[ En Español ]

JOHN J. FLYNN President International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers .............................

Don’t Forget the Economy
January - February 2003

Nightly news updates on the threat of war and heightened states of alert over terrorism have caused many to lose sight of what’s happening on the home front. War and terrorism concerns are on everyone’s mind. It’s definitely a new and more unsettling world in which we live and work. But the threat of war is not the only challenge. On the home front, working men and women are facing sky rocketing health care costs and greater economic uncertainty.

The Bush Administration is offering little in the way of solutions for the country’s domestic problems. Instead, the Administration is using the public’s pre-occupation with the war to push through a political agenda that benefits the wealthy over working families, protects corporations and threatens the existence of unions, and does nothing to address the health care crisis facing the country. Benefits and working conditions that were hard won by union members, such as health benefits, Social Security, and over-time pay, are currently in jeopardy.

The failure to institute meaningful reforms on Wall Street, to help states facing huge budget deficits, and to provide relief to the millions of Americans without access to affordable health care are taking a toll on the economy. Since this Administration took charge in January 2001, the country has witnessed a massive drop in the stock market value: the S&P 500’s value has dropped by 34 percent and NASDAQ had declined by more than 51 percent. In addition, flawed trade policies sent more jobs out of the country. In 2002, the U.S. trade deficit hit a record $435 billion — 16 percent higher than in 2000. The stock market, trade deficits, and economic uncertainty have spilled over to the construction industry. During the last two years, the value of nonresidential construction declined by 20 percent, and construction unemployment shot up from 6.7 percent in December 2000 to 10.9 percent in December 2002.

Just as we need to stay focused on world issues, we cannot lose sight of pressing domestic issues. For the first time in a decade, we are seeing private and public projects being delayed or put on hold. And at the bargaining table our negotiating committees are facing the difficult challenge of negotiating wage and benefit increases large enough to give our members their well-deserved raises, while still maintaining health benefits. More than any time in recent years, your Local officers and negotiating committees need your support, and we need you to stay informed and vocal about domestic issues.

At home and abroad we need policies that unite, not divide. We need policies that offer economic opportunity for all, not just the privileged few.

If you have ideas for stories or issues of concern, let us know by emailing us at askbac@bacweb.org or writing to:

International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers
Attention: Communications Department
1776 Eye Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006