By The Philly Public Record

– “While it’s no surprise Gov. Tom Corbett’s Dept. of Education would publicly agree to any argument made by his School Reform Commission, the filing of the PDE’s amicus brief in support of the SRC’s Supreme Court petition is still outrageous,” charges PFT President Jerry Jordan.

“One of the most-ridiculous assertions made by the PDE’s brief is the SRC needs the freedom to impose working conditions in schools because of the district’s financial distress – crisis that was created by the very administration the SRC represents!

“Of course, the PDE’s argument with regard to the district’s budget deficit is utter nonsense. These rule changes won’t save the district a dime. We challenge the SRC, the district and the Corbett administration to explain how their proposed changes would benefit the district financially.

“The entire legal maneuver demonstrates either a startling hubris on the part of the SRC, the Corbett administration and the School District; or a disturbing ignorance about the real needs of our schoolchildren.”

In a reply brief filed this week, the School District of Philadelphia and School Reform Commission explained, “When the General Assembly passed the Distressed School District law, it intended to provide the School District with additional flexibility in organizing its schools to provide better opportunities for students and gave the District the necessary tools to do so. Recognizing the stakes for students and schools, the General Assembly designated the Supreme Court as the body most able to expeditiously resolve disputes concerning these matters. The School District and SRC believe it is critical that the Supreme Court resolve these issues of public importance now.” “People understand the issues at stake here are urgent,” said Dr. William R. Hite, Jr., SDP superintendent. “I have heard from parents, principals, and numerous teachers who support the changes we are making. They know how important it is for every student to have the right teacher with the right skill set, right now.”

Source: http://www.phillyrecord.com/2014/04/with-the-unions-who-damaged-phillys-schools/

BY The UFCW (PA) Wine and Spirits Council

– HARRISBURG, PA – UFCW Local 1776 President Wendell W. Young, IV urged House members to support Representative Gene DiGirolamo’s legislation to modernize the state’s Wine and Spirits Stores to increase customer convenience and generate significant new revenues for the Commonwealth.

– “The legislature has the opportunity and the responsibility to make a very valuable asset even stronger and generate up to $185 million a year in badly-needed revenue that could be used to help fund our public schools,” said Young.

“Rep. DiGirolamo’s proposal strikes a common sense balance
between customer convenience and responsible sales and distribution of wine and spirits,” Young added. “Given the looming budget deficit, now is the time to pass this legislation and send it to the governor’s desk.”

Among other provisions, Rep. DiGirolamo’s bill, introduced on Tuesday 4/14, would eliminate the 25 percent cap on amount of stores that can be open on Sunday and eliminate restrictions on hours of operation for these stores. The bill also would ease and encourage development of more stores either inside of or adjacent to grocery stores.

In addition, the bill provides for direct shipment of wine to PA consumers as well as to out-of-state consumers, and allows for consortium product buying that would enable the PLCB to secure the very best price for Pennsylvania consumers.

Young noted the legislation has bipartisan support and mirrors similar proposals that have attracted support from both parties in the Senate. The bill stands in stark contrast to risky ‘privatization lite’ plans that would ultimately destroy the PLCB.

“Privatization would put 5,000 Pennsylvanians out of work, jeopardize more than $550 million in tax revenues and profits, and create increased public health and safety risks in every community in PA,” Young said. “It makes no sense to outsource these jobs and this valuable asset to Walmart.”

Source: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Save-the-PA-Wine—Spirits-Stores–The-fight-continues.html?soid=1112575112488&aid=n9LCJGNApOA

By PhillyLabor.com

– “Today in Philly Labor” is a weekly talk radio show hosted by Joe Doc Jr. of PhillyLabor.com and Philadelphia Radio Personality Joe “Krausey” Krause that airs every Wednesday from 6pm-8pm on Philadelphia’s legendary talk radio station WWDB/860-AM starting Wednesday, April 16, 2014 with featured Guests Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding and City Councilman Bobby Henon

The 2 hour drive time show presents a positive and dynamic look at EVERYTHING LABOR throughout Philadelphia and vicinity and tackles a plethora of topics ranging from labor news, information, and current events to politics, legislation and jobs as well as special segments on injured workers advocacy and retired workers and much more….

The show will feature weekly appearances and interviews with the area’s top union and pro-labor, business, professional and political leaders all for the purpose of bringing listeners a unique insider’s look at today’s labor movement.

Upcoming Show Guests Include: (Additional Political, Business and Professional Leader Guests Added weekly)

4/23 – Pat Gillespie – Pres Phila Building Trades

4/30 – John Kane – Plumbers Local #690 Business Manager

5/7 – George Ricchezza/Dennis Biondo – (SEIU Local 32BJ)

5/14 – Mike Barnes – IATSE 8 President

5/21 – Anthony Gallagher – Steamfitters Local 420 Business Manager

5/28 – Sam Staten Jr. – Laborers Local 332 Business Manager

June 2014 Dates TBA

– Since December 28, 2.3 million Americans have lost their unemployment insurance, with the expiration of the Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) program. Every week, on average, an additional 72,000 Americans are cut off — the equivalent of one person every eight seconds. This vital economic lifeline helps struggling Americans feed, clothe, and keep a roof over the heads of their families while they look for new employment.

Despite these facts, Congress has been unable to come to an agreement to restore this essential lifeline. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that extending the current EUC program until the end of 2014 could increase GDP by 0.3 percent and create upwards of 300,000 jobs.

Congress should simply extend unemployment insurance, and help those in need. There is hope with the Senate passing a bipartisan compromise last week. However, Speaker John Boehner has dismissed the idea of taking up this compromise in the House of Representatives. How can one person stand in the way of allowing a vote to help over 2 million Americans and the will of the American people?

These Americans lost their jobs — and now their last lifeline, unemployment insurance — through no fault of their own. They don’t deserve to lose their homes as well. Unfortunately, this is exactly what we are hearing from our constituents.

Therefore, we have introduced the Stop Foreclosures Due to Congressional Dysfunction Act (HR 4255), which requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to impose a six-month forbearance on mortgage payments for people who have lost their unemployment insurance and sent a letter with 74 of our colleagues to FHFA Director Mel Watt asking his administration to do the same. Borrowers must have been current on their payments and in good standing before losing their unemployment insurance in order to qualify for the program. Not only would this be helpful to struggling Americans, but it’s a policy that is beneficial to taxpayers.

While it’s true that the housing market is bouncing back nationally, that’s not true everywhere, and housing markets are extremely local by nature. While the national foreclosure rate is 1.97 percent, that is much lower than the averages in both Pennsylvania (2.35 percent) and Nevada (2.8 percent).

If Speaker Boehner won’t bring up a bill to extend unemployment insurance in the House of Representatives, the least he can do is help people at risk of losing their homes. Speaker Boehner should do the right thing and allow a vote to extend unemployment insurance. If he won’t do that, he should at least show some compassion for those struggling to keep a roof over their heads because of his unending obstructionism.

By Rep. Matt Cartwright and Rep. Steven Horsford

Congressman Matt Cartwright represents Pennsylvania’s 17th Congressional District, which includes Schuylkill County and portions of Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton and Carbon Counties. Cartwright serves on the House Natural Resources and Oversight and Government Reform Committees.

Congressman Steven Horsford represents Nevada’s 4th Congressional District, which includes Clark, Esmeralda, Lincoln, Lyon, Mineral, Nye, White Pine Counties. Horsford serves on the House Financial Services Committee.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/matt-cartwright/hurting-americans-who-wor_b_5148787.html

By Kevin McCorry

– Criticize your boss publicly … and your job security may be at risk.

That’s the mantra many Philadelphia School District teachers follow in keeping their criticisms of the current funding crisis confined to anonymous message boards.

But a new website designed by a recently formed faction of the teachers union, The Caucus of Working Educators, is turning that philosophy on its head with “Philly Teachers Sound the Alarm.”

A student sets off a home-made “works bomb” outside of Feltonville School of Arts and Sciences.

Locked hallway bathrooms at Lincoln High School force students to constantly invade the nurse’s office.

The lack of access to a library at Science Leadership Academy pushes teachers to buy their own stockpiles of books.

These are just a few of the anecdotes related in the website’s first week.

“People don’t know how bad it really is,” said Larissa Pahomov, the English teacher at SLA who built the site. “We’ve been dealing with this sort of high intensity crisis for a year, and schools weren’t in the best shape financially before then either.”

Pahomov hopes more people recognize how much more difficult the job of educating students has become because of the district’s recent string of draconian budget cuts, “and hopefully when they see that they understand just how dire and how necessary it is that we take action, and that the finances of the district be righted by the state.”

Grievances, she stressed, aren’t being directed at individual school administrators, but the underfunded nature of the system as a whole.

The Caucus of Working Educators, now 100 members strong, formed last month.

In its official release upon conception, CWE said it was “fighting for fair working conditions because that translates into the best learning conditions for Philadelphia’s students.”

The district has been asking teachers to take a 5 to 13 percent pay cut, while at the same time asking them to lengthen their contractual work hours.

Contract negotiations have plodded along since the teachers union’s old pact expired in August.

In the meantime, Pahomov, a member of CWE’s steering committee, said teachers have been making the sacrifices necessary to keep the city’s students afloat.

“It’s become this absurd new normal where teachers are just expected to bend over backwards to make their classrooms work,” said Pahomov. “We do it because we’re good people … but we need the public to know that we’re doing it, because it’s become invisible to a large degree in Philadelphia.”

As for the site’s lack of anonymity: “This comes back to a classic union idea, which is that there is strength in solidarity,” she said. “There’s strength just in making those connections across the district.”

Source: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/66841-philly-teachers-create-website-to-document-the-districts-budget-crisis?linktype=hp_impact