Oct.-Nov.-Dec. 2015 Volume 33, Number 4 The Newspaper of the Graphic Communications Conference / IBT www.gciu.org Candidates Announce ’95 Detroit Showdown For GCC/IBT Election In 2016, members will choose News and Free Press tried to break international officers and unions 20 years ago but GCC/IBT PAGES 8-11 general board members. and labor allies stood strong. PAGE 5 PHOTO CREDIT: LIBCOM.ORG VIA GOOGLE IMAGES Limited Vision Rumbling Toward the Right? Commentator Tom Mackell says 2016 Republican presidential Union officials warn that a government takeover hopefuls are ‘second-string’ and lack by Republicans in November will mean an extreme PAGE 16 imagination needed to lead country. conservative turn and trouble for organized labor. PAGE 3 DONKEYHOTEY VIA GOOGLE IMAGES ALSO INSIDE : Salute to Scholars ..................................................... Page 4 Meyerson: Why Wages Won’t Budge .................... Page 6 After 20 Years, Still Keeping the Faith ................... Page 7 LA Times Decert Bid Turned Back ......................Page 13 Printed in the USA Graphic Comm Oct-Nov-Dec 2015.indd 1 2/11/16 4:19 PM As I See It BY GEORGE TEDESCHI, GCC/IBT PRESIDENT Trickle Down Theory Still a Fairy Tale hen the U.S. presidential race aren’t in unions and membership isn’t the wealth scale will be in better balance. Wgets serious early next year, likely to surge any time soon. In fair- That’s the way it worked a few genera- Republicans and Democrats are sure to ness to all workers, then, we need an tions ago – and can again. agree on one matter: the gap is growing open and honest discussion about how “The period of economic growth between rich and poor. to shrink the distance between 1959 and 1973 Republican candidates are likely to between the ultra-rich saw significant reduc- 4 offer a familiar fix. Lift regulations, cut and everyone else. tions in poverty,” said Persistence Pay taxes, minimize spending on the social No one is talking EPI economist Elise safety net. Democrats will argue that about massive wealth Gould. “The poverty rate After long battle, if Wall Street is allowed to run wild, if redistribution. There would be essentially zero union workers at boosting corporate taxes is a non-starter, is nothing inherently by today had poverty Alcan Packaging receive if social programs are short changed, wrong with having a reduction and growth severance checks. disaster awaits low- and middle-income big bank account. There remained as tightly corre- wage earners. is plenty wrong, how- lated as they were then.” Voters will decide who makes most ever, with poverty and Another hopeful sign 7 sense but, to me, the GOP is in fantasy a frightening decline in is that corporate America, Tamper Proof living standards. There itself, may be waking up. land. Jerry Morgan says GOP’s is nothing good about In a New York Times The trickle-down theory sold us by effort to privatize Medicare people being forced to work two and opinion piece, Peter Georgescu, chairman Ronald Reagan in the 1980s always was is another example of three jobs, or families unable to send emeritus of the global advertising and a fairy tale. If everyone does better when conservative cluelessness. high earners get richer, why – with kids to college, or homeowners wor- marketing company Young & Rubicam, wealth exploding for the 1 percent – rying that they won’t make the next urged companies to hike annual pay for has income for ordinary workers gone mortgage payment. I don’t care if the employees making less than $80,000 in 14 sideways? rich travel first class. I just want to make exchange for government tax incentives. Thanks, Theo Something has to be done. sure everyone else at least has a chance Without innovative measures of the American folksinging star Unions act as an equalizer. to get aboard. sort he proposes, Georgescu said, a near- Theodore Bikel is remem- Collective bargaining seeks to guaran- Despite worries about wage disparity, ly inescapable American “caste system” bered as a union stalwart tee decent wages and working condi- there were a couple of encouraging signs will be created. “I’m scared,” said the who fought for social tions and there even is research sug- recently. executive. justice. He died at age 91. gesting unions help modify the most One was reported by the highly His tone of urgency is right-on and outrageous excesses of executive com- regarded Economic Policy Institute. candidates running for the nation’s pensation. Pleading poverty at the bar- EPI experts said there is no mystery highest office in 2016 better pay atten- gaining table is a lot more difficult for to income inequity. Better pay is the tion. Republicans – and, yes, Democrats 16 companies that lavish absurd salaries best anti-poverty program, analysts said. – owe us answers. Wage disparity has ‘Last Hurrah’ and perks on the bosses. Elaborate economic engineering is not reached intolerable levels. It’s time to Union Printcraft But, unfortunately, most Americans necessary. Just reward people fairly and turn things around. International Golf Association holds a final tournament to salute 88 years of fellowship and friendly competition. MANAGING BY JAMES HOFFA, IBT GENERAL PRESIDENT EDITOR’S NOTE Outlook FEATURES Voting is essential – local, state, national and in the GCC/ Bad Behavior? Bank on It As I See It/ IBT. The center section of this George Tedeschi....... 2 edition is devoted to the union’s all Street’s continuing war against away their pensions and retirement invest- quadrennial election for interna- Wworkers seems endless. Just when you ments and jeopardize their future. Financial Outlook/ tional officers and general board think it can’t get any worse, it does. And even institutions teamed up with big business last James Hoffa .......... 2 members. As coverage indicates, when big players in the financial world get December to push through a federal spend- members will receive mail ballots caught for wrongdoing, the penalties never ing bill that attacked workers’ pensions and Managing Editor’s Note/ in February, 2016 and must make seem to make a difference. put their retirements at risk. Fred Bruning ......... 2 certain the forms arrive back in The latest example hap- The same Wall Street Washington, D.C. by 8:30 a.m., pened recently when banks that rake in hundreds Editorial.............. 6 March 23. Participating in this the Justice Department of millions of dollars manag- essential democratic process is announced that five major ing pension funds lobbied to Point of View/ an obligation of union “citizen- banks – Citicorp, JP Morgan reduce pension benefits for the Harold Meyerson...... 6 ship.” Mark the calendar. Be sure Chase, Barclays, The Royal people whose sweat created to vote. Elsewhere, we take note Bank of Scotland and UBS – those funds. Congress did the Cartoon/Lisa Benson.....6 of another approaching election – were pleading guilty to felony bankers’ bidding and reduced for president of the United States. charges and agreeing to pay benefits, but the banks get to Bottom Line/ Commentator Tom Mackell dis- more than $5 billion to set- keep making millions on the Jerry Morgan ......... 7 misses Republican claims they will tle charges they had worked backs of the very pensioners “make America great again,” and together to manipulate inter- whose benefits were cut. That Guest Spot/ Zack Dowdy reports that GCC/ is unfair, unjust and plain un- national interest and foreign Anthony Valvona...... 7 IBT leaders warn that a GOP currency exchange rates. American. win of the White House would Yet despite the “brazen” activity by the It’s well past time for the big banks to face All the Best ........... 7 spell serious trouble for organized banks, as Attorney General Loretta Lynch the consequences of their actions with pun- labor. Union officials urge mem- put it herself, no one ultimately will spend a ishments that have real teeth. Penalties need Française/Español ....12 bers to get involved politically – day in jail for engaging in these illegal activi- to be higher than any bank would pay just as now. Also in this edition we hail ties. That is simply outrageous. part of the cost of doing business. Local Stops ..........13 the latest group of James R. Hoffa The bad behavior of banks is nothing Banks have continually abused the ben- Memorial Scholars – impressive new for hardworking Americans, who have efits given to them. It’s only fair that people In Memoriam........14 young people from proud GCC/ taken the brunt of the financial world’s mal- get treated the same as the powerful. That’s IBT families. Way to go! feasance. They’ve seen Wall Street fritter what’s going to get America working again. 2 Graphic Communicator Graphic Comm Oct-Nov-Dec 2015.indd 2 2/11/16 4:19 PM Graphic ComThem Newspaperunicat or of the Graphic Communications Conference / IBT Volume 33, Number 4 Oct.-Nov.-Dec. 2015 (USPS 410-750) Official organ of the Graphic Communications Conference/International Brotherhood of Teamsters 25 Louisiana Ave. NW Washington, D.C. 20001 DONKEYHOTEY VIA GOOGLE IMAGES 202-508-6660 e-mail: [email protected] Internet: www.gciu.org GEORGE TEDESCHI Editor Labor Must Rally to Defeat GOP in 2016 FRED BRUNING By Zachary Dowdy administration. Included was a regulation making millions of Managing Editor Special to the Communicator workers eligible for overtime and another giving home care work- ers wage and hour protection. In addition, the NLRB – Democrats AFFILIATIONS s Republican candidates scramble furiously to win their party’s appointed by Obama hold a 3-2 majority on the board – issued a Change to Win Coalition presidential nomination, GCC/IBT officials and local leaders ruling that provides collective bargaining rights for employees of say the 2016 field shows the GOP is heading even further contractors and franchise operations.