Publications

May 28, 2004

All but a whitewash

In Whitewater, Wis., 22 clerical employees from city hall and the town library voted 16 to 1 to form a union with Council 40.

The right plan

In a close race against a competing union, 46 habilitation-plan administrators from the state Department of Social and Health Services — in locations around the state — voted to join WFSE/Council 28.

We coulda told 'em

President Bush has pushed to privatize a huge number of federal civil-service jobs. Now comes this finding from the feds' own Office of Management and Budget: According to an OMB study based on fiscal 2003 performance, the civil servants did their jobs better and more cheaply than private contractors nearly 90 percent of the time. Further, Bush's "competitive sourcing" initiative cost — not saved — federal agencies $88 million in '03. Is that a great initiative, or what? Bush & Co. promise big savings within five years. Wanna bet?

Insider's insight

The former director of OSHA's Office of Standards Review, commenting publicly on the agency's alleged efforts to safeguard America's workers, described its effect as "terrible." Appearing on a panel in Washington, D.C., Peter Infante, who quit in dismay two years ago, ticked off OSHA non-actions involving such dangerous substances as beryllium, hexavalent chromium and silica. Several PhDs have resigned, he said, and two "brilliant" staff members who are experts in risk analysis have been pushed aside — one to the library, the other to what Infante calls "the Siberia of OSHA."

Go ahead: sue

The Colorado Supreme Court has reinstated a lawsuit against Governor Owens (R) for ending automatic payroll deductions of union dues in 2001. Council 76, along with two state federations of public employees, brought the case before the high court. Previously, an appeals panel upheld a dismissal of the suit, saying state employees and unions lack legal standing. Ignoring that argument, the supreme court noted that union dues have been deducted from state employees' paychecks since 1937.

Almost-done deal

About 3,000 Wisconsin state employees, members of professional social services Local 2748 (Council 24), are much closer to a new contract following approval by the state senate. Observers expect the assembly to follow suit and Governor Doyle (D) to sign the agreement into law. The contract, for fiscal 2003-05, includes a raise of about 1 percent for the second year, ending June 30; in addition, about 2,000 workers will get recruitment/ retention increases in the second year. Members will start contributing modestly to medical coverage. Negotiations are pending for five other Council 24 bargaining units.

No to 10

The AFSCME Employees Pension Fund will withhold votes from one or more corporate directors at 10 companies during annual shareholder meetings. All 10, said President McEntee, chairman of the fund, "have directors who have ... deliberately and repeatedly ignored shareholders' requests on fundamental corporate governance issues. Our message is, 'If you want our vote, you need to listen to our concerns.'" The corporations involved: Sears, First Energy, Gillette, Alaska Air Group, Federated Department Stores, May Department Stores, Qwest, Exxon Mobil, Home Depot and Albertson's.

Staying the budget ax

Detroit Local 312 (Council 25) is praising the city council for passing a $1.6 billion budget that rejects Democratic Mayor Kilpatrick's plan to cut 204 city jobs, including those of 112 Department of Transportation employees. Kilpatrick is expected to veto the budget, which still trims two-thirds as many jobs from the payroll. But if the transportation cuts had been approved, local Pres. Leamon Wilson declared, "it would have totally destroyed the bus system. It's hard enough trying to supply service as is."

Win with wins ...

the Workers Independent News Services, which broadcasts from a worker's perspective on 42 radio stations nationwide. WINS offers headline newscasts, interviews with progressive politicians and celebrities, and other worker-friendly features. You can help the Madison, Wis.-based service expand. Says Frank Emspak, its manager and executive producer: "If we ask unions to tell local radio stations about us, we never know what will happen; but if union people tell us there's a radio station in their area that might take our service and we contact the station, we have a better chance of getting on it." To help WINS serve a larger audience, pass your tips to Emspak at (608) 262-0680 — and visit Labor Radio online to find out where and when WINS programs are now on the air.

Princess Jasmine

The "American Idol" ambitions of Jasmine Trias, the 17-year-old daughter of HGEA member Nora Soriano-Trias, ended last week. Voters eliminated her from Fox's top-rated musical-talent competition, leaving two contestants still competing for the grand prizes. Trias later told the Honolulu Advertiser, "My life is never going to be the same." Support for her back home was phenomenal. Lieutenant Governor Aiona named a day after her; she was mobbed at the Honolulu airport on a recent visit home; nearly one-third of the state's population watched shows involving her; and Hawaiians made 5.9 million efforts to vote — presumably for Trias — after her final performance.


 

 

Print Version