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Senate Democrats Say Corbett Administration Fails to Address Job Creation

Harrisburg – October 19, 2012 — Senate Democratic Leaders today called Pennsylvania’s latest employment report “unfortunate, but not surprising” given the lack of interest in rising unemployment on the part of the Corbett administration.

“It’s a trend that needs to be reversed immediately,” said Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa. “The national economy and economic picture are improving while Pennsylvania is going in the other direction.”

For the first time in six years, Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate is higher than the national rate, and the state has fallen from seventh to 38th in job creation. The state’s unemployment rate for September was 8.2 percent, well above the national average of 7.8 percent.

“The rest of the nation is showing job gains and economic recovery and Pennsylvania is economically in reverse,” Hughes said. “The administration’s answer is to give tax breaks to wealthy corporations while it cuts programs that train Pennsylvania’s workforce and keep our citizens employed.”

Sen. Christine M. Tartaglione, the Democratic Chair of the Senate Labor and Industry Committee said the jobs trend is disturbing.

“The fact that our unemployment rate is higher than the national average is eye-opening,” she said. “The governor’s lack of comprehensive job and development plans cannot be ignored any longer – we need investment in education, transportation and workforce training programs that will put Pennsylvanians back to work immediately.”

The Democratic leaders called on the Corbett administration to end more than a year of procrastination on transportation and job creation plans and detail to the legislature what he wants in the way of legislation.

“There are plenty of good ideas to create jobs,” Costa said. “When we return to session we should have a detailed transportation and jobs plan from the administration in front of us that has the support of businesses, unions and public officials across the state. Right now, we’re getting only silence from the Corbett administration.”

Among the plans cast into legislation is one from Senate Democrats called “PA Works” which is aimed at creating more than 80,000 new jobs.

PA Works would make use of state resources, leverage private resources and make critical long term capital investments that would create new opportunities for future growth and development.

In a Perfect World – Workers Rights and Why the Need for Unions Will “ALWAYS” Exist.

– In a perfect world there would be no need for unions.

– People would treat each other with respect, fairness and dignity in the work place.

– Businesses would offer employees fair wages, benefits and working conditions in exchange for a fair day’s work. 8 for 8 we call it.

– Corporate greed would not exist

– CEO’s would not be taking multimillion dollar bonuses while laying off hundreds and some times thousands of employees

and so on…..

After all, there are labor laws, attorneys and the US Dept of Labor to protect people from unfair labor practices and in a perfect world, if ever a person’s rights were violated at their job, that person could just call their attorney who could file a grievance with the Department of Labor and a representative from the department would contact the employer and resolve the issue within a day or so right? Voila, problem solved correct? So why in the world do we need unions to do the job that attorneys do and that we have laws to regulate that the U.S. Department of Labor enforces? Oh if life were only that perfect!

There ‘s an old saying that my brother sometimes refers to that goes something like this….the cleanliness of theory is no match for the mess of reality. What does that have to do with unions, worker’s right’s and the topic at hand? Well let’s think about it for a second, As a member of a union, you have union representatives that communicate daily with union members and employer(s). If there’s a problem on the job, there’s a process to follow. Typically, the member informs the shop steward, the shop steward calls the union rep (some are business agents, others presidents and/or business managers) and within a day or two in most cases, there is a resolution to the situation. It’s not always that cut and dry but basically you get the picture.

On the other hand, let’s look at a real scenario that actually occurred in a non-union work place not long ago. A dedicated, hard working woman from Philadelphia Pa. (with standard monthly/weekly living expenses including a car payment, utilities, food, a rent etc) gets in an auto accident on her way to work. After being taken to the hospital ER by ambulance, her boss via cell phone in the emergency room informs her to please take as much time as she needs to get better because her health is the most important thing and her job will be waiting for her when she recovers. Wow, the injured women really appreciated the support from her employer.  In her time of extreme pain and anxiety, her car may have been totaled and she may be in physical pain, but at least she’s alive and still has a job right.  All’s well that ends well right? Fast forward approximately 10 days later, the day after the female employee was released from her doctor’s care for treatment of a severe concussion and facial lacerations, upon returning to work with a doctor’s note, this employee was notified by the same boss who told her to “get well” that she was terminated for missing work. Keeping in mind that the woman got in the auto accident on her way to work and it was the same boss that instructed her to take as much time as she needed to recover and that her job would be waiting when she got back, what recourse did the woman have to get her job back?

First, she asked the boss why she was mislead and told to take the necessary time needed to get better before coming back to work? Her boss told her that it was an upper management decision and there was nothing could be done. Then she approached the human resources department and then ownership but still no help. Finally, after unsuccessfully exhausting all avenues to resolve the situation at her work, she packed her things and left the office alone and devastated. Literally no-one at her former place of work would help her.

What were her options?

Ultimately, in her case, over the next week or so, after contacting several attorneys about her situation, finally one took the case. They then contacted the Dept of Labor and filed a law suit against the employer and started the legal process to both get her job back all the while she was unemployed and falling farther and farther behind on her bills.

In the long run, it’s been over a year since the incident and this woman still has yet to receive justice from the Dept of Labor and the lawsuit is still pending, she’s lost her apartment and her ability to pay her bills, not to mention her dignity and self esteem.

The Bottom line is that although there are laws, attorneys and government agencies that are suppose to represent people who are unjustly treated by their employers, these solutions often take time and by the time the person ends up filing a lawsuit and/or complaint, going through the investigation and litigation, and obtaining justice if they are lucky, the person could be adversely effected both financially and emotionally in the process.

In the end, if you are not a member of a union, you may very well be at the mercy of a ruthless employer and be forced to do whatever necessary to keep your job or lose it. Without representation or collective bargaining, as an employee, you have very little immediate recourse!  It is like the old Bruce Springsteen song says, when your alone, your alone, when your alone, you ain’t nothing but alone.

In closing folks, if you want to understand more about the need for the Labor Movement in America and around the world and the reason they are worth fighting for now more than ever, all you have to do is open your eyes and go to http://www.labourstart.org/ and look around the world at places who either don’t have them, are trying to organize them or are fighting to keep them. Don’t kid your self for one minute that in this day and age extreme work place violations don’t still happen everyday and it can’t happen to you, that only happens in a perfect world and god knows nothing in this world is perfect!

Just a Reminder, In Case Your Still Undecided, “ON Day One” Romney Vows To Come After The Labor Movement

Attn: Brothers, Sisters, Families, Friends and Supporters of the Labor Movement Who Are Still Undecided About Who You Are Voting For President on Nov. 6,

Before Choosing, please WATCH, LISTEN and REMEMBER what Mitt Romney is saying he’s going to do to Unions “On Day One” if he’s elected president of the United States:

“On Day One”, he’s going to fight to end project labor agreements.

“One Day One” he’s going to fight to repeal Davis Bacon.

“On Day One”, he’s going to fight for Right to work laws.

“On Day One” he’s going destroy much of the progress that our took decades of blood, sweat, tears and lives to achieve.

“On Day One” he’s going to start the process of putting potentially hundreds of thousands of union brothers and sisters out of work

“On Day One” he’s going to begin his quest to silence the voice of the middle class

“On Day One” he is going to start the dismantling of the Labor Movement as we know it

If this is what he has in store for us “On Day One”, I can’t imagine what he’s got coming “On Day Two”? Let’s protect our values, our standards, our livelihoods and our families
AND “NOT” GIVE HIM THE CHANCE!

Please SHARE This message with everyone who cares about the Labor Movement so they can make an informed choice regarding who to vote for on Election day!

Go To: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHEvMda0W-o&sns=em

Biden Wins VP Debate on Substance, Facts and The Best Interests of the Middle Class

When deciding who won the VP debate, one must consider more than just who was the more appealing debater, one must consider the meat and potatoes of the entire debate

A Few Important Points of Information:

RYAN

– Ryan clearly generalized and gave few real specifics or details on foreign security situations. All he could do was criticize and state his opinion about what should NOT have been done.

– Ryan could not explain ANY details on his 20% tax cut, just that is was based on a bi-partisan frame work. (All of the sudden bi-partisanship is a priority for a Republican congressman when it sure hasn’t been for the past 4 years)

– Ryan would not commit to not cutting the mortgage deduction or healthcare deduction for middle-class people.

BIDEN

– Biden was precise, gave details, facts, insight and called Ryan on his and Romney’s lies

– Biden confronted Ryan about the “Reality” of Romney’s 47% remark and Ryan’s 30% remark

– Biden called Ryan on their Medicare Voucher program

– Biden Confronted Ryan on the fact that Romney wanted to let the American Auto industry go bankrupt and have thousands of people lose their jobs rather than save it like President Obama chose to do.

– Biden  exposed their trickle down economics as a failed strategy of the past

– Biden clearly called them on the lack of details presented in their tax plan and when Ryan tried to reference a similarity to Reagen’s plan, Biden made it clear that Reagen’s plan had details unlike theirs.

– Biden clearly made a fool out of Ryan when discussing the facts on the nuclear status of Iran. Ryan was blowing smoke. Biden told realities in detail.

– Biden exposed the Romney/Ryan Ticket for the elitist snobs they are and that they represent

WINNER ON STYLE – JOE BIDEN

MORE IMPORTANTLY – THE WINNER ON FACTS, SUBSTANCE, REALITY AND THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE MIDDLE CLASS – JOE BIDEN

BIGGEST WINNER BY A KNOCKOUT – THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!

“Any other conclusion just ain’t in Reality!”

PhillyLabor.com

OBAMA For America is Seeking Volunteers To Help Canvass in Philadelphia This Weekend

All across the country, volunteers are out knocking on doors, chatting with voters over the phones, and getting the word out that every vote matters in this election.

Now more than ever, we need everyone to get involved. Folks in in Philadelphia are getting together to knock on some doors and reach out to folks on their front porches this Saturday.

We’ve got to get out there and talk with voters about the choice we face in this election — can you make it?

This grassroots campaign has always been about folks like you and me pitching in what we can, when we can. Now it’s time to buckle down for the final weeks.

Can you come out this Saturday or Sunday and help us finish strong?

What – Volunteer in Philadelphia this weekend

Day/Date – Saturday, October 13, 2012 and/or Sunday, October 14, 2012

Time – Shifts 10am-2pm OR 1pm-5pm

Location – OFA Pennsylvania Office (Philadelphia, PA) 322 W. Chelten Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19144

Host – Paul John