Local #174 Teamster News Archives
October 2011

Stories on this page:

• Union leader wants to refocus public perception
• Teamsters Protest Madison Dearborn's War on Workers
• Opportunities for YOU to voice your opinion about public safety issues
• Whatever Happened In Oakland, Orders Had To Have Come From The Top
• Wives of Locked-Out Teamsters Address New York Women's Foundation Dinner
• Teamsters Local 2727 Reaches Agreement To Return UPS Employees To Work
• Hoffa: Don't Let Big Box Stores Buy Washington State's Vote
• Republic Waste Workers Protest Harsh Treatment, Labor Law Violations
• Comcast Rejects Controversial Port Pay Raise Ad
• US Businesses Not Being Strangled By Regulation And Taxation, World Bank Says
• High income workers' share of total wages grows
• Sotheby's discovers the costs of being anti-union
• Hoffa: Mexican Truck Pilot Program Will Be A Repeat Fiasco
• 2011 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Winners
• Susan Sarandon, Teamsters, OWS OccupySotheby's
• British Parliament Censures Sotheby's Auction House
• Teamsters And UK Unions Protest Sotheby's In London
• Sotheby's Art Handlers Take Their Protest to London, Threatening to Disrupt Contemporary Art Sale
• Hoffa: 'A Shameful Day for Congress’
• Teamsters Urge Review of Florida Prison System
• CBO: Dems’ numbers add up on jobs bill
• Hoffa: Teamsters Stand In Solidarity With Occupy Wall Street Movement
• Hawks Family Update
• Teamsters Stand With ILWU
• Hoffa: Teamsters Strongly Oppose Job-Killing Trade Deals
• Teamsters Leader Calls on Gov. Scott to Respect Court Ruling on Privatization
• Breaking Their Promise To Focus On Job Creation, House GOP Proposes Slashing Job Training Programs

 

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Union leader wants to refocus public perception
Source: Delaware Online
Posted: October 31, 2011
Labor unions are well known for strikes, picketing perceived unfair business practices and political activism. But the general public doesn't know what they do or who their members are, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler said Saturday.

Speaking at a Delaware State AFL-CIO convention, Shuler said labor unions need to do a better job telling their story to a skeptical public who blames unions for some of the nation's economic ills. This new effort comes as union membership is declining nationwide and in Delaware.

"With our shrinking density and many people not having first-hand experience with unions, they have no clue what we do,"said Shuler, the No. 2 officer at the national AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the nation with 11.6 million dues-paying members.

Unions need to better emphasize their contributions to charitable work and job-training programs that provide apprentices with a pathway to job security in the middle class, Shuler said.

"When we raise our voices for jobs, we're speaking for union and non-union families alike," Shuler said. "That's the labor movement the public needs to know about."
Read the complete source story here

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Teamsters Protest Madison Dearborn's War on Workers
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 30, 2011
(CHICAGO) – More than 100 members of the Teamsters Union, UNITE HERE, Occupy Chicago and religious and community supporters rallied in downtown Chicago today to protest private equity firm Madison Dearborn Partners' bad values and its disregard for American workers.

Madison Dearborn, based in Chicago, owns the medical and scientific product company VWR International, which has denied decent working conditions to Chicago-area workers represented by Teamsters Local 673. VWR has refused to reach an agreement with the workers at VWR's Batavia warehouse after more than five years of negotiations. In California, VWR is planning to throw nearly 200 longtime, loyal workers onto the streets by closing a warehouse in Brisbane, devastating the local economy, the community and the longtime workers and their families who have supported the company for more than 50 years.

"VWR has axed profit sharing, frozen pensions and increased health care costs," said a VWR employee at the rally, who asked not to be identified for fear of retaliation. "Most employees have had no pay increases for six years, yet the company has continued to make profits year after year."

John Thomas, a 15-year employee at VWR in Brisbane, Calif., said, "The Madison Dearborn economic model is destroying the lives of too many Americans. My job is going to become a low-wage job somewhere else in California, at taxpayer expense. Madison Dearborn and the rest of the top 1 percent are destroying families just to siphon a few more dollars their way."

"VWR International has many longtime employees but has little respect for them," said Roger Kohler, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 673 in Chicago. "Their Batavia facility is one of the most efficient and profitable locations, but basic job security remains an issue for these senior employees. Madison Dearborn needs to tell VWR to step up and provide good working conditions and job security to workers who have been good, loyal and longtime employees."

Madison Dearborn also owns TransUnion, a company that sells credit reports to employers, allowing them to discriminate in their hiring practices.

"I have bad credit because someone stole my identity. But that doesn't make me a bad employee," said Jackie Amoah, a UNITE HERE member. "I have been on my job for 10 years and I haven't had a single complaint. That is why I'm standing with my brothers and sisters, demanding that TransUnion and Madison Dearborn stop selling people's credit reports to employers."

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Opportunities for YOU to voice your opinion about public safety issues
Source: MLKCLC.org and Keystone.org
Posted: October 29, 2011
We have been asked to share information about two opportunities to voice your opinion about important public safety issues.

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Whatever Happened In Oakland, Orders Had To Have Come From The Top
Source: Business Insider
Posted October 29, 2011
Tuesday's police crackdown in Oakland may well have violated the Oakland Police Department’s Crowd Control & Crowd Management Policy.

There is no doubt the Oakland Police Department used Specialty Impact Less-Lethal Munitions (SIM) on the Occupy Oakland Protesters Tuesday night.

This video clearly shows several stun grenades being thrown into crowds.

Video here shows Marine Veteran Scott Olsen being struck by either a stun grenade or a tear gas canister and another stun grenade being thrown at protesters looking to help him. There is also evidence of rubber bullets being fired at the crowd, and injuries having been sustained from those, as well.

Disturbing enough on its own, the Oakland PD then denied using SIM force on protesters at all and claimed that in fact, no one had been injured. 

Worse yet, after protesters were hit with an exploding device while attempting to come to the aid of Olsen, they had to carry him through the crowd, begging for medical aid even though dozens of Oakland Police looked on from the other side of their barrier.
Read the source story here.

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Wives of Locked-Out Teamsters Address New York Women's Foundation Dinner
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 27, 2011
The wives of five Teamster art handlers called on Sotheby’s board member Diana Taylor to end a lockout at Sotheby’s Auction House [NYSE:BID] Tuesday night. The women attended the annual neighborhood dinner of the New York Women’s Foundation, where Taylor is Chair of the Board of Directors. 

Sotheby’s locked out its staff of 43 art handlers without paychecks three months ago. The company has hired union-hostile law firm Jackson Lewis in an attempt to starve its workers into giving up their job security and accepting wage cuts. 

The art handlers are represented by Teamsters Local 814 in Long Island City, NY. 

The wives of the locked-out art handlers distributed handbills inside the dinner that read, “Diana ‘Wall Street’ Taylor: Killing Jobs, Hurting New York Families.” 

“Sotheby’s and Diana Taylor are part of the top 1 percent in this country. As chair of the Women’s Foundation, Diana Taylor should support theirmission of working for economic security and justice for women,” said Pat Walsh, wife of locked-out art handler John Walsh. “So why, as a board member of Sotheby's Auction House, does she condone Sotheby’s throwing hardworking New Yorkers out on the street without paychecks? Our families rely on these good jobs and benefits.” 

Despite more than $774 million in revenue last year, Sotheby’s continues to insist on wage cuts, the right to eliminate the workers’ retirement plan and to permanently replace skilled art handlers with inexperienced, outsourced workers. 

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Hoffa: Don't Let Big Box Stores Buy Washington State's Vote
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 26, 2011

The following is an official statement today from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on the union’s opposition to Initiative 1183, a liquor privatization measure in Washington State bankrolled by big box stores.

“History was made in Washington State. In an effort to convince voters to dismantle the state’s regulatory authority over alcohol, corporate America has poured in $23 million to pass Initiative 1183.

“Big box stores are known for lots of things, but coming up with good public policy isn’t one of them. This measure would eliminate nearly one thousand middle class jobs, and lead to a rapid expansion in liquor sales with no money for expanded alcohol enforcement.

“As you might expect from an initiative written by corporate lawyers, it contains tax and distribution advantages that aren’t available to smaller retailers. Pure and simple, this is an effort to tilt the playing field in favor of huge corporations at the expense of communities.

“In a deeply cynical political move, the initiative campaign’s political consultants are spending their $23 million war-chest to create the lie that public safety officials actually want unregulated liquor sales. But across the state, the Washington State Council of Fire Fighters and sheriffs, police chiefs and prosecutors have lined up strongly against I-1183. Small business is opposed to I-1183, and working families are urging their friends and neighbors to reject I-1183. Their voices are more powerful than any campaign that money can buy.”

Background on Initiative 1183 and Washington State’s alcohol control system:

• Corporations have tried for years to change Washington’s alcohol control system. They failed in the courts and the legislature and now they’ve turned their attention to corrupting the state’s citizens’ initiative process.

• The big commercial retailers tried, and dismally failed, to buy the system last year through I-1100, which was soundly rejected by the voters. This year they seem to think throwing more money, more ads, more polling, and more mail at the voters will convince them. Voters are too smart for that.

• Washington currently has the lowest rate of sales to minors in the country thanks to state runs stores.

• Washington’s beer, wine and liquor system currently supports thousands of family wage jobs held by members of UFCW, WA Public Employees Association, and Teamsters at Local 313, Local 174, and Local 117.

• Washington’s Legislature just passed a bill (SB5942), with Teamster support, to outsource the wholesale distribution services. Teamsters supported this idea to bring speedier delivery to wholesale customers and to generate more revenue for the state’s dwindling school and health programs. That is now out for bid and the state is expected to make a decision on the final bid in the next 2 weeks.

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Republic Waste Workers Protest Harsh Treatment, Labor Law Violations

Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 24, 2011
Teamsters who work for Republic/Allied Waste are picketing today in Buffalo N.Y, Mobile, Ala., Atlanta, San Jose, Calif. and Canton, Ohio to demand the company stop trashing workers.

"Sanitation workers put their bodies on the line every day to protect the public health," said Bob Morales, Director of the Teamsters Waste Division "It's a travesty that Republic is trying to deny their workers the necessary protections for their employees."

A recent national survey of sanitation workers revealed that these men and women who protect our public health are frequently exposed to feces, rotting meat, maggots, used syringes, medical waste, asbestos and blood products, In fact, according to federal statistics sanitation workers are more likely to die on the job than a firefighter or police officer.

Today's pickets are the latest effort by Republic employees to send the company a strong message that the company's current approach to labor relations is unacceptable. Over the past two months, employees have worn stickers in solidarity, visited Republic union members in different cities and communicated their message to some of Republic's biggest customers including Home Depot.

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Comcast Rejects Controversial Port Pay Raise Ad
Source: JC 28
Posted: October 24, 2011
Comcast rejected airing an ad this week showing the reaction of citizens to the 9% pay raise for Port CEO Tay Yoshitani by Port Commission President Bill Bryant.

"We wanted to show the outrage of the public to give a pay raise of almost $400,000 in the middle of a recession. We believe Bill Bryant should be held accountable for that. We believe Comcast should air the ad," said John Wyble, spokesperson for the campaign.

The "person on the street" ad show reactions to the question, "What do you think of Port President Bill Bryant giving Port CEO Tay Yoshitani a pay raise of almost $400,000?"

Watch the rejected ad below:

The ad is part of the "Say No To Bill Bryant" campaign urging voters to defeat Port Commissioner Bill Bryant this year in his re-election campaign for Port of Seattle.

The campaign is run by Working Washington PAC, a political committee supporting progressive candidates standing up for good jobs for working families.

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US Businesses Not Being Strangled By Regulation And Taxation, World Bank Says
Source: Forbes
Posted: October 23, 2011
With the economies of the U.S. and Europe sputtering along on fumes, politicians are quick to blame regulation and taxation as the main cause of a lackluster business environment. Yet, according to the World Bank’s 212 page “Doing Business 2012″ report, released on Wednesday, there is less red tape for setting up shop in the U.S. than there is in all of Europe, Latin America, Africa and most of Asia.

[...] Where does the supposed regulation and taxation crippled U.S. stand in the rankings? It is number four, trailing behind New Zealand (3), Hong Kong (2) and Singapore (1).What it looks like from the research desks at one of the most powerful and elite multilateral institutions on the planet is a U.S. that does not have the government in its way, but a U.S. whose government is more out of the way than it is in every other major economy on earth, including mainland China.
Read the complete source story here.

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High income workers' share of total wages grows
Source: CBS News
Posted October 22, 2011
Fifty percent of U.S. workers earned less than $26,364 last year, reflecting a growing income gap between the nation's rich and poor, the government reported Thursday.

There were fewer jobs, and overall pay was trending down — except for the nation's wealthiest. The number of people making $1 million or more soared by over 18 percent from 2009, the Social Security Administration said, citing payroll data based on W-2 forms submitted by employers to the Internal Revenue Service.

Despite population growth, the number of Americans with jobs fell again last year, with total employment of just under 150.4 million — down from 150.9 million in 2009 and 155.4 million in 2008. In all, there were 5.2 million fewer jobs than in 2007, when the deep recession began, according to the IRS data.

The figures are just one more indication of the toll that the worst downturn since the Great Depression has taken on the U.S. economy. They were published as demonstrations rage on Wall Street and in cities across the nation protesting a widening income gulf between average wage earners and the nation's wealthiest.

The unemployment rate remains stuck at 9.1 percent, with more than 14 million out of work and 11 million other discouraged people who have stopped looking for work or are stuck in part-time jobs. Since 1980, roughly 5 percent of annual national income has shifted from the middle class to the nation's richest households, according to the Census Bureau.

While the average U.S income last year was $39,959, the mean income — the figure where half earn more and half earn less — was much lower, $26,364. This disparity reflects the fact that "the distribution of workers by wage level is highly skewed," according to Social Security.
Read the source story here.

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Sotheby's discovers the costs of being anti-union
Source: StrongerUnions.org
Posted October 20, 2011
You may recall my earlier post about the protest we mounted recently in solidarity with Teamsters Local 814 in New York, over the locking out of 42 art handlers by Sotheby’s NY. At that stage, there seemed to be some suggestion that the protest had affected sales at the evening auction, which were at the lower end of Sotheby’s expectations. However, regular readers may know there’s something of an economic crisis going on, and that might have explained the relatively low sales. But now our suspicions have been confirmed – our protest does indeed seem to have hit Sotheby’s at the cash tills, demonstrating that the savings Sotheby’s are trying to make by slashing workers’ terms and conditions are a false economy and could end up costing the company not only its good name, but hard cash.

The evidence comes in the relative success of two other auctions at about the same time. In the afternoon, before our protesters arrived, Sotheby’s made more than expected from a sale of 20th century Italian art. But their prestigious modern art sale that evening, when we were chanting and blowing whistles outside, almost a dozen lots failed to sell at all, and those that did sold for much less than Sotheby’s hoped. Then, the next evening at the more union-friendly Christie’s, a similar sale again performed better than expected. The only difference we can see is that the afternoon sale at Sotheby’s and the evening sale at Christie’s were protest free. So, let the seller beware! Putting your family heirloom in the hands of an anti-union auctioneer could see you seriously out of pocket.

Read the complete source story here.

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Hoffa: Mexican Truck Pilot Program Will Be A Repeat Fiasco
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 19, 2011
Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa said today that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) cross-border truck pilot program will fail. His remarks came at a news conference at California’s busiest border crossing. with U.S. Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA), U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and Todd Spencer, executive vice president of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). View photos from the event.

The pilot program got off to a rocky start when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration approved trucking operator Grupo Behr from Tijuana, Mexico. The carrier owned one 20-year-old semi-tractor trailer with numerous safety issues. FMCSA had to disqualify it from the program after the Teamsters Union and others brought Grupo Behr’s safety record to light. A second carrier, Transportes Olympic, of Monterrey, Mexico, has been approved to start operating in the U.S. as early as this Friday. Safety concerns have also been raised about Transportes Olympic.

“This pilot program will be a fiasco, just like the last one was,” Hoffa said. “You know it’s in trouble when the very first carrier that DOT approves is axed because of safety concerns. DOT has never been able to verify the safety of Mexican trucks. That’s why the Teamsters for 17 years kept the border closed to a permanent program that would let any Mexican truck travel anywhere in the United States.

“Opening the border to unsafe Mexican trucks isn’t in America’s interest. Multinational corporations are the only ones that will benefit from this program.

“Not only are Mexican trucks unable to meet U.S. safety standards, but there’s a drug war going on in Mexico that DOT seems to be ignoring. The U.S. State Department has issued travel advisories for Mexico. This is not a reciprocal agreement – no U.S. drivers would dare venture into Mexico.

“The chaos in Mexico and the lack of safety standards will force the DOT to shut down this ill-advised program as it has in the past.”

Congress has repeatedly ordered similar programs shut down, voting 411-3 in the U.S. House of Representatives and 75-23 in the U.S. Senate to scuttle a Bush-era pilot program. Further, the Teamsters have filed a lawsuit in the 9th Circuit Court challenging the legality of the current program.

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2011 James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Winners
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 18, 2011
The memory of former Teamsters General President James R. Hoffa is honored each year when deserving students across the country apply for and are awarded scholarships through a fund bearing his name.

Established in 1999, the James R. Hoffa Memorial Scholarship Fund ensures that the best and brightest students who are the children or grandchildren of Teamsters can attend college.

This year, the Teamsters Union is happy to announce 100 students have been awarded scholarships totaling more than $379,000.

"My father believed in the importance of education. This scholarship fund honors the man he was and the values he stood for while ensuring his legacy is passed on to future generations," said Jim Hoffa, Teamsters General President. "As Teamsters, we want to make sure that when opportunity knocks, these students are able to answer the door."

$10,000 Scholarship Winners, Western Region:

• Noel Gutierrez-Morfin, Local 839, Pasco, Wash.
• Kristin Lacey, Local 386, Merced, Calif.
• Daniel Lundi, Local 166, Corona, Calif.
• Kaysha Lybecker, Local 117, Spokane, Wash.
• John Schenderlein, Local 267, Fort Collins, Colo.
• Lana Stump, Local 760, Yakima, Wash.

See the rest of the winners here.

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Susan Sarandon, Teamsters, OWS Occupy Sotheby's
Source: Teamster Nation
Posted: October 18, 2011
A long day on the picket line in front of Sotheby's reaped massive media attention for the plight of the locked-out Teamsters art handlers.

They got some help from actress Susan Sarandon. (We have an awesome photo but can only promise it later at this point.)

Reporters from international media to nationally syndicated radio programs to local newspapers such as the Daily News and the New York Post all came to OccupySothebys at 72nd and York. The burgeoning movement was to join forces with the Teamsters to protest what the 1 percent are doing to the 99 percent.

The message was clear: As art handler Julian Tysh said to radio host Thom Hartmann, "They're trying to turn good union jobs into crap Walmart jobs."

OWSers -- Wall Street Occupiers -- planned to join the Teamsters picket line at 1:30 p.m. New York City police arrived and put up more barricades. But logistical problems caused the OWsers to arrive two hours late. Spirits started to flag on the picket line with no word of their whereabouts.

Around 3:30 a dozen photographers appeared -- as did Susan Sarandon. Then the school bus finally arrived and the OWSers poured out of it. They picked up signs that said "Sotheby's is Bad for Art," and "Stop the War on Workers." Soon the sounds of "All Day, All Week, Occupy Wall Street," could be heard on Manhattan's Upper East Side.

Here's what Sarandon said:

I am a union member and I'm here to support other unions.

She donned a Teamster jacket and chatted graciously with art handlers as photographers snapped away.

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British Parliament Censures Sotheby's Auction House
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 16, 2011
(LONDON) – Jason Ide, President of Teamsters Local 814, and Dorian Malloy Jr., a Local 814 member and locked-out Sotheby’s art handler, addressed a British Parliamentary hearing on Wednesday. The two discussed their concerns with Sotheby’s Auction House, which has locked out 43 of its professional art handlers for nearly three months.

“Everybody’s concerned about the same things: they’re concerned about jobs, they’re concerned about growth, and they’re concerned about unemployment,” Ide said. “We have our own issues as well—we have 43 workers who’ve been locked out at Sotheby’s for two and a half months. The boss is trying to starve us out.”

Ide’s words came on the heels of an Early Day Motion (EDM) censuring Sotheby’s Auction House that was signed by 23 members of Parliament. The EDM is expected to reach 40 sponsors by next week.

Sotheby’s locked out its unionized art handlers in New York City in the midst of contract negotiations, despite earning a record $744 million in 2010 and recently increasing the salary of its CEO to $6 million. The company is demanding pay cuts, the right to terminate the employees’ pension fund, and the ability to replace experienced, unionized handlers with temporary, unskilled workers. These demands have come after NewsCorp’s James Murdoch joined the Sotheby’s Board of Directors last year.

The EDM reads, in part, “That this House notes that 43 workers at Sotheby’s Auction House in New York were locked out of their place of work by their employer in July this year for refusing a new contract that would cut their hours, pay and pensions as well as replace several experienced unionised handlers with temporary unskilled employees. [This House] condemns the contrast between the elite culture of Sotheby’s and the poverty imposed on hard-working employees in order to boost Sotheby’s profits.”

The full censuring motion is on the UK Parliament website.

Ide and Malloy also joined members of several unions at a protest outside Sotheby’s London auction house last night. Members representing transport workers, including Unite the Union, the Trades Union Congress, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, the Public and Commercial Services Union, the International Transport Workers’ Federation and others protested in a show of solidarity with the New York Teamster members.

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Teamsters And UK Unions Protest Sotheby's In London
Source: Teamster.org
Posted October 14, 2011
More than 100 Teamster members and representatives from several global labor unions, including  Unite the Union, the Trades Union Congress, the National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers, the Public and Commercial Services Union and the International Transport Workers’ Federation, protested outside Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Day Auction this evening.

The protestors stood in solidarity with 43 art handlers in New York City who were locked out of their jobs without paychecks three months ago. The art handlers are represented by Teamsters Local Union 814.

Sotheby’s has demanded pay cuts and the right to terminate the employees’ pension fund. The company also wants to replace experienced unionized handlers with temporary, unskilled employees. These demands come on the heels of record profits and changes to Sotheby’s board of directors, which NewsCorp’s James Murdoch joined last year. In 2010, the company earned $774 million and it recently nearly doubled the salary of its CEO.
Read the source story here.

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Sotheby's Art Handlers Take Their Protest to London, Threatening to Disrupt Contemporary Art Sale
Source: ArtInfo.com
Posted: October 13, 2011
The locked-out art handlers at Sotheby's have taken their protests beyond U.S. borders this week, with Teamsters flying to London to stage protests and meet with unions and Parliamentarians — just in time for tomorrow's contemporary art evening sale at Sotheby's. This morning, a member of Britain's Labour Party put forward a motion condemning the auction house for the lockout, and "lots of MPs are signing it," Teamsters Local 814 president Jason Ide, a former Sotheby's art handler himself, told ARTINFO.

Tomorrow, several New York Teamsters and their British supporters also plan to protest outside the auctioneer's Bond Street location. A number of London unions, including the International Transport Workers' Federation, Unite, and maritime union RMT, will participate. Ide is joined in London by Dorian Malloy, a locked-out art handler who has worked for Sotheby's for seven years. The union paid to send them both to England to raise awareness for the art handlers' cause, Ide said. Their timing is canny: it is a busy week for London's art world, with Frieze Art Fair bringing swarms of collectors, gallerists, and artists to the city.

"There are a lot of high-end pieces for auction, like a Lucian Freud, so we're going to be there," Ide said. "We're going to be hand-billing, and we're going to have banners and signs and make sure everyone who goes into this thing is 100 percent clear on Sotheby's labor practices."
Read the complete source story here.

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Hoffa: 'A Shameful Day for Congress’
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 12, 2011
The following is an official statement today from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on the House and Senate votes to approve trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia:

“It is a shameful day when the U.S. Congress votes against its own people. Our representatives just voted to damage our economy, raise unemployment and lower workers’ wages. These trade deals protect the profit of multinationals at the expense of American working families.

“It is especially disgraceful that Congress voted against creating jobs and in favor of destroying them. And it is outrageous that Congress approved a trade deal with Colombia, whose government won’t prosecute the killers of union members.

“This is one of the reasons people are marching in the streets of dozens of American cities. Their government is betraying them, and they’re furious.

“The Teamsters will hold members of Congress accountable at the ballot box for their votes on these damaging trade deals.”

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Teamsters Urge Review of Florida Prison System
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 10, 2011
The ongoing review of the ethics complaint against Gov. Rick Scott filed by the Teamsters Union got a boost when it was revealed by the Times-Herald that a federal inquiry has been under way since March involving the Black Water River Correctional Facility in northwest Florida.

According to the newspaper, in 2010 despite the state prisons being under capacity, meaning that no new prison beds were needed, the Black Water facility was built. No stand-alone vote by the Legislature was taken about its construction, nor was a cost-benefit analysis implemented.

Similar to the Legislature’s railroading of the Black Water River facility, prisons in 18 South Florida counties were on a fast-track for privatization through various legislative procedures and a tainted bidding process for the work. Now, after finding merit with the Teamster’s ethics complaint against the Governor’s handling of the bidding process, an investigation by the state’s Ethics Commission is underway.

Additionally, on September 30, a Circuit Court judge found the process by which officials were attempting to privatize the prison system was unconstitutional, on a technicality. This resulted in a temporary stay of the process until the state’s Legislature reconvenes in January, 2012.  At that time, many believe the Governor and legislators will try to ram through their prison privatization scheme.

“We look forward to the result of the Florida Ethics Commission’s investigation and we welcome a closer review of the state’s prison privatization efforts,” said Ken Wood, Teamsters International Vice President and Acting President of Teamsters Local Union 2011 for Florida Department of Corrections officers. “Privatization is wrong and we intend to continue the fight to stop it!”

The Teamsters are assisting 20,000 FDOC officers seeking aggressive representation on the job. For more information, visit http://fdocteamsters.org .

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CBO: Dems’ numbers add up on jobs bill
Source: Washington Monthly
Posted October 10, 2011
President Obama has made a variety of claims about the American Jobs Act, most notably the fact that the bill would boost the economy — and be fully paid for. How do those claims stand up to scrutiny? According to the non-partisan CBO, pretty well.

The Congressional Budget Office on Friday confirmed that President Obama’s jobs bill would be fully paid for over ten years and also gave its seal of approval to a Senate Democrat version that includes a surtax on millionaires. […]

CBO also said that the bill “could have a noticeable impact on economic growth and employment in the next few years.”

All told, the American Jobs Bill, the CBO concluded, would reduce the deficit by $3 billion over the next 10 years, and that doesn’t factor in potential savings associated with increased revenue from a healthier economy.
Read the source story here.

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Hoffa: Teamsters Stand In Solidarity With Occupy Wall Street Movement
Source: Teamster.org
Posted: October 6, 2011
The following is the official statement from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa issued today about the Occupy Wall Street protest:

“No one should be surprised that Occupy Wall Street is gaining support and spreading quickly around the country. The American Dream has disappeared for students, whose reality is debt and unemployment. The dream disappeared for workers forced to take wage cuts by employers sitting on billions of dollars in profits. The dream disappeared for working families who paid too steep a price for Wall Street’s greed, stupidity and fraud.

“It’s clear what this movement is all about. It’s about taking America back from the CEOs and billionaires on Wall Street who have destroyed our nation’s economy. It’s about creating good jobs. It’s about corporate America treating its workers and customers with honesty and fairness and paying its fair share to stimulate the economy.

“Teamsters all over the country are participating in Occupy Wall Street events, and I support and encourage them. We stand in solidarity with Americans who want better lives for themselves and for future generations.”

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Hawks Family Update
Posted: October 4, 2011
Source: JC28
Local 839 Secretary-Treasurer Bob Hawks, his wife Shelly and daughter Stephanie were involved in a propane explosion at their Cabin near Clarkston/Lewiston last week.  Bob suffered burns to his hands and arms.  Shelly suffered burns to her legs and feet.  Their daughter Stephanie suffered from burns all over her body. Here is the latest update from Bob: 

Sorry it's taken so long for the update. First I want to thank everyone for all the support. The flowers, phone calls and e-mail meant so much. Stephenie went home Sunday and is resting and doing well. Shelley will most likely remain in the hospital until the middle of next week. As it turns out her burns are the worst. The Docs continue to be optimistic that surgery will not be needed. I had the wrapping's removed today from my arms and looks great compared to what they looked like on the 23rd of September.

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Teamsters Stand With ILWU
Posted: October 4, 2011
IBT
October 4, 20 I I
Following is the text of the letter from General President Hoffa to ILWU President McEllrath:

Dear President McEllrath:
The 1.4 million members of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters stand in solidarity with the ILWU in your fight for good jobs and union recognition at the Port of Longview. We join Teamster Joint Council 37 and transportation unions worldwide in demanding that EGT respect its agreement to recognize and negotiate a fair collective bargaining agreement with the ILWU.

EGT's actions are another example of the War on Workers in the United States to weaken our democratic rights to union representation and decent pay and benefits. The ILWU has represented workers at the Port of Longview for 80 years to the great benefit of those workers, the community and longshore workers all along the west coast. Over many years the Teamsters and the ILWU have worked in solidarity for our members, our community and our country; I recall the strong relationship between my father and the pioneering ILWU leader Harry Bridges. We are proud to stand in solidarity with the ILWU today and in the future.

In Solidarity,
James P. Hoffa
General President

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Hoffa: Teamsters Strongly Oppose Job-Killing Trade Deals
Posted: October 3, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
The following is the official statement from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on the union’s opposition to trade deals with South Korea, Panama and Colombia.

“The last thing America needs is one more job-killing trade deal, let alone three. These proposed agreements will damage our economy, raise unemployment and further lower workers’ wages.

“The deals on the table will help the same multinational corporations that have laid off 2.9 million American workers in the past 10 years while hiring 2.4 million workers outside of the U.S.

“Working Americans who are living with the painful consequences of so-called “free trade” deals understand that they kill jobs instead of creating them.

• The South Korea trade deal has been renegotiated but it still falls short. The largest deal since NAFTA, it would cost tens of thousands of U.S. jobs, harm some of our highest-paying industries and give foreign multinationals new rights to challenge our laws.


• Colombia is still the most dangerous place in the world to belong to a trade union, as 51 union leaders were killed there last year. A trade deal that rewards Colombia would be unconscionable.


• Panama is still a tax haven. A deal with Panama would encourage U.S. companies to move jobs to that country and elsewhere, and encourage banks to set up subsidiaries there to avoid regulation.

“The Teamsters will do everything we can to prevent Congress from approving these ill-conceived trade deals.”

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Teamsters Leader Calls on Gov. Scott to Respect Court Ruling on Privatization
Posted: October 3, 2011
Source: Teamster.org
In an open letter to Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Ken Wood, Acting President of Teamsters Local 2011, called on the governor to respect a recent court decision halting prison privatization.

“It’s good to know that the rule of law still applies in Florida, and the governor and elected officials should respect the rule of law,” said Wood, who is also President of Teamsters Joint Council 75 in Tampa and a Florida resident. 

On Sept. 30, Leon County Circuit Judge Jackie Fulford ruled that lawmakers violated the state’s constitution by using budget language to allow prisons in 18 South Florida counties to privatize.   

Wood applauded the judge’s ruling and, in his letter, demanded that Scott not further waste the state’s resources by appealing the decision, calling on the governor to “drop prison privatization once and for all.” 

Scott is already facing an investigation resulting from an ethics complaint filed by Wood. The State of Florida Commission on Ethics found last month that the Teamsters’ complaint was “legally sufficient” to launch an investigation into Scott’s plan to privatize state prisons. 

The complaint, filed on Sept. 12, raises major concerns about Scott, political parties and candidates accepting nearly $1 million in political and inaugural donations from two companies that have advocated for the governor to privatize the state’s prison system and are seeking contracts. 

The Teamsters are assisting 20,000 Florida Department of Corrections officers seeking aggressive representation on the job. For more information, visit http://fdocteamsters.org  and read the letter here.

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Breaking Their Promise To Focus On Job Creation, House GOP Proposes Slashing Job Training Programs
Posted: October 2, 2011
Source: Think Progress
House Republicans yesterday released their draft budget proposal for labor, health, and human service, which in one fell swoop revives the assault on all their favorite bugaboos, including Planned Parenthood, National Public Radio, the National Labor Relations Board, and President Obama’s health care reform law. The GOP also targeted heat subsidies that prevent low-income families from freezing in the winter, and slashed education funding by $2.4 billion. The bill also eliminates the Administration’s “Race to the Top” education reform program and reduces eligibility for Pell Grants for low-income college students.

Perhaps most surprisingly for a party that claims to be focused on job creation, the GOP budget reduces funding for job training programs that give the unemployed the skills they need to find work in an ailing economy:

Employment Training Administration (ETA) – The legislation provides the ETA with $7.5 billion in new discretionary budget authority – $2.2 billion (-23%) below last year’s level and $2.1 billion (-22%) below the President’s request. Much of this reduction is due to the transition of employment and training programs to a federal fiscal year and the elimination of $2.4 billion in advance appropriations for the 2013 fiscal year.

Slashing funding for these training programs by nearly a quarter will deprive thousands of workers of a better chance to find employment. The bill also cuts the Department of Labor’s funding by $2.6 billion and “increases oversight” of job training programs by requiring the GAO to conduct a study on their cost-effectiveness — a transparent pretext for further diminishing the programs. The budget also laughably claims to “foster a pro-job growth environment” through a number of anti-union measures.
Read the source story here.

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