Joe's Union Review welcomes another Labor blog, a letter to the editor that made my day, SEIU performs ABBA at John McCain camp

Was noticing where my links were coming from and saw a new blog out there, I'm used to the US Chamber of Commerce and other anti-union agencies websites popping up unexpected, but it's always a pleasure to find yet another person who has been motivated enough to jump into the action and help promote our struggle, from the upcoming election and explaining that in his field videography, The Employee Free Choice Act is as necessary as in my own, the construction industry, so without further ado, a big welcome to Decision List, who's latest post is a great music video.

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON - NATALIE MERCHANT

Though many folks try to make things more complex than they really are, it really always comes down to a simple question.

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

Hope to be reading more, and I hope he checks out Broadcast Union News, who has a lot of entertainment and broadcasting news.

Speaking of broadcasts, UnionGal posted a great video on her site, from 7/17, of a SEIU(Service Employees) theater production outside of John McCains headquarters on her site called "McCain as the "Loophole King"

Last week SEIU protested outside of McCain's campaign headquarters in Virginia. How they got ABBA to join them, I'll never know...

Richard at Union Review and Kirsten at UnionGal have been crazy busy, Richard attended Netroots Nation and Kirsten is running for office in DC, I will eventually be posting about all that sooner or later, I'm still reading through it, but I have a ton of stuff on my plate and a guy I worked with has passed away, a great guy who would give you the shirt off his back if you were in need, I feel really bad, I'm gonna miss him.

So I'm kinda doing all sorts of stuff, including getting more information about The Employee Free Choice Act petition for my own local to sign up, I'm meeting with the NYS AFL-CIO rep here in NYC tomorrow to get that stuff. Found a great article from over a year ago entitled "Who's afraid of The Employee Free Choice Act" from Common Dreams.

It's also nice to see Omaha Steve is still posting away at Democratic Underground, especially a letter to the editor he spotted from a The Providence Journal :

Brian Wilder: What union have brought us

01:00 AM EDT on Thursday, July 17, 2008

It’s tiresome reading such nonsense as the letter from Steve Lemois (June 18) who claims to know what unions are doing.

Here are some of the programs and laws that union workers have fought hard to create, many of which we still protect from regular attack by wealthy interests: Social Security, Medicare, the 40-hour work week, overtime pay, child-labor laws, family/medical leave with employer-paid insurance, unemployment insurance, temporary-disability insurance, workers’ compensation insurance, and the minimum-wage law. And we have much more hard work ahead of us, such as the need for affordable access to health care for everyone and human-rights protections for workers making our products both here and abroad.

We union workers sure do manage to do an awful lot for non-union people while just “looking after our own behinds,” which Mr. Lemois claims is all we do. Can he even be serious?

BRIAN WILDER

Cranston

Spread the word people, the American worker, the heart of the labor movement, will not go down without a fight.

That's about it for now, sorry for the lapse in covering recent news, maybe if we had a few more writers, ah, but we can all just dream a little...

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Some quick links from Democratic Underground to keep you in the know

While I'm busy take a look and get involved over at Democratic Underground

	Discussion Topic	Author	Start time | Last reply	Replies	Recs	Views
	Do You Remember The "Look for the Union Label" Song?	eleny	Wed Apr-23-08 10:01 PM	12	3	131
	Report data shows strong labor market for engineers	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 09:57 PM	11	0	72
	UFW co-founder left mark on county (documentary "Harvest of Shame" by Edward R. Murrow)	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 09:33 PM	1	2	34
	South Africa: Union refuses to unload Chinese arms bound for Zimbabwe	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 09:22 PM	2	1	28
	The Last Time I Saw César	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 09:02 PM	0	1	29
	MGM Mirage Fights Workers' Effort To Form Union (filed unfair labor practice charges)	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:52 PM	0	0	16
	Bill would give TAs at NYU (any US University) right to unionize	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:48 PM	1	1	19
	Building Construction Trades Provide Millions of Dollars For Diabetes Research	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:48 PM	0	0	16
	OSHA Fines Guam Firm $135,000 For Safety Violations	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:35 PM	0	0	15
	House Panel to Examine Cintas Safety Record	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:32 PM	0	0	18
	OSHA sets deadline for company's appeal in worker's death ($16,800)	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:29 PM	0	0	15
	Ted Kennedy Wades In (shabbily reversed by Bush appointees during the Brown decision)	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:22 PM	0	1	71
	Writers Guild, Hollywood studios clash after strike	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:12 PM	0	2	29
	Michigan State, 1,400 grad student TAs reach deal to avoid walkout	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 08:09 PM	0	0	18
	Starbucks Union (IWW) files more charges against Starbucks in Grand Rapids, Michigan	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 07:51 PM	0	0	15
	Smaller Actors Union Delays Contract Talks to May 5	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 07:41 PM	0	0	15
	Japanese union backs Pacific Beach boycott	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 07:35 PM	0	1	26
	Missouri Department Of Labor Applauds Supreme Court Ruling Resulting In Felony Conviction	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 07:30 PM	0	0	43
	CA Labor Commissioner Cites Riverside & San Bernardino Restaurants for Labor Violations	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 07:27 PM	0	0	14
	A Chinese labor activist who won’t lie down	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 07:24 PM	0	0	15
	Equal Pay – Not Yet	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 07:00 PM	0	1	20
	School Custodians Say ‘No’ to Aramark	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:58 PM	0	0	53
	Episode 44 USW POWERcast!	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:51 PM	0	0	10
	The Hill: Doomed labor bill becomes fodder for campaign attacks	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:38 PM	0	0	29
	Unions helping close equal pay gap	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:35 PM	0	0	17
	Aloha pilots seek restraining order	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:34 PM	1	0	48
	Injunction lifted in nurses' dispute with SEIU	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:30 PM	0	0	18
	Ohio Union Members Ask McCain for Real Solutions (+ video)	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:24 PM	0	2	24
	Strong Union Turnout in Pennsylvania Primary (31 percent)	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 06:17 PM	0	0	31
	AT&T call center workers opt for union	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 02:30 PM	7	1	77
	La-Z-Boy, Whirlpool Moving Hundreds Of Jobs To Mexico	Omaha Steve	Wed Apr-23-08 02:28 PM	6	0	144
	MGM Mirage To Lay Off Up To 400 Workers	Omaha Steve	Tue Apr-22-08 10:51 PM	1	0	6
	Gas Workers in New Mexico, Firefighters in Alabama and More Join AFL-CIO Unions	Omaha Steve	Tue Apr-22-08 08:47 PM	0	0	3
	More Layoffs, Fewer Hours on the Job and Teachers Forced to Take Second Jobs	Omaha Steve	Tue Apr-22-08 08:44 PM	0	1	6
	Why so stubborn? (Right-to-work proponents risk more than they might gain)	Omaha Steve	Tue Apr-22-08 05:54 PM	1	0	52
	Eric Lee: Dramatic struggle by Russian miners - appeal for help	Omaha Steve	Tue Apr-22-08 11:36 AM	0	1	20
	Today in labor history April 19 (bomb destroys the Oklahoma City federal building)	Omaha Steve	Tue Apr-22-08 10:53 AM	5	0	53
	Are you making At Least $20 An Hour?	Omaha Steve	Tue Apr-22-08 09:26 AM	4	4	182
	AP: American Axle strike hits 2 more General Motors factories	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 09:18 PM	0	0	21
	W Post: Election E-Mails Can End Your Term in the Office (job)	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 09:13 PM	0	0	59
	NYC Disabled Ironworker Pushes For Disaster Healthcare Legislation	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 08:55 PM	0	0	22
	Union leaders face off for Obama, Clinton in Pennsylvania	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 08:49 PM	0	0	27
	Tough times for American workers	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 08:44 PM	0	3	41
	I'll only have a few posts between now and Thursday afternoon	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 08:37 PM	2	0	51
	Workers Memorial Day Materials Include McCain’s Voting Record on Job Safety	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 08:35 PM	0	0	24
	Today in labor history April 21	Omaha Steve	Mon Apr-21-08 06:53 AM	0	0	18

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Davenport, Iowa: ATT workers say Union Yes

From the Quad City times (4/20/08) :

AT&T call center workers opt for union
By Jennifer DeWitt

Employees at the new AT&T Customer Care Center in Davenport have voted to be represented by the Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, the union president said Friday.

Francis Giunta, the president of CWA Local 7110, said a majority of the call center employees agreed to unionize in a card-check drive that began Monday. In the first six hours of the union drive, CWA had received the required 50 percent plus one vote necessary for the workplace to have union representation.

“It was almost unprecedented,” he said of the quick approval. In a card-check drive, employees vote “yes” or “no” for union representation on a union registration card.

He said the vote “tells me people understand the value of a union, the value of healthcare benefits and the value of a voice at work. And it tells me the labor unions are not a thing of the past.”

Giunta did not know how many of the center’s employees had voted in favor, but once the union is in place all the employees will be represented by the bargaining unit whether they do or do not join the union.

The AT&T employees will become part of Local 7110 and will be covered by an existing contract, which expires Feb. 7, 2009.

Across the nation, CWA and AT&T have a voluntary card-check and neutrality agreement.

“AT&T has a long-standing agreement with its unions that allows them to organize bargaining units wherever and whenever employees choose to join one of the unions,” Bob Beasley, AT&T spokesman, said.

The new $19.3 million call center at 5348 Elmore Circle eventually plans to employ between 500 and 600 employees. Giunta estimated the current employment at about 130. The center opened with 60 employees in January.
Jennifer DeWitt can be contacted at (563) 383-2318 or jdewitt@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.

Read Full Story

Again a big thanks to, recovering from surgery, Omaha Steve from Democratic Underground's Labor section for the heads up. Link below

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4-13-08: American Axle Makes New Offer to UAW, union rejects Federal mediator

From Omaha Steve at Democratic Underground via Money (4/13/08):

DETROIT (AP) — Striking United Auto Workers union members are considering a new contract offer from American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc. as bargaining continues through the weekend.

About 3,600 UAW members at five American Axle plants in Michigan and New York went on strike Feb. 26 against the auto parts maker, which demanded steep pay cuts.

American Axle spokeswoman Renee Rogers says company bargainers gave the UAW a new contract proposal Saturday. She says bargainers are returning to the table Sunday.

The six-week strike has caused parts shortages that have closed or curtailed work at 29 General Motors Corp. factories, affecting about 39,000 hourly employees.

The Associated Press left a message with the UAW Sunday seeking comment.

Also shared by Steve, from Money (4/13/08) :

DETROIT -(Dow Jones)- American Axle & Manufacturing Holdings Inc. (AXL), dealing with a seven-week-old strike at five of its U.S. plants, said it requested a federal mediator to help with negotiations, but that the United Auto Workers union refused to allow it.

American Axle said it was disappointed in the UAW's decision.

A UAW spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment.

American Axle, in a statement Sunday, said it requested a federal mediator from the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service "to assist in the company's ongoing negotiations with the UAW. AAM had hoped that the involvement of an impartial third party at the bargaining table could assist both sides."

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Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut, 3500 workers say Union Yes, Mickey D's next, BK and Wendy's negotiations later this year

Holy Crap! 3,500 workers in Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut nationwide said "Union Yes!"

Restaurant Brands (Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut) Get A Collective Voice


I didn't even know they were being organized, but the fact remains, all these workers across the nation decided their lives would be better if they joined as a collective body, according to NZ Herald (4/12/08) :

...Union membership has more than doubled to nearly two thousand in Restaurant Brands stores after a union employment agreement was reached last week covering 3500 workers in Starbucks, KFC and Pizza Hut nationwide.

How did this all come about? How has life changed for the new union members at the collective "Restaurant Brands", parent of the 3 chain stores above?

"We have now reached between 50 per cent and 100 per cent membership density in most fast food stores, which is an extraordinary result considering four years ago membership in the sector was less than a paltry one per cent and the union is still growing."

Wage rates moved for Restaurant Brands workers by 75 cents and $2.25 per hour (6.75 per cent - 21.37 per cent), meaning 90 per cent of members wages increased by more than a $1 an hour.

Restaurant Brands says it now pays between 50 cents and $3.00 more an hour for their long-serving and experienced employees than their competitors.

McDonald's is next, Burger King and Wendy's negotiations take place later this year.



From: Unite - Union Of Workers (4/7/08)

However, Unite and McDonalds are currently in negotiations and Burger King and Wendys negotiations take place later in the year.

“Unite is pleased that Restaurant Brands is leading the way in moving wage rates and by recognising the importance of these kinds of union agreements to workers.

“The entire fast food industry is made up of casual workers. Restaurant Brands has recognised this and has agreed to provisions that work towards more secure hours for their employees, including the formation of a joint union-employer working party to oversee this.

“Youth rates have also been completely removed, which will have a huge effect as over half of the workforce is under the age of 20 years.

“Three years ago Unite launched the Supersizemypay.com (*now defunct URL-Joe) campaign to achieve $12 an hour, end youth wages and win more secure hours. We are proud to announce that this has been achieved.” McCarten concluded.

Achieving $12 an hour, ending youth wages and winning more secure hours!

How did this news miss the Main Stream? Because it's not in the United States, it's in New Zealand.

Four years ago, there were less than 1% of workers in the fast food industry, in NZ., who were in a union, today there are 50% with more on the way, workers immediately got a 6.75-21.3% raise.

Burger King Still The Worst Of The Lot



As with the Coalition of Immokalee Workers campaign here in the states, which is trying to end the slave like conditions of tomato workers here in Florida, Burger King is remaining the leader of anti-worker practices, even in New Zealand, where according to the Socialist Party Of Australia (12/06/07) :

“Burger King, whose employees are largely young workers, has agreed to shift the youth rate next year from $8.35 to $9.00 - an increase of 7.8 per cent. Adult crew workers will receive a 7.3 per cent increase.

“Burger King’s wage proposal is well below Restaurant Brands ($9.23) and McDonald’s ($9.50 after six months) and is not an offer Unite is willing to accept. We will continue to negotiate with Burger King to improve this offer and settle the last remaining issues so we can sign a collective agreement. Hopefully this will occur before Christmas.

“In the meantime we will be conducting a public campaign to put pressure on Burger King to join the other fast food companies in settling a collective agreement.

As Omaha Steve, who posted this story at Democratic Underground, expressed:

If New Zealand can do this, so can the US!

I couldn't agree more, unfortunately here in the States you can't even get Burger King to pay 1 cents a lb. more for tomatoes, to give the slave farmers in Florida a better living. Which would bring up an entire new story, something along the lines of: "40 Years After Death Of MLK, Multi-National Corporations like their slave class", but slavery has been abolished, there's no slaves in the United States!

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Ohio: Kongsberg Automotive Holding locks out USWA workers, hires temp. workers and the fear of global environment

Workers at the Kongsberg Automotive Holding facility, formerly known as Teleflex, have been locked out by the company after failing to approve a contract which asked for deep pay cuts and increased health care costs, not much more information is known aside from the fact that the company has been bringing in replacement workers.

From TimesBulletin.com (4/01/08) :

Contract negotiations between Kongsberg Automotive Holding, formerly known as Teleflex, and the 328 United Steel Workers employed at the Van Wert facility took on a more ominous tone on Tuesday.

A labor contract offer, which was given to union representatives last Friday afternoon, will be voted on by the employees tonight at 8 p.m. The president of the United Steel Workers local, Aaron Collins, was informed on Tuesday by Kongsberg officials that if the union does not ratify the contract as offered, union employees will be locked out of the facility starting at 10 p.m. tonight.

"Knowing what they're going to do doesn't help the vote, and it doesn't hurt the vote's chances," said Collins. "I just want everyone to know what is going on before we decide."

The issues remaining between the two sides involve deep pay cuts, pension plan changes, and health insurance costs.

Apparently the members did not ratify the contract, heres more info from From TimesBulletin.com (4/04/08) :

V