Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards Speaks to Iowa Union Meeting
Star-Telegram.com
WATERLOO,
Iowa – Former Texas Gov. Ann Richards told about 250 delegates at the
Iowa Federation of Labor convention on Thursday that Bush's dismal job
record means his time is up in the White House.
…Iowa
Federation of Labor President Mark Smith echoed Richards' remarks about
workers' concerns over health care costs eroding salary increases.
“It's very common,” Smith said. “Everybody goes to the bargaining table and they get hit with health care.”
Iowa
suffered most in the manufacturing sector, hurting union membership,
Smith said. The state reflects the rest of the nation with about 8
percent of workers being union members.
The city
of Cedar Rapids was one of the hardest hit with a number of small
manufacturing companies closing over the last three years. The city's
Local 831 Machinists and Aerospace Union has lost about half its
members to layoffs in the last two years, among the worst in the state,
Smith said.
“If you
talk to folks here, they worry about are they going to be able to keep
their job? Are their kids going to be able to keep their job? Are they
going to be able to retire?” Smith said.
Topping
the list of worries for Iowa workers is lack of jobs, outsourcing of
jobs, health care, and no extension of unemployment.
(more)
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