Railroad Workers United (RWU) Resolution of Support for the ILWU Local 30 Borax Miners
Railroad Workers United (RWU) Resolution of Support for the Borax Miners
Railroad Workers United
Unity – Solidarity – Democracy: The Rank & File in Action!
Railroadworkersunited.org info@railroadworkersunited.org (206) 984-3051
PO Box 1053, Salem, IL 62881
Co-Chairs
Jon Flanders, IAM 1145
CSX, Selkirk, NY
Ed Michael, UTU #979 BLET #724
UP, Salem, IL
Robert Hill, BLET #758
BNSF, Vancouver, WA
General Secretary
Ron Kaminkow, BLET #51
AMTK, Reno, NV
Recording Secretary
Jen Wallis, BLET 518
BNSF, Seattle, WA
Treasurer
Chet Whyers, UTU #979
UP, Salem, IL
International
Steering Committee
Penny Artis, IBEW #813
NS, Roanoke, VA
Steve Desavouret, TCU #6608
CN, Chicago, IL.
Jon Flanders, IAM #1145
CSX, Selkirk, NY
Ron Friend, BMWED #1509
CSX, Marietta, OH
Robert Hill, BLET #758
BNSF, Vancouver, WA
Ron Kaminkow, BLET #51
Amtrak, Reno, NV
Mike Matson, UTU 911
CP, St. Paul, MN
Ed Michael, UTU #979 BLET #724
UP, Salem, IL
Jen Wallis, BLET #518
BNSF, Seattle, WA
Matt Weaver, BMWED #2624
CSX, Detroit, MI
John Wright, BLET #78
CSX, Louisville, KY
Railroad Workers United
Resolution of Support for the
Borax Miners
Whereas: The Rio Tinto Corporation is waging an all-out attack on the
miners represented by the International Longshore & Warehouse Union in
Boron, California; and
Whereas: Rio Tinto has locked out the ILWU Local 30 members who
have refused to sign a contract that virtually destroy everything the
workers have fought for over decades of struggle demanding the
following concessions:
The power to convert full-time jobs, whenever management
wants, into part-time positions with little or no benefits.
Authority to reduce employee pay, any time the company wants,
regardless of the contract wage rates and without any right of
workers to file a grievance.
The ability to outsource all jobs, any time it wants, to contractors
and temp agencies that pay low wages and provide little or no
benefits, without any right to file a worker grievance.
If Rio Tinto violates any state or federal labor laws, which it has
already done, workers would be required to pay for the company's
legal penalties, fines, damages and even attorney fees.
The unlawful discrimination against military personnel by denying
them seniority credit for military service if they've served in the
Armed Forces for less than one year or for more than four years,
which constitutes a violation of federal law (USERRA). Also among
the company’s demands is the elimination of the Veteran’s Day
holiday starting in 2011.
The removal of scores of workers from the union contract and
power to declare entire sections of the plant to be “non-union”
areas where employees could be fired at any time, for any reason,
or for no reason at all.
The ability at any time to change shifts, hours and work
assignments, and impose mandatory overtime, with no scheduled
days-off or regular shifts, making life impossible for families.
Require workers to give up their Constitutional and legal right as Americans to
go to court if the foreign-owned company discriminates based on race, sex,
age, disability, military status or religion, or if it violates any other state or
federal laws, including the U.S. Civil Rights Act, FMLA, ADA, ERISA, FLSA.
Under the Rio Tinto lockout contract, all legal rights would be transferred from
American courts to a private arbitrator, which the company gets to pick in at
least half the cases.
Authority to eliminate long term disability coverage for any new employee,
which protects workers -- and provides economic security to families -- when
an employee is injured and can’t work.
The drastic reduction of retirement benefits for current employees, and the
total elimination of pension benefits for new employees who would only get a
small 401(k) contribution.
Therefore, be it Resolved, that Railroad Workers United, recognizing that a defeat
for the miners would be a defeat for all labor, pledges full support to the ILWU and
the locked out miners at the Rio Tinto Corporation; and
Be it Further Resolved that Railroad Workers United calls upon all rail unions to
support the Borax miners by using the power that rail workers can wield in the
transportation industry.
This Resolution adopted by the members assembled at the RWU Second
Biennial Convention Friday, April 23rd, 2010 in Dearborn, Michigan