CWA INFORMATIONAL PICKET AT SEATON HALL
On May 5 the Communication Workers of America held an informational picket outside of Seton Hall at the Sisters Hospital site against the Catholic Health System (CHS). District 1 Vice President Chris Shelton was in town for this event. The focus of the picket was union busting. Kenmore Mercy Registered Nurses have been working without a contract since January 31, 2009. The two parties are not that far apart but CHS has stated that they “are not unable to settle this, but unwilling “ Along with this there are numerous outstanding grievances some dating back to 2007. The HR Director treats the Local President and Executive Board representative and stewards with no respect. They disregard grievances, delay meetings, lie about the status of grievances and while we are working on resolutions to one they are advising managers on other ways to violate the contract. Along with this CHS is refusing to negotiate with the Union over the effects of the Sisters of Charity Hospital /St. Joseph Hospital merger. There are many issues with this and we are working with legal council to get the appropriate unfair labor practice charges filed. We would like to thank all the unions, the AFL, CEJ, WNYCOSH, friends of labor, and all the members of CWA who made this a great picket. Stay tuned because this is not over. Thanks again to all.
In Solidarity,
Peggy Chadwick-Ledwon
President CWA local 1133
Another successful Information Picket!
On February 25th CWA 1133 and Kenmore Mercy RN's held an informational picket in front of Kenmore Mercy Hospital between the hours of 11:30 & 1:30.
The picket was a huge success!
More than 150 people showed up in support of our nurses, and were spreading the word. We believe our message was loud and clear: fair treatment for all nurses! The local media was present and the news coverage will spread the word even further. Hopefully we will be sitting down with CHS soon to finish the bargaining process, so we can get a FAIR agreement we can take back to our members for ratification.
Thanks to everyone who showed up for the picket. We couldn't have done it without you!In Solidarity,
Deb Arnet
Chief Steward CWA 1133
President Obama Signs American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as the stimulus plan, passed the Senate on February 13. President Obama signed the legislation last Tuesday.
By expanding job opportunities for working Americans – especially in critical areas like broadband build out and other infrastructure investment – this plan will get the economy moving again. Critical provisions for CWA members include:
- More than $7 billion in federal grants to expand broadband Internet access in rural and underserved areas, as well as $350 million in funding for broadband data mapping.
- Nearly $54 billion for states for fiscal stabilization, plus funding for state and local governments for transportation, infrastructure, education, health care and other critical needs.
- $50 billion for energy programs, much of it focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy, including $2 billion for advanced battery manufacturing.
Thousands of CWA Members and participants in CWA's Speed Matters campaign sent letters and made calls to their Members of Congress and Senators to help win passage of the Act.
Stimulus Extends Trade Assistance Benefits to Service Workers
In a big victory for service workers, the Obama administration's stimulus plan corrected a long-standing injustice by extending federal Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) to customer service professionals, high-tech and public sector workers who have lost their jobs due to offshoring, imports, and other trade practices.
CWA customer service professionals have been a big part of the fight to gain equal treatment under the trade adjustment assistance program. At CWA customer service conferences, participants organized lobbying campaigns and other efforts to push Congress to give service workers the same benefits that manufacturing workers already have. TAA provides job training, extends jobless benefits and helps in keeping health care coverage.
TAA coverage was also extended to cover public workers in service occupations who are increasingly losing their jobs to offshoring as some states and municipalities send customer service jobs overseas.
A new Office of Trade Adjustment Assistance has been established to help workers get the benefits they need. More information is available at http://www.doleta.gov/tradeact/.
Next Step: Deficit Reduction
In a televised address this week, President Obama will lay out his goal for cutting the outrageous deficit run up by George W. Bush. President Obama's Tuesday appearance before a joint session of Congress will be followed by the release of his 2010 budget outline on Thursday. President Obama inherited a deficit of about $1.2 trillion from President Bush, and wants to reduce that by 50% by the end of his first term.
President Obama is expected to propose spending the stimulus responsibly to get America back to work, eliminating tax breaks for the rich that were built into future budgets, redirecting $70 billion spent annually on the ill-conceived war in Iraq and taxing the hedge funds that ruined our economy.
He will also address the need for further spending in health care, energy and education. CWA has signed on to a letter calling on President Obama to include substantial funding for health care in his budget, in order to bring "everyone in America under the protection of comprehensive health insurance coverage."
Home is Where the Lobby Visit Is
Members of Congress were in their home districts last weekend and CWA members were there to meet them. Taking advantage of a scheduled "district work period" which allows legislators time to leave Washington, members from across the country visited their local offices to talk about the Employee Free Choice Act, health care, and other critical items on CWA's legislative agenda.
In Florida, members delivered over 5,000 cards in support of the Employee Free Choice Act as well as nearly 400 handwritten letters to the office of Senator Bill Nelson. During their meeting with an aide to the Senator, they shared their stories and asked for Senator Nelson's support.
In New York, members met with Congressmen Dan Maffi (NY-25), Eric Massa (NY-29) and an aide to Congressman Michael Arcuri (NY-24). All three members have agreed to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act.
Last year thousands of CWA members prepared for the opportunities presented by the 2009 elections by participating in day-long workshops about the Employee Free Choice Act and Health Care. Much of the material they covered is available online at www.freechoicecwa.org and www.healthcarevoices.org.
The next district work period is tentatively scheduled for early April. If you would be interested in participating in a lobby visit please contact your local to find out how you can get involved.
Solis Nomination Vote Expected
The nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis (CA-32) for Secretary of Labor is expected to move forward in the Senate this week. Solis is a long time champion of workers' rights and her nomination has been held up in the Senate by Senate Republicans who are concerned that she will put the rights and safety of American workers ahead of the interests of big business. Solis is a firm supporter of the Employee Free Choice act and, if confirmed, will be a strong voice for workers in President Obama's cabinet.
Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act
Flight attendants face many hurdles in order to qualify for Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits. These hurdles are particular to airline employees since current FMLA language has been narrowly interpreted and has failed to take into account "the unique way in which the airline industry counts its workers hours."
AFA-CWA members have been fighting for fairness in the way FMLA benefits are administered. Earlier this month, the House of Representatives passed the Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act by a unanimous voice vote. The bill, introduced by Congressmen Tim Bishop (NY-01) and Thad McCotter (MI-11), will clarify the original 1993 FMLA law and ensure that flight crews are treated fairly and qualify for benefits. A similar bill was introduced and passed by the House last year on an overwhelming vote of 402-9. The Senate did not vote on the measure before the end of the Congressional calendar.
Federal Shield Law Reintroduced
Reps. Mike Pence (IN-06) and Rick Boucher (VA-09) have re-introduced the Free Flow of Information Act, also known as the Federal Shield Law, in the House of Representatives. Shield laws allow journalists to shield confidential sources from disclosure except in certain situations such as when national security is at stake. Journalists represented by CWA's Newspaper Guild sector have long advocated for shield laws because confidential sources provide an important check on government corruption and wrongdoing. While most states have shield laws, there is no protection at the federal level.
Chemical Security Bill Will Protect Us All
Plants that manufacture and use large quantities of chemicals in the United States continue to be prime targets for potential terrorist attacks. Current legislation is inadequate to protect workers at and communities near these plants, and the minimal protection that it does provide will expire in October.
CWA has signed on to a letter asking Congress to pass a new chemical security bill that will reduce the danger that these plants pose by replacing hazardous chemicals with less dangerous alternatives.
A wide variety of CWA members are exposed to these dangers at work, including those in manufacturing, public water treatment facilities, health care workers, and those at university laboratories. In addition to phasing out the most hazardous chemicals, the bill allows workers to be involved in the assessment of the hazards at their workplaces.
Although cost effective safer technologies are available, many facilities have yet to adopt safer technologies and chemical manufacturers oppose new regulation.
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Execs Use Taxpayer Bailout to Fight Employee Free Choice
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Just days after getting a $25 billion taxpayer bailout, Bank of America hosted a conference call to round up business opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act. Among those on the call was another recipient of a taxpayer bailout, AIG, which got more than $40 billion from working families and other taxpayers.
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