Tag Archives: Organizing

Transport Workers and Machinist Union to Jointly Represent Ground Workers at the “New” American Airlines

  By New Hampshire Labor News | May 14, 2013 - 9:56 pm | , ,
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TWU and IAM Logo
TWU and IAM Logo

TWU and IAM Logo

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) and the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) today announced a partnership to jointly represent nearly 30,000 ground workers at the “new” American Airlines following the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.

This week the two international unions have signed joint agreements to cover the Mechanic & Related, Fleet Service, and Stores employee work groups at the soon to be merged airline. The new labor partnership, to be known as the TWU/IAM Employee Association, will ask the federal National Mediation Board (NMB) to hold elections among the combined employees for each classification after the close of the American-US Airways merger.  The election will formalize the joint-council agreement reached this week.

“I am proud that our two great unions put the members first in a true demonstration of solidarity,” said IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger. “These agreements protect our members’ representation, pensions and seniority. Working jointly with the TWU, we will ensure both unions’ members are rewarded in this merger.”

“This agreement allows us to use our combined strength and resources on behalf of all our members as we move forward at the new American Airlines,” said TWU International President James C. Little.  “Both unions have decades of experience representing workers at US Airways and American Airlines and both unions are members of the AFL-CIO.”

Following certification, negotiating committees comprised of an equal number of representatives from each union will begin working out the details of collective bargaining agreements to cover the combined carriers’ employees.

The accords reached this week, designate which union will enforce a post-merger agreement in specific cities, as well as providing a mechanism to designate contract enforcement responsibilities if the carrier expands to new markets.

The IAM currently represents Mechanic and Related, Fleet Service, and Stores employees at US Airways; TWU represents these classifications at American. TWU also currently represents aircraft dispatchers, flight crew training instructors and flight simulator engineers at both airlines. Additionally, IAM represents Maintenance Instructors at US Airways.

The full agreements and a Question and Answer document are available at both the IAM website www.usaamerger.com and at the Transport Workers Union’s website: www.twu.org.

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.

Two Years And Counting: NH Community College Adjuncts Still Waiting For A Contract.

  By New Hampshire Labor News | April 25, 2013 - 7:00 am |
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CCSNH SEIU1984 Adjunct Rally 4-23-13

On a damp and unseasonably chilly morning, adjunct faculty members from the Community College System of NH (CCSNH) peacefully and collectively demanded a contract Tuesday.

As previously reported, the adjunct faculty decided two years ago to form a union through the State Employees’ Association (SEA). They are still working to get their very first contract in place. A group gathered at Manchester Community College ahead of yet another mediation session between the educators and the administration.

Adjunct faculty member Heather Strine was among those who held signs, chanted and distributed informational flyers to students, fellow educators and administrators.

“We are here to call attention to our situation,” she said. “In addition to not having a contract, we are now faced with our teaching hours being cut back to two classes per semester.”

This translated to an annual salary of well under $20,000. Many of the adjuncts who participated in the event had the same complaint. They reported being told that full-timers will be given their courses; they are no longer needed. One adjunct commented, “We are merely contingent workers.”

Strine said that after making her own student loan payments and car payment each month, there is very little if any money left to clothe, feed and shelter her three children. “We will have to sleep in our car,” said Strine, who is a single mother.

Many of the adjunct faculty members spoke about their passion for teaching. They explained that they spend many hours outside the classroom prepping for class and staying current with the latest information, trends and technology in their respective disciplines.

“It is very humbling when students ask me how much I earn an hour,” Strine said. “I tell them that when you factor in the outside of classroom time, we make about $3.75 an hour, less than minimum wage.” She said that in most instances, the students earn more per year working at retail or hospitality jobs.

“We all have Master’s Degrees and PhD’s. We are professionals who are always counseling our students about the importance of an education,” said Ann Clune, another adjunct professor. “And, look at us. CCSNH is not practicing what they preach.”

Throughout the hour-long event, CCSNH President Dr. Susan D. Huard patrolled the entryway to the main building and peered out the window. At one point she had the head of campus security ask the adjunct faculty members and the SEA members to move. When asked what her concern was, she answered that her only concern was the students and their comfort level.

This doesn’t really jive with the way things are. Adjuncts provide 77 percent of teaching time to the students – their contribution to the students’ education far exceeds the full-time faculty. Yet, the college system’s president thinks the students feel threatened by them. It is far more likely the students will be “uncomfortable” when their favorite teachers are no longer employed.

If the adjunct faculty cannot garner support or respect from the administration, what does that say about the administration’s true thoughts about the students? Clearly the adjuncts are second rate educators in the administration’s eye. Yet, they appear to be perfectly good enough to educate community college students. This equation seems out of balance.

Post from SEIU 1984. Follow them on twitter @SEIU1984

 

Just Another Example Of ‘Those Helpful Union Guy’s and Gal’s (THUGGs)’

  By Matt Murray | March 25, 2013 - 10:30 am |
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Ferdinand Building NERCC

Despite what the radical right tries to make you believe, unions are out there helping people and their communities every single day.

The New England Regional Council of Carpenters truly embodies this. They are working to revitalize their community by refurbishing a well known Boston landmark, the Ferdinand Building in Dudley Square. The Ferdinand Building was one of the largest furniture stores in the northeast, however it has sat dorment for nearly twenty years.

Now the city of Boston and the NERCC (Carpenters Union) are transforming the Ferdinand Building into the new home of the Boston Public Schools Department headquarters.

The Carpenters Union is also investing in the local community by also hiring local workers.  By taking local workers the Carpenters Union is doubling the investment in Dudley Square.  Workers take the money the city is investing in the project and put it right into the local shops and restaurants.

The Carpenters Union is also pushing for a more diverse workforce that truly represents the community.  This includes many different races and pushing for more women in the trade.   The best thing we can do for our community is to teach people how to earn a honest living with a good wage.  Everyone knows that union jobs pay better. Giving the people of Dudley Square the chance to get in the Carpenters Union, is just icing on the cake!

The Carpenters Union put together this great video showing everyone what they are doing with this historic Boston building.

President Obama Can Do So Much More For Labor Unions

  By Bill Brickley | February 22, 2013 - 7:00 am |
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President Obama at factory (WH Photo Pete Souza)

President Obama followed up his omission of labor unions during his Inaugural Address by doing the same at his State of The Union speech.Senator Tom Harkin, a long time advocate of working people summed up the feelings of many in the labor movement during an interview with “The Hill”.

“Not one word in there about, if you want to rebuild the middle class, you’ve got to make it easier and better for people to organize and bargain collectively for their wages and for their conditions of their employment,” Harkin continued. “Not one word about that. And to me, that is the crux of their problem — is that people don’t have any power. They don’t have any power when they’re out there on the job. And you’ve got to have a balance. You’ve got to give workers more of a power to be able to bargain for things like their wages, for pensions, for family and medical leave, and paid sick leave and things like that.

“People just are powerless, and so I was just kind of upset and really saddened that he didn’t even give a nod to labor unions.”

“And you know what?” Harkin added. “He wouldn’t be there without labor unions, and neither would half of our Democrats in the Senate, I’ll tell you that.”

President Obama is not stepping up to the plate to protect unions at any level. He would not be in the oval office today without the work of unions but he for some reason refuses to acknowledge them.

The Postal Service is the largest collection of union workers in this country and they are being decimated by congressional mandates. Congress is silently watching as Saturday mail delivery is eliminated and this will further serve to accelerate a death spiral for the Postal Service. A blow to the American people and the Labor Movement. Not one mention by our President.

Its time for President Obama to take actions that will make life better for working Americans on Main St.  The Republicans are already the party representing Wall St. We do not need another political party doing that.

President Obama, when you needed help from labor unions we were there for you. Just like unions step up and protect millions of Americans every day. It’s now time that you stand up for us.

Unions, The One Thing Missing From The State of the Union

  By New Hampshire Labor News | February 21, 2013 - 6:00 am | ,
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(Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Everyone had something to say about the State of the Union address.  Some loved it, other hated it.  The President talked about a wide range of issues, like gun control and  minimum wage.

Senator Harkin from Iowa, made one comment to THE HILL, that really caught my attention.

“… The president should have mentioned labor unions in his speech, explained Harkin, who has made labor one of his signature topics as chairman of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

“And not one word in there about, if you want to rebuild the middle class, you’ve got to make it easier and better for people to organize and bargain collectively for their wages and for their conditions of their employment,” Harkin continued. “Not one word about that. And to me, that is the crux of their problem — is that people don’t have any power. They don’t have any power when they’re out there on the job. And you’ve got to have a balance. You’ve got to give workers more of a power to be able to bargain for things like their wages, for pensions, for family and medical leave, and paid sick leave and things like that.

“People just are powerless, and so I was just kind of upset and really saddened that he didn’t even give a nod to labor unions.”

“And you know what?” Harkin added. “He wouldn’t be there without labor unions, and neither would half of our Democrats in the Senate, I’ll tell you that.”

I am glad to know that I am not alone in thinking that workers rights laws need to be strengthen.  It is becoming hard and hard to organize, not because people do not want to be part of a union, but because the laws are so restrictive.

I also agree with Senator Harkin that a thank you would have been nice.  I am not asking for an invitation to the White House, just a simple thanks to all of the labor unions members who devoted hundreds of volunteer hours to help the Obama campaign and hundreds others.  In New Hampshire we made a huge lift.  We helped re-elect President Obama. We won back both seats in Congress from anti-union republicans.  We helped to elect Governor Maggie Hassan.  And most of all we completely flipped the NH House from the control of the TEA party extremists.

Like many things that unions have done, it does not go unnoticed, just unrecognized. Either way, I will be there next campaign to work to elect the people who respect workers and their rights to organize, happily.

New Grassroots Organization Called ‘The Action’ Launches Petition For A Vote On Middle Class Tax Cuts

  By New Hampshire Labor News | December 5, 2012 - 3:50 pm | ,
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The Action

Grassroots organization launches online petition urging Congressmen Bass, Guinta to do their jobs for 98%

Grassroots  group The Action plans to deliver petitions to lame ducks next week

Concord – Congressmen Charlie Bass (NH-2) and Frank Guinta (NH-1) may have lost their re-election bids, but they are still representing us in Washington as the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ negotiations begin. Today saw the release of an online petition urging Bass and Guinta to support efforts in the House to bring to a vote a bill, already passed by the Senate, which would maintain tax cuts for 98% of all Americans and 97% of small businesses. Activists will be delivering these petitions to later in the month.

Taylor Coots, state director for The Action (www.theaction.org), the group organizing the petition drive explained the effort.

“An extension for the middle class tax cut is through the Senate, but Speaker Boehner won’t bring it to the House floor for an up or down vote.  It is high time Congressmen Bass and Guinta do the right thing, break with the Speaker, and put New Hampshire middle class families ahead of Washington politics.”

A ‘discharge petition’ is currently being circulated in the House of Representatives and would give the House a chance for an up-or-down vote on a $2,000 tax cut for 98% of Americans.  Voters in New Hampshire are urging our congressmen – both of whom have long advocated for low taxes and middle-class economic health – to demonstrate their support for both low taxes and the middle class by signing the discharge petition and voting in support of the Senate bill.

Pres. Obama has advocated starting the process of getting the nation’s budget house in order with this measure. “Let’s begin our work with where we agree,” the president said, observing that the Senate has already passed the bill and that both parties agree that increasing middle-class taxes would hobble the recovery. “If we can get a few House Republicans to agree as well, I’ll sign this bill as soon as the House sends it my way.”

(CNN.com “GOP divide over Obama tax plan goes public,” Tom Cohen, November 28, 2012 http://www.cnn.com/2012/11/28/politics/fiscal-cliff/index.html).

ABOUT THE ACTION: The Action is a grassroots movement that demands Congress end the Bush-era tax cuts for the richest 2%—those making more than $250,000 per year. The Action is for critical investments that create and sustain jobs.  New Hampshire Citizens Alliance for Action is leading the charge in New Hampshire.