George W. Bush campaigned for president on two broad themes — as a "compassionate conservative" and against "big government" taking away the rights and money of the American people. Now that he's president, the record is already in on what those themes mean for working people: big government intervention to defend the bosses' interests.
On March 9 Bush issued an executive order (EO) preventing mechanics, custodians and cleaners at NorthWest Airlines (NWA) from going on strike for 60 days at the earliest. The EO established a Presidential Emergency Board (PEB) of three members who will submit a report to the president in 30 days. Their recommendation to settle the contract dispute that's been open for more than four and a half years must be agreed to by both parties.
If either the airline or union (the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association, AMFA) rejects the panel's recommendation, the president's EO prevents a strike for another 30 days. After the 60 days, the president can step aside and allow the workers to strike or he can, which he said he would do, asked the US Congress to declare a national emergency and impose a new contract on the workers.
The last time a president intervened in an airline dispute was in 1997 when President Bill Clinton stopped the pilots at American Airlines from going on strike. That was the first time a PEB was established in the airline industry since the 1960s.
The use of a PEB and direct government intervention has been more common in the rail industry, where the unions have traditionally been more militant and where rail transportation of commodities has a greater impact on the economy if shut down. Commercial airlines primarily move passengers, not cargoes. The impact on the economy is less direct.
Bush knows that but wanted to send a message to organised labour and the working class that he's a big business president. The money he wants to send back to the American people is mainly for the super rich.
"It's important for our economy", Bush stated, "but more important, it's important for the hard working people of American to make sure air service is not disrupted". He added that he would not allow any airline strikes this year, if ever.
In other words, the right of collective bargaining is no longer allowed in the airline industry. Violating this most basic of human rights for labour is considered justification to use the big stick of big government.
Bush's unprecedented attack on labour brought a sharp response from AMFA nationally and at NWA. "The government is running interference for the company", said O.V. Delle-Femine, AMFA's national director. "The president is taking sides."
AMFA initiated a public protest at the White House on March 12 and airports across the country. "World War II did not take this long", stated Delle-Femine, referring to the length of time to get a contract. Mechanics haven't had a new contract since 1996.
The American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), the national labour federation, condemned the EO for NWA, but refused to organise actions in support of AMFA, which is not affiliated to the federation.
The IAM (the International Association of Machinists, and the largest airline union) national leadership was less critical. Robert Roach, general vice-president of transportation for the IAM, said, "I don't think we want to interpret for the president what he means and lock him into a position. Let's let things play out." In a March 14 letter Roach sent to the New York Times (printed March 17), he added: "Strikes by airline unions are rare; they can occur only after every step of an exhaustive bargaining process is completed... The threat of concurrent strikes in the airline industry is not probable."
The officials see the situation at NWA as different than United, where I work as a mechanic. This is based on the misguided belief that since the IAM is in a partnership with management and conducts all negotiations in secret from the membership a deal is possible. We have been without a contract since last July. A total of five airlines are currently in negotiations, including the four largest.
Roach and his subordinates refuse to express solidarity with Northwest mechanics or sharply blast Bush for abrogating the right of collective bargaining. In my local, for example, our leadership is openly hostile to AMFA. The excuse is AMFA is not an AFL-CIO affiliate. The real reason is many United mechanics want to bring AMFA to United and other airlines. The fact that narrow factionalism could setback workers at Northwest, which would be a blow to all airline workers, is secondary to these officials.
Airline workers are on the front lines for US labour today. Because of the anti-worker laws, airline bosses are dragging out contract talks until the economic climate is more favourable to them.
The only effective way for airline workers to fight back is to use tactics that win the public to our side and cause the airlines to suffer. Ultimately it will require going against unjust laws.
The approach of AMFA at NorthWest Airlines where organised labour, the employer and the government stands against them, is a step forward for airline workers. Unlike the other airline maintenance unions, AMFA's use of open negotiations and membership control is why the bosses and government must defeat them. If the most militant union can be set back, it would send a message to all airline workers.
In this context, many workers at United and other airlines see the battle at NWA as their own. One United mechanic who joined the March 12 White House AMFA-organised protest summarised the anger best: "I haven't had a raise since '94. Congress votes themselves cost-of-living pay raises every year. Why can't we have the same?"
BY MALIK MIAH