Machinists Union Leader on Democratic White House/Congress: "Don't stand to close to this volcano!

[Better Believe It]

Press Releases
Machinists Members Adamantly Opposed to Health Care Excise Tax
March 18, 2010

Washington, D.C., March 18, 2010 – Members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) delivered a bipartisan thumping to both political parties as well as the White House in an online survey of workers’ attitudes. But there can be no mistaking their strong opposition to key provisions of health care reform.

On the pending health care legislation, nearly 68 percent of Machinists adamantly opposed the 40 percent excise tax on health care plans. Seventy percent gave a thumbs-down to penalties for those without health care coverage and 64.9 percent wanted a public option. President Obama was given only 18.9 percent approval for his efforts to control the cost of health insurance by the 1,262 Machinists completing the survey.

The poll’s opening right track/wrong track question produced a 75.0 percent wrong track response from IAM members. President Obama’s overall job approval rating was 38.5 percent, while the House of Representatives job approval was just 11.3 percent. The U.S. Senate drew only 5.5 percent as either excellent (.3 of one percent) or good (5.2 %).

IAM members were even handed in their disapproval. They felt neither party was controlling the growth of the Federal deficit (67.1 %); standing up forcefully to the big banks (64.1 %) or pushing a strong jobs program to get people back to work (63.6 %).

In response to questions about the Democratic Party, over 88 percent agreed with the statement: “the Democratic Party doesn’t represent working people as strongly as they used to.” An identical percentage said they would “be inclined to support either party if they stood up strongly for the interests of ordinary working people.”

“For most Machinists, this Democratic White House, Congress and Senate is seen as turning their backs on the blue-collar workforce,” said IAM President Tom Buffenbarger. “Over 54 percent said they would NOT support their member of Congress for re-election, and three-fifth’s said their congressman was a Democrat.”

The IAM is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America, representing nearly 700,000 active and retired members in dozens of industries.

http://www.goiam.org/index.php/news/press-releases/7025-machinists-members-adamantly-opposed-to-health-care-excise-tax

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Results of the machinists union members survey.

Magma

Beneath an active volcano, magma flows into vents and presses up the main pipe.
A Mount St. Helens-sized explosion occurs when the molten rock encounters a pumice
blockage or water enters the conduit. Pyroclastic rocks – dust, ash, bombs and blocks –
are blown out of the volcano blackening the sky and turning the landscape into a dead
zone.

The IAM’s online survey suggests that magma is an apt analogy for our members’
attitudes. Their anger is red hot. And the steam coming off these numbers sears both
political parties and both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue.

The opening right/wrong track question produced a 75.0 percent wrong track
response from IAM members. President Obama’s job approval rating was 38.5 percent.
The House of Representatives job approval was 11.3 percent. The United States
Senate drew only 5.5 percent as either excellent (.3 of one percent) or good (5.2 %).

President Obama scored his highest approval ratings on handling the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan (45.1 %) and the fight against terrorism (49.1 %).

On representing the interests of working and middle class Americans, this Democratic president drew
approval from only 27.9 percent of respondents.

On controlling the cost of health insurance, 18.9 percent rated his performance as good or excellent.

On having a strong, aggressive jobs program to get people back to work, President Obama
received his lowest marks with only 17.0 percent rating him excellent or good and
81.4 percent giving him a not-so-good or poor rating.

As disappointed as IAM members were in the president’s performance, their
disdain for the Congress was all too obvious. Over 54 percent said they would NOT
support their member of Congress for re-election. And 57.6 percent said their
congressman was a Democrat!

Machinist Union members were bi-partisan in their disapproval. They felt neither
party was: controlling the growth of the Federal deficit (67.1 %); standing up forcefully
to the big banks (64.1 %); or pushing a strong jobs program to get people back to work
(63.6 %). Democrats drew their best marks on standing up for the interests of working
people (34.1 %); pushing programs to rebuild America’s infrastructure (32.9 %); and
making taxes fairer for working people (28.9 %).

On health care legislation, IAM members supported two components of President
Obama’s plan. Machinists overwhelmingly wanted every employer with a payroll in
excess of $500,000 to provide health insurance (74.5 % to 21.2 %). And three-quarters of
respondents wanted the new Federal Insurance Rate Authority to be able to require health
insurance companies to lower premiums or pay rebates (75.9 % to 18.3 %).
Machinists adamantly opposed the 40 percent excise tax on health plans for
that cost in excess of $10,200 (individuals) or $27,500 (family) per year. In fact, 67.9
percent thought it was a lousy idea. And 70.2 percent gave a thumbs-down to the
idea of penalties of $695 (individual) and $2,085 (family) for those without health
care coverage. Machinists wanted a public option (64.9 % to 29.9 %).

On the JOBS Now! front, Machinists were skeptical that President Obama’s
Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act had created or saved millions of jobs. Only
40.4 percent agreed with that statement; 53.7 percent disagreed. They also rejected the
notion that, since Wall Street has rebounded and the gross national product has grown,
the recession was all but over for most Americans by a margin of 88.5 to 9.6 percent.
By way of contrast, IAM members overwhelmingly believe that:
• The United States needs an industrial policy (92.9 %);
• Tax policies should discourage outsourcing of American jobs (94.2 %);
• Trade deals like NAFTA and CAFTA should be renegotiated (87.3 %);
• Our country needs strong and enforceable “Buy American” legislation
(86.7 %);
• Businesses should get investment tax credits to modernize their plants and
purchase new machinery (84.6 %);
• America needs a Roosevelt-Kennedy style jobs program to get American
who want to work back to work immediately (80.0 %); and that
• The Federal government should hire jobless Americans to renovate
factories and install new equipment (77.8 %).

Two final questions went to the historic branding of the Democratic Party.
Over 88 percent agreed with the statement “the Democratic Party doesn’t represent
working people as strongly as they used to.” An identical percentage (88.2 %) said
they would “be inclined to support either party if they stood up strongly for the
interests of ordinary working people.”

And that attitude – the Democrats have abandoned us – is roiling that magma.
When asked if they were more or less inclined to support the Democratic Party and its
candidates since President Barack Obama took office, 54.4 percent said they were less
inclined. (Much less inclined was 40.2 percent.)

Party identification does not drive that attitude. Respondents to this survey
considered themselves Democrats (45.5 %), Independents (31.1 %) and Republican (14.8
%).
For most Machinists, the Democratic White House, Congress and Senate are seen as
turning their backs on the blue collar workforce. They are incensed by that turn of events.

"Don't stand too close to this volcano," warned IAM International President Tom
Buffenbarger. "This survey of 1,262 IAM members suggests the lava dome is about to
explode. Its pyroclastic rocks will fall on deserving and undeserving politicians alike.

http://www.goiam.org/publications/pdfs/03_18_2010_Magma.pdf

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This union official clearly has his fingers on the political pulse of his membership. Most other top union officials are mainly keeping their fingers crossed hoping it doesn't blow.

[saracat]

1. Huge difference in the opinion of the rank and file and the Leadership.

This proves it. The machinests aren't fools and they know they don't benefit by the deals.

[Better Believe It]

2. Except in this case the Machinist union leader and his members seem to be in sync