NSA Leaker's Six-Figure Pay Should Spark Debate: Why Are Federal Workers Being Replaced With Pricier Contractors? Forbes ...Why is a 29-year-old high school drop-out making more as a low-level contractor than any senior manager in the federal government short of the President himself, and a very few other special category employees?...
Edward Snowden: Exhibit A for How Washington Blows Money on Contractors The Atlantic ...the government has outsourced huge chunks of its operations wholesale to private contractors like Booz Allen, particularly in the realm of intelligence gathering. And it's costing Washington untold billions every year...
Obama Hosts Peru’s Humala in Push for Pacific Trade Deal Bloomberg ...President Barack Obama called Peru one of the most reliable partners of the U.S. in the Western Hemisphere and said a Pacific region trade pact being negotiated will enhance the economic relationship...
Overdrafts accounted for 61% of bank fees in 2011, report finds New York Times ...Overdrafts accounted for 61 percent of the fees banking customers paid in 2011, according to a report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The bureau conservatively estimates that the banking industry made $12.6 billion in such fees...
Banks Seen as Aid in Fraud Against Older Consumers New York Times ...The pitch arrived, as so many do, with a friendly cold call. Bruno Koch, 83, told the telemarketer on the line that, yes, of course he would like to update his health insurance card. Then Mr. Koch, of Newport News, Va., slipped up: he divulged his bank account information. What happened next is all too familiar...
Federal agencies turning to UPS, Fed Ex instead of USPS for delivery needs Washington Free Beacon ...The U.S. Postal Service’s bottom line has been hit as the federal government has increased its contracts with publicly traded companies, and spends hundreds of millions of dollars each year for these services. The lion’s share of contracts has gone to the United Parcel Service (UPS)...
Employers: Pay your interns. Labor Department: Bust them if they don’t! Economic Policy Institute ...At a time when the real value of the minimum wage is well below the levels of the 1960’s (making entry-level workers quite affordable), when the weak labor market is forcing college graduates in record numbers to take jobs that don’t require a college degree and entry level wages for college grads are already substantially below the levels of 10 years ago, the exploitation involved in not paying employees anything at all is shameful and economically dangerous...
When it comes to open records, ALEC needs to be put in its place Cap Times ...Communications with Wisconsin legislators are open records under the state's long-standing openness laws and for good reason. Citizens have a right to know who is influencing the conduct and actions of their elected representatives...
Walmart CEO Mike Duke, Other Execs Face Dissent In Shareholder Vote Huffington Post ...Wal-Mart's final shareholder vote for its board of directors showed another year of dissent against key executives and directors, including its CEO Mike Duke, as the company deals with the fallout from overseas bribery allegations...
Residents shut out of packed Detroit emergency manager meeting; Reporters tossed out Michigan Live ...(Emergency Manager Kevyn) Orr ... spoke in the meeting about making full use of either his broad powers under the state emergency manager law or Chapter 9 bankruptcy to address the city’s finances...
Bill would give Michigan college grads tax credits for student loans Central Michigan Life ...A new bill working its way through the state Legislature in Lansing would give college graduates an income tax credit if they continue to live in Michigan...
OSHA targets industrial truck safety FleetOwner ...OSHA is launching a new program in Idaho that will emphasize safety when working with industrial trucks like forklifts and lift trucks. Investigations will begin this month identifying and evaluating hazards associated with using these trucks...
Foreclosure abuse victims in Virginia to get checks Associated Press ...Checks are going out this week to more than 22,500 Virginians participating in the national mortgage foreclosure settlement, said Attorney General Kenneth Cuccinelli...
Davidson County judge blocks Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to lay off state workers Chattanooga Times Free Press ...Gov. Bill Haslam's plan to lay off more than 200 state workers this month struck a pothole late Monday afternoon when a Davidson County judge issued a temporary restraining order after state employees filed suit...
Record Temperatures Bring Reminders of Heat-Related Illness from Cal/OSHA EHS Today ...With parts of California experiencing record-breaking temperatures, with some highs in in the triple digits, California’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is reminding employers and employees of ways to beat the heat...
Teamsters Lead The Charge On Behalf Of Women Teamsters Canada ...The Teamsters Union has decided to lead the charge on behalf of pregnant women whose jobs are governed by the Canada Labour Code. The union wants to ensure that these women continue to be paid if they have to take a preventive withdrawal...
Showing posts with label emergency manager. Show all posts
Showing posts with label emergency manager. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Monday, March 18, 2013
Today's Teamster News 03.18.13
Obama to announce Perez as labor secretary nominee CNN ...President Barack Obama on Monday will announce Thomas E. Perez, U.S. assistant attorney general heading the Justice Department's civil rights division, as his nominee for the next secretary of the Department of Labor...
Authorities: Mexican drug cartels are a Pennsylvania presence Philadelphia Inquirer ...federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities agreed Mexican cartels are the top wholesale suppliers of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine to the Philadelphia region...
Unions split on plans for Keystone XL pipeline Associated Press ...Many unions such as the Laborers International Union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Teamsters, the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO and others strongly back construction of Keystone, calling it a way to create jobs. But the Amalgamated Transit Union and the Transport Workers Union oppose the Keystone XL due to environmental concerns about the oil sands and potential pipeline spills...
Cypriot Outrage Over Tax Could Derail Euro-Area Bailout Bloomberg News ...Europe braced for renewed turmoil as outrage in Cyprus over an unprecedented levy on bank deposits threatened to derail the nation’s bailout. European shares and the euro tumbled...
New Reality: Generational Wealth on the Decline Fox Business ...People in their 30s and younger currently have a net worth half of what their parent’s had during the same age...
Richard Fisher Says Too-Big-To-Fail Banks Need To Be Broken Up Reuters ...The largest U.S. banks are "practitioners of crony capitalism," need to be broken up to ensure they are no longer considered too big to fail, and continue to threaten financial stability, a top Federal Reserve official said on Saturday...
Bills seek end to farm animal abuse videos Associated Press ...in a pushback led by the meat and poultry industries, state legislators across the country are introducing laws making it harder for animal welfare advocates to investigate cruelty and food safety cases...
Detroit protesters vow ‘civil disobedience’ in opposition to city’s emergency manager Daily Caller ...Hundreds of well-organized demonstrators vowing “civil disobedience” will greet Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s visit to Cobo Hall in Detroit Monday for an economic summit in order to protest Snyder’s selection of a powerful “emergency manager” to save the city of Detroit from bankruptcy...
Liquor privatization faces key vote citizensvoice.com ...One of the first major votes of this legislative session is scheduled for today, when a House committee considers Gov. Tom Corbett's proposal to privatize the state-owned liquor system...
Unions, business face off over Conn. wages bill Associated Press ...Companies receiving state economic development aid would have to pay benefits and wages higher than the minimum to janitors, security guards and other service workers in legislation being considered by lawmakers...
Authorities: Mexican drug cartels are a Pennsylvania presence Philadelphia Inquirer ...federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities agreed Mexican cartels are the top wholesale suppliers of cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine to the Philadelphia region...
Unions split on plans for Keystone XL pipeline Associated Press ...Many unions such as the Laborers International Union, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the Teamsters, the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO and others strongly back construction of Keystone, calling it a way to create jobs. But the Amalgamated Transit Union and the Transport Workers Union oppose the Keystone XL due to environmental concerns about the oil sands and potential pipeline spills...
Cypriot Outrage Over Tax Could Derail Euro-Area Bailout Bloomberg News ...Europe braced for renewed turmoil as outrage in Cyprus over an unprecedented levy on bank deposits threatened to derail the nation’s bailout. European shares and the euro tumbled...
New Reality: Generational Wealth on the Decline Fox Business ...People in their 30s and younger currently have a net worth half of what their parent’s had during the same age...
Richard Fisher Says Too-Big-To-Fail Banks Need To Be Broken Up Reuters ...The largest U.S. banks are "practitioners of crony capitalism," need to be broken up to ensure they are no longer considered too big to fail, and continue to threaten financial stability, a top Federal Reserve official said on Saturday...
Bills seek end to farm animal abuse videos Associated Press ...in a pushback led by the meat and poultry industries, state legislators across the country are introducing laws making it harder for animal welfare advocates to investigate cruelty and food safety cases...
Detroit protesters vow ‘civil disobedience’ in opposition to city’s emergency manager Daily Caller ...Hundreds of well-organized demonstrators vowing “civil disobedience” will greet Michigan Republican Gov. Rick Snyder’s visit to Cobo Hall in Detroit Monday for an economic summit in order to protest Snyder’s selection of a powerful “emergency manager” to save the city of Detroit from bankruptcy...
Liquor privatization faces key vote citizensvoice.com ...One of the first major votes of this legislative session is scheduled for today, when a House committee considers Gov. Tom Corbett's proposal to privatize the state-owned liquor system...
Unions, business face off over Conn. wages bill Associated Press ...Companies receiving state economic development aid would have to pay benefits and wages higher than the minimum to janitors, security guards and other service workers in legislation being considered by lawmakers...
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Today's Teamster News 03.17.13
Cyprus Savers Get Robbed By Eurozone Bail Out Economic Populist ...In the most brazen bail out deal yet, the citizens of Cyprus just had their savings seized to give the money to the banks...
Have You Heard of the TPP Yet? An Important Trade Agreement You Need to Know About Trade Reform ...The U.S. government is currently working with 10 other countries to negotiate the biggest trade and investment agreement (also known as a “free trade agreement” or FTA) in history. It is called the TPP, or Trans-Pacific Partnership...
JPMorgan’s Follies, for All to See New York Times ...the Senate report clearly indicates that JPMorgan Chase is too big to regulate...
The Progressive Movement is a PR Front for Rich Democrats Counterpunch ...The Progressive Movement that exists today is their success story...
Privatizing the feeding of Ohio’s inmates stirs fears Columbus Dispatch ...As many as 456 state jobs could be lost if food service is privatized, but the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said many employees would be offered positions with the private contractor...
Records: Detroit Emergency Manager Had Tax Liens Associated Press ...Kevyn Orr, Detroit's new emergency financial manager, had two outstanding liens on his $1 million home in Chevy Chase, Md., for $16,000 in unemployment taxes in 2010 and 2011...
Florida Senate, House pension bills far apart The News Service of Florida ...House and Senate committees staked out starkly different positions Thursday on how to overhaul the Florida Retirement System, complicating an already contentious battle over the future of public employees’ pensions...
Anchorage labor battle inches forward as mayor, unions hold firm Anchorage Daily News ...If adopted, the plan would limit pay increases, extinguish the right to strike and hand the final decision on stalled labor negotiations to the Assembly rather than a third-party arbitrator...
Scott Walker says he would consider run for president Washington Post ...Walker noted that he has set goals for lowering the state’s unemployment rate and that he’s still got a reelection campaign in 2014. He said both of those will come before any conversations about running for president...
Have You Heard of the TPP Yet? An Important Trade Agreement You Need to Know About Trade Reform ...The U.S. government is currently working with 10 other countries to negotiate the biggest trade and investment agreement (also known as a “free trade agreement” or FTA) in history. It is called the TPP, or Trans-Pacific Partnership...
JPMorgan’s Follies, for All to See New York Times ...the Senate report clearly indicates that JPMorgan Chase is too big to regulate...
The Progressive Movement is a PR Front for Rich Democrats Counterpunch ...The Progressive Movement that exists today is their success story...
Privatizing the feeding of Ohio’s inmates stirs fears Columbus Dispatch ...As many as 456 state jobs could be lost if food service is privatized, but the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction said many employees would be offered positions with the private contractor...
Records: Detroit Emergency Manager Had Tax Liens Associated Press ...Kevyn Orr, Detroit's new emergency financial manager, had two outstanding liens on his $1 million home in Chevy Chase, Md., for $16,000 in unemployment taxes in 2010 and 2011...
Florida Senate, House pension bills far apart The News Service of Florida ...House and Senate committees staked out starkly different positions Thursday on how to overhaul the Florida Retirement System, complicating an already contentious battle over the future of public employees’ pensions...
Anchorage labor battle inches forward as mayor, unions hold firm Anchorage Daily News ...If adopted, the plan would limit pay increases, extinguish the right to strike and hand the final decision on stalled labor negotiations to the Assembly rather than a third-party arbitrator...
Scott Walker says he would consider run for president Washington Post ...Walker noted that he has set goals for lowering the state’s unemployment rate and that he’s still got a reelection campaign in 2014. He said both of those will come before any conversations about running for president...
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Today's Teamster News 03.05.13
Vulnerable U.S. Dairy Industry Could Be Harmed By TPP Trade Deal IBT ...Congress should not approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal without carefully considering the impact on vulnerable U.S. dairy farms and workers. ... the Teamsters would not support any trade deal that provides lesser protections to workers than to corporations...
Regulators Crack Down on Classifying Workers as Contractors Wall Street Journal ...State and federal regulators have cracked down on companies in recent months by filing lawsuits against companies that classify workers as independent contractors...Targeted companies span the labor spectrum from construction and package delivery to trucking and exotic dance...
Obama taps Walmart Foundation head as budget chief NBC Politics ...President Barack Obama will nominate Walmart Foundation Sylvia Mathews Burwell to direct the Office of Management and Budget ... one of the most important jobs in the administration...
Banks Find More Wrongful Foreclosures Among Military Members New York Times ...The nation’s biggest banks wrongfully foreclosed on more than 700 military members during the housing crisis and seized homes from roughly two dozen other borrowers who were current on their mortgage payments...
Despite Colombia's measures, labor union officials' lives at risk Los Angeles Times ...Last year, about 20 union leaders were killed in Colombia, with few if any of the slayings resulting in arrests. In addition, 90 labor leaders were kidnapped and 431 labor leaders were threatened, according to CUT, the nation's labor umbrella organization...
Union contracts could be in crosshairs as Gov. Snyder intervenes in Detroit Fox News ...Michigan lawmakers tired of failed efforts to save Detroit from its long, slow decline are poised to appoint an emergency manager who will assume control of virtually all aspects of city government. And union contracts could be in the crosshairs...
GOP may punish Mich. schools that sign long labor contracts before right-to-work deadline The Republic ...Michigan public universities and K-12 districts that consider signing unusually long new contracts before the contentious right-to-work law goes into effect March 28 may have to think twice. Some Republican lawmakers with the power of the purse are threatening to limit their state aid and call them into the Capitol for an explanation...
Mo. Senate stalled on 'paycheck protection' bill Associated Press ...An effort to ban public employee unions from automatically deducting dues from a member's paycheck has been gaining momentum across the country, but Missouri Democrats were able to stall it — at least for now...
Critics assail reform plans for Arizona elections Arizona Republic ...One bill would pare down early-voting lists; another would make it more difficult to deliver other people’s ballots to polling places; and other bills would make it more difficult to place citizen initiatives on the ballot...
Walker Walks Away from "John Doe" Investigation, Pushes Budget Deal Only ALEC Could Love Center for Media and Democracy ...There is no doubt that Walker emerges from the scandal in a stronger position to advance his extreme legislative agenda and his plans for higher office...
Regulators Crack Down on Classifying Workers as Contractors Wall Street Journal ...State and federal regulators have cracked down on companies in recent months by filing lawsuits against companies that classify workers as independent contractors...Targeted companies span the labor spectrum from construction and package delivery to trucking and exotic dance...
Obama taps Walmart Foundation head as budget chief NBC Politics ...President Barack Obama will nominate Walmart Foundation Sylvia Mathews Burwell to direct the Office of Management and Budget ... one of the most important jobs in the administration...
Banks Find More Wrongful Foreclosures Among Military Members New York Times ...The nation’s biggest banks wrongfully foreclosed on more than 700 military members during the housing crisis and seized homes from roughly two dozen other borrowers who were current on their mortgage payments...
Despite Colombia's measures, labor union officials' lives at risk Los Angeles Times ...Last year, about 20 union leaders were killed in Colombia, with few if any of the slayings resulting in arrests. In addition, 90 labor leaders were kidnapped and 431 labor leaders were threatened, according to CUT, the nation's labor umbrella organization...
Union contracts could be in crosshairs as Gov. Snyder intervenes in Detroit Fox News ...Michigan lawmakers tired of failed efforts to save Detroit from its long, slow decline are poised to appoint an emergency manager who will assume control of virtually all aspects of city government. And union contracts could be in the crosshairs...
GOP may punish Mich. schools that sign long labor contracts before right-to-work deadline The Republic ...Michigan public universities and K-12 districts that consider signing unusually long new contracts before the contentious right-to-work law goes into effect March 28 may have to think twice. Some Republican lawmakers with the power of the purse are threatening to limit their state aid and call them into the Capitol for an explanation...
Mo. Senate stalled on 'paycheck protection' bill Associated Press ...An effort to ban public employee unions from automatically deducting dues from a member's paycheck has been gaining momentum across the country, but Missouri Democrats were able to stall it — at least for now...
Critics assail reform plans for Arizona elections Arizona Republic ...One bill would pare down early-voting lists; another would make it more difficult to deliver other people’s ballots to polling places; and other bills would make it more difficult to place citizen initiatives on the ballot...
Walker Walks Away from "John Doe" Investigation, Pushes Budget Deal Only ALEC Could Love Center for Media and Democracy ...There is no doubt that Walker emerges from the scandal in a stronger position to advance his extreme legislative agenda and his plans for higher office...
ABF Freight, Teamsters talks look to get in gear Kansas City Business Journal ...In the latest round of talks, which concluded last week, the two sides moved closer to an agreement, a Friday release from the Teamsters said. The statement said that ABF has withdrawn its initial proposal and now is negotiating based on the existing labor agreement...
CitationAir Forces Pilots to Work a Month for Free IBT ...CitationAir, the Greenwich, Conn.-based provider of luxury business jet and charter aircraft services, radically altered the work schedules of the company's nearly 230 pilots...Management's new schedule pattern now requires pilots to be available for duty eight consecutive workdays during each two-week period for an increase of 26 more workdays per year...
Teamsters issue strike notice to sanitary district Northwest Indiana Times ...The district announced in a news release Monday that the Teamsters Local 705 bargaining unit has submitted a notice that it intends to strike as soon as Wednesday...The district and union have been negotiating a four-year contract for the past 2-1/2 years...
CitationAir Forces Pilots to Work a Month for Free IBT ...CitationAir, the Greenwich, Conn.-based provider of luxury business jet and charter aircraft services, radically altered the work schedules of the company's nearly 230 pilots...Management's new schedule pattern now requires pilots to be available for duty eight consecutive workdays during each two-week period for an increase of 26 more workdays per year...
Teamsters issue strike notice to sanitary district Northwest Indiana Times ...The district announced in a news release Monday that the Teamsters Local 705 bargaining unit has submitted a notice that it intends to strike as soon as Wednesday...The district and union have been negotiating a four-year contract for the past 2-1/2 years...
Monday, October 31, 2011
Today's Teamster News 10.31.11
Over 800 Occupy Protesters Charged, But How Many Will Go to Court? New York Observer ...the lawyers for OWS aren’t playing: they say that their clients would rather have their day in court than take a plea that might prohibit them from participating in any more protests...
Editorial: Scrutiny of Walker's pay adds tension Green Bay Press Gazette ...We saw last week what happens when the government proposes a wage freeze for state workers in the same document that shows the governor earns more than his predecessor. Discord...
Florida Democrats: Rick Scott the poster boy for GOP extremism The Tampe Tribune ...Democratic activists and insiders gathered here to kick off the 2012 campaign season believe Scott, whose job approval ratings have hovered among the lowest of any governor in the nation, will help them in the coming election – even though he won't be on the ballot until 2014...
Inkster being reviewed by state officials under emergency manager process Detroit News ... State officials have begun a 30-day review of the city's finances under the toughened emergency manager law for local governments and school districts...
Teamsters Condemn Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for Attack on Workers IBT ...As Largest U.S. Transportation Union Takes Local Action to Stand with Aussies, Teamster Delegation to Sydney, Melbourne Remains “Stranded in Solidarity”...
Mobility falls to record low as Americans stay put Associated Press ...Yet another symptom of the economic downturn: Americans aren't moving...U.S. mobility is at its lowest point since World War II...
Editorial: Scrutiny of Walker's pay adds tension Green Bay Press Gazette ...We saw last week what happens when the government proposes a wage freeze for state workers in the same document that shows the governor earns more than his predecessor. Discord...
Florida Democrats: Rick Scott the poster boy for GOP extremism The Tampe Tribune ...Democratic activists and insiders gathered here to kick off the 2012 campaign season believe Scott, whose job approval ratings have hovered among the lowest of any governor in the nation, will help them in the coming election – even though he won't be on the ballot until 2014...
Inkster being reviewed by state officials under emergency manager process Detroit News ... State officials have begun a 30-day review of the city's finances under the toughened emergency manager law for local governments and school districts...
Teamsters Condemn Qantas CEO Alan Joyce for Attack on Workers IBT ...As Largest U.S. Transportation Union Takes Local Action to Stand with Aussies, Teamster Delegation to Sydney, Melbourne Remains “Stranded in Solidarity”...
Mobility falls to record low as Americans stay put Associated Press ...Yet another symptom of the economic downturn: Americans aren't moving...U.S. mobility is at its lowest point since World War II...
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Today's Teamster News 08.18.11
Democrats win last two Wisconsin recalls (opinion) Washington Post ...What’s clear is that the fight has moved public opinion the Democrats’ way, but not as fast or as dramatically as the Democrats had hoped...
Wisconsin Democrats Score Two More Recall Wins as Voters Reject a GOP Governor's Anti-Labor Agenda The Nation ...Democrats won the overall majority of votes cast in the nine districts, with roughly 243,000 votes statewide to 239,000 for the Republicans. That’s a narrow margin but remember that Governor Walker won these districts in 2010, and that Republican Senate candidates easily won six of them in 2008...
Kasich, fellow Republicans propose SB 5 deal to unions Columbus Dispatch ...Gov. John Kasich pleaded with organized labor leaders today to compromise on Senate Bill 5 and cancel a fall referendum on the controversial bill that peels back public employee collective bargaining rights...
Right to Work legislation to be considered by state legislature Michigan Messenger ...Michigan can expect a push in the state legislature to pass Right to Work legislation following the end of the summer break at the capitol...
Drive to repeal emergency manager law still needs 130,000 signatures on petitions, organizers say Detroit Free Press ...The deadline to turn in the petitions is in March. If the State Board of Canvassers certifies that the group -- the Stand Up for Democracy committee -- collected sufficient signatures, the law would be suspended until voters decide its fate on the ballot in November 2012...
Citing Debt and Benefits, Fitch Lowers Bond Rating for New Jersey New York Times ...Despite its efforts to cut spending, New Jersey is a riskier investment, one of the leading ratings agencies said on Wednesday as it lowered the state’s credit rating, citing heavy debt and benefits obligations...
Right-to-work battle grows between PA business, labor Statehouse News Online ...A package of bills, introduced this session by state House Republicans, seeks to repeal state laws requiring all state workers, local government employees and public school teachers to pay dues, even if they choose not to join a union...
Wisconsin Democrats Score Two More Recall Wins as Voters Reject a GOP Governor's Anti-Labor Agenda The Nation ...Democrats won the overall majority of votes cast in the nine districts, with roughly 243,000 votes statewide to 239,000 for the Republicans. That’s a narrow margin but remember that Governor Walker won these districts in 2010, and that Republican Senate candidates easily won six of them in 2008...
Kasich, fellow Republicans propose SB 5 deal to unions Columbus Dispatch ...Gov. John Kasich pleaded with organized labor leaders today to compromise on Senate Bill 5 and cancel a fall referendum on the controversial bill that peels back public employee collective bargaining rights...
Right to Work legislation to be considered by state legislature Michigan Messenger ...Michigan can expect a push in the state legislature to pass Right to Work legislation following the end of the summer break at the capitol...
Drive to repeal emergency manager law still needs 130,000 signatures on petitions, organizers say Detroit Free Press ...The deadline to turn in the petitions is in March. If the State Board of Canvassers certifies that the group -- the Stand Up for Democracy committee -- collected sufficient signatures, the law would be suspended until voters decide its fate on the ballot in November 2012...
Citing Debt and Benefits, Fitch Lowers Bond Rating for New Jersey New York Times ...Despite its efforts to cut spending, New Jersey is a riskier investment, one of the leading ratings agencies said on Wednesday as it lowered the state’s credit rating, citing heavy debt and benefits obligations...
Right-to-work battle grows between PA business, labor Statehouse News Online ...A package of bills, introduced this session by state House Republicans, seeks to repeal state laws requiring all state workers, local government employees and public school teachers to pay dues, even if they choose not to join a union...
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Today's Teamster News 07.20.11
Democratic senator Hansen retains seat in recall attempt Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ..."A win like this, in my mind, creates momentum for the next eight recall races," Hansen said...
S.B. 5 foes say petition drive made it Columbus Dispatch ...More than 800,000 valid signatures have been found on the Senate Bill 5 referendum petition, opponents of the law said as yesterday's deadline passed for county elections boards to turn in signature totals...
Poll: Voters would reject Emergency Manager law Michigan Messenger ...The poll found strong opposition to the law in both union and non-union households...
Conferees reconcile 4 spending bills Minneapolis Star Tribune ...Four days after reaching a global budget agreement, GOP leaders and the governor hammered out a deal Monday on four spending bills...
Report says N.J. to have painfully slow economic recovery Politics Patrol ...New Jersey gained 11 percent of jobs lost during the recession compared to 20 percent nationwide...
Standing Up for Economic Rights Is a Human Right Huffington Post ...As Arab citizens take to the streets, at great risk, to secure economic rights and democratic voice in their respective countries, several extremist governors and advocates are stripping American workers of their economic rights and voice by working to eliminate or weaken collective bargaining and voter protections...
S.B. 5 foes say petition drive made it Columbus Dispatch ...More than 800,000 valid signatures have been found on the Senate Bill 5 referendum petition, opponents of the law said as yesterday's deadline passed for county elections boards to turn in signature totals...
Poll: Voters would reject Emergency Manager law Michigan Messenger ...The poll found strong opposition to the law in both union and non-union households...
Conferees reconcile 4 spending bills Minneapolis Star Tribune ...Four days after reaching a global budget agreement, GOP leaders and the governor hammered out a deal Monday on four spending bills...
Report says N.J. to have painfully slow economic recovery Politics Patrol ...New Jersey gained 11 percent of jobs lost during the recession compared to 20 percent nationwide...
Standing Up for Economic Rights Is a Human Right Huffington Post ...As Arab citizens take to the streets, at great risk, to secure economic rights and democratic voice in their respective countries, several extremist governors and advocates are stripping American workers of their economic rights and voice by working to eliminate or weaken collective bargaining and voter protections...
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Yay! MI-ers sue over taxation without representation law
This just in: Michiganders are challenging the emergency financial manager (i.e., local dictator) law in court.
According to the New York Times,
According to the New York Times,
More than two dozen residents of Michigan filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against top officials in the state contending that a new law broadly expanding the powers of emergency managers in the most financially troubled cities violates Michigan’s Constitution.
The lawsuit, filed in Ingham County Circuit Court, contends that the law approved by Michigan lawmakers this year improperly allows the state to place new costs on municipalities without paying for them and, in essence, bars local residents from picking their own elected representatives...Chris Savage has a thorough report on the lawsuit and the campaign to repeal the law at A2Politico. He quotes one of the plaintiffs in the suit, Ann Arbor resident Michael Merriweather:
...when I turn on the television and see local governments in Benton Harbor or Detroit being dismissed, assets and services taken over and sold off, by an unelected, unaccountable, bureaucrat, it is impossible for me not to feel outraged.”Find out more about Michigan Forward, which is working to repeal the law, here.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Today's Teamster News 06.18.11
How Miserable? Index Says the Worst in 28 Years CNBC ...When it comes to measuring the combination of unemployment and inflation, it doesn’t get much more miserable than this...
Local funeral directors could be headed toward strike Chicago Sun-Times ...Teamsters Local 727 said the proposal by Service Corp. International-owned Alderwoods called for a three-year wage freeze and a company health care package that is more expensive and less comprehensive than the union’s health and welfare benefits...
Congressman enters BMW-Teamsters dispute Inland Daily Bulletin ...Democratic Congressman Joe Baca stepped into the labor dispute this week between the Teamsters and BMW Group by sending a letter to the automaker urging the company to keep union workers at a parts distribution center...
Privatization At The Heart Of Divisive Battles In Wisconsin Huffington Post ...Walker tends to take "a real economic challenge and exaggerating it into the crisis of the century, in order to justify his outlandish proposals to privatize."...
Aide's whistle-blower lawsuit alleges Mayor Dave Bing aimed to eliminate Detroit city council, school board Detroit Free Press ...According to the suit, (Bing spokeswoman) Dumas undercut the plan – which allegedly would have meant a huge financial infusion for the schools — saying it would hurt the mayor politically and make him look power-hungry...
With an ACLU lawsuit pending, Rick Scott halts drug testing The Florida Times-Union ...The lawsuit says that the order infringes upon state employees "because it violates their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable governmental searches."..
Local funeral directors could be headed toward strike Chicago Sun-Times ...Teamsters Local 727 said the proposal by Service Corp. International-owned Alderwoods called for a three-year wage freeze and a company health care package that is more expensive and less comprehensive than the union’s health and welfare benefits...
Congressman enters BMW-Teamsters dispute Inland Daily Bulletin ...Democratic Congressman Joe Baca stepped into the labor dispute this week between the Teamsters and BMW Group by sending a letter to the automaker urging the company to keep union workers at a parts distribution center...
Privatization At The Heart Of Divisive Battles In Wisconsin Huffington Post ...Walker tends to take "a real economic challenge and exaggerating it into the crisis of the century, in order to justify his outlandish proposals to privatize."...
Aide's whistle-blower lawsuit alleges Mayor Dave Bing aimed to eliminate Detroit city council, school board Detroit Free Press ...According to the suit, (Bing spokeswoman) Dumas undercut the plan – which allegedly would have meant a huge financial infusion for the schools — saying it would hurt the mayor politically and make him look power-hungry...
With an ACLU lawsuit pending, Rick Scott halts drug testing The Florida Times-Union ...The lawsuit says that the order infringes upon state employees "because it violates their constitutional right to be free from unreasonable governmental searches."..
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Today's Teamster News 06.15.11
Supreme Court reinstates collective bargaining law Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ... Acting with unusual speed, the state Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered the reinstatement of Gov. Scott Walker's controversial plan to end most collective bargaining for tens of thousands of public workers...
Budget plan spares rich of the worst Columbus Dispatch ... in a spending plan that whacks schools, local governments, higher education, nursing homes, day care for children of low-income parents, the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, children's hospitals and work-support programs for the poor, one group was notably exempted from the pain. Ohio's biggest earners...
Firefighting cops to begin Benton Harbor patrols in July Michigan Messenger ...Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joe Harris is downsizing and combining the city’s police and firefighting functions in a move he says will save the city $1 million...
Senate rejects bill requiring photo ID to vote Bangor Daily News ...Maine senators on Monday, in a reversal of a House vote last week, rejected a bill that sought to require voters to show photo identification on Election Day...
At least we know what they stand for (LTE) Nashua Telegraph ...it appears they have little regard for working-class families, an educated population, protecting our environment or creating meaningful jobs for the people of New Hampshire...
Christie on Copter-Gate: 'I Would Not Make a Different Decision’ Livingston Patch ... "that was the way I could get to my son’s game that day. I make no apologies for it.”...
Budget plan spares rich of the worst Columbus Dispatch ... in a spending plan that whacks schools, local governments, higher education, nursing homes, day care for children of low-income parents, the Ohio Consumers' Counsel, children's hospitals and work-support programs for the poor, one group was notably exempted from the pain. Ohio's biggest earners...
Firefighting cops to begin Benton Harbor patrols in July Michigan Messenger ...Benton Harbor Emergency Manager Joe Harris is downsizing and combining the city’s police and firefighting functions in a move he says will save the city $1 million...
Senate rejects bill requiring photo ID to vote Bangor Daily News ...Maine senators on Monday, in a reversal of a House vote last week, rejected a bill that sought to require voters to show photo identification on Election Day...
At least we know what they stand for (LTE) Nashua Telegraph ...it appears they have little regard for working-class families, an educated population, protecting our environment or creating meaningful jobs for the people of New Hampshire...
Christie on Copter-Gate: 'I Would Not Make a Different Decision’ Livingston Patch ... "that was the way I could get to my son’s game that day. I make no apologies for it.”...
Friday, June 10, 2011
Pontiac financial mgr gives accused felons water treatment contract
The emergency financial manager can sell off municipal assets, dissolve school districts, abrogate contracts and ignore local laws. In other words, financial martial law.
It didn't take long for Snyder and his cronies to start grabbing. Snyder appointed an emergency financial manager in the poor city of Benton Harbor. The manager dissolved the planning commissions that deal with real estate development. That made it a lot easier for Snyder's pals to start developing a community waterfront park into a luxury golf course.
Now comes the latest outrage. Michael Stampfler is the emergency financial manager for the troubled city of Pontiac. Given new powers under the law, Stampfler abrogated the city's contract with its 11 police dispatchers.
Stampfler also dissolved the city's planning commission and privatized the city's water treatment -- by signing a contract with a company accused of felony violations of the Clean Water Act.
The Michigan Messenger reports,
Stampfler privatized operation of the city’s water treatment last month by signing a contract with United Water, a New Jersey-based subsidiary of the French company SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT. This company has been indicted on felony charges related to its operation of the wastewater treatment facility in Gary, Ind.According to the Environmental Protection Agency,
United Water Services Inc., and employees Dwain L. Bowie, and Gregory A. Ciaccio, have been charged with manipulating daily wastewater sampling methods by turning up disinfectant treatment levels shortly before sampling, then turning them down shortly after sampling.We just have one question: What are the odds that United Water has contributed to a political candidate or two in Michigan?
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Today's Teamster News 05.11.11
Teamsters Local 320 Opens “Stop the Slash” Phase II With Twin Cities Billboard, Bus Shelter and Print Campaign Local 320 ...Teamsters Local 320 – representing some 11,500 public employees throughout Minnesota’s 87 counties – has begun an advertising campaign asking lawmakers to halt plans to balance the budget by firing public employees, neglecting street maintenance and cutting education, rather than require the richest Minnesotans to pay their fair share of taxes...
Challengers to Green Bay-area senators announce bid in recall race Green Bay Press-Gazette ... Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said he intends to run in the 30th Senate District race ... against Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay...
Police Memorial Week Begins with SB5 Protest WLWT.com ...A week to memorialize officers lost in the line of duty began with a protest of a new law that some police say dishonors their fallen comrades...
Some small businesses pushing to repeal SB5 Lancaster Eagle Gazette ..."This establishment proudly accepts business from hard working public & private employees."...
New reports reveal billionaire Koch brothers have a hand in hiring FSU professors Florida Independent ...A foundation funded by Charles Koch, CEO of the regulation-fighting Koch Industries, is responsible for filling staff positions at Florida State University, which many say is an affront to academic freedom...
Emergency Manager law repeal campaign begins statewide The Michigan Messenger ...The Detroit-based non-profit Michigan Forward...has filed petition language with the State Board of Canvassers for a referendum on the Emergency Manager law that allows the governor appoint people to rule local governments...
Wary of reform, hundreds to retire Associated Press ...House and Senate negotiators hope to resolve their differences on competing plans to reform New Hampshire's public pension system by the end of the month...
Challengers to Green Bay-area senators announce bid in recall race Green Bay Press-Gazette ... Rep. John Nygren, R-Marinette, said he intends to run in the 30th Senate District race ... against Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay...
Police Memorial Week Begins with SB5 Protest WLWT.com ...A week to memorialize officers lost in the line of duty began with a protest of a new law that some police say dishonors their fallen comrades...
Some small businesses pushing to repeal SB5 Lancaster Eagle Gazette ..."This establishment proudly accepts business from hard working public & private employees."...
New reports reveal billionaire Koch brothers have a hand in hiring FSU professors Florida Independent ...A foundation funded by Charles Koch, CEO of the regulation-fighting Koch Industries, is responsible for filling staff positions at Florida State University, which many say is an affront to academic freedom...
Emergency Manager law repeal campaign begins statewide The Michigan Messenger ...The Detroit-based non-profit Michigan Forward...has filed petition language with the State Board of Canvassers for a referendum on the Emergency Manager law that allows the governor appoint people to rule local governments...
Wary of reform, hundreds to retire Associated Press ...House and Senate negotiators hope to resolve their differences on competing plans to reform New Hampshire's public pension system by the end of the month...
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