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Williams Remembers Basil Paterson
April 18, 2014
Brooklyn, NY - Council Member Jumaane D. Williams (D-Brooklyn), Deputy Leader, released the following statement upon the transition of Basil Paterson, former New York State Secretary of State, New York City Deputy Mayor, and father of former Governor David A. Paterson.
NYS Smart Schools Commission Appointed
April 18, 2014
By Stephanie West
Albany, NY - Governor Cuomo has appointed the members of the Smart Schools Commission, who will be charged with advising the State on how to invest the Governor’s proposed $2 billion Smart Schools Bond Act in order to enhance teaching and learning through technology.
Future of Union Health Care: Summit April 23
April 17, 2014
By Steve Wishnia
LaborPress will hold its second union health-care summit April 23 from 8am – 11am, discussing “The Future of Union Health Care: Taft-Hartley, the ACA, and New York Health.” Now that the Affordable Care Act has gone into effect, what does that mean for union health care? Provisions in the law threaten Taft-Hartley plans. The “Cadillac tax” on high-quality plans and the “belly button tax” charged for every plan member disproportionately affect union health plans, which are ineligible for the $965 billion in subsidies that commercial insurance plans will be getting.
L.I. Building Trades In Search of State Legislators With Some Backbone
April 17, 2014
By Joe Maniscalco
Hauppauge, NY - Despite significant public investment made possible through the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency [IDA], the hardest things to find at area construction sites on Long Island these days, may just be automobiles bearing local tags. But the group representing more than 59,000 highly-trained tradesmen and tradeswomen on Long Island says that two short paragraphs in IDA language could make sure that more jobs go to hard-pressed area residents - if only some state legislator with enough guts would take up the cause.
High Paid CEOs in the Low Wage Economy
April 17, 2014
by Stephanie West
Albany, NY - According to the National AFL-CIO’s 2014 Executive PayWatch website, the average CEO of a company based in New York State made $6,734,750 or 138 times more than the $48,897 earned by the average worker in the state. When compared to the earnings of minimum wage workers who make $8.00 per hour in New York State, the gap between CEO and worker pay jumps up to a 405:1 ratio.
UFCW Gains Rite Aid Contract in Michigan
April 17, 2014
By Neal Tepel
Madison Heights, Michigan - On Wednesday April 15th, Rite Aid Pharmacy workers across Michigan, UFCW Local 876 members, voted to ratify a three-year agreement that guarantees 7% wage increases for all 792 union members that work in Rite Aid stores in Michigan. The agreement includes a comprehensive pension and health care benefits package. The contract also preserves all current holidays, vacation and personal days previously negotiated.
Close Gender Pay Gap by Insourcing More Jobs
April 16, 2014
By Neal Tepel
Washington, DC -- American Federation of Government Employees National President J. David Cox Sr. has called on President Obama to close the gender pay gap by hiring more federal employees to take on work now performed by contractors. Women in the federal government on average make 11 cents less on the dollar than their male counterparts, compared to nearly 20 cents less in the private sector.
Retail and the Battlefront for Fair Wages
April 16, 2014
By Neal Tepel
New York, NY - Since retail is one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States it has become the battlefront for worker rights and decent wages. Presently many workers, particularly in the expanding fast-food restaurant industry, are struggling to survive in low-wage, part-time jobs with little or no benefits. Our economy’s increasing reliance on low-wage, part-time work has widened the gap between the rich and poor.
Legislation Bans Solitary Confinement for Adolescents
April 16, 2014
By Stephanie. West
Albany, NY - Assembly Member Daniel O’Donnell has introduced A9268, which would ban solitary confinement for New York State inmates under the age of 21. "A9268 would provide long-overdue protection to one of our state’s most vulnerable populations—adolescents under 21 who have been tried and sentenced as adults.
Tampa Teamsters Win Contract
April 16, 2014
By Neal Tepel
Tampa, Fla. -- Pasco County employees have ratified their first Teamster contract. They. Now have strong IBT representation for more than 1,100 public sector workers across the county. "We fought to win a strong first contract for these hardworking public employees, and we won," said Ken Wood, President of Teamsters Local 79 in Tampa and Teamsters International Vice President.
Boston Fire Leaves 2 UNITEHERE Members Without a Home
April 16, 2014
By Brian Lang, UNITEHERE Local 26 President
Boston, Mass. - Dear Union Brothers and Sisters we need you help.
On April 9th, 2014 East Boston residents and UNITE HERE Local 26 members Candida (Candy) Gomes and Osmin Hernandez lost their homes in a tragic eight-alarm fire. In the aftermath of this unimaginable loss, donations from our union family are appreciated. A fund has been set up to help deliver relief to these two families during this difficult time.
OCB Creates One Traffic Enforcement Bargaining Unit
April 15, 2014
By Marc Bussanich
The Teamster Who Would Be Governor of NY State
April 15, 2014
By Joe Maniscalco
Brooklyn, NY - Howie Hawkins is a Teamster with Local 317, and for about the past 15 years he’s loaded packages for UPS on the night shift in Syracuse. He’s also the Green Party candidate for governor who believes that big money has captured both major political parties, and that working men and women need to start “running their own people” in elections.
Boston Firefighters Settle Contract
April 15, 2014
By Stephanie West
Boston, Mass - A labor contract between the city of Boston and its firefighters union, Local 718, has been concluded. This negotiated settlement is the first time since 2001 that the two sides have struck a deal without arbitration. The union is expected to present the details to its members this week. Passage of the contract by members of Local 718 is expected shortly.
SAG-AFTRA Contract Talks Begin May 5th
April 15, 2014
By Neal Tepel
Los Angeles, California - SAG-AFTRA leadership is planning to meet with representatives of the Alliance of Motion Picture and TV Producers May 5th. This session will be the start of comprehensive negotiations with the union and the studios. SAG-AFTRA National Board approved proposals for the upcoming talks and they are usually kept secret.
32BJ Doormen and Building Owners Reach Accord
April 14, 2014
By Marc Bussanich
New York, NY—One week after nearly 7,000 doormen, porters and handymen marched up 5th Avenue to 79th Street, 32BJ SEIU and the Realty Advisory Board announced a tentative labor agreement on Friday afternoon at the New York Hilton.
Tomorrow's Architects Build The Future On Brick Foundations
April 14, 2014
By Joe Maniscalco
New York, NY - In a rapidly changing world increasingly obsessed with glass and steel, there’s at least one developing crop of brilliant young architects who have become hooked on brick - and the industry that helped lay the foundations for the greatest city in the world couldn’t be happier.
Local 371 Prez Seeks Second Term
April 14, 2014
By Marc Bussanich
New York, NY—Anthony Wells, president of Social Service Employees Union Local 371, is facing off against two challengers in the local’s presidential election. At stake in this election, Wells said, is continuing to strengthen the union so that it can a win a long overdue collective bargaining agreement with the city. Video
Governor Cuomo Has Decapitated Mayor de Blasio, Critics Say
April 14, 2014
By Joe Maniscalco
New York, NY - Whether cutting him off at the knees or downright beheading him - opponents of charter school expansion say that Governor Andrew Cuomo has effectively boxed out progressive Mayor Bill de Blasio and set the stage for “academic apartheid in New York City.”
UAW Strikes University of California
April 14, 2014
By Neal Tepel
UAW 2865 representing student workers across the University of California system struck statewide for two days, April 2nd and 3rd. The union's complaints include: the UC administration regularly threatening and intimidating UAW workers, the college refusing to negotiate with union representatives, UC’s lack of respect for the union, unlawfully videotaping union members participating in demonstrations and civil disobedience, and the university threatening to invalidate international students’ visa status for participating in union activity.
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