Kucinich speaks out in support of Delphi workers

[eridani]

http://kucinich.us/archive/home/display.php?src=k_20060411_qrycuv_zlgu.cuc

Congressman Kucinich spoke out strongly in support of Ohio auto workers last week in Congress.

Speaking on the House floor, he charged Delphi's CEO with inflating labor costs. "Delphi doesn't pay $65 an hour... Delphi's media consultants ... lump together all of Delphi's labor costs and payments to unemployed and retired workers, but falsely allocate them only to Delphi's much smaller workforce. That inflates the average labor cost. Actual average wage for current Delphi workers is about $23 per hour."

Betty Payer of Parma put it this way: "The way the auto industry is going affects us in so many different ways. If my husband was to lose his job, we would not be able to raise our children properly. I don't even know how we would be able to give them the proper education. We can barely afford to buy them clothes and get them the things they truly need the way it is. My oldest son is getting ready to turn 3 and he needs speech therapy and physical therapy the way it is. Without insurance, we would not be able to take him to those because we cannot afford to pay for them. He has to go once a week until they see an improvement in him."

Kucinich also blames national policies for our widening trade deficit and plant closures. "If Delphi's CEO is notorious for his drive to beat down the wages and benefits workers have won through their unions and impose a wage scale that is more in line with that of China, then he has been greatly helped by the official policy of the United States, both in terms of trade law and labor law."
His comments launched a series of reports from Democrats on the Committee on Education and the Workforce from an e-hearing on "The American Automobile Industry in Crisis." Tim Ryan (OH-17) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) also reported constituents' responses in their districts.

Kucinich called for Congressional efforts to to protect our industry and our auto workers. "We can make sure that the playing field is level so there is fair competition in the auto industry."

[cyclezealot]

1. Dennis always makes me proud

few in COngress speak up for the American worker as does Dennis.Question. Does not Dennis Kucinich have a web site other than his COngressional re-election site, for his national following.?

[eridani]

2. The re-elect site is supposed to be for his national following

www.kucinich.us

His congressional website, http://kucinich.house.gov/ , is not supposed to be used for campaigning. The moderators at the re-elect site have been trying to talk hime into being less internets shy, but to no avail so far.

[cyclezealot]

3. after his presidential bid

he had maintained a national information site, seperate of campaign activities, i had thought.?

[eridani]

5. He decided to have the congressional re-elect site buy it n/t

[Zorra]

4. Good. That makes one rep speaking out for workers. Isn't this

what Democrats are supposed to do?

DK in'08.

[LWolf]

6. Thanks, DK.

:thumbsup: