NILRR Right to Work Clipsheet October 30, 2015
Baltimore Sun Online, October 23, 2015
Union leader Glenard S. Middleton called Thursday for a “full investigation” into the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, following allegations some maintenance workers demanded sex from female residents to make repairs.
Why 8,737 UPS retirees are bracing for pension cuts
CNN Money online, October 27, 2015
But the fund has been hit hard financially by the aging workforce. It now has five retirees for each worker. And the deregulation of the trucking industry forced many of its member companies into bankruptcy. Unlike UPS (UPS), which paid billions of dollars to cover its workers when it left the fund, some of the bankrupt companies couldn’t pay up. So now Central States is making cuts to most of its participants’ benefits, regardless of which employer they worked for.
No such thing as ‘nonpolitical activities’ for public sector unions
Orange County Register Online, October 29, 2015
That means that millions of government employees across the country contribute to organizations that spend their dollars for partisan causes. We have divided government at the federal level and in this state. Yet public sector unions give almost exclusively to just one party. In the 2012 election cycle, 89 percent of their contributions went to one party. In 2014, it was 90 percent.
Unions form national coalition to ward off attack by right wing
UFT.org, November 5, 2015 New York Teacher Issue
The American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association have joined together with other public sector unions to combat the right’s attempt to use a case before the U.S. Supreme Court to hamstring them financially by abolishing agency fees for public-sector workers, UFT President Michael Mulgrew reported to the Delegate Assembly on Oct. 14.
The other two unions in the national coalition are the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Service Employees International Union.
Marsico’s ‘union intimidation’ bill heading to governor for enactment
Pennlive.com, October 27, 2015
Controversial legislation that would specifically prohibit harassment, stalking or making threats of using weapons of mass destruction by individuals involved in a labor dispute is on its way to Gov. Tom Wolf for enactment.
Right to work group slams Chattanooga UAW election as ‘monopoly unionization’
Times Free Press Online, October 27, 2015
The National Right to Work Foundation said today that the United Auto Workers call for an election at Chattanooga’s Volkswagen plant is a “push to impose monopoly unionization on workers.”
NOT QUITE AN AMBUSH, BUT DEFINITELY FASTER
politico.com, October 28, 2015
The bad news for unions is that the union win-rate is unchanged. Speedier union elections are presumed to make it easier for unions to win, but that isn’t happening. Since the election rule took effect unions won 68.8 percent of elections, compared to 69 percent during the same period in 2014. The number of petitions filed is also unchanged: 1,446, compared to 1,442.
TRIBAL LABOR BILL MAY HIT FLOOR NEXT WEEK:
politico.com, October 27, 2015
The bill has the support of a few key Democrats and the Indian casino lobby, but is opposed vigorously by labor unions like UNITE HERE, whose members include Native American workers and non-Indians working at tribal casinos. A companion bill is working its way to the floor in the Senate, but timing is still uncertain.
CLINTON, SANDERS COURT LARGEST SEIU LOCAL:
politico.com, October 27, 2015
Hillary Clinton is trouncing Bernie Sanders in the race for primary union endorsements, but one large prize remains unclaimed: the 1.9 million member Service Employees International Union. The union is leaning toward a Clinton endorsement, but a vocal Sanders contingent has spent months urging it to hold off on a primary pick.
Bernie Sanders Joins Verizon Picket Line
Huffingtonpost.com, October 26, 2015
In a rare move for a major presidential candidate, Democratic hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) joined a picket line with Verizon workers in New York City on Monday.
UNION MAY REQUIRE IN-PERSON RESIGNATIONS
politico.com, October 27, 2015
An NLRB judge ruled that it’s legal for a union to require its members to appear at a union office in person before resigning from a union or opting out of dues checkoff. “The policy at issue here does not, on its face, threaten, prohibit, or penalize members from resigning, or bar resignations at certain times, or render such resignations ineffective to avoid union sanction,†Judge David Goldman said.
Candidates Bicker Through Final Governor’s Debate
wfpl.org, October 26, 2015
Bevin said the state needs to enact tort reform and right-to-work legislation to improve the job climate in the state.
Public-Sector Unions Are Losing Their Clout
Townhall.com, October 27, 2015
The dues checkoff system gave Hubbert an unfair advantage at the state capitol over groups representing parents and taxpayers, who had to rely on voluntary contributions from their members. The AEA’s reliable flow of government-collected dues money could be used to support liberal causes such as gay marriage, which most Alabamians oppose.
When Act 761 is fully in effect after the last legal obstacle is finally removed, AEA will probably suffer a sharp reduction in its revenue. That’s what happened in Wisconsin after a similar law known as Act 10 was upheld by another federal circuit court.
Rauner: Collective bargaining reforms ‘critical’ to budget deal
mywebtimes.com, October 26, 2015
The Republican is insisting that he won’t agree to a budget deal unless it includes a series of reforms from his “turnaround agenda,” including one that local governments should be allowed to opt-out of collective bargaining on pay and benefits for their workers.
Competitive Enterprise Institute, October 26, 2015
Labor law has dramatically changed under the Obama administration via the pro-union National Labor Relations Board. Many longstanding Board precedents have been tossed aside in favor of policies that inappropriately advantage union organizing.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) wants to further tilt the playing field in favor of unions with the recent introduction of the Orwellian-named “Workplace Democracy Act.â€