With a union and a first contract, the workers will now be in a stronger position to deal with the line speed, harassment by management, unsafe machinery and low wages and benefits which have been imposed on meat packers in both Canada and the United States over the past 20 years.

Even with a union we still have to keep fighting management’s efforts to increase their profits on our backs and weaken the union. Here, where I work, the line speed in the cutting room has gone from 10 to over 12 hogs per minute, with the same number of workers. We are forced to work 9.5 hours a day by law and those few of us who then choose to leave are often harassed by some of the foremen to stay longer. And because four years ago we had a 40 percent wage cut, many co-workers are doing 60 hours a week.

There are also other forms of harassment. A little while ago I was called into the office by a foreman after returning from one day off sick. He demanded a doctor’s note, even though it was not required, and refused my request to have a union steward with me at the meeting. On the insistence of some of my co-workers on the line and one of the union stewards I put in a grievance against this foreman.

But what the Nebraska and Minnesota victories show is that the use of union power by a mobilized membership is the best road to defend our rights against the meatpacking bosses’ drive for profits.

Tony Di Felice
Toronto, Ontario  
 

United Airlines ‘war’ clause
A tentative agreement was reached November 20 between the International Association of Machinists officials and United Airlines. These amendments to our contract are to be voted on by the membership November 27. The agreement is called a "recovery plan," which United and the U.S. government have pushed to allow $1.8 billion in government-backed loans for the airline.

The amendments to the contract include pay cuts and extending the current contract to 2008. Also in the agreement is a clause that states, "In the event of a war in Iraq or a sudden, unforeseen event that substantially disrupts air travel (e.g., act of God, act or threat of terrorism, etc.), the commitment contained in the preceding paragraph will become null and void." The proceeding paragraph is about United not using bankruptcy to tear up our union contract.

The IAM officials have recommended we vote yes on these changes to "save the company." Many of my co-workers and I hope this agreement is voted down. These givebacks as well as the war clause would weaken the union and set a bad example for the labor movement.

Rick Young
Chicago, Illinois


The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of interest to working people.

Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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