American’s flight attendants forbidden to strike

March 25, 2011, 3:01 p.m. EDT

By Christopher Hinton, MarketWatch

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — The U.S. isn’t allowing flight attendants at financially strapped American Airlines to walk the picket lines any time soon, and that could change the tone of labor negotiations across the industry, some experts said Friday.

The National Mediation Board, the U.S. agency that referees labor-management relations for airlines, has ignored a request made a year ago by the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, asking the federal government to release it from negotiations for what’s called a 30-day cooling-off period, which then allows for a strike.

For almost three years, American Airlines flight attendants have been in talks with management, seeking improved wages and benefits as well as more job security. But management has refused to deal until the union allows it more scheduling flexibility for workers in order to increase productivity.

The NMB later said the carrier’s fragile finances and the weakened national economy would weigh heavily on its decision, according to the union.

The NMB said it would not comment on any ongoing labor negotiation.

Medicare rise could mean no Social Security COLA

Mar 27, 5:14 AM EDT

By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Millions of retired and disabled people in the United States had better brace for another year with no increase in Social Security payments.

The government is projecting a slight cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security benefits next year, the first increase since 2009. But for most beneficiaries, rising Medicare premiums threaten to wipe out any increase in payments, leaving them without a raise for a third straight year.

About 45 million people - one in seven in the country - receive both Medicare and Social Security. By law, beneficiaries have their Medicare Part B premiums, which cover doctor visits, deducted from their Social Security payments each month.

When Medicare premiums rise more than Social Security payments, millions of people living on fixed incomes don't get raises. On the other hand, most don't get pay cuts, either, because a hold-harmless provision prevents higher Part B premiums from reducing Social Security payments for most people.

Wis. Walker’s Latest Stealth Move Shows He Thinks He’s Above the Law

by Tula Connell, Mar 26, 2011

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has already proven he doesn’t care about the will of his constituents. Now, he thinks he’s above the law.

In a late Friday move–so as to get little media attention–Walker defied a court ruling and published the bill killing collective bargaining rights for the public employees. A judge had issued a restraining order on the law, passed by state Assembly and Senate in a set of dirty-trick moves. The restraining order barred its publication, but apparently the rule of law doesn’t apply to Walker.

The Wisconsin Law Journal reports that the Republican state senate leadership sees publication of the bill as enacting the law–in short, bypassing due process in the court system.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who said he went to the Reference Bureau with the idea, wasted no time in saying that the law’s online publication meant it would take effect Saturday. His brother, Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, agreed, according to a spokesman.

“It’s my opinion it’s published, it’s on the legislative website, it’s law,” Scott Fitzgerald said. “It was clear to me after our discussions this morning, if it in fact it is posted and it says published and there’s a specific date on it, it would be very hard to argue this was not law.”

Not so, says Dane County Circuit Judge Sarah O’Brien, who

refused to take up a request for emergency action made late Friday by the Democratic district attorney, Ismael Ozanne, saying there was no “critical urgency” in her addressing the posting because the temporary restraining order preserves the status quo. She said she didn’t know what effect the online posting had, and that the issue could wait until a previously scheduled hearing Tuesday in one of the lawsuits challenging the law’s legitimacy.

With residents now calling their state ”FitzWalkerstan” because of the Fitzgeralds’ close ties to Walker, seems to show again how dictatorships often start with Troikas.

House Republicans, Delta Move to Overturn Fair Election Rules for Air and Rail Workers

by Mike Hall, Mar 24, 2011

The battle over workers’ rights moves from state capitols to Capitol Hill next week when House Republicans will try to repeal rules that guarantee fair and democratic elections for workers who want to form unions.

The House is set vote on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill with a provision that would repeal last year’s new rule by the National Mediation Board (NMB) that says air and rail elections should be decided just like any other election—including congressional elections—by a majority of votes cast.

Previously under the Railway Labor Act (RLA), which covers rail and airline workers, each worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote.

Republicans and their corporate partners in the transportation industry fought to block the NMB rule through the courts and with a Senate bill last year. They are now mounting a campaign to overturn it through the FAA bill and Delta Airlines is leading the way, reports Brian Beutler on Talking Points Memo.

Now, sources say, a similar fight is likely to play out on the House floor, and anti-union employees at Delta Airlines are preparing to fly to Washington to join the fight.

Beutler says the group “No Way AFA”–a coalition of Deltal employees who want to derail union rights–sent a message to its members obtained by TPM that asserts, “Delta strongly supports the bill” as currently written. AFA is the Association of Flight Attendants, the flight attendants union.

Learning the Lessons of Wisconsin

International President Tom Buffenbarger called on delegates at the 2011 MNPL Planning Committee meeting to meet with members, face-to-face, and explain the scope of the right wing's anti-union and anti-middle class agenda currently underway in the United States.


Thu. March 24, 2011

International President Tom Buffenbarger addressed the 2011 MNPL National Planning Committee this week and described the midterm elections results as a direct consequence of both political parties’ failure to address the core concerns of American voters.

“In the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression, voters wanted bold programs and concrete proposals to create jobs and revive the economy,” said Buffenbarger. “It’s what the voters are still waiting for, and it’s what this country still needs.”

Despite the election of a slew of right-wing extremists, the results are also providing a wake-up call for the millions of Americans who stayed away from the polls last year.

“The people of Wisconsin learned an important lesson and now they’re teaching the rest of us,” said Buffenbarger, who described the extraordinary mix of farmers, office workers, students and families who turned out for the protests there. “It’s not just about unions any more, it’s about what’s right.”

Nationwide, more than 200 rallies and marches have taken place in support of workers’ rights in Wisconsin, or in response to nearly 400 pieces of anti-union legislation being proposed by right-wing GOP governors in other states.

“States like Wisconsin and Ohio are being used as proving grounds to find out how willing you are to fight back,” said John Winston, National Political Director for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC). “And make no mistake, you’re fighting against people who fundamentally do not believe in your right to exist.”

In addition to Winston, MNPL delegates also heard reports from representatives of the Democratic Governors Association, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the AFL-CIO and the Union Veterans Council.

The four-day MNPL meeting concluded with territorial action plans and the annual awards ceremony where local and district lodges were honored for their political activism in support of candidates and legislation that support workers’ rights.

Gruber Rallies for Public-Sector Workers in Wisconsin

Phil Gruber, IAM GVP Midwest Territory

Thu. March 24, 2011

IAM Midwest Territory GVP Phil Gruber, along with a delegation of IAM members, joined others in Madison, WI, to protest Republican Gov. Scott Walker’s legislation to strip public-sector workers of their collective bargaining rights.

As reported by Workers Independent News, Gruber told the crowd gathered for the city’s fifth weekend of protests that the Machinists are ready to stand side-by-side with public sector workers and take this fight head on. “If the Republicans want to wage a war against us, by God, we’re ready for it. Bring it on!” shouted Gruber.

Gruber warned that once rights are diminished for public-sector workers, there is no doubt GOP leaders will come for the private sector next. “If Walker is allowed to crush collective bargaining for the public employees of Wisconsin,” said Gruber, “it will only be a matter of time before the private sector employees are attacked, and the dominoes will begin to fall.

“As the story of labor unions is written, we have now reached the chapter where labor unions are under full attack. Thanks to the Republicans and the Tea Party, we are now fighting for our survival.

“Now is not the time to get mad, but a time to get organized. In every state where the maidens of the wealthy are trying to strip our collective bargaining rights, we will mobilize for recalls, ballot initiatives and political campaigns. IAM members have watched the wealthy destroy their jobs and their communities with unbridled greed. The Fighting Machinists have been aching for this fight.”

To watch GVP Gruber’s entire speech, click here.

People all across America are rising up in support of the workers in Wisconsin and those under attack in Ohio, Indiana and dozens of other states. Take action by joining unions, people of faith, civil and human rights activists, students and other progressive allies on April 4th for “We Are One.” It’s a day to show our solidarity. There will be a range of community- and workplace-focused actions. Click here for more information.

IAM Supports KOHKUREN in ILO Complaint

Robert Roach, IAM GVP Transportation Territory

Thu. March 24, 2011

This week, the IAM hosted the Japanese Federation of Aviation Workers’ Unions (KOHKUREN) at IAM Headquarters. The visit was part of the IAM’s continuing alliance with our Japanese brothers and sisters in the air transport industry.

During the meeting, KOHKUREN representatives explained the recently filed International Labour Organization (ILO) complaint concerning the bankruptcy-related dismissals of over 100 cabin attendants and cockpit crewmembers at Japan Air Lines.

“As North America’s largest airline union, the IAM continues to fight against all violations of fundamental human rights,” said Transportation GVP Robert Roach, Jr. “We are proud to stand with our brothers and sisters in Japan who are struggling to make certain that ILO Conventions protecting the right to freedom of association, collective bargaining, and prohibiting against discrimination are honored and enforced.”