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October Commentary from George Spiro Dibie It is a Time to Stand up and be Counted Like all of you, I have spent many sleepless nights thinking about the horrific hate crimes that occurred on September 11. More than 6,000 innocent people were butchered in these violent crimes against humanity. Most of us experienced this disaster filtered through the eyes and ears of the media. Still, we feel hurt, saddened and worried about the future. Propagandists for the killers claim they did it because they hate Americans and despise our values. That is why it is so important for us to remember who we are. We are a nation of immigrants. Most of our ancestors came to this country to find freedom and opportunity. There is no freedom without opportunity. I can personally testify to that. I immigrated to America seeking the freedom and opportunity to practice my art. We aren't a perfect society. We still have our share of problems, but we are the envy and the hope of everyone in the world who craves freedom and opportunity. I am proud of the way Americans reacted to this hate crime. I am proud of the firemen, policemen and ordinary people who risked their lives attempting to save the victims of these crimes. I am proud of the way that we have pulled together as a nation. People in every part of the country, from all of our diverse religions, and racial and ethnic backgrounds, have stood together as one nation. There are important lessons we should learn from this dreadful experience. One lesson is that all of us are in the same boat, whether we are rich or poor, male or female, whatever our racial and ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs happen to be. In the aftermath of September 11, our national government acted remarkably fast to repair some of the damage done by the murders. One of the things they did was pass legislation providing $20 billion to help rescue companies in the airline industry whose future was jeopardized by the crimes. Five billion dollars will go to American Airlines alone, mainly shielding shareholders from financial losses. Unfortunately, a few days later, some 900 reservation clerks employed by the airline received e-mails advising them they were immediately terminated without severance pay, health care or other benefits. Almost all were women, and many of them had been employed by the airline for 15 to 20 years or longer. Unlike most other employees outside of management, the reservation clerks didn't belong to a union, so they were vulnerable and defenseless. That doesn't speak well for the management of American Airlines. I hope they rethink their disgraceful behavior. They owe a debt to the workers who made their company successful. I also urge our government to intervene and set aside part of the $5 billion dollars designated for American Airlines for the reservation clerks. They are also victims of the crimes perpetrated by the Bin Laden gang. They deserve fair severance pay, transitional health care and assistance in finding new careers. If we were a perfect society,
perhaps corporate managers would be innately fair and we wouldn't need
unions and guilds. Unfortunately, that's not the way human nature works.
Our Guild provides tangible benefits that are the fruits of collective
bargaining, including health and life insurance, a pension plan and reasonable
working and safety conditions. We are working with other guilds to stem
the tide of runaway production. We offer members many educational initiatives
and opportunities to showcase their talent. But that's just what is evident
on the surface. There are also heroes and heroines on our staff, who are
fighting the hard battles everyday with the main goal of providing the
freedom and opportunity necessary for our members to practice their art
and craft to their fullest potential. Now, more than ever, it is important
for us to pull together and rededicate ourselves to our great nation and
to the values it represents. Now, more than ever, it is important for
us to stand by our brothers and sisters in our Guild and speak with one
voice. It is a time for each of us to stand up and be counted. As always, I
look forward to your comments and suggestions. Please e-mail
them to me. George Spiro Dibie, ASC |