Friday, March 15, 2013

Today's Teamster News 03.15.13

Pelosi open to looking at Obama proposal to cut Social Security  The Hill   ...House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that she'll consider Social Security cuts as part of a sweeping deficit-reduction package...
MSNBC ending Ed Schultz's weekday show  Politico   ...Sources at MSNBC told POLITICO that that was a very generous interpretation of events. Schultz was pushed out to make way for new talent, they said...
Companies Are Putting Sensors on Employees To Track Their Every Move  Business Insider   ...Sociometric Solutions has created tracking devices for Bank of America, Steelcase, and Cubist Pharmaceuticals Inc., and is in talks with General Motors...
Census: Record 1 in 3 US counties are now dying  Associated Press   ...A record number of U.S. counties — more than 1 in 3 — are now dying off, hit by an aging population and weakened local economies that are spurring young adults to seek jobs and build families elsewhere...
Cities Weigh Taking Over From Private Utilities  New York Times   ...Across the country, cities are showing a renewed interest in taking over the electricity business from private utilities, reflecting intensifying concerns about climate change, responses to power disruptions and a desire to pump more renewable energy into the grid...
Could gold be the next Libor scandal?  Guardian   ...London's financial sector was last night bracing itself for another official investigation into alleged price-fixing following reports that a US regulator is considering launching an inquiry into the City's gold and silver markets...
New Poultry Plant Rule Would Give Food Inspectors 1/3 Of A Second To Examine A Chicken  ThinkProgress   ...A new food inspection rule proposed by the US Department of Agriculture would let poultry plants conduct their own inspections, removing federal food inspectors from the assembly line...
Corporate-Approved State Bills Kick Low-Wage Workers While They're Down  In These Times   ...Most of the anti-worker bills were proposed by lawmakers directly linked to ALEC and include language that echoes that of "model legislation" developed by ALEC. Among the proposals are measures to undercut minimum wages for teenage workers, restrict overtime pay and repeal or ban local laws to improve working conditions...
GOP lawmakers criticize unions for move to rush pacts into place before right-to-work laws start  Michigan Live   ...Push back against local schools and universities for approving lengthy contracts prior to Michigan’s right-to-work taking effect has caught the attention of administrators at Grand Rapids Public Schools, according to the president of the district’s teachers union...
Teamsters Oppose Legislation That Will Damage Florida Retirement System  IBT   ...Public employees in Florida converged on the state Capitol today to protest proposed legislation that would harm the Florida Retirement System (FRS). More than 20,000 Teamsters who work as police officers, correctional officers, and public school employees would be affected by the drastic changes in the legislation, HB 7011...
Kasich’s Development Director Departs Amid JobsOhio Financing Scandal  Plunderbund   ...a spokesperson for the Development Services Agency refused to answer questions from reporters about $5.6 million in development grants to JobsOhio that circumvented the Ohio Legislature and the Controlling Board...
Montana Legislature: Bill seeks tax increase for wealthy, cut for rest  Associated Press   ...A Helena Democrat is waging a longshot bid to persuade the Republican-led Legislature to accept a tax hike for those earning more than $150,000 in taxable income...
Committee OKs new restrictions on state workers' union  KnoxNews   ...A bill putting new restrictions on the Tennessee State Employees Union — enough to disable or eliminate many of the organization’s functions, according to a TSEA official — won approval of the House State Government Committee on Wednesday...
General Cable Threatens Workers' Jobs During Contract Negotiations  Local 727   ...Teamsters Local 727 representatives are fighting to stop global giant General Cable from closing its Des Plaines, Ill., plant, where 70 workers voted last August to join the Teamsters...
Sacramento Coca-Cola plant to close  Sacramento Business Journal   ...Coca-Cola Co. said Wednesday it plans to close its Stockton Boulevard production plant, costing 60 jobs. The world’s largest beverage company (NYSE: KO) must negotiate with Teamsters Local 150, but expects to shutter the plant at 2200 Stockton Blvd. by mid-summer...
Concord reaches contract with largest union eliminating furlough days  Contra Costa Times   ...the tug-of-war between the city and its largest union has ended with a deal eliminating a controversial furlough program and restoring pay for city workers for the first time since the economy plummeted. The city council unanimously approved the contract with 150 city workers represented by Teamsters Local 856...
Teamsters declare impasse with Hernando County  Tampa Bay Times   ...The Hernando County administration and the Teamsters Union representatives tried on Thursday to reach an agreement about how much weight seniority should carry when making hiring decisions. They couldn't...