President Bush plans to speak at an Omaha plastics factory today to sell his message that his tax cut plan will put money in workers' pockets. But some workers at the factory, Airlite Plastics, are complaining that Mr. Bush's speech will have the opposite effect.þþThey are unhappy because Airlite's chief executive, Brad Crosby, has announced that more than 300 hourly workers might lose all or part of a day's pay unless they work next Saturday to offset the time lost when the plant closes for the speech.þþAn Airlite spokesman said in a telephone interview last night that most workers would be given four options when the plant is partly closed for one and a half shifts during the speech: They can take an official day off whether or not they attend the speech and make up the work on Saturday to receive full pay. They can use a paid vacation day. They can work their regular shift in part of the plant that will remain open. Or they can take an unpaid day off.þþThis does not apply, however, to the 15 people who work in the area of the plant where the president will speak, the spokesman said last night. They will receive their regular pay.þþThe spokesman said Mr. Crosby was not available for an interview. But Mr. Crosby told The Associated Press: ÿRight from the beginning, we didn't want to see anyone take a cut in pay. We're just trying to be completely fair.ÿþþThe company's decision not to pay most of the workers during the Bush visit was first reported on Friday in The Omaha World-Herald. The newspaper said a man who said he was an Airlite employee, but did not give his name, complained to an editor in a voice mail message that some longtime employees would lose more than $130 in pay.þþÿIt's not a great thing for us employees,ÿ the man was quoted as saying. ÿWe're losing a lot of money because of his visit. His speech is supposed to be about what the family can get from his tax breaks. It doesn't really make sense.ÿþþThe Airlite factory, a new nonunion plant near Eppley Airfield, employs 570 workers and makes 1.3 billion plastic cups and lids a year for yogurt, cream cheese and other dairy products. Mr. Bush will speak at a new plant addition that makes molded plastic coolers for shipping medicine and steaks.þþMr. Bush's visit to Nebraska is one stop in an intense campaign to sell his tax cut plan to Americans. White House strategists say they decided to have Mr. Bush speak in Omaha to pressure Senator Ben Nelson, a Democrat, to support Mr. Bush's call for a $550 billion tax cut.þþMr. Crosby told The Associated Press that he had not spoken to any employees who disliked the options. ÿI think the overwhelming majority of our employees are just very excited about seeing the president,ÿ he said.þþ
Source: NY Times
