By Colt Shaw

– HARRISBURG – Philadelphia firefighters are looking to get their peers in the city’s Firefighters and Paramedics Union the same disability coverage they enjoy.

The Heart and Lung Act of 1935 compels employers of public-safety workers such as police and firefighters – but not EMTs and paramedics – to get their full pay and health coverage during time off for an on-the-job injury.

With help from Rep. Frank Farry, a Bucks County Republican and volunteer fireman, the union, Local 22, is pushing to extend those protections to emergency medical workers, making them “financially whole” while on disability leave.

Besides the make-up pay, the amended measure would let a firefighter unhappy with treatment directed under worker’s compensation to seek care from doctors specified under the Heart and Lung Act, according to the bill’s sponsor and union members. Farry says that option “actually allows for them to get back to work quicker.”

Philadelphia stands out in hiring EMTs and paramedics as city employees who are members of the local firefighters union.

The proposed change is not without critics. Most Pennsylvania municipalities have volunteers provide those services or contract with private medics.

Smaller townships and municipalities with third-party medics are concerned that the measure could be interpreted to cover their contracted forces as well, said Elam Herr, assistant executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors.

Townships and small cities that rely on volunteers “are not overly flush with excess cash,” she said.

Farry said the bill could be altered to address those concerns. He is proposing changes to ensure the legislation would apply to city EMTs and paramedics with firefighting duties – but not volunteer paramedics or EMTs.

Rep. Stephen Barrar (R., Delaware), chairman of the House Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee, said he supports the bill “in concept” but believes it can be strengthened. “We want to make sure the language is clear,” Barrar said.

Chuck McQuilkin, the sargeant-at-arms for Local 22, says the union is hoping to limit the proposal to Philadelphia, so other municipalities don’t feel threatened by its potential passage.

“We’re trying to gear it just toward Philadelphia,” McQuilkin said. “We’re trying to get what’s best for our people.”

Source – http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20160625_Bill_would_extend_coverage_for_Philly_paramedics__EMTs.html

By The APWU

– In a major ruling in favor of the APWU issued on June 15, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ordered the Postal Service to immediately provide the APWU uncensored copies of documents about the pilot program that established postal counters inside Staples stores – information the APWU first requested in 2013.

Noting that the Postal Service has a “rich history of responding to information requests with denials and delay,” the Board said that it would “not condone the [Postal Service’s] unlawful conduct by allowing it to delay any longer in producing the information.” The APWU first requested the information in 2013.

Under the order, the Postal Service must turn over information regarding its relationship with Staples, including copies of agreements and correspondence between the USPS and the office-supply company; records of any special deals and payments between them, and training material the Postal Service provided to Staples about how to perform the work.

Perhaps most importantly, the Board ordered the Postal Service to release records of its internal deliberations regarding the decision to subcontract APWU work to Staples.

Lifting the Veil of Secrecy

“This ruling will go a long way toward lifting the veil of secrecy that has shrouded the Postal Service’s deal with Staples,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. Although the Postal Service released thousands of pages of documents in response to earlier APWU requests and NLRB rulings, it withheld information it claimed was “proprietary.”

“Postal workers – and the people of the country – have a right to know about management’s attempts to privatize the Postal Service,” Dimondstein said. “This NLRB decision will advance that goal.”

The ruling affirmed and expanded on a 2014 decision by NLRB Administrative Judge Eric M. Fine, who found that the Postal Service violated the National Labor Relations Act when it refused to provide information to the APWU. Fine ordered the Postal Service to turn over most of the documents but he accepted management’s claim that some information was “proprietary” and permitted the USPS to obscure such information and/or restrict the union’s right to disclose it.

The APWU appealed the portion of the ruling that allowed the Postal Service to redact or restrict disclosure of the information. In the June 15 ruling, the Board ordered “immediate and unredacted production of all documents requested, without any confidentiality agreement.”

The decision could have a significant impact on a separate case pending before the Board regarding the Postal Service’s refusal to bargain with the union over the subcontracting of postal work to Staples.

“The APWU calls on Postmaster General Megan Brennan to comply with the Board’s ruling rather than engaging in delaying tactics by appealing the decision to the courts,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.

A Father’s Day 2016 Message From PhillyLabor!

Dear Dad’s of the Labor Movement,

Thank You for working hard every day and paving the way over generations so that we, our children and all working people have the opportunity at dignity, a living wage, safer working conditions and a better life! We are Proud To Walk in Your Footsteps!

Happy Father’s Day!

From Your Friends at PhillyLabor
and Today In PhillyLabor Radio

By The AFL-CIO

– Working people in the AFL-CIO’s affiliate unions have chosen to endorse Hillary Clinton for president of the United States. The endorsement reflects a comprehensive, democratic process initiated one year ago to capture the interests of the 12.5 million working people the federation represents.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:

Hillary Clinton is a proven leader who shares our values. Throughout the campaign, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to the issues that matter to working people, and our members have taken notice. The activism of working people has already been a major force in this election and is now poised to elect Hillary Clinton and move America forward.

Sen. Bernie Sanders has brought an important voice to this election and has elevated critical issues and strengthened the foundation of our movement. His impact on American politics cannot be overstated.

We are ready to fight hard to restore faith in America and improve the lives of all working people. Hillary Clinton has proven herself as a champion of the labor movement, and we will be the driving force to elect her president of the United States.
Working people in unions from around the country shared why they support Clinton. Here are some examples:

Lee Saunders, AFSCME president and chair of the AFL-CIO Political Committee, said:

This election offers a stark choice between an unstoppable champion for working families and an unstable charlatan who made his fortune scamming them. Working people know that Hillary Clinton has the temperament and experience to unite all Americans in our fight to increase incomes at home and extinguish threats abroad.

Beginning immediately, the AFL-CIO will put in motion its ground campaign to elect Hillary Clinton and union-endorsed candidates across the country. The federation has been laying the groundwork for this campaign for months, and Trumka pledged that “we will run a sophisticated, targeted ground campaign. And with the dire consequences Donald Trump poses for America’s working families, it has to be.”

Source – http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Working-People-of-the-AFL-CIO-Endorse-Hillary-Clinton-for-President

Major Announcement: From Dr. William “Cap” Ingram

Doctors and friends,

I am in Harrisburg right now. House Bill 1800, the bill that would have severely limited the ability for injured workers to receive quality medical care and related benefits, was “run” on the floor and was “tabled”. All of that political language means that the bill did not make it out of committee!!!!!!

This is a gigantic victory! Obviously it is possible that this could come back next year but we will be even more prepared then. Thank you all for your hard work and please continue to fight this fight.

Also, please forward this email to anyone that helped that I inadvertently did not include!

Thank you all again,

Dr. William Ingram

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A Message of Thanks To Everyone Involved From PhillyLabor

I personally want to thank Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon and the entire Phila. City Council, John Dougherty, Local 98 and Philadelphia Building Trades, Pat Eiding, President, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Brian Stevenson of Local 98, Pa. AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale, Pa. AFL-CIO Sec Treasurer, Frank Snyder and the entire Philadelphia Area and Pa. Labor Community and everyone of the injured workers professionals including Sam Pond/Jerry Lehocky/Pond Lehocky and the Trial Lawyers Assn, Pat Bianculli, USA, Gov. Ed Rendell, Gov Tom Wolf, Mayor Jim Kenney all local and statewide political officials both Democrat and Republican who supported the effort, the leadership of Physicians for Patients Rights (Cap Ingram, Bruce Grossinger, Chris Davis, Ray Abdallah and the entire organization), George L. Rodriguez, Craig Rosen, Dr. Michael Troiano and all the participating injured workers Drs and Service Providers, Our Publicist, Frank Keel, Phila. AFL-CIO Retirees, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Philaposh, our lobbyists and everyone too numerous to mention who helped in the fight for injured workers rights and against corporate greed!!

(My Apologies to anyone I may have inadvertently missed!)

As Cap Ingram Said, The Fight is Not Over, we will face these attacks in the future but we are now organized and we are a force to be reckoned with!

“PhillyLabor is Proud To Have Been a Part of This Campaign to Protect Workers Rights In The Face Of Corporate Greed!”

In Solidarity!

Joe Dougherty,
Executive Director,
PhillyLabor Injured Workers Network