May
2013 8
2013 8
Mountains of College Debt, Expansion of Natural Gas Industry are Reasons to Ramp Up Apprenticeship
A recent Washington Post op-ed from two top economists highlights the need for apprenticeship to help U.S. workers gain a competitive edge. Stuart E. Eizenstat, a former adviser to Presidents Carter and Clinton, and American University economics professor Robert I. Lerman argue that a growing natural gas industry means manufacturing jobs could be...
May
2013 6
2013 6
Constitutionality of Wisconsin’s Anti-Worker Act 10 Still Uncertain as Law Heads Back to Court
The fate of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s now infamous Act 10, which stripped collective bargaining rights from public employees, is still up in the legal air as the State Supreme Court decides if it should decide the constitutionality of the law. Two years after its passage and a year after the failed recall of Gov. ...
Apr
2013 3
2013 3
New Ground is Broken as NLRB Will Oversee Charter School Union Election in Philadelphia
In a good news item for organized labor, a union organizing election later this month at the New Media Technology Charter School in northwest Philadelphia will be overseen by the National Labor Relations Board instead of the Pennsylvania state board. The vote will be the first of its kind in Pennsylvania and has been two ...
Mar
2013 12
2013 12
Philadelphia Public School Closures Result in Arrest of AFT President, Touching Video
In Philadelphia, mass rallies couldn’t stop the inevitable closure of 23 schools by the city’s School Reform Commission (SRC). While four of the targeted schools were saved, public education took a major hit in the city of alleged brotherly love leaving many residents uncertain about the future of their children’s education....
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...
Feb
2013 7
2013 7
Pennsylvania University Faculty, State System of Higher Ed Reach Deal to Avert Strike
The threat of a strike disrupting classes at Pennsylvania state colleges is no longer imminent as faculty and the state have reached a preliminary handshake agreement with the finer details to be hammered out soon. On Monday, the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) announced on its website that its members...
Nov
2012 27
2012 27
For the 3rd Time in History, PA State University Faculty Members Have Authorized a Strike
After working 16 months without a contract, faculty members at the 14 state-owned Pennsylvania universities have voted to authorize a strike if necessary. 86 percent of members, represented by the Association of Pennsylvania State College and Education and University Faculties or (APSCUF), completed ballots and an overwhelming 95 percent voted to...
Sep
2012 28
2012 28
Lunch Pail Republicans Resurface in PA, Throw Weight Behind Moderate Members of the State House
Last time we heard from the Lunch Pail Republicans, they were taking on “Right-to-Work” and its Indianan proponents. Now, the SuperPAC that aims to boost pro-union Republicans has provided support for two members of the Pennsylvania House GOP hoping to keep their moderate voices in the state house. Pat Meehan (R-Delaware) and Tim...
Sep
2012 19
2012 19
Health Contributions, Contract Length, Rehiring of Displaced Workers Among the Many CTU Victories in Chicago School Standoff
The seven-and-change days long strike by the Chicago Teachers Union has ended with the CTU deciding to return to work after a majority of their 26,000 members supported a contract offer last night. The compromise agreement will be finalized in the upcoming weeks and will include a 7% increase in base salary over the next ...
Sep
2012 12
2012 12
CHART: High School Graduation Rates in “Right-to-Work” States Clearly Lower than States Where Unionism is Welcome
An interesting, though dated map is making its way around the web that shows graduation rates across the country versus state “Right-to-Work” status. The graphic likely resurfaced, despite showing information from 2002-2003, because of the Chicago Teachers Union strike and the ongoing assault on public education. Even though the...
Sep
2012 12
2012 12
Chicago Teachers Union Begins Day 3 of Strike to Save the City’s Schools
For a third straight day, Chicago’s public school teachers (members of the Chicago Teachers Union) will be on strike to protest the direction that Chicago’s school system is headed. The CTU and Mayor Rahm Emanuel are at odds on a handful of issues, leaving 350,000 students unable to attend school. The catch is, however, that ...
Aug
2012 7
2012 7
Emails Reveal Wisconsin GOP’s Gerrymandering Intended to “Waste” Opposition’s Votes
Merriam-Webster defines gerrymandering as the following: “to divide (a territorial unit) into election districts to give one political party an electoral majority in a large number of districts while concentrating the voting strength of the opposition in as few districts as possible.” With the dawn of each decade, the new census allows...
