9/17 – Featured Guests on Today In PhillyLabor Radio are Wendell Young IV, President UFCW 1776 and Rich Minter, Chief of Staff, Workers United.

Featured Topics – The Fight Against Liquor Privatization, Acme Workers Receive New Contracts and More

Tune in to WWDB 860-AM (or online at http://wwdbam.com/streamer/) tonight at 6pm to see what all the talk is about!
Photo: 9/17 – Featured Guests on Today In PhillyLabor Radio are Wendell Young IV, President UFCW 1776 and Rich Minter, Chief of Staff, Workers United. Tune in to WWDB 860-AM (or online at http://wwdbam.com/streamer/) tonight at 6pm to see what all the talk is about!

– THIS WEEK, the PA House of Representatives will once again take up the issue of the $2-per-pack cigarette tax in Philadelphia. If passed, this tax would raise tens of millions of dollars annually for Philadelphia’s public schools.

Unfortunately, the version passed by the PA Senate calls for the tax to “sunset” after five years.

Write to your State Representatives TODAY and tell them that our schools are in dire need of these funds. Tell them to pass cigarette tax legislation that is permanent and free of additional amendments, technicalities and conditions! If our schoolchildren are to receive the programs and services they deserve, we need Harrisburg to pass a clean cigarette tax bill!
In order to address your message to the appropriate recipient, we need to identify where you are.
Please look up and use your full nine-digit zip for the best results.

Please go to: http://action.aft.org/c/507/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9024enter and your zip/postal code

Source: http://action.aft.org/c/507/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=9024

John Kane launched his first television ad of the State Senate campaign running on broadcast and cable TV, and on the internet. The ad features John’s family, including his wife of 24 years, Lori; his daughters Gabby, 17, Sam, 22, and Maddie, 14; and his son Johnny, 20, literally inviting viewers into meeting his family. A plus effort.

In the ad, Kane says he is running for State Senate to “put back the $1 billion Corbett cut from education and make sure corporations and natural-gas drillers pay their fair share.” Kane goes on to say, “It’s time to close to loopholes for the tax cheats.”

The ad can be viewed at: http://youtube/J4E16ur54ds.

“I am incredibly proud of this ad, and so happy that my family was able to join me in making it,” said Kane. “As I cross the district, knocking on doors and talking to voters, I hear over and over again that people are angry that their schools are not getting the funding they need and their property taxes are going up, while corporations and shale drillers are getting sweetheart deals.”

Kane is the Democrat running for State Senate in the 26th Dist. that lies in Delaware and Chester Cos. His opponent is Tom McGarrigle, County Council Chairman. The 26th Dist. is viewed as the most-competitive legislative race in Pennsylvania this year. The seat is held by Republican State Sen. Edwin “Ted Erickson” who is retiring.

Source: http://www.phillyrecord.com/2014/09/pols-on-the-street-kane-tv-ads-stress-family/

———————————————–

PhillyLabor.com Editorial – John Kane is the labor endorsed candidate for state Senate in the 26th Senatorial District, which includes parts of Chester and Delaware Counties, who will bring a perpetual voice for working families to Harrisburg. Too often, working people support candidates who forget where they come from when they get in office. This will certainly not be the case with John Kane because, as Business Manager of Plumbers Local 690, John is already a voice for working people everyday. This is an opportunity to elect him and send him to Harrisburg and give him the opportunity to have a seat at the table to represent the needs and rights of ALL working men and woman throughout PA.

In order to accomplish our objectives and protect our rights as working men and women now and for years to come, we need a strong showing at the pols. Thus, on election day, Nov 4, 2014, get out to the pols and vote for John Kane and other labor endorsed candidates like your union livelihood depends on it BECAUSE IT DOES!

See Below for links to John Kane’s platform and endorsements:

John Kane Platform – http://phillylabor.com/plumbers-business-manager-john-kane-candidate-for-pa-state-senate-seat-introduces-platform/

PA. AFL-CIO Endorsed Candidates – http://phillylabor.com/pa-afl-cio-announces-endorsements-for-2014-general-election/

Philadelphia Building Trades Endorse Plumbers Local 690, Business Manager, John I. Kane For Pa. State Senate – http://phillylabor.com/philadelphia-building-trades-endorse-plumbers-local-690-business-manager-john-i-kane-for-pa-state-senate/

Coalition demands vote on education charter amendment

By The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers

– Today, Philadelphia City Council failed to heed the call of 40,000 Philadelphians who have signed a petition to amend the City Charter to demand local control of the School District of Philadelphia. After a PA Working Families press conference this morning, announcing an expected council vote on a ballot measure demanding the General Assembly abolish the School Reform Commission and return Philadelphia schools to local control, Council tabled the resolution, denying Philadelphians the chance to vote on the first-ever citizen-initiated ballot question in November.

“PFT members have been at the forefront of the effort to give Philadelphia’s citizens the power to determine what happens in our children’s schools,” said Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan. “We surveyed over 3,000 Philadelphia residents and our members collected over 17,000 signatures to get local control on the ballot in November. City Council’s failure to vote on this measure is a disappointing setback, but we will keep fighting to bring our schools under local control.”

“Philadelphians from all walks of life came together to say they want a chance to have a voice in their schools. Council needs to listen to their voices and vote immediately to place the local control charter amendment on the ballot.” said Pat Eiding, President, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO

“We went to City Council today to say that Harrisburg should fund our schools—and Philadelphia should run them. City Council put up a responsible vote to add local funding by taxing cigarettes, and Harrisburg hasn’t even scheduled a vote to approve that—it’s time for us to get a vote on taking back local control of our schools,” said Kati Sipp, director of Pennsylvania Working Families

“1199c members support a local voice in Philadelphia’s schools. Health care workers know the importance of dignity and decision-making. We want Council to show some courage in securing the health of our children’s education by approving the local control ballot measure.” said Henry Nicholas, President of District 1199c.

PA Working Families has been part of a historic 10-month long campaign gathering 40,000 signatures in favor of letting the entire city vote on local control of Philadelphia schools. Canvassers with PA Working Families, Fight for Philly, SEIU 32BJ, the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers, PCAPS, and others have been collecting signatures since April, turning in 40,000 signatures to Council in May. The last step in bringing the question of local control to all the voters of the city is Council approving the ballot question.

“We filed 40,000 signatures months ago. Now, time is of the essence for Council to vote to put local control on the ballot in November,” said Gabe Morgan, PA Director of 32BJ SEIU. “There is no good reason for Council to delay. The future of Philadelphia schools is too important to put on hold.”

Pennsylvania Working Families is an independent political organization standing up for Pennsylvania’s working class and middle class families.

Source:https://www.facebook.com/notes/philadelphia-federation-of-teachers/press-release-philadelphians-denied-the-chance-to-vote-for-local-control/890370414326370

– Download and Listen to the Podcast from this week’s 9/10 Today in PhillyLabor Radio Broadcast Featuring Jerry Jordan, President, Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and Pa. State Rep. Mike O’Brien.

To Listen To and/or Download Podcast, Go to: http://wwdbam.com/2014/09/10/jk091014_mono/