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US transport workers’ rally gets broad backing
24 May 2007
 |  |  view larger image | | | Thousands of workers attend the IAMAW day of action in Washington DC | |
A massive rally of transport workers in the US, who were confronting the Bush administration over its damaging transport policies, received widespread support from a broad range of allies last week.
Among the backers of the event was Senator Hillary Clinton. She, along with two other presidential candidates, addressed thousands of transport workers who joined the rally in Washington DC. Organised by the ITF-affiliated International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) on 17 May, the rally saw workers representing more than a dozen unions come together to declare “Enough is enough”. Over the past six years transport workers have lost their jobs and seen benefits cut as a result of policies introduced by the Bush administration.
Senator Clinton thanked workers for “keeping America going” and stated: “America is best when we set goals for ourselves and then we roll up our sleeves and get to work together. But too many people in our country today, they almost feel invisible to this president.”
IAMAW International President Tom Buffenbarger added: “Hundreds of thousands of workers lost jobs, pensions and health care while chief executive officers and senior executives gorged themselves with outrageous compensation packages. It’s time for a president who isn’t deaf and blind to this kind of rampant injustice.””
Ingo Marowsky, ITF Civil Aviation Section Secretary, who also addressed the rally, promised to promote the message internationally: “We need united workers, marching together for a brighter and healthier transport industry nationally, and even more so internationally.
“Whenever your union calls, we are there, we stand by you around the world. This is the pure and simple message we have. This is the true spirit of international solidarity.”
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