Job security topped the list as the most important public policy issue for ILWU members, according to a survey of 122 unit leaders who attended training classes this year. The “Member to Member Survey” asked people to list the biggest concerns facing working families.
Responses ranged from the environment to crime and taxes, but “Job Security” consistently appeared as an important issue in most of the completed surveys and had the highest score of 62. “Health Care” came in a close second with a score of 60. “Wages” also scored fairly high at 37. Education and Social Security trailed in fourth and fifth place with scores of 28 and 21.
Economic uncertainty
Why do workers fear for their jobs? Where does this growing insecurity come from? A number of trends and events, including September 11, made it clear to everyone how interdependent our lives have become and how global events can change our lives in Hawaii. The Asian monetary crisis which weakened many of our companies with Japanese roots; the collapse of Enron and the loss of billions of dollars in pension fund money; the roller coaster stock market; the increasing corporate buyouts and the resulting layoff of workers; government trade policies that threaten our sugar and pineapple industries; the loss of tourism and hotel jobs after September 11. All of these have affected our jobs and lives in Hawaii.
Concern about job security
Union members have a collective bargaining agreement which gives them far more job security than nonunion workers. Unorganized workers who have no union protection are employed “at-will” which means they can be fired for any reason or no reason. For the non-union workers, there is no such thing as job security.
Yet, even a union contract can fail to protect jobs in certain situations. Most changes of ownership and management are fairly routine, where all workers continue their employment and the new owner agrees to sign on to the existing collective bargaining agreement. However, union members are particularly vulnerable during an abnormal change of ownership, where the new management refuses to recognize the union and the existing collective bargaining agreement. Employers can get around the law if they fire all the workers and hire less than half of the original workforce.
This has happened at a number of ILWU companies with the most recent case being the Hawaiian Waikiki Beach Hotel. The previous owner of the hotel went bankrupt and the property came under new management in a foreclosure sale. All employees were terminated and the new management hired only a handful of the former workers. This is the main reason the ILWU went to the State Legislature to propose a law which would require a new owner to keep the existing workforce.
Worker Retention
The Worker Retention Bill (SB 2118) pointed out that because of “growing global interdependence” the State’s economy is affected by “financial distress in other geographical regions.” This has caused changes, transfers of ownership, and divestitures of companies in Hawaii and sometimes the abrupt and unexpected unemployment for the employees of these companies.
The bill went on to conclude, “The public interest of the State is best served by seeking to ameliorate the financial and social problems caused by these economic dislocations and resultant unemployment. Therefore, the retention of incumbent workers furthers the State’s interest in providing stable employment to its residents, uninterrupted and efficient service for its visitors, and a healthy consumer base for its businesses.”
In its final form, the proposed law on Worker Retention would require a new owner to keep at least 50 percent of existing, nonsupervisory employees. The bill passed in the House of Representatives with the vote split along party lines—31 Democrats voted in favor and 18 Republicans voted against the bill (2 representatives were excused from the vote). In the Senate, the vote was tied at 12 yes and 12 no (one senator was absent)—nine Democrats joined the three Senate Republicans to vote against the bill. The law nearly passed—it failed by a single vote.
Political Action Important
The widespread concern about job security and the fate of the Worker Retention bill is one more example of why union members should support their union political action programs. One more vote and the Worker Retention bill would have passed. Your vote in support of union endorsed candidates can make the difference the next time. Register to vote. Make sure every eligible member of your family is registered to vote.
American workers pay more, get less in healthcare
Americans pay more for healthcare than the people of any other country in the world. healthcare spending in the U.S. for the year 2001 is expected to reach $1,542 billion or $5,200 per person.
This is more than twice what is spent by other developed, industrial countries, with the single exception of Switzerland, which spends about $2,800 per person. It is two times what Norway, Germany, Canada, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Denmark, Iceland, Australia, Belgium, France, Austria, Italy, Japan, or Sweden spend for their medical care.
With the most expensive healthcare system in the world, Americans should be the healthiest people on the planet. Not so. A 1999 study of 191 countries by the World Health Organization ranked the U.S. at #24 in terms of the overall quality of health of its people and #37 in terms of the overall performance of its healthcare system. Japan had the healthiest people and France had the best performing health system—all this for about $2,400 per person, half of what we pay in the U.S.
The average quality of health of a country was measured in terms of a disability-adjusted life expectancy. The US ranked #24—far behind Japan at #1, Australia #2, and France #3. In terms of the fairness of child survival, the U.S. ranked #32— Chile came in #1, the United Kingdom was #2, and Japan was #3. In terms of fairness of financial contribution, the U.S. ranked a poor #54. Columbia ranked #1, Luxembourg #2—Belgium, Denmark and Djibouti were tied at #3. The three best healthcare systems in terms of overall performance were—France #1, Italy #2, and San Marino #3.
Canada outperforms U.S.
Even our closest neighbor, Canada, outperformed the United States in almost all categories. Canada ranked #30 in overall performance, while the U.S. ranked #37. Quality of its peoples’ health put Canada at #12, while the U.S. was #24. Canada was #18 in terms of fairness of child survival for all income groups, while the U.S. ranked #32. The cost of Canada’s health system was #10, while the U.S. was the most expensive at #1.
Many retired Americans are taking advantage of the lower cost of Canada’s healthcare system by buying their prescription drugs in Canada at up to 60-80% less then what it costs in the United States. This is for the same brand name drugs, manufactured by the same companies. In states near the Canadian border, thousands of senior citizens, who often lack drug coverage, charter buses and organize group trips to Canada to fill their prescriptions.
Canada keeps medical costs down with a publicly-financed, privatelydelivered healthcare system. It is essentially a national health insurance program, which is financed by tax dollars and administered by the provincial governments. Each provincial government then negotiates with private companies to provide healthcare services to all Canadian citizens at little or no charge. As the only buyer of healthcare, the government has the bargaining power and leverage to control costs. It is also a very efficient system with far lower —continued on page 3