Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Today's Teamster News 05.07.13

Austerity Has Cost The U.S. Economy 2.2 Million Jobs: Study  Huffington Post   ...There are more than 2 million unemployed Americans who might have jobs today if not for austerity...
Across The Country, Renters Are Getting Crushed By Housing Costs  Business Insider   ...In the grand scheme of personal finances, your take home pay is like an apple pie. Your bills are the hungry flock of kids banging their fists on the table to get their share. For renters in America, housing is usually the hungriest of the bunch...
Unemployment Benefit Cut Adds to Drag on U.S. Spending: Economy  Bloomberg News   ...Dentral Smith had to say no when her granddaughter asked for a treat on the way home from school. The government’s cut in unemployment payments leaves her with less spending money...
Online sales tax bill seen stalling in House  Chicago Tribune   ...Observers expect legislation that would give power to U.S. states to collect sales tax from online purchases will stall in the House. The Senate is expected to vote on the bill Monday although it has little chance of survival in the House, controlled by Republicans highly opposed to new taxes...
Koch Brothers Bought America's Universities, Now the Billionaires Want to Buy Our Free Press (opinion)   Huffington Post   ...The conservative oil tycoon billionaires, Koch Brothers, are after our free press and the newspapers that could serve as a broader platform for their conservative ideology. Newspapers provide our country with information and coverage that is essential for democracy. This is not a business investment for the billionaire brothers...
N.Y. to sue Bank of America, Wells Fargo over alleged violations of mortgage deal Washington Post   ...New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said Monday he intends to sue Bank of America and Wells Fargo for failing to help struggling homeowners under the $25 billion national mortgage settlement...
Wisconsin Bill Would Treat Organic Milk, Sharp Cheddar, Brown Eggs as "Junk Food"  PRWatch   ...Wisconsin ranks 44th in the nation for new job creation. Rather than rolling up their sleeves and finding new and innovative ways to help create jobs, the Wisconsin legislature is spending its time telling people needing food assistance what they should be eating...
Illinois Constitution may impede pension reform effort  Reuters   ...A House-backed plan to repair Illinois' underfunded pension system, that would increase employee contributions while reducing benefits, may face a Constitutional challenge...
Sanford, Colbert Busch Poll Shows South Carolina Candidates In Tight Race  Huffington Post    ...Days ahead of Tuesday's special election for South Carolina's open congressional seat, a new poll shows former Gov. Mark Sanford (R) gaining momentum on Democratic rival Elizabeth Colbert Busch, erasing the strong lead she posted in a previous poll...
Chris Christie rakes in $6.2 million  Politico   ...New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has raised just under $6.2 million for his reelection bid, his campaign announced Monday...
Despite reluctant GOP surrender, unions vow to fight Right to Work in Ohio   PR NewsChannel …Two bills that could’ve made Ohio a right-to-work state in both the public and private sectors were stalled in the legislature just hours after they were introduced. Now hundreds of thousands of union workers in the state, many of whom have watched Michigan’s struggles, are being urged to view these recent developments as a wakeup call despite the outcome…
Hoffa: ALEC's War on Workers  Huffington Post   ...Corporations are upping the ante in their attempt to take control of the political process. Under the guise of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the nation's most powerful are drafting legislation that is appearing in statehouses across the country. And the target is not just union members, but the entire middle class...
Massachusetts Firefighters Join Teamsters Local 170  IBT   ...They put their own lives at risk to protect the citizens of Webster, Mass. Now, the 41 part-time firefighters with the Webster Fire Department have their own protection—Teamster representation...
Video: Equal pay issue earns Teamster support for Staten Island City Council candidate Mendy Mirocznik  Staten Island Live   ...For his vocal support of what he called "equal pay for equal work," Democratic Mid-Island City Council Candidate Mendy Mirocznik Monday earned the endorsement of Teamsters 237, which represents school safety agents...