By The Pa. AFL-CIO

Labor Day is a day to honor working people and the contributions we make to our country. As we celebrate this weekend with our families and friends, we must keep in mind that there are many workers in this country who will not be so fortunate. Too many people today work second and third jobs just to make ends meet, and that is not ok.

Labor Day is often considered a holiday that marks the end of Summer or the start of the home stretch of the November election. While we are in the middle of a campaign season unlike any other, we must not forget who we are fighting for: workers and their families.

This Labor Day, let’s pledge to strengthen the fight for working people and their families. Get involved this year; it’s just too important to stand aside.

Saturday, September 3

Blair-Bedford CLC/Johnstown-Somerset CLC
Altoona Labor Day Parade
Step Off at 10am
Green Avenue and Ninth Street
Altoona, PA 16601

Labor Hall Picnic
Starts at 11am
Location:
Blair-Bedford Central Labor Council
302 East Wopsononock Avenue, Altoona, PA 16601

Sunday, September 4

Greater Westmoreland CLC
Labor United Celebration
Sunday, September 4: 11am -7pm &
Monday, September 5: 10am – 6pm
Location:
Northmoreland Park
280 Markle Rd, Apollo, PA 15613

Monday, September 5

Allegheny County CLC
Labor Day Parade
Step Off at 10am
Location
21st and Smallman Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Speakers: Vice President Joe Biden and Senator Tim Kaine

Greater Wilkes-Barre CLC
Labor Day Festival
Time: 10am-5pm
Location:
Kirby Park
160 Market Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18704

Harrisburg Regional CLC
Labor Day Breakfast
Time: 8:30 am
Location:
AFSCME Conference Center
150 South 43rd Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111

Lehigh Valley CLC
Pete DePietro Labor Day Picnic
Time: 12pm – 5pm
Location:
Wayne Grube Park
1200 Willowbrook Road
Northampton, PA 18067

Mercer County CLC
Buhl Day Parade
Step Off at 9:30
Assembling Location:
2525 East State Street
Hermitage, PA 16148

Northwest PA ALF
Labor Day Parade
Step Off at 10am
Location:
11th and State Street (to Perry Square)
Erie, PA 16501

Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO
29th Annual Tri-State Family Celebration and Parade
Parade Time: Speaking program at 9am / Step off at 10am
Location:
Sheetmetal Workers LU 19
1301 South Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Celebration Time: Starts at 11:30 AM
Location:
Great Plaza at Penn’s Landing
101 South Columbus Blvd
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Washington Green CLC
Labor Day Picnic
Time: 12pm – 4pm
Location:
South Strabane Fireman’s Picnic Grounds
1696 East Maiden Street
Washington, PA 15301

York-Adams CLC
Labor Day Celebration
Time: 8am-8pm (Fireworks at dusk)
Location:
Kiwanis Lake
York, PA 17404

Source – http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=6994

– On Labor Day, we carve out time to recognize and honor the wonderful achievements of America’s working people. Many of us will spend the day with close family and dear friends at a barbecue, picnic or other community event. While we enjoy the fellowship of our loved ones, it is important to reflect on what strengthens and nurtures the lives and communities of working people and how we can continue to protect our ability to make a good living that will sustain our families.

This Labor Day, we are asking working families across the country to take action and commit to improving the lives of all working people by voting, for a better life. On November 8, 2016, working people will flock to the polls to support policies and candidates that are dedicated to creating fundamental, lasting change for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

Find a Labor Day Event Near You at – https://actionnetwork.org/event_campaigns/labor-day-2016-find-an-event-near-you

Source – http://www.pa.aflcio.org/philaflcio/

By Susan Snyder

– Faculty in the 14-university Pennsylvania state system will vote next month on whether to authorize a strike, their union announced Thursday.

Faculty will vote on the 14 campuses from Sept. 7 to 9, the union said. Members of the coaches bargaining unit will vote a week later.

The union and administration remain at odds over health care, salary increases, and other issues after nearly two years of negotiations. The previous pact expired June 30, 2015.

Classes are scheduled to begin Monday, and the administration sent a message to the system’s 105,000 students this week assuring them that will happen.

“We want to be sure our students know that no matter what they might hear to the contrary, classes will begin on Monday,” Kenn Marshall, spokesman for the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, said. “We would hope the [union] leadership understands, as we do, the devastating impact a strike would have on students and their futures, as well as on the universities.”

The union represents more than 6,000 faculty and coaches at West Chester, Cheyney, Bloomsburg, Kutztown, East Stroudsburg, Slippery Rock, Shippensburg, Mansfield, Edinboro, Indiana, California, Clarion, Millersville, and Lock Haven Universities.

A strike would be the first in the system’s history. Strike authorization votes are typical during negotiations. But union leaders have said that this time they will set a strike date shortly after the vote is taken. They also have said they will not allow the semester to end without a new contract.

The union’s delegates agreed unanimously to hold the vote during a conference call Thursday, just before beginning a two-day negotiation session with the administration.

“Our faculty and coaches clearly feel that the state system has not negotiated fairly; they are more interested in playing games than negotiating seriously,” said Kenneth M. Mash, president of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculty union.

The sides have agreed on minor issues since June, said Mash, a political science professor at East Stroudsburg.

Late Thursday afternoon, the system announced that it had offered faculty cash payments of $600 this year and raises in the next two in exchange for givebacks in health insurance and an increase in the teaching load for temporary faculty. The raise would amount to 1 percent in January 2018 and 1 percent in January 2019, plus a step increase on the salary schedule equivalent to 2.5 percent to 5 percent, Marshall said.

The starting salary for a full-time instructor is $46,609, with the top of scale at $112,238 for an experienced full professor.

The system has seen an overall enrollment drop of more than 14,000 students since 2010. This fiscal year, the system anticipates a $10 million deficit even before any salary increases or new benefit costs would be added for faculty, Marshall said.

The average cost of tuition, fees, and room and board at state system universities for 2016-17 is about $21,000.

Source – http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20160826_State_faculty_union_leaders_take_a_step_toward_a_possible_strike.html