By Joel Mathis

– NewsWorks reports that the union which represents PGW’s employees will oppose selling the gas utility to a private owner.

Keith Holmes, president of the Gas Works Employees Union, said his members are counting on support from other unions.

“We’re going to oppose this sale and we’re going to do everything we can,” he said. “And we hope council sticks by us. Leading into this, they thought the city unions were going to break apart because they are going to put money into the city pension fund.

“That will never happen,” Holmes said. “There is no way any city union is going to try and benefit off the backs of another city union.”

Under the proposed deal, the city would sell PGW to Connecticut-based UIL Holdings Corp. for $1.8 billion.

Source: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/03/10/pgws-union-employees-oppose-sale/

By The PA. AFL-CIO

– This week, Pennsylvania saw the largest grass roots mobilization of workers since the huge rally at the Capitol in January.  On Monday and Tuesday in Pittsburgh, well over 1000 individuals braved single-digit temperatures and sub-zero wind chills to stand up for workers’ dignity at UPMC, and for the rights of all Pennsylvanians to organize with their coworkers for fairness on the job.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) is now Pennsylvania’s largest private employer, but in spite of their tax-exempt status and $1.3 billion in profits over the past three years, they are trying to stop hospital workers from organizing in Pittsburgh – just weeks after a lock-out of SEIU registered nurses at their medical center in Altoona.   UPMC is being supported in their fight against workers by the National Right to Work Foundation.

As if it weren’t enough that Pennsylvania’s workers must suffer union-busting employers, they are also currently under attack by union-busting legislators in Harrisburg, who are working hard to pass legislation that would defund public sector unions by interfering with dues collection.

The rallies in Pittsburgh this week were about calling attention to these fights once again, and sending a message that the Labor Movement will continue to stand together to fight for fairness and dignity on the job, and for the rights of all workers.  “Strength In Unity” is the theme of our 41stConstitutional Convention in Pittsburgh next month, and it is also how we will continue to weather these attacks from irresponsible employers and from extremist lawmakers.

The demonstrations began early Monday morning and continued throughout the day and into the evening, before resuming on Tuesday.  Mayor Bill Peduto’s office released a statement saying “More than 1,000 people exercised their First Amendment rights to peaceably assemble, and, by cooperating with police, no arrests have been reported.”

Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder and Community Services Director Carl Dillinger of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO attended the rally with the State Fed’s RV, and joined labor leaders from across the State in offering support to UPMC workers, many of whom has been harassed and wrongfully terminated in retaliation for demanding dignity on the job.

This rally, like the one in Harrisburg in January, is neither the first step nor the final word in the fight for workers’ rights in Pennsylvania.  Whether it is the struggle for dignity for UPMC workers, the fight against HB 1507, or fending off attacks on public pensions – the Labor Movement needs to continue to stand together and be ready to hold the line whenever the rights of workers’ are threatened or the dignity of work is degraded.

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=3591

By the PA. AFL-CIO

Union members and labor leaders from across Central PA held a press conference in York Pennsylvania on Wednesday, March 5 and accused some in the legislature of union-busting.  They urged area State Representatives to oppose legislation which unfairly attacks teachers, nurses, corrections officers and all public sector workers in Pennsylvania.

Fred Wilson, President of the Teamsters Local 776, helped lead the press conference which was hosted by Democratic State Representative Kevin Schreiber.  Tom Santone, President of the York-Adams Central Labor Council; Danny Grace, Secretary-Treasurer of IBT Local 830; Mickey Sgro, the Chair of the Central PA Area Labor Federation; and Frank Snyder, Secretary-Treasurer of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO all called for the defeat of HB1507 and its Senate counterpart, SB1034. They asked local Republican legislators to withdraw their support for these bills and to begin working together with their Democratic colleagues on the important business of putting Pennsylvanians back to work and supporting policies that expand the middle class.

After the press conference, attempts were made to have meetings with the Republican legislators – Rep. Seth Grove, R-Dover, Ron Miller, R-Jacobus and Stan Saylor, R-Windsor Twp. Governor Corbett has said that if this legislation reaches his desk that he will sign it.

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=3586

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia principals tonight heard about the serious givebacks included in their tentative contract agreement with the financially-struggling school district (See Previous Story).

The deal calls for principals to be paid as 10-month instead of 12-month employees, and to begin paying health care premiums.   Members of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators heard about the tentative agreement during a two-hour closed-door meeting at Lincoln High.

“The majority of the bargaining unit would be conceding 15 to 17 percent of their annual salary, plus making contributions towards their health care,” Union president Rob McGrogan said.

The 500 members will vote by mail, with ballots counted March 17th.  McGrogan says he believes if members reject the deal, the School Reform Commission will test its powers to impose terms.  That’s something that concerns laid-off assistant principal Judy Haughton.

“The truth is, I think the fear is that we don’t know what could be imposed on us,” Haughton said.

The cash-strapped school district is demanding $133 million in concessions from its labor unions.

With the principals deciding on concessions, all eyes turn to the teachers union.  Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan had no comment on the CASA agreement.

Source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/03/06/philadelphia-principals-asked-to-take-deep-pay-cuts/

By The Philly Public Record

– In time to make it an interesting race, Council President Darrell Clarke has issued a writ of election to fill the seat vacated by Councilman at Large Bill Green whose appointment by Gov. Tom Corbett to head the School Reform Commission has been confirmed by the Senate. The contested seat will appear on the primary ballot.

President Clarke will issue the writ of election on Monday, Mar. 24. He said, “This will give the County Board of Elections time to prepare the voting machines and for other steps required by the Election Code.”

Clarke noted, “The special election will be a one-step election, with the winner serving the balance of the term to which Councilman Green was elected until Jan. 4, 2016. The deadline for each party to file its nomination certificate designating its candidate is Apr. 8.”

Unlike the independents running, the two major-party candidates will only need a nominating certificate forwarded to the Registration Commission from their respective party leadership which attests to their endorsements.

Frontrunners for the endorsement by the city’s two major parties are Democratic State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Northeast) and Republican Ward Leader Matt Wolfe. There may be others running, but they’ve got to come up with a minimum of 1,785 signatures on their nomination petitions, which no doubt will be challenged by both major parties. Their petitions need to be filed by Apr. 8 as well.

If you need more information, we suggest you contact (215) 686-3469 or PHLCouncil.com.

Source: http://www.phillyrecord.com/2014/03/may-special-election-called-for-philadelphia-open-council-seat/