NILRR Clipsheet January 18, 2013
Sean Higgins: Richard Trumka for Labor Secretary
Washington Times, January 15, 2013
When Labor Secretary Hilda Solis announced her resignation last week, my Washington Examiner colleague Philip Klein quipped on Twitter: “Obama may as well cut to the chase and nominate [AFL-CIO President] Richard Trumka as labor secretary this time.”
It’s funny because it’s true. A Trumka nomination would be about the only way to put somebody more pro-labor than Solis in the position. As far as she was concerned, it was her job to use the federal government to advance Big Labor’s interests.
Labor Board Head Under Fire Over Corruption Lawsuit
Washington Times, January 15, 2013
Mr. Griffin, one of three Democratic NLRB recess appointments that Mr. Obama made in January 2012, previously worked as general counsel for the International Union of Operating Engineers. A federal racketeering lawsuit accuses Mr. Griffin of complicity in covering up an embezzlement scheme.
The lawsuit, which names dozens of union officials as defendants, details an alleged scheme to defraud a union local out of money through kickbacks and extortion. The complaint was filed by 10 members of the union’s Local 501 in Los Angeles.
Labor board: Scranton police chief cannot do routine police work
The Times-Tribune.com, January 15, 2013
A Scranton police chief may not do the job of a unionized police officer unless immediate action is required, meaning former Chief Dan Duffy violated labor law by repeatedly conducting routine police work, a state Labor Relations Board hearing examiner has ruled.
Read the ruling HERE
Daniel Borenstein: CalPERS planning to gut a key cost-control provision of new pension law
Contra Costa Times Online, January 14, 2013
By administrative fiat, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System has undermined a key anti-spiking provision of the new state pension law that Gov. Jerry Brown signed last summer.
The key provision is pretty simple: New employees will receive pensions based only on their “normal monthly rate of pay or base pay.”
Richardville: Right-To-Work Law Pro-Worker, Not Anti-Union
Monroe News Online, January 16, 2013
Michigan Senate Majority Leader Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, said he voted for a state right-to-work law because the state will be perceived as a better place to do business, not because he’s anti-union.
“Because of the economic conditions in this country and global competitiveness, whether you believe right-to-work actually has an impact or not doesn’t matter as much as whether the decision-makers do,†he told those attending a Monroe County Chamber of Commerce lunch on Monday. “And I’ll guarantee you the decision-makers, especially in the Midwest, look at whether you’re a right-to-work state or not.â€
Op-ed: Pa. will prosper with pro-labor right-to-work reforms
Patriot-News Online, January 16, 2013
Pennsylvania proves columnist George Will’s labor axiom: “Freedom is not the unions’ friend.†In reality, right-to-work legislation is pro-labor, allowing personal choice. It is only criticized as anti-labor by union organizations which depend upon forced membership and by politicians whose campaigns benefit from union cash.
Pennsylvania right-to-work legislation, pension reform, and paycheck protections may seem politically improbable, but they are inevitable. When state politicians enact these reforms, either out of conviction or necessity, Pennsylvania will become more prosperous.
Judge dismisses Ind. right-to-work law challenge
Associated Press Online, SFgate.com, January 18, 2012
A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by union members challenging Indiana’s right-to-work law that was enacted last year.
The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 filed the lawsuit last year trying to block the law, which bans contracts between companies and unions that require workers to pay union representation fees. The legislative fight over the Republican-backed law led to boycotts by Democratic lawmakers during the 2011 and 2012 sessions.
Firefighters’ labor dispute reaches absurd low
Las Vegas Review Journal Online, January 17, 2013
City officials, in trying to improve efficiency and make local government run more like a business, last year touted a “gain sharing” program that awarded one-time bonuses for workers who’ve sacrificed to help meet budget targets and maintain services. More than 500 union and nonunion city workers accepted the bonuses, worth hundreds of dollars.
It turns out, the International Association of Firefighters Local 1285 didn’t care much for the idea of bonuses as well – but not because they thought it was poor stewardship of tax money. The union filed a 10-page complaint with the Nevada Local Government Employee-Management Relations Board, alleging city management’s public comments about gain sharing amounted to a bad-faith attempt to “influence bargaining by communicating directly with the employees.”
Why in the world would the city even consider rewarding the firefighters’ union with more duties, more money, more negotiating leverage and more political power – while killing private-sector paramedic jobs – when the union spits on undeserved generosity because it’s not enough?
Court gives Bucks man access to salaries for state college professors
Phillyburbs.com, January 17, 2012
Commonwealth Court has said the Bucks County man can have the salary and benefits information he sought for the professors and employees of the 14 universities in the state higher education system with a Right to Know request. Those universities include California, Kutztown, Indiana, Slippery Rock and West Chester.
However, Judge Bonnie Leadbetter is giving the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties 30 days to decide if it will appeal her decision to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
If the faculty union decides to appeal and prevails, Campbell said that decision could have a huge negative impact on the public’s access to government information.
In addition . . . Campbell is seeking individual names and job titles and said he plans to post the information on his website, stopteacherstrikes.org.
The union is embroiled in a protracted contract negotiation that has brought it to the brink of a strike, although negotiations this month with the state system have led to some tentative agreements.
Spokeswoman Lauren Gutshall said the union has been preoccupied with contract negotiations and it has “not formally decided†if it will appeal Leadbetter’s decision.
Additionally, Campbell said he has been concerned that the state open records office has been too quiet in this battle, an allegation denied by the head of that office.
Unions look ahead on fight over right-to-work
Chron.com, January 17, 2013
Union leaders looking for an olive branch from Gov. Rick Snyder in his third State of the State address say he left them empty-handed, but they vow to keep fighting to bring down right-to-work legislation enacted last month.
“We’re going to lobby every time we feel it’s necessary,” said Mike Green, president of United Auto Workers Local 652. “Not just the UAW, this is working people.”