larry_cohen

Welcome everyone. It’s great to be talking with so many CWAers about the issues that are important to all of us. We’ll be live until 12:45, so let’s get started.

Question

McCain keeps talking about a $5000 tax credit to "allow people to shop for their own health insurance." With premiums exceeding $1000/ month and more just exactly how much and what kind of health coverage will anyone be able to get for that $5000?

larry_cohen

Not great. There would be huge deductibles and co payments.

Question

Several members asked about prospects for a single payer health care system. This question was from a state worker in the Midwest. Why is CWA not pushing hard to convince the AFL-CIO and the Obama camp that single payer health care (H.R. 676) is the only real reform for the health crisis? Didn’t the delegates just recently endorse single payer at the convention?

larry_cohen

We strongly support H.R.676. It was one of three bills that were cited in the CWA convention resolution among pending legislation that address CWA’s key principles for health reform: 1) Universal coverage; 2) Control costs; 3) Improve quality of care; 4) A strong government role; 5) Broad-based financing so all employers pay their fair share. We’ll continue to push for bills that meet these principles. We do have some concerns with the funding, currently HR 676 is based on a payroll tax. We believe it needs much broader funding. Barack Obama agrees with these principles and is committed to preserving our contractual health benefits. John McCain does not, and in fact his plan to force workers to pay federal and state income taxes on employer-provided benefits would be a hardship for our members and would encourage employers to drop their coverage and make the situation worse.

Question

I saw the letter that Obama sent to Northwest flight attendants and am happy that he'll be appointing the next governing board of the NMB. I'd like to know what, if any, steps similar to EFCA will be taken to help out airline/railroad employees under the Railway Labor Act?

larry_cohen

The railway labor act itself is not the main problem, as you said it is the 3 member board. Once a new chair is appointed we should have 2 of 3 supporting workers’ rights. The NMB can order a yes-no ballot for example. For the longer term we do need to amend the law as well.

Question

Both candidates' health plans rely heavily on the insurance industry's efficiency reforms, which includes cost shifting to patients and doctors. Can you elaborate on how CWA will help to educate the members to become better health customers?

larry_cohen

CWA has a health care campaign that relies on hundreds of trained coordinators across the US working with stewards and then members on health care reform. We also depend on our active members to move our employers "off our backs" and onto our side so they are working with us on reform rather than demanding cutbacks.

Question

We already know we are supporting Barrack Obama, but what I would like to know; Is why we haven't heard any reference to Unions or EFCA in the debates? I believe this would connect union members, and drive them to the polls to vote.

larry_cohen

Good question. In part the answer is that with just 1 in 8 US workers with bargaining coverage most viewers would not know what Employee Free Choice means. There have been references to union jobs but we do need to push harder to get our candidates at every level to connect rebuilding the middle class and workers rights to bargain and organize.

Question

I'm a Verizon tech in the Northeast. What can we do as a union to secure our jobs for the long term, when the company is doing everything they can to automate, outsource and move more overseas?

larry_cohen

Our ability to fight for our jobs depends on our bargaining strength. At Verizon for instance, it means working to tear down the wall between union and non-union areas, such as we are beginning to do at Verizon Business, to grow our power. The elephant in the room at Verizon is the growing, non-union Wireless operation where the company is fiercely anti-union. That brings us to the absolutely critical need to enact the Employee Free Choice Act to help millions of non-union workers win collective bargaining rights throughout our CWA industries and sectors and across the U.S. workforce. To build a movement for employee free choice, health reform and all of our other goals, we absolutely must elect Barack Obama and strengthen the pro-worker makeup of the Senate.

Question

How is the Global Fiscal Mess impacting the NJ Public Employees Retirement System?

larry_cohen

Pension plans both private and public will continue to decline as markets decline. We are proposing a rescue for pension plans and in fact such a plan should have been done at least along side rescuing banks. We need to build our clout more so our voice is heard.

Question

How will workers ever recover the nearly 2 trillion dollars lost in retirement accounts; and how many will have to postpone retirement because of the governments mess-up?

larry_cohen

We are unlikely to recover the lost market value in retirement accounts. This is why we need to make social security work and also fight for defined benefit pension plans. Every other democracy guarantees at least half of pre retirement income in retirement. In the US this percentage keeps dropping.

Question

What are the major points of the CWA policy roadmap for the next administration?

larry_cohen

First is Employee Free Choice, so workers can organize and bargain and we build a broader base for more progressive change. Just as important is that we build discussion around much deeper health care reform so we can guarantee health care coverage at the same level as other democracies to all Americans. Third we need trade policy that will encourage US employment instead of giving away our jobs. That's a good start.

Question

What will the candidates do about all the jobs that are going offshore?

larry_cohen

Speaking just last week in North Carolina, Obama cited AT&T’s opening of a new customer center in Goldsboro, N.C., where jobs have been returned from other countries, and told a rally: "I will stop giving tax breaks to corporations that ship jobs overseas. I will start giving them to companies that create good jobs right here in America – jobs just like the 400 union jobs that AT&T just created over in Goldsboro based on their pledge to return outsourced work to our shores." John McCain supported tax breaks for corporations investing abroad and has voted for every free trade agreement that has come along during his 26 years in Congress.

Question

How can we connect the current economic crisis with the need for stronger unions in the US?

larry_cohen

For 80 years policy makers have understood that collective bargaining means a better deal for workers and creates demand for goods and services. The US has been moving in the opposite direction making it nearly impossible for working Americans to gain collective bargaining coverage. In short, more union workers means more bargaining power and better pay. This in turn raises our buying power and stimulates the economy far better than another rebate.

Question

I’m a retiree. Why do you assume that all members, past or present are in lockstep with the love affair the unions have with the Democrats?

larry_cohen

You identified yourself as a retiree. Strictly in terms of your own economic interests, take a look at where the presidential candidates stand on the issues that will affect you, directly. Social Security: as recently as March 2008, McCain was advocating privatization of Social Security, agreeing with President Bush that it was a good idea. That doesn’t look like such a good idea after the markets have lost more than $7 trillion in wealth this year.

And you may have heard John McCain say last night that the US won’t be able to pay future retirees the level of Social Security benefits that retired Americans now get. This is the worst kind of scare tactic, because there are many things that can be done to ensure the long term strength of Social Security without cutting benefits, especially for those who depend on Social Security for their retirement security. Medicare: John McCain’s campaign just a couple days ago said there would have to be cuts in Medicare under his health care plan. And that’s on top of the cuts announced last week by the Bush administration, so that even basic things like mistakes made in a hospital – an urinary tract infection which is very common in a hospital stay, for any patient, let alone seniors, won’t be paid for by Medicare. That leaves retirees on the hook. Health care: If you’re a pre-65 retiree from one of the major telecoms, your health care (for you and a spouse) is valued at $16.808. Under McCain’s health care plan, that $16,808 will be included in your income. You’ll get a $5000 tax credit but that doesn’t make up for the new taxes you’ll pay. My point it: when we look at the issues and look at how working people will fare under an Obama administration or a McCain administration, the answer is clear. Obama supports and believes in unions, McCain believes in right-to-laws. And the list goes on and on.

Question

what will the candidates do for the citizens that got caught up in the predatory mortgage practices? We have a bailout plan for the comanies that caused the current crisis. It's time to help the people that got hurt by this crisis.

larry_cohen

Short answer is we need to raise income. The Employee Free Choice is the single best way since union workers will earn more. This will help existing union members as well since we will no longer be confronted by employers talking about non-union competition as a main reason why union employers cannot pay more.

Question

I am working as hard as I can to elect Obama, banging on doors in New Hampshire, etc. I think he is going to win. How do we keep from demobilizing after Jan. 1 and getting the disappointments we had with Clinton on things like NAFTA, the repeal of Glass Steagle, etc?

larry_cohen

We keep organizing. We are building a political movement not a movement for one election. We stay focused on our 4 core issues, and organize more workers as part of the run up to a vote on the Employee Free Choice Act. In short, we keep doing what you have done for decades--organize in our workplaces and communities!

Question

In the new contract with Verizon , there is a 2 million dollar fund, and a committee to look into our mutual concerns over health care. The good news is for once a corporation is looking at it realistically, as a mutual problem . Do you think they are serious about finding the common ground and implementing a new strategy?

larry_cohen

I think they are serious but our mobilization remains primary. We must build a climate across the US for deeper health care reform. Our strategy does not rest on employer agreement but it is important.

Question

The labor movement internally seems in disarray - what are the prospects for bringing it back into a more unified voice.

larry_cohen

Good prospects. Immediately after Nov 4 we will begin to focus on building unity between unions and a stronger labor movement. The new labor movement will depend more than ever on mobilization of union members where they live. We need to make that easier, not just for elections but for organizing and bargaining support. This is not a new idea but it is an idea worth fighting for!

Question

Have you been invited to meet the candidates?  Thankfully our Virginia Governor supports unions.

larry_cohen

Governor Kaine has been a progressive voice in changing Virginia. I have met Governor Warner many times, our endorsed candidate for the Virginia Senate. More importantly Governor Warner has met with our members including those in Lebanon who organized through majority sign up at the ATT center there. They compared their union job to the nearby Walmart where there is no health care to speak of and very low pay. CWAers across the country regularly meet with the candidates and stay with them after the election as we work for change.

Question

Larry, I've been speaking at Obama find raisers, Stonewall Democrat meetings, and other Dem groups around Dallas. I've focused my talks on Health Care and EFCA. Is there any advertising being done on radio, tv or newspapers to support EFCA? I've only seen anti-EFCA ads.

larry_cohen

Yes we have helped raise $5 million for cable news ads supporting Employee Free Choice. The Chamber of Commerce and its front groups will always raise more. That's why our million member mobilization is so important. CWA alone has signed up nearly 100,000 members committed to working for EFCA passage as soon as this election is over.

Question

I’m a veteran and I’m proud of my service. I’m not sure how Obama will treat veterans. I know that McCain respects our service.

larry_cohen

This is a great question, because there is a clear difference between Obama and McCain on support for veterans and you might be surprised at the answer. Obama requested assignment to the Senate’s Veterans Affairs Committee; McCain has never served on the Veterans Affairs Committee in his 26 years in the Senate. Obama pushed for benefits for veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; McCain originally opposed these benefits, saying it would result in too many people leaving military service. Obama was a key supporter for increased medical benefits for veterans; McCain voted to cut or slash health care funds for veterans at least 29 times.

Question

What is our answer to the conservative argument, that EFCA takes away the democratic right of secret balloting? I do not agree with this argument, but I don't know the answer.

larry_cohen

First the NLRB election process continues. With EFCA it is up to the workers themselves whether to use the election process which means the employer can campaign in the workplace against representation in every conceivable way. But with EFCA workers have the same choice that employers have had for more than 100 years. With a majority, workers can ask for and get union recognition and bargaining rights without the opposition of an employer campaign. In virtually every other democracy it is understood that bargaining should not be tied to an employer dominated election campaign. Employers in the US won't admit that they have no interest in elections without the right to campaign against representation. They use their so-called free speech rights to campaign for weeks inside the workplace against bargaining. Employers have had the right for years to recognize based on majority union support. EFCA would give workers the right to decide

Question

What Mr. Obama will do to restore working conditions and pay to all airline workers that have been forgotten?. All that is mentioned after Sep/11 is Wall Street investors losses. What about flight attendants and pilots working almost for free? Does any government agency "really" checks the conditions under which we fly nowadays?

larry_cohen

A critical part of the election of President is the appointing authority of the president This authority includes the 3 members of the National Mediation Board who administer the bargaining law for airline employees. It also includes the Federal Aviation Administration which controls conditions on aircraft and sets minimum standards.

Question

Unfortunately, we all know there is still a lot of racism in this country. I'm shocked at some of things I've been hearing. What can we say to CWA members who say things like, "I just don't trust Obama" or "I heard he was a Muslim/terrorist" or (in some cases, more honestly): "I can't vote for a black man."

larry_cohen

Fortunately most Americans are tired and disgusted with racism. For CWAers it is obvious that when we are on strike or organizing our workplace it is all of us together or we have nothing. In this election the African American candidate has been with us when we organize and when we are on strike. The "white" candidate opposes organizing and has never supported a strike. So when we ask "Which side are we on" the answer is the union side and race is not the question that gets us the right answer it is what we stand for that counts or we will have no union.

Question

Between now and the election, what can CWA members do to help get out the vote?

larry_cohen

Talk to our coworkers--next week we are focused on workplace discussions on the key issues. This is most important since it makes no sense to fight at the bargaining table for our rights, our jobs, our health care and our retirement and not fight for these same issues when we elect candidates to office. Second we can get on the phones and walk our neighborhoods making sure that these issues are the key ones when union members and friends and neighbors vote!

larry_cohen

This election year, we have a tremendous opportunity to break from the policies of the past eight years and elect a government that truly supports working families. Will we be stuck with four more years just like the past eight of the Bush administration, marked by declining wages, moving jobs overseas, corporate handouts and union busting. Or will we elect Barack Obama and Joe Biden who will work with unions and American workers. CWA is engaging union members on the important issues that affect our families every day. We want to elect a president who supports working people, who respects union workers, who has a solid plan to restore our economy and our role in a changing world. If you want to be a part of this movement for change, contact your local union, and join in a worksite action, volunteer for a phone bank or participate in a labor walk between now and Election Day, Nov. 4.

larry_cohen

Thanks for joining me! Check back later for the full transcript.