250-Mile 'March for California's Future' Begins

by James Parks, Mar 5, 2010

A diverse group of California public employees today began a 48-day “March for California’s Future.” The march, sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers (CFT), AFSCME and a coalition of labor, education and faith groups, began in Bakersfield.

The march will draw attention to the state’s budget crisis and the devastating impact of budget cuts on Californians now and into the future. The goals of the march are to restore the promise of public education, create a government and economy that works for all and establish fair taxes to fund California’s future.

Comcast Repair Techs Choose IBEW

by James Parks, Mar 5, 2010

Installation repair technicians at Comcast in Fairfield, N.J., withstood a strong anti-union campaign by the employer and voted last week to join Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 827.

The vote, which was administered by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), signals a change in the way the company’s installation repair technicians are standing up for their rights on the job, said Local 827 Organizing Chair Jason D’Errico:

Foreign Energy Firms Reap Stimulus Windfall

Four U.S. Senators are calling on the Obama administration to suspend a federal grant program that has paid out more than $1 billion in stimulus funds to foreign manufacturers. U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Bob Casey (D-PA), Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Jon Tester (D-MT) urged the Obama administration to suspend the program indefinitely until the law can be fixed so that funds only flow to projects that will create jobs in the United States.

Union of Unemployed Warns of an Endless Recession

Washington, D.C., March 05, 2010 – In the absence of economic policies that generate 450,000 jobs per month for at least 60 months, the U.S. will remain mired in a recession that will linger for years if not decades. To give the economy the traction it needs, Ur Union of Unemployed (UCubed) is calling for the immediate establishment of a public job creation program far larger than anything proposed thus far.

Rescue Package for Jobless Americans

There are rumblings in Washington of legislation to jumpstart the U.S. economy through a targeted jobs creation bill focused on expanding public service employment.

Such a program could mean the creation of millions of new jobs and a dawn to this historic jobs crisis that, since December 2007, has created midnight in America.

Fee Increases in Jacksonville Necessary, But 'Temper Tantrums' Likely

By Ron Littlepage - Story updated at 6:29 AM on Thursday, Mar. 4, 2010

The usual temper tantrums by the anti-government crowd over proposals to increase fees and the millage rate to balance the city's budget next year will be loud and nasty.

And they will completely ignore reality.

The budget crisis facing Jacksonville, not just in the next fiscal year but in future years, is indeed "sobering."

Peyton Sounds Warning: City Layoffs Possible

By Tia Mitchell - Story updated at 7:56 AM on Thursday, Mar. 4, 2010

If unions continue to resist across-the-board salary cuts, Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton said “wholesale layoffs” might be the only answer to balance next year’s city budget.

Preliminary projections show a $58 million gap between revenue and expenses, mainly because of rising employee-related costs like health care.

Teachers' Union Part of Problem, Part of Solution in Duval Schools

by Chris Guerrieri - Story updated at 4:16 AM on Friday, Mar. 5, 2010

With 11 of the 19 area high schools either failing or in a "turnaround" status, our public education is in big trouble.

Instead of giving education resources and nurturing, often we have treated it like a tree planted in the woods, just crossing our fingers and hoping for the best.

The waters of the education debate are muddied when people claim the only goal of Duval Teachers United, the local teachers' union, is to protect bad teachers from losing their jobs.

British Airways Unveils Strike-Breaking Plans

British Airways staff at Heathrow airport. Photograph: Steve Parsons/PA

British Airways cabin crew are on the brink of strike action after the airline signalled its readiness for a lengthy walkout by lining up 1,000 volunteer flight attendants and a fleet of chartered jets to maintain services during industrial action.

Willie Walsh, the chief executive, told staff yesterday that BA was "as prepared as we can be" for a strike that could come as soon as next week if peace talks with the Unite trade union break down. Representatives at Bassa, Unite's cabin crew branch, will discuss strike dates and lengths today after a source close to the talks described hopes for a settlement as a "flickering flame". According to an online Bassa poll, nearly a third of cabin crew want a walkout lasting more than 10 days.

US Airways Storm Toll: $30m In Lost Revenue

US Airways has tallied the damage from last month's snowstorms on the East Coast: $30 million in lost revenue and its worst cancellation rate in more than four years.

The Tempe-based airline on Wednesday put its first price tag on the storms, which forced it to suspend operations in Washington, D.C., for three days, Philadelphia for two and New York for one. The airline has more daily departures from the East Coast than any other carrier.

United Airlines Adds Los Angeles Flight to Reno Airport

Posted: Mar 04, 2010 9:59 PM EST
Updated: Mar 04, 2010 9:59 PM EST

United Airlines is adding an additional Los Angeles flight to the Reno-Tahoe International Airport June 10th.

The new United flight brings the total number of daily flights between Reno and Los Angeles to 14.

More Travelers Loyal to Alliances, Not Airlines

Carl Woodin views himself as a US Airways passenger even when he's flying on the planes of US Airways' foreign partners: Air Canada, Lufthansa, All Nippon Airways, Thai or Singapore Air.

Woodin, 47, a multimedia producer from Maple Glen, Pa., hasn't crossed the psychological barrier of calling himself a "Star" passenger, though he prefers the pampering he gets on the foreign members of the Star global airline alliance to what he gets on domestic flights on US Airways, also a Star partner.

IAM Executive Council

Left to right: Gary R Allen, Richard P Michalski, Lynn D Tucker Jr., R Thomas Buffenbarger, Robert Roach Jr., Warren L. Mart, Dave Ritchie, Robert Martinez Jr., and Philip J. Gruber

Is Wichita the Next Detroit?

In a recent editorial published in the Wichita Eagle, Southern Territory GVP Bob Martinez, Jr.discussed the future of the aviation industry in Wichita, KS, and addressed comparisons to Detroit’s troubled automotive industry.

Martinez acknowledged the loss of some aerospace manufacturing capacity to low-wage countries, and warned that additional outsourcing could jeopardize the industry’s dominance in technology, productivity and innovation.

Air Canada to Furlough 1,000 Aircraft Mechanics

Over one thousand highly-skilled aircraft mechanics at Air Canada will be laid off this April and the company doesn’t give a damn,” said District 140 Regional Assistant Directing General Chairperson Fred Hospes. “The Machinists have been negotiating layoff mitigation decisions with the company for months now, and they agreed to everything, but at the last minute, they tried to blackmail us,” said Hospes. “It’s bad faith bargaining plain and simple.”

Mixed Messages from Boeing CEO

The CEO of Boeing’s Commercial Airplane division, Jim Albaugh, sat down recently for a lengthy interview with Seattle Times reporter Dominic Gates and promptly took credit for driving the decision to build a second 787 assembly line in South Carolina. Albaugh then admitted that the company had outsourced far too much work and declared his first preference for a location to build future aircraft was in the Puget Sound.

Albaugh also expressed respect for Machinists and Engineers at Boeing and indicated workers would have greater input in future design decisions. The CEO said his focus was to secure long-term employment but declared that reduced wage rates would be a priority for the company going forward.

Detroit School Official's Unilateral Order Puts Office Workers Near Poverty Line

by James Parks, Mar 4, 2010

In the middle of contract negotiations, the emergency financial manager for the Detroit Public Schools is unilaterally imposing a 10 percent wage cut for school office workers and will require employees to pay 10 percent of health care premiums.

The move by Robert Bobb, who recently received an $81,000 raise, will push office employees’ average salary to barely 15 percent above the poverty level for a family of four and below the poverty level for a family of five. The average salary for the office workers currently is $25,000.

Central Fall Superindendent Agrees to Resume Talks with Teachers

by James Parks, Mar 4, 2010

The school superintendent who last week fired all teachers at Central Falls (R.I.) High School has agreed to resume bargaining and include the union in all discussions on a comprehensive education plan that will help students and teachers succeed. The move followed a nationwide public outcry, with thousands signing an online petition to tell school officials the students deserve better and they should work with teachers to build on improvements at the high school. (Keep the pressure on the Central Falls school administration. Sign a petition here.)

AFT President Randi Weingarten said in a statement that she was pleased the superintendent has agreed to resume talks:

Delta Flight Attendants Release 'OUR Song' Video

Delta flight attendants are spreading the message about their effort to form a union with the Flight Attendants-CWA via their own music video. “OUR Song,” which stands for Opportunity, Unity, Respect, was written and recorded by Jarrod Anderson, a Delta flight attendant, based in Minneapolis. AFA-CWA then put the song into a video (left).

Delta flight attendants currently are waiting for the National Mediation Board’s (NMB’s) decision on changes in the way union representation elections are held in the air and rail industries. Now, 50 percent of the workers plus one must vote for an election to be valid. The NMB is considering changing the rule to a simple majority of whomever votes.

14 Union Supporters Fired at E-Z Pass, Take Action Now

by Tula Connell, Mar 4, 2010

This just in from the Communications Workers of America (CWA):

One by one, 14 union supporters at the E-Z Pass administrative center in New York got a call from their boss on Monday asking them to “come into my office.” Then, one by one, all union supporters were told that their services were no longer needed. One union activist, Frank Buonvicino, was told, “We know you were one of the union leaders,” as he was let go. On the Friday before they were fired, all these workers had sent a message by standing up for 60 seconds while continuing to work.

The E-Z Pass administrative center is operated by Xerox. Xerox is refusing to bargain a contract with these newly organized CWA members, even though they won an election in May 2009.

Executive Council Supports Aid to Chile, Haiti and Backs Mexican Workers

by James Parks, Mar 4, 2010

The AFL-CIO Executive Council yesterday called on the world community to provide quick, no strings attached aid to Chile after the massive earthquake Feb. 27. The union leaders also reaffirmed strong support for the relief efforts in Haiti and condemned the Mexican government’s attempts to break the union at Grupo Mexico mines. Executive Council members met March 1­-3 in Orlando.

In its statement on Chile, the council said aid should be provided without any requirements of repayment. The council also urged that all aid and reconstruction projects in Chile should respect living wage standards and fundamental labor and trade union rights. Click here to read the entire statement.

Tell Big Insurance: We're Sick of It

by James Parks, Mar 4, 2010

When the heads of the nation’s insurance companies come to Washington, D.C., next week to plot strategies for killing real health care reform, they’ll be greeted by thousands of union members, community, health care and religious activists with one message: Stop. We’re sick of the obscene high rates and insurance company abuses. We want health care reform now.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will lead a large union contingent to participate in a mass rally March 9 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Washington, during the meeting of the big insurance industry front group, the American Health Insurance Plans (AHIP).

NUMMI Closing Highlights Need for U.S. Manufacturing Policy

by Tula Connell, Mar 4, 2010

Closing the New United Motors Manufacturing Inc. automotive plant in California will eliminate 25,000 jobs in the state and cost taxpayers $2.3 billion to replace the jobs lost, according to a March 3 report by University of California professor Harley Shaiken.

The Daily Labor Report (subscription required) notes:

California and municipalities near the Fremont, Calif., plant will lose nearly a billion dollars of revenue in the decade after the plant closes, according to a blue-ribbon panel formed by state Treasurer Bill Lockyer (D).