Welcome to Local 8183's Web Site!
To get information on your unit click the blogs section
- 8183 News
- 8183 Events
- 8183 Blogs
- USW Media Center
- AFL-CIO Now Blog
Local 8183 News
Local 8183 Toy Drive - Monday, October 19, 2009
Local 8183 Teams up with Toys for Tots...
|
Read More|
Health Care Update - Tuesday, October 06, 2009
An update on whats going on with Health Care Reform...
|
Read More|
AFL-CIO website helps laid off workers - Tuesday, October 06, 2009
The AFL-CIO has launched a web site to help laid off and jobless workers....
|
Read More|
Obama rules in favor of USW - Monday, October 05, 2009
Preident Obama rules in favor of the USW concerning China's tire imports....
|
Read More|
Cooper Tire breaks ranks - Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Cooper Tire is the first of the major tire companys to come out in the favor of the Chineese goverment....
|
Read More|
Local 8183 Events
No Events At This Time
Local 8183 Blogs
Interesting Article
Article from Alabama that mentions Horsehead as a major enviromental polluter
[ Read More ]
Newsletters now online
Rome Union Newsletters are now online
[ Read More ]
Horsehead Restarts a Kiln
Horsehead restarts a Kiln in Rockwood
[ Read More ]
Web Site
Welcome to 8183's new web site
[ Read More ]
Meal Ticket Arbitration Heard
Meal Ticket Arbitration heard on July 9, 2009
[ Read More ]
USW Media Center
USW Workers at Bridgestone-LaVergne Giving Back to the Community
-
Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Much notice has been given to Bridgestone Tires’ recent acquisition of naming rights to the Nashville Arena, which will be celebrated in a Wednesday, March 10, 2010 ceremony. It is cited as the most recent example of Bridgestone’s good corporate neighbor behavior.
Many United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1055 members, especially some of the 600 laid off last summer when the plant stopped producing passenger tires, are angry when they hear that the company is spending millions on public relations, marketing and advertising while workers are losing jobs and taking pay cuts.
USW Local 1055 members would like to point out that they are contributing to the company and the community at a rate of $7.2 million per year, or nearly $30 million over four years, through concessions that the company said were necessary to improve the plant’s global competitiveness ... more
Talks Break Off Despite Steelworkers' Repeated Attempts to Settle - Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Mediated discussions between the United Steelworkers and Vale Inco have broken off, despite the Union's repeated and unprecedented attempts to reach a settlement.
"Over 11 consecutive days, our bargaining committee presented several new proposals and made genuine, significant compromises on the key issues," said USW District 6 Director Wayne Fraser.
"This was an all-out effort by our committee to reach a settlement, with the best interests of our members, our community and the company in mind," Fraser said ... more
Show solidarity and support with Mexican miners, families - Fri, 05 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800
USW Women of Steel are raising funds to help the women of Cananea, Mexico, who are supporting striking miners and fighting an anti-worker, anti-union government. Click here for more.
Some 1,200 members of Mexico's National Miners' and Metalworkers' Union, or Los Mineros, have been on strike since July 2007 at the Cananea mine over health and safety and other contract violations.
Grupo Mexico, the mining giant which operates Cananea, and the Mexican government have continuously tried to end the strike and crush the union. The government of Mexico has threatened and jailed union leaders, illegally frozen union bank accounts and failed to investigate or prosecute assassinations of union members.
On February 11, a federal court gave Grupo Mexico permission to fire the striking workers and terminate the labor agreement, effectively eliminating the right to strike in Mexico. The Mexican government has threatened to use armed force to gain control of Cananea. The Los Mineros members at Cananea are resolved to continue occupying the mine until a fair labor agreement is reached. Los Mineros is one of the strongest and most democratic trade unions in Mexico.
Click here to sign a petition in support of the miners. And again, click here to support the Women of Steel fundraising effort.
Gerard, USW officers Begin New Term - Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800
The Officers and Executive Board members of the USW International took their oaths of office for new four-year terms March 1 in Toronto, Canada.
President Leo W. Gerard was sworn in by retired International President Lynn Williams, the first Canadian to lead the USW, and John Fera, president of Local 6500 in Sudbury, Ontario, Gerard’s home town.
The audience included hundreds of Canadian members in labor disputes, including representatives of Local 6500, now in the midst of a seven-month strike against Vale Inco, a Brazilian-owned mining giant.
Gerard, the seventh International President, was appointed to replace George Becker 2001 and has been returned to office by the membership every four years since then.
In his speech, Gerard praised the union’s membership and said it is their strength, activism and undying spirit that will see the union through the “Great Recession” that has driven the global economy into a ditch.
“When you come down to it, we’re going to survive this latest disaster and return to fight another day, because it’s what this union does,” Gerard said. “We survive what few could endure because we choose to fight.”
Ken Neumann, National Director of Canada, was the master of ceremonies. The Canadian National Anthem was sung by Joy Klopp of the Canadian National Office. The American National Anthem was sung by Ann English, daughter of retired Secretary-Treasurer Jim English.
Guest speakers included Toronto Mayor David Miller; Jack Layton, leader of Canada’s Federal New Democratic Party; Andrea Horwath, leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party; Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriquez, and Ken Georgetti, a Steelworker and president of the Canadian Labour Congress.
Miller, a progressive, praised the USW for its efforts to create jobs of the future, which he said Toronto is doing by building a new rapid transit system with union labor.
“We should never shy away from the idea that when we’re spending public money, money that comes out of people’s taxes, they have the right to say it’s going to be invested in our economy for our jobs and built by union members,” Miller said.
Layton praised the Steelworkers for leading the way towards building an international union response to multinational corporations that try to pit workers against each other.
“It’s time for a newer and stronger brotherhood and sisterhood of workers around the world,’’ Layton said.
Greater Sudbury Mayor John Rodriguez said the USW must stand up to the multinational financial systems that have destroyed jobs and the livelihoods of millions of workers.
“Now, more than ever, unions are essential to the workers of the world,” Rodriquez said to applause, “not only to protect the gains made at the bargaining table, but also for holding governments and the world’s financial systems accountable.”
USW Supports Halter in Arkansas Senate Race - Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Failure of Lincoln to Stand Up for Workers Key in Decision
Arkansas members of the United Steelworkers (USW) today announced support of Lt. Gov. Bill Halter in the U.S. Senate primary challenge to incumbent Democrat Blanche Lincoln.
The USW is the largest union in Arkansas, representing a large slice of the state’s working families. Those workers are sending a message to elected officials around the country that they are looking for real solutions to our economic, health care and other challenges.
“It seems like some politicians in Washington have forgotten about us, everyday people who live and work and raise our families in Arkansas,” said Michael Martin, a machine operator from Malvern, AR. “Bill Halter is a candidate who will stand with us and work for us, not just big corporations. We’re tired of business of usual. It’s time for change in Arkansas and at the U.S. Senate ... more
Union Members can Save Money this year on TurboTax. - Wed, 03 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Tax time just got less taxing. And less expensive, thanks to your union membership. The Union Plus TurboTax Discount saves you 10%-15% off regular prices. Plus, union members with qualifying adjusted gross income can get free filing of federal tax returns and a discounted filing fee for state returns.
Watch Program Manager Keith Ervin talk about the Union Plus TurboTax Discount.
U.S. Department Of Commerce Finds That China and Indonesia Improperly Subsidize Their Coated Paper Producers - Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Imposes Preliminary Tariffs to Level the Playing Field
Appleton Coated LLC, NewPage Corporation, and Sappi Fine Paper North America – together with the United Steelworkers (USW) -- commended the U.S. Department of Commerce for its preliminary countervailing duty determinations against subsidized coated paper imports from China and Indonesia.
As a result of these determinations, the Department of Commerce will impose tariffs on imports of coated paper to offset the unfair advantage provided by subsidization. The Department of Commerce found that Chinese coated paper was subsidized by an average rate of 8.38 percent. Asia Pulp & Paper (APP) producers Gold East, Gold Huasheng, Ningbo Zhonghua and Ningbo Asia Pulp and Paper received a subsidy margin of 12.83 percent, while Sun Paper received a rate of 3.92 percent. In Indonesia, APP/Sinar Mas producers Tjiwi Kimia and Indah Kiat received a subsidy margin of 17.48 percent. All other Indonesian producers/exporters will be subject to this same rate.
The result of the Department’s actions will be the immediate requirement that these importers of paper from the subject countries will have to post bond or cash deposits in an amount equal to the announced margins pending final resolution of the cases later this year ... more
U.S. Needs to Build Domestic Production of Nuclear Components, say Steelworkers - Fri, 26 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Newport News-AREVA Joint Venture Lauded
A recent letter by United Steelworkers (USW) International President Leo W. Gerard to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission raised concerns about our nation’s current capability to produce component parts for the growth of the nuclear industry in the US. It was written in response to the awarding of loan guarantees by the U.S. government to build two nuclear reactors in Burke, Georgia that could possibly use components built overseas.
The USW believes that the majority of the materials used in building these plants such as steel and piping can be sourced from domestic facilities employing its members. As North America’s largest manufacturing union, the USW sees such initiatives as integral to the renewal of manufacturing in America ... more
USW supports striking Mexican miners - Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
On February 19 and 20, 2010, the Mineros held a national forum for respect for the right to strike in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico. The Mineros have been on strike against Grupo Mexico in Cananea for more than 2 1/2 years, and in the last few weeks the Supreme Court of Mexico has ruled that the strike is “inexistent,” or in U.S. terms, not protected.
This leaves Grupo Mexico free to fire all the employees, break the bargaining relationship with the union and hire new employees and sign a contract with the company union that they have established at some of their other properties. The only hope for the Mineros now is to build enough political pressure to keep the government from using force to break the strike. The forum was a part of this effort.
The forum began on Friday at the union hall in Cananea. A crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 heard messages of support from members of the Electricians and Telephone workers, as well as other non-governmental organizations. Manny Armenta, USW District 12 Sub Director, spoke for the Steelworkers.
On Saturday the forum moved outside to the plant gate. The entire congressional delegation from Cananea (all from the PRI, or Party of the Institutional Revolution) spoke in support of the Mineros and promised to work in the Congress to force a withdrawal of Grupo Mexico’s concession to operate the mine.
USW District 7 Director Jim Robinson spoke on behalf of the Steelworkers. During the rally, the Mineros operated the mine equipment, proving wrong the basis for the court ruling. The ruling was based on the argument that the strikers had left the plant unable to operate through lack of maintenance and vandalism.
Click here for the entire report.
The United Steelworkers has a long history of solidarity with Mexican miners, including adopting 3,000 striking miners' families and providing safe haven in Canada for Napoleon Gomez, the leader of the union to which the Cananea workers belong, the Mining and Metalworkers Union of Mexico (Los Mineros). The government of Mexico improperly removed Mr. Gomez from his position as Los Mineros general secretary on charges that have proven, again and again, in Mexican courts to have been trumped up.
The USW and Los Mineros formed a strategic alliance after Los Mineros provided crucial support in 2005 to USW members striking Asarco, a company owned by Grupo Mexico.
Important Notice To Retirees of Special Metals Corporation - Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
A Federal Court has authorized a notice concerning a proposed class action settlement for workers and retirees from Special Metals North America Inc.
Click here to read more.
USW Health Insurance Tool Kit Updated with Latest Obama Plan - Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
President Obama has released a proposal he says is intended to get the health insurance reform debate back on track. The president will host a bipartisan meeting Thursday with congressional leaders to discuss this important topic.
The USW Health Insurance Reform Tool Kit has been updated with the Obama proposal and other new information. Click here for the latest.
Widows Lawsuit Seeks Damages over Disaster that Killed 65 Mexican Miners Four Years Ago Today - Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Families of deceased coal miners killed four years ago in an explosion at the Pasta de Conchos coal mine in Coahuila, Mexico, today filed suit in U.S. federal court in Arizona seeking damages from Grupo Mexico Inc. and related companies.
The lawsuit was filed by the United Steelworkers union in U.S. District Court in Phoenix on behalf of three widows whose husbands were among 65 coal miners killed in the Mexican disaster.
The miners were trapped underground on Feb. 19, 2006 when a powerful methane explosion rocked the mine in the early morning hours of an overnight shift ... more
Recovery Act Advocates Good Jobs, More Investment Needed - Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), released the following statement to mark the first anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), praising the stimulus bill for creating, sustaining and saving good jobs.
“The United Steelworkers applauds the findings of the Obama Administration report on the first year under the Recovery Act that show it responded to the economic crisis that idled the jobs of industrial workers all across America. The job-creating impact of investments in infrastructure and the ‘Buy America’ government procurement provisions have made a big difference in working family economics during uncertain times.
“When tax-payer monies are involved, U.S. made products such as steel, glass, rubber and other manufactured inputs should be given preference for infrastructure projects for the construction of roads, bridges, public buildings and water systems ... more
More and more agree that manufacturing is the answer - Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Support for manufacturing continues to grow in the United States, as the results of a new poll show and as more and more economists - even conservative ones - say that returning to a manufacturing-based economy is what our nation needs to create good jobs. Click here for more.
New Nuclear Energy Components Must Not be Sourced from China - Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), released the following statement and text of a letter to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Gregory B. Jaczko on the application of Southern Company to build two new nuclear reactors in Burke County, GA. President Obama is scheduled to announce his approval of loan guarantees for this project under the 2005 Energy Policy Act.
“Today’s announcement by the President that loan guarantees will be offered to the Southern Company to build and operate two nuclear reactors in Burke County, GA., is intended to usher in a new wave of nuclear energy development in the United States. President Obama’s actions are to implement provisions of the 2005 Energy Policy Act.
“Nuclear energy has been and will continue to be a major source of power in the U.S. and around the world. Its future development, however, depends on having the full support of the American people ... more
USW Black History Month Blog: Manufacturing the great equalizer - Fri, 12 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
USW International President Leo W. Gerard and Vice President Fred Redmond teamed up in a Steelworker blog celebrating Black History Month. The leaders recall the historic efforts of four North Carolina college freshmen known as the Greensboro Four, who 50 years ago helped turn the civil rights movement into a mass movement for change.
Gerard and Redmond write that as we celebrate that important milestone, we should also pay tribute to the heroes of yesterday by joining with the youth of today to lead a current day revolution for manufacturing, which truly is the great equalizer. They write, in part:
The "Greensboro Four," as they were known, began a wave of nonviolent protests against segregation across America. The sit-ins came just as the demand for Civil Rights grew into a mass movement, one that changed our nation forever.
The involvement of young people in that movement - along with religious, labor and other community leaders - cannot be underestimated. Young people stood together to fight for a better future. They forced America to change for the better, to change for them.
Five decades later, it's time for America's youth to lead another revolution, one that forces the nation to solve the critical civil rights challenge of this time: good jobs to enable all America to thrive into the next century. Good jobs provide health insurance. Good jobs create strong communities. Good jobs support a high quality educational system for all children.
Click here for the rest of the blog.
USW Statement on Congressman John Murtha's Passing - Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Leo W. Gerard, International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), made the following statement on the death yesterday of Congressman John P. Murtha, 77, (D-PA-12) after complications with gallbladder surgery.
“The passing of Rep. John Murtha is a great lost to the working families of Southwestern Pennsylvania and the veterans who defend the nation. He was a steadfast advocate for Steelworkers in Johnstown, Latrobe and Greensburg, giving decorated service to his country in the U.S. Marine Corps, plus stewardship as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense ... more
NEW VIDEO: 'Buy, Buy American Pie' Song Humorous, Accurate Portrayal of Trade - Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Our friends at Campaign for America's Future posted a video on their blog called "Buy, Buy American Pie" by The Capital Steps, a political satire musical group. It's a humorous - yet sadly true - portrayal of trade and the negative impact it has had on our nation. Check it our below and check out our Manufacturing a Better Future for America tool kit to find out how you can help turn our country around.
USW Comments on U.S.-Canada Bilateral Trade Deal - Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard today commented on the tentative deal between the U.S. and Canada on bilateral trade relations.
"Canada and the U.S. have a strong economic and trade relationship. The agreement that's been announced will reportedly enhance the reciprocal nature of that relationship," Gerard said. "The goal of the Steelworkers in government procurement has always been to strengthen our manufacturing base in order to generate the most jobs for our members.
Click here for the entire statement.
The Call Goes Out for All Rapid Response Activists - Tue, 02 Feb 2010 00:00:00 -0800
The National Rapid Response Conference will be held during the first week of May at the Hilton Washington in Washington, D.C. A Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference will occur simultaneously with our Conference, beginning on Tuesday, May 4 at 8:30 a.m. Rapid Response Conference attendees are encouraged to join USW International President Leo Gerard to kick off the Good Jobs, Green Jobs Conference and participate in a series of USW-specific sessions throughout the day on Tuesday. The Rapid Response Conference will then begin at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 5 and will end at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 6 ... more
Union lauds Obama's jobs plan, calls for focus on manufacturing - Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800
United Steelworkers International President Leo W. Gerard today lauded President Obama's State of the Union address for its focus on creating and protecting jobs.
“We agree that getting people back to work should be our nation’s top priority. With unemployment in double digits, there is no time to waste," Gerard said. "But not just any job will do. We need quality jobs that give our families a real shot at a better life, that support our communities and that serve as the solid foundation for a healthy economy."
Gerard called for a long-term strategy to create jobs and revitalize domestic manufacturing.
"It’s urgent that we keep Main Street in mind as we move forward. Our members are losing patience with talk; they desperately want action now," he said.
The USW president also called for green jobs that are good jobs, fair and real health care reform that does not tax benefits and caution when dealing with trade.
"We urge the president and Congress to not let bad trade deals undermine the creation of good jobs. We’ve heard the vow before that trade deals would be good for us. Unfortunately, we’ve felt the pain of those broken promises first-hand. When these agreements are not enforced, it not only costs us millions of good jobs, it’s counterproductive to our commitment to a cleaner environment and human rights worldwide. And it’s deadly for trade unionists in places like Colombia and South Korea."
Click here for the entire statement.
Global union protests invite of British National Party to white supremacist meeting - Wed, 27 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800
Leaders of the largest trade unions in the United States, United Kingdom, Ireland, Caribbean and Canada are protesting the decision of a large hotel chain to host a conference where the leader of the far right British National Party (BNP) Nick Griffin is scheduled to speak.
In a letter sent this week to the Westin Hotel, Workers Uniting expresses deep anger about the decision to allow an individual whose views are so offensive to so many to address a white supremacist conference on its premises.
The Westin Hotel chain has over 160 hotels and resorts worldwide. Workers Uniting, the world’s first global union representing more than three million working people is a partnership between Unite from the United Kingdom and the United Steelworkers (USW) from the United States, Caribbean and Canada.
Unite General Secretaries Derek Simpson and Tony Woodley and USW International President Leo Gerard say in the letter: “Workers Uniting is appalled that the Westin would allow an individual whose views are so offensive and abhorrent to many to hold a public address on its premises.
“You should be aware that (in the UK) a court order was made against the BNP on the grounds that their membership requirements discriminated on grounds of, among other things, race. In 1996, Griffin received a nine-month prison sentence (suspended for two years) after being found guilty of distributing material likely to incite racial hatred. As well as this, Griffin is reported to have referred to the Holocaust as the 'Holohoax'.”
Simpson, Woodley and Gerard are urging the hotel management to reconsider their decision in order to avoid serious reputational damage to their business. For the full text of the letter, click here.
Griffin is due to be the keynote speaker at the “American Renaissance” conference February 19 -21 at The Westin Washington Dulles Airport, 2520 Wasser Terrace, Herndon, Va. 20171.
Info for USW members, locals wishing to donate to Haiti - Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800
In the aftermath of the terrible earthquake in Haiti, we've had several USW members and locals ask how they can help. You can make a tax-deductible donation to the Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization, the same fund that has collected money for the victims of U.S. hurricanes like Katrina and Gustav.
Please send checks made out to Steelworkers Charitable and Educational Organization to:
United Steelworkers
c/o Vice President Fred Redmond
Human Affairs
Five Gateway Center
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Please designate on your check that you'd like your donation to go towards Haiti relief efforts.
The United Steelworkers Charitable and Education Organization is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization and contributions are tax deductible. Please note that contributions to the Chariitable and Education Organization for Haiti made BEFORE March 1, 2010, are eligible as tax deductable donations (for an individual who itemizes their deductions) in either 2009 or 2010 at the donors' discretion.
Steelworkers wishing to donate to the Humanity Fund in Canada can designate donations to Haitian relief efforts on checks sent to:
Steelworkers Humanity Fund
234 Eglinton Avenue East Suite 800
Toronto, Ontario
M4P 1K7
Please note that U.S. donations to the Humanity Fund are accepted but are not tax deductible.
The USW responded immediately to the tragedy by donating $20,000 from its Humanity Fund the day after the quake and pledging continued solidarity. Click here to read the statement.
Also, Union Plus announced today that it is matching donations dollar-for-dollar for Haiti earthquake relief with a $100,000 commitment. Please visit http://www.UnionPlus.org/Haiti for more information about Union Plus' automatic doubling of contributions made to the AFL-CIO's Solidarity Center’s Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers Fund. That means $10 becomes $20, $25 becomes $50, and $100 becomes $200.
Also, the TransAfrica Forum, a longtime ally of the union movement, also suggested donations to two organizations already providing aid on the ground: Partners in Health (http://www.pih.org/inforesources/news/Haiti_Earthquake.html) and Doctors Without Borders (http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/).
USW President to FOX News: Campaign Finance Ruling Very Troubling - Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800
USW International President Leo W. Gerard says the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing unlimited corporate spending in campaigns is very troubling.
In an interview with the FOX News Network last night, Gerard said the decision opens the doors for a flood of big business money in politics. Click here for more from the FOX.
"The four largest Wall Street banks, if they expended one-tenth of 1 percent of their resources in a political campaign, that would eclipse every single penny of union revenue for every union in the country," Gerard said.
Gerard said the decision has concerned a lot of people and reiterates the need for public financing of campaigns in the United States.
“We need to move to public financing of elections. Otherwise, people will get cynical about their votes and will believe participation doesn’t matter," he said. "The vote of the make-up girl in the Fox studio, the teacher, the librarian or steelworker should matter as much as the banker. If people believe the voice of money speaks louder than their vote, they won’t participate in elections. We have to fix this.”
VIDEO: USW President on FOX: 'Cadillac' tax bad for workers, bad politics - Tue, 26 Jan 2010 00:00:00 -0800
USW International President Leo W. Gerard appeared on Fox Business Network to talk about why a so-called "Cadillac" tax to pay for health insurance reform is not only bad policy, but bad politics. Check out what he had to say then pick up the phone and call 1-866-203-4960, ask to be connected to your Congress members and tell them to stand strong against the excise tax. Click here for more info on this national day of action.
AFL-CIO Now Blog
Insurance Victims Tell Congress: Pass Health Care Reform Now -
A panel of 24 victims of insurance industry abuse and their families told their heart-rending stories directly to members of Congress this morning and asked the lawmakers to listen to the American people and pass health care reform that works for us, not Big Insurance.
Marcelas Owens is spending his 11th birthday telling lawmakers it’s time to provide real health care to all Americans. Marcelas, who lives in Seattle, lost his mother, Tiffany, in 2007. She was too sick to work and lost her job as manager of a fast-food restaurant. She also lost her health insurance. She died of pulmonary hypertension at age 27.
Today’s forum on Capitol Hill, where Congress is debating how to fix the nation’s broken health care system, follows nationwide rallies yesterday, including one in Washington, D.C., where we told Big Insurance that blocking health care reform is a crime.
Members of Congress also heard from Leslie Boyd of Asheville, N.C., whose uninsured son died in 2008 at age 33 after a delayed diagnosis for colon cancer because he could not afford colonoscopies. Boyd’s husband also recently suffered a heart attack after his insurance company delayed approving his doctor’s request for a stress test.
They heard from Marcus Grimes of Woodbridge, Va., a former teacher who lost his sight because he did not have the $3,000 down payment for doctor-recommended surgeries that would have saved his sight (see video above). Speaking to the rally yesterday, Grimes said:
When you leave here to go to your congressman, go to your senator and tell them: “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore.” We ask you senators. We ask your representatives. What side of history do you want to be on? We should have no more people dying….We stand as one. We walk softly, but we carry a big stick.
The forum on Capitol Hill, and yesterday’s rally, were sponsored by Health Care for America Now (HCAN), a coalition of more than 100 organizations, including the AFL-CIO and many union affiliates. You can read the stories of all 24 victims of insurance abuse here.
Wendell Potter, a former vice president of insurance giant CIGNA and now senior fellow at the Center for Media and Democracy, moderated today’s forum. He points out the insurance industry is trying to drown out the voices of ordinary Americans in the health care debate.
The insurance industry is working hard, spending millions of our premium dollars, on a propaganda campaign designed to either kill reform or make sure reform benefits insurance companies and their shareholders far more than average working Americans.
The big for profit-companies that now comprise a cartel in the industry are accountable first and foremost to their shareholders, and they will promise to do whatever it takes to meet those shareholders’ expectations and the expectations of a handful of enormously influential and powerful financial and investment analysts.
Central Falls Superintendent Stalling on Talks With Teachers -
Less than a week after agreeing to negotiate with fired teachers at Central Falls (R.I.) High School and their union, the school superintendent is delaying the talks.
In a statement, Jane Sessums, president of the Central Falls Teachers Union, an AFT affiliate, urged Superintendent Frances Gallo to “resume negotiations with the teachers union and to accept (Rhode Island Education) Commissioner Deborah Gist’s offer to provide impartial mediation.”
We must not keep this school, its students, teachers and staff on tenterhooks any longer.
The school superintendent fired all teachers at Central Falls High on Feb. 23. She agreed March 3 to resume bargaining and include the union in all discussions on a comprehensive education plan that will help students and teachers succeed. The move followed a nationwide public outcry, with thousands signing an online petition to tell school officials the students deserve better and they should work with teachers to build on improvements at the high school. (Keep the pressure on the Central Falls school administration. Sign a petition here.)
On Tuesday evening, a group of about 40 current and former Central Falls High students held a candlelight vigil in honor of the fired teachers and staff. Priscilla Villa, 18, a freshman in college told the Providence Journal:
All the teachers here have been a big part of my life. The teachers here inspired me to go to college.
The teachers union has presented a comprehensive education plan to transform the school, Sessums said. The proposal includes serious recommendations for implementing high school reform programs that have succeeded in other low-performing districts and it needs to be an integral part of what the parties discuss when they return to the table, she added.
Sessums adds:
As we have consistently said, the Central Falls Teachers Union is ready to resume negotiations. We are committed to a reform plan that will put Central Falls High School on a pathway to excellence. Delaying negotiations is done at a cost to the students of Central Fall High. We urge Superintendent Gallo to reconsider her ill-advised resistance to beginning that process.
Sweeney: ‘Working People Want Action on Creating New Jobs’ -
The nation’s political leaders have a choice: They can strike out on a new economic course for America that will turn around the nation’s economy or they can give in to political paralysis and yield to the demands of the financial and corporate elites.
Speaking Friday before a Harvard University study group on “Working Class Revolt,” AFL-CIO President Emeritus and Harvard Fellow John Sweeney and AFL-CIO Policy Director Damon Silvers said policymakers failed to heed the union movement’s warnings against a campaign of radical federal deregulation and corporate empowerment—one that celebrated private greed over public service.
Those policies led to flawed trade deals that accelerated outsourcing, financial deregulation designed to promote speculation and the dismantling of our pension and health care systems. As a result, the enactment of these types of policies has now culminated in the worst economic decline in living memory.
Sweeney told the group that while our leaders are debating, the public is “angry and clamoring for action and results that work for them.”
The momentum is building for grassroots activism to push back against Wall Street and those who stand in the way of what needs to be done to turn our economy around.
Sweeney is a resident fellow during the spring term at Harvard’s Institute of Politics. The institute is part of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, and resident fellows participate in the intellectual life of the Harvard community and lead weekly study groups on a range of topics. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler will address the study group this week.
The key to turning around America’s economy, Sweeney said, is to create new, good jobs.
The labor movement is mobilizing and organizing union members, communities and allies all over the country in a major fight for jobs. The plan is to restore and create good jobs and we will be holding our elected leaders and accountable for what they do or don’t do to take action. We will also hold the private sector accountable—the Wall Street banks that caused the crisis and companies that destroy jobs—and we will stand with anyone in the business community that is working to create good jobs. We plan to be in the street wherever the fight for jobs is being fought.
Silvers told the assembled students and academics that the roots of our economic crisis come from trying to have a low-wage, high-consumption economy.
The only way to get out of this is to have an economy built on good jobs. We can start by creating the 11 million jobs that were lost in this economic crisis.
Although United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo Gerard was unable to attend the study group, Sweeney quoted some of what he described as Gerard’s passionate thoughts about the need for good jobs.
Our members are losing patience with talk; they desperately want action now. We need job-creating action that is bold, swift and sustained. The United Steelworkers are ready to roll up our sleeves and help President Obama get our economy back on track by getting Americans back to work.
Stimulus $$ Is Out There—300 Pennsylvania Union Leaders Find Out How to Get It -
 |
| Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President William George leads a discussion on tapping into economic recovery funds with union leaders from across the state. |
Yael Foa, AFL-CIO senior field representative for the Northeast Region, sends us this report on union efforts in Pennsylvania to tap into federal economic recovery funds to create jobs across the state.
The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO recently sponsored two first-of-their-kind forums to provide union leaders with specifics about where and how American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars are being spent in our state. We also examined how union leaders can identify opportunities to access economic recovery dollars for job creation and training programs. Nearly 300 union leaders from across the state took part.
Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President William George framed the agenda this way:
Billions of dollars of federal stimulus dollars are flowing into cities and towns across Pennsylvania. We want to be sure that our unions and their members take advantage of every opportunity to put these funds to work in creating and protecting good jobs. Some of our unions have been very successful at leveraging this money on behalf of their members. These conferences provide all of our unions the opportunity to put this information and knowledge to use for their members and their communities. Our top priority is Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Now. The road to economic recovery and prosperity is good jobs that support workers and keep local economies strong and vibrant.
George strongly encouraged union leaders to work closely with their local elected officials, members of Workforce Investment Boards, state agencies and other entities to identify opportunities to access ARRA funds in their communities.
Jim Kunz, business manager for Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 66 in Pittsburgh, described the steps Local 66 takes to track funding for upcoming projects and work with signatory contractors and contractor associations to identify stimulus-funded construction jobs. Some local leaders also make competitive adjustments to their collective bargaining agreements to help contractors win bids for these jobs—all of which helps to keep more union members working in these tough economic times. Said Kunz:
There are so many baskets of stimulus dollars going in so many directions that it takes a lot of time and effort to find and track these dollars, but we believe in the long run it will be worth it. Better we get them instead of the open shop companies who will use them to undermine our wages, benefits, and working conditions.
At the forum in Plymouth, union leaders highlighted a stellar example of how the recovery act works to save and create jobs. Gamesa, a wind turbine manufacturer with its headquarters in Spain, employs United Steelworkers (USW) members at its manufacturing plants in Ebensburg and Fairless Hills, Penn.
Last November, the company was forced to lay off 79 workers at their Ebensburg facility due to a drop in new orders. But because of the stimulus-funded Green Energy Works wind grant program, Gamesa turbines will be used by the three wind farm developers that received a total of $22.8 million in grants last month, which enabled Gamesa to bring back the laid-off workers and hire an additional 50. The grants also will create 257 more jobs at the three large-scale wind farms in Pennsylvania.
Rob Witherall, USW lead negotiator of Gamesa, made the case that “rebuilding our economy means rebuilding our manufacturing base.”
Every good-paying manufacturing position supports up to five other jobs. We believe the best use of our U.S. tax dollars is exactly what it is being used for here: creating and saving good U.S. jobs.
Lesson for Vanderbilt Students: Solidarity Scares U.S. Employers -
Warning to college students: Joining in solidarity with low-wage workers on your campus can be hazardous to your freedom of speech.
At Vanderbilt University, members of Vanderbilt Students of Nonviolence recently met with campus workers to talk about working conditions for the lowest-paid employees and hammer out concrete actions all could take to make Vanderbilt a safer and more just place to work and learn.
Instead, they found out what life can really be like outside the campus green and inside the U.S. workplace. In a letter to the editor signed by seven members of the student nonviolence group and those in the Living Income for Vanderbilt Employees organization, they described how university management attempted to intimidate them.
The meeting was intended to be a safe place for workers and students to meet—we had heard rumors that due to a dictatorial contract and management hostility, it’s challenging for employees to claim that space. Despite being warned, we were shocked when we got our own taste of the intimidation that workers apparently experience when they try to talk and organize among themselves.
Throughout the meeting, university management stationed people to watch who went in and out of the doors, taking notes; after the meeting, they searched the trash cans for anything we might have thrown away and talked about whether they had gotten any photos of the meeting (”no luck,” they sighed).
The eerie feeling of our own administration’s surveillance was matched by the surreally conspicuous way in which they conducted it. Marta Stinson (a Human Resources manager who removed her name tag and refused to tell us who she was, but put her ID back on as soon as our meeting ended) stood just outside the room in the space behind an open door and the wall, putting one eye up against the crack to peer through. She came into our meeting room and stood in the corner, watching us, eventually marching up to the table (interrupting a worker explaining the attitude of management toward workers) and demanded that we stop handing out fliers and surveys. In a bizarre twist, she denounced our meeting, and not her intrusion, as “inappropriate,” before storming back out of the room to make a phone call.
Generally, this type of management intimidation occurs when workers are seeking to form a union—64 percent of private-sector employers interrogate workers about union activity—and worse. The campus employees are looking for a voice at work—they’re already represented by the Laborers—but if this account is accurate, it points out the extent to which university management fears campus-wide solidarity. A lesson for us all.
Read the full letter here.
Thousands Tell Big Insurance: Blocking Health Care Reform Is a Crime -
 |
| AFSCME members declaring the Ritz-Carlton a crime scene. |
 |
| AFSCME President Gerald McEntee to Congress: "You better take our side before we arrest you!" |
I am unable to get my medications because I can't afford them. We need to send a message to the insurance companies that they definitely need to listen to the people. We don't want insurance abuses. We want real health care reform.
Live: March and Rally at Big Health Insurance Meeting -
Today, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is leading a large union contingent from the AFL-CIO and AFSCME buildings to participate in a mass rally at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C., during the meeting of the big insurance industry front group, the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). Big Insurance is meeting there to plot how to kill health care reform.
Join us here, where Danielle Hatchett from our online team will live tweet the march and rally, starting at 10:30 a.m. Follow #m9 for the latest updates on Twitter from some of the thousands of participants expected to attend.
Not in D.C.? Take part by tweeting the event. Here’s a sample tweet: @AHIPHIWIRE You are under citizens’ arrest for blocking health care reform. #m9.
Today: We Tell Health Insurers Stop the Hikes, Back Reform -
Today, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is leading a large union contingent in a march from the AFL-CIO and AFSCME buildings to a mass rally at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, D.C., during the meeting of the big insurance industry front group, the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).
Many unions and union-related groups are working together on the rally, but some are making a major effort, including AFSCME, AFGE, AFT, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU), Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), United Steelworkers (USW), United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), SEIU, Alliance for Retired Americans, Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), Pride At Work, Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) and Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ).
Join us here where James Parks and Danielle Hatchett from our online team will live tweet the march and rally, starting at 10 a.m. Follow #m9 for the latest updates on Twitter from some of the thousands of participants expected to attend.
Workplaces Must Adapt to Greater Role of Women In Workforce -
A new Center for American Progress (CAP) report released in time for International Women’s Day today offers practical solutions to help America’s workers and families meet the dual demands of work and family. (Read the full report here.)
The report, “Our Working Nation: How Working Women Are Reshaping America’s Families and Economy and What It Means for Policymakers,” calls for:
- Updating basic labor standards to recognize that most workers also have family responsibilities and need predictable and flexible workplace schedules,access to paid family and medical leave the right to paid sick days.* Improving basic fairness in our workplace by ending discrimination against all workers, including pregnant women and caregivers.
- Providing direct support to working families with child care and elder care needs.
- Improving knowledge about family-responsive workplace policies by collecting national data on work-life policies offered by employers and analyzing the effectiveness of existing state and local policies.
The report builds on the 2009 Shriver Report: A Woman’s Nation, which took a comprehensive look at working women and how their work has transformed today’s workplace.
In a telephone press conference this afternoon, the report’s co-author Heather Boushey, senior economist at CAP, cited a poll that shows a large majority of Americans support new, more family-friendly workplace policies. A full 85 percent of respondents say businesses that fail to adapt to the needs of modern families risk losing good workers. Boushey said:
These issues are becoming more important in the recession. Most of the jobs that have been lost have been lost by men leaving millions of women and mothers to support their families On top of this for those worker who have their jobs we need to make sure they stay employed, that…family-work conflicts don’t put them on the unemployment rolls.
In the United States and around the world, working women fall short of getting equal pay, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO).
In addition to higher poverty rates and the ongoing prevalence of sexual and domestic violence, the United Nations reports that women earn between 30 percent and 40 percent less pay than men for equivalent work. And with the nation’s financial debacle, U.S. women are shouldering the added burdens of sky-high unemployment, rampant foreclosures and inadequate access to health care.
The AFL-CIO has a “long-standing commitment to gender equality in the workplace,” AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler said.
And today we’re reaffirming that commitment, standing firm with workers around the world to call for a more equitable and inclusive future for women.
In a statement, the AFL-CIO said:
It’s clear that the jobs crisis is a crisis for working women. But like the women who marched in New York City over 100 years ago for shorter working hours, better pay, an end to child labor, and the vote, women today are fighting back. As labor readies for a massive campaign to create the jobs our country desperately needs, the AFL-CIO is proud to stand with them in that fight.
30,000 CWA Members Ratify Contract with AT&T—and More Bargaining News -
Some 30,000 Communications Workers of America members ratify a contract with AT&T, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,200 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
SETTLEMENTS
CWA, AT&T: Members of Communications Workers of America (CWA) District 3 last week ratified a three-year contract with AT&T. The contract covers 30,000 workers in the Southeast. CWA District 1 in Connecticut is now the only region still in negotiations with AT&T.
AFT, Detroit School District: The Detroit Federation of Teachers/AFT signed a letter of agreement with the school district that avoids the layoffs of 72 teachers and the transfer of another 50 teachers due to take effect March 7. The deal also preserves $46 million in federal funding of the early childhood program.
AFSCME, Columbus City Schools: 3,500 public school support staff in Columbus, Ohio, approved a new two-year contract on Tuesday. The contract provides a 3.55 percent wage increase over the term for the members of the Columbus School Employees Association (AFSCME-CSEA).
UFCW, Stop & Shop: Members of five United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) local unions in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island on Sunday ratified new three-year contracts with Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. The contracts cover nearly 40,000 workers and provide wage increases while maintaining pension and health care benefits.
NEGOTIATIONS
AFTRA and SAG, AMPTP: The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) last week announced it will join the Screen Actors (SAG) in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, after bargaining separately during the last contract talks. The current contract expires June 30, 2011, and talks are scheduled to begin Oct. 1.
Multiple, City of San Francisco: Some 15,000 San Francisco city workers received layoff notices Friday as part of Mayor Gavin Newsom’s plan to cut costs by rehiring the workers to a reduced workweek. The workers are represented by multiple unions, including the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) Local 21 and SEIU Local 1021, which have formed the Public Employees Committee to develop counterproposals. If no alternative to the layoffs can be agreed upon, the city unions plan to file a lawsuit.
NFLPA, NFL: The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on Thursday shared with members details of team owners’ latest proposal, which could reduce players’ compensation by 18 percent. The union says this reduction in pay is “not justified given the NFL’s unprecedented growth and [the owners'] failure to provide meaningful financial data relating to their expenses.”
WORK STOPPAGES
UFCW, Shaw’s Supermarkets: Workers at a Shaw’s Supermarkets distribution center in Methuen, Mass., went on strike yesterday, after voting to reject the company’s latest contract proposal. The 309 workers are members of UFCW Local 791.
Disclaimer: This information is being provided for your information only. As it is compiled from published news reports, not from individual unions, we cannot vouch for either its completeness or accuracy; readers who desire further information should directly contact the union involved.
International Women’s Day, March 8: Time to Recommit to Equal Rights -
Women make up more than half the American workforce and are approaching half of union members. On International Women’s Day, March 8, the AFL-CIO is recommitting itself to continue the struggle for equal rights, dignity and respect for all working women.
This past week, the AFL-CIO Executive Council pointed out that much needs to be done for women workers to gain equal footing. For example, the council cites a United Nations report, which shows the majority of the world’s 1.3 billion absolute poor are women. On average, women receive between 30 percent and 40 percent less pay than men earn for the same work. Women also continue to be victims of violence, with rape and domestic violence listed as significant causes of disability and death among women worldwide.
Noting that International Women’s Day began a century ago when women workers in New York City marched for better wages, the council said in a statement:
Just like women 100 years ago, women in America-and around the world-are fighting back. On this year’s anniversary of International Women’s Day, we recommit ourselves to continue to the struggle for equal rights, dignity and respect for all working women while paying close attention to women’s concerns in our fight to create jobs.
Click here to read the council statement.
Here’s some of what’s going on in conjunction with International Women’s Day:
- In a survey, women members of the American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada (AFM) pointed to times when they felt a lack of respect on the job because of their gender. You can read some of the comments here.
- Some of the nation’s entertainment unions will unite on International Women’s Day to give voice to the women of Afghanistan with a presentation of “Out of Silence: Readings from The Afghan Women’s Writing Project,” in Los Angeles. This will be an evening of dramatic readings of selected essays and poems written by emerging Afghan women writers who often face estrangement, beatings, and even death for creatively expressing themselves through the written word. Presenting the readings are members of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Screen Actors (SAG), Writers Guild of America, West with Producers Guild of America and the Women In Film International Committee.
- LabourStart, the global labor news service and PSI, the global union federation for public-sector workers, have launched a campaign to free Seher Tümer, a Turkish public-sector union leader. She has been in prison for her union activities for more than a year. You can join the effort to free this brave union leader by clicking here.
Egyptian Workers To Receive Meany-Kirkland Award -
 |
| Striking Egyptian property tax collectors demonstrate in downtown Cairo in 2007. |
Angered by severe economic pressures and frustrated by inadequate representation, Egyptian workers started to take to the streets in a wave of strikes and other public protests in the early 2000s. Despite strong government repression, more than 2 million Egyptian workers have been involved in 3,000 strikes, demonstrations and sit-ins since 2004.
The AFL-CIO Executive Council, meeting in Orlando, Fla., this week, awarded the Egyptian union movement for the 2009 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award. The award will be formally presented later this year. Click here to read the resolution.
The Egyptian government has responded to the protests with a mixture of red tape and outright violence. Yet Egyptian workers haven’t backed down: As a result, the council said:
They are leading the most significant social movement in the Arab world since World War II, and the largest labor unrest in Egypt since the late 19th century. Egyptian workers are continuing to challenge their employers, their unions and their nation’s government.
To learn more about the Egyptian workers fight for their rights, check out a new report, “Justice for All: The Struggle for Workers’ Rights in Egypt,” released recently by the AFL-CIO Solidarity Center. Download the report here.
The most successful action so far in the fight for Egyptian workers’ rights was the formation of the Independent General Union of Real Estate Tax Authority Workers (IGURETA), the first independent Egyptian trade union in more than half a century.
In December 2007, about 3,000 municipal real estate tax collectors held an 11-day sit-in strike in front of the Egyptian Ministry of Finance. The strike ended with the municipal tax collectors being granted a bonus equal to two months pay and a pay raise of approximately 325 percent.
Buoyed by their success, that strike committee and its supporters gathered 30,000 signatures endorsing a new, independent union and elected local union committees. In April 2009, the workers submitted their application for IGURETA to become an independent union. After tense negotiations, the government accepted the application.
The council also cited the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services (CTUWS), a nongovernmental labor support organization that provides important institutional support for Egyptian workers Established in March 1990, CTUWS aims, among other goals, to promote independent trade unionism, defend workers’ right to strike and develop democratic practices in Egypt.
In its statement, the council said:
The IGURETA and the CTUWS represent a growing representative labor movement for workers in Egypt. As leading examples of Egyptian workers’ dedication to fighting for freedom of association and workers’ rights, the AFL-CIO is pleased to award the IGURETA and CTUWS, on behalf of all Egyptian workers, the 2009 George Meany-Lane Kirkland Human Rights Award.
The annual Meany-Kirkland award, created in 1980 and named for the first two presidents of the AFL-CIO, recognizes outstanding examples of the international struggle for human rights through trade unions. Previous winners have included U Maung Maung of Burma, Nancy Riche of Canada, Wellington Chibebe of Zimbabwe, Ela Bhatt, the founder of India’s Self Employed Women’s Association, the Liberian rubber workers and Colombian activist Yessika Hoyos.
250-Mile ‘March For California’s Future’ Begins -
A diverse group of California public employees today began a 48-day "March for California's Future." The march, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), AFSCME and a coalition of labor, education and faith groups, began in Bakersfield.
The march will draw attention to the state's budget crisis and the devastating impact of budget cuts on Californians now and into the future. The goals of the march are to restore the promise of public education, create a government and economy that works for all and establish fair taxes to fund California's future.
Hundreds of firefighters, nurses, in-home care workers, students and police officers will join the marchers for parts of their 250-mile trek to the state capitol in Sacramento.
Report: New Communications Technology = Good, Green Jobs -
New communication technologies can be a key part of making our economy more energy-efficient and help create good jobs in the future, according to a new report.
"Networking the Green Economy: How Broadband and Related Technologies Can Build a Green Economic Future," illustrates how a highly-networked economy with smart buildings, smart grids, teleconferencing and digital education will reduce carbon dioxide emissions and retain good, green jobs. The report was released yesterday at a Capitol Hill press conference by the Progressive States Network, Communications Workers of America (CWA), Sierra Club and the Blue Green Alliance. You can read the report here.
Speaking at the press conference, Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming said the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) much anticipated National Broadband Plan could be a key part of an economic recovery.
Comcast Repair Techs Choose IBEW -
Installation repair technicians at Comcast in Fairfield, N.J., withstood a strong anti-union campaign by the employer and voted last week to join Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 827.
The vote, which was administered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), signals a change in the way the company’s installation repair technicians are standing up for their rights on the job, said Local 827 Organizing Chair Jason D’Errico:
The win is groundbreaking for these workers. This is their first step toward gaining a collective bargaining agreement. The Comcast workers have stood strong against this multibillion-dollar giant.
Comcast, the nation’s largest cable company, aggressively fights to deny its workers the freedom to join a union.
Union leaders say this latest win will likely have a ripple effect, setting a precedent for future efforts. IBEW Telecommunications Director Martha Pultar said this victory is a good sign for more than a dozen other ongoing Comcast campaigns from New England to Washington and Oregon.
Solidarity among the workers was the key to the win. As IBEW President Edwin Hill put it:
This victory is another example of how the union movement ensures that more and more hard-working Americans maintain footing in this slippery economic climate. The stronger our numbers, the better we can advocate for working men and women in this ever-changing industry.
For more information on the ongoing Comcast campaign, click here.
Printer friendly version