Election Results Put Employers on Notice

The events of this past week shouldn't be all that surprising to anyone. Most pundits had predicted that the Dems would likely take control of the House. The question was "by how many?".

The hope for many, however, was that the GOP would hold the Senate.

Well, those hopes were dashed late Wednesday evening when Democrat Jim Webb was unofficially declared the winner in Virginia's hotly contested Senate race.

On Wednesday, chief union bosses John Sweeney (AFL-CIO) and Anna Burger (Change to Whine) issued gloating statements.

To better understand the ramifications of what this election means to America's employers and their employees, it is important to know that this was not a "democrat" win, this was a coup d 'etat orchestrated and executed by Big Labor Bosses.

No, the military was not used in this coup d'etat (except as a diversion)...it was peacefully done through the media and by distracting the public with the red herring of the Iraq war.

Yes, calling Iraq a red herring may arguably be a controversial statement, but consider this:

Prior to getting any Big Labor endorsement, candidates were required to pledge their commitment and support not to ending the war in Iraq, but to the Employee Free Choice Act(EFCA). EFCA (also called the Kill American Jobs Act) is Big Labor's bill to force unionization on America's employers (and employees) by ending secret-ballot elections, then to require binding arbitration on said employers within 120 days of unionization.

Note: Binding arbitration of initial contracts will result in the placing of an employer's economic condition into the hands of a third-party arbitrator.

Prior to Tuesday's election, Big Labor's passage of EFCA was only two votes shy of a majority in the House and eight votes shy in the Senate.

Now, with the change in Congress, passage of EFCA when Congress reconvenes in January is almost a certainty. The only questions that remain is 1) whether the Republicans have the testicular fortitude to filibuster the legislation out of existence, or 2) whether the Democrats have the votes to override a presidential veto of this dangerous legislation.

Ironically, nearly all of those Republicans who pandered to Big Labor by pledging support of this measure still wound up seeing union endorsements go to their Democrat opponents.

So, how does the election equate to a coup d'etat?

Very simple:

The prosecution of this coup was spelled out in Sweeney's statement:

The AFL-CIO's mid-term mobilization focused on 13.4 million union voters in 32 states. In the final four days of this election alone, more than 185,000 union volunteers participated in an unprecedented get-out-the-vote effort, making 7.9 million phone calls, knocking on 3.5 million doors and reaching 2 million workers at the worksite. In addition the program focused on turning out millions of infrequent voters in battleground states.

And, before the Tuesday's winners got too drunk at their victory parties, Anna Burger sealed the deal by issuing a threat to the winners when she said:

To Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, our message is the same: No more empty promises, no more rhetoric. Working people have put you in office, and we will hold you accountable if you don't start working for us.

The message to the politicians is clear: You better follow our direction or we'll amass our armies to throw you out.

Once the Big Labor gains passage of EFCA, no employer will be safe. Union treasuries will be full, their armies larger, and their command of loyalty from the politicians to Big Labor's wishes will be absolute.

The November 7th election was about much more than Iraq and the repudiation of George Bush, this election was about the future of American free enterprise. Unfortunately, liberty and free enterprise lost a huge battle in the last 36 hours.

To America's employers: You have now been put on notice. If you weren't energized before, you should be now. The future of your company is now in jeopardy and your workers' jobs are in peril.

The Sick, the Twisted & the Criminally Perverse...

In a strange, but telling example of just how union members getting screwed by their union bosses these days, the US District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled on October 17th that a corrupt union boss who was indicted (and later pled guilty) for mail and wire fraud, interstate transportation in aid of racketeering, bribery, embezzlement from a labor organization and various other crimes was entitled to nearly $300,000 in benefits relating to the stress endured from defending his actions.

In the court's ruling, Judge James L. Robart ruled that the United Transportation Union's pension plan committee's denial of former UTU president, Byron Boyd's denial of benefits was 'arbitrary and capricious.'

After his indictment, Boyd complained to his doctor about the extraordinary amount of stress he was under. Boyd's doc wrote to the UTU, recommending the Boyd be placed on permanent and total disability.

After Boyd pled guilty, he applied for disability retirement benefits, but the pension plan committee turned him down on the grounds that his disability was caused by his "willfully criminal conduct" (no shit!?!...).

Apparently the court disagreed with this rationale, stating instead that there was no causal relationship between Boyd's criminal enterprise and his disability.

Now, that's justice!

Labor's backward direction...

Though it's been said for years that the union movement is just plain backwards, the AFL-CIO's actions this week just prove this fact.

Thanks to those observant folks at the NAM for sending this to us...

It seems the union behemoth has placed a rather large sign about the upcoming Nov. 7th elections on a building in DC for drivers to take a gander at. Problem is, the only way to view it is by looking at it in your rearview mirror.

After you check out the NAM's blog, the Shopfloor, take a gander at what those folks at NAM have to say about it:

October 30, 2006

Wrong Way For Labor - Again

Thanks to one of our regular labor skate readers, one of the many who are fed up with John Sweeney's AFL-CIO, for sending along this gem. Here's the set up: The AFL-CIO headquarters sits on the corner of 16th St. and I (also known as "Eye") street in Washington, DC. In an attempt to get their message out, they have hung this westward-facing "Had Enough? Vote" banner from the corner of their building.

Never mind that its rife with inaccuracies and that it portends flushing more of their members' money down the drain, supporting causes and candidates which the members don't support.

We're so over that.

No, to get the full impact, you must look at this picture, which includes a view of traffic on Eye Street. Notice the "One Way" signs and note which way the traffic is moving. That's right, Eye Street is a one-way street, going westbound. That means the sign faces the wrong way on a one-way street, away from the hordes of people who might otherwise see it each day.

As we picked ourselves up off the floor from laughing over this latest colossally stupid move by the boneheads over at the AFL-CIO, it occurred to us that no, this was actually quite fitting. Why? Because for the hundreds of thousands of people driving westbound down Eye St. in the Nation's Capitol each week, they see labor's message the same way the rest of America can see all that was great about the American Labor Movement: In the rear view mirror.

Union hypocrisy at its finest...

This story has also been posted on EmployerReport.com

Unions are supposed to get workers higher salaries and better benefits, right?

Well, the theory sounds good...Unless you're actually an employee of a union.

The Steelworkers, the same union that once ruled Pittsburgh, owns a resort outside the Steel City called Linden Hall.

Of course, Linden Hall was bought and paid for by the dues of members of the Steelworkers, many of whom are now unemployed.

Well, the workers of Linden Hall are unionized (by Unite-HERE) and seem to be having a tough time with their union-employer (the Steelworkers).

Note: These same workers had a strike some years ago, accusing the Steelworkers of paying them poverty-level wages

It seems union management (those bastards!) wants to freeze the wages of their union workers, as well as cut their hours...which also may lead to benefit cuts!

It would seem that when the shoe is on the other foot, the Steelworkers isn't as benevolent as its PR image-makers in Pittsburgh make them out to be.

Can anyone say HYPOCRISY?

Stupid is as stupid does...

The following e-mail came in from the Kulture website:

"cry all you want. overnite will now be a union company. is it not nice to make enough in wages to afford to live in our country. waaa waaa waaa"

Now, ordinarily, idiocy does not warrant a response but, being that this person e-mailed, it is only appropriate to share the text of the e-mail with you, our loyal readers.

Yes, Overnite Transportation, now a division of UPS signed a card-check agreement with the Teamsters. And, yes, that agreement was signed during the Hoffa convention in Vegas over this past summer. And, yes, Hoffa used it to his political advantage to shove in the face of his political opponent Tom Leedham.

However, now that UPS gave Overnite to the Teamsters, the drivers will be able to watch their dues money go into a union that has lost more than 800,000 members since 1980, lost the majority of its major NMFA carriers, sat idly by while its pension funds became underfunded (to the tune of about $10 billion in the CSPF), and still has what some consider corrupt leadership.

Now, the Overnite drivers can join their union brothers, as their pension funds get cut as the money goes to pay for the pensions of workers who never worked a day at UPS and their leaders continue to bloat their own coffers.

A WALMART JOB ACTION

Although this hasn't appeared on any major news sites, it was posted on EmployerReport.com earlier...

It appears that Walmart has had its first ever work stoppage in the United States.

On Monday, approximately 200 team members at one of the retail giant's stores in Florida walked off the job in protest of schedule changes.

Walmarts in Florida have been targeted by the Walmart hate groups for some time, namely the UFCW, et al.

Is this a sign of things to come? Perhaps...

Stay tuned to EmployerReport.com for more info.

It's about time...

After more than six months of supporters of illegal immigration controlling the debate and union bosses clamoring to add the aliens to the union membership rolls, at last their are a couple of unions beginning to question this blind loyalty to those who have their members' jobs.

Last month, the IBEW was the first major union to publicly oppose amnesty.

The question now becomes: Will other unions take the IBEW's lead or will they continue pandering to the left-wing of the AFL-CIO's demo-socialist party?

September 28th...The Day Unions Went Hollyweird

It's now official, union have gone from the radical to the radically ridiculous!

On September 28th, instead of staging your average run-of-the-mill sit in protest, UNITE-HERE staged your average run-of-the-mill media event, complete with protestors pre-marked to be arrested by the LAPD.

Hell, the arrestees were even told to leave their jewelry at home.

Why?

Well, it seems UNITE-HERE wanted media coverage and nothing more to draw attention to their efforts to unionize the hotels around LAX. The didn't want the arrestees to really be arrested. Just be arrested for the evening news. They didn't want their martyrs to be real martyrs, just fake martyrs....Actors, really.

The union honchos even set up a website ahead of time.

So, instead of just calling a press conference like normal media hounds, union organizers decided to inconvenience LA commuters just to make a big splash.

Whatever happened to the days of an average union protest with some tear gas and horse-mounted police to make the evening news? Welcome to the new age of unions...fake protests, fake protestors and fake arrests.

I suppose it's just a sign of the times...

Instead of unions being led by leaders of yesteryear like Sam Gompers and John Lewis, America now has a bunch of dues-chasing charlatans claiming to be union leaders.

Too bad the "three strikes and your out" law doesn't apply to these jokers!

Blatant Hypocrisy or Mere Opportunism?....

Am I missing something?....

After reading this article, I still don't get it...

Doesn't anyone else see it?...

Am I looking at it all wrong?...

I don't think so, but I just don't know why no one has pointed this out...

If you see someone commiting a crime, do you have a duty to call the police...or do you "look the other way"?

If you see someone comitting a crime, do you help the criminal continue perpetrate and charge him for your time? Does that make you a criminal or a mere opportunist? If you go out and actively recruit said persons engaging in the illegal activity into your organization, wouldn't that make you a conspirator or your organization a criminal organization?

Now, as unions are going out to recruit workers who are in this country illegally, why is it that no one has questioned Big Labor's complicity in furthering a illegal activity? Doesn't Big Labor have a civic duty to turn in illegal activity? How is it they can get away with taking money from workers who they know are working for a company employing said workers illegally? Aren't they furthering a crime?

How is it that Big Labor gets a get-out-of-jail-free card on this one???

An airplane crash always brings out the worst in people...

As a frequent air traveler, it seems like there's nothing like an airplane crash to cause the worst in people to come out.

It always becomes a freakin' media circus, with NSTB officials standing on a dais with a bunch of other uniformed offcials standing behind them looking rather grim talking to the cameras and vowing to get to the bottom of it...blah, blah, blah...

After not having a significant crash since American Airline's flight 587 went down in Staten Island, NY in 2001, officials are clamoring to have another circus after the doomed Comair Flight 5191 went down on August 27th, killing 49 of 50 passengers and crew.

This time, however, the union representing the air traffic controllers is weighing in with its agenda--even though they say they're not--by blaming the Bush administration's FAA (primarily)--who is also fumbling with trying to figure out what city the plane actually went down in (thankfully, they got the state right!).

"In no way are we going to use a tragedy to advance our own union agenda," spokesman Doug Church said. "That's not what this is about. But it is very concerning the FAA admitted they were not staffing the facility appropriately."

Not pushing an agenda, Doug? Yeah, right!

It's always the "BUT" of a sentence that make one wonder about the agenda...

AND, of course, let's not forget the ambulance-chasing Democrats who, in this election year are pining to hold a hearing on anything and everything ...

Finally a labor leader who isn't a whore stands up...

With union bosses publicly and pathetically chasing illegal aliens down for their membership and dues money, it has been rather curious as to why more union members (or independent thinking union leaders, if there are any) haven't said: "ARE YOU F***KING INSANE?!?"

I mean, really!

C'mon, union bosses! Have you no shame?...No morals?...No sense of loyalty to the hard-working Americans who have paid your fat paychecks for decades?!?

Are you that desperate?...Or are you just that depraved?

Here you are, union bosses, helping to bankrupt industries, close companies, and chase American jobs out of this country...You have FAILED American workers by the MILLIONS and NOW when the blood has been sucked out of your American victims you want to represent illegal alien workers?!?

Come on now!...

Well, lo and behold, in Milwaukee this past Labor Day weekend, Local 75 of the Plumbers & Pipefitters decided to take a contrarian stand to their Washington AFL-CIO masters iby refusing to march in the city's Labor Day parade.

Why?

Because Labor Day march planners had decided to co-mingle the Labor Day march with another "immigrant (aka illegal alien) march"

According to Harry Kreuser, Local 75's Business Manager, "there was conversation about bringing in the Hispanic community to participate in the parade, and it was a rally on their part for legalizing the illegal aliens in the Hispanic community. And we just felt that this parade should not be a political parade or a political statement as much as it is for Labor Day."

Way to go, Harry! We may be on polar ends of the labor-management spectrum, but at least you seem to have some backbone (unlike your comrades who seem to want to sell their souls for the dues money of illegal aliens)!

A post script: As a former union worker and local leader whose job (along with hundreds of others) was sent to Mexico more than a decade ago (before NAFTA, BTW), this kind of moral prostitution is exactly why unions in America should be dissolved.

Stupid is as stupid does (again)...Teamsters get contract after 7-week strike

After seven weeks on the picket lines over the issue of time off, the Teamsters finally got a contract at a Marathon Oil refinery in Minnesota.

After seven weeks of lost wages, the Teamsters got employees a 3.5% increase and a $1500 signing bonus. (Wow!) It kind of makes you want to ask: Guys, was it worth losing two months worth of wages?!?

PLUS, ya gotta love this quote(!):

"The strike, which began on July 19, had no impact on production at the refinery, as 140 engineers and other nonunion personnel took over operation at the refinery, which is the smaller of Minnesota's oil refineries."

The Great Popcorn Panic...

Somewhere there's a story in this...But I can't quite figure out the union's angle (YET...).

But, here's the gist of what I've been able to figure out.

The UFCW is raising all kinds of alarm bells across America about workers exposed to a chemical that goes into popcorn and it being somehow linked to "popcorn lung disease." Although the union hasn't asked for popcorn to be pulled from the shelves, they're making one helluva big stink about the buttery stuff!

We'll keep you posted on this. But, until then, keep poppin'!

EmployerReport.com is now officially online

For those of you regulars to this blog, you know that EmployerReport.com has been in the works for a couple of months now.

This morning, the official press release went out on the wires. You can view the release via the link above, or just direct your friends and associates to EmployerReport.com.

Oh Great!...Arizona is the target of leeches (er...unions)...

From Wikipedia: Leeches are annelids comprising the subclass Hirudinea. There are freshwater, terrestrial and marine leeches. Like their near relatives, the Oligochaeta, they share the presence of a clitellum. Like earthworms, leeches are hermaphrodites. The medicinal leech, Hirudo medicinalis, which is native to Europe, and its congeners have been used for clinical bloodletting for thousands of years.
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Being from the Grand Canyon state, I can attest to the fact that unions are weaker in Arizona than they are here in the Northeast. They should be...it's a dry heat.

In fact, with the exception of an 'honorable mention' now and then in the local press, unions in Arizona are pretty much as common as a javelina strolling down Scottsdale Road. You see 'em now and again, but just not that much.

Note: If you do not know what a javelina is, you may click here.

So, when I read that unions were infiltrating the formerly wild west of Arizona, I was pretty bemused and rather disgusted.

Unions, like any other parasite who has killed off its host must either find new blood--or die.

Well, the leeches are moving out west, as have all the Q-Tips (blue-haired retirees), Democrats, and other Frapuccino-drinking libs.

The leeches follow the jobs, not realizing that they are the disease that has killed thousands.

One can only hope that the desert floor proves too hot for the leeches and they dry up and blow away.

Oh well, as the song says:

Arizona take off your rainbow shades
Arizona have another look at the world
Arizona cut off your Indian braids
Arizona why dontcha go my way
Arizona take off your hobo shoes

An Oldie but a Goodie...

Sometimes the politically correct has to give way to humorous reality! This is an oldie and always a goodie!
___________________________________

A dedicated Teamsters union worker was attending a convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the local brothels.

When he got to the first one, he asked the Madam, "Is this a union house?"

"No," she replied, "I'm sorry it isn't."

"Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?" the Teamster asked.

"The house gets $80 and the girls get $20," she answered.

Offended at such unfair dealings, the union man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionized shop.

His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the Madam responded, "Why yes sir, this is a union house. We observe all union rules."

The man asked, "And if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?"

"The girls get $80 and the house gets $20."

"That's more like it!" the union man said.

He handed the Madam $100, looked around the room and pointed to a stunningly attractive blonde.

"I'd like her" he said.


"I'm sure you would, sir," said the Madam.


Then she gestured to a 92-year old woman in the corner... "but Ethel here has 67 years seniority and according to union rules...she's next."

Just a reminder...

Just a reminder, EmployerReport.com is up and running. So, if you're curious as to why there are fewer posts than normal, it's because we're only blogging when there's something that really intrigues or infuriates us....Like the assh*le Corzine in NJ (see below).

There he goes again!!! NJ's Corzine slipping it to his union ex-babe at taxpayer expense!

Those poor NJ taxpayers (and their kids) are getting screwed again by their billionaire governor and his union honcho ex-squeeze...

Last month, it was the state shut down that cost the taxpayers millions in order for the billionaire to get his tax increases passed, using his ex-girlfriend and current union boss, Carla Katz', clout to muscle it through.

This month Corzine & Co. has given his ex, her union (the CWA), and AFSCME a huge payoff for last month's rallies at the statehouse.

He gave his union buddies NJ's 7,000 registered child care givers--apparently without the workers even voting on it!

According to NJ's Star Ledger:

Corzine signed an executive order formally recognizing the Child Care Workers Union. The order authorizes the state to "enter into good faith talks" with the new union, Corzine said in a prepared statement.

The workers will be jointly represented by the Communications Workers of America Local 1037 and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 1, said CWA local president Hetty Rosenstein. AFSCME officials could not be reached for comment yesterday....

Rosenstein said. If negotiations lead to higher pay and other perks, there
could be an added cost to taxpayers.

Given New Jersey's propensity to elect corrupt politicians, it is little wonder why the state's motto is "The Garbage State."

A conflict of interest?...AFL-CIO opposes parental notification on abortion

A conflict of interests and ideals?

Leftist labor ideologues of the AFL-CIO's Executive Council, convinced by feminists, are opposing Proposition 85, a California ballot initiative to provide parental notification on abortions, which prompted this statement from Father Frank Pavone of the National Director of Priests for Life:

“It’s an absolute betrayal of working families that the people who are supposed to represent them, their unions, have decided to help undermine their roles as parents,” said Fr. Pavone. “The AFL-CIO Executive Council can no longer claim to represent the little guy when it backs the mega-million dollar abortion industry over the interests of its own members.”

The next question becomes: How does labor's left, apparently being "led" by the feministas, reconcile its image with the largest group it's currently courting: immigrants (most of whom are latinos, mostly Catholic and [presumably] anti-abortion)???

When will someone call these clowns on there hypocrisy??? Oh, I guess we are!

In calling for Mexican election recount, is RWDSU admitting illegals are members?

If a union knows its members are illegal aliens, does it have a duty to report them... Or, does it continue collecting their dues, while turning a blind eye to illegal activity?

Hmmm....

The RWDSU, which is holding its convention in Orlando this week is calling on the Mexican government to conduct a vote-by-vote recount.

What is more interesting is this amazing statement by Stuart Applebaum, the union's president:

The RWDSU represents many workers who are immigrants from Mexico and many of these joined with almost 40 million other Mexicans to vote in the July 2, 2006 elections to choose a new President and Legislature. [emphasis added]

Now, is Applebaum acknowledging that his union is harboring illegal aliens? If so, what is he going to do about? Hmmm?

Starbucks gets beaned in San Jose

There's nothing like a union to screw-up a good deal!

Starbucks came up on the losing end of a deal to provide San Jose's city hall workers with some java, but the politicos wanted the master tenant to sign a "labor peace" agreement. Instead of bowing to the legal extortion, the tenant, who was planning to rent space to Starbucks and another vendor, backed out of the deal.

Now, those city hall workers will be without the good old green and white.

Too bad, they probably could have used the caffeine to get something done!

Sssh! It's a secret...EmployerReport.com will be live on Labor Day 2006

Sssh! Pass it on....

We're starting to spread the word (quietly) that www.employerreport.com is coming on Labor Day 2006!

Let us know what you think!

Damn! Jury orders UNITE-HERE to pay $17.3 million in defamation suit

$17.3 million! That's a lot of money from member's dues!

From Sutter Health:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. July 21, 2006 – One of the nation's largest labor unions has been ordered to pay nearly $17.3 million in damages for defaming the not-for-profit Sutter Health network of doctors and hospitals. A jury in Placer County, Calif. found New York-based Unite Here acted with fraud, malice, or oppression when it mailed defamatory postcards to consumers in communities served by Sutter Health hospitals.

The jury awarded Sutter Health and its plaintiff hospitals $17,292,850 in damages for harm to Sutter Health's business and reputation."We are pleased that leaders of Unite Here have been held legally accountable for recklessly frightening patients and the public through outrageous and false allegations," said Michael Roosevelt, chair of the Sutter Health Board of Directors. "We truly hope this decision encourages labor unions like Unite Here to think twice before using shameful scare tactics that ultimately hurt patients in an attempt to advance a political agenda."

Comair given OK to throw out union contract

A US bankruptcy judge has given Comair, a subsidiary of bankrupt Delta Air Line, permission to void its contract with its flight attendant's union.

Teamsters strike oil refinery over time off

Well, going out on strike is certainly one way to get some time off...

At Marathon, the Teamsters want more time off and are apparently opposed at the company's desire to give them less time off--so they struck...

The company, which is using union-free employees to operate the refinery, says that production will not be impacted by the strike.

That, of course, begs one to wonder: What if the company gives the strikers what they want--permanently???

ESAB plant manager bristles at 'union buster' label

Following a UAW-initiated strike, where the union got its members permanently replaced, an interesting article on the plant manager's take on the strike.

Unions want to unionize illegals

'Pathetic'?...How about 'depraved'?....Either one or both work just fine to describe today's union leaders.

After failing their legal American members, todays union leaders now want to unionize illegal aliens.

How about this for a suggestion? Since it's illegal for employers to hire illegal aliens, why not make it illegal for unions to extend membership to illegal aliens...and since illegal aliens are working somewhere, wouldn't it be aiding and abetting a criminal enterprise for unions to collect money that was obtained illegally?

UAW's woes may be larger with potential alliance

With the possible alliance between General Motors and NIssan-Renault, the UAW is getting nervous. This article explores the ramifications...

NJ State Building Trades Rebuke State AFL-CIO

More union infighting? Yep! In New Jersey, the drama just goes on and on and on and on...

In a move that has deep ramifications for a state with large union density, 250 top officials with the state building trades council voted this week to rebuke its president and withhold money and political manpower after his attacks on a Democratis state lawmaker sided with the CWA and Governor John Corzine's budget plan (which gave state residents a huge sales tax increase).

According to an article in the Goucester County Times, the trades council has also opted not to participate in the AFL-CIO's annual political endorsement conference this September and withhold up to $4.6 million in political funding.

"At this point in time (Wowkanech) chose one union over another union. Instead of being a mediator, he got in the fight and chose sides," said Jim Kehoe, president of the United Building and Construction Trades Council of South Jersey. "It's a very substantial message. It's never happened before."

NWA Flight attendants' new union agrees to concessions

The union that just got elected to replace Northwest Airlines flight attendants' independent union less than two weeks ago agreed to contract concessions totaling approxmately $195 million.

The AFA-CWA was elected less than two weeks ago on the promise of a stronger union for the flight attendants. It apears now that the AFA-CWA is now attempting to bolster its support by stating:

"With the airline in bankruptcy, this deal was always going to be about survival," said Mollie Reiley, interim president of the Northwest branch of the union.

"We left no stone unturned and we have made a significant difference together, but this is not a day that we celebrate. We have an agreement that will give flight attendants hope for the future and one that allows us to fight another day."

Danny Campbell, interim vice president of the Northwest branch of the Association of Flight Attendants, said a quick vote was in the flight attendants' best interests.

"We need to move on with trying to get the company out of bankruptcy so we can put up a good battle in the future for getting back some of the things we gave up," he said.

To avoid strike, SAB Miller agrees to go into Teamster Health & Welfare

Apparently sensing the summer heat wave that is currenly upon us, the execs at SAB Miller agreed to place their workers into the Teamsters' health and welfare plan to avoid a strike.

According to press reports, the deal will save the company $13.5 million over the life of the contract.

Of course, there are no reports on the actual quality of the plan.

This Quote of the Day comes from the UFCW

Following the thwarting of a decertification attempt by workers at Tyson Fresh Meats Inc., a beef processing plant in Joslin, Ill, the United Food & Commercial Workers is now committed to 'representing the interests of the workers.' According to the Bureau of National Affairs:

Jill Cashen, a spokeswoman for the international union, said the decertification campaign would serve as a "wake-up call." Moving forward, she said the union would focus on more effective strategies for representing the interests of Tyson workers affiliated with Local 1546.

"Anytime workers file a recertification petition it's a wake up call for us," Cashen told BNA. "These things give us a reason to look at our role and the job we're doing with the bargaining group. We're glad we won the election, and we want to continue to do the best job we can to represent these workers."

Her startling comments makes one wonder: What have you been doing all this time with the dues money you've been collecting from these workers?

Democrats air, then pull ads with flag-draped coffins (view it here)

Though there's not a lot to cheer about with the GOP, this proves there is nothing endearing about the Democrats!

Talk about an insult to our soldiers and their families!

AFL-CIO's Acuff: It's Class Warfare!

According to the People's Weekly World, the Connecticut AFL-CIO is ready for war! A war of the classes, that is.

At its convention last week, the CT AFL-CIO went on its usual blame-Bush rampage, with AFL-CIO Director of Organizing Stewart Acuff declaring, “[T]hey’re waging class war and it’s time we wage it back!”

Acuff urged the delegates to “elect a real pro-working families majority, then take to the streets.”

Liberal luminary, Sen. Chris Dood (D-Conn) roused the mob by stating, "[T]he crowd that runs the House of Representatives, the Senate, and the White House are doing everything they can day after day to turn the clock back.”

Of overlooked, but equal significance, the PWW reports that the convention the convention "updated its bylaws for the first time in a decade, and by acclamation deleted all anti-Communist clauses left over from the 1950s era of repression."

Not Miller Time! says Teamsters

The Teamsters are saying a strike at SAB Miller is 'imminent.' The issue? What else? Health care costs.

The Teamsters, however, are wanting the company to go into the Teamsters health & welfare plan...The company, smartly, is rejecting that trap.

Auto factory jobs coming to America?

Although the UK union is a tad upset with MG Rover's new owner, Nanjing Automobile, to build a new assembly plant in Oklahoma, it appears there may actually be insourcing of factory jobs here in the good old US of A.

Of course, it helps that Oklahoma is a right-to-work state.

Eee gads! Unions are being outsourced overseas, as well?

Thanks, David, for sending this one!

An interesting article from the Technology Commerce Society (whoever they are) by Ian Murray on the benefits of globalization, how it has lifted the living standards of poor workers all over the world, etcetera, etcetera.

Well, the interesting thing is how unions are now attempting to unionize these workers--even though, in one example cited of a textile company in Turkey, the workers' wages are in the top 2 percent of their industry.

In fact, the unions are even using the tactics that their American counterparts use--like corporate campaigns and attempting to force unionization on workers even though the workers don't want the union.

If this trend continues, the question then becomes: Will the globalization of unionization cause these workers (like their American predecessors) to have their jobs exported too?

Nurses rally in advance of NLRB decision on supervisory status

Here's one for the Only in California column:

The California Nurses Association is a 'hootin an' a' hollerin (when don't they?) over the NLRB's impending decision on what constitutes a supervisor or not...A decision that may (or may not, as it hasn't been decided yet) deprive unions of their precious dues money by potentially making certain members of the bargaining unit into members of management and, therefore, ineligible for union membership.

Gasp! More dues money evaporating from union coffers??? It's no wonder the union is shrieking!

So, what is a supervisor? Well, it's pretty simple (or not). The NLRA (as amended), Section 2(11) defines a "supervisor" as:

"any individual having authority, in the interest of the employer, to hire, transfer, suspend, lay off, recall, promote, discharge, assign, reward, or discipline other employees, or responsibly to direct them, or to adjust their grievances, or effectively to recommend such action, if in connection with the foregoing the exercise of such authority is not merely of a routine or clerical nature, but requires the use of independent judgment."

To get their point across, the CNA has even threatened to call wide-spread strikes over the issue if the NLRB doesn't give them their way.

Keep screaming, ladies, we're sure the NLRB will hear you all the way in DC!

Cummins hit by IAM/IBT strike in NW

In a strange show of solidarity between two unions usually at war with each other, the IAM and the Teamsters are striking diesel maker Cummins at shops across the Northwest.

Illinois politicians attempt to thwart workers' wishes in unionization fray at Resurrection Health Care

Though health care system employees at Chicago's Ressurection Health Care aren't in contract talks, arent striking, and haven't even had an election to vote to unionize, Democratic union shills US Senators Barack Obama and Richard Durbin and U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky, Melissa Bean, Jerry Costello, Danny Davis, Rahm Emanuel, Luis Gutierrez, Jesse Jackson Jr., Daniel Lipinksi and Bobby Rush have sent a letter urging the union-free system to "initiate a dialogue."

“We are not going to engage in a dialogue with a union that hasn’t been elected by our employees to represent them,” Resurrection spokesman Brian Crawford said. He said a prompt response will be sent to the lawmakers, but declined further comment until after the letters are sent.

So much for Democrats standing for democracy, when the workers haven't even elected a union!

Mormons 0 - Teamsters 1...Appeals court rules religious slurs okay in campaign

Big surprise: A federal appeals court has ruled that it's okay for union organizers to slur the Mormon ownership of a Company, the Church's practices of collecting tithings, and, presumably, all other religions during organizing campaigns...

Of course the Teamsters were unionizing a group of mostly latino (and Catholic) workers.

The Mormon-owned company may appeal...

Child support enforcement workers' strike over in Ohio

To the chagrin of deadbeat dads in Columbus, the 4-week strike that got the spectre of law enforcement off their back is now over.

The Teamsters took these county workers out and would up losing the battle. Under the settlement, workers wil get three percent raises in each year of the three year agreement, BUT will have to start contributing to their health care and are losing their county-funded retirement system.

Clearly these workers will be even more bitter than the average public worker, which means:

Time to pay up, pops!

Ground Zero strike is over

No details on the settlement, but Operating Engineers local 15 should be back to work Monday...at more than $80 an hour. [Thanks Mayor Bloomberg!...]

Fickle flight attendants flip unions at NWA

Switching unions almost as fast as they switch their hair color, the flight attendants at Northwest have voted to dump the independent union they dumped the Teamsters for just three years ago.

The winner in this latest tussle is the Communications Workers of America, the old dinosaur from the telephone industry. A couple of years ago the CWA thought that associating with the Association of Flight Attendants just might make sense...So they merged forces (so to speak) and became the AFA-CWA.

Problem is, the AFA-CWA only has 10 days to negotiate a deal before NWA imposes its labor concessions.

Teamsters proclaim innocence in San Jose mayoral scandal

In case you missed the blog a few days ago, San Jose's mayor has got himself into a heap of trouble...which has cost SJ residents $11.25 million more for their trash than originally budgeted for.

Now, the Teamsters, who are at the center of the scandal insist they didn't do anything wrong. Yet, the mayor and Norcal have both been indicted. Go figure!

The San Jose Mercury news has a nice little slideshow of the timeline.

Operating Engineers strike Ground Zero

Already making $80/hour, Operating Engineers Local 15 has struck NYC sites after rejecting an offer that included 6% annual increases.

DEM vs. DEM: As New Jersey shut-down enters day 2, Corzine pays off his union buddies

"Welcome to New Jersey, where we kill and eat the weak"
(As seen on a T-Shirt in Newark airport)

New Jersey really is a sick and twisted kind of place....And not just because it's the armpit of the country and home of HBO's make-believe Sopranos and countless other real-life thugs, but because of its stupid politicians and the voters that keep electing them.

See if yoos folla dis one...

Here, we have a Democrat billionaire who was just-elected as governor with the help of his ex-girlfriend (who also happens to be the head of the state's largest public employees' union[CWA])..

No sooner does he take office, he then declares that there needs to be a BIG tax increase in order to solve the budget crisis...

[Ya gotta keep in mind that dis guy replaced dat LAST Democrat governor who resigned 'cause he finally figured out that he was gay and about to be outed and who admits he was trolling the NJ Turnpike rest areas looking for gay sex.]

HOWEVER, instead of doing what the private sector would do in a budget crisis, the billionaire opts to favor his ex-chick and curry her further goodwill by exempting the state workers from any sacrifices, like pay cuts, more co-pay for health insurance (things that a failing business would need to do), or making cuts in the bloated state workforce.

His ex-chick (da union boss), then decides to put all of her union muscle behind the billionaire, telling her members to support the governor's tax increase...squid pro quo, anyone?

When other Democrats sqwawk and fail to pass a budget by the July 1st deadline, the billionaire governor declares the state to be 'shut down'...All non-essential state workers must stay home.

A LAY OFF...? No. In New Joisey it don't quite work dat way, see?

Well, here's the best part of the story:

Since the billionaire caused the shut down, essentially laying off the state workers for however long this political brouhaha lasts, the billionaire governor has promised to pay the state workers for their lost time!

Guess who get stuck with the tab on that one!?!

That's right, the same NJ voters who put the billionaire in office!

According to the Morris Daily Record, during a Monday morning CNN interview, Corzine [the billionaire governor] said "all of the state workers will be getting make-up pay for what they are not receiving."

"If that is the case, then just tell them to come to work," said Sen. Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester.

"If the intent is to have the workers stay home and then pay them, he might as well have them there," Sweeney said. "What is the purpose of shutting down state government?"

Wait, isn't that what welfare is???

If you're wondering where the Republicans are in this whole mess, they've been kept out of it. LITERALLY! The Democrats literally locked the Republican lawmakers out of the rooms where the budget committees were bickering!

Only in New Joisey.

Democrats: "If Democrats fail to capture the House, labor will be partly to blame"

The one thing that the disorganized labor movement is usually organized on is politics. That is, the backing of Democrat candidates is almost always (read 99% of the time) on Big Labor's agenda.

However, it seems that the Democrats are getting flustered with the lack of solidarity of unions in toeing the party line all the way for November's election.

According to The Hill, some Dems are angry that some unions are spending dough on the GOP. While the list of union flip-flopping on money and politics is long in this article, here's an excerpt:

Organized labor has also poured tens of thousands of dollars into the campaign accounts of highly vulnerable Republicans, in several instances surpassing the amount given to Democratic challengers.

Rep. George Miller (Calif.), ranking Democrat on the Education and the Workforce Committee, has disclosed that at least one of his House colleagues has said that, if Democrats fail to capture the House, labor will be partly to blame. Miller, a lawmaker close to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), shared that anecdote with labor officials, according to a union lobbyist, perhaps sending a subtle message of displeasure that Democrats know labor is hedging its bets.

Rep. John Sweeney (R), the Democrats’ No. 1 target in New York, has won the endorsement of the local affiliate of the Laborers’ International Union of North America and of the Albany affiliate of the Building and Construction Trades Department of the AFL-CIO, Sweeney’s campaign says.

Ralph's $70 mil. fine doesn't cover UFCW's humilation, says embittered writer

Remember that Southern California grocery strike when the UFCW took 70,000 workers out for 4 1/2 months and lost their shirts? Well, according to Brian Sheppard, the recent $70 mil. fine that Ralph's was required to pay for its illegally hiring workers during the strike is "but small payment for having so publicly humiliated and fiscally destroyed unionized grocery workers..."

The payments will not begin to equal the money that Ralphs and other grocery stores will save, here and elsewhere, as a result of the contract that the union was finally forced to sign, nor will it make the national labor movement whole for the illegal and unfair tactics used by the grocery stores.

WSJ Affirms what we've been saying since '03: Unions are failing to get contracts 45% of time for newly unionized employees

It's nice to be a trendsetter. Although it's only now being reported by the Wall Street Journal, we picked up the 45% figure in '03 from UNITE-HERE and have been quoting it since then. Now that the WSJ's reporting it via FMCS, everyone will be using it...

Here's the deal:

Roughly 45% of newly formed unions fail to negotiate a first contract with an employer within two years, according to 2004 data from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, a federal agency that mediates labor negotiations. Labor officials say they believe the figure has risen since then, as companies grow increasingly wary about health care and pension benefits...

Since unions fail almost half the time to deliver their product, what good are they?...It's like buying a car that only starts half of the time.