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There will be NO Labor Day parade in NYC or on Long Island in 2007. There will be plenty of events, sponsored by towns and villages, with a labor day in their title. There will be small business men promoting carnivals, fairs, feasts & anything else on which a buck can be made, in the name of labor.There will be labor day sales at stores and shopping malls, all over. And there will be lots and lots of BBQ’s, at the vast majority of which, Labor will never be mentioned. Organized Labor is taking the day OFF. Is this OK with you. Don’t be surprised, if in the near future, the name “Labor Day” is changed to “End of the Summer Holiday”. What else will change with the name? |
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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On Saturday October 21, 900 union members attended Labor Night with the New York Islanders at the Nassau Coliseum. We were able to capture a victory in over time against Stanley Cup Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes. It was an exciting game with a final score of 4-3.
Our question is, what did you think of this event? Should we do it again next year? |
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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<>The National Labor Relations Board appointed by (P)Resident Bush has refused to
hear oral arguments as it considers three cases that could reshape basic
workplace rights and further erode our freedom to form unions. This is an
outrage that must be reversed. The cases focus on the definition of “supervisor.” If that definition is
broadened to include skilled, experienced workers who sometimes instruct
co-workers, hundreds of thousands of workers could lose their contract
protections and union rights.
<>As vital as these cases are, and despite pressure from Congress
and the public, Bush’s labor board has refused to hear oral arguments.
In fact, the Bush board hasn’t heard ANY oral arguments since
2001. Please urge your members of Congress to tell NLRB Chairman
Robert J. Battista to reverse the decision not to hear oral arguments
in these critical cases at the following link...
http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/Kentucky_River
Very soon, the NLRB will decide on the three cases, together known as the
“Kentucky River” cases, that will determine the definition of supervisor.
Because workers classified as supervisors do not have federal labor law
protections, the basic union rights of hundreds of thousands of workers are at
risk—from charge nurses to workers in the building trades, broadcast, energy,
shipping and many other industries.
The NLRB’s arrogant refusal to hear workers’ voices through oral arguments is
just another example of the Bush-appointed, corporate-loving board working to
throttle the power of working people. Bush’s labor board has a history of
conducting its business without the thorough public debate that oral arguments
provide.
Tell us how you, your co-workers and your union would be
affected if this decision goes through. On Long Island, hundreds,
possibly thousands of union members could lose thier membership rights.
Tell us who you are, what you do, and why you do your job best when you
say UNION YES!
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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(originally submitted by Bill Pickering of UAW Local 259)
"On Friday, June 2, 2006, the ILRF and USW filed a new Alien Tort Claims Act case against the Coca-Cola Company and its Latin American Bottler, Coca-Cola FEMSA. This new Complaint charges that managers at the Coke bottling plant in Barranquilla, Colombia conspired with both the Colombian Administrative Department of Security ("DAS") and the AUC paramilitaries to intimidate, threaten and ultimately kill SINALTRAINAL trade union leader Adolfo de Jesus Munera on August 31, 2002. The Complaint further allege that, despite a number of warnings to Coca-Cola management in Atlanta that the management at the Barranquilla bottler has continued to meet with and provide plant access to paramilitaries, the paramilitary infiltration of this bottling plant continues unabated to this day. Meanwhile, these same paramilitaries have continued to threaten SINALTRAINAL members and leaders with death and even kidnapped the child of one SINALTRAINAL leader to pressure him into refraining from his union activities." |
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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(Originally submitted by Jobs With Justice)
A quarantine action team boldly entered the Wal-Mart store in Uniondale, Long Island at 11:00 hours today in full gear -- hazmat suits, surgical gloves, face shields -- and proceeded to quarantine the cavernous interior. A decoy deployed at one door, permitted the rest of the team to inject themselves without a hitch. The store was meticulously inoculated. "Notices of Quarantine" were served to managers, "Rx Prescriptions for How to Cure Wal-Martitis" were helpfully offered to workers and customers. The quarantine of the store interior lasted 20 minutes(!), culminating in some, ahem, misunderstanding with the management. Somehow, in spite of the fact that they pay their average employee $1,000 below the poverty line, and 46% of employee children are without healthcare or on Medicaid, the managers were unaware that Wal-Mart was a massive threat to the health and safety of their community and needed to be quarantined. Instead of agreeing to pay a living wage and provide affordable health care and be more environmentally conscious, management slapped a 68 year-old church lady and member of the quarantine squad. Corporate America works in mysterious ways. Newsday was on hand to capture it all. We hope vaccination in the form of the Fair Share for Health Care act is passed in NY State this month. From Uniondale, Surgeon General signing out. |
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) had a press conference
outside of Huntington Town Hall to protest apprenticeship programs and
unions. Some of you may have seen the photo of a blow
up orange cat in Newsday or the L.I. Business News. ABC hates unions,
they are made up of small corner cutting contractors who are frustrated
that they cant make millions on big jobs because they are neither
equipped, educated or licensed to do so. Most legit contractors are
approved by the NYS DOL, certified by OSHA. They pay their sales tax,
they tax their labor, license themselves and their workers, they
protect their workers safety on job sites and usually they know their
employees by name. Legit good contractors close shop on the weekends,
they work hard during the week, they keep their job sites clean and in
order and they build Long Island safe. Basically, they build better,
they build safer, and they build union. Good employers who play by the
rules and do the right things should get public contracts. No matter
what the size. And why not? I wouldn't want my child stepping foot in a
school or my grandmother receiving care in a Nursing Home whose
electrical wiring was constricted by an unlicensed handy man. Its not
safe, and its not right.
ABC (the unlicensed handy man) is
frustrated that they can't compete with legit contractors. But I know a
way they can compete! Instead of spending thousands on hiring a
worker-hating failed political figure to do their public moaning and
press releases, maybe the handy men should spend a couple of bucks on
getting a NYS Approved Apprenticeship Program. Maybe pay their workers
a living wage....and here's a stretch; Give your workers a weekend off
and some safety training. ABC values its workers no greater than their
shovels, their roofing nails or their paint thinners. Workers to ABC
contractors are tools. No better, no less.
ABC is a stain on our
Society. They are an enemy to all that working people have worked and sometimes
died for. We should all be grateful that the bulk of their political
and social support only stems from a lousy press hit on Newsday's page A45.
If they want a Newsday photo, fine! But stay the hell out of my kids
school and my grandmothers nursing home!
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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(Originally submitted by Dan Rottenstreich UNITE HERE)
On Tuesday, April 25th cafeteria workers at Molloy College caused a stir in Rockville Centre's usually quiet streets. Over fifty workers came together to demand dignity and respect from their employer, Lackmann Culinary Services. The workers sent a message to Molloy and Lackmann to 'HONOR HARD WORK'.
More than two months ago the workers asked for the right to join UNITEHERE Local 100. BUT LACKMANN SAID NO! And Molloy College, which uses Lackmann to run its cafeterias, has refused to support the workers! Why should these workers be forced to struggle to make ends meet? Lackmann is a multi-million dollar corporation with operations all over the east coast. And Molloy College is planning a $20 million expansion! The cafeteria workers at Molloy take home less than $400 a week, cannot afford medical care, and have no voice at work. And Lackmann forces hundreds more workers from all over Long Island to struggle in similar conditions.
But it doesnt have to be that way. Union cafeteria workers in UNITE HERE Local 100 earn decent wages, enjoy fully paid family health insurance, and have a pension plan. And unwavering workers at Molloy show us that we can transform low-wage cafeteria jobs all over Long Island into decent middle-class jobs.
On Tuesday the workers were joined by brothers and sisters from SEIU 32BJ, LI Jobs with Justice, and Father Henry Benack. Neighborhood residents expressed their support by wearing 'HONOR HARD WORK' stickers, offering the workers gathering space on their lawns, and spreading the word in their community.
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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On Monday, April 24th at 4 pm, TWU Local 100 President Roger Toussaint will be jailed for his unions decision to strike to keep their health care and pension plan. Unions are planning on demonstrating outside the Brooklyn Supreme Court while this is happening. So let's think about this entire situation for a second. The multi billion dollar MTA wanted its employees to start paying for its health care, and management wanted to create a class system within the MTA workforce where older workers get a better pension than younger workers. The NYS Taylor Law bars public employees from Striking. According to the Taylor Law, regardless of how bad the working conditions are, regardless of workplace deaths, unsafe and unhealthy working conditions, sexual harassment or racial bigotry on the job, workers have little to no effective recourse for management abuse. Take it our leave it...that the NYS Taylor Law.
TWU Local 100 violated the Taylor Law by going on Strike. They are considered criminals in the minds of the rich, the slect few who own our nations wealth. But most notably, they are hero's to people who work for a living who want a better life for themselves, their family and their community. God Bless You Roger Toussaint. We'll see you at the Brooklyn Supreme Court on Monday, April 24th at 4 pm. |
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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Monday, April 17th 2006 6 pm
IBEW Local 25, 370 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge
Congressional Night is a night were union members from all of Long Island's unions are invited to hear and speak to the U.S. Senate and Congressional Delegation on issues that matter most to working people. This year union leaders will ask Senators Schumer and Clinton, and Congressional members Bishop, Israel, King and McCarthy about Social Security, Pension Reform, Education, Immigration Reform and more. This event is open to all Union members and it is FREE. If you plan on coming, be sure to get there early. 1,000 people are expected to attend. See you then! |
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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(Orginally submitted by RWDSU Local 338 & UNITE HERE)
After a long and protracted struggle,
a contract agreement has been reached for the 2,600 Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW
employees working at 141 Duane Reade stores in New York City and Long Island, as
well the more than 1,000 employees at 110 stores represented by Local 340A New
York Joint Board UNITE HERE!. Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW and
UNITE HERE! reached a contract with the city’s largest drug store chain,
recognizing the new management team led by Chief Executive Officer Richard
Dreiling for its willingness to reach a settlement with the union and deal with
issues of importance to the members.
<> “We are very pleased to
finally have an agreement for these workers that have been without a contract
for almost five years,” Local 338 RWDSU/UFCW President John R. Durso said. “It’s been an extremely difficult process,
and it’s gratifying that Mr. Dreiling, Duane Reade’s new CEO has demonstrated
the importance of settling this contract.
The unions came together this year to work for a contract, keeping our
members’ interests and needs as our top priority, and now we have an agreement
that protects those interests. We look
forward to continuing to best represent our members at Duane Reade, and to
working to ensure that all retail employees in New York are afforded the same protections and
benefits provided by a union contract that Duane Reade workers now
have.”
<>“This is a good example of
Change to Win unions, Local 338 and Local 340A, working together,” said John
Gillis, international vice president/general manager of Local 340A New York
Joint Board UNITE HERE!. “The commitment
of the Company’s new management and the cooperation of the unions were able to
secure a fair contract for the members of the two respective
unions.”
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| Posted by LABORBEAT at | | | |
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