Apr 6, 2006- Delphi Workers' Voices From the Frontlines
HON. MARCY KAPTUR
 OF OHIO
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
THURSDAY, APRILÂ 6, 2006
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Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, tonight I rise on behalf of both current andretired Delphi workers in my district andaround our Nation who are suffering from the financial woes of the largestautomotive parts manufacturer in the country. Unfortunately, these Delphi workers are but the latest victims in a series oftragedies for the American worker. What we are currently witnessing, thebankruptcy and subsequent reorganization of Delphiis the fallout from regrettable trade agreements like NAFTA, and CAFTA, and theaccompanying influence of some elected officials who are for globalized bigbusiness at the expense of the American people, big business built on lowwages, no benefits, and no worker safety.
Job loss is also due to major auto firms' leadership and executive boardswho failed to make fuel efficient vehicles that Americans and the world want tobuy. So our workers suffer.
Delphi's most recent proposal is to lowerwages from $27 an hour to $22 an hour through 2007, and then to $16.50thereafter. This would be a 40 percent cut in middle-class wages.
On Friday, Delphi filed a motion inbankruptcy court asking a judge to void its labor contracts. But how can youask American workers to compete with a country like Japan which keeps its marketsclosed, the second largest market in the world? How can you ask our workers tocompete with poverty level wages in Mexicoand China?And how can you ask our workers to compete when big firms outsource everythingto avoid paying workers what they justly deserve?
Late last year, Congressman George Miller, ranking member of theEducation and Workforce Committee, took the initiative to hold hearings on thissubject.
I want to make sure this evening that many of the workers' voices from mydistrict are heard, like Mary Pat Bishoff of Marblehead, who said, ``My husbandis 49 and has 32 years in at Delphi. He got sick and has been off sinceOctober. With only 5 years left on our first mortgage and 8 years on thesecond, we had to refinance and take them up to 30 years just to survive. Thiswill force us to pay $733.11 a month instead of the $152.11 we were paying. Weare faced with a decision as so many others are, should he retire and risklosing his pension? Or, if he stays and they cut pay, that means sick pay willalso go down and we will lose our home.'' What kind of a choice is that?
David Saylor of Port Clinton said, ``I retired from the GM assembly plant atLordstown, Ohioin December of 1987, with the promise I would have complete health carecoverage for life. Well, I will now have to pay $21 monthly, and that willgreatly impact me since I took an early retirement and do not have the full30-year retirement benefit.''
Raymond Stahl of Vermillion, Ohiosaid, ``They are shutting down the plant I work at and are moving it. Now I amout of a good paying job, and at my age it is going to be hard to even getanother job let alone one that pays so well. America comes first, notoverseas.''
Andrew Briscar, another Ohioan, said, ``I worked very hard for 20 years atthe Delphi Packard Electric to get to a point where I can make a comfortableliving for myself and my son. Now Delphi Packard Electric wants to cut my payand benefits to a level that a young man or woman might make just coming out ofhigh school.''
Mr. Speaker, workers who dedicate years of service to a company should beable to count on a decent retirement and measure of economic security. ThisCongress must step up with meaningful pension reform to help secure pensionsand encourage companies to continue providing them.
The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation should have been reinfused withfunds long ago with its $23 billion deficit, and we ought to be renegotiatingtrade agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA that continue to cash out good Americanjobs. Opponents said these jobs would go south, and they surely have, with GMnow being Mexico'sbeing largest employer. And it is no surprise that companies like Delphi, GM's biggest supplier, are following them.
I have spoken with Delphi management, and our delegation is doing everythingpossible to keep these Delphi jobs in America, but we need a majority ofMembers here dedicated to that purpose. I have invited Chairman Steve Miller ofDelphi to tour the Sandusky Delphi facilityand to meet with key employees and public officials, and he has yet to take meup on that offer.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage the Members to sign on to the Balancing TradeAct of 2005 which I have introduced to ask our trade ambassador to come back tous with recommendations to write all of these trade deficits that we areincurring with other trading countries around the world. America simplymust put ourselves back in a positive trade balance status.