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The Bush Record
 President Bush has led the country for over three years, ample
time to establish a record on issues that affect working Americans.
During that time, workers have found themselves fighting to
protect principles like the eight-hour day, the basic health of the
Medicare system and prevailing wage laws, all while enduring high
unemployment and reduced prospects for finding work.
The following is a compilation of article links posted on the
IBEW web site throughout the Bush presidency.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
The Bush administration has used the war on terror and national
security to curtail the bargaining rights of thousands of federal
employees while allowing private employers to run roughshod over the
rights of workers.
TRADE
A decade after NAFTA finds the United States industrial sector
further losing out to overseas competitors like China, where labor
comes cheap and laws and regulations to protect workers are almost
nonexistent. Congress in 2002 restored the so-called "fast track"
authority that gives the president even more flexibility to
negotiate trade pacts. The widespread corporate practice of
offshoring American jobs to places like India will likely be an
issue in this year’s election.
OVERTIME
A full year of lobbying by workers could not sway the
administration from its goal of stiffing hundreds of thousands of
workers of their hard-earned overtime pay. The labor department
issued its final rules for new overtime regulations in April 2004.
MEDICARE
Late last year, President Bush signed into law the most sweeping
changes to Medicare since the retiree health program was created in
1965. Most of its changes will not occur until 2006, when many
retirees are likely to be the losers.
HEALTH CARE
Health care costs have continued unchecked over the past several
years as drug companies rack up bigger profits. The rising cost of
medical insurance has emerged as one of the most contentious issues
in contract negotiations but the Bush administration and Congress
have done nothing to address necessary health care reform.
IN CONGRESS
A Republican-controlled Congress has acted more on the interests
of their corporate contributors than middle class America.
JOBS
Despite tax cuts and other economic policies supposed to create
jobs and jump-start a faltering economy, chronic unemployment
continues. Millions of Americans are out of work, job prospects
appear bleak and wage levels remain stagnant. Each day unemployment
benefits expire for more Americans. All this is happening at a time
of increased productivity, a measure that is supposed to bring good
times.
WORKING FAMILIES
The richest Americans have reaped the benefits of Bush’s lopsided
tax cuts at the expense of the middle and lower classes. Average
Americans are concerned about the economy, less secure in their jobs
and fearful about the escalating costs cost of health care.
LABOR DEPARTMENT
The federal department charged with protecting workers has under
President Bush turned on America’s workforce, advocating for
pro-employer policies while removing labor rights and safety
measures for workers.
PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS
One of the first actions President Bush took as he entered office
was to ban project labor agreements from federally-funded
contraction projects. The Building and Construction Trades, AFL-CIO,
fought the ban in court but ultimately lost.
DAVIS-BACON
The Davis-Bacon Act remains an essential foundation of a decent
standard of living for those working in the construction industry.
The law, which requires contractors on federally-funded projects to
pay prevailing area wages, keeps the construction industry
stabilized. But a Congress dominated by business interests has tried
to outlaw this legislation; the labor movement is constantly
attempting to save it from wholesale or piecemeal repeal.
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