UAW Members Pitch in to Help
Local 848 officers from Vought helped gather supplies for Katrina victims on Septempber 8 & 9
The full extent of Local 848 members' participation in hurricane relief activities may never be known, but some of our worthwhile efforts are being revealed. All the Vought members participated as trucks were filled in and outside their workplaces. Lockheed members are working to relieve a UAW local that was actually in the hurricane's path. Trustee Chairperson Dianne White praises President James Splawn for his efforts to gather supplies, and he returns the compliment to Sister White. Both of them have been trying to help the families of UAW members and other hurricane victims.
The national UAW site, www.uaw.org, has a list of ways to help. They quote International President Ron Gettelfinger: “In these difficult economic times, many people are in need. Those of us who are in a position to help should do so by investing our time and money in the communities where we work and live.”
The Texas AFL-CIO has launched a new toll-free
number to field inquiries from union members displaced to Texas by Hurricane
Katrina. The number is 888-8AFLCIO. The number is a complement to the national
AFL-CIO's hotline at
877-AFL-CIO9.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney went to Houston for a firsthand look at the treatment of evacuees. He met with local union leaders to help coordinate their activities. Some Central Labor Councils, including our Dallas Council, have full-time workers helping hurricane victims get their lives back together. Sweeney and other union leaders have expressed dissatisfaction with the federal government's response. Unionists are particularly angry because the Bush Administration quickly suspended "prevailing wage" rules in the devastated area. The result will be lower pay for construction jobs.