By PhillyLabor.com

– The Philadelphia Building Trades Council has endorsed, Plumber’s Local #690, Business Manager, John I. Kane for Pennsylvania State Senator in the 26th Senatorial District which includes parts of Chester and Delaware Counties.

Additionally, John has been endorsed by the PHCC Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors of PA., further demonstrating the respect he has earned within his professional community.

As supported by his union membership, if elected, Kane will maintain his position as business manager of the Plumber’s union thus giving working families throughout the Delaware Valley a true voice in Harrisburg.

“With John Kane in office, working people will always have a true voice and representative in Harrisburg who understands the challenges of working families and, who is committed everyday to working on their behalf” says, Joe Dougherty, Business Manager of Ironworkers Local #401. “Too many times, candidates running for office vow their support for working people during their campaign and then forget about us after they’re elected, if John Kane is elected, we won’t ever have to worry about that happening”, A vote for John Kane is a vote for all working men and women throughout Pennsylvania”. says Dougherty.

ABOUT JOHN I. KANE

John Kane was raised and is raising his family in Delaware County, where he is a leader in his community. John knows the challenges that middle class families face, and has the experience to tackle them – a former apprentice who worked his way up to business manager of Plumbers Local 690 and member of the SEPTA board, John has negotiated contracts, navigated politics, and worked to make sure the voices of his members are heard, and is running to bring that experience to the State Senate.

From Harrisburg we have seen unprecedented attacks on the middle class, working families, women, and students. The only way to change this is to have proven leaders who can stand up for those whose voice needs to be heard.

Once Elected, John Will:

o Restore funding to schools across Pennsylvania,
o Make corporations pay their fair share by closing the Delaware loophole,
o Stand up for the rights of every worker to organize and fight for fair wages and a path to middle class,
o Protect women’s rights by leaving the decisions about women’s healthcare to women, not bureaucrats.

John Kane has worked tirelessly to protect our working families, keep our communities safe and healthy, and empower our youth. As a State Senator, he will continue to fight for the working class and achieve our shared vision of a better Pennsylvania.

– 40 Hr. Work Week

– Child Labor Laws

– Collective Bargaining

– Safety Regulations

– Employee Healthcare

When you see union members walking on a picket line or protesting on TV, please understand that they are not just doing it for themselves, they are doing it for for everyone! They need your support to keep fighting for a strong middle class in America!

– A Channel 6 Action News Investigative report aired (last night) on September 5th on their 11PM Newscast tells of statements made by an apartment a sales rep, who told undercover reporters, that they could use elevated spaces within certain loft spaces and one room apartments in the building as bedrooms, guest rooms and/or office spaces.

The only problem is that, in order to access these elevated areas within these particular apartments, one has to use drop down stairs which block the only door in and out of the apartment which would make it difficult for tenants to exit the apartment in case of fire or emergency thus creating a dangerous/hazardous situation, according to Fire Fighter’s Union President, Joe Schulle

The segment also features, building developer, Michael Pestrunk, shown making a conflicting statement (from the Sales rep) that the elevated areas are only for storage. As per the report, this is in spite of the photos on their website, brochures showing furniture in the elevated spaces, the phone and cable jacks in the elevated space and the statements by the sales rep to the contrary.

In spite of the potential hazardous situation, somehow L&I has provided the building with approval of it’s plans and a Temporary Certificate of Occupancy (TCO) for the building’s 8th floor.

PhillyLabor Editorial: When is the madness going to stop! Haven’t the lives of those lost at 22nd and Market opened the eyes of those at L&I that they need to take warnings of potential hazards from both concerned citizens and experts seriously!!!

What is it going to take to wake these people up? Hopefully not more lives lost!

To view the Channel 6 segment, go to: http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news%2Flocal&id=9238163

By Philadelphia Coalition Advocating for Public Schools (PCAPS)

– In a few days, the children of Philadelphia are supposed to go back to the classroom. Unfortunately many of them will return to schools with no arts, no music, no counselors, no nurses and no supplies.

This is the Philadelphia public school system that Governor Corbett has created by denying Philadelphia’s children the resources they need to succeed. What’s worse is that our own city elected leaders have failed to secure the funding necessary to turn this crisis around.

EVENTS:

Candle Light Vigil: Sunday, September 8th at 6:30pm- 200 South Broad Street: Students parents and educators hold a candle light vigil to hold the Governor, the Mayor and city council accountable. If you plan to attend, Go to: https://www.facebook.com/events/222898804531542/?context=create

First Day of School Leafleting: Monday, September 9th: Join dozens of PCAPS activists who will sign up parents in front of schools for our fight against more school closings and for education funding. To volunteer for a school, contact Jesse Braxton at Jbraxton@actionunited.org or call 215-301-0032

City Council Opening Session: Thursday, September 12th at 10:30am- City Hall (NE Corner): Lets meet at city hall to demand Full Funding for our schools as city council resumes meeting.

Let’s start the school year off united to protect our schools, our kids and our communities!

P.S. To check out the clip, “Why Some Students Fear Heading Back to Philly Schools.”, go to: http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Why-Some-Students-Fear-Heading-Back-to-Philly-Schools-222451461.html?_osource=SocialFlowTwt_PHBrand

– Philadelphia, PA – A 60-second spot airing on radio stations beginning today argues that Mayor Michael Nutter continues to balance the city’s budget on the backs of children and working families.

The spot is sponsored by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the national union of DC 33 and DC 47, which represent 17,000 women and men in Philadelphia who go to work every day to build a Better Philadelphia for All.

The spot follows a television ad released last week by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which argued that Mayor Nutter’s policies have hurt public education in Philadelphia.

“Under Mayor Nutter, the number of city workers living in poverty has doubled,” said AFSCME DC 33 President Pete Matthews. “This is shameful and never in the history of Philadelphia have children and workers been so disrespected. His attempt to sidestep the collective bargaining process shows his disdain for the women and men of Philadelphia.”

“Mayor Nutter’s failed policies have cut vital services to the residents of this city who use them,” continued AFSCME DC 47 President Cathy Scott. “Because of his failures, library doors often remain locked and fewer people work in our recreation centers. It’s time for smart policies that put the people of Philadelphia first, rather than these policies that give tax breaks to large corporations on the backs of children and workers.”

City workers in Philadelphia have gone 5 years without contracts or wage increases, and suffered increases to their healthcare, attacks from Mayor Nutter’s administration and been forced into poverty. While both DC 33 and DC 47 have attempted to negotiate a solution with the Nutter Administration, he has gone to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to impose a contract that means cuts to vital services, wages reductions and less retirement security.

The radio ad closes with a call for the residents of Philadelphia to go to: www.abetterphilly.org to sign a petition to call on Mayor Nutter to stop balancing the budget on the backs of children and workers.

Dateline: Philadelphia, PA, Wednesday, September 4, 2013, 10:30 am
Source: AFSCME District Councils 33 and 47
Contacts: Kevin Hanes: 412-330-9930, Bob Wolper: 215-896-2970