Bargaining begins this week for the Verizon East contract covering 29,000 CWAers and 14,000 IBEW members; the contract expires Aug. 1. Since early June, union members throughout the Verizon East footprint – New York, New Jersey, New England and the mid-Atlantic states – have been holding informational pickets, telling the company that "we want good jobs at Verizon." "Instead of creating good jobs, Verizon paid its top executives a quarter of a billion dollars over just five years,” say the unions. “We need more good jobs, not executive pay," is the message.Click here to keep up with the latest news.
In a virtual rerun from two weeks ago, the GOP-run Senate voted 60-37 on June 23 to limit debate on so-called “fast-track” legislation to grease the skids for future “free trade” pacts without changes, worker rights or environmental protections. President Barack Obama again lobbied hard for fast-track. But this time, senators backed fast-track without even attaching to it aid to workers who lose their jobs due to subsidized imports such pacts allow. The Senate will pass fast-track by the end of the week. The aid to the workers, Trade Adjustment Assistance, is another matter. The rerun upset union leaders, who brought together a broad coalition of workers, environmentalists, religious groups, civic groups and even the NAACP to oppose fast-track…click below to read more. - Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer; photo of April 20 rally at USTR by Chris Garlock/Union City A co-op owned and run by Montgomery County taxi drivers took another step toward reality on Monday when the Montgomery County Council Transportation Committee approved some key proposals. “While we are happy that we’ve gotten this far, we’ll continue to fight,” said Montgomery County Professional Drivers Union president Peter Ibik. The proposals, which go to the full Council at the end of July for a final vote, include a modernized dispatch system for drivers, lower credit card rates and a voice for drivers in determining their lease rates and other fees. The legislation would also provide protection for drivers from unfair termination, harassment, and disputes with fleets. “The current taxi system in Montgomery County is not working for drivers and passengers,” said Ibik. “A driver run and owned co-op is a better model to insure a viable taxi system for the disabled, senior, and the poor who live in all areas of Montgomery County.” Teachers at Frank W. Ballou High School staged a sit-in last week to protest “reconstitution,” which requires teachers to reapply for their positions. The process has resulted in a number of layoffs, while some teachers have simply left the system entirely. WTU Local 6 President Elizabeth Davis sent a letter to DCPS Chancellor Kaya Henderson criticizing the way “reconstitution” is being implemented at Ballou and pointing out that “the constant teacher turnover at the school over the past five years has created an instability that is hurting student achievement.” Davis asked the chancellor to rescind the reconstitution order. The teachers staged a sit-in in the school’s cafeteria on June 15, teaching their students about the causes and effects of the policy, which is expected to result in the loss of about 40 teachers. Click here to see coverage of the sit-in on WJLA 7. |