International Brotherhood of DuPont Workers

Jim Flickinger - President     

Tony Davis - Vice President

Donny Irvin - Secretary/Treasurer 

Kenneth Henley - General Counsel 

"Workers Representing DuPont, Bemis and INVISTA Workers"

From IBDW President -

Jim Flickinger

August 2010

There is no doubt that all workers clearly understand that life is now at the most difficult time it has ever been in their lifetime. For many of us, it is very unlikely that we will live long enough to see life as it was before this economic collapse.

We can only work, hope and pray for better times for our children and grandchildren.

During this time, the difference between the “haves” and the “have nots” has became even more vivid. Top executives and managers continue their lavish life styles while the workers, if lucky enough not to have been laid off, struggle to make ends meet.  Those who do remain employed are working harder and longer hours and, in most cases, for less money and greatly decreased benefits.

For most workers, there really is no good life.  Workers now have serious doubt about the “American Dream”, a dream of leaving their children better off than they were.

For the most part, regardless of company logo or the name of the company, the top executives take care of each other while always putting the burden on the workers. 

During these hard times, workers numbers are slashed, wages reduced, benefits taken away and they are told all of this is necessary to put their plant or company in a more competitive position.

Ok.  Workers understand that hard times sometimes requires hard decisions, but these hard decisions should apply to everyone, not just the workers!

Workers alone should not bear the responsibility of keeping plants running and companies profitable. This should be a shared responsibility.  Workers should not see their numbers cut to the point that they seriously wonder if all the work can be performed with such low numbers, while seeing little to no reduction or impact on the top management.

Lets face it, the cost of any company is at the top.  Workers make just a small fraction of the huge salaries enjoyed by top executives.  Reducing the numbers of top executives can save numerous workers.  The top executives know this but don't want to shake up their good thing. The “I got your back” attitude among top executives is great for them, but within most companies no one has the workers backs.

The only advocate workers have (yesterday, today and especially tomorrow) is their union - if they are lucky enough to have one. Without a union, workers have no voice and things will only get worse.

Some may ask how can things possibly get worse.  As bad as things are, just ask yourselves what could have happened if there were no unions. The answer is simple.  Companies would have no push back and would have free reign to do anything they wanted.  There would be no one to challenge them.  I never thought in my 32 year working career that I would see things this bad.  I never thought workers would have to endure what they are being put through. Workers need to have the same attitude as the managers - “I will protect your back and you protect mine”. We do this with unions.

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