Sunday, February 12, 2012

Today's Teamster News 02.12.12

Legislature at midterm: several splits emerge (opinion)  Bradenton Herald   ...Senate President Mike Haridopolos, Gov. Scott and others continue to push hard for privatization of 27 prisons, but legislation ran into a roadblock when other GOP lawmakers contested the figures on potential savings. The millions of dollars in campaign contributions from for-profit prison companies appear wasted this year as Senate passage looks shaky with a split vote. However, Haridopolos is forging ahead with a vote this week...
Unions expect right-to-work will cost them members  Associated Press   ...How many members decide to become "free riders," as non-dues payers are called, will determine whether the passage of the right-to-work law here turns out to be a mostly symbolic setback for organized labor or a grave financial and political blow...
Seattle port truckers on strike  Workers World   ...Drivers told Workers World that the strike, now a week old, has grown from 120 workers to 500 or 600. What started at four or five companies now affects a dozen, they said...
Secret Conservative Report Reveals Scott Walker as a Dire Fiscal Failure  politicus.usa   ...today we find out that not only did Walker leave Milwaukee in such dire straights that it should have filed for bankruptcy (perhaps this is why Walker took all of the files and even computers from the office when he left?) after increasing spending by 35%, but the people suffered as well, with annual income drops continuing to plummet under Walker during his entire eight year tenure...
Fewest Young Adults in 60 Years Have Jobs  Time   ...only 54.3% of young adults aged 18 to 24 have a job...
Union Pacific plans billions in infrastructure investment  Wichita Eagle   ...The Omaha-based company said it expects to add between 4,000 and 4,500 workers in 2012, depending on the performance of the economy. It also said it would spend $3.6 billion on infrastructure this year, which would be a record amount. Between 2000 and 2011 the company spent $31 billion...