By Melissa Chan

– Republican presidential hopeful Ted Cruz on Sunday pledged to filibuster any appointee President Obama nominates to fill Justice Antonin Scalia’s seat on the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Texas senator said he would prolong the process of the president selecting a new successor to the bench after Scalia’s death. “This should be a decision for the people,” Cruz told ABC News’ This Week host George Stephanopoulos. “Let the election decide it. If the Democrats want to replace this nominee, they need to win the election.”

Obama said he plans to make a nomination “in due time.” He also said the Senate would “fulfill its responsibility to give that person a fair hearing and a timely vote.” The death of the conservative Scalia has upended the Republican party and could change the Supreme Court, which previously swung 5-4 conservative.

“Right now, the court is exquisitely balanced,” Cruz said. “This next selection needs to be a referendum on the court. The people need to decide.”

Brief PhillyLabor Editorial – (Ted Cruz’s statement that he will filibuster President Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee IS everything that is wrong with Washington. It’s the type of gridlock based Partisan politics that people are so sick and tired of and likely the reason why a raving lunatic like Donald Trump is the leading Republican candidate in the race for President ahead of Cruz. Smell the Coffee Mr. Cruz!)

Source – http://time.com/4224367/ted-cruz-filibuster-obama-supreme-court/

By Tom MacDonald

– A Philadelphia labor union is using unmanned aircraft to survey building sites in the city.

John Dougherty, head of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council says he’s bought three drones scanning the city for unscrupulous contractors who are violating building codes.

“It’s more to get the unlicensed contractors sometimes undocumented workers just document it and send it to the right authorities and let them know,” he said. “It’s just a more positive way to do business in the modern world.”

Dougherty, who also is business manager at the influential IBEW Local 98 of the electricians union, says the overhead surveillance could even save lives.

“Who is to say if we had a drone flying around 22nd and Market Street [before the 2013 building collapse there] we could have prevented that tragedy,” he said.

Dougherty says if they find something troubling, they will send it to city officials or even federal officials for further investigation.

Source – http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/philadelphia/90995-union-leader-johnny-doc-now-has-his-own-air-force-video

By American Postal Workers Union

– The Postal Service earned an operating profit of $1.3 billion in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2016, compared to $1.1 billion the same time last year, according to financial results released Feb. 9.

This marks back-to-back years that the USPS enjoyed an operating profit exceeding $1 billion – without using a cent of taxpayer support.
Shipping and packaging volume increased by 16.2 percent, compared to the same time last year.

“These results demonstrate that it is time to expand – not cut – the services we provide to the American people,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.

“Dedicated postal workers led the Postal Service to an impressive holiday season, which strengthened the financial outlook,” he said.
“For the USPS to continue to improve, Congress must pass postal reform legislation that eliminates the pre-funding hoax, which chokes the Postal Service financially.”

Vince Tarducci, President
Local 7048

Source – http://about.usps.com/news/national-releases/2016/pr16_006.htm

By The Associated Press

– ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) – One of the nation’s largest police unions won’t hold its annual picnic at a Pennsylvania amusement park after learning how officials treated an employee with special needs.

The (Allentown) Morning Call reports (http://bit.ly/1Qr7MKn ) John McNesby, president of the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police, said the union decided to move its picnic after hearing about Chris Emery’s attempt to return to his job at Dorney Park for a 13th season.

A change in the hiring process forced Emery, who cleaned restrooms, to interview for his job in a group setting. He was told he didn’t pass.

McNesby says the process got under the skin of union members.

Mike Fehnel, the Allentown park’s general manager, has said the company respects and values all of their workers, and they want Emery back.

Brief PhillyLabor.com Editorial – Chris Emery is a recent Dorney Park employee with special needs who was not rehired because evidently he no longer fits the employee profile at the amusement park. What a disgrace!!! Kudos to John Mc Nesby and Co. for standing up for Chris!!!!

Source – http://mobile.philly.com/beta?wss=/philly/news&id=368364581