Today's Teamster News 07.17.13

Obama makes new NLRB nominations  USA Today   ...President Obama fulfilled his part of a Senate deal Tuesday to avoid major changes in the filibuster rules, making two new nominations to the National Labor Relations Board. Obama put up Nancy Schiffer, associate general counsel at the AFL-CIO, and Kent Hirozawa, chief counsel to NLRB chairman Mark Pearce...
Cordray Confirmed as Head of Financial Watchdog, After Long Wait  New York Times   ...Republicans agreed to allow the confirmation of Richard Cordray, by a vote of 66 to 34, cementing a new era of expansive federal oversight of companies that lend money to consumers...
Greeks take to streets again amid general strike over job cut plans  The Guardian   ...Tens of thousands of Greeks took to the streets on Tuesday as unions, protesting controversial plans to slash 25,000 public sector jobs, brought the country to a standstill in a fourth general strike this year...
Native American tribes’ lawsuit could decide who controls Senate in 2015  The Hill   ... A high-profile lawsuit on the voting rights of Native Americans could help determine control of the Senate in the next Congress…
Fitzpatrick begins push to certify, label American-made products  Philadelphia Business Journal   ...Congressmen Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.) introduced legislation that would encourage consumers to buy more U.S.-made goods. The America Star initiative would be similar to the popular Energy Star program that certifies energy-efficient appliances...
Department of Justice slaps Gallup with $10.5M fine  Politico   ...Gallup Organization has agreed to pay the government $10.5 million to settle a false claims case against the company for allegedly inflating cost estimates in government contracts. The Justice Department announced the settlement, resolving a complaint originally brought under the Whistleblower Protection Act by a former Gallup director of client services...
FEEA overwhelmed with furlough aid requests  Federal News Radio   ...Federal workers hit by furloughs are increasingly applying for aid from the Federal Employee Education and Assistance Fund (FEEA), a nonprofit organization that provides emergency loans to feds who have trouble meeting basic living expenses...
Wal-Mart faceoff with DC fuels minimum wage debate  Associated Press   ...The bitter standoff between Wal-Mart and District of Columbia officials over the city’s effort to impose a higher minimum wage on big-box retailers is fueling a wider debate about how far cities should go in trying to raise pay for low-wage workers — and whether larger companies should be required to pay more...
Rotunda Announcement: “Any participants or spectators are subject to arrest”  blue cheddar   ...today the Capitol Police announced that the people singing in the rotunda from noon to 1 P.M. were “Unlawfully Assembled” and “any participants or spectators are subject to arrest”...
New Report: Unions Shield Workers—and States—Against Recession  In These Times   ...The report’s findings strongly suggest that the decline of unionization has played a considerable role in the increase of income inequality in Illinois, which can in turn slow economic growth. The report also suggests that lags in union membership put a strain on the social safety net, sapping resources that could otherwise be invested to speed the state's recovery...
Halliburton fined in North Dakota after Duluth worker’s death  Duluth News Tribune   ...For the first time, oil industry giant Halliburton has been cited for workplace safety violations in North Dakota. A release issued Monday by the U.S. Department of Labor detailed two “serious safety violations” levied against the energy giant in relation to the Jan. 19 death of a Duluth man at an oil rig site...
Hawaii hotel workers could be in line for millions in tips  KHON2 News   ...The Hawaii State Supreme Court ruled Monday that a class action lawsuit against certain hotels “can” move forward with a class action suit that could eventually mean thousands of employees are due millions of dollars in lost tips...
Photo ID Law on Trial in Pennsylvania: What's at Stake for Our Democracy  Huffington Post   ...PA’s photo ID law which mainly affects the elderly,  disabled and poor people is being challenged by the ACLU...
Bay City Commissioners approve new Teamsters contract for 9 supervisors  Michigan Live   ...Bay City commissioners approved a new contract for nine City Hall managers, who are represented by Teamsters Local 214...
Buffalo Teamsters Reach Tentative Agreement With Rural/Metro Medical  IBT   ...Early yesterday morning after 21 hours of negotiating, Teamsters Local 375, which represents the 400 EMTs and paramedics working at Rural/Metro medical services, reached a tentative agreement for a new 4-year contract that includes a wage increase and benefit improvements...

More American-made, union-made gift ideas

(UPDATES with final graf to ADD ABC's series.)

We know how hard it is to find products actually made in America, but it's worth the try. Because the job you save could be your own.

The Alliance for American Manufacturing has a blog (click here) that's been featuring ideas for gifts made in the USA. Yesterday they featured toys, including Green Toys, products made from recycled materials by a company named -- wait for it -- Green Toys -- in California. Stuffington Bear Factory makes stuffed animals by hand in Phoenix. PurePlayToys is a website that sells mostly toys made in America. You can buy almost everything on the AAM list by mail.

The blog also features American-made outerwear, including coats and jackets from Colorado-based Freeride Systems and hats and gloves from Minnesota-based Wintergreen Northern Wear.

Our friends at Labor 411 go one better: They have a union-made, American-made shopping guide for the holidays.

For example, BCTGM workers at See's Candies makes Hanukkah gold coins. Our friends at UNITE HERE make Pendleton baby blankets. The UAW manufactures Louisville Sluggers for kids. And our brothers and sisters at UFCW makes lots of products, including duffle bags, board games and bourbon.

We found other holiday shopping guides featuring products made in America. One, the made in usa challenge, features products that are "safe, ethically made, eco-friendly and awesome." Those include clothing and accessories made from retired military uniforms at the Military Apparel Company.

For Made-in-America gifts for One Percenters, the Wall Street Journal (of course) offers a slide show featuring $195 skateboards and $4,500 suits. And most states have their own guides. Vermont, for example, has a robust page featuring crafts, maple syrup and cheese. You can support Michiganders (who need it more than ever now) by buying from the Michigan Made website. California has three directories: one so comprehensive it includes everything from audio equipment to tools (here), one focusing on manufactured items (here) and one that features food and gifts. Unfortunately, the last one uses FedEx, so we won't link to it.

Happy shopping!

P.S. We almost forgot ABC's terrific series on Made in America products. Watch it here.