Author Archives: Matt Murray

About Matt Murray

Matt Murray is the creator and an author on the NH Labor News. He is a union member and advocate for labor. He also works with other unions and members to help spread our message.

Help A NH Union Member Fight Back Against Breast Cancer

  By Matt Murray | May 14, 2013 - 8:06 pm | ,
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Melissa on left, Mother and Sister
Melissa McMahon

Melissa McMahon

Chances are that you know someone who has faced a battle with breast cancer.  In fact 1-8  U.S. women will develop some type of breast cancer in their lifetime.

I know there are a million ways to make a monetary donation for breast cancer awareness.  The Susan G Komen foundation is one of the largest breast cancer awareness organizations in the US.

Today I was informed that a local union member from southern New Hampshire will be walking in the Boston 3-day walk for a cure. This is a 60 mile walk to raise money for research and community support.

Melissa McMahon is a member of the Professional Airways Systems Specialist (PASS) union.  PASS represents the workers who help keep the equipment used by the FAA  and air traffic controllers up and running. When asked why she joined PASS she responded:

“I joined PASS because I believe in unions and what they have done for employees to better the working environment,” she said. “Without PASS, I believe the safety and integrity of the NAS (National Airspace System) would be compromised through outsourcing. I take great pride in my work and the service that my fellow coworkers and I provide to keep the flying public safe.”

Melissa has also seen the impact of breast cancer in her personal life. Her mother is a two time survivor of breast cancer. In fact breast cancer runs deep in her family. Her Aunt had it and two of four sisters have also faced breast cancer.  She is working to raise money for research so her daughter will not have to face it.

Melissa on left, Mother and Sister

Melissa on left, Mother and Sister Monica

Now Melissa is asking for your help.  She and her daughter are raising money for the Boston 3-day walk.  In order to participate in the walk, Melissa and her daughter are on a quest to raise $4,600. They are holding several fundraisers, including a bake sale, a dinner at Applebee’s in Nashua on May 21 where 15 percent of all dinner checks will be donated to the walk, a breast cancer benefit at Slade’s Food and Spirits in Nashua on June 2, an event at the Hudson Sam’s Club on June 9, and a motorcycle run on June 23 with the Old Amsterdam Bar and Lounge in Nashua. All money raised will go directly to the walk.

Please consider making a donation to Melissa’s effort here.  You can also read more about Melissa on her donation page (link above) or her work as a system specialist on the PASS Blog.

For more information contact Melissa directly.

 

D.C. Circuit Court Of Appeals Puts Employers Speech Above Workers Rights

  By Matt Murray | May 10, 2013 - 2:14 pm | , ,
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NLRA Poster

NLRB Employee Rights Poster

How many times have you seen this poster? This is the ‘Employee Rights’ poster that was mandated by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to be prominently displayed in over 6 million worksites.   That was until a Circuit Court of Appeals Judge decided the ‘freedom of speech’ of the employer is more important than rights of workers.

The poster was created to inform the workers of their right to organize, and collectively bargain.  A right that is guaranteed to millions of workers, however they do not know it.   This poster was specifically designed to inform workers of all of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act.

Employers have balked at this mandate since it was instituted because they do not want workers to know they have the right to collectively bargain with them.  While some think that unions are bad, polling shows overwhelming support for collective bargaining.  Employers do not want employees to organize and form unions because it is well known that union workers make more money than non-union workers.  When employees make more money, business owners see a reduction in profits.

The other part of this poster that is extremely important is the fact that it is illegal for an employer to question you or take adverse actions against you for union activities.  Companies violate this part of the NLRA over and over because many of the workers do not know their rights.    I remember when I was 19, I got a summer job with the evil empire (Wal-Mart, before I knew how evil they were).  In their basic orientation they forced me to watch a video that basically told me that unions were terrible, money grubbing, organizations that force you to pay due and then do nothing for you.  You know, the complete opposite of what unions are all about.  At the time, I was also taking a college class on Labor/Management relations.  I asked, actually begged, for them to let me borrow the video to use for my class project.  They immediately shut me down, and would never let me view the movie again.  I think they knew they were skirting the NLRA anti-union regulations with their video and did not want anyone outside of Wal-Mart to see it.

The video I remember was very similar to the one that Gawker obtained from the Target.   I am serious, check it out.  See if you think it follows the law.

Once again the corporations right to free speech beats out the workers rights to organize.    Richard Trumka, President of the AFL-CIO responded to this ruling in a written statement.

“In today’s workplace, employers are required to display posters explaining wage and hour rights, health and safety and discrimination laws, even emergency escape routes. The D.C. Circuit ruling suggests that courts should strike down hundreds of notice requirements, not only those that inform workers about their rights and warn them of hazards, but also those on cigarette packages, in home mortgages and many other areas. The Court’s twisted logic finds that “freedom of speech” precludes the government from requiring employers to provide certain information to employees. This is absurd: when workers know their rights, the laws work as intended.“

Here, here President Trumka, you nailed it.  The goal of these posters, to inform the workers of their rights.  The fact that they cannot be disciplined, fired, admonished, or any other adverse actions by their employer for activities in forming/joining a union.   This is just another absurd ruling in favor of ‘corporate people’  over the actual people who work for these corporations.   The good news is that President Obama plans to take this case to the Supreme Court if he needs to.

Brigadier General Adams’s And Sen. Murphy Says ‘Our National Security Is At Risk From Outsourcing’

  By Matt Murray | May 9, 2013 - 12:00 pm | , ,
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IMG_1048
Chris Murphy And The Alliance For America Manufacturing

Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio), Brigadier General Adams’s, and Scott Paul. (Credit Kaylie Hanson)

As if loosing our good jobs to China was not bad enough now our national security is at risk because of the policies set forth in Washington.  We are at risk of being forced into a position where the United States could be called into war and we cannot supply our troops. Why, because we do not produce the materials needed to create our weapons of war.

For many years we have been talking about the decline of American Manufacturing.  Now that decline in manufacturing and mining is starting to come back to bite us again.

Have you ever heard of lanthanum?  Well let me tell what lanthanum is used for.  Lanthanum is one of the main ingredients needed to create night vision goggles.  Ring a bell yet? No me either.   The reason why I am talking about lanthanum is because lanthanum is one of the rare elements that we need to supply our troops, but we do not mine it.   In fact 91% of all lanthanum comes from China.  Add that to the fact that 90% of all rare elements come from China that puts us in a tight spot.

Let me give you another example.  Have you ever heard of butanetriol? Um no.  What if I told you that butanetriol is the fuel that is used to propel the Hellfire missile.  I am sure you remember hearing our how we have used Hellfire missiles in recent conflicts.  The Hellfire is one of our military’s most powerful weapons.  Now how would you feel if I were to tell you that we get our butanetriol from one supplier.  The only supplier who produces butanetriol and they are based in China.

Are you seeing the problem yet? Some of the tools we need to supply our military is being produced by Chinese manufactures.  What happens if we were to ever enter into a conflict with China? Or if we enter into a conflict that China opposes? They could close our supply chain and effectively take us out of the conflict.    Remember how the North defeated the South in the civil war?  Your right, they destroyed their supply chains.

These are only two of the dozens of examples that were cited in a new report from Brigadier General John Adams and the Alliance for American Manufacturing.

America is always on the verge of war.  We train hundreds of thousands of military personnel to be ready to fight at any moment.  We stockpile weapons, just in case we need them. Right now we are on the verge of getting involved in yet another conflict with Syria.  What would happen if we jumped into that conflict without the ability to supply our troops?

This is why Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), Congressman Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) and Congressman Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) are pushing for an increase in American Defense Manufacturing.     I have been following the ‘Buy America” campaign and have talked about Senator Murphy’s proposals before. The campaign is simple, rebuild our economy by investing in American manufacturing.  Put people to work, and now protect our supply lines to our troops.  Senator Murphy said  ”we should not be solely relying on out-of-state suppliers”.

Currency manipulation is one of the biggest problems in trading with China. “Due to currency manipulation the raw materials costs in the United States are the same as final price of Chinese steel” said Congressman Tim Ryan.  Bills to fix the currency manipulation from China have been introduced to Congress for many years. The problem is that they cannot get the bill through both houses in one Congressional term, therefor the bill dies.

Congressman Mo Brooks continued by saying that outsourcing effect the our country in two ways.  It “weakens families incomes (job losses) and weakens the country’s ability to pay to protect our country (loss in revenue)”.

Senator Murphy continued by highlighting some of the key points from the new report, Recommendations to Strengthen America’s Defense Industrial Base and Ensure National Security.  The major points include:

  • fixing the Chinese currency manipulation problem;
  • increase long-term federal investment in high-technology industries;
  • develop domestic sources for important natural resources;

The report refers to seven other recommendation that will help to mitigate this potential risk to our National Security.  Now we need Congress to take swift action to pass this common sense solution to rebuild our manufacturing base and protect our troops.  

NH Letter Carrier Risks His Own Life To Save Another From A Burning Building

  By Matt Murray | May 7, 2013 - 7:47 pm | , ,
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TonyMeme

Letter carrier have always held a special place in our hearts. It is the letter carrier who delivers our mail six days a week, but a letter carrier is much more than that. To children they can be like Santa Clause bringing gifts in the mail. To others they provide lifesaving medicine. For some the letter carrier is the only person they see every day.

For many years letter carriers have been our friends. We thank them with gifts and treats in our mailboxes at Christmas. We thank them for doing their job every day now matter what the weather may throw at them. Every day the mail gets through.

Letter carriers are also a part of our neighborhood watch program. Notifying the police if an elderly resident does not come to the door, or see that nobody has been at the house in days. They notice little things like a dog barking frantically, which alerts them to a possible problem.

On Saturday, Bill Kelly will be ever grateful to his letter carrier Tom Sapienza.

“Several people, including a mailman, ran into a burning building on Merrimack Street on Saturday looking for residents feared trapped in a fire…” (Union Leader)

Tom, a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers risked his own life to run into a burning building to look for residents. Not many people would think of the mailman as the first person to run into a burning building but that is exactly what Tom did. Then when it was over he went right back to doing what he does every day, delivering the mail.

TonyMeme“Sapienza, after being treated, returned to his postal truck, saying he wasn’t allowed to talk to reporters but wasn’t planning on going right home.

“I have to get back on my route,” Sapienza said. (Union Leader)

After risking his own life, he delivered all of the mail in his truck, all be it with a little delay.

Thank you Tommy for being an everyday hero.

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The NH AFL-CIO Holds Bi-Annual Convention

  By Matt Murray | May 7, 2013 - 11:34 am | , , ,
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AFLCIO Convention Mark MacKenzie

On May 4th, the New Hampshire state federation of the AFL-CIO held their bi-annual convention at the Grand Hotel in North Conway, NH.  The event was attended by over 50 delegates, representing many different unions from around the state.  They were teachers from AFT, to film and sound techs from IATSE,  electricians from IBEW, to air traffic controllers from NATCA.  The focus of the convention was to talk about the great things that the NH AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions have done in New Hampshire over the last two years. And to talk about how we need to change and grow to move into a new generation of unions and organizing.

Over the past two years the NH AFL-CIO and organized labor have fought back against the extreme right wing of the New Hampshire Legislature who were pushing every anti-union and anti-worker bill they could dig up from ALEC.  Most notably was the nearly two year battle over Right To Work.  Upholding Governor Lynch’s veto was the single greatest legislative accomplishment for the NH AFL-CIO and all working families.

AFLCIO Convention Mark MacKenzieAfter a short trip down memory lane by NH AFL-CIO President Mark MacKenzie, the tone shifted.  ”At no time has labor’s role been more important” said President MacKenzie.

Now we as organized labor need to work with our communities for real immigration reform.  We must ensure that every worker is treated fairly, is paid accordingly, and has the protections we fought so hard to get in place.

This theme also lead right into how do we begin to organize those places that have never been able to be organized before?  Places like Wal-Mart, Fast Food and Restaurant workers. These are the jobs that need help from organized labor the most right now.

AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler spent  most of her time talking about how we need to fight back against the attacks from the right wing extremists and expand our base.  This is a battle for all working people, not just those who are covered by a union contract.  We need to do everything we can to stop the austerity budget plans from Washington that are slowly pulling our country apart.  The Tea Party lead House is trying to continue this race to the bottom with more cuts to programs like Head Start and Meals on Wheels.  ”What about the children who have been kicked out of Head Start due to the Sequester” said Shuler.  ”Sequester is just a fancy word for stupid idea” Shuler continued.

Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter knows all to well how the sequester is effecting people.  She hears about it every day.  People calling her office to get her to do something about it.  ”Can’t you just pass something to end the sequester” people would ask.  Yes, she told the crowd, if we could get our bills onto the floor of the US House.  Congresswoman Shea-Porter told the crowd, “there are three political parties in Washington right now.  The Democrats, the Republicans and the Republican study group also know as the Tea Party.”  The power of the Tea Party and their leader, Speaker John Boehner is what is creating this disfunction in Washington.

The NH AFL-CIO also welcomed State Senator Andrew Hosmer to speak. He talked of the current situation in the NH Senate.  He pushed for the passage of the expanded gambling bill to help create new jobs for the NH Building Trades.   That message was echoed by State Representative (and former AFGE member and Federal Marshal) Steve Shurtleff.  Rep Shurtleff reminded us how times have changed now that Speaker O’Brien is not in control.  He ws there every session waiting for the Speaker to pull Right To Work up for a vote.  Both Sen. Hosmer and Rep Shurtleff said they would do whatever was needed to stand up for working families and the workers rights to organize.

(More in-depth stories on each of the speeches at the NH AFLCIO convention later this week)

Once Again Faith Leaders Come Out To Support Workers Rights To Organize

  By Matt Murray | May 3, 2013 - 2:00 pm | ,
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Right To Work 2

Right To Work 2

This month in Missouri the legislature is pushing two bills that we recently defeated here in New Hampshire, Right to Work (for less) and Paycheck Protection/Deception (barring employees from having union dues deducted from their paycheck).

Durning the draconian rule of former Speaker O’Brien both of these anti-worker bills were pushed through the house.  Workers throughout New Hampshire came out in force to oppose these bill at public hearings.  One of the reasons that New Hampshire was able to fight these bills back was labor’s relationship with local faith organizations.  Groups like the American Friends Service Committee, a Quaker organization lead by Arnie Alpert, and Rev Gail Kinney spoke at every Right to Work for less hearing in Concord.

For years the Catholic church has been working to expand the rights of workers in an effort to combat poverty.  I was very please today to share an editorial from Monsignor Jack Schuler of Missouri.  Monsignor Schuler explains the strong relationship between workers and the Catholic church.

(Published by the St Louis Post Dispatch)

Today, our church celebrates the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker. When Pope Pius XII instituted this tradition 58 years ago, he honored the long-standing link between Joseph and the cause of working people. This year, the call to honor and remember working people couldn’t be more timely — or more necessary.

While working people in our communities continue to struggle, too many politicians in Jefferson City seem not to notice. Many have been relentless in their attacks on basic protections for working people, protections long supported by the Catholic Church and other faith traditions. Meanwhile hundreds of thousands in our state suffer from inadequate health care and too few jobs that pay a living wage.

So-called right-to-work and paycheck-protection bills seek to limit the right of working people to organize and silence their voices. If enacted, these laws would make it more difficult for hardworking first nurses, first responders, teachers and other workers to advocate for safer working conditions and provide critical services to our communities.

These bills, along with attempts to eliminate prevailing wage protections, seek to lower wages in our communities. They would make it even more difficult for families struggling to get by — and would unfairly reward corporate greed. Simply put, on this Feast of St. Joseph in 2013, working people in Missouri face an onslaught of dangerous and unfair legislation.

Catholic teaching strongly supports the right of workers to form labor unions in order to bargain collectively for just wages and benefits. In fact, it encourages workers to form unions based on the right of free association. So-called paycheck-protection and right-to-work bills seek to limit the ability of working people to organize and collectively bargain. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is clear: “We vehemently oppose violations of the freedom to associate, for they are an intolerable attack on social solidarity.”

Corporations give unlimited money and resources in order to purchase influence at the statehouse. Corporate lobbyists have exempted themselves from playing by the same rules they are trying to make everybody else play by — in fact, they are creating their own rules.

In his Easter address, Pope Francis called for peace in a world “divided by greed looking for easy gain, wounded by the selfishness which threatens human life and the family.” To make real change and heal these wounds, we need to work together to strengthen protections for working people and support collective bargaining rights and association. Although far from perfect, labor unions work for job security and fight against discrimination for all workers, not just those in unions. Without the ability to organize and collectively bargain, attacks will remain unanswered.

When addressing the G20 Summit in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI stated “in the light of the present global economic crisis, this analysis reveals all of its relevance: We see, in fact, that it is precisely from this root of greed that the entire crisis was born.” This is as true locally as it is globally — when greed is unchecked, when corporations are unaccountable, working people suffer the consequences and injustice is allowed to flourish.

It’s time for politicians to stop giving more and more to CEOs and corporate-funded special interests and start working to create jobs and help working people make it through these tough times.

As we remember St. Joseph the Worker, let’s focus on restoring dignity to hard work and recommit ourselves to working for justice. We are all connected by our work and our communities — and we all should call upon our elected leaders to support and strengthen those bonds, not undermine them.

Just days from now, the Missouri legislature will end the 2013 session. Our elected officials have critical choices to make and not much time to make the right decision. As a person of faith, I call on politicians in Jefferson City to break the chains of “business as usual” by understanding the moral obligation to work for justice — including economic justice for our communities.

Let’s honor St. Joseph on his feast day and every day by keeping our focus on justice for all those who work.

Monsignor Jack Schuler is pastor of St. Ferdinand parish in Florissant and member of the Workers Rights Board of Missouri Jobs with Justice, a coalition of almost 100 different organizations statewide. Through Missouri JwJ, faith, community, labor and student groups work to promote economic justice.

Voter ID: Yes It Is Unreasonable To Require ID To Vote

  By Matt Murray | May 3, 2013 - 1:01 pm | ,
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get out and vote

Today the Nashua Telegraph posted a letter to the editor entitled “It’s not unreasonable to require ID to vote“.  This letter is obviously pushing for an ID to vote.   The writer, W. B. Heffernan Jr. of Nashua, talks about how many people have ID’s to have their taxes done.

“My job is processing taxpayers seeking to get their tax returns prepared at no charge, and that job includes determining that they have valid photo IDs.

The program is open to all, but caters to seniors and low-income taxpayers. The latter category includes “minorities.” These people, who the “anti-voter ID crowd” claims will not be able to vote because they won’t have a valid photo ID, have no problem in presenting one to obtain free tax preparation.”

I find a few thing wrong with this. First you cannot say that the people who are using your program accurately represent the state of New Hampshire.  The state of New Hampshire is a relatively small state but W.B Heffernan could not possibly know all of the people in New Hampshire.  Talking to a few dozen or even a few hundred people at the Nashua Public Library does not represent all of New Hampshire.

In northern areas of New Hampshire it could be a 30-45 minutes to the nearest DMV office.  For a senior who does not drive, this is a waste of time and money.

My other problem with this is that at no point does W.B. Heffernan say what is a valid ID.  Right now the Voter ID law is scheduled to change.  Durning the 2012 elections the Voter ID law required an ID to vote or a signed affidavit saying that you are who who you say you are.   This generated over 20,000 signed affidavits from people in New Hampshire that did not have an ID and wanted to vote.  Those 20,000 are the ones who continued to vote without an ID.  There is no way of knowing how many people who do not have an ID did not even try to vote.

Under the current State Senate I highly doubt that the Voter ID will be fully repealed.  What we can do is stop the further implementation of the second phase of the law.   Phase two requires polling stations to take the picture of a person who do not have an ID.  This is very costly and does nothing.  Are they going to post the picture on Facebook asking ‘do you know this person?’   If they move forward with phase two it will cost the state thousands of dollars every year to buy digital camera for every polling station and the training associated with it.

The second major issue with phase two is what is considered a valid form of identification.  In 2012 there were many acceptable forms of identification including personal recognition and college IDs.  So for those who do not have an ID but have voted in the same place for years the moderator can vouch for them with personal recognition.  Not is phase two, it is unacceptable along with college IDs and municipal IDs.

If we cannot overturn the Voter ID law then we must fight to stop phase two of the Voter ID law as it is written.  It will do more to disenfranchise voters than actually stop the fictional voter fraud problem in New Hampshire.  Not to mention it will cost the state more money, which is a serious problem in itself.  Would you rather see more money cut from our community colleges to buy cameras for every polling station in New Hampshire to be used once or twice a year?  I do not.

MY Letter To Editor On Medicaid Expansion

  By Matt Murray | May 1, 2013 - 1:30 pm | ,
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Matt Murray

Originally published in the Nashua Telegraph.

Recently there has been a lot of discussion over whether or not New Hampshire should push forward with the Medicaid Expansion. This is currently being considered in the NH Senate. I hope that my State Senator Peter Bragdon is listening. We need to include Medicaid Expansion in the State budget.

Medicaid Expansion will be good for New Hampshire and especially the low-income working families who cannot afford healthcare right now. The expansion will provide quality healthcare including preventative care for more than 50,000 Granite Staters.

Senator Bragdon is well known for being a fiscal conservative and the Medicaid Expansion bill makes good fiscal sense as well. The expansion will create hundreds of new jobs in the healthcare industry. The expansion will bring billions of dollars into the state and that will help to strengthen the New Hampshire economy.

As a resident of Merrimack, I implore Senator Bragdon to support Medicaid Expansion. I encourage his constituents in Amherst, Merrimack, Milford, and Wilton to do so as well. He can be reached at 603-271-8472.

Money, Politics and Overturning Citizens United

  By Matt Murray | April 26, 2013 - 8:59 am | , ,
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UNH Poll supporting overturning citizens united

For as long as I can remember, the amount of money involved in politics has been an issue.  Even before the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United, there was ‘soft money’ for campaigns from the political parties.

However, the landmark decision in Citizens United didn’t just change the rules of the game – it fundamentally changed the game.

Citizens United gave individuals the ability to donate unlimited amounts of money to political campaigns.  The ruling also gave corporations the same rights as people, therefor allowing corporations to donate unlimited funds.  The worst part of the Citizens United ruling is how it allowed donors to remain essentially anonymous.  Billionaires like the Koch Brothers and Sheldon Adelson could literally donate a billion dollars without anyone knowing.  This would be true if they did not tell everyone they did it.

We all agree that money is power in politics.  In political campaigns, money is everything – that is why the day after each election, they start begging for money for the next election. Money allows you to buy airtime on TV and radio.  Money allows candidates to send out post cards to every person in their district (my friends at the USPS thank you for that, by the way).  Without money, candidates cannot even get their names out there to the people. Money is everything in a campaign.

Once again, we are at the point where we need to reform our political contribution system.  The money in politics is giving more weight to the corporations and lobbying groups than the actual people that candidates are elected to represent.  Take the recent Senate vote on common sense gun reforms and universal background checks.  Many of the Senators who opposed background checks are also in tight with the NRA, who is a massive lobbying group for the gun manufacturers.  Even though between 80-90% of Americans believe that we should have universal background checks on all gun sales, 46 US Senators voted it down.  Why? Because they do not want to lose the financial backing, or face the wrath of the uber-rich NRA.

We must fix this system, or our democracy will completely fall apart.  This is why New Hampshire Legislators have introduced HCR2. HCR2 is a resolution urging US Congress to amend the US Constitution to overturn Citizens United.  Simple, right?

In a recent UNH poll, 72% of Granite Staters believed this we should overturn Citizens United.  This is 72% of all Granite Staters – Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike.

“These numbers make it clear that the political will exists to reclaim democracy from corporate and special interest spending – in New Hampshire and around the country,” said Marge Baker, executive vice president of People For the American Way. “Voters across the state are speaking out to insist that our democracy is truly of, by and for the people.”

UNH Poll supporting overturning citizens united

So why haven’t you heard about this resolution? Because it has no chance of even being debated in the NH Senate right now.  Recently Senate President Peter Bragdon changed the rules of the Senate to say that a ‘super majority’ would be required before the Senate would even consider House resolutions.  If this sounds vaguely familiar and highly dysfunctional, think: US Senate Filibuster on a smaller scale. This change means that the NH Senate is not even going to discuss the resolution.

“New Hampshire voters, like most Americans, are fed up with the Citizens United anything-goes approach to money in politics. Six in 10 New Hampshire Republicans, nearly three out of four independents, and nearly eight in 10 Democrats support a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. That’s why 10 Republican Representatives joined Democrats in passing HCR2 at the state House last month, and why the state Senate should now also heed the will of the voters,” said Peter Schurman, campaign director at Free Speech For People.

These Senators are elected to represent us. When the people overwhelmingly agree that this needs to change, something should change.  The Senate should stop hiding behind this arbitrary parliamentary rule.  Bring the resolution to the floor and let’s discuss it.

Jonah Minkoff-Zern, senior organizer of Democracy Is For People at Public Citizen sums it up perfectly:

“The only question is: Are the politicians ready to follow the will of the people, rather than the giant campaign spenders?”

 

Where Can I Get A Good Job? The Answer Is Always The Same, Join A Union

  By Matt Murray | April 25, 2013 - 12:53 pm | ,
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Good Jobs Report Graph 3

How many times have you heard that there are no ‘good jobs’ out there?  I hear it almost every day. People talk about how they can only find low-paying jobs that will barely keep their family fed.  This national trend is one of the biggest depressors of our national economy.

For the basis of this discussion, let’s start by defining a ‘good job’.  A ‘good job’

  1. pays a “living wage” of at least $19 per hour
  2. includes employer provided health insurance
  3. includes some type of retirement (traditional pension or 401k)

When was the last time you saw a job offer with all of those features? Jobs like this are getting harder and harder to find.  The Center For Economic and Policy Research has released a new report that talks specifically about the loss of good jobs.

Since 1979 the number of good jobs in the United States has fallen 27.4%.  Wonder where they went? Yes you guessed it, overseas.  All those good manufacturing jobs that helped to rebuild America after WWII, gone.   It was policy changes that led to the vulture capitalist stealing our good jobs and selling them to countries with the lowest bid, all in the name of profits.   Now we need to make policy changes that will bring these good jobs back, and we can.

There are a few ‘tricks’ we can use to turn a bad job into a better job.  Remember the three things required for a good job? Pay, retirement and healthcare.  The United States has already begun the process to create a universal healthcare plan.  Call it what you want, Obamacare, Affordable Care Act – either way it will lead to millions more Americans getting access to healthcare options they have never had before.  With healthcare, people will live healthier, better lives because they will get preventative care. And that will save hundreds of billions of dollars the government spends each year on uninsured people who – in desperation – end up coming to the emergency room for medical care.

Retirement is a little more tricky; or is it? We already have a system for that too.  It may not be the best system, however it has worked for millions for more than a quarter-century.  Social Security is another way workers can invest in their future to retire with dignity.  Yet now our Congressional Representatives are threatening that very program.  We want people to have better lives: stop cutting Social Security! Ensure that people can actually live out their golden years on the money they have invested in the government.  If there is not enough money in the program, raise the cap and bring in a little more from the people who have plenty to spare.

There are two tricks to turn a relatively bad job into a better job by these standards.  To get a ‘good’ job, workers would still need to make $19 per hour – and that means less money for corporate executives and less profit paid out as dividends.

Don’t want to settle for just a ‘better’ job relying on Social Security and government healthcare?  You want a truly GOOD JOB?  I can tell you where to get one, but first you are going to have to sign this card.  That’s right folks, the Union is the ticket that gets you to the promised land of good jobs.

Good Jobs Report Graph 3

We all know that union workers make more on average than non-union workers.  Unions are also more likely to have employer-provided healthcare and retirement options than non-union workers.  So if you want a good job, join the union.

The CEPR report confirms what I have been saying on this blog for years now.  The CEPR report even goes as far as say that union organizing has had more influence than sending all our kids to college.

“Increasing unionization appears to be substantially more effective than a comparable expansion of college attainment. Given that increasing college attainment is a long and expensive process, these findings suggest the importance of emphasizing unionization as much or more than college attainment as a key path to improving job quality.”

Unions help train workers to get good jobs.  Some states are begging for skilled trade workers. We need to organize.  We need to remove the stigma that working with your hands for a living is a bad thing.  All workers deserve the opportunity to get a good job.  We need to continue to rebuild our ranks and pull the floor up!