Mike Hogan, Alvin Brown Split Union Endorsement in Jacksonville Mayoral Race

Submitted by Abel Harding on February 16, 2011 - 7:00am

Republican Mike Hogan and Democrat Alvin Brown picked up a co-endorsement in their bid to be Jacksonville's next mayor from the North Florida Building & Construction Trades Council, a 50-year old organization that represents area construction trades unions.

The group said its influence reaches approximately 10,000 construction workers and their voting age spouses, family members and friends.

The group also endorsed Duval County Sheriff John Rutherford in his bid to win a third term, Property Appraiser Jim Overton and former state Rep. Dick Kravtiz's bid for Tax Collector.

In addition, endorsements were issued in the following races:
City Council District 1: Clay Yarborough
City Council District 2: Bill Bishop
City Council District 3: Mario Rubio
City Council District 5: Lori Boyer
City Council District 6: No Endorsement
City Council District 7: No Position
City Council District 11: Doug Moore
City Council District 12: Doyle Carter
City Council District 13: No Endorsement
City Council District 14: Jill Dame
City Council District 1 at Large: David Taylor
City Council District 2 at Large: John Crescimbeni
City Council District 4 at Large: Jim Robinson
City Council District 5 at Large: Robin Lumb

Even Clay Superintendent Surprised by Board’s Rejection of Teachers Contract

Posted: February 18, 2011 - 6:45pm

By Beth Reese Cravey, Dan ScanlanShock and disbelief. That’s what Clay County teachers are dealing with in the aftermath of the School Board’s denial of a long-debated contract Thursday night.

The 4-1 vote came after Clay County Education Association members gave the 2010-11 contract tentative approval after eight months of sometimes contentious negotiations with the School Board.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos Says He is Opposed to High-Speed Rail, Too

Submitted by Matt Dixon on February 18, 2011 - 9:23am

Two days after Gov. Rick Scott rejected $2.4 billion in federal funds for high-speed rail, Senate President Mike Haridopolos says he supports the move.

Friday morning he sent out a release under the headline "Senate President Haridopolos Rejects Federal Funds for High-Speed Rail." Remember, this is two days after the initial rejection.

Also, here is a reminder from the Orlando Sentinel that Haridopolos, who is also running for U.S. Senate, at one point was supportive of the plan.

Anyway, here's the full release:

SENATE PRESIDENT HARIDOPOLOS REJECTS FEDERAL FUNDS FOR HIGH-SPEED RAIL

TALLAHASSEE - Senate President Mike Haridopolos released the following statement today on the status of high-speed rail funding in Florida:

Jacksonville Firefighters Endorse Mike Hogan for Mayor

Posted: February 18, 2011 - 8:24am

By Jim SchoettlerMike Hogan had the guns. On Friday came the hoses.
The 1,200 member Jacksonville Association of Firefighters voted Thursday to endorse Hogan for mayor over two other candidates they interviewed - Audrey Moran and Alvin Brown.

Union president Randy Wyse said the group did not interview candidate Rick Mullaney because he said he didn't intend to seek union endorsements.

Hogan got the firefighters’ support when all but one of about 150 people gathered for the vote voiced their approval of Hogan, Wyse said.
He said among the many pluses Hogan brings is his prior work as a labor relations manager for Southern Bell

Hogan got the firefighters’ support when all but one of about 150 people gathered for the vote voiced their approval of Hogan, Wyse said.
He said among the many pluses Hogan brings is his prior work as a labor relations manager for Southern Bell.

NFL, Players' Union Agree to Mediation

Posted: February 18, 2011 - 12:17am

By Barry WilnerAssociated Press

NEW YORK - The NFL and its players' union agreed Thursday to mediation in their labor dispute, two weeks before the collective bargaining
agreement expires.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent U.S. government agency, will oversee negotiations in Washington beginning today.
After holding separate discussions with representatives from the league and the union, FMCS director George H. Cohen said both sides agreed to have the agency get involved in the stalled talks

IAM Urges Sen. Paul to Respect Flight Attendants

Tue. February 15, 2011

Last week, the Machinists Legislative team met face-to-face with Senator Rand Paul’s (R-KY) congressional staff to express our strong opposition to the Senator’s amendment to strip safety and health protections for professional flight attendants from the pending FAA Reauthorization bill (S.223).

The Legislative team presented Sen. Paul with a letter from IAM President Tom Buffenbarger and adamantly urged the Senator to reconsider his opposition to extending OSHA protections to flight attendants and to withdraw his amendment to strike Section 509 from the FAA bill.

“Flight attendants have been the first to die in hijackings and the very last to leave a burning or sinking plane, making sure everyone else made it out first,” said IAM Legislative Director Matt McKinnon. “They suffer permanent injuries in turbulence and endure inhuman schedules when weather and mechanical problems disrupt flights. At the very least, they are entitled to the same OSHA workplace protections that all other American workers enjoy.”

Machinists Break New Ground with Moduline

Thu. February 17, 2011

The IAM has broken new ground in its latest collective agreement with Moduline Industries Canada Limited in Penticton, British Columbia.

“For the first time, our workers over the age of 55 or with 30 years seniority can volunteer for a reduced work week schedule,” said IAM District Lodge 250 Directing Business Representative Stan Pickthall. The language calls for a four-day workweek and the participants must sign up for one calendar year and re-apply each December if they wish to continue on the reduced work schedule. “If more than ten employees apply, the shift will be granted on the basis of seniority,” added Pickthall.

House Committee Passes Unfair NMB Voting Rule Amendment

Thu. February 17, 2011

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approved legislation that would repeal a recently updated National Mediation Board (NMB) voting rule for air and rail workers. The language included in the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2011 would restore the unfair advantage carriers have enjoyed in union representation elections for more than 75 years.

Trumka: Walker ‘Can’t Have Our Freedom’

by Mike Hall, Feb 18, 2011

Huge cheers and applause are echoing across the Capitol plaza in Madison as AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka fires up those in the crowd, many of whom have been there for all the weeklong demonstrations.

“Incomes have stalled…now leaders like Walker want to take away our basic freedoms – like to have voice on the job.” #StateSOS #WIunion

“Gov. Walker, that’s too much to ask. You can’t have our freedom!” -Trumka #NotMyWI #WIunion #StateSOS #1u

New Yorkers: Solidarity with Cheeseheads

by Tula Connell, Feb 18, 2011

New Yorkers looked particularily festive in their bright yellow swiss cheese hats today, as hundreds became honorary Cheeseheads while marching in solidarity with embattled workers in Wisconsin.

Bob Fertik writes about the event at the Jobs Party blog:

In just 24 hours, NYC supporters of Wisconsin workers organized a spirited Cheesehead Rally in Manhattan to launch the Cheddar Revolution nationwide….

BREAKING: Wis. Republican Lawmakers Give Up Until Tuesday

by Donna Jablonski, Feb 18, 2011

Wisconsin’s Republican legislators have put off a vote on a bill that would undermine good, middle-class jobs and take collective bargaining rights away from some 200,000 public employees, according to JSOnline and other news reports.

AFL-CIO Blog Archives for January 2011

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AFL-CIO Blog Archives for December 2010

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