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Departments Ohio Ohio machinists fight to protect their pensions That was a theme that was repeated over and over by the machinists manning the informational picket at the IAM rally for justice. “We’ve canceled our vacation and just stopped buying anything that isn’t a major necessity,” stated Bob, who’d also worked at CCIT for more than two decades. “I’d planned on taking my pension. It’s getting harder and harder to work in these cold temperatures and we wanted to travel. These days it’s all about greed and money. These bankers don’t care about anyone but themselves!” Workers at CCIT have had a positive, decent relationship with their employer and, as members of the Machinist’s Union, have looked forward to retiring with a decent, livable pension. That was true for over 40 years, but things have changed. Three years ago, a banker, Tim Reilly, bought the plant, promising to stand by the union contract, continue to negotiate fairly and to continue the good working relationship union/company had built over the years. Of course, with the many revelations of bankers' misconduct leading to the massive economic collapse, it has become fairly apparent that the old adage that you’ll always know when bankers are lying, because their lips are moving, appears to apply to CCIT. When the IAM/CCIT contract expired this past November, Reilly demanded the union give up its health care and pensions, and has refused to negotiate in good faith. “He’s trying to force us to strike, so that he can run scabs in and break our union,” said Jeff Closson, a 20 year CCIT worker. “He may not know it yet, but he’ll find out that we have solidarity on our side. We do not plan on losing our pensions and health care. We fought too long and too hard to give up!” According to Paul Santilli, CCIT is following the official corporate playbook. “Companies found that they could dump worker’s pensions, and force the public to pick up costs. Bush helped the steel companies steal USW pensions and, just in Lorain and Stark counties (Ohio), we found that the theft of pensions is costing those counties over $50 million each. The theft of worker’s pensions and health care is one of the causes of the economic crisis facing cities, counties and states, as the public picks up basic necessities for these folks.” The Steelworker’s Union (USW) and its retiree organization, SOAR (Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees) is working with Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown and Congressman Dennis Kucinich to set up Congressional Field Hearings on this issue in the near future. “We have some real leverage,” according to IAM Communications rep, John Carr. “CCIT workers repair all the school buses in the central Ohio area and they do a major part of ODOT (Dept. of Transportation) work for the state. I don’t think the public supports the theft of pensions and health care from hard workings families, and they’ll let them know that!” --------------- Bruce Bostick is the Free Press labor columnist. |
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Photos are more evidence that Attorney General woman's sexual harassment complaint was bogus No Child Left Behind scam: Purchase orders bypass Columbus School Board approval to funnel millions of federal dollars to questionable vendors Closed Council meetings = Better informed public: Absurd “less is more” rationale for Issue 12 from the Columbus Dispatch Ohioans Fight to Reform Factory Farms State officials used a flawed investigation report to force Attorney General Marc Dann from office Suburban Ohio man resists foreclosure with direct action The return of Ken Blackwell: Mad Hatter back with the Tea Party in Ohio Activist jailed at Sodexo rally Hypocrisy in the Dispatch's criticism of Eric Brown's appointment as Chief Justice Progressive blunt "Tea-Baggers" attack on Rep. Kilroy! Worthington school officials feel the heat: some community members oppose the teaching of global warming science The American Middle Class is being eroded by corporate greed Ohio jobs march hits Wall Street greed Columbus rally demands health care now! Ohio machinists fight to protect their pensions All Sides of the Story Needed in Judging Sexual-Harassment Complaints Read Ohio Articles by Year: |
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