Crist Wins Teachers Union Approval Along with Meek

Posted on Saturday, 05.22.10

By Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Gov. Charlie Crist's strategy to appeal to groups that typically support Democrats in the U.S. Senate race may be working.

On Saturday, Florida's statewide teachers union issued a dual endorsement in the closely watched race, backing both the independent Crist and Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek. It was the first time the Florida Education Association, which consistently backs Democrats, endorsed two candidates for a general election.

``Usually it's one or the other and there's in Florida a pretty stark difference between Democrats and Republicans,'' said FEA spokesman Mark Pudlow. ``In this case, having a third candidate in there kind of changed the scenario a little bit.''

Broward Teachers Union Joins School Board in Backing State's Race to the Top Bid

The Broward Teachers Union has reluctantly agreed to join the School Board in signing off on the state's second bid for a grant from the Race to the Top competition.

With little union support, Florida came up short in the first heat of Race to the Top, a $4.35 billion national education reform program. The Broward School Board also turned its back on the state's first application and refused to sign it.

This time around, in the second round, the board decided to endorse the state's new application. Broward schools could be eligible for $34 million over four years. On Wednesday, the Broward Teachers Union did, too.

Alliance for Retired Americans - Friday Alert, May 28, 2010

House Passes "Doc Fix" for Seniors

The U.S. House passed a watered-down version of H.R. 4213, "The American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes, and Preventing Outsourcing Act," on Friday. The original bill was supposed to extend unemployment benefits, COBRA, and Federal Medicaid assistance to the states, as well as prevent doctors from being subject to scheduled Medicare reimbursement cuts beginning on June 1. The version that passed does include $23 billion in funding to put off 21% cuts in reimbursements to doctors for 19 months. This provision, known as the "Doc Fix," passed 245-171 and ensures that Medicare beneficiaries have access to quality and affordable medical care.

House Passes Watered-Down Jobs Bill, Too Late to Help Jobless

by Tula Connell, May 28, 2010

By 215-204, the U.S. House today passed a watered-down version of H.R. 4213, “The Promoting American Jobs, Closing Tax Loopholes and Preventing Outsourcing Act of 2010.” The bill extends unemployment insurance (UI) for six months. But the Senate, now on vacation, will not even consider the bill until the week of June 7, a week after UI expires for millions of jobless workers.

The bill that passed today did not include the COBRA extension or Medicaid assistance to the states. It does include $23 billion in funding to put off 21 percent cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors for 19 months and ensures that Medicare beneficiaries have access to quality and affordable medical care. It also includes subsidies for local infrastructure projects by extending the Build America Bonds program and funds for summer job creation.

Progressives Set for America’s Future Now Conference, June 7–9

by James Parks, May 27, 2010

More than a year into the Obama administration and with November elections just ahead, progressive activists will gather June 7–9 in Washington, D.C., to forge a strategy to build a majority for real change in America.

The America’s Future Now conference, sponsored by the Campaign for America’s Future (CAF), traditionally is the largest gathering of progressives in the country. There’s still time to register for the conference. Register now here or click on the America’s Future Now icon above.

Alliance for Retired Americans - Friday Alert, May 21, 2010

Friday, May 21, 2010

(Alliance for Retired Americans)

Alliance Celebrates Victory of Mark Critz in Pennsylvania
On Tuesday, Democrat Mark Critz defeated Tim Burns (R), 53% - 45%, in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District, winning a special election and a seat in Congress. Each political party said the race to succeed the late John Murtha (D) was something of a bellwether for the fall. "Seniors have elected a real friend to Congress," said Edward F. Coyle, Executive Director of the Alliance. "The Alliance looks forward to working with Mr. Critz on protecting Social Security as the President's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform comes up with its recommendations," he added, since Critz signed a pledge to oppose privatizing Social Security.

American Airlines Parent AMR Says Labor Costs are $600 Million Handicap Compared with Rivals

DAVID KOENIG, SAMANTHA BOMKAMP
AP Business Writers

3:19 p.m. CDT, May 19, 2010

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines parent AMR Corp. said Wednesday that its labor costs are $600 million more than they would be under contracts at other large network carriers, a claim that was disputed by one of the airline's unions.

The company said it expects to narrow the gap as other airlines settle their open labor negotiations.

"We have the highest labor costs in the airline industry," AMR CEO Gerard Arpey said at his company's annual meeting in New York. "It is challenging to compete when there is a wide gap between the pay and benefits you provide your people versus your competitors."

Airlines Fight Fair Election Rules

by Mike Hall, May 19, 2010

Several of the nation’s major airlines–including Delta–are mounting a huge legal battle against a new federal regulation that makes union elections for air and rail workers more fair and democratic.

The Air Transport Association and 10 of the airline industry group’s members filed suit in federal district court to block the National Mediation Board’s (NMB) May 10 ruling that says air and rail union elections must be decided by a majority of votes cast.

An election that is decided by the majority of those who vote may sound like an obvious and common sense way to decide an election. But for years, the deck was stacked against aviation or rail workers in union representation elections, because they are covered by the Rail Labor Act (RLA). Until the NMB ruling, every worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote.

Alliance for Retired Americans - Friday Alert, May 14, 2010

Incumbents Lose in WV, Utah as Voters Head to the Polls in Four More States
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV) lost his bid for a 15th term Tuesday in a primary defeat. He is the first House member to lose a reelection bid in the 2010 campaign, and his defeat comes just days after Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT) was knocked off the November ballot in Utah's convention process. Mollohan had a 98% lifetime score with the Alliance, including 100% in 2009. Bennett had a 5% lifetime voting record with the Alliance, and he scored 0% with the Alliance in 2009.

For Air, Rail Workers, NMB Rule Means ‘Democracy Won Today’

by Mike Hall, May 10, 2010

A new rule issued this morning by the National Mediation Board (NMB) means airline and rail workers will now be able to choose whether to join a union under rules that are more fair and more in line with democratic principles.

For decades, the deck has been stacked against workers covered under the Rail Labor Act (RLA) because every worker who did not cast a vote in a representation election was automatically counted as a “No” vote. The new NMB rule says that an election’s outcome will be decided by the majority of votes cast, just like every other election, from city council to the presidency.