Tom Buffenbarger, retired general president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers spoke with America’s Work Force about Boeing Airline opening up a repair facility in South Carolina and using non-union labor.
On the Nov. 26 episode of AWF, Buffenbarger expressed his disappointment in Boeing Airlines for opening up a Boeing manufacturing and repair facility in South Carolina and hiring non-union workers. He said that South Carolina is a So-Called “Right to Work” state and Boeing deliberately chose the location to avoid having a union come into their facility. One of the major issues Buffenbarger had with Boeing doing this is that having a union like the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers in the facility ensures work is done properly and safely, and to the highest quality with the best oversight. Without a union in the facility, regulations aren’t held up to the standards they should, there is a lack of quality control, and lack of enforcement on safety. Buffenbarger also spoke about a retirement security conference that discussed the Pension Benefit Guarantee.
Sam Allard, senior writer at the Cleveland Scene Magazine discussed one of his articles talking about the organization Towards Employment, and the racial wealth gap in Ohio. T.E helped 940 people find and secure jobs based on their skills rather than their prior education. Allard said it was reported that of the previously mentioned 940 workers, the African-American workers were receiving 49 percent of what their white counterparts were making. He talked about discrimination in the labor market and what needs to be done to close the wage inequality and gap.
AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc spoke about American Airlines workers fight for $15 an hour minimum wage and the $26 million McDonald’s has to pay in claims for skimmed wages.
Smeltz, who has been sober for 18 years, talked about his story of addiction and recovery. He said that one thing that helped take his mind off of the drugs and alcohol during his recovery was martial arts because it required a level of focus and discipline which helped his mind not wander and fixate on drugs or alcohol. Smeltz started a nonprofit called Clean House, which works to help other addicts through their recovery by offering support groups, meditation, martial arts and computer classes. By using “transitional housing,” people learn discipline, stress and anger management, concentration, discipline and mental stabilization which in turn helps them during their recovery process.
Buffenbarger spoke about President Trump appointing Eugene Scalia as the new Labor Secretary. He stressed that having Scalia as the Labor Secretary could hurt working people in some pretty big ways. One way being a change in pension plans and 401ks, potentially taking away what people have worked their whole careers to build up. Buffenbarger then discussed the second week of the General Motors United Auto Workers strike. Workers benefits are being wiped away, and workers are now in charge of their own health insurance now. He also said there appears to be no progress on getting a contract drawn up between the workers and GM.
Jon Reiss, Executive Director of the Cuyahoga County Veteran Services Commission spoke with AWF on Sept. 24 about the services that they offer veterans. Some of the services include Veteran Administration and pension program assistance. They also help veterans who are struggling with food, housing or utility bills. Lastly, Reiss talked about single use plastic bag bans at grocery stores.
Buffenbarger first discussed President Trump wanting to purchase Greenland and how he would have to use money from social security to be able to do that. A major problem with that is it would put people’s future at risk by investing, and potentially losing, money that they put aside for themselves to be able to use after retirement. Buffenbarger then went on to talk about employees who were illegally fired from Boeing for being in support of unions and unionizing. He said that workers who were seen wearing union memorabilia, as well as workers who were known to be pro-union, were terminated from their jobs and how that is against standards set by the National Labor Relations Board. Buffenbarger said that corporations need to be held more responsible for actions like this and need to understand that workers have the right to organize if they want to and it is illegal to interfere with the process.
Buffenbarger discussed Boeing Company outsourcing their software programming to India where workers are earning nine dollars an hour. There are many things wrong with this situation, according to Buffenbarger. He said that the workers are non-union, and nowhere near as thoroughly trained with the software as IAM members are. This is a safety hazard, not just to the workers, but also to the people who will fly on these planes. One major complaint that Buffenbarger had about Boeing outsourcing software programming, other than not using trained union members, is that it is an obvious stunt to increase profits. By outsourcing, they are saving money on labor, and thus increasing their potential profits. Lastly, he spoke about the newly elected leader of the Department of Labor, Eugene Scalia, and what he thinks the future of American workers will be with him in charge.
Buffenbarger talked about Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, applying for a board of director position with 
