May
2013 17
2013 17
Building Trades Join Union Protest Over Sale of Tribune Co. Newspapers to the Koch Brothers
The potential sale of the Los Angeles Times (LAT) to the Koch Brothers’ empire has sparked outrage from a wide array of onlookers with the newspaper’s employees apparently leading the charge. Both right-leaning Hot Air and the Washington Post write that at a recent in-house awards ceremony, LAT columnist Steve Lopez asked his fellow...
May
2013 17
2013 17
VIDEO: Union Electricians are Responsible for Maintaining Los Angeles’ 911 Emergency System
When something goes terribly wrong in Los Angeles, citizens call 911. But who does 911 call when they have an emergency of their own? Union workers, that’s who. A new video highlights this fact with International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 45 members describing their work to keep 911 running at maximum efficiency...
May
2013 2
2013 2
San Diego Contractors, Undeterred by PLA Ban, Enter into Similar Agreements to Bolster the Community
Despite a ballot measure passed last year to ban the requirement of Project Labor Agreements (PLAs) in San Diego, similar pacts are now being negotiated by contractors looking to ensure efficiency on public works projects. Two current projects are using labor agreements with PLA-like stipulations in order to maximize the positive effect that new...
Apr
2013 30
2013 30
Sacramento Bee Refuses to Apologize for Cartoon That Takes Gov. Rick Perry to Task for Safety Deregulation
A political cartoon from the Sacramento Bee that suggests Texas Governor Rick Perry’s agenda of deregulation is partially to blame for the explosion at a fertilizer plant in West, TX is drawing reaction from the Governor himself. In a letter to the Bee, Perry writes: “It was with extreme disgust and disappointment I viewed your ...
Apr
2013 30
2013 30
California ABC Contractor Rung Up for $225,000 in Wage-Dodging Backpay, Penalties
The Associated Builders & Contractors (ABC) spends large sums of time and money defaming unions and pursuing a pro-business agenda. Their propaganda attempts to persuade the public that union work results in higher costs to taxpayers and excludes qualified contractors and workers from public works projects. Frequently, however, when a...
Apr
2013 26
2013 26
Pair of Assembly Bills to Protect the Prevailing Wage Move Through California Committee
In California, two bills that would protect and expand the state’s prevailing wage law have been approved by their House committees. Both bills were sponsored by the State Building and Construction Trades Council and moved through along party lines with all Democrats in favor and all Republicans opposed. The two bills are: Assembly Bill 302,...
Apr
2013 25
2013 25
Apprenticeship Requirements Protected in California Case Carrying $200,000 in Back Wages and Fines
Fontana, California-based Icon Metal Works, Inc. has been ordered to pay over $200,000 by California Labor Commissioner Julie Su for prevailing wage and apprenticeship violations that occurred on a public works project at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA). The total includes $129,562 in back wages, $47,575 in prevailing wage fines...
Apr
2013 16
2013 16
CEO Supplies Resounding Endorsement of California’s SB7, the Pro-Prevailing Wage Bill
In California, Senate Bill 7 looks to end the practice of charter cities skirting prevailing wage requirements by making funds for public works projects available only if a city has a policy of requiring contractors to comply with the state’s prevailing wage law. The common wisdom might indicate that labor would support the measure and ...
Apr
2013 1
2013 1
Seven Contractors Smacked with $300,000 in Fines Stemming from Prevailing Wage Violations
In California, seven contractors have been fined a total of $313,705 for failing to pay the prevailing wage on work done to expand a highway near the new Wal-Mart in Kerman. Valley Vanguard Properties Inc. is the general contractor on the project where subcontractors include Barracuda Construction Inc., Fresno Prestige Electric Corp. and Safety...
Mar
2013 20
2013 20
America’s Cup Contractors Owe $460,000 in Prevailing Wage Back Pay
Poor planning of this year’s America’s Cup has left more than a dozen workers shy $460,000 in back wages. Contractors working for the race’s organizers have failed to comply with prevailing wage mandates put in place at the last minute by the city. Prevailing wage are commonplace in public construction projects but not mandatory...
Mar
2013 19
2013 19
SF Symphony Strike Results in Cancelled Performances Up the Eastern Seaboard
With no new contract in sight, the San Francisco Symphony has upped the ante in their strike efforts and cancelled a highly publicized East Coast tour. The week-long strike has undone a string of performances at New York’s Carnegie Hall, Newark’s New Jersey Performing Arts Center and the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. Representatives...
Mar
2013 8
2013 8
Millions from Corporate Interests, Including $1M from NYC Mayor Bloomberg, Were Not Enough to Buy the L.A. School Board Superintendent Chair
School board elections in Los Angeles brought some big money from corporate donors looking to unseat Steve Zimmer, an Independent and former teacher/community leader with a reputation for working with others. In the end, though, Zimmer and organized labor’s on-the-ground efforts won the day. Unlike other major cities such as New York and...
