The Magazine for UAW Members and Their Families Build/Buyusa Keep Communities Strong Through Consumer Action
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September - October 2017 The magazine for UAW members and their families Build/BuyUSA Keep Communities Strong Through Consumer Action The “Buy American” movement drive the legislation and regulations Buy it Here isn’t new, but it looks different of that country. In the U.S., we have Taking action is about more than from how it did in the 1970s. Back it backward: our “industrial policy” just political engagement; we can then there were almost 20 million reveals itself after tax subsidies have do so many things in our daily lives. workers making goods in factories been awarded and the decisions Shopping is one example. We look across the country. These workers are already made regarding trade, at products for good value, but made the clothes we wore, the the environment, job training, measuring that value is more than goods we bought for our homes, investment in infrastructure and just looking at the sticker price. As the televisions we watched, and education. We give companies consumers, make your voice heard by the toys our children enjoyed. We economic subsidies to build factories encouraging and commending stores shopped for and purchased these that pay our workers less than what for carrying union/USA products. goods at stores in our communities taxpayers are giving the companies Each purchase is a choice. Use the — maybe even down the block in our to locate here. power of your wallet to support neighborhood. Now, there are only Our country’s agenda should lift good-paying jobs. When you shop, 12.3 million workers making goods in everyone, not make it easier to consider these categories of goods: factories. Neighborhood stores have Imported, Made by disappeared and our communities Nonunion Labor: have changed because we shop This is the majority of consumer online or drive to shopping centers to Bringing back goods that are imported into the U.S. buy stuff that was made thousands of These goods are sometimes cheaper, miles away — most likely by nonunion manufacturing jobs but often come with a price. Were workers who don’t have a voice in won’t be easy, but the workers who made it exploited? their workplace. we have to fight for Are there serious health and safety issues at the worksite? Build it Here our children’s and In 2017, we can’t just declare, “Buy Imported, Made by American!” because after decades grandchildren’s Union Labor: of anti-worker/pro-corporate profit Solidarity is global. In fact, the UAW policies, there’s not much made here future, and rebuild our vehicle guide includes cars made by anymore. We know making products communities that have UAW members and union brothers here builds stronger communities and sisters who are part of Unifor in because the last 30 years have lost good manufacturing Canada. But not all unions are free taught us about the importance jobs. and independent and a global union of a strong manufacturing base in label is meaningful only if those the U.S. According to a 2016 report workers truly have a seat at the by the Manufacturers Alliance table. for Productivity and Innovation, race to the bottom. This is our Made in America by one new full-time job created in government and we need to hold Nonunion Labor: manufacturing leads to three or lawmakers accountable when they It’s great that a company is building more full-time jobs in related non- don’t support policies that help it here and creating jobs. But we manufacturing industries. Bringing working families or when they favor have to go deeper to distinguish that back manufacturing jobs won’t be trade deals that exploit workers in “USA made” products are made by easy, but we have to fight for our other countries. And as we demand nonunion workers and we have to call children and grandchildren’s future, that manufacturing jobs be created out the employers who are socially and rebuild our communities that here, we have to remain mindful irresponsible. If a company engages have lost good manufacturing jobs. that not all jobs are equal. Our goal in anti-union campaigns, breaks We also need to develop a strong should be well-paying and safe jobs environmental laws, scoffs at safety industrial policy in this country. where the workers have a seat at the regulations, or takes advantage of Most developed countries have well- table. the community with no regard for thought out industrial policies that the people who’ve been living there, 2 SOLIDARITY September - October 2017 If a company engages in anti-union campaigns, breaks environmental laws, scoffs at safety regulations, or takes advantage of the community with no regard for the people who’ve been living there, there is no benefit to buying its “USA-made” products. there is no benefit to buying its flag waving. By working together, A Wagon Loaded “USA-made” products. our actions and choices can with History: Page 12 Made in America by bring change. Let’s have 2017 be DENN PIETRO PHOTO: Union Labor: the year that we get this right. Though union density in the Build/BuyUSA: Build it here, so private sector is 6.4 percent, we can buy it here. labor unions are among the 4 PRO-Member most ardent advocates for keeping jobs in the U.S. Through A Blueprint: How to collective bargaining, workers Get Our Jobs Back have a voice in their working conditions and are mindful of 6 Committee Spotlight safety on the job. Collective Union Label: What You bargaining lifts wages not only Buy Matters! for the workers covered by the contract, but also those in the area and industry. 8 Our Vehicles, Our Jobs Free trade agreements have 2018 UAW Union-Built allowed corporations to exploit Vehicles List workers in other countries at our expense in return for cheap 14 COVER STORY goods and higher profits. Asking Ammo: A Look at the people to “Buy American” makes Union Difference no sense unless there are things to buy. Furthermore, asking people to “Buy American” makes 18 Marching Across no sense if the corporation the U.S.A. treats its workers unfairly, Labor Day 2017: This is Us engages in despicable business practices, and pays low wages with no benefits. We can 22 Black Lake reward good employers with A Wonderful Setting for our purchasing power while a Wedding investing in a future for the next generation. Bringing strong, well-paid and PLUS sustainable manufacturing jobs 20 Legislative Update to the United States can happen if we demand it. We can have 24 Sportsmen’s Alliance the future we want, but it won’t 28 Union Plus happen through grandstanding or COVER ILLUSTRATION BY MATTHEW WILLIAMS SOLIDARITY September - October 2017 3 Why the Jobs Left and How to Get Them Back: A Blueprint for the Future The United States has lost over 5 million manufacturing jobs since 2000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists and policy makers give multiple reasons for this steep drop in jobs that have sustained families for decades. Some factors — like the increase in automation and productivity — are inevitable. Other factors, however, are not. Offshoring of jobs does not have to be the new normal. Bringing strong, well-paid and sustainable manufacturing jobs to the United States can happen if we demand it. But we must demand it with specificity. The cry of “Build it here!” often disguises that the jobs we are bringing to our country are either low paying or the price we pay in subsidies to lure them here is too steep. What can we do today? We can start by having a common understanding of how we got here. The four reasons listed below explain our dire situation, but they also contain the seeds of how to build a better future for our communities. Productivity and Automation American manufacturing workers get better at their jobs all the time. Since 1980, the manufacturing sector has more than doubled its output, while shedding one-third of its jobs. Simply put, American manufacturing is so efficient with robots and lean manufacturing that companies make more with fewer workers. Innovation is often driven by the workers on the line who contribute to the overall success of the company. These workers should be rewarded for working harder and smarter. Efficiencies translate into profits 4 SOLIDARITY September - October 2017 and too often those are not shared with those who produced the results for corporations. Lack of Industrial Policy Most developed countries have well-thought out industrial policies that then drive the legislation and regulations of the nation. In this way, decisions about how much to invest in public education are measured against where the goals of the nation are when it comes to the kind of jobs they want to create in the future. Here in the U.S., we have it backward: Our “industrial policy” is a default position that reveals itself only after the decisions are made regarding trade, the environment, tax subsidies, job training, investment in infrastructure, education, etc. What does it say about our nation when we give companies economic subsidies to build factories that will pay our citizens less than what taxpayers are giving the companies to locate here? A strong industrial policy matters because it’s a roadmap to our future: the next generation of jobs, the opportunities for our children and the independence of we can’t do it better. In fact, can develop trade policies where Just because countless decisions are made everyone benefits. globalization is by elected officials that affect Decline in Union Density outcomes in our economy.