Teamsters
Canadian National Railway has recently experienced a troubling spike in train derailments Reuters ...Doug Finnson, president of a Teamsters union representing CN Rail's train crews, said he was particularly concerned with the recent Ontario derailments. "We're on the record saying the trains are too long, the cars are too heavy, and the trains go too fast."...
'Jane the Virgin' Star Gina Rodriguez Gets Real About Hollywood Success Latino Post ...The actress also added that her father Gino, a well-known representative for the Teamsters, was "always very honest" and that he prepared their family "for the crude game that is society."...
Trade
Letter: Nolan working to block freetrade agreement fast-track Park Rapids Enterprise ...How can the United States sign an international trade agreement when Congress, our constitutionally delegated body to regulate commerce with foreign nations, isn’t allowed a seat at the negotiating table?...
State Battles
AG Madigan says no to Rauner right-to-work zones Chicago Tribune ...Democratic Attorney General Lisa Madigan said Friday that Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s plan to put in place small right-to-work areas across Illinois is illegal, marking the second time the state’s chief legal officer has pushed back against governor’s attempts to limit employee unions...
War on Workers
Retirement Crisis: The Great 401(k) Experiment Has Failed for Many Americans NBC News ...millions of workers nearing retirement are on track to leave the workforce with savings that do not even approach what they will need for health care, let alone daily living. Not surprisingly, retirement is now Americans' top financial worry, according to a recent Gallup poll...
How The Media Enable The Anti-Worker Movement National Memo ...News organizations help this anti-worker movement, even if they do not mean to, when they get facts wrong, lack balance, provide vagaries instead of telling details, and fail to apply time-tested reporting practices to separate fact from advocacy...
Union: Collective bargaining rights at issue in BP strike Chicago Tribune ...United Steelworkers members working at BP Whiting Refinery and public school teachers have a common bond, according to the local USW president — they both found themselves in a fight to maintain their collective bargaining rights...
Survival of the fittest might have actually been survival of the richest Washington Post ...Researchers recently uncovered a sharp decline in genetic diversity in male lineages across the world during the Stone Age. The study’s authors hypothesized that material gains made through early agricultural success — a proxy for wealth — gave smaller groups of related men the reproductive upper hand for generations...
Funeral Set for Tolland Worker Killed Patching Potholes NBC Connecticut ...David Lee Ridzon, 50, of Willington, died Thursday after he was struck by a public works truck while patching potholes on Anderson Road...
Miscellaneous
The Planet’s Best Stealth Fighter Isn’t Made in America The Daily Beast ...The U.S. military likes to think it makes the world’s most sophisticated combat aircraft. Think again...
Monday, March 23, 2015
Sunday, March 22, 2015
Today's Teamster News 03.22.15
Teamsters
Profiles of a Community teamster.org ...Seattle Teamsters Explore Diverse Membership...
Trade
Senate's Hatch says making progress on fast-track trade talks Reuters ... Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a Republican, said on Monday he is making progress with his Democratic colleagues on a bill to streamline the passage of free-trade deals through Congress...
State Battles
Session recap: House leaders point fingers NM Political Report ...The 2015 New Mexico Legislative Session ended on Saturday with House leaders from both parties pointing fingers and assigning blame on high profile legislation that failed to pass.... Gentry said he was disappointed with many other bills that stalled in the Senate. Third grade retention, right-to-work and a repeal of the law allowing those in the country illegally to obtain driver’s licenses were the major pieces of legislation that Gentry said were strategically held up in the Senate, despite his efforts...
War on Workers
Delivery Drones Hit Bumps on Path to Doorstep Wall Street Journal ...Companies hoping to use drones to deliver small packages are confronting technical hurdles such as battery life and weather that are at least as vexing as proposed U.S. regulatory limits...
Mexican farmworkers strike over low wages, blocking harvest Los Angeles Times ...The strike, which began Tuesday, has shut down schools and stores across the region and focused attention on alleged labor abuses at agribusinesses that export millions of tons of produce to the U.S. every year. Among those targeted are U.S.-based BerryMex, which grows strawberries and raspberries sold under the Driscoll label....
Who Needs a Boss? New York Times ...Research findings about employee-owned bsuinesses are rarely negative -- they are either just as good as regular businesses, or they are more productive, less susceptible to failure, more attentive to quality and less likely to lay off workers in a downturn...
Commentary: Defending unions against the haters (opinion) Chicago Tribune ...Restricting union growth has always been bad for workers' economic and political freedom. The cumulative weight of decades of social science has unquestionably demonstrated that union-bargained contracts provide workers with higher incomes, more and better benefits, and a stronger "voice" in the workplace...
58-year-old Worker Dies Due to Ignored Safety Hazards Occupational Health & Safety ...A maintenance worker was killed after being pinned down between a scrap metal table and a railing at Hussmann Corp.’s Bridgeton facility, according to a news release. OSHA has cited the company for three willful and 12 serious safety violations...
Profiles of a Community teamster.org ...Seattle Teamsters Explore Diverse Membership...
Trade
Senate's Hatch says making progress on fast-track trade talks Reuters ... Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch, a Republican, said on Monday he is making progress with his Democratic colleagues on a bill to streamline the passage of free-trade deals through Congress...
State Battles
Session recap: House leaders point fingers NM Political Report ...The 2015 New Mexico Legislative Session ended on Saturday with House leaders from both parties pointing fingers and assigning blame on high profile legislation that failed to pass.... Gentry said he was disappointed with many other bills that stalled in the Senate. Third grade retention, right-to-work and a repeal of the law allowing those in the country illegally to obtain driver’s licenses were the major pieces of legislation that Gentry said were strategically held up in the Senate, despite his efforts...
War on Workers
Delivery Drones Hit Bumps on Path to Doorstep Wall Street Journal ...Companies hoping to use drones to deliver small packages are confronting technical hurdles such as battery life and weather that are at least as vexing as proposed U.S. regulatory limits...
Mexican farmworkers strike over low wages, blocking harvest Los Angeles Times ...The strike, which began Tuesday, has shut down schools and stores across the region and focused attention on alleged labor abuses at agribusinesses that export millions of tons of produce to the U.S. every year. Among those targeted are U.S.-based BerryMex, which grows strawberries and raspberries sold under the Driscoll label....
Who Needs a Boss? New York Times ...Research findings about employee-owned bsuinesses are rarely negative -- they are either just as good as regular businesses, or they are more productive, less susceptible to failure, more attentive to quality and less likely to lay off workers in a downturn...
Commentary: Defending unions against the haters (opinion) Chicago Tribune ...Restricting union growth has always been bad for workers' economic and political freedom. The cumulative weight of decades of social science has unquestionably demonstrated that union-bargained contracts provide workers with higher incomes, more and better benefits, and a stronger "voice" in the workplace...
58-year-old Worker Dies Due to Ignored Safety Hazards Occupational Health & Safety ...A maintenance worker was killed after being pinned down between a scrap metal table and a railing at Hussmann Corp.’s Bridgeton facility, according to a news release. OSHA has cited the company for three willful and 12 serious safety violations...
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Today's Teamster News 03.21.15
Teamsters
Employees Vote On Whether They Want Teamsters Representation Fontana News Herald ...Ballots were mailed out last week to more than 15,000 San Bernardino county, city and agency employees to vote in an election for Teamsters representation. The workers, who are members of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association (SBPEA), will have the opportunity to vote in favor of affiliating with the Teamsters...
SEC to allow shareholder vote on Wal-Mart independent chairman Reuters ...Wal-Mart had argued that the proposal, submitted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Fund, should be omitted because it was vague in its standard of independence...
Sysco, US Foods Seek Disclosure Of FTC Witness Identities JDSupra ...The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went head-to-head last week with Sysco Corp. and US Foods Inc. over whether to make public the names of the declarants relied on by the FTC in its preliminary injunction to block Sysco and US Foods’ merger. Sysco and US Foods filed a motion in a Washington, D.C. federal district court on March 6 asking the judge to publicize the names, which the FTC quickly opposed...
Special Election 170th Legislative District: Dem. Sarah DelRicci Vs. Rep. Martina White Philadelphia Public Record ...The unions backing White are FOP Lodge 5; International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22; International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 21; AFSCME DC 33; Teamsters Local 500; Gas Workers Local 686; Drywall Fitters Local 1955; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 8; Glaziers Local 252; Sprinkler Fitters Local 692; Steamfitters Local 420; Painters 2011; and Plasterers Local 8...
In Sunset Park, Doubts About Development Plan Wall Street Journal ...The groups holding Sunday’s rally, at Uprose’s offices, include Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a tenant-advocacy group, and the Teamsters Local 812, which wants to preserve union port jobs. The developers are seeking a rezoning, which will require approval from the City Planning Commission and City Council...
Trade
DeLauro clashes with Obama trade officials over U.S. exports the ct mirror ...DeLauro, D-3rd District, was one of eight House Democrats who sent Froman a letter Thursday accusing him of inflating the number of U.S. exports and misleading Congress. The lawmakers also held a press conference challenging Froman’s calculations...
Dem: Trade officials ‘baffling’ lawmakers ‘with bullshit’ The Hill ...Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) on Thursday accused the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) of “baffling” Democrats “with bullshit” in an effort to advance President Obama's trade agenda...
Japan says difficult to reach Japan-U.S. trade deal without TPA Reuters ...Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari said on Friday it would be difficult to reach an agreement in two-way trade talks between Japan and the United States unless U.S. lawmakers fast-tracked trade promotion legislation...
Fair trade is racial justice issue (opinion) Sky Valley Chronicle ...Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal could make matters worse in places like Ferguson, Mo...
State Battles
Wisconsin Lawmakers Go After Workers’ Weekends ThinkProgress ...Two Wisconsin state lawmakers have proposed a bill that would roll back the state’s requirement that companies give workers at least one day off every seven days...
Texas Senate considering bill that could financially kill public-sector unions Breitbart ...The bill, SB 1968, was filed at the very end of the bill filing period for this Legislative Session last Friday, and would end the practice of automatic payroll deductions for labor union dues for the majority of public-sector unions...
8 ways Nevada Republicans want to shift power from labor unions Reno Gazette-Journal ...Republican lawmakers have long been on a quest to eat away at the power local government employee unions have when negotiating the labor contracts that govern their salaries, benefits and working conditions...
Kansas Senate Committee Advances Bill On Public Sector Unions Wichita Eagle ...The Kansas Senate is headed for a fight with the state’s public sector unions after a committee advanced a bill limiting public employees’ collective bargaining power and changing the way unions collect dues. The bill would limit automatic paycheck deductions for public employee unions and other organizations such as charities. The head of United Way of the Plains called it “a kick in the teeth.”...
Wisconsin Judge Declines To Block New Right-To-Work Law Chicago Tribune ...Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust rejected the request by three unions to grant a temporary injunction blocking the law from being enforced pending the outcome of their legal challenge...
Illinois: Governor Tells Agencies To Divert Union Fees New York Times ...Gov. Bruce Rauner, dogged in his attempts to eliminate fees paid to unions by workers who choose not to join, has instructed state agencies to divert money from nonunion employee paychecks away from organized labor until a judge settles the matter...
War on Workers
OSHA Whistleblower Investigator Blows Whistle on Own Agency NBC Bay Area ...Employee says the federal whistleblower program isn’t protecting whistleblowers or the public...
Missing Citigroup Checks Spur Lawmaker to Call for Investigation Bloomberg ...Citigroup Inc.’s failure to pay 24,000 people owed money as part of a settlement with the government over foreclosure abuses has prompted a U.S. lawmaker to call for an investigation into whether banks missed other borrowers...
Congress sets up veto showdown with vote to roll back labor rule Los Angeles Times ...Setting up another veto showdown with President Obama, Congress on Thursday approved a measure that seeks to roll back a new labor rule that allows workers to conduct union elections more quickly...
House Passes Bill To Overturn Labor Board Rule Wall Street Journal ...The vote was 232-186. It followed Senate passage earlier this month of the measure, which uses a rarely invoked law that allows Congress to reverse certain agency actions. The White House has said Mr. Obama’s senior advisers would recommend that he veto the resolution...
Worker Killed: Electrocuted, Struck By Motorcycles Space Coast Daily ...A man working on a utilities truck that was cleaning storm drains along S. Harbor City Boulevard was killed Thursday night as a result of an unusual chain of events...
Tolland DPW Truck Hits And Kills Worker Patching Potholes WVIT ...A veteran Tolland public works employee died after he was hit by one of his own trucks while patching potholes in town on Thursday, according to state police...
Employees Vote On Whether They Want Teamsters Representation Fontana News Herald ...Ballots were mailed out last week to more than 15,000 San Bernardino county, city and agency employees to vote in an election for Teamsters representation. The workers, who are members of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association (SBPEA), will have the opportunity to vote in favor of affiliating with the Teamsters...
SEC to allow shareholder vote on Wal-Mart independent chairman Reuters ...Wal-Mart had argued that the proposal, submitted by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters General Fund, should be omitted because it was vague in its standard of independence...
Sysco, US Foods Seek Disclosure Of FTC Witness Identities JDSupra ...The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) went head-to-head last week with Sysco Corp. and US Foods Inc. over whether to make public the names of the declarants relied on by the FTC in its preliminary injunction to block Sysco and US Foods’ merger. Sysco and US Foods filed a motion in a Washington, D.C. federal district court on March 6 asking the judge to publicize the names, which the FTC quickly opposed...
Special Election 170th Legislative District: Dem. Sarah DelRicci Vs. Rep. Martina White Philadelphia Public Record ...The unions backing White are FOP Lodge 5; International Association of Fire Fighters Local 22; International Union of Painters & Allied Trades District Council 21; AFSCME DC 33; Teamsters Local 500; Gas Workers Local 686; Drywall Fitters Local 1955; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 8; Glaziers Local 252; Sprinkler Fitters Local 692; Steamfitters Local 420; Painters 2011; and Plasterers Local 8...
In Sunset Park, Doubts About Development Plan Wall Street Journal ...The groups holding Sunday’s rally, at Uprose’s offices, include Neighbors Helping Neighbors, a tenant-advocacy group, and the Teamsters Local 812, which wants to preserve union port jobs. The developers are seeking a rezoning, which will require approval from the City Planning Commission and City Council...
Trade
DeLauro clashes with Obama trade officials over U.S. exports the ct mirror ...DeLauro, D-3rd District, was one of eight House Democrats who sent Froman a letter Thursday accusing him of inflating the number of U.S. exports and misleading Congress. The lawmakers also held a press conference challenging Froman’s calculations...
Dem: Trade officials ‘baffling’ lawmakers ‘with bullshit’ The Hill ...Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) on Thursday accused the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) of “baffling” Democrats “with bullshit” in an effort to advance President Obama's trade agenda...
Japan says difficult to reach Japan-U.S. trade deal without TPA Reuters ...Japanese Economy Minister Akira Amari said on Friday it would be difficult to reach an agreement in two-way trade talks between Japan and the United States unless U.S. lawmakers fast-tracked trade promotion legislation...
Fair trade is racial justice issue (opinion) Sky Valley Chronicle ...Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal could make matters worse in places like Ferguson, Mo...
State Battles
Wisconsin Lawmakers Go After Workers’ Weekends ThinkProgress ...Two Wisconsin state lawmakers have proposed a bill that would roll back the state’s requirement that companies give workers at least one day off every seven days...
Texas Senate considering bill that could financially kill public-sector unions Breitbart ...The bill, SB 1968, was filed at the very end of the bill filing period for this Legislative Session last Friday, and would end the practice of automatic payroll deductions for labor union dues for the majority of public-sector unions...
8 ways Nevada Republicans want to shift power from labor unions Reno Gazette-Journal ...Republican lawmakers have long been on a quest to eat away at the power local government employee unions have when negotiating the labor contracts that govern their salaries, benefits and working conditions...
Kansas Senate Committee Advances Bill On Public Sector Unions Wichita Eagle ...The Kansas Senate is headed for a fight with the state’s public sector unions after a committee advanced a bill limiting public employees’ collective bargaining power and changing the way unions collect dues. The bill would limit automatic paycheck deductions for public employee unions and other organizations such as charities. The head of United Way of the Plains called it “a kick in the teeth.”...
Wisconsin Judge Declines To Block New Right-To-Work Law Chicago Tribune ...Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust rejected the request by three unions to grant a temporary injunction blocking the law from being enforced pending the outcome of their legal challenge...
Illinois: Governor Tells Agencies To Divert Union Fees New York Times ...Gov. Bruce Rauner, dogged in his attempts to eliminate fees paid to unions by workers who choose not to join, has instructed state agencies to divert money from nonunion employee paychecks away from organized labor until a judge settles the matter...
War on Workers
OSHA Whistleblower Investigator Blows Whistle on Own Agency NBC Bay Area ...Employee says the federal whistleblower program isn’t protecting whistleblowers or the public...
Missing Citigroup Checks Spur Lawmaker to Call for Investigation Bloomberg ...Citigroup Inc.’s failure to pay 24,000 people owed money as part of a settlement with the government over foreclosure abuses has prompted a U.S. lawmaker to call for an investigation into whether banks missed other borrowers...
Congress sets up veto showdown with vote to roll back labor rule Los Angeles Times ...Setting up another veto showdown with President Obama, Congress on Thursday approved a measure that seeks to roll back a new labor rule that allows workers to conduct union elections more quickly...
House Passes Bill To Overturn Labor Board Rule Wall Street Journal ...The vote was 232-186. It followed Senate passage earlier this month of the measure, which uses a rarely invoked law that allows Congress to reverse certain agency actions. The White House has said Mr. Obama’s senior advisers would recommend that he veto the resolution...
Worker Killed: Electrocuted, Struck By Motorcycles Space Coast Daily ...A man working on a utilities truck that was cleaning storm drains along S. Harbor City Boulevard was killed Thursday night as a result of an unusual chain of events...
Tolland DPW Truck Hits And Kills Worker Patching Potholes WVIT ...A veteran Tolland public works employee died after he was hit by one of his own trucks while patching potholes in town on Thursday, according to state police...
Friday, March 20, 2015
Sysco fired 18 workers for organizing a union. Demand justice!
There's been an outpouring of support for Sysco workers who were fired for supporting successful union drives in Atlanta and Olathe, Kan. Thousands of people emailed Sysco CEO William J. Delaney III demanding he reinstate the workers who were fired unjustly.
You can help. Go to http://ibt.io/sysco to join in the fight for justice.
Bruce Her, pictured above, was one of the 15 who lost his job in Atlanta during the campaign to join Teamsters Local 528. Three more Sysco workers were terminated in Kansas for the same reason.
The Protecting Sysco & US Foods Workers Facebook page tells us that isn't all Sysco did:
Teamsters Local 528 has filed numerous charges against the company for direct dealing with employees, making unilateral changes to things such as work rules, discipline standards and scheduling, conducting surveillance and threatening employees.
 |
| Sysco also fired Jason Coder, father of three, for supporting the Teamsters organizing drive in Kansas. |
Nearly 8,000 Teamsters helped build Sysco into the leading high-volume foodservice provider in the United States. They have pledged to pursue relentlessly justice for the workers targeted for their union activity.
 |
| Shuandrez Fitzgerald, father of twins, was fired by Sysco for helping to organize the Atlanta facility. |
Today's Teamster News 03.20.15
Teamsters
Teamsters Allege "Eavesdropping" At San Francisco Zoo, Management Says Technology Was Meant For Medical Emergencies KNTV ...The union representing scores of workers at the San Francisco Zoo says management is spying on employees' private conversations — but the zoo says its radio monitoring system was put in place for medical emergencies and denied the eavesdropping claims. Still, the executive director vowed to swiftly investigate the spying allegations...
CCSD Support Staff Union Leadership In Trouble After Challenge Las Vegas Review Journal ...A decade long fight between the two unions came to a head earlier this year when 71 percent of workers who voted in a special election backed the Teamsters. However, only 5,190 votes were cast, which was short of the supermajority the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled is needed for one union to oust another...
Transit, shuttle workers get new contract from COG Sharon Herald ...Mercer County Regional Council of Governments on Wednesday approved a contract with public transportation drivers, mechanics and washers that gives workers a pay hike but also institutes health-care co-pays and reduces some sick and holiday benefits...
Bremerton approves pay increase for Teamsters Kitsap Sun ... The City Council has approved a 2.5 percent bump in pay for its management and for city employees represented by the Teamsters union...
Shell oilsands workers to carry electronic trackers on the job CBC News ...The technology is becoming increasingly common in Alberta’s industrial north, said Wayne Garner, the vice president of General Teamsters Local Union No. 362. “It doesn’t really surprise me,” he said. “Electronic monitoring is nothing really new to us.”...
Trade
Hoffa Statement on USTR Trade Deficit Claims teamster.org ...“The U.S. Trade Representative has made recent statements claiming that the U.S. has a trade surplus with its free trade agreement partners. The problem is this simply is not true...
Five reasons to fret about Obama’s trade agenda Financial Times ...Pro-trade Democrats speak with awe of the pressure being applied by unions in their home districts...
EU Trade Commissioner Suggests Special Court For ISDS Cases Intellectual Property Watch ...Acknowledging that the vast majority of citizens rejected ISDS in a recent public consultation and that many members of the EU Parliament Trade Committee (INTA) object to ISDS – INTA Chair and TTIP Rapporteur Bernd Lange said there was just no need for the EU-US deal – Malmstroem offered several amendments to be considered. This includes: A permanent list of arbitrators chosen by governments should avoid conflicts of interest, jumping between ISDS and courts should be banned, and an appeal mechanism should be put in place...
State Battles
Right-To-Work Law Challenged In Dane County Court WDJT ...The controversial Right-to-work law has been challenged by state unions as unconstitutional and gets a hearing Thursday morning in Dane County Court. The suit was brought against the State of Wisconsin by workers represented by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Machinists Local 1061 and United Steelworkers District 2 on March 10th...
Report: Wisconsin Drops To 40th In Nation In Job Growth Wisconsin Public radio ...Wisconsin ranked 40th in the nation in private-sector job growth during the one-year period between September 2013 and September 2014, according to the latest detailed job numbers from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics...
Oldham Tables 'Right-To-Work' Law Louisville Courier Journal ...The decision to table the bill, which was approved by a 7-2 vote, was met by applause from a nearly full house of union supporters and those opposing the right-to-work measure. Magistrates Steve Greenwell and J.D. Sparks opposed the motion...
Boone Leaders Pass Right-To-Work Ordinance Cincinnati.com ...After Boone County Fiscal Court members unanimously approved a controversial right-to-work ordinance, members of the audience booed and yelled they were going to move to Kenton County, where a similar ordinance was recently tabled...
Delaware Bill Would Raise Minimum Wage To $10.25 News Journal ...Legislation to raise Delaware's minimum wage to $10.25 by June 2019, and index future wage hikes to cost-of-living increases, is expected to be introduced this week in Dover...
War on Workers
NLRB Stands by ‘Refined' Contractor Test; FedEx Home Fails in Bid for Reconsideration Bloomberg BNA ...The National Labor Relations Board March 16 declined to reconsider its September 2014 ruling that a group of Connecticut drivers are employees of FedEx Home Delivery under the National Labor Relations Act, not independent contractors outside the act's protection...
It’s illegal to prevent workers from talking about wages. T-Mobile did it anyway. Washington Post ...Last year, however, the NLRB’s general counsel consolidated complaints from four cities into one, putting 12 provisions of the handbook on trial. And on Wednesday, an administrative law judge issued her decision: In 10 of those provisions, T-Mobile’s employee handbook violates federal protections on workers’ right to organize...
Repair The Voting Rights Act (opinion) Washington Post ...The Voting Rights Act requires fixed attention, now, from lawmakers. For decades, the value of the act — all of it — has not been a partisan issue. It should not turn into one...
Miscellaneous
Fed Puts Interest-Rate Hikes In Play Wall Street Journal ...The Fed, in a statement Wednesday after its two-day meeting, dropped an assurance that it would remain “patient” before acting on rates. In the odd parlance of central bankers, the shift meant the Fed would consider raising short-term rates at its June 16-17 meeting...
Teamsters Allege "Eavesdropping" At San Francisco Zoo, Management Says Technology Was Meant For Medical Emergencies KNTV ...The union representing scores of workers at the San Francisco Zoo says management is spying on employees' private conversations — but the zoo says its radio monitoring system was put in place for medical emergencies and denied the eavesdropping claims. Still, the executive director vowed to swiftly investigate the spying allegations...
CCSD Support Staff Union Leadership In Trouble After Challenge Las Vegas Review Journal ...A decade long fight between the two unions came to a head earlier this year when 71 percent of workers who voted in a special election backed the Teamsters. However, only 5,190 votes were cast, which was short of the supermajority the Nevada Supreme Court has ruled is needed for one union to oust another...
Transit, shuttle workers get new contract from COG Sharon Herald ...Mercer County Regional Council of Governments on Wednesday approved a contract with public transportation drivers, mechanics and washers that gives workers a pay hike but also institutes health-care co-pays and reduces some sick and holiday benefits...
Bremerton approves pay increase for Teamsters Kitsap Sun ... The City Council has approved a 2.5 percent bump in pay for its management and for city employees represented by the Teamsters union...
Shell oilsands workers to carry electronic trackers on the job CBC News ...The technology is becoming increasingly common in Alberta’s industrial north, said Wayne Garner, the vice president of General Teamsters Local Union No. 362. “It doesn’t really surprise me,” he said. “Electronic monitoring is nothing really new to us.”...
Trade
Hoffa Statement on USTR Trade Deficit Claims teamster.org ...“The U.S. Trade Representative has made recent statements claiming that the U.S. has a trade surplus with its free trade agreement partners. The problem is this simply is not true...
Five reasons to fret about Obama’s trade agenda Financial Times ...Pro-trade Democrats speak with awe of the pressure being applied by unions in their home districts...
EU Trade Commissioner Suggests Special Court For ISDS Cases Intellectual Property Watch ...Acknowledging that the vast majority of citizens rejected ISDS in a recent public consultation and that many members of the EU Parliament Trade Committee (INTA) object to ISDS – INTA Chair and TTIP Rapporteur Bernd Lange said there was just no need for the EU-US deal – Malmstroem offered several amendments to be considered. This includes: A permanent list of arbitrators chosen by governments should avoid conflicts of interest, jumping between ISDS and courts should be banned, and an appeal mechanism should be put in place...
State Battles
Right-To-Work Law Challenged In Dane County Court WDJT ...The controversial Right-to-work law has been challenged by state unions as unconstitutional and gets a hearing Thursday morning in Dane County Court. The suit was brought against the State of Wisconsin by workers represented by the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Machinists Local 1061 and United Steelworkers District 2 on March 10th...
Report: Wisconsin Drops To 40th In Nation In Job Growth Wisconsin Public radio ...Wisconsin ranked 40th in the nation in private-sector job growth during the one-year period between September 2013 and September 2014, according to the latest detailed job numbers from the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics...
Oldham Tables 'Right-To-Work' Law Louisville Courier Journal ...The decision to table the bill, which was approved by a 7-2 vote, was met by applause from a nearly full house of union supporters and those opposing the right-to-work measure. Magistrates Steve Greenwell and J.D. Sparks opposed the motion...
Boone Leaders Pass Right-To-Work Ordinance Cincinnati.com ...After Boone County Fiscal Court members unanimously approved a controversial right-to-work ordinance, members of the audience booed and yelled they were going to move to Kenton County, where a similar ordinance was recently tabled...
Delaware Bill Would Raise Minimum Wage To $10.25 News Journal ...Legislation to raise Delaware's minimum wage to $10.25 by June 2019, and index future wage hikes to cost-of-living increases, is expected to be introduced this week in Dover...
War on Workers
NLRB Stands by ‘Refined' Contractor Test; FedEx Home Fails in Bid for Reconsideration Bloomberg BNA ...The National Labor Relations Board March 16 declined to reconsider its September 2014 ruling that a group of Connecticut drivers are employees of FedEx Home Delivery under the National Labor Relations Act, not independent contractors outside the act's protection...
It’s illegal to prevent workers from talking about wages. T-Mobile did it anyway. Washington Post ...Last year, however, the NLRB’s general counsel consolidated complaints from four cities into one, putting 12 provisions of the handbook on trial. And on Wednesday, an administrative law judge issued her decision: In 10 of those provisions, T-Mobile’s employee handbook violates federal protections on workers’ right to organize...
Repair The Voting Rights Act (opinion) Washington Post ...The Voting Rights Act requires fixed attention, now, from lawmakers. For decades, the value of the act — all of it — has not been a partisan issue. It should not turn into one...
Miscellaneous
Fed Puts Interest-Rate Hikes In Play Wall Street Journal ...The Fed, in a statement Wednesday after its two-day meeting, dropped an assurance that it would remain “patient” before acting on rates. In the odd parlance of central bankers, the shift meant the Fed would consider raising short-term rates at its June 16-17 meeting...
Thursday, March 19, 2015
SEC still dragging its feet on making corporations tell shareholders if they're supporting ALEC
 |
| Mary Jo White. |
The SEC had been considering such a rule. By last fall, it received more than 1 million comments on the proposal -- a record. Only a handful of those comments were negative. Typically, the SEC gets fewer than 100 comments on its proposed rules.
Despite the overwhelming support for such disclosure, the SEC is still considering the rule.
Right now, corporations are able to secretly spend billions of dollars to influence politicians on issues that are often controversial. As Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall pointed out in comments to the SEC, that can hurt investors. It can also go against the investors' self interest.
Union pension funds that invest in corporations should -- at the very least -- know if they're donating money to anti-worker candidates, stink tanks or ALEC, the escort service for corporations and politicians.
As Zoe Carpenter pointed out in The Nation,
The point of requiring corporations to disclose their political donations is twofold. First, it’s intended to protect investors, which is the SEC’s responsibility. Shareholders “understand that they have a right to know if the company they invest in is spending money on controversial political causes,” said Lisa Gilbert, the director of Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Project.
Secondly, reformers hope that disclosure will help stanch the flow of secret money in elections, which has increased dramatically since the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United. A critical assumption in the majority’s ruling was that “prompt disclosure of expenditures” would allow shareholders to “determine whether their corporation’s political speech advances the corporation’s interest in making profits.” But without a mechanism to ensure that companies are truly transparent about their political spending, the Court’s faith in “the procedures of corporate democracy” is just wishful thinking.Remember when Target donated $150,000 in cash and in-kind goods and services to a gubernatorial candidate who opposed gay marriage? The problem for Target was that it promoted itself as friendly to people of all sexual orientations. It even bragged that it had been recognized as one of the best places to work for LGBT equality.
Consumers and shareholders went ballistic when they found out about the donation to the anti-gay marriage candidate.
Imagine the reaction among union pension fund managers if they suddenly learned they invested in companies that spent heavily to promote right-to-work laws. And yet they currently have no right to meaningful information about where corporations spend their political dollars.
"The financial impact of increased corporate political spending on investors is tangible and significant," wrote Hall in his comments to the SEC. "Meaningful disclosure of corporate political spending is sorely needed."
#NoFastTrack Twitterstorm for Thursday, March 19 from 1-2 pm
Today’s #NoFastTrack Twitterstorm should be our best ever! Our network continues to grow and our momentum continues to build. The mainstream news media is even beginning to pay attention!
We’ll hold it at the same time, but use the #NoFastTrack hashtag as that seems to be the most popular.
Happy Tweeting!
Sample Tweets for #NoFastTrack Twitterstorm Thursday, March 19, 1-2 pm Eastern
Join our #NoFastTrack Twitterstorm for the #TPP! TODAY, Thursday, March 19 from 1-2 pm Eastern pic.twitter.com/UczGiqMUGz
The SKorea trade deal was going to increase US exports and jobs. 3 years later, US exports down, 84K jobs lost #NoFastTrack #TPP
On 3-year anniversary of SKorea trade deal, US beef exports down 5%, pork down 2%, poultry down 41%, grains down 21% #NoFastTrack #TPP
3 years into SKorea trade deal, US sold 23K more autos to SKorea. SKorea sold 450K more autos to US. #NoFastTrack #TPP
Promises, promises: The SKorea trade deal was going to bring 70K more jobs. Instead, the US LOST 84K jobs. #NoFastTrack #TPP
On KORUS anniversary >100 law professors ask Obama/Congress to protect US sovereignty http://economyincrisis.org/content/more-than-100-legal-scholars-call-on-congress-administration-to-protect-democracy-and-sovereignty-in-u-s-trade-deals … #NoFastTrack #TPP
Recent poll shows 50% of Oregonians will be less likely to vote for @ronwyden if he doesn’t say #NoFastTrack for #TPP http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Poll-Shows-Voters-Will-Hold-Lawmakers-Accountable-for-Fast-Track-Support
Please don't betray us, @RonWyden! Don't cave in to GOP! Stand strong and say #NoFastTrack for #TPP! pic.twitter.com/KZ2muGpNnG
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So do Japanese digital rights organizations. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/03/massive-coalition-japanese-organizations-campaign-against-tpp-copyright-provisions
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So do as many as 60 GOP U.S. House members http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-republican-bloc-poses-a-threat-to-pacific-trade-deal-1426618844
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the TPP. So do hundreds of REAL progressive groups https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/uploadswysiwig/Wyden%20Fast%20Track%20Letter%20Final_0.pdf #UniteBlue
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So does the NAACP. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/234014-we-need-a-voice-oppose-fast-track-for-the-tpp
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So do digital rights advocates. https://youtu.be/WDKzwB8GhN0
The #TPP ‘levels the playing field for US workers’ by forcing them to compete with Vietnamese workers who earn $0.64/hour #NoFastTrack
TPP won’t level the playing field, it will level the US middle class #NoFastTrack #TPP pic.twitter.com/E0thpe1QqH
We’ll hold it at the same time, but use the #NoFastTrack hashtag as that seems to be the most popular.
Happy Tweeting!
Sample Tweets for #NoFastTrack Twitterstorm Thursday, March 19, 1-2 pm Eastern
Join our #NoFastTrack Twitterstorm for the #TPP! TODAY, Thursday, March 19 from 1-2 pm Eastern pic.twitter.com/UczGiqMUGz
The SKorea trade deal was going to increase US exports and jobs. 3 years later, US exports down, 84K jobs lost #NoFastTrack #TPP
On 3-year anniversary of SKorea trade deal, US beef exports down 5%, pork down 2%, poultry down 41%, grains down 21% #NoFastTrack #TPP
3 years into SKorea trade deal, US sold 23K more autos to SKorea. SKorea sold 450K more autos to US. #NoFastTrack #TPP
Promises, promises: The SKorea trade deal was going to bring 70K more jobs. Instead, the US LOST 84K jobs. #NoFastTrack #TPP
On KORUS anniversary >100 law professors ask Obama/Congress to protect US sovereignty http://economyincrisis.org/content/more-than-100-legal-scholars-call-on-congress-administration-to-protect-democracy-and-sovereignty-in-u-s-trade-deals … #NoFastTrack #TPP
Recent poll shows 50% of Oregonians will be less likely to vote for @ronwyden if he doesn’t say #NoFastTrack for #TPP http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Poll-Shows-Voters-Will-Hold-Lawmakers-Accountable-for-Fast-Track-Support
Please don't betray us, @RonWyden! Don't cave in to GOP! Stand strong and say #NoFastTrack for #TPP! pic.twitter.com/KZ2muGpNnG
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So do Japanese digital rights organizations. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/03/massive-coalition-japanese-organizations-campaign-against-tpp-copyright-provisions
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So do as many as 60 GOP U.S. House members http://www.wsj.com/articles/house-republican-bloc-poses-a-threat-to-pacific-trade-deal-1426618844
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the TPP. So do hundreds of REAL progressive groups https://www.sierraclub.org/sites/www.sierraclub.org/files/uploadswysiwig/Wyden%20Fast%20Track%20Letter%20Final_0.pdf #UniteBlue
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So does the NAACP. http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/foreign-policy/234014-we-need-a-voice-oppose-fast-track-for-the-tpp
Unions aren’t the only ones who say #NoFastTrack for the #TPP. So do digital rights advocates. https://youtu.be/WDKzwB8GhN0
The #TPP ‘levels the playing field for US workers’ by forcing them to compete with Vietnamese workers who earn $0.64/hour #NoFastTrack
TPP won’t level the playing field, it will level the US middle class #NoFastTrack #TPP pic.twitter.com/E0thpe1QqH
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