Union Review: Labor Movement News & Views

Those who watch ABC’s World News Tonight are probably familiar with one of the broadcast’s segments titled, A Sign of the Times. An on-going news-magazine piece, the regular feature highlights adventures in popular culture that cause one to take a step back, reflect and internalize the current events of our time. Although news stations don’t normally report on themselves, ABC could have easily added their own November 30, 2008 broadcast to the Sign of the Times segment after anchor Dan Harris grouped the salaries of auto industry CEOs with union contracts under the same "ugly" umbrella.

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Last week I received and email and press release from DC 37, announcing a proposed landmark settlement with healthcare services company McKesson in a cased filed by the union claiming the company artificially inflated drug prices.

This is another perfect example of how our unions are searching out and finding solutions that benefit everyone, members and nonmembers alike.

Thanks to the folks at the union for sending this over to me to share with everyone.

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Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report
                            National Edition
         Produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg 
             ********************************************

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The Friday after Thanksgiving. Folks are running around to shop where they can for what they could afford. Some of us are with family and friends, others are just reviewing how the year went for them. I am doing a little of all that and then some, and in my review (and work), I thought to share a piece the Teamsters are running on it is website; a story announcing the union reached its goal of organizing 40,000 workers, so far, in 2008. Enjoy.

“We announced two goals for the Teamsters in 2008: To organize 40,000 workers and to elect Barack Obama President of the United States,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “I am proud to say that thanks to the hard work by so many in our union, the Teamsters delivered on both promises.”

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I am out with family and friends in St. Louis and wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday. My hope and prayer is that you are safe, fed, and happy. I thank you all for making our little corner of the Internet a great learning and sharing community. See you all next week.

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James Parks of the AFL-CIO filed this article yesterday for the Federation's blog, I thought to bring it over to UnionReview.com in an effort to help spread this news.

It took five years to get justice, but justice was finally gained!

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What do folks think about the Big Three bailout? Do you support it, if so ...why?

Click into the body of the story to get a list of all the stories that appeared on UnionReview.com between November 12 and November 23.

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Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report
                            National Edition
         Produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg 
             ********************************************

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I find it awkward when union members, organizers, staff, etc., find their way to an online venue to air out dirty laundry in public. I think certain things are better left inside the office -- and should NOT be open to everybody's commentary. I also don't think that having this point of view is censorship; I think that is a whole other conversation.

I put this all up in the Forums, here; but thought to put on the front page as well in case folks aren't making it over to the Forums, yet.

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On Friday I attended the International Labor Communications Association's annual luncheon and award ceremony.

Click through to read the story written by James Parks of the AFL-CIO about the day.

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For the last couple weeks there have been a ton of emails from folks asking why they were getting all kind of email alerts from the website, I hope this entry will answer some of those questions.

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The Teamsters announced another School Bus and Transit Worker victory yesterday -- this time in Naperville, Illinois.

Since the School Bus campaign began in 2006, more than 13,400 workers have become Teamsters.

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By BERRY CRAIG

      MAYFIELD, Ky. – I’ve got a pretty good idea what Abraham Lincoln, the first Republican president, would make of his party as we get ready to celebrate his 200th birthday next February.

      The Great Emancipator must be spinning in his tomb.

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Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report
                            National Edition
         Produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg

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Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics are medical professionals that protect families and communities 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Saving lives is a reward within itself, but many of these workers receive only cut-rate wages. 

Right now, the company contracted to provide emergency medical services to Buffalo and neighboring communities--Rural/Metro Corporation--pays its workers less on average than emergency workers in nearby cities such as Albany, Rochester and Syracuse, and less than the competition. Rural/Metro’s employees haven’t had a contract for months and may be forced into further actions to secure one. They need your help. 

Please tell Rural/Metro that paying low wages devalues the life-saving role of first responders and makes it difficult for them to survive financially. Tell them to bargain a fair contract.

I had a brief discussion yesterday with a FedEx Express worker who asked whether or not the Employee Free Choice Act would affect how FedEx Express workers organize. It was uncomfortable to share the news that, in fact, it won't do a thing for him or his coworkers.

The deal is that Fred Smith and FedEx Express has wiggled beneath NLRA coverage, and the Employee Free Choice Act does not stretch to any NLRA unit.

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The End Of Retirement With Dignity

What workers need to know

A discussion with:

Teresa Ghilarducci, author of When I'm Sixty-Four: The Plot against Pensions and the Plan to Save Them. After having taught economics for twenty-five years at the University of Notre Dame, now holds the Irene and Bernard L. Schwartz Chair of Economic Policy Analysis at the New School for Social Research. She is also the 2006-2008 Wurf Fellow at Harvard Law School. Her other books include Labor's Capital: The Economics and Politics of Private Pensions.

There will also be commentary by Stuart Leibowitz,
and Mel Aaronson

Click for more info and downloadable leaflet

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Because of this widespread use, asbestos can be found in millions of structures throughout the country. Many independent business lease space in older buildings that are contaminated with asbestos, and in most cases these independent business are not even informed of the state of contamination. If the asbestos is aging and has not been remediated, workers in these older buildings could potentially be exposed to asbestos. Being exposed to asbestos can lead to a a rare and aggressive form of asbestos cancer called Mesothelioma .

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