Friday, April 18, 2014

Today's Teamster News 04.18.14

Teamster News
Teamsters Urge Investor Support For Changes At Swift Transportation  teamster.org   ...“The inability of Swift’s board to rein in CEO Moyes from pledging tens of millions of shares of Swift Transportation stock as collateral for personal loans or hundreds of millions of dollars in related-party transactions between Swift and Moyes-controlled businesses has put investors at risk and raises serious questions about the true independence and effectiveness of the company’s directors,” said Ken Hall, General Secretary-Treasurer of the Teamsters Union...
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan is up to union-busting  teamster.org   ...The pension plan, which is funded by contributions by and on behalf of Ontario’s unionized teachers, is waging a ruthless, vindictive campaign of harassment, intimidation and threats against U.S. workers of a company it owns: Exal...
Animal activism is great. Why can't we get as loud on (human) workers' rights?  Guardian   ...Save the horses? How about save the horse carriage drivers? It's time to focus on the everyday abuse endured by actual people...
In Defense of New York’s Carriage Horse Industry  Brooklyn Magazine   ...It’s the carriage drivers who are concerned, first and foremost with the welfare of the horses...
Wabasha County Board Spars Over Social Media, Union Ad  Rochester Post Bulletin   ...What began as a review by Wabasha County board members Tuesday of a policy on use of social media drifted into a far ranging disagreement over who has been attacking whom, and whether the board chairman condoned a recent Teamsters ad...
Port Drivers File Complaint Over Working Conditions  The Times Herald   ...Port truck drivers who ferry goods from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for Total Transportation Services, Inc. today will urge the Port of Los Angeles to address what they contend are "serious hazards" in working conditions at the Carson company...
Trade
Malaysia stands firm on TPP ahead of Obama visit  Nikkei Asian Review   ...The Obama visit will not serve as pressure to sign the pact, Malaysian International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said last month. The country's opposition to reforms setting conditions for competition between state-owned and private businesses is one reason for the stalemate in negotiations...
Workers Strike at Shoe Factory Over Benefits Dispute  New York Times   ...Tens of thousands of workers at one of the world’s largest shoe manufacturers are continuing a strike in the southern Chinese city of Dongguan in a dispute over benefits...
U.S. Agrees To Let Japanese Tariffs Stand On Rice, Wheat  The Japan Times   ...The United States has agreed to allow Japan to retain tariffs on rice and wheat, government sources said Thursday during bilateral talks related to the wider Pacific free trade negotiations...
State Battles
Mississippi Governor Signs 3 Bills Placing Limits On Labor Union Activities  The Republic   ...Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed three bills to limit union activities in Mississippi, saying he hopes they strengthen the state's reputation as a place where organized labor has little influence...
War On Workers
Sallie Mae Cheated Soldiers On Federal Student Loans, Government Investigators Find  Huffington Post   ...Federal investigators have uncovered evidence that Sallie Mae cheated active-duty soldiers on federal student loans, according to people familiar with the matter...
NYS Attorney General Issues Subpoenas to Least Lawyered-Up High Frequency Traders  Wall Street on Parade   ...Why not ask the three big stock exchanges, the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and BATS to hand over the names of all high frequency traders to whom they have sold expensive perks that have the effect of rigging the stock market against the average investor.
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Koch Brothers Net Worth Soars Past $100 Billion  Huffington Post   ...Charles and David Koch hit a milestone on Wednesday, as a $1.3 billion boost to their collective fortune sent their net worth above $100 billion, according to Bloomberg News...
Postal Union Fights Staples Partnership 'A Big Step Toward Privatization'  Huffington Post   ...On a recent Saturday morning, 500 protesters poured out of a parade of school buses, signs and megaphones in hand, and tried their best to shame a single Staples store just outside Chicago...
Some Exempted From Minimum Wage, Increased Or Not  Philly.com   ...Some low-paid workers won't benefit even if a long-shot Democratic proposal to raise the federal minimum wage becomes law. More than a dozen categories of jobs are exempt from the minimum, currently $7.25 an hour...
About 400 Chicago Concrete Truck Drivers Go On Strike  Chicago Tribune   ...About 400 concrete truck drivers walked off their jobs on Tuesday and Wednesday after rejecting a proposed labor contract with the Northern Illinois Ready Mix and Materials Association...