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.