General
Electric recently merged with Wabtec, a rail equipment manufacturer, in a deal
that was worth more than $11 billion.
Let me
be very clear: Wabtec is a profitable company that is expected to bring in
nearly $8 billion this year – doubling its revenue as a result of the merger.
They had enough money to provide over $120 million in payments to executives at
Wabtec and General Electric, including a $16 million handout to Wabtec's CEO,
Raymond Betler.
Yet
Wabtec refuses to treat its workers fairly and in fact wants to undermine the
progress won under their existing union contract.
Union
workers in Erie, Pennsylvania who were previously employed by General Electric
now must renegotiate with Wabtec. As of today, they are on strike to fight back
against Wabtec’s plan to cut pay, mandate overtime, and undermine job security.
We
cannot and will not allow powerful companies like Wabtec to undo decades worth
of progress on workers' rights.
I am
proud to stand in solidarity with the 1,700 locomotive manufacturing workers in
Erie who are currently on strike to keep the pay and benefits they have won as
union members. But I cannot do this alone – it is important that we join
together to show our support for these workers as they demand fair
negotiations.
Add
your name to join me in calling on Wabtec CEO Raymond Betler to let workers
negotiate a fair and equitable collective bargaining agreement.
The right to organize as part of a union has historically been one of the surest ways for American workers to join the middle class. The security of a union job provides good pay, benefits including health care, and the ability to have a voice at work.
One of
the biggest reasons for the disappearing middle class is that the rights of
workers to join together and collectively bargain for better wages, benefits,
and working conditions have been severely undermined.
But
workers in Erie, Pennsylvania, are coming together to fight back by going on
strike.
The
greed of corporations like Wabtec has got to end. And one way we can stand up
to their greed is by showing we stand with Erie workers who are courageously
fighting back against their CEO.
The
billionaire class and large corporations in this country must learn that they
cannot have it all. Thank you for joining this fight to send them a message
that they can't ignore.
In
solidarity,
Bernie
Sanders
Paid
for by Bernie 2020
PO
BOX 391, Burlington, VT 05402
