Obama makes new NLRB nominations USA Today ...President Obama fulfilled his part of a Senate deal Tuesday to avoid major changes in the filibuster rules, making two new nominations to the National Labor Relations Board. Obama put up Nancy Schiffer, associate general counsel at the AFL-CIO, and Kent Hirozawa, chief counsel to NLRB chairman Mark Pearce...
Cordray Confirmed as Head of Financial Watchdog, After Long Wait New York Times ...Republicans agreed to allow the confirmation of Richard Cordray, by a vote of 66 to 34, cementing a new era of expansive federal oversight of companies that lend money to consumers...
Greeks take to streets again amid general strike over job cut plans The Guardian ...Tens of thousands of Greeks took to the streets on Tuesday as unions, protesting controversial plans to slash 25,000 public sector jobs, brought the country to a standstill in a fourth general strike this year...
Native American tribes’ lawsuit could decide who controls Senate in 2015 The Hill ... A high-profile lawsuit on the voting rights of Native Americans could help determine control of the Senate in the next Congress…
Fitzpatrick begins push to certify, label American-made products Philadelphia Business Journal ...Congressmen Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) introduced legislation that would encourage consumers to buy more U.S.-made goods. The America Star initiative would be similar to the popular Energy Star program that certifies energy-efficient appliances...
Department of Justice slaps Gallup with $10.5M fine Politico ...Gallup Organization has agreed to pay the government $10.5 million to settle a false claims case against the company for allegedly inflating cost estimates in government contracts. The Justice Department announced the settlement, resolving a complaint originally brought under the Whistleblower Protection Act by a former Gallup director of client services...
FEEA overwhelmed with furlough aid requests Federal News Radio ...Federal workers hit by furloughs are increasingly applying for aid from the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), a nonprofit organization that provides emergency loans to feds who have trouble meeting basic living expenses...
Wal-Mart faceoff with DC fuels minimum wage debate Associated Press ...The bitter standoff between Wal-Mart and District of Columbia officials over the city’s effort to impose a higher minimum wage on big-box retailers is fueling a wider debate about how far cities should go in trying to raise pay for low-wage workers — and whether larger companies should be required to pay more...
Rotunda Announcement: “Any participants or spectators are subject to arrest” blue cheddar ...today the Capitol Police announced that the people singing in the rotunda from noon to 1 P.M. were “Unlawfully Assembled” and “any participants or spectators are subject to arrest”...
New Report: Unions Shield Workers—and States—Against Recession In These Times ...The report’s findings strongly suggest that the decline of unionization has played a considerable role in the increase of income inequality in Illinois, which can in turn slow economic growth. The report also suggests that lags in union membership put a strain on the social safety net, sapping resources that could otherwise be invested to speed the state's recovery...
Halliburton fined in North Dakota after Duluth worker’s death Duluth News Tribune ...For the first time, oil industry giant Halliburton has been cited for workplace safety violations in North Dakota. A release issued Monday by the U.S. Department of Labor detailed two “serious safety violations” levied against the energy giant in relation to the Jan. 19 death of a Duluth man at an oil rig site...
Hawaii hotel workers could be in line for millions in tips KHON2 News ...The Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled Monday that a class action lawsuit against certain hotels “can” move forward with a class action suit that could eventually mean thousands of employees are due millions of dollars in lost tips...
Photo ID Law on Trial in Pennsylvania: What's at Stake for Our Democracy Huffington Post ...PA’s photo ID law which mainly affects the elderly, disabled and poor people is being challenged by the ACLU...
Bay City Commissioners approve new Teamsters contract for 9 supervisors Michigan Live ...Bay City commissioners approved a new contract for nine City Hall managers, who are represented by Teamsters Local 214...
Buffalo Teamsters Reach Tentative Agreement With Rural/Metro Medical IBT ...Early yesterday morning after 21 hours of negotiating, Teamsters Local 375, which represents the 400 EMTs and paramedics working at Rural/Metro medical services, reached a tentative agreement for a new 4-year contract that includes a wage increase and benefit improvements...
