Union workers' anger may give Gephardt a boost

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

http://www.centredaily.com/mld/centredaily/news/7357595.htm

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - (KRT) - Don't tell Jerry Nowadzky about the glories of free trade. All he knows is what happened to his last two factory jobs: One went to China, the other to Mexico.

These days, Nowadzky stocks grocery store shelves. He earns half the $20-plus an hour he made before.

"The wages aren't there," said Nowadzky, 49. "The benefits aren't there. The vacation. You don't have nothing anymore."

The core support for Missouri Rep. Dick Gephardt's campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination - blue-collar labor unions - is rooted among people such as Nowadzky in places such as Cedar Rapids, an eastern Iowa city that thrived on union wages during the post-World War II industrial boom.

Many factories across Iowa are closed now, and many good-paying jobs moved overseas. By one reputable estimate, Iowa has lost as many as 30,000 jobs because of trade treaties such as the North American Free Trade Agreement. More than 1,200 people are memorialized on "walls of shame" in Cedar Rapids, where the names of the laid-off appear on banners hanging in Machinists Local 831 and Teamsters Local 238 halls.

Many say the promised transition to new-economy jobs never materialized. Those who still have good manufacturing jobs fear theirs will go next.
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[pistoff democrat]

1. It's one thing to get the endorsement

of two large unions' leadership, but maybe the rank and file would be more inclined to vote Dean if Gephardt is chosen as VP. :shrug:

[La_Serpiente]

3. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[pistoff democrat]

4. Thanks

So glad to be here for the BIG year!

:toast:

[Don_G]

2. I Can't See Union Members

Voting for anyone wearing a pink tu-tu. Gephardt's had his chances to help the average American and blew them big-time.