Apr
2013 2
2013 2
Cincinnati City Council Votes 8-0 to Bolster Prevailing Wage Standards
In Cincinnati, the City Council has passed new legislation that would mandate across the board prevailing wages on any project that receives more than 30 percent of its investment from the city. The new standard goes beyond the state’s requirement that prevailing wages be paid on any portion of a project that is publicly funded. ...
Apr
2013 2
2013 2
PA County Hires World Class Union-Buster (and Recluse Loser) Ahead of Human Services Department Unionization Vote
In affluent Chester County, PA, attempts by the Human Services Department to unionize are being met by hired gun Peter List, a union busting wingnut who was formerly a CWA steward. The employees attempting to unionize have scheduled an authorization vote but county commissioners are bringing in the heavy anti-union artillery in order to ensure ...
Apr
2013 1
2013 1
Launch of LaborMail Enables Crowd-Sourced, Union-Funded Labor Journalism
Prometheus Labor Communications has introduced LaborMail, a union-owned and operated email hosting service which dedicates 25 percent of its revenues (not it profits) to underwrite the work of labor journalists. Prometheus Labor Communications workers are members of UE Local 274 and its owner, Steve Dondley, is a member of OPEIU Local 6. The...
Apr
2013 1
2013 1
Michigan Building Trades, Nurses Protest Out-of-Town Hiring by Borgess Health
When Borgess Health announced that they would be building a new $26 million Ambulatory Care Facility last fall, local workers expected to fill a majority of the 500 construction jobs the project would create. But when construction began this year, tradesmen and women from the area found themselves on the outside of the job site ...
Mar
2013 29
2013 29
Constant Surveillance, Health Care Costs at Issue in Coming UPS-Teamsters Negotiations
Bargaining between UPS and the Teamsters who represent 250,000 UPS workers is currently underway with both sides looking to complete the settlement before a July 31 contract expiration date. Since a 1997 strike by Teamsters against UPS, each new contract has been signed early in order to ensure no disruptions in service. In 2007, Teamsters ...
Mar
2013 29
2013 29
Two Philly Veterans Turned Sheet Metal Workers Exemplify the Power of Helmets to Hardhats
A Philly.com article is making the online organized labor rounds that highlights two Philadelphia veterans whom the Helmets to Hardhats (H2H) program has provided a solid transition from military to civilian life. Former marines Drew McIlhenny and Bryan Hummel used the program to begin careers in the sheet metal industry after their service ended:...
Mar
2013 27
2013 27
Old Colony PLA Praised for Timeliness, Diversity, Training of New Tradeswomen
The Project Labor Agreement (PLA) that governs the construction taking place at the Old Colony Housing Project in South Boston has allowed many of its residents to begin a career in the construction trades. Negotiated by local Building and Construction Trades unions, the agreement helps build more than just physical structures — it allows...
Mar
2013 27
2013 27
The Race for Detroit Mayor Features One Union-Friendly Candidate: Benny Napoleon
Wayne County Sheriff Benny Napoleon has officially entered the Detroit Mayoral race promising “no more business as usual.” Napoleon is the Democratic front runner in the race opposite former Detroit Medical Center CEO Mike Duggan. Nearly 1,000 people attended his campaign announcement on Monday at the Crystal Ballroom of the Masonic...
Mar
2013 26
2013 26
AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust Scores Another Community Victory in Boston
When local projects are done with union work the surrounding community often gains strength. Such is the case with Boston’s Dudley Square construction where the New England Regional Council of Carpenters (NERCC) and the City of Boston are transforming a historic but vacant building into the new Boston Public Schools Department headquarters....
Mar
2013 26
2013 26
PA Nears Privatization of Liquor Stores as State Workers Fight Final Push Against the Measure
In Pennsylvania, a Republican-led push to privatize the Commonwealth’s state owned system of liquor stores is closer to becoming a reality after being approved by the House. A handful of Republicans unsuccessfully joined every House Democrat in voting against the bill for a final tally of 105-90. The bill now awaits Senate confirmation where...
Mar
2013 22
2013 22
NOT SO FREE ENTERPRISE: Michigan GOP Tries to Slash Funding at Universities that Sign Labor Contracts Before “Right-to-Work” Takes Effect
Republicans in the Michigan statehouse have rushed a (de)funding bill through the higher education appropriations subcommittee? that would strip a total of $74.8 million from four state colleges that the party says authored union contracts to circumvent the state’s newly passed “Right-to-Work” law. Wait. They rushed something...
Mar
2013 22
2013 22
Chamber of Commerce, AFL-CIO Not Even in the Same Stratosphere on Number of Temp Visas to Include in Immigration Package
Immigration reform talks between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (CoC) and the AFL-CIO are stalling because the two sides can’t agree on the number of temporary worker visas the government should issue. According to sources, CoC is pushing for the cap to be 400,000 visas while the AFL-CIO is seeking a figure far below that ...
