Saturday, December 29, 2012

Today's Teamster News 12.29.12

Promoting Made in U.S.A., but Very Carefully  Trade Reform   ...Perception Research Services International, in a September study, found that four out of five shoppers notice a “Made in the U.S.A.” label on packaging, and 76 percent of them said they would be more likely to buy a product because of the label...
The Mississippi River's Water Levels Are Dropping, And Could Shut Down Trade Next Week   Associated Press   ...The Coast Guard remains confident that the nation's largest waterway will remain open. But officials with two trade groups — the American Waterways Operators and Waterways Council Inc. — said in a joint news release that even if the river is open, further limits on barges will bring commercial traffic to a halt...
$60B Sandy aid package clears Senate  Politico   ...Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) flatly predicted the Senate package would die in the House given the little time left to this session of Congress...
Congress Almost Certain To Blow Unemployment Deadline  Huffington Post   ...According to the National Employment Law Project, a worker advocacy group, more than 2 million Americans will stop receiving benefits after Dec. 29, when the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation program will cease to exist...
For Grieving Father Struggling With Dead Son’s Student Debt, Resolution Comes Four Years Late  ProPublica   ...Debt collectors harassed him. His son's federal student loan was forgiven upon his death, but because the bulk of the loans were private, Reynoso was left at the mercy of unfamiliar financial firms, Wall Street investors, and even the central bank of a foreign country...
BOMBSHELL! Florida Judge Finds US Bank in Contempt of Court! (US Bank v. Jansen)  Matt Weldner   ...A circuit court judge found one of the largest banks in the country in contempt of court on Friday over a foreclosure case that has dragged through the system for several years...
Number of Homeless Iraq, Afghan Veterans Doubles  firedoglake   ...Through the end of September, 26,531 of them were living on the streets, at risk of losing their homes, staying in temporary housing or receiving federal vouchers to pay rent, the Department of Veterans Affairs reports...
Teamsters Urge UNFI Product Boycott  Supermarket News   ...Teamsters Local 117, which is striking a United Natural Foods warehouse here, has called for a consumer boycott of the distributor’s products at Whole Foods Market...
Teamsters Strike At BlueLinx Expands To California  Teamsters Local 769   ... An unfair labor practice strike by Teamsters at Local 769 in Miami at BlueLinx Corp. has spread to Northern California, where members of Teamsters Local 853 are now honoring picket lines...