As we speed down the road of losing government as we know, due to "contracting out", a puzzling concept whirls in my mind. If conservatives want smaller government that "gets off the "backs of citizens", why do they want to contract it out? If every position in the federal government were contracted out, the impact would be the same, the cost would be more, it would simply be different people doing the work. Logic dictates if they believe the laws are bad, change the laws.

So, if contracting out is no more efficient or effective, usually cost more and does nothing to get the "government off the backs of the citizens" what purpose does it serve?

It must be to bolster the economy, so let's examine that concept. If a government employee is taken out of the position and a private contractor hires someone, there is no job gain, just a different name on the unemployment check. The government employee usually makes more money (the contractor gets paid more, but the private employee doesn't) and has benefits, the private employee doesn't. So therefore the private contract employee doesn't spend as much at local stores, usually has less health care, so this doesn't help the local economy much. So what could be the answer. I am afraid that, and I am ashamed to say it, it must be just to make money for a few wealthy private contractors.

This issue is proudly dedicated to 1st` Sgt. Brian Murphy, shop steward at MSHA Pittsburgh Health Technology Center who was called up for active duty with the Army and Brian Johnson long‑time union member with the Philadelphia Wage and Hour Office who was called for duty with the U. S. Coast Guard.

May God watch over them and bring them back safe. The two Brians join an illustrious list of Local 644 officers, stewards and members who have served their country in all branches of the Armed Services in war and peace from World War I to the present.

Jim Weyrauch
President
Philadelphia, PA
215 597 5183

Dave Berestecky
Executive Vice President
Pittsburgh, PA
412 395 4718

Sigmund Kozierachi
Treasurer
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 861-5336
 

THE UNIONIST PAGE 2

Craig Dotson
Vice President ETA/BAT/Job Corps
Pittsburgh, PA
412 395 5037

John Newby
Vice President MSHA M/NM, Safety Coordinator
Manchester, NH
603 666 7691

Cindy Peist
Vice President OSHA
Allentown, PA
610 776 0592

John Savine
Vice President MSHA Coal
Hunker, PA
724 925 5159 Ext. 118

Dave Havrilla, Vice President, ESA
Greensburg, PA
724 837 2981

THE UNIONIST IS PUBLISHED BY LOCAL 644 AFGE, NCFLL, AFL-CIO

With the help of Local 644, the employees and members of the union in Norfolk's Longshore office again participated in the Salvation Army's Dress-­A‑Bear and Stuff‑a‑stocking campaign for Christmas 2002. The office sponsored 60 bears and 200 stockings.

The bears supplied by the Salvation Army are dressed and returned for distribution to local children. While all 60 were any child's dreams, the staff was especially fond of Liberty Bear, Firefighter Bear, Police Officer Bear, Surfer Bear, Native American Bear, Baseball Bear, Ballerina Bear, Football Bear, and, of course Bob‑the‑Builder Bear.

The 200 stockings were stuffed for children from ages 4‑14. There, were stockings for pre‑schoolers, Barbie lovers, Hot‑Wheel lovers, young artists and game lovers. There were dress‑up stockings with bright jewelry and tiaras and boa and puzzle stocking for the industrious. There was even a Power Puff Girl stocking for one young fan.

Over all, the Salvation Army in Hampton Roads VA was able to assist 7,129 families in providing a happy holiday for 18, 059 children who may otherwise have gone without. While the Norfolk Longshore office and AFGE were a drop in the bucket, so to speak, it only takes drops to make an ocean.

www.ncfll644.org

Jim Weyrauch, Editor

(215) 597-5183
(215) 597-5172 fax

THE UNIONIST is a participating member of the International Labor Communications Association, the Pennsylvania labor Communications Association and the AFGE Editors Association and prescribes to the required code of ethics of each one.

In addition to a change in address or name change members need to notify local 644 if there is change in pay status such as Leave Without Pay or a temporary promotion.

The dues deductions stops but Local 644 still is paying the per capita to all the various union structures unless we put a stop order on it.

Then let the union know when you return so you can be reinstated to all the union structures.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS OR NAME

Name and change (if any)

Street address

City, state and Zip code

Telephone number

THE UNIONIST PAGE 3

DAVE HAVRILLA IS ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT FOR ESA

Dave Havrilla, shop steward, Pittsburgh, office of Wage Hour won the special election for Vice President, ESA. His term of office begins immediately and he serves Until the General Election, November 2004.

His primary duties will be the contact person for the stewards from ESA and to serve on the Local 644 Executive board.

It was a good election and candidates Dan McBride, OFCCP and Scott Royer; Wage Hour‑gave Dave a run for his money.

Election results will be provided to stewards for posting.

A1 Kamen's column in The Washington Post entitled "The GOP Home Shopping Network" noted that the founder of a large duct tape company gave more than $100,000 to the Republicans in the 2000 election cycle. Company sales tripled after Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge pushed the product to a panicked citizenry.

EASTER BASKETS FOR CHILDREN WITH AIDS WILL NOT TAKE PLACE THIS YEAR

The following e‑mail was sent to the Regional Executive Committee by Kate Dugan, RA, OPIA on March 7.

“It is with mixed emotions that I tell you the Easter Basket project has been discontinued. The Church as `moved in a different direction' and will not be doing the project this year. I'm sad about that."

"However over the past 8 years, the U. S. Department of Labor workforce, Jim Weyrauch and Local 644 and other NCFLL locals across the U.S., along with family and friends (and sometimes complete strangers) have contributed well over 5,600 baskets to the Children With Aids project. This is something to be proud of and I'm extremely proud to be part of an organization that is so kind, generous and caring. I extend my deepest gratitude o all of you." Kate.

Right on Kate! Local 644 shares your thoughts. And we are proud to have worked with you for the past 8 years. You brought joy to many sick children. Thanks for letting us help with your good works. We are all the better for it!

Some people know that so‑called "right‑to‑work" Laws weaken unions and depress wages. But did you know that these laws reach far beyond wages, and hurt communities?

Twenty‑two states have such laws, which make it illegal for workers and employers to negotiate union Security clauses, ‑‑‑ even though once a group of workers vote in a union, the union must represent everyone, whether they pay dues or not. As a result, unions have inadequate resources to represent workers and wages are lower ‑ particularly the wages of Latino and African-American workers.

But quality of life is also a casualty in states where "right‑to‑work" laws are on the books. As reported in the AFL‑CIO magazine

• In "Right-to-Woork" states 2l percent more people are without health insurance than those in free‑bargaining states.
• "Right‑to‑work" states spend $1,699 less per elementary and secondary pupil than other states.
• The infant mortality rate in "right‑to‑work” states is 171 percent higher than other state and the poverty rate is 12.5 percent compared to 10.2 percent in other states.
• The rate of workplace deaths is 51 percent higher in "right‑to‑work” states.

The Department of Labor giveth and the Department taketh away. DOL representatives announced in late December new federal disclosure regulations that would affect all unions with more than $200,000 in annual revenues... most of the nation's major unions. The rules require unions to reveal more details about expenditures on administration, political lobbying and action, strike benefits, and other activities, expanding the provision of the Labor‑Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. John Sweeney, President AFL‑CIO denounced the new rules as aimed at weakening unions and as a payback for labor support of Democrats in the 2002 election ...

THE UNIONIST PAGE 4

The American Federation of Government Employees ( AFGE) is still determined to organize airport workers employed by the Transportation Security Administration, despite an order from the head of the TSA than bans collective bargaining for all of its its 56,000 workers . AFGE sys some workers have been forced to work 21 hour shifts and many have had paychecks delayed by months.

AFGE filed a lawsuit in federal court Jan. 10, 2003, challenging TSA's decision to deprive airport screeners of their right to organize, one of the most basic American freedoms.

"TSA officials do have the authority to deprive workers of their rights to join a labor union," said AFGE President, Bobby Harnage, " TSA's broad and highly questionable personnel authority does not include taking first Amendment rights."

More than 1,000 workers at the National Imagery and Mapping Agency(NIMA) were told in late January that their rights rights to bargain collectively have been abolished, "based on what happened since 9/11", according to the agency's general counsel.

NIMA was created in 1996 by pulling together

Personnel from eight defense and intelligence agencies. Among N1MA job titles are cartographers, digital imaging specialists and data management specialists. Legally, the agency director has the authority to abolish bargaining when the jobs change and affect national security.

But Bobby Harnage, president of the American

Federation of Government employees, said, "NIMA's mission has not changed, since the agency was created.

" We are here to remind the Director that the fight against terrorism , in which federal employees have always been on the front lines of the homeland, is about preserving our freedoms‑‑including our right to organize‑‑‑not destroying them, Harnage, told the Washington Post.