By Jobs with Justice

As much of the country begins the gradual transition into the winter holidays, Walmart recently announced its plans to open stores at 6pm on Thanksgiving Day. While most of us settle down for Thanksgiving dinner, Walmart store workers will have to skip time with their families to open, stock and staff Walmart stores for the holiday rush.

Many workers are not going to take this in stride. On Black Friday, members of the Organization United for Respect at Walmart will take action—risking arrest and retaliation from the company—to demand fair wages and scheduling.

As many as 825,000 Walmart workers are making less than $25,000 a year because of low wages and inadequate hours. Workers can’t raise their families on these poverty wages. Anthony Goytia, father of three, relies on payday loans and even sells plasma to cover the bills. After 11 years at Walmart, Patricia Locks makes only $19,000 a year and relies on food banks and food stamps to feed her teenage daughter.

On top of the hundreds of actions already planned around the country on Black Friday, Walmart workers can now anonymously request support from community members via a new website, AssociateVoices.org. You can support these workers on Black Friday, and even Thanksgiving, by showing up at their store and delivering thank you cards, telling them how you support them, leafleting other customers about what’s happening, or planning your own action outside the store.

Show your support for Walmart employees on Black Friday! To find a protest at a store near you, got to: http://www.jwj.org/blog/walmart-employees-ready-hundreds-black-friday-protests

Source: http://www.jwj.org/blog/walmart-employees-ready-hundreds-black-friday-protests

– Congratulations to President Pat Eiding, Secretary-Treasurer Liz McElroy, Recording Secretary Ken Washington, and all the other reelected and newly-elected members of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Executive Board!

The slate led by President Eiding was nominated unopposed for another 3 year term at the helm of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO.

More About The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Executive Board

Council President Patrick J. Eiding

A leader in the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania labor movement, Pat Eiding is active in many civic, charitable and government affairs. Prior to being elected President of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO in January 2002, Eiding served for over 25 years as Business Manager of the Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 14 covering Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.

Eiding has risen through the ranks of leadership throughout his career. His union leadership roles include serving as past President of the Asbestos Workers Middle Atlantic States Conference, and past President of the Mechanical Trades Council in Philadelphia and New Jersey. He currently serves as Secretary/Treasurer of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council, as a member of the Executive Council of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, and as the Northeast Regional representative to the National AFL-CIO General Board….

Read more about Pat Eiding at: http://www.pa.aflcio.org/philaflcio/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=b60c5a7c-6f26-465c-a062-fa5684a2b27d

Secretary-Treasurer Liz McElroy

Liz McElroy was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO in April 2012. She’d served as Assistant to the President and Political Director of the Council since March of 2006.

Prior to coming to the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, McElroy was an organizer with the American Federation of Teachers – first with the Graduate Employees Together/UPENN organizing campaign and later as a National Representative. In 4 years at the AFT, McElroy was based in Philadelphia but worked higher education and healthcare organizing campaigns in PA, Maryland, Illinois, Vermont, and West Virginia.

While she’s been working in the labor movement for just a decade, McElroy was raised in a union family and comes by her passion for worker issues genetically. Some of her earliest memories are from walking picket lines….

Read more about Liz McElroy at: http://www.pa.aflcio.org/philaflcio/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=31033fea-7379-460e-80be-0f26ad6c5236

Recording Secretary Ken Washington

Ken Washington is the current Director of Government Relations of the Laborers District Council of the Metropolitan Area of Philadelphia and Vicinity (LDC). Ken began his labor career as a member of LIUNA Local 332 in July 1973. The call of politics was too hard to ignore, so in 1979 he was tapped to be the Campaign Manager of an up and coming State Representative. After a successful campaign he joined the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) as an Analyst where he implemented a number of programs that are still a part of PPA’s mission. After his time with the PPA he was asked to return to the Pennsylvania House of Representatives as a Legislative Assistant and Chief of Staff….

Read more about Ken Washington at: http://www.pa.aflcio.org/philaflcio/index.cfm?action=article&articleID=1936b29f-d11a-4758-b424-7b6b670241b7

Source: http://www.pa.aflcio.org/philaflcio/index.cfm?action=cat&categoryID=a401c49a-ed55-4747-8d3b-d550d36ddf08

FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 22 MEDIA ALERT

On Friday, November 22, Firefighters Local 22 President Joe Schulle and members of his board of directors hosted a Press conference outside city hall to detail perjury allegations the union has leveled against Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers and Fire Department Human Resources Manager Karen Hyers, stemming from their September 25, 2013 testimony before Common Pleas Court Judge Leon Tucker regarding Ayers’ controversial demotions of 14 recently promoted Philadelphia firefighters. The union has formally asked District Attorney Seth Williams to launch an investigation to determine whether Ayers and Hyers perjured themselves before Judge Tucker. The District Attorney is currently reviewing notes of testimony to determine whether an investigation is warranted.

CONTACT: Frank Keel at 484 410 4932.

By The Philly Public Record

– More than 140 locals affiliated with the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO will gather at its 11th Annual Leadership Conference in Atlantic City, Feb. 2-4 at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel.

President Pat Eiding said there is a variety of sponsorships available, including hosting a cocktail reception, super bowl party, dinner, lunch, continental breakfast or setting up an exhibit. The fee for an exhibit table is $1000.00 which includes all of your meals, a draped table, and chairs which are provided. The cost of the social functions varies in price.

Sponsors are invited to participate in a raffle to be held on Feb 3rd Dinner session of the conference.

For accommodation purposes, a block of rooms have been reserved for the nights of February 3rd and February 4th. Reservations can be made online http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/aflcio2014 or you may contact the hotel directly at 1-888-627-7212 and identify yourself as a member of “The 2014 Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Leadership group” to receive the negotiated rates. Reserving a room at the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel does not automatically register you for the leadership conference. All participants must register individually. Fr further information, contact Joni Bernard at 215-665-9800 ext. 206.

Source: http://www.phillyrecord.com/2013/11/with-the-unions-afl-cio-hosts-leadership-conference/