Don't Drink the Tea. Think With the WE.
May
2013
14
Last week, the California State Senate approved Senate Bill 776 which will prevent non-union contractors from taking money out of workers’ paychecks to fund sham labor compliance committees. The bill was sponsored by the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California (SBCTC) and was approved by a 24-10 margin. All 23 Democratic...
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May
2013
14
A new campaign looks to plan, provide, and train workers on how to avoid the dangers of construction falls. The difference between this safety campaign and others? It needs your help. The issue of falls is among the most serious facing workers today. Each year, over 200 American workers are killed in construction falls and ...
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May
2013
13
This is a cross-post via the Sheet Metal workers website… On February 3rd, hundreds of Local 104 members from across Northern California were joined by leaders and staff from across the United States and Canada for the local union’s Second Annual Campaign for Jobs Leadership Conference. The several hundred members who attended came...
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May
2013
13
As unions pursue an updated strategy to brighten their 21st century hopes, some speculate that the South is showing signs of revival. The South has traditionally been anti-union and, effectively, all Southern states have had “Right-to-Work” legislation in tact for decades. The fight to reorganize the South is and will be costly, but...
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May
2013
13
The American skills shortage is a meme. It is a tired argument used to lobby for increased temporary guest workers who bring low wages and it is a red herring used to explain away unemployment while bolstering austerity’s selfish bottom line. Writer Robert J. Samuelson recently took to the pages of the Washington Post with ...
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May
2013
10
Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper has built his political career on being a universally likable character. In a complicated political state, “Hick” went from brewpub owner to Denver mayoral candidate and from popular Denver Mayor to Governor of Colorado. In the eyes of Republicans, however, his reputational ubiquity has wilted...
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May
2013
10
Under the Obama Administration, the United States has entered into free trade agreements (FTAs) with Korea, Colombia, and Panama. As to why these agreements were necessary, President Obama promised “greater U.S. access to the Korean auto market, significantly increased labor rights and worker protections in Colombia, and enhanced tax...
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May
2013
10
The AFL-CIO has released its annual “Death on the Job” report which indicates that while the workplace is getting safer overall much progress must be made to prevent deaths and occupational illnesses in the future. It is the 22nd year that the report has been released. At the heart of the issue is the Occupational ...
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May
2013
8
Records obtained by the Dayton Daily News reveal that Ohio is home to 2,230 bridges that have been deemed structurally deficient. According to the Ohio Department of Transportation, government agencies are not properly funded to keep up with the repairs. Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner says continued repair and restoration delays only raise...
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May
2013
8
Last week, the Missouri Senate passed a House bill that aims to make changes to the way prevailing wages are calculated in the Show-Me State. The bill, HB34, passed along party lines in a 23-10 vote and now heads to the desk of Gov. Jay Nixon. The changes “would eliminate the prevailing wage in third ...
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May
2013
8
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...
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May
2013
8
The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) recently met in Oklahoma City to talk about things progressives hate. But when attendees arrived they were greeted by something progressives love: hundreds of protesters. The “ALEC is not OK” campaign managed to roundup over 600 anti-ALEC participants for a successful action. The real...
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