Thursday, October 30, 2008
Tweet thisWednesday, October 29, 2008
The Barack Obama infomercial
It's called "American Stories, American Solutions" and I haven't watched it yet, need more time
Any questions, please read why I am voting for Mr. Obama and why I urge all working people to do the same, Joe endorses Barack Obama under the Working Families Party line
Edit: 6 minutes in and it's all about working people...gotta sleep, goodnight.
Staten Island and Brooklyn need Mike McMahon in Congress
"Not until we return dignity and respect to our workplace will our nation ever live up to the great ideals upon which it was founded." - Mike McMahon
->Click the image to the right for large printable card you can take with you when you vote
What can I say, we had many years of Republican Vito Fosella as our Congressman, and while there were a few items I agreed upon with him, for the most part he didn't see the same picture as me. He ignored my stance on media consolidation, stating in a mass generated e-mail that if corporations owned more TV, radio and newspapers, it would be better for all of us. He also did not respond to my offer to do anything in my power to help keep my local hospital, Victory Memorial, open. So I was a bit discouraged, but that was then, this is a new day.
First let me explain a bit about my Congressional district
My district, the 13th. Congressional district of New York, which encompasses all of Staten Island and the southern part of Brooklyn, has the highest density of any Congressional district in the entire United States, with over 92,000 union households. For too long we had a person in office at the Congressional level that didn't quite understand what difficulties workers face on a daily basis. Now we have a chance to elect someone who knows who his neighbors are, so here's what Mr. McMahon has to say about labor, in excerpt:
My neighbors and friends in both Staten Island and Brooklyn leave their homes and families early each morning to put in a hard day’s work, helping our City function and supporting their families. As a child I learned from them the values that continue to guide me today – the honor of hard work, the importance of family, and the power that we have when we stand together.
The great American ideals of justice and fairness demand that we treat each and every hard working man and woman - from fire fighters to teachers, from police office officers to sanitation workers, from construction workers to nurses, and so many other important but often overlooked jobs -, with dignity and respect. First and foremost this means a fair wage for a fair days work, appropriate benefits so that they and their family have health care access, financial security, and time off to spend as a family.
Employee Free Choice Act:
Sadly the fight for dignity and respect on the job has never been more difficult then today. Far too often, when workers courageously stand up and demand union representation , unscrupulous employers respond with illegal threats and intimidation. Firing workers, changing shift times, and even threatening to close places of work are becoming all the more common in union organizing campaigns. The nation’s foremost enforcer of labor law, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), is simply ill-equipped and unable to decide these cases in a timely fashion. This means that even when illegal acts are found, the ruling often comes years after workers have been intimidated from voting for union representation, and the atmosphere for union organizing has been poisoned beyond the point when a free and fair election is possible. This, clearly, is not what was envisioned by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he and Congress enacted the National Labor Relations Act over 70 years ago. As Americans, we must stand together to say that this type of harassment is unacceptable anywhere in the world, let alone in our nation’s own work places.
It is for these reasons that I strongly and proudly support the Employee Free Choice Act. This vital legislation will return the decision about union representation to the rightful decision makers – the workers. Once this most important piece of legislation is enacted into law, workers will be able to declare their desire for union representation through the signing of union authorization cards. The union will be able to hold those cards until a majority have been signed, at which time they will be submitted to the NLRB. No longer will employers be able to hire union busting law firms that employ vicious campaigns of threat and intimidation in preparation for a union election date. No longer will workers’ votes be cast under the watchful eye of their employer. The Employee Free Choice Act will finally begin to return democracy and fairness to our nation’s workplaces.
I am proud to have stood with the hardworking men and women of my City to protect their jobs and living conditions. When the sons and daughters of our City were called up to active military duty and temporarily forced to leave their families and municipal jobs to proudly serve our country in the War on Terror, I fought to make sure that the housing and food compensation that they received with their deployment was not subtracted from their City pay checks. Before I and my colleagues on the City Council demanded this change in City policy, City employees that were called up to active duty were required to return to the City the lesser of their City salary or their military compensation, including the cost of housing and food.
Just as I successfully fought in 2003 to save nearly two hundred good paying Teamster jobs at the City’s Department of Sanitation, I will fight with equal vigor for:
- Labor and Environmental Standards in all International Trade Agreements. Our country needs fair trade that raises the wages and standards of all workers, not trade that makes it free for employers to export jobs and exploit workers.
- Increased funding for the Occupational Safety & Health Administration and other Similar Federal Agencies. Federal agencies charged with enforcement of our nation’s labor laws need to be sufficiently resourced and empowered to do their jobs. Needless and senseless workplace accidents must be stopped before they happen, and when they do, employers that are at fault must be held accountable for their actions. In this day and age workers should not be dying on our construction sites -as has tragically been the recent case in New York City - or in our nation’s mines. We have the technology and ability to do this work safely and we owe it to the hard working men and women of our nation and their families to ensure their safety.
- Increasing the National Minimum Wage. The legal minimum wage needs to be raised further and we must ensure that all levels of government are vigorously enforcing the law and prosecuting those who violate it. Men and woman should be paid equal and fair wages for a fair days work, and in order to support their families these wages must keep pace with inflation and the rising cost of living.
- Ensuring that all Government Funded Projects Pay a Prevailing Wage for All Construction Work. If there is a single dollar of federal funding in a development project, all construction should be done at the prevailing wage rate. The practice of segregating Federal and local government funding and structuring the project to minimize the work done at a prevailing rate, as is far too often the case in New York City, simply must come to an end. As a member of the New York City Council I fought to end this practice by introducing legislation, Introduction 733, requiring that all City subsidized projects, whether directly or indirectly funded, pay a prevailing wage rate. I will continue this fight once elected to the United States Congress.
Not until we return dignity and respect to our workplace will our nation ever live up to the great ideals upon which it was founded. I will work hand and hand with my partners in organized labor in the fight for economic justice both here at home and abroad.
More info on Mike McMahon can be found on Mike McMahon For Congress
More info on who Working Families supports and their issues can be found at WFP.org
Victory for Smithfield workers, Rico suit dropped, workers to get union vote!
"Truth, Justice and the American way" - narrator, Superman TV series
One Rico suit against unions and their supporters has been dropped, workers finally big winners, imagine we live in a world that just being able to get a union election is a major victory
From Metro DC Labor Council:
WORKERS WIN AT SMITHFIELD!
(10/27/08 6:20P) In a huge win for organized labor, Smithfield Foods dropped a racketeering lawsuit against union organizers Monday and agreed to let them hold a union election at the world's largest hog slaughterhouse. "In return, the United Food and Commercial Workers union agreed to end a publicity campaign against Smithfield that included calls for product boycotts to support its calls for an organizing election at the slaughterhouse in Tar Heel, N.C.," reported the Associated Press Monday afternoon. Smithfield -- the nation's largest pork producer -- estimated that the Justice at Smithfield campaign – which included a major focus on DC-area customers who make up one of Smithfield's largest markets -- cost it about $900 million. "The metro-area labor movement has been deeply involved in this struggle since it was launched over two years ago," said Metro Washington Council President Jos Williams. "Every local activist and labor supporter who turned out to rally, leaflet or march for Justice at Smithfield should be proud of their role in this win." The agreement was announced by Smithfield and the UFCW in a joint statement as the company's lawsuit was about to go to trial Monday in federal court. In a joint statement, Smithfield and the union said they "have agreed on what both parties believe to be a fair election process" on union representation at the Tar Heel plant. The settlement was sealed, and U.S. District Judge Robert E. Payne ordered the parties to say nothing further about the deal until after the union election. It was unclear when that election would take place.
- click here for Larry O'Dell's complete AP report. Photo: At the June 19 Justice at Smithfield campaign launch in DC; photo by Tiye Kinlow
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Boeing and IAM agree to 4 year deal
Sorry gotta run, just squeezing this info in while I'm running out the door
From labourstarts newsfeed
Finally beat Kirsten to the punch, hopefully when she writes a new story she can bring it here
Added some nifty widgets to the site, Labourstart photo's and a video bar
I am really happy to be finding so many nice widgets around the net lately, it's getting easier to grab wonderful content and bring it to you. the newest stuff I have is the Industrial, Labour and Trade Unions of photo's from around the world and a video widget featuring one of the great artist on YouTube, please note I'm still testing all this stuff out, Just like the labor news widget I created with the use of YahooTubes on the top right, and the addition of the Amber Alert badge.
I'm trying to make this site one of the best for info for working people.
Later,
Joe
Monday, October 27, 2008
Longest-serving Republican in the US Senate found guilty
Directly from the "They're all scumbags" catagory
From Times Online (excerpt):
More at Politico: Messy trial ends with a decisive verdictThe longest-serving Republican in the US Senate has been found guilty of lying about free gifts he received from a wealthy oil contractor.
Alaska Senator Ted Stevens, had been hoping to win re-election next week, but last night he faced the end of his 40-year political career, after being convicted on seven corruption charges.
The guilty verdict will make a difficult race almost impossible for the 84-year-old senator, and brings the Democrats one crucial seat closer to realising their bid for a filibuster-proof majority in the Senate.
Stevens’s downfall will provide another unwelcome distraction for John McCain, whose efforts to run an anti-sleaze ticket have already been compromised by the Troopergate inquiry, which found that his running mate, Sarah Palin, had used her position as Governor of Alaska to settle a personal score
Sad. sadder and saddest
My girl says I'm a bit on the negative side, why would that be...
So when will banks give loans? Sadder
Saddest
Today Sad: Dennis Kucinich: Timing of Attack In Syria So Close To Election Questioned
July sadness: Republicans helping to encourage the use of more illegal alien labor
Military says Twitter, the social networking tool is for terrorists
Are you f@cking kidding me?
I heard this on the news tonight, the social network tool that you can send text messages to cell phones or friends online has been deemed a terrorist tool by the US military.
From Vnunut:
A report by US military intelligence has claimed that the messaging application Twitter could be used by terrorists as an operational tool.It's called technology assholes, it's better than the mass beatings to American's that the stormtroopers at both the RNC and DNC dished out. Wheres the ACLU. This is quickly becoming a fascist police state.
The report into the increasing security implications of mobile technology envisaged terrorists using Twitter messages, or Tweets, to communicate and share images and locations of future terrorist attacks.
"Twitter is already used by some members to post and/or support extremist ideologies and perspectives," the report said.
"For example, there are multiple pro and anti Hezbollah Tweets. In addition, extremist and terrorist use of Twitter could evolve over time to reflect tactics that are already evolving in use by 'hacktivists' and activist for surveillance. This could theoretically be combined with targeting."
It notes that Twitter was used extensively by protestors at the recent Republican National Convention to identify the location of police and security guards in an effort to get around them.
eFluxMedia adds:
The report also focuses on newer applications for mobile phones such as digital maps, GPS locators and many more. The army report analyzes discussions on Al-Qaeda-affiliated online forums and the fact that terrorists and followers are discussing about the benefits of modern-day technology and how it can be used to coordinate a terrorist attack.
One of the online conversations was reportedly about the benefits of "using a mobile phone camera to monitor the enemy and its mechanisms," while another was about how one can use a Nokia 6210 Navigator for "marksmanship, border crossings, and in concealment of supplies" through the cell phone’s GPS functions.
Another similar, online chat focused on how terrorists could use voice-modification software in order to conceal their identity when making phone calls. Using the above-mentioned features as well as many other and adding Twitter use to that may have a bigger impact.
"Twitter was recently used as a countersurveillance, command and control, and movement tool by activists at the Republican National Convention," the Army report notes.
"The activists would Tweet each other and their Twitter pages to add information on what was happening with Law Enforcement near real time."
Take Action: Tell the Gap to stop supporting union-buster's at Oak Harbor Freight
Cross-posted at DailyKos
Don't just sit there, take action!
From Labourstart:
Tell the Gap: Don't Harbor Worker AbusesCLICK HERE! To send your message to Gap Clothing!
Don't let Gap Inc. support worker and retiree abuses!
Oak Harbor Freight Lines workers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho were forced to strike on Sept. 22 in protest of the freight company's violations of U.S. labor laws, as well as hostile efforts by the company to intimidate workers.
A day later, Oak Harbor took the outrageous step of cutting off health care benefits to its workers and retirees. Instead of negotiating with striking workers in good faith, Oak Harbor has imported teams of professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees.
Oak Harbor's biggest freight customer, Gap Inc., has supported the move to replace striking workers and cut off health care benefits to retirees.
REI, Urban Outfitters, and other companies have elected to suspend their relationship with Oak Harbor until the company finds a just and lasting resolution to the ongoing labor dispute.
Several organizations, including, Sweatfree Communities, the International Textile, Garment and Leather Workers' Federation, the International Transport Workers' Federation, Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior, and the International Labor Rights Forum have called on Gap Inc. to suspend its relationship with Oak Harbor.
Unfortunately, the Gap continues to ignore workers' rights abuses and use Oak Harbor to transport merchandise. Tell the Gap to stop harboring worker abuses.
Wake up people, we can't just let shit like this go anymore!
From The Teamsters website:
On Oct. 21st. Teamsters rappelled down the side of a building adjacent to The Gap’s headquarters in San Francisco to bring attention to the company’s support of union-busting freight firm Oak Harbor Freight Lines.
*Click above for larger image
“We are here today at Gap Inc. to let the people of San Francisco, and the country, know that Gap, Inc. supports union-busters,” said Dan Jurpik, a striking worker who participated in the banner drop. “I have worked for Oak Harbor for 14 years. Now they are slashing our health care and bringing in professional strikebreakers to coerce and scare loyal long-time employees.”
“This company is treating its employees badly,” said Al Hobart, President of Teamsters Joint Council 28 and International Vice President. “Not only do they not want to negotiate fairly, but now they have taken the outrageous step of slashing health care benefits for workers. And, to add insult to injury, they cut health care for retirees – the very workers who built Oak Harbor into a strong company.”
Oak Harbor’s biggest freight customer, retail giant Gap Inc., continues to provide support to Oak Harbor even after it cut retiree health care benefits, froze workers’ retirement income and slashed sick leave.
More than 600 Teamsters remain on strike in Washington, Oregon and Idaho against Auburn, Washington-based Oak Harbor, after bargaining unsuccessfully for a fair contract for the past 11 months.
CLICK HERE! It only takes a minute!
A huge thank's to Eric Lee at the folks at Labourstart for helping gather support for our fellow workers. A huge thanks to the labor and social justice organizations worldwide that are in support of our American workers.
Stand in solidarity CLICK HERE!
Why unions are bad
<--Next: Video: The value of a dollar
Last: Italy went on strike and no one mentioned it-->
Gotta love Larry from the Trucking Board forum:
By Larry RetiredGreat post Larry, thanks. Larry is a retired Yellow city driver, dock worker and hostler. Retired in 2005, after 31 years.I've finally realized why unions should have never been created and should be put to rest for good.
If unions had never been created, there would have never been a middle class. That way ordinary people would have never been exposed to many of the creature comforts of the elite. What they didn't know wouldn't hurt them. We could all still be going to work in our childhoods, working 14 to 16 hours a day, seven days a week. We would die young, allowing our jobs to be passed on to the next fortunate generation. This way our jobs wouldn't have had to be exported to China, where those lucky souls are getting to do this admirable labor. There would still be a place for the greedy and unscrupulous, there always is. We wouldn't have the time or energy to be corrupting our minds with things like religion or recreation. Without all these distractions, our lives would be so much simpler. This scenario, after all, is the ultimate goal of the multi-national corporate elite. They have particularly escalated their push toward this end during the past 30-odd years.
The only downside that I see with this is that everything around us would be different, in most cases nonexistent. I mean if we, the masses, didn't have any money or time, there would be no need for all the stores, homes , doctors, roads, you name it. So as this brave new world is systematically foisted upon us by the corporate elites, don't be so damned ungrateful. They are only looking out for your own good, after all.
But since we already have these pesky unions, we all need to join together and help bring them down. Consider this, 33% of American citizens are making less than $15,000 a year, and 75% of us are making less than $50,000 a year. Now how ungrateful can we be, to expect that kind of compensation, with days off in many cases, to boot. In 1970 the largest corporation in America was General Motors. They paid their labor well, provided them with excellent benefits, and allowed them to retire with dignity. Henry Ford had the stupid idea that he needed to pay his help enough so that they could afford his products.
Today Walmart is America's largest corporation, where turnover is huge, pay is low, there are few or no benefits, and certainly no retirement. Can't you see where this is far superior to that of the recent past? If we can just keep heading in this direction for a little while longer, maybe we can get back to where we will be making so little and working under totally miserable conditions, that we can get back our basic means of production from China. Oh what a blessed thought, golly I can't wait.
See also my favorite misconception "Unions force jobs overseas"
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Italy went on strike and no one mentioned it
From ANSA.it
2008-10-17 15:43US main stream media fails to mention it......
Strike brings Italy to a halt
Trains, planes, trams and Venice water buses stopped(ANSA) - Rome, October 17 - Tourists and residents were forced to brave the rain on foot Friday as a general strike against government reforms called by grass-roots unions brought public transport in big cities to a halt.
Protest marches paralysed traffic in Rome, Milan and Turin, and unions described the strike as ''a success beyond our wildest dreams''.
In Rome unions claimed some 300,000 people took part in the main rally at Piazza San Giovanni to protest against low salaries and temporary contracts for workers across various sectors as well as school reforms and health cuts.
In Milan around 50,000 people turned up for a similar rally at Piazza Duomo, and local police described the traffic situation in the city as ''chaotic''.
'Vaporetti' water buses in Venice were also down to a reduced service, with around 48% of operators adhering to the strike. Children left alone in classrooms made desperate calls to their parents to come and pick them up as teachers deserted schools to join marches, and in Rome police in riot gear guarded the entrance to the education ministry to prevent access by protesting university and high-school students.
''The protest's enormous, extraordinary success demonstrates, despite the driving rain, that workers, students and teachers not only have no intention of keeping quiet but they want to continue to battle against a racist, classist government that helps bankers and speculators but does nothing for the general population,'' said Italian Communists' Party leader Paolo Ferrero.
Education Minister Maria Stella Gelmini said the strike was the result of ''a campaign of misinformation'' on the reforms from opposition parties trying to create public alarm.
Bus, tram and local train services are guaranteed during special time windows to allow Italians to get back and forth to work. These windows vary from city to city.
National rail company Trenitalia said long- and medium-haul trains were not affected by the strike.
A handful of international and domestic flights were canceled.
BBC, Op-Ed News,
Father Brian Jordan will run the NYC Marathon on behalf of killed and injured construction workers
Father Brian will run for both deceased union and nonunion workers during the marathon. "God loves us equally during life and death" says Father Brian "However, your chances for survival are far greater if you join the construction workers' unions and receive the proper safety training."
NYC IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCTOBER 20, 2008Father Brian Jordan is well known for being there for our construction workers, in the above picture Father Brian blesses the I-Beam cross which was discovered under the debri at the World Trade Canter site, Father Brian is also an immigration counselor at St.Francis in NYC, and known as a spiritual adviser to the labor movement
ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST TO RUN NYC MARATHON FOR CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WHO WERE KILLED OR SEVERELY INJURED ON THE WORKSITEOn Sunday, November 2, 2008, Father Brian Jordan will run in the annual New York City Marathon on behalf New York City construction workers who have either been killed or severely injured this past year.
Father Brian is the chaplain for the Building Trades and Construction Council of New York City. He began ministering among construction workers when he was a chaplain at Ground Zero from September, 2001 till June, 2002. He has attended many wakes, funeral Masses and memorial services for many of the deceased during the past year. Among them were the six construction workers killed on March 15 when a crane collapsed on Second Avenue and 52nd Street. Also two were killed on May 30 when another crane collapsed on First Avenue and 91st. Street. According to the Dept. of Buildings, 19 construction workers were killed so far this year. Construction workers have a higher rate of being killed on the job than police officers and firefighters. Particularly, among nonunion workers who do not have the sufficient training and safety equipment that is expected from their employers. Recent statistics point out that 1 out of every 5 Latino construction workers nationwide are either killed or injured on the worksite each year. The majority of these Latino workers are immigrants and work for nonunion contractors.
Coincidentally, November 2 is the Feast of All Souls on the Christian calendar. This solemn feast recalls the deceased by loved ones, family members and friends. Their continued prayers will help raise their souls into Heaven. In Latino culture(especially among Mexicans) they call November 2 the Day of the Dead
(El Dia de Los Muertos.) Father Brian will run for both deceased union and nonunion workers during the marathon. "God loves us equally during life and death" says Father Brian "However, your chances for survival are far greater if you join the construction workers' unions and receive the proper safety training."
Father Brian requests that the public give generously to a new fund that will dispense money gifts to family members of future victims of worksite accidents. This fund will be known as the Construction Workers' Relief Fund. It will be effective after the Nov. 2 Marathon. A special committee will be appointed to carefully distribute these funds on an as needed basis. Please make your checks out to:
CONSTRUCTION WORKERS' RELIEF FUND c/o
Building Trades and Construction Council
71 W. 23rd Street Suite 501
New York, New York 10010
Here's a video interview with Father Brian Jordan from April,2007 on immigration
Disposable worker dies and 13 year old injured working on Value Palace hotel in IN.
<--Next:Father Brian Jordan will run the NYC Marathon on behalf of killed...
"It's also possible no one will be held accountable."
Who? A couple of misclassified workers for a company named Carpetbaggers, working under the General Contractor Millstone. Jose Delgado, Sr., 31, of the 2000 block of Breaburn East Drive, Indianapolis, and his son, Jose Delgado, Jr., 13, who lives at the same address
What? One dies and his son, a 13 year old severely injured while working with him while improperly using a fork lift as an elevator
Where? A new hotel in Indiana, the Value Palace, which unfortunately has no standard on who they work with, some value, people die cutting corners. The Value Place hotel is located at the southwest corner of I-65 and County Line Road in Johnson County.
When? Last week, Oct 16th.
Why? Because they can get away with it.
From wthr.com 13 in Indiana:
So how does this happen?Greenwood - A forklift accident two weeks ago claimed the life of a Greenwood construction worker. His teenage son was also on the site, and was also injured. Now OSHA officials may be looking into more violations.
As the new Value Place hotel takes shape in Greenwood, so too are state officials making progress on their investigation into an accident on the site two weeks ago.
Three tile workers were coming off the fourth floor into an aerial basket when, according to police reports, two of the workers, 31-year-old Jose Delgado, Sr. and his son, slid off the forks and the forklift fell to the ground. Delgado later died from his injuries. His son, at first reported to be only 15 years old, was also hurt.
"A construction site like this is not a place for a child like that to be working," said OSHA deputy commissioner Jeff Carter.
Carter says this week investigators learned the boy wasn't 15 after all. "We believe he's younger than that now. We believe he could be as young as 13," he said.
By law, that's too young to be on the job site. Investigators are also looking at the forklift used by the workers.
One thing OSHA investigators will have to determine is whether the workers were using the forklift incorrectly, or if that machinery is used in a similar fashion on this or other job sites.
The basket on the forklift is what OSHA investigators consider "homemade." Officials want to know if the workers were trained to use it.
"That basket we have questions about. It does not meet the standards," said Carter.
The contractor supervisor on site told police the day of the accident, "Any subcontractor may use the on-site forklift, but must sign a contract stating they must get the necessary training." He went on to say, "Millstone [the general contractor] does not allow people in the basket."
But two weeks after the fatal accident, Eyewitness News saw two workers in what appears the be the same forklift.
"The company will probably be cited," Carter said.
Citations are likely. But who the state holds accountable for one worker's death is still unclear.
The driver of the forklift, Antonio Torres, told police he didn't have a key to drive it and that he used a pocket knife to start the engine.
OSHA officials say citations may be directed at Torres, who is an independent contractor, Carpetbaggers, the company who hired him, and Millstone, the general contractor on the construction site. It's also possible no one will be held accountable.
The investigation is expected to take another two weeks.
let's ask Chris the Carpenter from Indiana, in a story entitled "Joe the Plumber-meet Chris the Carpenter!!":
Now the quarter of a million mark wouldn't really be that hard to meet. I can't speak with any first hand knowledge, but being on the inside looking out, I can say with much certainty that there are people in our line of work that do much better than we do. And I think $250,000.00 is quite obtainable. See, as a union contractor we are obligated to pay the union benefits and wages that our contract states but if we were a non-union contractor we could get by a lot cheaper. Now I know there are some stand up non-union contractors that pay a good wage to their employees, offer health care and a 401k etc. But those guys know, as well as I do, that there are those out there that take advantage of people and don't do things on the up and up. I know because I see them on a regular basis on jobs throughout central Indiana.Picture and some info from:
I'm talking about the elephant in the room in the construction industry. It works like this. A guy secures a contract to do a job, say, roofing, masonry, landscaping, drywall, whatever. He then purchases the material and he finds a labor broker. This is usually a legal immigrant that can speak English and knows a lot of other immigrants that need jobs, are usually illegal and have little or no English skills. They will work very hard and they are very reliable. AND, they work very cheap. Now the contractor knows what the labor rate runs and he can charge just a little less than we do or what the legit non-union guy does. He then sub-contracts to the labor broker who then sub-contracts to the illegal immigrants. This is all done on a piece meal basis. In other words, a set amount is paid for the installation of the product, i.e.; 15 cent/square foot of drywall or 45 cents per concrete block. This way, the price is set and the contractor and the labor broker can't lose. It's up to the actual worker to bust his butt to make any money because he only gets paid for the set amount of material in the job. And it's pennies on the dollar compared to the wages my guys get or the good non-union contractor employees get. The contractor then gives the illegals a 1099 form instead of paying the taxes, workman's comp., insurance, not to mention providing a safe environment and the workers don't worry about it because they won't file taxes anyway. They work very, very cheap because the broker knows they won't say anything if they want to keep their job because there is a whole line of people ready to take their place.
Just recently, a small hotel was being built just West of Indianapolis and the floor covering was contracted this way or something similar. On a Saturday, workers were stocking material using a forklift that was supplied by the General Contractor. The workers tied a box to the forks and was using it as a man lift to get material to the second floor. (Totally against OSHA regulations) The box broke loose and two workers in the box fell to the ground. It was a father and son. Illegal immigrants from Mexico. The boy was 14 years old. Both died. This is not an isolated incident. If these workers were fortunate enough to live and only receive serious injuries, this story would never be told because they would be whisked away and 2 more put in their place. There has been no follow up story to the contractors on this project, and I'm sure that somebody got in trouble. But those lives are lost forever. And the work will be done in this manner over and over again because nothing is being done about it.
I hope you all understand that I'm not putting the blame on the illegal immigrants. I understand their plight. If I had to feed my family and I could make money to do that in Mexico, I would be there in a heartbeat. The blame is to be placed on the employers that take advantage of these people so they can line their own pockets. I'm not trying to solve the immigration problem right now. I'm trying to show Joe the Plumber that it's not as glamorous as it looks. So go ahead Joe, buy that company. Run a legitimate business. Put in the hours to make it work. Build yourself up to make that $250-300,00.00. Believe me, if I get to $300k, I'll pay the 4-5% extra taxes and never blink. But how much are you going to be paying the people that got you to that level? You gotta pay them a decent living wage too. You'll never do any of it without good employees. So you gotta spread the wealth with your employees first or you'll never make it as an employer.
So, go for it Joe!! See ya on the jobsite, huh?
Chris the carpenter Central Indiana
The Indy Channel, AllVoices.com
Yellow Rat Bastard workers fight back and join a union
WooHoo, a little over 7 months after I reported on the unsavory employment conditions in my article "NYC: Yellow Rat Bastard's owner turns out to be a scumbag" about how Yellow Rat Bastard had been paying its employees below minimum wage, without overtime, without taxes and had retaliated against employees who complained, the workers have fought back and decided to become members of a union.
For a few months after I wrote that story I was the number 2 hit on Google for the term "Yellow Rat Bastard", time has dropped me down the list, along with possibly some help by employees of the firm spreading the name around and creating a few separate entries for the site, but all's fair in the internet, at least for now. (I do this for free, they should have just hired me, hey look I'm #7 for The Employee Free Choice Act on Google today)
I know as matter-of-fact, that my story has been read thousands of times by people just looking through Google for info about the store, possibly all of the employees who decided to become union.
From the RWDSU site:
Yellow Rat Bastard Workers Join RWDSU in New York (10/7/08)A handshake and an 'atta boy" at the next CLC meeting from Mr.Applebaum would be nice, as I would be honored to meet the man whose writting's I wholeheartedly admire.Workers at urban youth fashion retail chain Yellow Rat Bastard have joined the RWDSU, continuing on a path to a union contract that they have sought for three years. The 160 workers joined the RWDSU via a card check recognition on October 3.
Workers at Yellow Rat Bastard, which has seven stores throughout New York CIty, have continually suffered abuses including criminally low pay and overtime violations. Earlier this year, the clothing chain agreed to pay a $1.4 million settlement to over 1,000 workers who had been cheated out of fair pay. The lawsuit, filed by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, came as a result of the efforts of the Retail Action Project, a partnership between the RWDSU and the community group Good Old Lower East Side.
"This another step toward justice, dignity, and respect for the workers at Yellow Rat Bastard, whose owners have too often lived up to their store's name," said RWDSU President Stuart Appelbuam. "We can only hope that management agrees to respect the decision of its workers and negotiates a contract in good faith."
Finally being able to shop at Yellow Rat Bastard with a good conscience is even better, now if they will sign a 'no sweatshop, fair trade" pledge, I'd be thrilled. We'll take what we can as we can get it I guess.
Joe's atta boy goes out to the 160 workers who now are union, after the abuse they took, I'm really happy for them, my only advice, is give your employer a good days work and speak to your friends and family on the diferance between justice you finally have and what you went through to get there. Together we are strong, divided we beg.
You can read some of Stuart Applebaum's writings at various sites around the internet and the homepage of the Jewish Labor Committee, which he serves as President.
The JLC is a fantastic site, which the heritage of the American Jew is woven into today's world, they do not forget where they came from, the employee abuse, like so many of our heritages suffered. It is important that we all learn from the past.
Most importantly, the Jewish Labor Comittees policy statement on the worker abuses at AgriProcessors, which in part states:
I wish it could be "the American community shares a common conviction that all workers -- regardless of their immigration status -- must be free to exercise their rights and challenge employer abuses", because if that were true, there wouldn't be a slave class in this country.In reviewing the complaints of Agriprocessors’ employees, the JLC learned that there is a clear pattern of employer negligence and even lawlessness. Among the most troubling practices by Agriprocessors are:
• abuse of child labor laws;
• failure to pay workers the full amount of wages they have earned;
• unnecessary exposure of workers to dangerous -- even life-threatening -- working conditions;
• sexual harassment.
The JLC has also learned that Agriprocessors is actively waging a campaign of intimidation and harassment against workers who have expressed an interest in exercising their legal right to union representation.In this atmosphere, it is clear that the recent ICE raid at Agriprocessors, though apparently legal, only buttresses the conviction shared by many undocumented workers that our government is not only indifferent to worker abuse, but works in collusion with management to penalize workers who challenge it.
While there are many differing perspectives regarding immigration reform, the American Jewish community shares a common conviction that all workers -- regardless of their immigration status -- must be free to exercise their rights and challenge employer abuses. Our belief is grounded in the collective memory of American Jewry of the gross exploitation of Jewish immigrants by employers who, like Agriprocessors, abused and robbed them of their right to dignity in the workplace.
Every part of my Heritage was abused when they entered the country. The difference today is that the government, lobbyists and the corporations have made all facets of immigration an open faucet, with no throttle. It seems that even if the people already here got human rights, were able to be in a union and have a pathway to citizenship that that faucet would still be jammed open, letting in the next wave.
It's a continuous flow of worker suppression, and we the tax payers are subsidizing the the employers responsibilities.
The conservatives scream 'socialism', the last 30 years, especially the last 7.5 have honed this into a science, keep allowing the undocumented workers in, let the citizen workers pay for the things that the employers of these workers are supposed to pay for, and make sure that the undocumented workers will live in a state of fear. This to me is a corporatist socialism that is not acceptable. The divisiveness of their methods is insidious, you actually have rabid "McCain" supporters who scream that their opposing view is socialism, while they are living in a semi-socialist society where only a few are benefiting.
Add in a whole lot of anti-union policies, absence of working rights for undocumented's , an abused Visa system and a new army of ICE storm troopers to get sent into service if the slaves get out of line, and we are heading into a really bad place.
Fear is their weapon and if we do not overcome their campaign against the people who work in this country, bad days are coming.
An undocumented class of workers is unacceptable in our country. Having citizens and non-citizens competing for work is insanity. This is undermining all of our hard fought labor laws and rights, this is hurting all of us and you dare complain of socialism.
If big business and their conspirators had their way, we would all be making $2 an hour, fighting for a crumb of bread and terrified to raise any concern for our safety. Many idiots write that "unions are a thing of the past, we don't need them anymore, we now have federal labor laws that take care of us", that sounds good, until your boss tells you "I can get 15 illegals here to do your job" and even if he doesn't get the job done right, even if a portion of them get hurt or killed, he can still scoop up more to finish it the next day. So you work harder to make him more money, to keep him competitive, or you just get so disenfranchised that you refuse to care, you are beaten to straying away from the conversation, you take your lumps in solitude, you become fractured and the entire labor movement becomes a confused fragmented mess, with all sides fighting against the middle, and when the heart of a leader dies and he/she steps in line or even worse becomes on the take, the conspirators are lined up to spread the word of their infractions, to belittle and dishonor the movement. Like vultures they swarm, to get the masses to avoid unionization. They get workers to chew off their leg against their own interest.
It's your world, let's really think and talk about this more. The closure of the faucet and the liberation of the workers in America should be our first concern in the next Presidency.
The pro-worker movement should be there also
The video McCain wouldn't like you to see: paid volunteers
After a legnthy interview with a the Orlando campaign for John McCain, where the person interviewed stated that they have tons of volunteers in the race, after interviewing a few of em, we find that most are paid
Q at the end of video: Why do they sign confidentiality agreements?
Johnathan from the GOP: Because they are employees
Amber Alert: 7 year old, Chicago
The Illinois State Police Issued the Amber Alert on Friday evening after the boy was abducted in Chicago and his Grandmother and another relative were found shot to death. The suspect is considered armed and dangerous.
Julian King is a black male, 7 years old, 4 feet 11 inches, 130 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a brown polo shirt with stripes and khaki pants.
The suspect is unknown at this time.
The suspect vehicle is a white 1994 Chevrolet Suburban with Illinois tag number X584859.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911.
The information above is from Code Amber
I found the amber alert gadget which alerts us of missing children and is displayed on the right hand side of the site, you can add it to your website by going to Code Amber website
I urge other site owners and webmasters to add it to your site, it's not a big distraction and it just might save a kids life.
Joe endorses Barack Obama under the Working Families Party line
If you're like me, when you get to the voting booth, you immediately get sick of having to choose the lesser of 2 evils at the voting booth. The nicer of 2 huge criminal organizations.
While Independents are a hard runner, even such people that I respect that could have really made some changes, such as Dr. Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich, chose to be a candidate in one of the major parties, knowing fully well that you need their "membership" in today's world to even have a chance of getting elected at that high stage of the game. I mean look at Congress, only one Independent, its a scary situation, not much choice.
Good cop, bad cop. The Republican's and Democrat's know where their bread and butter are, the war chests of the big 2, but just like the "big 3", it seems they sit on changes until after the fact, and while the Democrats are the good cop in the public's eye, they still sign bad laws and raises for themselves, hurt working people, they are a rouge "good cop" and viewed as our only choice, and unfortunately for President I would have to agree, McCain's voting record against the working man and our returning veteran's is atrocious, at least it's easy to see which side he's on, a champion for huge corporations and the arch-enemy to the American worker.
On McCain's stance on my two biggest issues, the American worker and how we treat returning veterans I would have to vote for Barack Obama by default. I remember voting for Ross Perot just on his stance against NAFTA, the Bush Sr. written policy which Bill Clinton pushed against Congressional wishes into law. Look where we are now!
I watched all the good industrial American union jobs on the Queens, New York shoreline vanish, just like Ross predicted. Eight years of Bush Jr. has us embedded in a forgotten war, as long as the profiteers are in the black, nothings mentioned. Bush has waged a war on the American worker since his first unconstitutional Executive Order, which made any project that recieved Federal funding, our tax money if you are counting, inellegible to receive a "Project Labor Agreement", his latest unconstitutional Executive Order was to make any PRIVATE business that is deemed a subcontractor of a Federal contract ineligible to recognize it's memberships wishes to be in a union via a card check agreement. Explained simply that even if the company/corporation agrees ahead of time to allow it's workers to decide that they want to be in a union by just having the majority of workers sign cards, it will not be legal.
Please also note that the first business association to endorse John McCain in this years Presidential bid was none other than, The Associated Building Contractors, the staunchly anti-union group of construction corporations that want to eliminate unions altogether, they have fought against prevailing wage, fought against project labor agreements and are the benefactor of workers without rights across our nation, they are the enemy of the American construction worker and they have blindingly aligned themselves with the Republican party, the ABC would be happy if they could import foreign workers to do their projects with sovereignty of retaliation by any American who chose to protest their actions, it has been in the works for years. They want to disqualify American workers and use a slave class, that is their agenda. That is not true Republican value, that is not true Conservative value, that just makes me sick.
Now how did the self-proclaimed Maverick fare with our veterans? Think about this, the young men and women who are actively fighting in this war have donated 6 times as much to Barack Obama, why you may ask? Because John McCain's record of voting for their interests has been horrible, he was against an updated version of the GI Bill, and was absent from the voting, as a matter of fact the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America issued a report card on the candidates and John McCain has scored a D on legislation that would help our returning vets, a D, Barack Obama who has also been campaigning and missed a few votes scored a B.
Even Ron Paul has received 4 and a half more contributions from our active military than John McCain.
As a labor activist and independent writer, I feel that I must tell you how I'm voting, and I must tell you why? If Barack Obama hold onto one of his promises, even if he isn't able to accomplish any of his tasks, the worker movement in this country will be way ahead of the game as opposed to any of the John McCain measures . Barack Obama is a somewhat unknown in the circles of main stream politics, but he is not a Bush or a Clinton, he may actually have an agenda that isn't just give the corporations everything they want on a silver platter, and possibly make life better for the people in these United States. One thing is for sure, that if he gets elected he will owe it to labor to make sure that our issues are heard.
I will hold accountability to labor to make sure that we are heard, or will call for new leadership, we can never allow another NAFTA fucking in my lifetime, we can never allow a wholesale sell off of the industries we have left and we must encourage businesses that sell stuff here, to make it here, with good paying American jobs. Barack Obama has already taken stands against contractors in Chicago when they misclassified workers to avoid American workers and pay them below wage, I am hoping that he will continue in his stance against illegal activities like that.
One of the most scary ideas on John McCain, is his amnesty plan, which didn't have wording to stop the influx...to which I scream, what part of making those that are already here citizens makes you think that the next one that enters will not undermine him? A really failed policy which he has abandoned.
Not to mention the fact that McCain want's me to pay the tax burden of my employers health insurance plan as my own taxable income, are you fucking kidding me an man who claims "why should anyone's tax get raised in this economy?" is going to make me pay tax on something that is exempt now? and I wouldn't even be able to get the $2,500/$5,000 tax credit if my employer supplies the policy!
Does Barack Obama scare me, sure he does, I didn't like him voting for the FISA and Bailout bill, does John McCain scare me, oh yeah, along with those measures he has voted against the interests of the American worker 100% of the time, so I would say he is a lot scarier. Hell if I were one of the spin doctoring idiots on the campaign, I would have to say that John McCain is an economic terrorist, his policies and the wishes of those who have invested interests in him this election will cause much fear and panic for the American working family.
I am voting for Barack Obama and how I'm gonna do it
So what can I do, here's what, I'm going to vote for Barack Obama, here in New York I get to have that independent feeling, and maybe tell him exactly why.
Well this election, in New York you can send a clear message to the Big 2, a message that say's that the only reason that you are voting for this candidate is his stance on labor, on our bread and butter. On Nov.4th. in New York, you can vote for Barack Obama under the Working Families party, and it will count as a vote for him, but at the end of the day, when the ballots are tallied, and if indeed Mr.Obama does win the Presidency, he can see that you and I voted for him only on his stance for the working man.
While there are a few, not many, hiccups in some of the issues that Working Families Party are fighting for, I feel that there is a distinct agenda that is in our best interest.
Hell, we can always join the local meetings and get our voice heard. It's a new party, it's grassroots and netroots, it's not the Big 2 and it can be better if we get involved in it..
Here's where WFP stands on the issues:
The Working Families Party is fighting for a more just world.On November 4th. send a clear and distinct message to the Big 2, I am voting only for real values, the values of the working people, and even if I do not agree 100% with WFP, it's a lot more than I agree with the Big 2.
One where the economy works for everyone. One where politicians are held accountable to working people, instead of big-money backers. One where all of us, no matter where we come from, can find a good job, get healthcare when we need it, afford a home, send our kids to good schools, and have a secure retirement.
Green Jobs, Green Homes, Real Tax Solutions, Clean Elections, Affordable Housing, Education, Equal Rights, Good Jobs, Living Wages, Healthcare for All, Paid Family Leave, Public Transportation, Veterans and Military Families
From The WFP site on Presidential election 2008:
Remember, if and when Barack Obama get's elected, it's up to us to hold him accountable, renegotiate Free Trade agreements, reinvest in infrastructure, create green jobs, it will all be on the table and I'm ready. Keeping American's working is this site top priority, would I reregister as a WFP member, that would take me learning just how grassroots they are and possibly honing in on their motives, letting Barack Obama know that I am voting for him for issues that matter to me, "One where politicians are held accountable to working people, instead of big-money backers.", is a good start.
Vote Change Like You Mean it
After 8 long years of disastrous, far-right government, Working Families need a champion in the White House like never before. Barack Obama’s campaign has inspired millions of Americans to fight for the issues the WFP has long championed, whether it’s an economy that works for everyone, healthcare for all, protecting social security, or the right to join a union.
This November, Obama will appear on the Working Families Party ballot line - “Row E” - across New York. Votes for Obama on the WFP line count just the same, but they also let you vote your values and send a powerful message: New Yorkers demand real progressive change.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Take Action Now!
Sign the Health Care Petition
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Support the Employee Free Choice Act
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Stop the U.S.-Colombia Trade Deal
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End Unfair Trade Practices
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Sunday, October 19, 2008
Joe the Plumber: Hey, Joe by David Macaray
He’s a non-union craftsman using a respected union logo. In some places, that would still get you a well-deserved ass-kicking. Union credentials, especially in the skilled trades, are hard to obtain and really count for something. You hire a union plumber, electrician or mechanic, and you know that you’ve hired a competent worker, an expert.
Directly from the pages of CounterPunch:
McCain's Latest BlunderHey, Joe
by DAVID MACARAY
By now, most people have heard of Joe Wurzelbacher, the Ohio plumber’s assistant whom John McCain chose to promote as a symbol of working class Americans who will be victimized by Barack Obama’s announced tax plan. Talk about a clumsy promotion. During the course of Wednesday’s presidential debate, “Joe the Plumber” was mentioned a staggering twenty-five times.
Leaving aside Wurzelbacher’s personal views on politics—which turn out to be a mixed bag of knee-jerk homilies, including calling the Iraq occupation a “good thing,” railing against people who “criticize” America, arguing that social security should be privatized (after the latest Wall Street debacle, wouldn’t we all be broke?), and declaring that no one should have to pay taxes—his work background needs to be examined.
After all, this guy was yanked out of obscurity by the Republican Party’s nominee for president, and held up to the country on national television as a representative of America’s hard-working plumbers. He’s Joe the Plumber, the poster boy for the country’s blue-collar skilled workers. It’s important we know who he is and what he does.
First of all, Joe the Plumber is not a plumber, at least not a licensed one. His job title is “plumber’s assistant.” He works for Newell’s Plumbing and Heating, a two-man outfit in Toledo, run out of a garage behind Al Newell’s house. The way McCain portrayed Joe the Plumber, he was this budding entrepreneur looking to buy his own company, only to have that dream in danger of being destroyed by Obama’s confiscatory tax plan.
In 2003, Joe the Plumber applied for a plumber’s apprentice program and took adult education classes to that end. He never finished the program and never received a license from the city of Toledo or Lucas County, Ohio. As a plumber’s assistant, he’s not required to have a license, so long as his boss has one (which Al Newell does). But Joe the Plumber is also not allowed to call himself a “plumber.” Joe the Plumber is a fiction.
Second, the reference to Newell’s business as being worth between “$250,000-$280,000,” is very likely another falsehood. Because Al Newell does little fix-it jobs (repairing toilets, leaky pipes, etc.), local plumbing companies in and around the Toledo area estimate his business to be worth a fraction of the amount mentioned by McCain’s people, who needed the higher figure as a basis for making their case.
Third, while no one can say for certain, it’s improbable that Joe the Plumber is in a position to buy Newell’s business, modest as it is. Not only did the single father with a 13-year old son earn about $40,000 last year, he has a $1,182 lien against him from the state of Ohio for failure to pay back taxes. Also, isn’t there that little matter of a major credit crunch going on with the banks?
Fourth, as has been noted by the media (and reluctantly acknowledged by Joe himself), Joe the Plumber’s biggest beef with Obama—that under his plan he’d have to pay additional taxes—is baseless. In truth, under the Obama tax plan he would actually have his taxes lowered. Ah . . . so he had it totally backwards. Sort of like the White House had it on WMD in Iraq. I guess that’s why they call them “low information” voters.
Fifth (and this is the one that’s freaking out union workers all over the country), despite the fact that Joe the Plumber is not a licensed plumber or a union member, and despite the fact that Al Newell does not run a union shop, on his MySpace page Joe the Plumber has the balls to use the union logo from Columbus Local 50 of the United Assn. of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry.
He’s a non-union craftsman using a respected union logo. In some places, that would still get you a well-deserved ass-kicking. Union credentials, especially in the skilled trades, are hard to obtain and really count for something. You hire a union plumber, electrician or mechanic, and you know that you’ve hired a competent worker, an expert.
Making this whole thing even more gruesome, not only is Joe the Plumber posing on his website as a union member, but Local 50 has already formally endorsed Barack Obama for president. Ouch.
So, whom do we blame here? Joe the Plumber for being a knuckle-head, or the McCain campaign for not properly vetting the guy? Maybe it’s a little of both.
Let’s not forget that McCain’s brain trust is the same team who didn’t know that Sarah Palin’s daughter had gotten knocked up, that her husband wanted to secede from the United States, and that Palin herself was mired in a messy political scandal. Compared to that stuff, I suppose Joe the Fake Plumber doesn’t look too bad.
David Macaray, a playwright and writer in Los Angeles, was a former labor union rep. He can be reached at dmacaray@earthlink.net
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Downloadable and printable Employee Free Choice Act petition, and some more info
This is a bit of a modified version of the one which I received from the New York Central Labor Council
with over 700,000 signatures, we have to get to the million mark.
Just click the image below and print it
We have run it throughout the jobsites here in New York, and I am happy to say we have gotten quite a response, I haven't picked them up from the hall in recent weeks, but last i checked, we had over 600, I will be picking them up this Wednesday and dropping them off at the AFL-CIO office some time next week.
You can do this too, get the number of your local AFL-CIO, CTW or Labor Federation or Council and send them there, I'm sure the internationals would also accept them.
Just do something
So what's the fact's?
Here's some recent fact's I wrote on The Employee Free Choice Act to a user over at UnionReview who asked in the story "Don't get fooled by McGovern's anti- Employee Free Choice Act ad's during the debate tonight":
Secret Ballot?To which I responded:
Submitted by NYCElectrician3 on Mon, 10/13/2008 - 6:55pm.
Can somebody explain the whole loss of a secret vote thing to me I have searched and searched but my brain is having trouble filtering fact from made up stuff.
UnionGal, point's out in her article Not so fast CNNcurrently, if a group want's to get out of a union: Let's say that more than half of your local want's to get out of your union, and be non-union, all they would have to do now is get a petition signed by more than half the work force that states that they want to get out of the union and send it to the NLRB. Then all of the workers would no longer be in a union.
You don't need a secret ballot to decertify a union!
OK, so we got that out of the way.
Currently if a group of workers, let's say 100, wants to be in a union, they will have to seek out an organizer, if one is not currently working on the case, then get at least 30%+1 of the grroup to sign cards that state their intention.
Now the fun begins, because after the workers sign the cards and the organizer sends them to the NLRB to set a date for a "secret ballot" election, most companies will get themselves a union-avoidance firm to figure out what steps to take to make sure the workers will not become unionized. Usually, from what I have read, the interim is roughly about a month and a half.
Under the advice of said firms and anti-union lawyers, the company will then do everything possible to stop their workers from becoming union. This includes, even though it is illegal, firing pro-union workers, creating an atmosphere of worker against worker, showing movies that are against unions, having closed door meetings with each employee one on one, threaten to leave the country if they decide to become union, in a recent case here in NY with the Carpenter's trying to organize the workers at a nonunion site they threaten the employees with guns and destroying records of employment if they vote yes to union.
If it's illegal, how do they get away with it? Because in the past 30 years, the NLRB has been underfunded and torn to ribbons by politico's who get their backing from corporations. Currently it takes months, sometimes years to go through all the back log's of NLRB complaints. Not to mention the penalties are usually extremely low if any at all.
Here's some food for thought, if the current "secret ballot" election was even moderately fair to employees, how could anyone possibly explain all the Wal-Mart's, Target's, McDonald's and Home Depot's that are a predominant fixture of America landscape, and not one of them has a single union employee?
The Employee Free Choice Act would change that, it would make it so that if 51 of those 100 employees mentioned above were to sign a "union authorization" card, they would be in a union.
Hence the union avoidance and anti-union lawyers, who are contributing enourmously against the legislation, would lose their bread and butter. That, my friend is a billion dollar industry and they aren't gonna give up so easy.
Another tidbit in the legislation is the increase in fines against unscropulous employers who break the law during an organizing drive and a time frame where the first contract must be negotiated or an independent board will create one.
Currently, even if the employees were to get through the gauntlet of everything stacked against the and "secret-ballot" vote in a union, theres no reason to believe that the employer will ever recognize their union.
For instance the employees of Goya foods, who voted to be union in 1998, I think have finally got their first contract in 2008:
Ten years later, workers are still waiting.
NEW YORK, April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On April 24th, a three-judge
panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta ruled that Goya
Foods must negotiate a contract with Goya warehouse and sales workers in Miami
seeking better wages and working conditions. UNITE, a predecessor union of
UNITE HERE, won National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) elections to organize
these workers in 1998. But a decade later, the workers still do not have the
benefits of a union contract.
During the organizing campaign, Goya used a host of tactics - including
harassing workers who supported the union, threatening workers, and holding
mandatory meetings full of anti-union diatribes - in an effort to avoid
unionization. After the workers voted overwhelmingly for union representation,
Goya worked to frustrate the workers' desires. The company had weak
enforcement of federal labor laws on its side as it sought to weaken and
divide the workers to the point at which they would give up on forming a
union. UNITE filed charges with the NLRB, challenging Goya's recalcitrance
during bargaining, their unilateral changes in working conditions, and their
discriminatory treatment of those who openly supported the union.
In 1999, the NLRB's General Counsel charged Goya with at least twenty-three
violations of U.S. labor law, including threats of job loss, plant closings,
interrogation, discrimination in work assignments, and the firing of at least
three union supporters. Later in 1999, Goya stopped bargaining with UNITE and
illegally withdrew recognition of the union.So now you know a few of the fact's about The Employee Free Choice Act, it would turn the tide against the oppressors of the American worker, it could actually bring back the middle class, or at least stop us from paying for the subsidized medical that all those nonunion employee's at the Wal-Mart's and Target's need to get now. It might actually give a few people in this country a couple of disposable income dollars that they could reinvest into businesses.
Remember also, that it wasn't until business interests changed the way people organized into a union that a "secret ballot" was created, the card check was the way the labor movement started. AT&T uses the card check for it's wireless employees, they seem to be doing well, so do H&M clothing stores and they are expanding across the island of Manhattan. There are others, but it's late.
Hope that explained a bit of it. If you get a chance sign the petition, it's the One Million Strong button on the side of the site,
heres more from my site, a must view video is at the link "Video: Massive corporations against The Employee Free Choice Act", it can explain it better than me.
The Employee Free Choice Act
- Employee Free Choice Act- cutting through the suffocating atmosphere of threats, intimidation and illegal firings...
- Retired Pipefitter speaks up for the Employee Free Choice Act
- Video: Barack Obama on issues that matter to American workers
- Video: SEIU President Andy Stern discusses The Employee Free Choice Act
- What's Wal-Mart so afraid of? Four words- Employee Free Choice Act
- Employee Free Choice Act - Take back the American dream
- Video: Massive corporations against The Employee Free Choice Act
- 550,000 sign Employee Free Choice Act petition
- Home Depot needs unions, the Employee Free Choice Act and a labor relations firm
- More blatant discrimination against construction workers comes to light, this time prevailing wage violations across America
- Mike Fishman. President of 32BJ, speaks of whats wrong and what must be done to avert the collapse of the middle class in America
- Joe's Union Review welcomes another Labor blog, a letter to the editor that made my day, SEIU performs ABBA at John McCain camp
- Telling our veterans about the Employee Free Choice Act and John McCain's record
- Labor bloggers to promote Employee Free Choice Act at NYC Labor Day parade? Strike updates, got a Joe's MySpace, and HR676 US National Health Care Act
- Con-Ed to workers: Take your 0.5%, give us a 2-tier and shut up
- NY nonunion construction: With guns, threats and empty promises this modern day gangster keeps his workers from joining a union
- Tell the next president, we want the right to be in a union without employer coercion
- Get 1 million signatures to Congress, sign the Employee Free Choice Act petition
- NY: Bloomingdale's flagship store, workers authorize strike
- If you work in the USA, voting for McCain is a vote against your own interests
What do I know, I'm just 1 of the 7% of American's in the private sector who are in a union, so I may have missed a point or 2, as with everything else I write, if anyone out there see's an error, I'm willing to learn.
That's the facts brother, spread it around the job, get more signatures.
If more people were union in this country, it would bring up the standard for all workers, except those lawyers and lobbyist I mentioned above.
There's no room for us to be bamboozled anymore
Peace,
Joe
PS: Just rethinking about the "democracy of a secret ballot", I don't remember voting for Secretary Treasurer Paulson, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, Transportation Secretary Mary Peters...
They have beaten the balls off the middle-class and the American Worker for quite some time, how about that guy Bush sent to head the NLRB, in the campaign against the American worker, Robert Batista, he just resigned to work for the biggest anti-union law firm in the United States, didn't vote for him either. Shit I didn't even get a chance to sign a card...
Take this op-ed in the Hill by Gordon Lafer, a political scientist at the University of Oregon and the author of Free and Fair? How Labor Law Fails U.S. Democratic Election Standards:
For instance, in elections for Congress or the president, it is illegal for a private corporation to tell its employees anything that favors one candidate or the other. But in workplace elections, it is standard practice for supervisors to hold repeated one-on-one conversations with the individuals they oversee. Here, the person who has the most direct control over hiring and firing, promotion, raises, hours and duties tells their subordinates in no uncertain terms why a union would be bad for them. The message is clear: If you ever want a raise, or a day off to take your kid to a doctor, you better not support the union.Kirsten's article is a great read
Many of the tactics used to intimidate employees are legal. However, because federal labor law contains no possibility of punitive fines, prison or any other type of sanction, employers break the law at will. Last year, approximately 15,000 Americans were illegally fired, suspended or otherwise financially punished for trying to form a union in their workplace.
An election where one party controls the media, requires voters to attend its rallies, enforces a gag order on opponents and fires voters for backing the opposition is undemocratic and un-American. The Employee Free Choice Act would reform the current system to guarantee that Americans who want to form a union are able to do so in part by ending the charade that we call a Labor Board election by giving workers a second option: the choice to form a union by a majority sign-up process
.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Wal-Mart closes only union department in North America
Unreal, finally a few workers became union in Wal-Mart, so they closed the section. Wal-Mart is a disgrace!
From PR Newswire:
Wal-Mart Watch Responds to Wal-Mart's Closure of Unionized Tire and Lube Express in Gatineau, CanadaFuck you Wal-Mart, you are a huge reason that the American people are having hard financial problems and you had led they way to giving our jobs oversea's.WASHINGTON, Oct. 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In response to Wal-Mart's closure of the recently unionized Gatineau, Quebec Tire and Lube Express, Wal-Mart Watch Executive Director David Nassar released the following statement:
"Wal-Mart's closure of the recently unionized Tire and Lube Express auto shop in Gatineau, Quebec shows how Wal-Mart is willing to do anything to keep its workers from receiving better wages, decent benefits or fairer
working conditions. The Gatineau workers have merely exercised their human rights under Canadian Law, something that is clearly unacceptable to Wal-Mart.
"Later today, Wal-Mart Watch will launch a new web site which features the real stories of Wal-Mart employees who are suffering under Wal-Mart's low-wage, low-benefit business model.
"The closure in Canada clearly shows that Wal-Mart has no desire to change."
More headlines from Labourstart
- Quebec Wal-Mart to close unionized auto shop [The Star]
- Quebec Wal-Mart Closes Tire Centre After Labor Accord [Bloomberg]
- Quebec Wal-Mart shuts Gatineau union shop [The Gazette]
- Quebec Wal-Mart closes auto shop after union win [Reuters]
- Quebec Wal-Mart Canada shuts another location after workers unionize [UFCW]
- Quebec Wal-Mart closes unionized shop [The Globe and Mail]
- Quebec Wal-Mart closes shop where union contract imposed [CBC]
- Quebec Wal-Mart Watch Responds to Wal-Mart's Closure of Unionized Tire and Lube Express in Gatineau [Wal-Mart Watch]
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Mr. McCain, Dead Wrong on Colombia
By Bendygirl
crossposted on Uniongal
Free Trade with Colombia is not a "no brainer" like Mr. McSame said tonight. Let me remind you why:
I suppose the death last week of yet another Colombian union activist is just an example of how far Colombia has come in addressing their issues. Well, I guess if you're a moron, that is.or how about Uribe who thought it was okay to address this issue, an issue of AMERICAN politics:
"I deplore the fact that Senator Obama, aspiring to be president of the United States, should be unaware of Colombia's efforts," said President Alvaro Uribe in a statement released by the presidency. "I think it is for political calculations that he is making a statement that does not correspond to Colombia's reality."Don't worry, before the vote in the Senate this is what Obama said:
"I will oppose the Colombia Free Trade Agreement if President Bush insists on sending it to Congress because the violence against unions in Colombia would make a mockery of the very labour protections we have insisted be included in these kinds of agreements," Obama said Wednesday at a meeting of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.And there's Coca Cola and years of intimidation and murder of union activists:
The body of Isidro Gil lay inside the plant. The first bullet had hit him between the eyes. The remaining five shots were fired out of spite or bravado. Another Coca-Cola union leader had been disposed of.But here's the real kicker:
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) puts the conviction rate of trade union murderers at 1%. Certainly President Uribe has shown little inclination to rectify this situation. “There are no assassinations of workers in Colombia,” he has stated, adding that there are “rotten apples” in the trade union movement.On Labourstart, there are 100 stories of strikes, deaths, intimidation, and other issues within Colombia. The no brainer here Mr. McCain is that Colombia kills, intimidates and silences trade unionists. Free trade, No Fucxing Way!!
Messed around with UnionGals site, check it out
Been working on doing this for Kirsten for a long time, now was as good as any, so i fired up the same template as I used on Building Bridges, and came up with her new theme, go take a look, and vote in the poll.
Later,
Joe
ATTENTION: to all my readers subscribing with FeedBlitz
After a month without FeedBlitzs' system working properly, I'm going to try something new, I'm going with FeedBurner, you can subscribe with the box on the top right hand side.
I'm going to keep both services active, so let's see which is better, please feel free to comment on what you think
Sorry for the inconvenience
In solidarity,
Joe
CEO Vs. worker
Trumka video on Obama shooting up YouTube's all time chart
There is a brain and conscience in America
I usually expect the latest American Idol, Britney Spears crotch, or whatever flavor this month is to be the top of YouTube, glad to be proven wrong
From Tula Connel at the AFL-CIO Now blog:
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Trumka Video Topping YouTube Charts
A quick update on the huge—and growing—popularity of the speech by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka in which he addressed the issue of race in this election. Trumka’s speech at the United Steelworkers convention in July went viral a couple of weeks ago and has generated a national debate on race, the economy and the elections.
Since then, the video clip of Trumka’s speech on YouTube has received nearly 400,000 views and now is rated YouTube’s 79th all-time, top-rated videos in the news and politics category.
If you’ve seen it already, you know it’s worth watching again.
It's a great powerful video, take a look if you have a couple of minutes, give it a rating while your there.
Remember, while the main stream media chooses not to cover labor news, they haven't been able to stop YouTube, yet.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Keith Olberman: Terrorists are a tool for John McCain to exploit the American public
This is poignant, from 9/11/08
It's amazing that the keyword of terrorism has been used even more in the weeks that have followed.
I'm As Mad As Hell #1 - "The Part That Big Media Left Out !!!"
Almost a year since I penned this.
We have come a long way from when I wrote this on Union Review last year, but the fight has intensified, I hope that people are learning from all of our sites that we as workers must get together and fight for a better tomorrow, so here's my article which has been parked here on the front page since this site began in Janurary 2008, which was originally posted on Union Review. The information is eben more important today then it was last year.
Reposted from 10/27/07
Why is it that when someone who becomes a hero, the fact that he is a proud union member is not mentioned in the mainstream media? Could it be that the media on a whole is quite a bit anti-union?
I'm not just talking about the likes of Rupert Murdoch, I am talking about the main 6 companies that own almost everything you see and read, the six that have to bargain directly with unions and would like nothing more than for people to believe that the working mans plight is hopeless and we must bargain from the scraps left for us. And yes my friends, they want total control of the internet . Well I've gone a bit off point, the point is that when Wesley Autrey, a member and shop steward of LIUNA Local 79, became New Yorks subway hero on Jan. 3rd. 2007, by putting his life at risk to save another, there was absolutely no mention that he was a union member in any of the big media outlets. I only came to learn that through my diligence in serching out news on the internet. And that my friends is a total shame .NYPost "Autrey, 50, a construction worker who achieved nationwide fame for his death-defying rescue of a Boston man who had fallen off the subway platform" NYTimes "Mr. Autrey, a 50-year-old construction worker, said he knew something was different when he showed up for work later on Tuesday. His boss, he said, bought him lunch — a ham-and-cheese hero — and later told him to take yesterday off." USAToday "I just tried to do the right thing," said the 50-year-old Harlem construction worker." NBC "Wesley Autrey, a Navy veteran and construction worker, was standing nearby on the platform with his children when he saw Hollowpeter fall. Autrey jumped down to the track area and lay on top of Hollowpeter as a train passed about "2 inches" from his head."What comes to mind that is if this was me, the first thing i would say if asked what my job was would be my union . Now this isn't the only instance whereby I have come to this conclusion , when speaking with an official with OPEIU on the crisis in downtown NYC regarding HIP's removing 186 union jobs from downtown , good paying jobs they were obligated to keep there when they used "Empire State Development Corp.'s WTC Job Creation and Retention Program", none of the big papers here in New York would carry the story , the Times (which has this so-called worker friendly stance said it was too small an issue) refused as did all the others , the only paper that would run the story was New York Newsday. I consider it very newsworthy, and refuse to buy any other paper. Not to mention the fact that Newsday is the only paper here in New York which reports on employee misclassification and tax evasion by nonunion contractors . the tie to net neutrality
"A Federal Communications Commissioner said that the censoring of political speech during a recent Pearl Jam performance illustrates the need for network neutrality." LinkFROM : SaveTheInternet
What is Network Neutrality? Network Neutrality — or "Net Neutrality" for short — is the guiding principle that preserves the free and open Internet. Put simply, Net Neutrality means no discrimination. Net Neutrality prevents Internet providers from speeding up or slowing down Webcontent based on its source, ownership or destination.
Ok that means hypothetically, that without "Net Neutrality", if Disney, who is partnered with Verizon , has a "Union" issue and someone posts an article on UnionReview about it, Verizon is within their rights to throttle our sites basic internet bandwidth to the degree that it would be frustrating if not impossible to view it. Think this isn't a possibility, think again .
FROM: SFGate.comAs a matter of fact , those that oppose Net Neutrality have garnered the talents of "spin-doctor' Rick Berman, former lobbyist for big tobacco and current creator of Center For Union Facts, whose main focus is to tarnish unions through truths, half-truths and out right propaganda."If you missed the incident, Verizon Wireless initially refused to transmit text messages over its cellular network from Naral Pro-Choice America, a pro-choice group, to its members. Naral uses text-messaging to update its supporters on pro-choice policy and the message would have only gone to people who had signed up to receive them. But several days later, Verizon did an about-face and agreed to send the messages. Nonetheless, according to news reports, Verizon did not retreat from its position that it is entitled to decide what messages to transmit. This is censorship of the first magnitude."
Basically his site Hands Off The Internet is a giant scare tactic to those in the world that believe everything they read. Basically if you read through Berman's web sites you can easily understand this joke.
Q: How can you tell that Rick Berman is lying? A: He opens his mouthFROM : SaveTheInternet
What else are the phone and cable companies not telling the truth about?
AT&T and others have funded a massive misinformation campaign, filled with deceptive advertising and "Astroturf" groups like Hands Off the Internet and NetCompetition.org. Learn how to tell apart the myths from the realities in our report, Network Neutrality: Fact vs. Fiction.
Well this was installment #1 of my "Mad as Hell", stay tuned as I once again someday sift through all the misinformation and spin-doctoring and get another story here.
Here's the 2nd. installment from UnionReview.com: Mad As Hell#2 - Australia dumps corporate government in favor of labor and what's important hereMonday, October 13, 2008
Ultimate Labor Widget Version 1.0
Another tool for today's labor movement.
NOTE: This week I skipped the archive and went for a new automatic way of spreading information for the American worker. I added the navigation buttons at the bottom of the main post's, and a horizontally scrolling ticker at the top that shows all of the last 15 articles on the site, I removed a few images and I removed all the news feeds from the site and needed a way to display those labor friendly links, so I created something new. So I created the...
I was getting a little bogged down in RSS feeds all over my site, and I wanted a way to put all of them in one place, so I wound up searching around the net and found a nice little widget at Spring Widget, that you can customize to show a whole lot of web feeds in one neat little package. The fruits of my labor are now on the right hand side of the site.
With over 40 of my favorite labor and activist sites, and well over 500 of the latest links from those sites, this widget is fine tuned for the American labor movement. I know it needs some more fine tuning, because it has a few repeat URL's, and 1 non-working feed in it(it worked earlier). You can all feel free to save, share, customize and use this as you like, just hit the "options" button.
Here's what it can look like
Labourstart's US AND Global Newswire, the AFL-CIO blog, the CTW blog, Labor@AlterNet, PR Newswire on Labor, Talking Union, Weekly Toll, Building and Construction Trades, the IWW, latest headlines on Google News for "Labor Strike" and a large list of other independent labor and socially active websites, such as Free Press and Consumers Union are all included. I'm sure there are a lot more that aren't in there yet, but it's a lot more than I had to begin with.
You can scroll through the sites by either clicking the "Menu" button on top and picking one that you desire, or by hitting the left or right arrow to scroll through them 1 by one
You can click the "Get This Widget" at the bottom to go and edit it to the way you like it or just click the options button to share it on your site, or get the code.
A huge thanks to Spring Widget for making this little monster.
Now if only I could get the Democratic Underground Labor feed to work, and figure out a way to create a feed using certain labels from certain sites......hmmmmmmm.........
Possible drawbacks as opposed to the old format of listing the feeds separately? Longer load times, not visable to users without flash enabled.
Remember folks, Knowledge+Communication=Power, we are today's labor movement.
Next we build a forum.
EDIT: Damnit! I see some more I somehow lost in the editing, grrrrrr......
Hell, here's all the links and site's I had up this past week
Links/Sites of the day Week Ending 10/12/08
Boeing and USW back at the table Kongsberg Automotive- F U USA Striking Columbian sugar workers need supportt Archive: How Kosher is Kosher? DOB crane scummer on the take Site: Broadcast Union News - More cutbacks in print news :( TN, injured undocumented workers told "no work, no pay" IMAGE: Made In China SITE: Transportation Workers Solidarity Committee SITE: Mainstream Populists Democrats Video: That One Bill Moyers: Can I Vote? Site: Hard Labor Does plastic make your kid have a smaller penis? UAW Workers Vote Video: Sarah Palin A Heartbeat Away SITE: Fact Check - Just the fact's about this election Labor back's Michael McMahon For Congress SITE: Working Families Party Starbucks union supporters treated like terrorists Help A Brother Out, Will Ya? Frank Zappa tears apart a couple of politico's Video: McCain tie to saving and loan scandal Site: A Forum For Fire Fighters Calvin Explains the Economic Crisis
Belgium: Protesting raising prices, worker's halt everything in 1 day strike
Monday Oct. 6th., workers in Belgium caused the country to close down.
image above is from Jan.2008 Day of Unity, not related to this story
From Earthtimes:
Brussels - A nationwide strike of unions protesting the rising cost of living brought chaos to Belgium on Monday as trains, ports and public services shut down. In Brussels, tram lines were closed, bus lines were running only limited services, main-line railway stations shut down and traffic jams were widespread.
International train services were hard hit by the closure of two of Brussels' three main stations, with both the Thalys service to Paris and the cross-Channel Eurostar train - already on a reduced service after a fire last month - closed for the day.
In the province of Flanders, local services reported over 280 kilometres of traffic jams on Monday morning, an increase of 40 per cent over a normal working day. Workers also blocked the port of Antwerp, the country's main trading port.
In Wallonia, striking workers picketed industrial areas round the towns of Charleroi, while many shops and services remained closed.
The unions are protesting at the rising cost of living. However, the current financial crisis and the collapse of Belgium's biggest bank, Fortis, have largely wiped the strike off Monday's front pages, leaving it open to question how much impact it will have.
I believe the image above is from Belgium but not from this past Monday, from the
very talented photographer han Soete, who contributes labor images to Labourstart
Reuters add's:
BRUSSELS, Oct 6 (Reuters) - A nationwide strike over rising prices severely disrupted public transport in Belgium on Monday, forcing the cancellation of all high-speed international rail services in and out of the country.Check out the Reuters article for the reach of the 1 day action, eventually it will spread across the rest of the "free" world if nothing changes and fast, it was only 6 short months ago I was writing about rising prices and food shortages causing starvation in places like Haiti and Bangladesh and I warned that it was the beginning, I also wrote about a strike in Greece and since then France has successfully struck for a nationwide 7 hour day. Remember, it's our labor that keeps the gears of the industrial world turning, without us they are nothing.
Picketing outside the port of Antwerp restricted access, although workers at the port itself did not join the strike, Antwerp Port spokeswoman Annick Dirkx said.
Unions are protesting against what they say is the government's failure to respond to rising prices and are urging it to take steps to alleviate the impact of inflation.
They say they want to send a clear signal to the government before it presents its 2009 budget to parliament on Oct. 14.
"Purchasing power is really a point we want to stress," ACV trade union chairman Luc Cortebeeck said when the union announced the protest last month.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
TX: Lufkin Industries settles contract with IAM, IBB and GMP
"We have some of the best employees in the state of Texas, and we're looking forward to working together with this contract for the next three years." - Paul Perez, VP Lufkin Industries
The last time they went for a contract, in 2002, there were only 700 union employees at Lufkin Industries, unfortunately there was no room for a bargain, so the workers struck for 13 days over health premiums and retirement benefits. Since then the 106 year old company has expanded widely.
Lufkin Industries[LUFK] is now one of the largest employers in Lufkin, TX., and employs roughly 1800, with about 1200 who are represented by a union 1. Cited as the the 16th. fastest growing company in the energy sector, and 39th. overall by Fortune for the year ending 20072, Lufkin Ind. is a healthy company who's wares include tractor trailer boxes, power transmissions for industrial uses and their most well known item, the giant oil pump3.As of Friday, Oct. 10th., the union workers and Lufkin Ind. have agreed to a 3 year contract that will carry them all to 2011, according to an anonymous worker the new contract includes an 11% wage increase over the course, unfortunately that will be nullified by a 15% health care increase over the same period, a catch 22 in today's world of free market health insurers.
Taken off the table were the companies initial idea of a 4 day 12 hour per work week, with a 4 day layover till the next work day. The union workers rejected that last Sunday.
"We do have work and plenty of it and that's why the company wants us," the worker said. "I think most people are happy."1
From The Lufkin Daily News, story on 10/10/08:
The workers are members of the the International Association of Machinists, the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, and the Glass, Molders and Potters Union.Union workers have accepted the new contract offered by Lufkin Industries, ending the possibility of a strike by the employees.
Machinist Business Representative Terry Taylor announced the decision after votes were tallied Thursday evening at the Deep East Texas Council of Labor AFL-CIO building on Old Gobblers Knob Road. All union members will return to work as normal.
Taylor said the members made a three-year agreement with Lufkin Industries that includes improvements in wages and benefits. No specifics were released, but working hours were not mentioned as part of the changes.
Lufkin Industries Vice President Paul Perez said he was pleased with the results.
"Lufkin Industries is very pleased with the show of support demonstrated, and we're anxious to begin working under this three-year contract," Perez said.
Union workers had rejected an initial contract offer from Lufkin Industries on Sunday, but agreed then to continue under the previous agreement for at least another week. The extension was set to expire at midnight Sunday, Oct. 12.
Union workers easily beat that deadline with the approval of the new contract offer.
"This is a strong show of support," Perez said. "We have some of the best employees in the state of Texas, and we're looking forward to working together with this contract for the next three years."
Good luck in Texas, hope that in 2011 we will all be in a better situation, make some money and keep that manufacturing in the USA.
[1] Lufkin Daily News [2] Fortune [3] Wikipedia
worker photo by: Joel Andrews/The Lufkin Daily News | 1969 Lufkin oil rig photo: Oil Field Cartoonist at Picasaweb
Bill Hicks - Life is just a ride...
The World is like a ride in an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it you think it's real, because that's how powerful our minds are. And the ride goes up and down and round and round, and it has thrills and chills and is very brightly colored, and it's very loud. And it's fun, for a while.
Some people have been on the ride for a long time, and they've begun to question, 'Is this real, or is this just a ride?', and other people have remembered, and they've come back to us and they say 'Hey, don't worry. Don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride.' and we KILL THOSE PEOPLE.
"Shut him up! We have alot invested in this ride! SHUT HIM UP! Look at my furrows of worry. Look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real."
It's just a ride.
But we always kill those good guys who try and tell us that. You ever noticed that? And let the demons run amok. But it doesn't matter, because ... It's just a ride.
And we can change it anytime we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money. A choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear wants you to put bigger locks on your door, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love, instead see all of us as one.
Here's what we can do to change the world right now, to a better ride:
Take all that money we spent on weapons and defense each year and instead spend it feeding, clothing, and educating the poor of the world, which it would many times over, not one human being excluded, and WE CAN EXPLORE SPACE, TOGETHER, BOTH INNER AND OUTER, forever ... in peace.
-- Bill Hicks (1961 - 1994)
Sunday's Mad As Hell Movie Clip
32 years later, where are we?
Network 1976:
8.1/10 by almost 23,000 users at IMDb (Internet Movie Database)
Mr.beale learns about money
Philadelphia Flyer fans tell "hockey mom" how they feel
This is just one view of the event, both the cheers and boo's are drowned out by the music on the actual telecast.
What happened to the good old days of hearing the fans yell at the people? According to The Inquirer(via NY Daily News), "(Flyer's owner)Snider has donated $25,000 to the Republican presidential campaign of John McCain and the Republican National Committee," that might be the reason for the blaring music during the presentation.
From FOX News:
A carpet was laid down and Palin, dressed in a beige trench, walked on to the ice joined by her daughters Willow and Piper. The GOP Vice-Presidential nominee said at an earlier fundraiser that she would stop some of the booing from the rowdy Philadelphia fans by putting her seven year old daughter, Piper in a Flyers jersey. She said, “How dare they boo Piper!”
When checking out The Blueshirts Blog at the NY Daily News, I agreed with Hooplife7's comment:
She drops the puck - then the Rangers score 4 goals in the first period. When was the last time the Rangers scored 4 goals in the first period? I say let her drop the puck every game if the Rangers score 4 goals a game!Maybe we can get her to hand Brett Favre the football at the Jets game.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
More than 11,000 School Bus and Transit Workers Join the Teamsters in Less Than Two Years!
In just under two years since the Teamsters Union began its intense campaign to organize school bus and transit workers aroung the country, the Union announced this week that it has hit the 11,700 worker mark!
The most recent victory was in Olathe, Kansa as another 228 workers became Teamster members.
As this campaign rolls along, it is so critical for folks to realize that this union is organizing, and winning, in places where "union" is shunned ... places like rural Mississippi -- where three yards organized in the last month; and Jacksonville, Florida where more than 900 workers overwhelmingly chose the Union in that election earlier this year.
When it comes to workers thinking being in a union, where they have a voice at work, where they have affordbable benefits and sensible work rules ... when they think it is possible ... it will and can happen!
Below is the full release put out by the Union:
The energy in Olathe, Kansas is high today as school bus drivers and mechanics with First Student celebrate their vote in favor of representation by the Teamsters Union. The 228 workers are now members of Teamsters Local 838 in Kansas City, Missouri, and part of a larger group of private school bus and transit workers nationwide who are joining the Teamsters at a rapid pace.
“We bonded; we stood up for our rights and we’re going forward from here,” said Ray Alvarez, a First Student driver in Olathe. “I know the value of a union; that we will be able to stand up for our rights and negotiate for our needs now. I feel great.”
“We just want to be able to pay our bills and have fairness at work,” said Deb Spruytte, Alvarez’s coworker. “You do this job because you love it, and we haven’t been loving it lately with all the changes with the company. Becoming Teamsters has brought us together and we’re hopeful for the future.”
“This group worked very hard to make this happen,” said Billy Thompson, President of Local 838. “With help from our local and the International Union, the committee of workers forged ahead and this victory is the result of their efforts. We’re very happy for them and look forward to providing them with strong representation.”
The Olathe victory is the latest in a successful campaign by the Teamsters to raise standards for private school bus and transit workers across the country. Drive Up Standards is a national campaign to improve safety, service and work standards in the private school bus and transit industry. Since the campaign began in 2006, more than 11,700 workers have become Teamsters.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Music Video: Cows With Guns
An oldie but goodie, more info can be found at Cows With Guns
Click the pic for full size high definition Flash video
Video: AFL-CIO's Richard Trumka on the only really bad reason for an American worker to vote against Barack Obama
Music: Rebel Inc.
Had these fellas befriend me via MySpace, they got some cool aggressive tunes , take a listen, I enjoyed it.
In August Rebel Inc. teamed up with Iraq Veterans Against War and played some free shows for our active duty servicemen in NC, TX and GA, heres a snip of the story from Rebel Inc.'s blog:
The IVAW State of the Union Base Tour Update/reviewBelow is the MySpace Player, ripped from MySpace, there's a good chance that in the near future it will disappear, if it does, just check em' out at http://www.myspace.com/rebelincmusicRebel inc. just finished our first tour which took us to 4 different stops in 2 weeks. The band joined forces with a group called the Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW). The group's message is clear, "you are not alone". The tour was designed to create outreach for vets as well as providing vets and active duty soldier's free entertainment. The tour was a success right from the start upon forming 2 new chapters of the IVAW in sought out cities.
The first stop was Fayetteville, NC (Fort Bragg) on August 6th. August 8th took us to Jacksonville, NC (Camp Legeune) where the Marines were thoroughly entertained. Then the tour moved to Savannah, GA (Fort Stewart) August 10th, where civilians, vets, and politicians enjoyed a hard hitting show with Lastman as the opener. From there we moved on to Austin, TX (Fort Hood) where we played a very unique venue, Ruta Maya. The crowd was very receptive to the show and the message and was a great setting for the closing of the tour.
Along with great entertainment for the troops, there was a big buzz about what rebel inc. and the IVAW were doing. A lot of press coverage was given to both parties along the way. Here are a few excerpts of what was written about this recent adventure. The rest of the articles and more information about the IVAW can be found at http://ivaw.org/
You can visit Joe's Union Review Myspace page at:
http://www.myspace.com/joesunionreview
Young Con Ed worker dies in Brooklyn manhole blast.
RIP George Dillman
A sad day in Brooklyn, my heart goes out to the family of Mr. Dillman, and to Mr.Penny, who I'm sure is devastated by the fact that there was nothing he could do to help. It's a dangerous job out there and even when all the precautions are taken, accidents still happen.
Excerpt NY Daily News, second picture from NY Times:
More from Google:
A Con Edison worker looking forward to marriage next year died Thursday in a fiery manhole blast that trapped him in an underground death chamber, authorities said.
George Dillman, 26, was splicing high-voltage cables 10 feet beneath the street in Brooklyn when the explosion shook the earth around him.
His partner on the pavement above, Craig Penney, 28, tried desperately to get to the electrician, but it was no use.
"The guy down there - he didn't have a chance," said one witness, a retired cop. "He would have needed God to pull him out."
George Dillman, left, died in the explosion. A co-worker, Craig Penney, suffered burns.
- Con Ed Worker Killed in Brooklyn Manhole Explosion New York Times, United States -
4 hours ago By KEN BELSON and KAREN ZRAICK An explosion in a manhole where Consolidated Edison workers had been splicing cables left one worker dead and another injured ... - One Con Ed Worker Killed, One Rescued, In Brooklyn Manhole Blast
NY1 - Con Ed worker killed, another injured, in Brooklyn manhole explosion
New York Daily News - Con Ed Worker Dies In Brooklyn Manhole Explosion
WCBS-TV New York Brooklyn Daily Eagle -New York Post
Thursday, October 9, 2008
What's up oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens sleeves? In CA, it's not so pretty
A unified front of Labor organizations, League of Women Voters, the California Chamber Of Commerce and many others has stepped up against CA Proposition 10, which they describe as "Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens' money grab at the taxpayers' expense."
From Calitics:
Prop 10: Building a Coalition of Everyone: Californians Against the Pickens Raid
Well it's about time that some of California's big groups got around to mentioning that Prop 10 is an enormous giveaway to T. Boone Pickens and the natural gas companies. A bit later this morning (10AM to be precise), a big group of folks will be gathering on the West Steps of the Capitol to let T. Boone and the gang that he can't raid our coffers so easily. They're dubbing it the "Coalition of everyone." And really, it is quite a diverse coalition, including the CA Labor Federation, CA Nurses Association, the CA Federation of Teachers, the League of Women Voters and the CA Chamber of Commerce.
The group describes Prop 10 as "Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens' money grab at the taxpayers' expense." And, bingo, bango, bongo, that's exactly what it is. T. Boone, the leading funder of the Swiftboating of John Kerry in 2004. Basically, Pickens wants the state to get thousands of natural gas cars on the road and help from the state to build a bunch of natural gas fueling stations. How is it in our best interest to spend billions on a technology, while admittedly cleaner than gasoline, is an unrenewable fossil fuel? It's searching for answers in the past. We need to look forward to build a sensible renewable policy, not give away money to natural gas barons.
High rate of H1B Visa abuse found by DHS
Thanks to Ah Xoc Kin at Democratic Underground for posting this, from the pages of BusinessWeek(excerpted):A report released Oct. 8 by the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) reveals that 13% of petitions filed for H-1B visas on behalf of employers are fraudulent. Another 8% contain some sort of technical violations.
Continued
The study, released to members of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, marks the first time the agency, part of the Homeland Security Dept., has documented systematic problems with the controversial program. Technology companies, in particular, have come to rely on the H-1B visa program to bring in skilled foreign workers to fill jobs that employers claim can't be filled with U.S. candidates. Tech companies like Oracle (ORCL), Microsoft (MSFT), and Google (GOOG) have pushed to get more visas, claiming that a shortage of skilled workers is hampering U.S. competitiveness. Microsoft Chairman and co-founder Bill Gates has twice testified in front of Congress on the issue.
Critics say H-1Bs help U.S. companies replace American workers with less costly foreign workers. "The report makes it clear that the H-1B program is rife with abuse and misuse," says Ron Hira, assistant professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology. "It shows the desperate need for an auditing system." However, both Presidential candidates, Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) and Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), have said they support expanding the program.
Continued at BusinessWeek, in the story entitled "High Rate of H-1B Visa Fraud"A USCIS spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. The report's conclusion states: "Given the significant vulnerability, USCIS is making procedural changes, which will be described in a forthcoming document." A spokeswoman, Beth Pellett Levine, says Senator Chuck Grassley (D-Iowa), a longtime critic of the H-1B program, is drafting a letter to USCIS in response to the study.
The H-1B visa program has become increasingly controversial in recent years as groups such as the Programmers Guild and WashTech, which represent U.S. tech workers, allege it is being abused, resulting in mistreatment of foreign workers, wage depression, and the displacement of U.S. workers. The program was originally set up to allow companies in the U.S. to import the best and brightest in technology, engineering, and other fields when such workers are in short supply in America. But data released this year by the federal government show that offshore outsourcing firms, particularly from India, dominated the list of companies that were awarded H-1B visas to employ workers in the U.S. (BusinessWeek, 3/6/08) in 2007. Indian outsourcers such as Infosys (INFY), Wipro (WIT), and Tata (TCS.NS) accounted for nearly 80% of the visa petitions approved last year for the top 10 participants in the program.
There is also evidence that workers on H-1B visas are being mistreated. In a pending case (BusinessWeek, 1/31/08), H-1B workers for State Farm Insurance allege they were underpaid.
Critics say such instances of abuse represent the tip of an iceberg of deeper problems with the visa program. Academics and U.S. tech worker advocates point out the requirement that even employers who abide by the law—for example by paying the required "prevailing wage"—are able to underpay workers .
"We shouldn't forget that the major problem with the H-1B program are caused by massive loopholes that allow firms to legally pay below-market wages and force US workers to train foreign replacements," says Hira. "Those wouldn't show up in this investigation because they are entirely legal." Hira says that a bill proposed by Grassley and Senator Dick Durbin's (D-Ill.) bill in 2007, S. 1035, would address both fraud and legal loopholes in the program.
Video: Steelworkers explain Employee Free Choice Act
This video has been out for over a year, the facts are the same
To read a nice new article about he Employee Free Choice Act, check out our friend Decision List blog, for the story entitled "Employee Free Choice Act"
The Employee Free Choice Act will benefit average working Americans to help form unions and stand off the attacks of the merchants of division and the peddlers of doom. Our values are solidly American, values rooted in a sense of fair play, cooperation and the rule of law.
Job Listing: American Rights At Work - online strategies director
Location: Washington, DC
Starting Salary Range: $60-70k, commensurate with experience
POSITION OVERVIEW:
American Rights at Work is hiring for an Online Strategies Director to join our team to make a difference for workers’ rights. This person is responsible for the organization’s online presence, including our website, online activist program, and Internet marketing and outreach.
This is neither an IT nor a web development position. We're looking for an innovative individual familiar with connecting technology and activism. Our ideal candidate is an activist, organizer, and political technologist who can lead our online operation for social change. You won't just make sure our tools work; you'll design and implement the hard-hitting campaigns that use those tools – targeting anti-union forces from FedEx and Wal-Mart. Every day, you'll use your ability as a compelling writer, your skill as a tech geek, and your passion for changing the world.
American Rights at Work is a young national labor policy and advocacy non-profit organization. In just a few years, we've recruited hundreds of thousands of members through innovative viral campaigns and made a difference for workers’ rights. As you might imagine from a group specializing in workers' rights, we offer amazing benefits, including professional development funds, and benefits for commuting on the Metro. You don't pay a cent for health coverage premiums, and we even contribute 5% annually to our employees’ 401(k) accounts.
You can read more at American Rights At Work
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Don't get fooled by McGovern's anti- Employee Free Choice Act ad's during the debate tonight
Wow, the union avoidance firms are spending millions against the Employee Free Choice Act, tonight they are digging even deeper in their wallet's using their newest front man, turncoat George McGovern, to spread their misleading venom onto the American public.
I believe the ad will be featured in the following states:
Senatorial election states :MN, NH, MS, NC, OR
Swing states: LA, KY, ME
Here's the YouTube video
From Michael Whitney, at the Oxdown Gazette:
Don’t Be Fooled TonightIn August former Democratic Presidential candidate George McGovern wrote a fretful op-ed in the Wall Street Journal in which he cautioned "fellow" Democrats against supporting the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that would make it easier for workers to form unions. At the time Ian Welsh concluded McGovern was "out of step" with mainstream views.
Tonight McGovern will cross yet another line at the behest of business interests - during the Presidential debate, an ad featuring George McGovern will air in which he "condemns his own party" for supporting legislation that makes it easier for workers to join unions. McGovern's ad is part of a $120 million campaign by business groups and wealthy special interests who are trying to confuse & divide pro-worker leaders who support the Employee Free Choice Act.
Don't be fooled. Here's why.
First things first. McGovern is the *only* major Democratic figure who doesn't support the Employee Free Choice Act. Every single Democrat in the Senate and all but two in the House voted for the Employee Free Choice Act in 2007, excluding Tim Johnson, who was hospitalized. Even Joe Lieberman joined the Democratic caucus on this vote, and 1 Republican Senator and 13 GOP House members supported it as well. McGovern is virtually alone in his opposition to this bill.
Second, McGovern's claim - that the Employee Free Choice Act takes away "secret ballots" for union elections - is not true. The Employee Free Choice Act gives workers the choice to form a union, taking away businesses' veto power on the matter. Basically, once 50% +1 of workers in a workplace say they want a union, they get their union if the Employee Free Choice Act becomes law. But today, even if 100% of workers want a union, the employer can veto it. Rick Perlstein explains the situation well, via economist Dean Baker:
"The only change with the Employee Free Choice Act is whether card check recognition is at the discretion of the employer of the worker. In other words, it changes absolutely ZERO about whether the right of workers to organize is determined by secret ballot or not. The only thing it changes is who gets to decide the manner of certification, workers or employers."
Why is it a good thing if it's easier for workers to form unions? Take a look around. Do you think it's any surprise that the worst economic crisis in decades comes when the fewest workers are organized in unions?
When workers are able to form or join a union, workplaces across the country are more fair, giving people the chance to earn better wages and benefits - and protecting against excesses like we're seeing in corporate America today.
Look at what kind of a difference unions make:
- Union members earn 30% more than non-union workers.
- Workers in unions are 59% more likely be covered by employer-provided health insurance.
- A large union presence in an industry or region can raise wages even for non-union workers.
- Patients suffering heart attacks have a 5.5% greater chance of survival if their nurses are union members.
For months now, business groups like the one running McGovern's ad have poured literally tens of millions of dollars into 8 Senate races and national TV advertisements, even hiring some guy to dress up as Death and chase Senate candidates around their campaign events. This is for whom George McGovern now speaks.
Wealthy interests are running scared that workers can soon have their voice at work. The Employee Free Choice Act will restore the Middle Class and bring balance back to our country - something these groups just can't stand.
So, don't be fooled tonight - George McGovern and the Employee Freedom Action Committee speak only for themselves and their wealthy funders, not for anyone else in the country. The remainder of the Democratic Party, and a good chunk of the GOP, supports Free Choice for workers. And in January, we'll have the chance to make that choice.
Find out how your Congress and Senate voted in support of our troops
The IAVA, Iraq and Afghanistan Veteran's of America, the foremost nonprofit, non-partisan advocate for our nation's returning warriors and their families, has a Congressional report card up for viewing.
Barack Obama scores a B. 7 points with vets, absent for 4 votes while campaining, voted for the GI Bill 2008 3 times, co-sponsored post-9/11 GI Bill
John McCain scores a D. Absent for 6 critical GI votes, including ALL GI Bill 2008 voting, did not co-sponsor post-9/11 GI Bill.
No wonder active servicemen have donated 6 times as much to Barack Obama's campaign.
Even Ron Paul has generated 4.5 times as much contributions from our active servicemen than John McCain.
IAVA Action Fund’s 2008 Congressional Report Card takes a closer look at the progress we have to celebrate this year. In the following pages, every member of Congress is graded on his or her leadership and voting record on the most critical issues facing Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. We are pleased to report that more than 150 legislators received a perfect score, a grade of A+. These legislators showed a consistent commitment to the support of our troops.From the IAVA site, you can see how your Representative voted by clicking the image below:
In particular, we’d like to recognize the crucial work of Senators
Jim Webb (D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), John Warner (R-VA), Daniel Akaka (D-HI), and Harry Reid (D-NV); and of Representatives Harry Mitchell (D-AZ), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL), Peter King (R-NY), David Obey (D-WI), Chet Edwards (D-TX) and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). These lawmakers went above and beyond, not just voting in support of our veterans but also working behind the scenes to bring crucial veterans’ legislation to the floor.
The IAVA Action 2008 Congressional Report Card also serves as a tool to hold those in Congress accountable when they fail to vote in support of our troops and veterans. This year, 9 politicians earned Ds or Fs. These legislators must improve their voting records if they are to legitimately claim that they support our troops and veterans.
The IAVA Action Fund is the foremost nonprofit, non-partisan advocate for our nation's returning warriors and their families. Our 2008 Veteran Report Card, based on the key veterans' legislation that came to a vote during the 110th Congress, grades every Senator and Representative on their level of support for our troops.
We hope this Report Card will serve as a resource to voters, the media, and elected officials. You can download the full Report Card here.
Video: Second Chance - Union Made
From the Google Video page:
SECOND CHANCE - UNION MADE The stories of six troubled lives released from jail, living on the streets or running in gangs. Their second chance for a new life begins with a good union construction career in City of Los Angeles. Produced, Directed and Written by Kelly Candaele Executive Producers: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 11 Ironworkers Local 416 Ironworkers Local 433 Ironworkers District Council of California and Vicinity Southern California Pipe Trades Council 16
Found denim bibs Made In USA, and they are expanding here in the USA
Everyone else has moved operations overseas. "It's created a niche for us ... a lot of people still want products make in the United States.” - Jim Antosh, owner Round House Workwear
I agree. This is the only denim work bib that I have found still made in the USA, and according to the article below, it is the only one left.
Carhartt only has a few items still union made in the USA, 11 to be exact, they don't make any denim work bib's for all of my pipefitter, steamfitter, carpenter and iron worker friends.
Round House Brand Workwear
For over 105 years, Round House Workware has been making high quality denim work bib's.
Thay are actually opening a new factory right here in the United States, got this info from the Railroad Workers United site which had a link to this article from NewsOK, published on 10/01/08:
Denim plant finds fit in Wewoka (Oklahoma-Joe)You can find Round House items for sale by using their Store Locator, or online at:
Shawnee company finds new site outside hometown
By Debbie Blossom
When business owner Jim Antosh wanted to expand his manufacturing company and hire additional staff, he found few takers in Shawnee, where Round House Manufacturing has been stitching up sturdy denim workwear and jeans for more than a century.With a tight labor pool and no workers with the skills to operate commercial sewing machines, Antosh went searching in nearby communities for a site and employees to sew together some of the company's denim that is precut at the Shawnee plant.
Forty miles away in Wewoka, Antosh said he found suitable space and a partnership of city, state, education and economic development officials willing to help turn his expansion into a reality.
"It's a little unique,” he said of planning an addition in another town. "But the city of Wewoka was so helpful, and so eager, and they had the space.”
Still made in the U.S.
Round House is the sole overalls producer left in the United States, and about the only jeans maker in the country, Antosh said. Everyone else has moved operations overseas. "It's created a niche for us ... a lot of people still want products make in the United States.”
Demand remains brisk for the Round House brand, which includes work overalls for painters, engineers, carpenters and laborers that come in different colors. There are overalls for kids, caps and aprons. And the brand is worn by Disney World railroad conductors and has been seen on celebrities such as Jessica Simpson and Donald Trump.
Yet despite the company's successful longevity, "It's not easy to start from scratch,” he said.
What he found in Wewoka was a joint venture between city officials and Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma Inc., a Durant-based economic development organization.
City officials had invested $90,000 to renovate a vacant, 100,000-square-foot former apparel plant and divided the space to accommodate several businesses.
The Oklahoma Commerce Department and REI were advised on the building's availability, said Mark Mosley, Wewoka's city manager.At least $55,000 went into windows, new flooring and walls, electrical work and air conditioning for Round House, he said.
People looking to work closer to home, and fewer employers needing workers also helped entice Round House to expand away from Shawnee, Mosley said.
Antosh said further encouragement came from the state's career tech program, which helped reimburse some of the cost of training new employees.
Made In America Video featuring RoundHouse
I just got off the phone with owner Jim Antosh, it was a very pleasant conversation, we spoke of the history of Round House and the history of Shawnee, Oklahoma. It was a huge railroad town with what was known as a "round house", a station where steam locomotive's, which were optimized for forward mobility, to be turned around. Jim spoke of the fact that the textile association that he belonged to was amazed that he was expanding operations here in the states, they said he was the first that they know of in a decade. I also mentioned my need for "button snapped" denim shirts, he assured me that if all goes well they may consider them in the future, but insisted that anything they make must take time in the creation, so that they can proudly put their logo on the product, with the assurance that it is tough enough in stregnth and quality to bear the Round House name.
I offered Jim any assistance in getting the word out about their products and he thanked me and told me to get in touch any time I have any questions.
I also spoke to someone at TYCA, another American company who makes denim and leather goods, I had called once before and asked if they could make some denim quick snap 10oz. welder shirts for my fellow construction workers, they are still waiting for a prototype to finish being designed. Tyca also embosses denim and leather and all of their product's are union made, by IAM Machinist's in the USA.
Support American families, buy American made!
Big thanks to Railroad Worker's United for posting this up on their site
Martial Law! Wow, didn't notice this.
Previous to the passing of the heist on the American people, I mean the bailout legislation.
Joe's week of Union News is up
I have these burried in the archive, as there are a ton of links, the second one is even larger, enjoy
Joe's week of union news 10/05/08
Joe's week of union news 9/27
Monday, October 6, 2008
Jews For Obama, this is great
Updated: Park's Dept. worker saves police sargent's life during shootout
"They say you can always tell who police officers are. They're the ones running to the gunfire. I think Mr. Stennis has a little police officer in him." - Chris Circo, Vice President of International Union of Police Associations (IUPA) Local 101, Omaha, Nebraska
Originally posted on 10/1/08, edited on 10/6/08
LaDon Stennis, left, and Omaha police Sgt. Paul Latschar t shake hands before the ceremony held to honor Stennis for helping Latschar after the officer was shot on Aug. 20. (Photo by Kent Sievers/Omaha World Herald)
I got this story from Police Link, and I was really impressed by the actions of LaDon Stennis.
It happened on August 20th., 2008 (from Police Link):
Stennis had been out for an evening on his Kawasaki Vulcan on Aug. 20 when he rode into the shooting scene and quickly went to Latschar’s aid.Here's a link to a video, from News 3, when they figured out who this guy was "Man Braves Bullets to Shelter Officer Latschar"
Latschar had been shot after he and Swanson, members of the Police Department’s gang unit, stopped a car whose driver they recognized as Corey T. Allen, a gang member whose driver’s license had been revoked. Allen is accused of shooting at the officers.
Shots were still being fired when Stennis spotted Latschar running across Camden Avenue near 42nd Street. In an interview after the shooting, Stennis said he had seen Latschar, probably already wounded, turn and fire several times and then collapse on the curb.
When the gunfire stopped, Stennis said, he positioned his motorcycle between the wounded officer and whoever was shooting at him. He cushioned Latschar’s head as they waited for police cruisers and an ambulance.
Latschar was hit in the left arm, lower abdomen and his bulletproof vest. He was released from the hospital Sept. 1. He lost his pulse and blood pressure as he was being taken into surgery at Creighton University Medical Center.
Omaha say's thanks to LaDon Stennis
From the Omaha World-Herald (9/26/08):
Omaha said thanks to LaDon Stennis this morning with a proclamation, a plaque, a police baton and a weekend rental of a new motorcycle.I called the International (IUPA) office for more info and found out that Mr. Stennis works for the Parks Department, and am waiting for more info and pictures. I have also read that Sargent Latschar is still not back to work, we hope and pray for a full recovery.
The proclamation came from Mayor Mike Fahey, who praised Stennis during a City Hall ceremony for his bravery in helping a critically wounded police officer.
Stennis "helped save the life" of Officer Paul Latschar, Fahey said.
The plaque came from the Omaha Police Department and was presented by Chief Eric Buske, who laid out the story of what Stennis did to help Latschar.
The police baton came from the Omaha Police Union. Chris Circo, vice president of the union, presented that along with high praise:
"They say you can always tell who police officers are. They're the ones running to the gunfire. I think Mr. Stennis has a little police officer in him."
There were hugs and handshakes all around, many of them exchanged between Stennis' and Latschar's families.
Stennis' wife, Connie, and their son, 7-year-old LaDon II, were there to see LaDon Sr. honored. So was Latschar's wife, Tara, and Officer Jerry Swanson, who was with Latschar the night he was shot.
It was the union that gave Stennis a weekend's use of a new Harley-Davidson.
Thank you LaDon Stennis, the world needs more people like you. You can follow the appreciative comments from other law enforcement personel at Police Link, where people like Butch2760, a MD police officer writes:
Kudos to the citizen whom selflessly thought only to help the fallen Officer. Hell, I think the Officers Union should have bought him the Harley! I concur with BearKlaw, "it makes me proud to work for and protect citizens like Mr. Stennis." Thank you from a brother in Blue!There are a lot of good citizen's, I know, I was at the Trade Center site on 9/12/01 with thousands of them, many people from all walks of life, trying their best to help. It's unfortunate that you only see the good in times of great tragedy, it's unfortunate that the main stream media has chose not to bother letting the entire country know about this.
UPDATE!!
I have just learned, thanks to Omaha Steve from the Democratic Underground forum, that LaDon Stennis is a union member, according to Steve:
I was LaDon's steward when I was in the Parks Dept. (AFSCME Local 251)I have also been in contact with Chris Circo, The Vice President of the Omaha Police union, who informs me:
Ofc. Latschar is now Sgt. Latschar. He was on the promotional list waiting for a vacancy when this happened. He is still at home, going stir crazy, but continues to improve.We all hope for his speedy recovery.
Big thanks to everyone who helped get me info on this story
Sunday, October 5, 2008
West Virgina mine workers take a day of protest against anti-Obama campaign
Mine workers are tough, I remember being at Solidarity Day in DC in the 90's and meeting quite a few with camouflaged UMWA shirts which said "victory" in the middle of flames, in memory of a strike win in which shot were fired on all sides. Yes, as we have seen in a recent episode of Morgan Spurlock's 30Days, where the star had to live for 30 as a noobie coal miner, US coal miners are tough as nails.
So what happened when the NRA showed up unannounced with video camera's in hand, looking for workers to bad mouth Barack Obama, the candidate who their union has endorsed?
The workers took action, according to The State Journal :
Blacksville #2 Mine Idle After 440 Workers Stay Home
Posted Monday, September 29, 2008 ; 06:20 PM
Updated Saturday, October 4, 2008 ; 03:08 PM
Story by Courtney Dunn
UMWA Workers Took Memorial Day in Protest
Watch Story Video
BLACKSVILLE -- Coal production at a mine in Monongalia County came to a halt today when every union miner stayed home, as part of a political protest.
It was an idle day Monday at the Blacksville #2 Mine.
More than 440 workers who are members of the United Mine Workers of America took what's called a Memorial Day instead of going to work.
