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August 15, 2008National/PoliticalHillary Clinton's name to be placed in nomination at convention A Democratic National Convention that is supposed to showcase Barack Obama will devote a considerable amount of time to Hillary Rodham Clinton and her family, with the two campaigns announcing an agreement Thursday to formally enter her name into nomination. The development means that during the state-by-state vote on a nominee for president, delegates will have the option of choosing Clinton rather than Obama -- giving supporters a chance to cheer her candidacy one last time. ... But Clinton loyalists said they were pleased to know that she would be recognized in such fashion. Larry Scanlon, political director of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said: "She sought to be the first woman nominated for president. She came up a little short, but she made it easier for the next female candidate to get the brass ring. Many in the Democratic Party would like to celebrate that. I think that they should celebrate that." Living Costs Rising Fast, and Wages Are Trailing The cost of living, led by the soaring cost of gasoline and food, is rising at the fastest rate since the recession of the early 1990s, the government said on Thursday, handing a de facto pay cut to the American worker. The report, from the Labor Department, offered quantitative proof of what Americans have been feeling for months: almost everything costs more, even as they have less money to pay for it. Prices of a wide range of common products in the Consumer Price Index were 5.6 percent higher last month than they were in July 2007, the sharpest annual increase since January 1991. ... The higher prices have made many workers’ wages effectively worth less. In July, rank-and-file workers — those in production or nonsupervisory roles — earned 3.1 percent less than they did a year ago, after adjusting for the rising cost of living. What Do MoveOn Members Think About Health Care? Supporters of single payer health care -- many of them people who've worked on this issue for years and paved the way for today's universal health care debate -- recently launched an online petition asking MoveOn staff to consult MoveOn members on the best way to win health care for everyone. The issue at hand is MoveOn's participation in the Health Care for America Now coalition, an alliance of groups including SEIU, Planned Parenthood, AFSCME, and USAction who've launched a big effort to win universal health care. Health Care for America Now (HCAN) is supporting the National Public Health Insurance approach. The folks who are petitioning favor a Single Payer strategy and are asking us to consult MoveOn members on the question. International Association of Fire Fighters endorses Senator Barack Obama for President The International Association of Fire Fighters today announced its endorsement of Senator Barack Obama for president, praising the Illinois senator for his support of fire fighters and working families. “On every issue important to fire fighters Senator Obama is and has been in our corner,” IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger said. “The IAFF is the most bipartisan union in the AFL-CIO, and we support those who support us. We can’t overlook Senator McCain’s service to our country, but we also can’t overlook his poor record on issues critical to the financial security of our 290,000 members.” Senator Obama co-sponsored and voted for the IAFF’s collective bargaining bill in the U.S. Senate this year. Senator McCain voted against the IAFF’s collective bargaining bill in 2001, and this year he refused to return to Washington, DC, for a cloture vote. US troops donate more to Obama than McCain US troops, stationed both abroad and in the US, have donated more money to Democrat Barack Obama than to decorated war hero Republican John McCain, a study published Thursday showed. The study by the Center for Responsive Politics, a non-partisan research group, showed that by the end of June, Obama had received six times more from soldiers stationed abroad than Vietnam war veteran McCain, who comes from a prestigious military family. Even McCain's former rival for the Republican nomination, Ron Paul, who opposed the Iraq war, had managed to garner more funds. McCain alarms base with abortion comment Top social conservative leaders in key battleground states are urging John McCain not to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights, warning of dire consequences from a Republican base already unenthused about their nominee. AK: AFSCME Walks Sept. 4 to Protest John McCain Val Kenny of ASEA/AFSCME local 52 urges all AFSCME members to participate in the National Day of Protest Sept. 4, the day John McCain accepts the Republican presidential nomination. AFL-CIO files complaint against Wal-Mart The AFL-CIO and several union-friendly groups filed a formal complaint against Wal-Mart on Thursday, charging that the retail giant is pressuring employees to vote against Sen. Barack Obama. Related article from the AFL-CIO blog: AFL-CIO Files Complaint with FEC on Wal-Mart Electioneering Big Union Drops Tough Social Security Mailer Hitting McCain's Wealth In a move that signals a major new effort to woo elderly voters to Obama, the AFL-CIO is dropping a scorching new mailer in battleground states hammering John McCain on Social Security and directly referencing McCain's wealth, his corporate jet, and his expensive Italian shoes. Related article from the CNN Political Ticker blog: Labor organization looks to paint McCain as elitist States won't be sanctioned over kids' health insurance Reversing itself, the Bush administration said Thursday that states for now won't be penalized for failing to install restrictions making it harder for middle-income children to participate in a federal-state health insurance program. States had been directed to make the changes in their State Children's Health Insurance Program by Monday or face financial penalties. ... SCHIP is a federal-state partnership that provides health coverage to about 6.6 million people, the vast majority of them children. The program was at the center of a lengthy, contentious battle in Congress last year. Medicaid bears brunt of states' budget crunch / Healthcare cuts in California and New York could affect thousands. Facing budget deficits, two of the nation's most populous states, California and New York, are proposing changes in Medicaid that could affect the eligibility of hundreds of thousands of people or decrease funding for hospitals, doctors, dentists, and pharmacists. Last month, California cut reimbursements to providers by 10 percent. With the legislature deadlocked over the budget, some healthcare facilities are now close to bankruptcy since no money is flowing to providers. Other states are tacking on fees or cutting funds for charity care in hospitals. And, as more states face falling tax revenues, there could be more cuts by this fall. .. For Paterson, it could be difficult to convince legislators to make the cutbacks, which are also opposed by local 1199 of the Service Employees International Union, a powerful lobby in Albany. Editorial: Less Than Golden Years Even before the housing bubble, the country was facing a retirement crisis, with most Americans saving too little, if anything, for their post-working years. The housing bubble — and subsequent bust — have made that bad situation worse. .... Studies show that employees — unable to borrow against their homes — are increasingly taking loans or withdrawals from their 401(k)’s, often to cover medical bills or mortgage payments. They may have no choice, but tapping a retirement plan early can be costly. ... Congress, for its part, needs to guard against undue leakage from retirement accounts. A case in point is the 401(k) debit card, a new form of plastic that lets plan participants borrow from their 401(k) with every swipe. Congress should move quickly to ban the cards. Daily access to one’s 401(k) violates the whole point of government-encouraged retirement savings. Medicare Rx drug premiums rise slower than expected For the third consecutive year, the average premium for Medicare prescription drug coverage will be lower than expected, the Bush administration said Thursday. Restoring America's Middle Class, One Corporate Bully at a Time On Friday, August 1, The Wall Street Journal reported that Wal-Mart stores had held mandatory captive audience trainings to demand their supervisors and management employees vote against Democrats because a Democratic Congress and President would pass the Employee Free Choice Act to allow workers - including Wal-Mart workers - to decide for themselves whether or not to form unions and bargain collectively. Presumably, those supervisors and managers would pass on the message to hourly workers - a violation of federal labor law. Ironically, much of the media was aghast at this intimidation and the blatant manipulation of Wal-Mart employees' most basic decision in a democracy - who to choose to represent and lead our country. State/LocalState workers' suit in arbitration (scroll down) A dispute between some 8,000 state union workers and the state over pay raises is in arbitration. Workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the Communications Workers of America accuse the State Personnel Office of not giving them pay raises agreed upon in collective bargaining, according to a complaint filed in March. ... The complaint says Gov. Bill Richardson recommended giving state workers "full raises" for fiscal year 2009 and the Legislature passed bills for full funding, but the State Personnel Office said the funding was "insufficient" to cover the raises. County adopts coroner, sheriff labor pacts The Lake County Board settled a couple of labor negotiations this week, with officials approving collective bargaining agreements with employees in the coroner's and sheriff's offices. The contract with the coroner's employees, including deputy coroners and senior deputy coroners, is the first one for the unit, represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 31. The AFSCME unit voted to accept the contract in June. Probation officers OK contract with county The union representing 150 DuPage County probation officers and youth detention officers has reached agreement on a new contract with the county, eight months after the old pact expired. The four-year contract provides for pay raises of 3.5 percent the first year and 3.5 to 4.25 percent raises each year after that, Court Administrator Chuck Hoffman said. Officers had been working under the terms of the previous contract since November. An agreement was reached with the help of a federal mediator and approved 80-16 on Wednesday by members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3328, Hoffman said. Chicago could be $420 million in the red next year Revenues are falling fast and layoffs may be necessary, officials say; city's already short $141 million this year City, white-collar union reach terms Mayor Nutter's goal in his first contract talks with the city's municipal unions was to play for time. He sought one-year, status-quo deals that would give him the breathing room to come up with big solutions to the pressing problems of fast-growing pension and health-care costs. So far, he has largely gotten what he wanted. Yesterday, leaders of District Council 47, the city's 3,372-strong white-collar union, grudgingly approved a one-year deal that closely resembles the contracts Nutter had already struck with police and blue-collar workers. The agreement still must be ratified by the union's membership. Related articles
Rendell miscasts ruling on furloughs, GOP says A group of local state Republican lawmakers accused the Rendell administration of attempting to spin the Commonwealth Court ruling on furloughing state workers during a budget impasse. .. The statement issued Thursday by Reps. Ron Marsico, R-Dauphin, Jerry Nailor, R-Cumberland, Mark Keller, R-Franklin, and Glen Grell, R-Cumberland, said the ruling is not a vindication of Gov. Ed Rendell's decision to furlough state workers if the budget is delayed. Indiana Area support staff seeks contract reopening More than 30 members of the Indiana Area School District's support staff attended Monday's school board meeting to request their contract to be reopened. The employees are represented by the America Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). The union represents 112 members of the district's support staff, which includes custodians, cafeteria workers and secretaries. A union divide under Paterson / Pursuit of tax cap upends traditional political alliances and rivalries ... Now, Gov. David Paterson, not six months after taking over from Spitzer, is facing his own foe -- organized labor. Moreover, Paterson is allied with Republicans on one of his signature issues: efforts to pass a school property tax cap. .... Paterson's proposal to mandate a 4 percent annual cap on school property tax increases passed in the Republican-controlled Senate earlier this month. It has yet to be taken up in the Assembly, where Speaker Sheldon Silver, a Democrat, opposes the cap, at least as currently proposed. ... Lawmakers in both parties are loathe to cut programs three months before the November elections and public employee unions are already upset over a state hiring freeze the governor is implementing. "The governor is relying on failed policies from the past," said Danny Donohue, president of the Civil Service Employees Association. Related articles
Health concerns halt N. Hempstead town hall makeover The $25,000 makeover of the exterior of North Hempstead town hall has been put on hold so the town can remedy potential health hazards discovered by an occupational safety expert at the Manhasset site, officials said. Jeff Hyman, occupational safety and health specialist for the Civil Service Employees Association Long Island Region, visited town hall last week in response to concerns of town union officers. He said he found issues with the scaffolding, including a lack of easy access. Duluth employee union says number of layoffs has shrunk Officials of the Duluth city employees union said Thursday they’ve been told the number of layoffs has shrunk, with about 30 full-time union-covered positions targeted — down from an estimated 44 union positions proposed by Mayor Don Ness on Monday. Another three management positions had been scheduled for elimination to help ease an estimated $6.5 million budget shortfall for the current year. Those 30 employees should have been told in person by their supervisors Thursday afternoon, said Deb Strohm, unit chairwoman for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who met with Ness and city leaders in the afternoon. Ralph Doty: Some radical ideas to erase the city’s red ink A pattern is developing as Duluthians contemplate the fallout from a growing city financial deficit. On Monday, a physically and mentally exhausted Mayor Don Ness, his voice breaking with emotion, announced that 217 city jobs — and the services they provide — will be lost before Sept. 1 because the city’s deficit increased to $6.5 million during the period he was trying to erase an earlier predicted shortfall of $4.4 million. So, how’s the mayor doing with his proposals for cutting the deficit to zero? Not well. St. Paul Labor endorses anti-war march The St. Paul Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, has voted to endorse the Labor Day mass anti-war march planned for the opening day of the Republican National Convention. The event will begin at the State Capitol at 11 am on Monday, September 1. .. Phyllis Walker, President of AFSCME Local 3800, was at the meeting that passed the resolution of endorsement. Walker said, “On Labor Day, all union members and their families have an excellent opportunity to come together with a broad range of community groups and movements to call for an end to the war in Iraq, for the troops to be brought home now and for the funds used for this war to instead be used to meet human needs.” R.I. unemployment rate continues steady climb Rhode Island’s unemployment rate last month continued its steady climb, rising 0.2 percent compared with June to 7.7 percent – the seventh consecutive month of jobless rate increases, the R.I. Department of Labor and Training said today in its July jobs report. It’s the highest level since September 1993. The unemployment rate nationwide also climbed 0.2 percent to 5.7 percent in July. Bound Brook to cut 6 public works employees to close budget shortfall August 14, 2008 BOUND BROOK —Six public works employees will be laid off as borough officials close a 2008 budget shortfall. The layoffs are part of $500,000 in cuts to balance the 2008 municipal budget, which had already been helped by more than $1 million in state aid. After the Borough Council approved the budget amendment which reflected the cuts at Tuesday night's meeting, the members adopted a resolution authorizing the Acting Township Administrator Randy Bahr to lay off six public works employees. ... Paul Mercatanti, a staff representative for AFSCME, the public works department union, said the cuts will have a devastating impact. "We don't know how the work is going to get done," Mercatanti said. He said the department is so small that the layoffs will likely lead to the letting go of an employee with 14 years experience.Nebraska to stop disputed insurance practice An insurance strategy that critics say discriminates against possibly hundreds of black state employees by offering them inferior health plans will stop Jan. 1. But cost savings -- not allegations of discrimination -- made the state decide to offer the same health plans to all employees and stop using so-called "zip code splits," said Roger Wilson, interim state health benefits administrator. ... Most black state employees -- some 96 percent -- live in areas covered by the zip codes 680, 681 or 685. Of all the state's 19,000 employees, about 63 percent live within those zip code areas. State employees outside those zip codes had the option of a "significantly better health insurance plan" from Blue Cross & Blue Shield, including a more extensive network of doctors and better coverage, according to the lawsuit. Cost of health benefits going up for state workers First, state employees saw their pay frozen. Now they face a 7.5 percent increase in the cost of their health benefits. The 7.5 percent increase for 2009 benefits is an average. Some employees will see even higher premium boosts, while others, especially those in high-deductible plans, will have a smaller increase. Related article from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia budget crisis hits workers’ paychecks / $1B shortfall means some will forgo a day’s pay each month 'Tax Swap' axed from November ballot A state judge stripped a controversial "tax swap" from the November ballot Thursday, saying it would mislead voters about the future of school funding. .. The proposed amendment to the state Constitution called for eliminating most school property taxes, resulting in at least a 25 percent tax cut for all property owners. The Legislature would have to replace the money, an estimated $9-billion to $11-billion, by increasing the sales tax, eliminating sales tax exemptions or cutting the budget. Appeals court rebuffs challenge of Oregon's domestic partnership law Oregonians won't vote this fall on the state's new domestic partnership law, which gives gay couples many of the same legal benefits of marriage, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday. |
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