The American Attacks the American Musical Guild

July 22, 2014
By Marc Bussanich

New York, NY—The American, the journal for the American Enterprise Institute, the premier think tank of all think tanks promoting free markets with little to no regulations, came out swinging on Monday morning by saying that the unions representing workers at the Metropolitan Opera are making too much money.

School-Repair Workers Win $400G Back Pay

July 22, 2014
By Steven Wishnia

New York—In what the city comptroller’s office says is the largest individual settlement it has ever awarded, a Long Island-based contractor has agreed to pay almost $400,000 to two school-repair workers it paid less than half of the prevailing wage.

Citigroup Fined for Misrepresenting Public

July 22, 2014
By Stephanie West

Washington DC - Citigroup, has acknowledged it made serious misrepresentations to the public. This included the manner in which Citigroup marketed and sold residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). The settlement requires Citi to pay $4.5 billion in hard dollars and provide $2.5 billion in consumer relief. New York State will receive $182 million: $92 million in cash and a minimum of $90 million in consumer relief for struggling New Yorkers.

AFL-CIO BIT Provides Funding for Chicago Development

July 22, 2014
By Stephanie West

Chicago, Ill. -  The AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust (BIT) provided leadership and funding for the Wolf Point West Tower construction project in Chicago. The project required $34 million equity investment for the first part of the development. To ensure adequate financing,  BIT also  partnered with  third-party lenders. Wolf Point West is the first of three new buildings to be built creating 2,000 construction jobs.

Meet The 21st Century Plumbers!

July 21, 2014
By Joe Maniscalco

Queens, NY - Entering the ranks of Plumbers Local 1 is no easy task, but for those who have accepted the rigors that come with striving to be the best at their trade, it’s a decision they have never regretted. 

DC 1707’s Lorraine Guest: Caring for Care Workers

July 21, 2014
By Steven Wishnia

New York—“I’m the one that gets out there,” says Lorraine Guest, president of District Council 1707 of AFSCME. “If I see something that’s not right, I’m going to get involved. I’m not a sit-back person.” Elected in May in the vote that also brought Victoria Mitchell in as executive director, Guest divides her time between union business and working as a staff nurse at a Federation Employment & Guidance Service facility for the developmentally disabled in the Bronx.

Can Unions Overcome the Supreme Court’s Latest?

July 21, 2014
By Steven Wishnia

The Supreme Court’s June 30 decision in Harris v. Quinn—which held that home health-care aides hired by individuals do not have to pay “fair-share fees” to the unions that represent them—attacks labor in two ways. First, it undermines recent efforts to organize home health-care aides, who work in one of the nation’s fastest-growing and lowest-paying occupations. Second, it opens the door to reversing the 1977 decision that protects the union shop for public employees.

Reject Proposed Merger of Comcast with Time Warner

July 21, 2014
By NYC Public Advocate Letitia James

New York, NY - I'd like to bring your attention to a giant merger that will have a significant impact on consumers. As you might already be aware, the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) is currently taking public comment and reviewing the proposed merger of Comcast Corporation with Time Warner Cable, Inc. to determine if the merger is in the public interest of New Yorkers.

Rodneyse Bichotte Picks Up Labor Endorsements

July 21, 2014
By Stephanie West

Brooklyn, NY - Citing her commitment to working people, the Building and Construction Trade Council of Greater New York, Teamsters Joint Council 16, Tenants Political Action Committee, Local 1181 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, and the Mason Tenders District Council of Greater New York & Long Island have endosed Rodneyse Bichotte in her bid to represent the 42nd Assembly District in the New York State Assembly. 

LIRR Commuters Rejoice!

July 19, 2014
By Marc Bussanich

New York, NY—Working folk at Penn Station told LaborPress on Wednesday that they would have had very few options to travel if there was no railroad service over the weekend. On Friday they rejoiced that the MTA and the Long Island Railroad unions reached a tentative agreement with Governor Andrew Cuomo’s help.

Cahill Calls Out Scaffold Law Bashers!

July 18, 2104
By Joe Maniscalco

Editor’s Note: The following is part of an ongoing LaborPress series examining the ways in which efforts to weaken New York’s Scaffold Law jeopardize workers. 

New York, NY - For some, New York’s Scaffold Law is a blessing, and the best chance they have to try and rebuild their shattered lives following a catastrophic fall on the job. For others, Labor Law 240 is a burdensome financial impediment responsible for thwarting everything from new schools construction, to minority-owned businesses. But the idea that Labor Law 240 is the plague opponents in the insurance industry make it out to be, seems absolutely “ridiculous” to the man whose job is all about building. 

No Strike Saturday on the LIRR

July 18, 2014
By Marc Bussanich

New York, NY—Penn Station commuters told LaborPress on Tuesday that Governor Andrew Cuomo should intervene in the negotiations between the MTA and the Long Island Railroad unions to prevent a strike from starting on Saturday. The governor announced a tentative deal at his Manhattan offices on Thursday afternoon.

Frontier and CWA Ratify Contract

July 18, 2014
By Stephanie West

Columbus, Nebraska - Employees of Frontier Communications (FTR) in Kearney and Columbus, Nebraska represented by the Communications Workers of America Local 7471 have ratified a contract .

St. Paul Union Head Voted AFT VP

July 18, 2014
By Neal Tepel

Washington, DC - Mary Cathryn Ricker, president of the St. Paul teachers union representing 3,300 educators, was voted executive vice president of the American Federation of Teachers. The election took place at the AFT national convention in Los Angeles on Monday July 14, 2014. Ricker will serve with AFT President Randi Weingarten, and Secretary-Treasurer Lorretta Johnson in the top ranks of the national organization in Washington D.C.

Fix the Highway Trust Fund

July 18, 2014
By LIUNA President Terry O'Sullivan

While America should be relieved that Congress appears to be moving to prevent a complete collapse of the Highway Trust Fund next month, law-makers have no excuses for abdicating their responsibility to pass a long-term, full-investment bill.

LIRR Commuters Want Gov. Cuomo to Step In

July 17, 2014
By Marc Bussanich

New York, NY—With less than four days to go before 5,000 Long Island Railroad workers go on strike, LIRR commuters said they hope that Governor Andrew Cuomo steps in to help resolve the impasse between the MTA and the unions.

Staples Discontinues Postal Services Pilot

July 17, 2014
By Neal Tepel

Staples has agreed to discontinue its trial program of offering postal services in its stores. The pilot had  been tried at some locations in California, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Atlantic Offshore Wind Power

July 17, 2014
By Neal Tepel

New York, NY  – Over 1.5 million acres off the Atlantic coast can now be utilized for offshore wind development according to a new report from the National Wildlife Federation. Catching the Wind: State Actions Needed to Seize the Golden Opportunity of Atlantic Offshore Wind Power contains a new analysis showing how strong, consistent winds offshore can provide power to New York. This is enough to power over five million homes.

N.J. Building Council Supports Sweeney for Governor in 2017

July 17, 2014
By Stephanie West

New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council  President Bill Mullen urged Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) to run for governor in 2017. President Mullen made the announcement of support at the trades council  convention in Atlantic City July 15th. The Council represents about 100 union locals with over 150,000 members.

AFSCME Organizes Central Michigan University Workers

July 17, 2014
By Stephanie West

AFSCME Local 1568 has unionized maintenance employees at Central Michigan University. Local 1568 now represents the university’s 188 service maintenance employees. On-campus custodial staff, groundskeepers, skilled trades and warehouse workers are now members of this AFSCME local.