Paterson to sign domestic workers rights law wcax.com ...The nation's first extensive domestic workers rights measure will become law in New York today.
Pact between KC hospital, unions can stand, labor board says The Kansas City Star ...A federal agency has dismissed complaints against the owner of Research Medical Center and two unions...
Investigation reveals undocumented workers, unsafe conditions in oil spill cleanup The Michigan Messenger ...The workers are expected to work 12 to 14 hour shifts, seven days a week, for which they receive $800 a week — in cash — a hotel room, and food while on the job sites.
Striking garbage workers paid overtime to catch up San Jose Mercury News ...Allied Waste employees were paid overtime for catching up on San Mateo County garbage pickups they missed because of a strike last week.
Teamsters Union Protests Coca Cola's Labor Practices, as Company Shutters Plants Huffington Post ...the company is now facing growing labor conflicts here in the United States.
Workers rate safety most important workplace issue in new Labor Day study R&D Magazine ...More than eight of ten workers -- 85 percent -- rate workplace safety first in importance among labor standards...
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
No, This Isn't a Man Bites Dog Story
This may be news to some people, but not to us: Every day, unionized companies in the United States are thriving and innovating.
Every Labor Day, American Rights at Work puts together a list of companies that work well with their unions. This year's list features eight companies that pioneer solutions to environmental challenges.
They're actually doing pretty interesting stuff.
Late in the '90s, for example, Gerding/Edlen redeveloped an old industrial section of Portland, Ore. The green builder saved a 100-year-old brewery, used union labor and incorporated a lot of sustainable design -- recycled materials, natural lighting, photovoltaic panels and high efficiency envelopes and mechanical systems. Now they're working on projects that produce zero net carbon emissions (and union jobs).
Here's an employer a union member can love: Butch Johnson. He bought the bankrupt Flambeau River Papers mill in Park Falls, Wis., and rehired nearly all of the mill's 300 workers, honoring their union contract. Flambeau produces premium recycled paper and is building a biofuels plant to power the mill.
Or how about the company that grows the best tasting tomato (according to the American Culinary Institute)? Eurofresh grows tomatoes and cucumbers at a giant greenhouse complex in Arizona. It pays workers 65 percent more than non-union agricultural workers, along with health benefits that have no premium costs. The greenhouses are safer than open fields and the vegetables meet high standards of food safety.
United Streetcar is bring unionized streetcar manufacturing jobs back to the United States. Last year the company made the first U.S.-produced streetcar in 60 years for Portland, Ore. They honor union contracts and mostly use components made in the U.S.
Read more here.
Every Labor Day, American Rights at Work puts together a list of companies that work well with their unions. This year's list features eight companies that pioneer solutions to environmental challenges.
They're actually doing pretty interesting stuff.
Late in the '90s, for example, Gerding/Edlen redeveloped an old industrial section of Portland, Ore. The green builder saved a 100-year-old brewery, used union labor and incorporated a lot of sustainable design -- recycled materials, natural lighting, photovoltaic panels and high efficiency envelopes and mechanical systems. Now they're working on projects that produce zero net carbon emissions (and union jobs).
Here's an employer a union member can love: Butch Johnson. He bought the bankrupt Flambeau River Papers mill in Park Falls, Wis., and rehired nearly all of the mill's 300 workers, honoring their union contract. Flambeau produces premium recycled paper and is building a biofuels plant to power the mill.
Or how about the company that grows the best tasting tomato (according to the American Culinary Institute)? Eurofresh grows tomatoes and cucumbers at a giant greenhouse complex in Arizona. It pays workers 65 percent more than non-union agricultural workers, along with health benefits that have no premium costs. The greenhouses are safer than open fields and the vegetables meet high standards of food safety.
United Streetcar is bring unionized streetcar manufacturing jobs back to the United States. Last year the company made the first U.S.-produced streetcar in 60 years for Portland, Ore. They honor union contracts and mostly use components made in the U.S.
Read more here.
Links 08/30/10
Striking Coke workers left without health care KOMO-TV ...Teamsters ...and their families find themselves in a scary spot without health benefits.
Century City janitors' strike spotlights workers' plight Los Angeles Times ...16 of the janitors who clean the high-rises that are home to some of the world's richest talent agencies, financial service companies and law firms were laid off.
Technical workers at Genesys Regional Medical Center reject contract; hospital prepares for a strike Flint Journal ...It’s almost official: the strike is on.
Free market has turned us into 'Matrix' drones The Independent ...A leading economist has likened the nation's acceptance of free-market capitalism to that of the brainwashed characters in the film The Matrix...
Wal-Mart suit over sex bias carries high stakes New York Times ...just a third of Wal-Mart’s managers were women, even though two-thirds of its employees were.
China Defends Control of Rare Earth Exports as Move to Protect Environment Bloomberg ...China defended its controls on exports of rare earth...
Century City janitors' strike spotlights workers' plight Los Angeles Times ...16 of the janitors who clean the high-rises that are home to some of the world's richest talent agencies, financial service companies and law firms were laid off.
Technical workers at Genesys Regional Medical Center reject contract; hospital prepares for a strike Flint Journal ...It’s almost official: the strike is on.
Free market has turned us into 'Matrix' drones The Independent ...A leading economist has likened the nation's acceptance of free-market capitalism to that of the brainwashed characters in the film The Matrix...
Wal-Mart suit over sex bias carries high stakes New York Times ...just a third of Wal-Mart’s managers were women, even though two-thirds of its employees were.
China Defends Control of Rare Earth Exports as Move to Protect Environment Bloomberg ...China defended its controls on exports of rare earth...
Friday, August 27, 2010
Teamster organizing victory
Local 386 organized 613 CVS distribution workers in Patterson, Calif.
Organizer Omar Lockyear:
Organizer Omar Lockyear:
"If it wasn’t for the people at CVS who felt so passionate about getting organized, I guarantee this never would have happened...It was a very emotional vote, with lots of tears of joy once it was over.
“I’m proud of everyone over there that stood up for what they deserved.”
Links 08/27/10
For Workers Who Find Jobs, Lower Wages Wall Street Journal ... 55% of those who did find work were earning less than before.
A Thriving Industry Built on Low-Compensated Temp Workers New York Times ...thousands of workers in the Chicago area’s massive warehouse complexes ... are laid off and rehired every few months by temporary-staffing agencies.
Sarah Palin Will "Go Down in History like McCarthy," Says Labor Leader CBS News ...Trumka complains about Palin railing against "union thugs" despite the fact that her husband is in a union.
States Press Workers on Health Care Wall Street Journal ...Kentucky, Connecticut and Texas... join a growing number of governments that have cut health benefits in recent years without major challenges.
American Will Fight Record FAA Fine Wall Street Journal ...American Airlines vowed to fight a proposed $24.2 million federal penalty alleging intentional maintenance violations on some 280 jetliners.
Tea Party Rocks Primaries Rolling Stone ...this summer’s media hate-fest is different than anything we’ve seen before.
A Thriving Industry Built on Low-Compensated Temp Workers New York Times ...thousands of workers in the Chicago area’s massive warehouse complexes ... are laid off and rehired every few months by temporary-staffing agencies.
Sarah Palin Will "Go Down in History like McCarthy," Says Labor Leader CBS News ...Trumka complains about Palin railing against "union thugs" despite the fact that her husband is in a union.
States Press Workers on Health Care Wall Street Journal ...Kentucky, Connecticut and Texas... join a growing number of governments that have cut health benefits in recent years without major challenges.
American Will Fight Record FAA Fine Wall Street Journal ...American Airlines vowed to fight a proposed $24.2 million federal penalty alleging intentional maintenance violations on some 280 jetliners.
Tea Party Rocks Primaries Rolling Stone ...this summer’s media hate-fest is different than anything we’ve seen before.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Social Security: "Like a Milk Cow with 310 Million Tits"
The source of that comment, sadly, is not just some wingnut off the street. It's former Wyoming Senator Alan Simpson, the co-chairman of President Obama's deficit commission. He has suggested the deficit commission will recommend cutting back Social Security to reduce the deficit.
CBS News reported that Simpson wrote the offensive comment in an e-mail to Ashley Carson, the executive director of the Older Women's League. Simpson wrote Carson that he spent many years trying to stabilize Social Security. However, he wrote,
Dean Baker points out that Simpson is not only crude but clueless. Baker says
and
Baker notes Simpson doesn't realize that the baby-boomers nearing retirement have had most of their savings wiped out by the collpase of the housing bubble and the stock market.
And finally, Baker points out that Simpson doesn't seem to have a clue as to the type of work that most older people are doing.
Here's what you need to know about Social Security: The shortfall is relatively small and far into the future.
Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote a letter on Wednesday asking President Obama to fire Simpson from the commission.
Yesterday, The New York Times reports Simpson isn't going anywhere.
Damn.
CBS News reported that Simpson wrote the offensive comment in an e-mail to Ashley Carson, the executive director of the Older Women's League. Simpson wrote Carson that he spent many years trying to stabilize Social Security. However, he wrote,
"Yes, I've made some plenty smart cracks about people on Social Security who milk it to the last degree. You know 'em too. It's the same with any system in America. We've reached a point now where it's like a milk cow with 310 million tits!"
Dean Baker points out that Simpson is not only crude but clueless. Baker says
Simpson seemed surprised by what should have been old hat to anyone familiar with the policy debate on Social Security.
and
Simpson's public remarks also seem to show very little knowledge of the financial situation of the elderly or near elderly.
Baker notes Simpson doesn't realize that the baby-boomers nearing retirement have had most of their savings wiped out by the collpase of the housing bubble and the stock market.
And finally, Baker points out that Simpson doesn't seem to have a clue as to the type of work that most older people are doing.
While it is possible for senators to continue in their jobs late in life, nearly half of older workers have jobs that are either physically demanding or require they work in difficult conditions.
Here's what you need to know about Social Security: The shortfall is relatively small and far into the future.
Oregon Rep. Peter DeFazio and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders wrote a letter on Wednesday asking President Obama to fire Simpson from the commission.
“While there are honest differences of opinion as to how best to tackle this growing problem, we should all be in agreement that everyon working in this area – especially someone in as important a position as the co-chair of your National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform – has a responsibility to be as serious, deliberate, and sober as the challenges we face."
Yesterday, The New York Times reports Simpson isn't going anywhere.
Damn.
Links 08/26/10
Wal-Mart Asks Supreme Court to Hear Bias Suit New York Times ...Wal-Mart Stores asked the Supreme Court on Wednesday to review the largest employment discrimination lawsuit in American history.
Housing Market Plunged in July, Fueling Anxiety New York Times ...Housing sales in July plunged 25.5 percent below the level of a year ago...
Despite Reform, Banks Have Room for Risky Deals New York Times ...financial regulation...will not stop banks from making bets that some critics deem risky...
SEC backs labor on corporate board votes Washington Times ...The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday handed labor and social-activist groups a big victory by approving rules making it easier for them to put allies on corporate boards...
Should a Union-Busting Company Build the MLK Memorial? Washington City Paper ... the United Construction Workers union ...says Dulles, Va.-based Southland Concrete—which is doing the concrete work for the $120 million project—has by far the most complaints from its workers.
Construction workers win $2.2 million settlement Associated Press ...state Attorney General Jerry Brown says investigators uncovered a years-long scheme at Country Builders, Inc. to cheat employees and evade workers' compensation costs.
GOP seizes on private-public pay gap as a midterm election issue The Hill ...Federal workers have become a new flashpoint in the fight between Republicans and Democrats on the economy.
Court Hears Effort to Delay Dollar Thrifty Buyout Vote New York Times ...Shareholders of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group asked a judge on Wednesday to delay a vote on the company’s $1.2 billion sale to Hertz Global Holdings, contending that the board had failed to consider a higher offer from the Avis Budget Group.
Housing Market Plunged in July, Fueling Anxiety New York Times ...Housing sales in July plunged 25.5 percent below the level of a year ago...
Despite Reform, Banks Have Room for Risky Deals New York Times ...financial regulation...will not stop banks from making bets that some critics deem risky...
SEC backs labor on corporate board votes Washington Times ...The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday handed labor and social-activist groups a big victory by approving rules making it easier for them to put allies on corporate boards...
Should a Union-Busting Company Build the MLK Memorial? Washington City Paper ... the United Construction Workers union ...says Dulles, Va.-based Southland Concrete—which is doing the concrete work for the $120 million project—has by far the most complaints from its workers.
Construction workers win $2.2 million settlement Associated Press ...state Attorney General Jerry Brown says investigators uncovered a years-long scheme at Country Builders, Inc. to cheat employees and evade workers' compensation costs.
GOP seizes on private-public pay gap as a midterm election issue The Hill ...Federal workers have become a new flashpoint in the fight between Republicans and Democrats on the economy.
Court Hears Effort to Delay Dollar Thrifty Buyout Vote New York Times ...Shareholders of the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group asked a judge on Wednesday to delay a vote on the company’s $1.2 billion sale to Hertz Global Holdings, contending that the board had failed to consider a higher offer from the Avis Budget Group.
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