'What's Wrong with America?'
John Sweeney
Posted August 17, 2007
Earlier this month, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steel worker who can't afford his wife's health care, shook the AFL-CIO's Presidential Candidates Forum by asking tearfully, "What's wrong with America?"
We've got six coal miners trapped beneath more than 1,500 feet of Utah coal and rock, three brave men who struggled to rescue them are dead and six more are injured.
And it's not because of an act of God. It's because of the acts of man.
The disaster still unfolding at the Crandall Canyon mine did not have to happen. It was preventable--as were the deaths of 12 coal miners last year in the Sago Mine in West Virginia. As have been many, many more deaths of workers in America's coal mines and factories, fishing vessels, offices and construction sites.
Safety concerns about the Crandall Canyon mine surfaced months ago, and safety experts warned of particular dangers in the "retreat mining" technique used there after it was approved by the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration. In retreat mining, coalminers essentially pull out roof-supporting pillars of coal as they work their way out of the mine. The retreat mining plan at Crandall Canyon, says United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts, "appears to have been flawed, to say the least. In our opinion, that plan should never have been approved."
No one should be surprised it was approved, though. The Bush administration has been systematically dismantling and cutting funding for workplace safety rules and oversight since it came into office.
Every day in 2005 (the most recent data available), 16 workers died on the job and 12,000 were made sick--and that doesn't include the occupational diseases that kill 50,000 to 60,000 more workers each year. In many if not most of these cases, one of two things occurred: An employer disregarded the law, or the law wasn't strong enough to protect workers.
Something is deeply wrong with America today. Working men and women have lost their value to the people who have been running this country for too long. Ruthless CEOs wring working people dry and the neocon ideologues in the White House help them.
Our wages are stagnant, our benefits are disappearing, the middle class is shrinking and, for the first time, there's a good chance our children will not be better off than our generation. We're the most productive workers in the world but we have to work more hours, more jobs and send more family members into the workforce just to keep up.
The heroes who rushed to Ground Zero to save lives and who dug and sweated and struggled for months after Sept. 11, 2001, are suffering today from neglect and indifference. Neglect and indifference left thousands stranded on rooftops and in a dark convention center after Hurricane Katrina. Neglect and indifference meant deplorable conditions for veterans recovering at Walter Reed. Neglect and indifference kill far too many of us on the job.
There's a reason so many people who never will step foot in a coal mine are riveted by the story of the trapped, dead and injured miners. There's a reason Steve Skvara's comment at our presidential forum moved so many people. There's a reason candidates committed to improving the well-being of working men and women took back Congress last year and will take back the White House next year.
Working men and women--the great majority in this country--want to fix what's wrong with America.
Americans have been betrayed by a political system that claims to speak for the majority when in fact fewer people than ever participate in the political process. Our nation thrives with civic involvement, but even that basic unit of civic involvement - voting - is a priority for less than 50% of eligible Mercans.
Democrats and Republicans together eschew participation and work in smoke filled rooms behind closed doors to maintain power. The answer is not, however, additional Parties or broadening the number of Parties on the ballot.
In short, the single most powerful engine of social change and civic involvement, more powerful than any denomination or entity, the Precinct, languishes while our nation suffers.
I don't agree with all of Mr. Sweeney's rants.
But I agree that Mr. Murray -- the owner of the coal mine -- deserves to be thrown in jail. Last I checked, his operations had *hundreds* of safety violations even before the disaster. That's criminal negligence.
It's all Bush's fault.
Can you imagine the outcry if 21 employees had been injured, much less killed if it were the result of a nuclear power plant accident?
We care more about threats of lawsuits and strikes than we do about actually providing safe and well paid jobs?
My brother-in-law just quit a job as a heavy equipment operator in a quarry. He worked 12 hours per day, 6 days per week. Of course, he had practically zero family time and he was exhausted. The owner said he wanted the crew to work 15 hour days Monday through Saturday, and another 6 hours on Sunday. If the employees even talked to a union organizer, he said he'd fire all of them. Nine or ten guys quit on the spot.
Think about that the next time you're sharing the road with a heavy truck.
I don't have a problem with a business owner trying to make a profit. It's the American way, after all. But maximizing profits by jeopardizing employee safety is a repugnant practice that is far too common.
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
My brother-in-law just quit a job as a heavy equipment operator in a quarry. He worked 12 hours per day, 6 days per week. Of course, he had practically zero family time and he was exhausted. The owner said he wanted the crew to work 15 hour days Monday through Saturday, and another 6 hours on Sunday. If the employees even talked to a union organizer, he said he'd fire all of them. Nine or ten guys quit on the spot.
Think about that the next time you're sharing the road with a heavy truck.
I don't have a problem with a business owner trying to make a profit. It's the American way, after all. But maximizing profits by jeopardizing employee safety is a repugnant practice that is far too common.
Basic economics. The rest of the workers stayed. If everyone left, he could find hundreds more who would do it. They could organize which would either put everyone on a 40hr schedule or get the company shut down which helps nobody.
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
My brother-in-law just quit a job as a heavy equipment operator in a quarry. He worked 12 hours per day, 6 days per week. Of course, he had practically zero family time and he was exhausted. The owner said he wanted the crew to work 15 hour days Monday through Saturday, and another 6 hours on Sunday. If the employees even talked to a union organizer, he said he'd fire all of them. Nine or ten guys quit on the spot.
Think about that the next time you're sharing the road with a heavy truck.
I don't have a problem with a business owner trying to make a profit. It's the American way, after all. But maximizing profits by jeopardizing employee safety is a repugnant practice that is far too common.
Basic economics. The rest of the workers stayed. If everyone left, he could find hundreds more who would do it. They could organize which would either put everyone on a 40hr schedule or get the company shut down which helps nobody.
You still have the right to a Union.
quote:
Originally posted by deinstein
quote:
Originally posted by sgrizzle
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
My brother-in-law just quit a job as a heavy equipment operator in a quarry. He worked 12 hours per day, 6 days per week. Of course, he had practically zero family time and he was exhausted. The owner said he wanted the crew to work 15 hour days Monday through Saturday, and another 6 hours on Sunday. If the employees even talked to a union organizer, he said he'd fire all of them. Nine or ten guys quit on the spot.
Think about that the next time you're sharing the road with a heavy truck.
I don't have a problem with a business owner trying to make a profit. It's the American way, after all. But maximizing profits by jeopardizing employee safety is a repugnant practice that is far too common.
Basic economics. The rest of the workers stayed. If everyone left, he could find hundreds more who would do it. They could organize which would either put everyone on a 40hr schedule or get the company shut down which helps nobody.
You still have the right to a Union.
Not saying you don't have a right, just that you are taking a risk in doing so. Especially in a market where non-unionized labor is plentiful.
^
I believe being in a "Right To Work" State comes into play somewhere.........?
In such a State can a Union guarantee ones job...?
I was told that was a very large motivation in Whirlpool moving to Oklahoma.... No pesky union...
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
My brother-in-law just quit a job as a heavy equipment operator in a quarry. He worked 12 hours per day, 6 days per week. Of course, he had practically zero family time and he was exhausted. The owner said he wanted the crew to work 15 hour days Monday through Saturday, and another 6 hours on Sunday. If the employees even talked to a union organizer, he said he'd fire all of them. Nine or ten guys quit on the spot.
Think about that the next time you're sharing the road with a heavy truck.
I don't have a problem with a business owner trying to make a profit. It's the American way, after all. But maximizing profits by jeopardizing employee safety is a repugnant practice that is far too common.
If the economy was so bad that people had to work for the guy or starve it would be one thing. But with unemployment low and other companies needing workers that just doesnt seem to add up. With the low unemployment we currently have its actually hard to find quality workers, ones who show up on time or wont quit at the drop of a hat. I have learned you have to pay a premium to get the help you need or job done right. Here again it doesnt make sense that this guy could have a workforce of any suitible type under these situations. What part of the country was this employer and when was this?
"What's wrong with America?"
You are.
You have problems so you instantly turn, sobbing, to the government to fix them for you. This is far different than the pioneer spirit that made our country great to begin with. You rightly point out that government has failed in many areas - the lesson you should learn is that more government is not the answer.
Democrats control the Congress and are ON VACATION while this mine disaster happened. Much like Bush drew the blame for 911, shouldn't the plight of the workers now be blamed on the democratically controlled Congress? Not that there was anything they could have done, but blame should flow equally to government for anything bad that happens.
So Mr. Sweeny, I'm waiting for your proposal. You pointed out what you thought was wrong with America... and your only solution was "more government." You (AFL-CIO) have successfully contributed to the death of many American industries and cost millions of American's manufacturing jobs by artificially raising wages to the point where outsourcing and automation was financially viable - all the heavily unionized legacy industries in the US are failing, their workers being laid off, their pensions being underfunded (auto, steel, mining, airlines...).
Having fleeced all the money you could from industry, the solution is the bottomless money pit of government. Everyone realizes that this is not really the solution. A band aid perhaps, but not a solution. Mr Sweeny, ask not what the country can do for your membership, ask what the AFL-CIO can do for your country.
Maybe its time labor, government, and industry worked together to make this better. Instead of each one trying to screw the other as hard as possible. Until you all figure that out, have fun teetering back and forth in control (labor was beat down and gained enough power to leverage most major unionized companies into bankruptcy who then had the upper hand and are starting to shed workers... the government screws everybody).
So use your influence and fix it Sweeny. Don't pass the buck.
Reminds me of G.K. Chesterton...when someone asked authors to write in and answer the question, "What is wrong with the world?" Chesterton wrote back and said, "I am. Yours truly, G.K. Chesterton."
"Earlier this month, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steel worker who can't afford his wife's health care, shook the AFL-CIO's Presidential Candidates Forum by asking tearfully, "What's wrong with America?"
I always stop reading at the first sniff of hyperbole.
Sweeney didn't screw around. He lost me at the first sentence. [B)]
quote:
No one should be surprised it was approved, though. The Bush administration has been systematically dismantling and cutting funding for workplace safety rules and oversight since it came into office.
I love it! For God's sake...what isn't W's fault?
We should start a 6 degrees of W thread...
I do not agree with this article in toto.
But, there are some strong points.
"The Information Age has allowed the economic winners to disassociate themselves with the people they employ or serve, and helped corporations grow enormous."
I agree with this statement.
Unfortunately, leaders since 2000 have
failed to do what's best for the disadvantaged, the uneducated, and the unhealthy not to mention everyone's surroundings. Instead, we got wasted on war. We will turn around the defeat handed to us by our leaders.
http://scoop.epluribusmedia.org/story/2007/8/18/164242/300
quote:
Originally posted by Rico
^
I believe being in a "Right To Work" State comes into play somewhere.........?
In such a State can a Union guarantee ones job...?
I was told that was a very large motivation in Whirlpool moving to Oklahoma.... No pesky union...
Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought Whirlpool came to town before right to work.
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
"Earlier this month, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steel worker who can't afford his wife's health care, shook the AFL-CIO's Presidential Candidates Forum by asking tearfully, "What's wrong with America?"
I always stop reading at the first sniff of hyperbole.
Sweeney didn't screw around. He lost me at the first sentence. [B)]
Then why are you still posting? This seems to have really gotten under your skin, like someone in denial being confronted by reality and fighting facing the truth every step of the way.
quote:
Originally posted by aoxamaxoa
The Information Age has allowed the economic winners to disassociate themselves with the people they employ or serve, and helped corporations grow enormous.
Feudalism allowed the economic winners to dissociate themselves...
Mercantilism allowed the economic winners...
Industrialization allow...
Automation...
and now the information age is to blame. As with many complaints, this is an old one repackaged. The Republic was to solve feudalism , the opportunities presented lead to mercantilism and its wealthy trading class. Industrialization promised to cut everyone in on the trading pie, but the robber barons had all the money. When labor caught up and started getting the upper hand it became economical to automate. The automation freed up workers to take office jobs. And now the information age has apparently screwed them. Damn the man.
quote:
Unfortunately, leaders since 2000 have
failed to do what's best for the disadvantaged, the uneducated. . ..
Another euphemism for "Bush did it." Amazing how fast he undid all the glory of Clinton. Perfect health care, no terrorist attacks, everyone was better educated, and the environment pristine. Oh the good old days.
/rose lenses
quote:
Originally posted by TheArtist
QuoteWhat part of the country was this employer and when was this?
(First, my apologies for taking so long to respond. I have to work to take care of my other habit - eating.)
This happened last week in a county just north of Pittsburgh, PA. I read on the AFL-CIO website that it's a violation of federal law to threaten employees with termination or threaten to close the facility if they express any interest in unionism. Though that's true, if they tried to organize and were fired, it would probably be a couple of years before the case worked though the courts. Working people can't wait that long.
We had a Giant Eagle grocery story just outside Grove City when I lived there. The workers were unionized. After a protracted contract negotiation, the company closed all the stores one weekend, and re-opened them a few days later as the County Market. The workers were offered their jobs at about half their former pay. So the process is hardly new, but there's seldom any penalty for screwing your employees.
I read a piece about the Mattel toy situation earlier today. The price of toys hasn't changed substantially in 30 years, and some may actually be cheaper now than they were back then. But in describing the push for lower and lower production costs, and the recent safety considerations revolving around lead based paint in toys, one guy said something like, "Well, sure, we can keep making products cheaper and cheaper, but eventually somethings gotta give." This time it was safety. And the Chinese are exporting cars, tires, motorcycles, and aircraft parts to our markets. Think about that in conjunction with the "It's basic economics" statement.
Sure, you can always make something for less, but PT Barnum was right too when he said there's a sucker born every minute. There's a time and place for profitability and costs, and there's also a place for our quality of life, our sense of community, and those simple moral decisions that try to find a balance in all these.
quote:
Originally posted by cannon_fodder
quote:
Originally posted by aoxamaxoa
The Information Age has allowed the economic winners to disassociate themselves with the people they employ or serve, and helped corporations grow enormous.
Feudalism allowed the economic winners to dissociate themselves...
Mercantilism allowed the economic winners...
Industrialization allow...
Automation...
and now the information age is to blame. As with many complaints, this is an old one repackaged. The Republic was to solve feudalism , the opportunities presented lead to mercantilism and its wealthy trading class. Industrialization promised to cut everyone in on the trading pie, but the robber barons had all the money. When labor caught up and started getting the upper hand it became economical to automate. The automation freed up workers to take office jobs. And now the information age has apparently screwed them. Damn the man.
quote:
Unfortunately, leaders since 2000 have
failed to do what's best for the disadvantaged, the uneducated. . ..
Another euphemism for "Bush did it." Amazing how fast he undid all the glory of Clinton. Perfect health care, no terrorist attacks, everyone was better educated, and the environment pristine. Oh the good old days.
/rose lenses
CF...leaders... plural... comprendes vous? I can't help it if the man who had a chance to make a difference could not manage over his mandate. Our leaders had no direction except guidance through fear. Our leaders are shameful. Bought and paid to make bad decisions. Bush will be gone and we will still have the same sorry climate.
"They must find it difficult....
Those who have taken authority as the truth, rather than truth as the authority"
Gerald Massey
quote:
Originally posted by aoxamaxoa
I can't help it if the man who had a chance to make a difference could not manage over his mandate. Our leaders had no direction except guidance through fear. Our leaders are shameful. Bought and paid to make bad decisions. Bush will be gone and we will still have the same sorry climate.
Sad, but true.
quote:
Originally posted by Double A
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
"Earlier this month, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steel worker who can't afford his wife's health care, shook the AFL-CIO's Presidential Candidates Forum by asking tearfully, "What's wrong with America?"
I always stop reading at the first sniff of hyperbole.
Sweeney didn't screw around. He lost me at the first sentence. [B)]
Then why are you still posting? This seems to have really gotten under your skin, like someone in denial being confronted by reality and fighting facing the truth every step of the way.
The author is trying to jerk a tear out of my eye by singling out one pathetic, sad case and making it sound like everyone else is just as screwed.
I'm calling BS on this. If Skvara is disabled and retired, he and his wife are elligble for medicaid benefits. Where is his effing union he served for years to help out? Hmmmm? Do his union leaders
really care any more about him as an individual than the CEO of the company he worked for did? How much further does the author qualify this man? Not at all.
Who's to say that this steel worker isn't disabled because he made the stupid decision to smoke and drink whiskey for 40 years.
The media has a bad tendency of using human interest stories to shore up a sloppy editorial piece. It's irritating as all hell.
People have a choice. There is no safety in any work place. Some jobs are deemed more dangerous than others. People know the risks. You can't make every work place safe and assuming that the government can police the day-to-day operations of every work environment is preposterous. OSHA regs are pretty stringent. It's always been set up as more-or-less a self-policing system, until there's a serious injury or death. This is nothing new at all under the Bush admin.
It pisses me off to see some crap journalist with a socialist bent **** all over American employers. Some research he put in here. You can find his stats on the front page of the NIOSH web site.
Guess what???
The workplace mortality rate is the same as it was reported in a cumulative summary in 2001. That would have reflected mortality rates during Clinton's administration.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/2001-147.pdf
Go to page 8 for the summarized stats.
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
QuoteWe had a Giant Eagle grocery story just outside Grove City when I lived there. The workers were unionized. After a protracted contract negotiation, the company closed all the stores one weekend, and re-opened them a few days later as the County Market. The workers were offered their jobs at about half their former pay. So the process is hardly new, but there's seldom any penalty for screwing your employees.
Good for "Country Market".
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
quote:
Originally posted by Double A
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
"Earlier this month, Steve Skvara, a disabled, retired steel worker who can't afford his wife's health care, shook the AFL-CIO's Presidential Candidates Forum by asking tearfully, "What's wrong with America?"
I always stop reading at the first sniff of hyperbole.
Sweeney didn't screw around. He lost me at the first sentence. [B)]
Then why are you still posting? This seems to have really gotten under your skin, like someone in denial being confronted by reality and fighting facing the truth every step of the way.
The author is trying to jerk a tear out of my eye by singling out one pathetic, sad case and making it sound like everyone else is just as screwed.
I'm calling BS on this. If Skvara is disabled and retired, he and his wife are elligble for medicaid benefits. Where is his effing union he served for years to help out? Hmmmm? Do his union leaders really care any more about him as an individual than the CEO of the company he worked for did? How much further does the author qualify this man? Not at all.
Who's to say that this steel worker isn't disabled because he made the stupid decision to smoke and drink whiskey for 40 years.
The media has a bad tendency of using human interest stories to shore up a sloppy editorial piece. It's irritating as all hell.
People have a choice. There is no safety in any work place. Some jobs are deemed more dangerous than others. People know the risks. You can't make every work place safe and assuming that the government can police the day-to-day operations of every work environment is preposterous. OSHA regs are pretty stringent. It's always been set up as more-or-less a self-policing system, until there's a serious injury or death. This is nothing new at all under the Bush admin.
It pisses me off to see some crap journalist with a socialist bent **** all over American employers. Some research he put in here. You can find his stats on the front page of the NIOSH web site.
Guess what???
The workplace mortality rate is the same as it was reported in a cumulative summary in 2001. That would have reflected mortality rates during Clinton's administration.
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/2001-147.pdf
Go to page 8 for the summarized stats.
Tulsa needs an intervention, but neocons need one much worse.
^^
Come on AA, is that the best you can do?
quote:
Originally posted by Conan71
^^
Come on AA, is that the best you can do?
You still here, I thought we lost you at the first sentence?
quote:
Originally posted by Ed W
quote:
Originally posted by TheArtist
QuoteWhat part of the country was this employer and when was this?
(First, my apologies for taking so long to respond. I have to work to take care of my other habit - eating.)
This happened last week in a county just north of Pittsburgh, PA. I read on the AFL-CIO website that it's a violation of federal law to threaten employees with termination or threaten to close the facility if they express any interest in unionism. Though that's true, if they tried to organize and were fired, it would probably be a couple of years before the case worked though the courts. Working people can't wait that long.
We had a Giant Eagle grocery story just outside Grove City when I lived there. The workers were unionized. After a protracted contract negotiation, the company closed all the stores one weekend, and re-opened them a few days later as the County Market. The workers were offered their jobs at about half their former pay. So the process is hardly new, but there's seldom any penalty for screwing your employees.
I read a piece about the Mattel toy situation earlier today. The price of toys hasn't changed substantially in 30 years, and some may actually be cheaper now than they were back then. But in describing the push for lower and lower production costs, and the recent safety considerations revolving around lead based paint in toys, one guy said something like, "Well, sure, we can keep making products cheaper and cheaper, but eventually somethings gotta give." This time it was safety. And the Chinese are exporting cars, tires, motorcycles, and aircraft parts to our markets. Think about that in conjunction with the "It's basic economics" statement.
Sure, you can always make something for less, but PT Barnum was right too when he said there's a sucker born every minute. There's a time and place for profitability and costs, and there's also a place for our quality of life, our sense of community, and those simple moral decisions that try to find a balance in all these.
Ed, this may be a little off topic, but you wouldn't happen to now work for a company in Tulsa that has a branch in Grove City PA, would you?
Get some of those Pittsburg people to move here. Just about every week or so I hear about some company or another hiring or having trouble filling positions.
Here is one for this week.
http://www.kotv.com/news/local/story/?id=134312
Plus remember, if you dont like working for others work for yourself. Start your own company.
quote:
Originally posted by Hoss
Quote
Ed, this may be a little off topic, but you wouldn't happen to now work for a company in Tulsa that has a branch in Grove City PA, would you?
Nope, the company I work for these days is kinda fond of having 12,000 foot runways nearby. Grove City does have an airport, but you wouldn't want to land a big commercial jet there - unless you really HAD to!
I worked for GTI Corporation back there, in a factory that made electronic parts. It didn't pay much and it wasn't steady, but the cost of living was fairly low since it's a rural area. And I spent a lot of time hunting, fishing, skiing, and just generally wandering around outdoors. I was single at the time, too.
But getting married and having a family to look after changes EVERYTHING. I'm not looking back wistfully at my life there, 'cause I wouldn't trade my wife and kids for any of it.
...and yes, this is wandering seriously off topic. If you want to continue the discussion, let's take it to email.
Having spent 3 years as a union organizer those posting seems to think that the good fairy gave them vacations with pay, paid holidays, health insurance, overtime after a 40 hour week and the other benefits that they now enjoy.
Be admitted to the CEO office and be seated and tell him that his employees, after working for a year should be entitle to a week's paid vacation. Watch how the red color of arrogance moves up his face.
The coal miners union, through John Lewis was the first to get these installed, along with safety standards, paid vacation that all workers today take for granted.
Then go back a month later and tell the CEO that when the business closes for a holiday the workers are short that money while their expenses go on and to level the field, by payment for the 7 holidays it would lower the burden on them if they were paid the regular pay for those holidays. Tell him that like Wilson said "For those who submit to authority should have voice in their own governing."
I operated a business for some 40 years and when I ran an add in the paper for help. I took applications from several persons which were placed in a file. Although you read an add for a job opening does not mean that there is an available job but they are taking applications to fill a job coming up.
I have been on both sides of the fence and the grass is not any greener on either side but the working people enjoy today a battle victory that was fought a half century ago. No one can say that these benefits would have been given to the working people had they not been ask for as a group. The soap box is now empty.