UNITED BROTHERHOOD OF CARPENTERS AND JOINERS OF AMERICA – METROPOLITAN REGIONAL COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA & VICINITY

BREAKING NEWS RELEASE

ARDMORE, PA — Today, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America – Metropolitan Regional Council of Philadelphia & Vicinity resumed picketing at the iconic Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA. The new protest in response to the United States Golf Association’s (USGA) failure to honor the terms of a month-old labor agreement between the Carpenters and the USGA for work at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, PA, site of the 2013 U.S. Open Golf Championship, (June 13-16). The Carpenters Union, along with the Stagehands Union, had previously picketed the USGA in April for its use of Mexican nationals to perform the lion’s share of the work for the U.S. Open. The sides reached an agreement in mid-April and the two unions had been working the site until this week, when the USGA abruptly informed the Carpenters Union that it had run out of money and the services of its members were no longer required.

“The USGA under-budgeted our scope of the work. They never included us in the budgeting process, they never shared the numbers with us, and now they’re saying they’re out of money, which is ludicrous. We’re talking about one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world,” said Ed Coryell, Business Manager of the Carpenters Union. “It’s not our fault that they under-budgeted and it’s not fair that we’re not being allowed to complete the work we were promised…and there’s a lot of work yet to be done.”

The Carpenters Union, in a spirit of good faith bargaining, willingly gave up its jurisdictional rights to do the work on bleachers, tents, carpeting and scaffolding in exchange for the carpentry work. Now, it appears that the Carpenters’ good faith was betrayed by the USGA.

“It looks like the original agreement was nothing more than an attempt to appease us and get us to take down the initial picket line,” Coryell continued. “When they sprung this little surprise on us this week, we asked if we could sit down at the negotiating table and work this out. We were told they were too busy and couldn’t meet with us until June 18th at the earliest, which is, of course, after the U.S. Open. We’re not going to stand for this shameful treatment, which is why we’re back on the picket line now and will remain there right through the tournament, unless and until they return to the negotiating table and bargain with us in good faith.”

More than 25 carpenters are currently manning three picket lines at Merion Golf Club, including the main entrance on Ardmore Avenue.

– KATHY MATHESON Associated Press –

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – May 30, 2013 (WPVI) — Education officials plan to vote on what critics are calling a “doomsday” budget, an austere proposal that would force city schools to open next fall without resources like assistant principals, guidance counselors, athletics and music programs.

Thousands of layoff notices could go out in early June if the School Reform Commission Thursday approves a spending plan of nearly $2.7 billion, which includes drastic cuts in order to close a $304 million deficit.

Teachers, parents, students and community members plan to mount a huge protest outside district headquarters before the commission’s meeting. Meanwhile, voices from the business and philanthropic sectors called on residents of the surrounding suburban counties to support public education in Philadelphia.

“If we let the education of our young people go down the drain, we’re in big, big trouble,” Stoneleigh Foundation Chairman Carole Haas Gravagno said at a news conference Wednesday. “It’s going to affect the businesses, it’s going to affect the cultural life of this city.”

The state’s largest district, which serves about 204,000 traditional and charter school students, has not been able to keep pace with rising costs despite closing more than 30 schools and cutting hundreds of central office workers. Expenses include pension and health care contributions, plus payments for increasing charter enrollment.

Commissioners are trying to avoid the cuts by asking for $60 million from the city, $120 million from the state and about $130 million from unions through contract concessions.

Teachers union president Jerry Jordan has said previously that givebacks are unlikely, noting his members already pay hundreds of dollars out of their own pockets for school supplies.

Republicans in Harrisburg unveiled a state budget proposal on Wednesday that included an increase in spending on K-12 education. But the final amount of aid earmarked for Philadelphia likely won’t be known for weeks.

Mayor Michael Nutter has proposed generating about $95 million for the district through higher taxes on alcoholic drinks, cigarettes and businesses. The plan requires City Council approval and enabling legislation from the state, and strong industry groups oppose the tax hikes.

A coalition comprising bar and restaurant owners, plus alcohol suppliers, brewers and distributors, is holding a rally and fundraiser to fight the proposed liquor tax on Thursday evening, even as school commissioners meet.

Still, the district was heartened by the new support from Gravagno and local philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, who was unable to attend Wednesday’s news conference. The cable TV mogul released a statement describing healthy schools as an economic imperative for the region.

“Strong students make for a strong labor force,” Lenfest said. “Major industries and businesses of all sizes depend on that when they locate here.”

Gravagno said while her foundation for underserved children funds fellowships, not organizations like the district, she is working with the philanthropic community to drum up more support.

After Gravagno’s remarks, district spokesman Fernando Gallard said it was important to hear “a voice that’s independent to the district saying, ‘Folks, wake up! This is so crucial.'”

“Now the entire community is coming together,” he said.

The district is required to vote on a budget by May 31. If the schools end up receiving extra funds from either the city or state, commissioners will reconvene to add back programs and/or positions.

(Copyright ©2013 WPVI-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.)

Go To: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=9120883-

Walmart workers have been standing up and fighting for fair wages and working conditions — and they’ve been retaliated against every step of the way.

So now these workers are speaking out once more: They’re on strike, standing up against Walmart’s retaliation against and attempts to silence those who speak out.

And they’re taking their message directly to Walmart’s headquarters for the annual shareholders’ meeting on June 7th to make their voices heard.

Say you’re with them by signing their petition below, and we’ll make sure your voice is heard at Walmart Headquarters when we deliver petitions from allies like you.

Go To: http://action.changewalmart.org/page/s/stand-with-strikers?source=20130528_rfr_em_1

Petition to Walmart:

Walmart CEO Mike Duke:

I’m standing with Walmart workers and calling on you to publicly commit to raise wages and increase access to full time hours so that no workers at Walmart make less than $25,000 per year.

Walmart is among the most profitable companies in the US and is owned by the Walton Family, the richest family in America, yet many workers at Walmart must rely on food stamps and even go hungry because of lack of hours and low wages.

In the last year, Walmart has faced a series of alarming crises that have impacted workers and our communities throughout the world; including a fire at a Bangladesh factory that killed 112 garment workers, where Walmart merchandise is produced; an alleged $24 million bribery scheme in Mexico and high-level cover-up; and a lawsuit alleging wage theft from warehouse workers in California and Illinois.

Walmart can do better. You can start to solve these problems by treating your workers with respect, paying them a living wage, and providing them with the hours they want and the staffing levels you need — and not silencing them when they speak up for their rights.

I urge you to do so.

Sincerely,

PhillyLabor

Go To – http://action.changewalmart.org/page/s/stand-with-strikers?source=20130528_rfr_em_1

This weekend, as you travel down the shore, attend family bar-b-ques and spend time with friends, please do so honoring the memory of generations of countless brave men and women from our United States Armed Forces who gave their hearts, souls and their lives to our country so that we can enjoy the freedoms we experience everyday.

Please also do so with thoughts of the many families who’ve lost loved ones fighting for our country who still grieve privately everyday for their lost heroes.

There is no bigger act of heroism than putting one’s own life in harm’s way and making the ultimate sacrifice for the benefit and honor of one’s country. It is also the ultimate act of “Solidarity” and why the labor movement, many of whose members have proudly served their country, has always supported our Armed Forces and Veterans of Foreign War.

Finally, when your walking down the street and you see a man or woman in uniform, Thank them for their service to our country and let them know that they will always be appreciated!

Have a Happy and Safe Memorial Day!

PhillyLabor.com

A Story From the Philadelphia Public Record (http://www.phillyrecord.com/2013/05/union-leader-nutter-drove-city-workers-into-poverty/)

BY PETE MATTHEWS, President, AFSCME District Council 33/ Mayor Michael Nutter’s stubborn and vindictive refusal to settle fair contracts with AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47 is driving city workers ever deeper into poverty and negatively impacting the City’s ability to deliver vital services.

Many Philadelphia neighborhoods are facing cuts in City services due to the policy decisions of Mayor Nutter. It is not the members of AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47 who decide to brown out firehouses, close libraries and recreation centers and diminish the quality of service delivery due to chronic understaffing.

These are the policies of an Administration whose guiding principle is making due with less while cutting the tax burden of the richest 1%. That policy direction results in a demoralized, overworked and underpaid workforce unable to deliver services ordinary taxpayers expect. We now have proof to support that assertion.

A recent study written by Michael Bognanno, PhD, an associate professor of economics at Temple University, entitled “Poverty Thresholds and Rates of Poverty Within AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47”, contains valuable information that the citizens of Philadelphia need to know.

This study shows almost 42% of the employees represented by both District Councils 33 and 47 earn less than the US Dept. of Health & Human Services Poverty Guideline of $35,310.00 for a sole wage-earner in a family of four in Philadelphia.

Even more alarming, the study shows fully 58% of District Council 33 members are working below the poverty line.

In 2007, the last time members of District Councils 33 and 47 received a raise, the portion of DC 33 and 47 members beneath the poverty guideline at that time was 21%, so that the number of members of both Councils living in poverty has doubled over the last six years.

Under the scale used by the US Census Bureau, a more accurate barometer of the proportion of our population living in poverty, the portion of District Council 33 and 47 members living in poverty is 54.2% for those who have no mortgage and are the sole wage earner in a four-person household. This figure rises to 75.8% for renters and 76.7% for homeowners with a mortgage.

The Women, Infants & Children program insures proper nutrition for poor mothers and their children, and 69% of city employees represented by District Councils 33 and 47 earn less than the Pennsylvania WIC cutoff of $42,643.

These figures dramatically show the horrible effects the Mayor’s imposed contract would have on a large proportion of our members who are increasingly becoming poverty-stricken.

They prove that up to three-quarters of our members now live beneath the accepted definitions of the “poverty level” in Philadelphia – and Mayor Nutter has accelerated that trend.

If the Pennsylvania Supreme Court allows the Mayor to impose his version of a contract, this will force all of our members to contribute much more of their falling income than they already do to obtain decent health-care insurance coverage, to be subject to an increased contribution rate for an inferior pensions, to earn salary increases that amount to about less than two-thirds of one percent per year (far below the rate of inflation) over the life of the proposed contract and, to top it off, to lose at least an additional 6% salary reduction when they are furloughed.

Mayor Nutter is again trying to balance the City’s budget on the backs of our members, who are falling farther and farther behind the cost of living even as more are becoming poverty-stricken.
To force this on a workforce that is predominantly poverty-stricken is inhumane. It is a badge of shame that a significant portion of city workers are forced to work under these conditions while withstanding the rigors of poverty that increasingly claim them and their families as victims.

To continue to deny these hardworking members of our city community a fair and reasonable contract is an embarrassment that can only result in the continued deterioration of city services.