inside the UMWA. In the late 1960's and
early '70's, radical SDS veterans and government "poverty"
operatives seized staff positions within the union.
Before they were finally fired in 1975, these men --
with Rich Trumka as their staff ally -- created coal-
field chaos.
These radical veterans see the Trumka-Roberts cam-
paign 23 the culmination of their decade-long struggle
to take over the union.
This fact sheet, prepared through two months of
on-the-ground investigation, phone interviews, and study
of union archives, is for use of dedicated UMWA members
and friends of the union. It is the distillation of
a larger report previously submitted, and details the
radical organizations supporting the Trumka-Roberts
campaign.
COMMUNIST PARTY U.S.A.
The Communist Party U.S.A. has several assets in the
Trumka camp which the Party hopes will give it a coalfield
presence unmatched since the 1920's.
Trumka's unofficial press liason, Paul Nyden, is
an active Communist Party supporter according to testi-
mony of leading Trumka supporters (Edgar James interview,
5/6/82). Nyden's wife, Linda, writes for the Communists'
newspaper, the Daily World, and enthuses that "most miners
in the world are socialists" (eg. Poland, Chile, Yugoslavia).
Nyden held a strategy session with Trumka in Beckley,
West Virginia, on June 18 and has handled such assign-
ments as publicizing Kentucky locals' support for Trumka-
Roberts to national press he has cultivated. Nyden is
also employed by the Charleston Gazette, his "cover" for
feeding pro-Trumka stories to "fellow reporters."
Fired from his professor's position at the University
of Pittsburgh (for incompetence) in 1978, CP supporter
Nyden became an international revolutionary cause celèbre.
Two leading professors from the Soviet Union denounced his
firing as a violation of the Helskinki accords, while
such radical U.S. scholars as Betram Gross told Pitt
trustees that "Marxists (like Nyden) are needed on campus."
Nyden, a leading Angela Davis supporter, was expelled from
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the 1977 UMWA convention under resolutions prohibiting
communist and radical participation.
Other entry points into the Trumka campaign for the
Communist Party are the Highlander Center and the
ultraleft Council on Southern Mountains (CSM). The CSM
has publicly endorsed the Communist-linked "Citizens for
Social and Economic Justice" and also prints Paul Nyden's
coal coverage in its journal, Mountain Life and Work.
CSM actively promotes efforts of UMWA dissident and
Trumka backer Bill Lamb, and helped sue the union's pen-
sion fund in 1978. CSM chief Dan Hendrickson makes his
stand clear: "Sam Church is still not as aware as Trumka,
and is less apt to act on any of his convictions than
Trumka.'
=
Highlander is an Appalachian "left" resource center
which publicly maintains leadership ties with the Commu-
nist-founded National Lawyers Guild and the All-African
People's Revolutionary Party. Highlander trainee Janet
Gamble of the Southern Appalachian Labor School trained
Cecil Roberts, and remains his acknowledged mentor.
Gamble similarly plugs in to the dissident-training
"Labor Studies program" of the West Virginia university
system, a program featuring such leaders as former
SDS "regional traveller" Tom Bell.
The Communist Party's principal objective is promo-
tion of Eastbloc economic advancement. The Party's
Daily World therefore cheered the crushing of Polish
miners by Soviet-directed troops: Cheap Polish coal
means U.S. coal won't breach European and Eastbloc
markets.
INTERNATIONAL SOCIALISTS
The Trotskyite I.S. is one of the most radical groups
in the U.S. today. Sample quotes from its magazine,
Changes: "We stand for: support for all genuine national
liberation movements. Victory to the African liberation
fighters of Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa. Free
Puerto Rico
...
Our job (in the U.S.) is to build a re-
volutionary movement to overthrow our own capitalist, im-
perialist working class.' 11
I.S.'s "labor" publication is called Labor Notes, and
the group has made dangerous inroads into such U.S. unions
as the Teamsters, Steelworkers, and UMWA. Labor Notes
backs Trumka, and has repeatedly given him prominent
coverage (11/23/81: "Slate Formed to Oppose Sam Church
in Miners Elections" - lead story. 1/21/82: "UMWA
(more)
-- 4
Presidential Candidate RICH TRUMKA Talks About the
Challenges Facing the Miners.")
There are recent, troubling indications of the kinds
of commitments I.S. expects from "its" labor leaders.
I.S. Teamster activist Mel Packer, who is publicly linked
with leading Trumka backer Bill Lamb, recently was the
guest of Khomeini radicals in Iran. (Lamb was a former mem-
ber of UMWA's International Executive Board, and was ex-
pelled, with prejudice, from the board.)
I.S. is particularly active in UMWA's District 6, and
its Labor Notes conferences receive backing from the Coun-
cil of Southern Mountains. I.S. was the principal backer
of socialist Ed Sadlowski's presidential campaign inside
the Steelworkers union, a campaign proven in Supreme
Court testimony to be the recipient of non-union, East
Coast-based financial contributions.
THE "WILDCAT LEFT"
Concentrated in Districts 17 and 29 of the UMWA, these
loosely-affiliated (often Maoist) groups instigated de-
structive and chaotic anti-union wildcats in 1977-78. The
leading such group was the Right to Strike Committee, a
front for the extremist Revolutionary Communist Party.
A leading pro-wildcat activist is John Taylor,
UMWA's District 17 attorney in that period under district
vice-president Cecil Roberts. Taylor's outlook is
illustrative of what national UMWA staff would be like
should Roberts win this fall.
Taylor came from Detroit, where he had infilatrated
the United Auto Workers as a Marxist-Leninist organizer.
As Taylor boasts in the book, Detroit, I Do Mind Dying:
"Up front, let me say that I am presently a member of the
Motor City Labor League, a Marxist-Leninist revolutionary
group 11 Taylor's Maoist cell provoked such destructive
wildcats at Detroit plants that UAW President Doug
Fraser personally denounced Taylor.
Taylor, still active as an attorney for several
District 17 locals, is known to support Trumka-Roberts in
'82.
SOCIALIST WORKERS PARTY
Perhaps the most extreme group on the U.S. left,
the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party runs U.S. sup-
port activities for the ànti-American partisans of El
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Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala. SWP also backs gay
rights and revolution for the United States.
Like all left sects with chapters in Appalachia,
the SWP is backing Trumka -Roberts. Bill Havland, SWP
candidate for Congress from Charleston, West Virginia,
declares: "I think there's a general disappointment
in Church's leadership
I'm personally backing
Trumka at this point."
INSTITUTE FOR POLICY STUDIES
The most prominent anti-capitalist "think tank" in
the United States, the Washington, D.C.-based IPS is
officially affiliated with the anti-American Transna-
tional Institue of Amsterdam. Transnational is the
most prominent resource base globally for revolutionary
activists. Through such IPS luminaries as leftist
MIT professor Noam Chomsky, the Institute maintains
contact with Italian and Palestinian terrorist groups.
IPS fellow and Castro crony Saul Landau on the case
of Huber Matos, Cuba's most-celebrated political
prisoner: "He was put in jail for correct reasons."
The IPS-linked Working Papers magazine is advised
by indicted "Weatherman" riot organizer Bo Burlingham,
and by Weatherman and gay rights leader Andrew Kopkind.
Trumka supporters abound within IPS, which has
stated its goal to be takeover and transformation of
the U.S. Democratic Party. The connections to the
UMWA: (1) Fired UMWA staffer Edgar James, a Trumka
backer and member of the clique which disrupted the
union in the early 'ZO's, is an unofficial adviser
to Working Papers; (2) IPS fellow Curtis Seltzer, the
U.S. left's premier "coal expert," has backed Trumka
and is the source of slanders in the Washington Post
against the UMWA's National Bank of Washington; (3)
Working Papers prints coalfield news stories by Paul
Nyden.
In These Times, the IPS-published newspaper of
American "democratic socialism," is also on the Trumka
bandwagon with a recent Dave Moberg piece. Moberg,
who boasts privately that supporters of Steelworker
socialist Ed Sadlowski and poised to back Trumka,
writes: "Trumka can appeal to the obviously deep-
seated opposition to Church's leadership in the last
contract
... and to the desire for forceful, intelli-
gent leadership."