Sunday, March 30, 2014

Today's Teamster News 03.30.14

Trade
Farm tariffs split Japan, U.S. on TPP  The Japan News   ...Japan and the United States remain far apart over Japanese tariffs on farm products after the latest round of working-level trade talks, a senior Japanese negotiator said Friday...
Thousands protest TPPA in downtown Auckland  New Zealand Herald   ...It was one of 15 such events around the country today to protest the free trade agreement (the TPPA) which is currently being negotiated between 12 countries, including New Zealand, behind closed doors...
Countries Rejecting Trade Deal Provisions that Let Investors Override National Regulation  naked capitalism   ...Countries are finally standing up for the rule of law over rule by multinational corporation...
Investor Treaties in Trouble  Triple Crisis   ...The tide is turning against investment treaties that allow foreign investors to take up cases against host governments and claim compensation of up to billions of dollars...
State Battles
Major municipalities join fight against anti-worker legislation  Labor Tribune   ...Major municipalities across the region are sending a clear message to the Missouri Legislature that they strongly believe that pending right-to-work/Freedom to Work/Workplace Freedom bills are WRONG for Missouri...
Walker signs asbestos bill opposed by veterans  Channel 3000   ...Gov. Scott Walker has quietly signed a bill opposed by numerous veterans groups and Democrats that changes the process for bringing asbestos exposure lawsuits...
MSU could lose $500k for offering labor courses  Michigan Radio   ...Michigan State University could risk losing $500,000 if it does not stop offering courses that allegedly promote unionization...
The War on Workers
Walmart Just Revealed How Poor U.S. Shoppers Are  Forbes   ...the problem isn’t that Walmart revealed how poor its customers really are, it’s that Walmart revealed how poor U.S. shoppers really are...
Sacramento officials kept in dark about crude oil transfers at rail facility  McClatchy   ... Since at least last September, trains carrying tank cars filled with crude oil have rolled into the the former McClellan Air Force base. Workers have transferred the oil, including some volatile Bakken crude, from trains to tanker trucks, which take it to Bay Area refineries. Until this week, Sacramento’s InterState Oil ran the crude operation without a required permit. Local fire and emergency officials who would be called upon to respond in case of a spill or fire weren’t informed it was happening...
Why Is MSNBC's Heiress Unwilling to Talk About the Most Important Economic Issues Facing Her Generation  Center for Economic and Policy Research   ...there is no way that paying for Social Security will have a major effect on the standard of living of people of Huntsman's age...
Miscellaneous
Minnesota teen wins settlement after school takes Facebook password  Fox News   ...A Minnesota school district has agreed to pay $70,000 to settle a lawsuit that claimed school officials violated a student's constitutional rights by viewing her Facebook and email accounts without permission...