By The PA. AFL-CIO

– On behalf of all of the members of Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, we extend our thoughts and prayers to all of those affected by the devastating Amtrak Train crash in Philadelphia. We are deeply saddened to hear about the tragic accident. Our sympathies and compassion go out to the family members of those who lost loved ones, and to the injured passengers and their families. We applaud all of the emergency responders – EMTs, firefighters, police officers, and all personnel who arrived on the scene, for their courage and devotion in their life-saving efforts. We also express our heartfelt thanks to the medical staff and caregivers of the Philadelphia hospitals, who are among the best in the nation. We are confident in their skill and dedication, and know that the injured will be in very good hands.

Source – http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5951

By The American Postal Workers Union

– Thursday, May 14 – Attend an Event at a Post Office Near You – ‘I Stand With Postal Workers!’

– The contract between the American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service expires on
May 20, and as the deadline approaches, postal workers have an important message:

The U.S. Postal Service is under attack. Our national treasure is in the grips of a manufactured
financial crisis that is being used to justify an all-out assault on postal workers, on service to the
American people, and on the Postal Service as a great public institution.

There are two competing visions for the future of the U.S. Postal Service:

Top-level postal bosses are using the ginned-up financial crisis to justify their vision: Cut
service, privatize operations, and convert living-wage, union jobs into low-wage, non-union
jobs. And many in Congress and on Wall Street are eager to dismantle the Postal Service so they
can turn over the profitable pieces to their cronies in private industry.

The members of the APWU envision a vibrant, public Postal Service that expands hours; offers
new services, such as postal banking, and gives quality service to people across the country – no
matter who they are, where they live, or how much money they have.

Our vision is reflected in the demands we have brought to the bargaining table. In addition to
proposals that would protect good, stable jobs, postal workers are demanding extended hours at
post offices to shorten customers’ wait time in line, an end to the closure of mail sorting centers,
restoration of prompt mail delivery, and the addition of postal banking.

As negotiations draw to a close, postal workers need a strong demonstration of support.

• May 14 – Attend an event at a post office
near you. For locations and other info, visit
www.apwu.org/national-day-action-may-14.

• Sign a postcard to Postmaster General
Megan Brennan at www.apwu-pledge.org.

• Spread the word! For updated information about
postal workers’ fight, visit www.apwunccc.org.

Philadelphia Rally Locations:

Philadelphia
Location: Philly NDC
Address: 1900 Byberry Road (Corner of Byberry and Evans Truck Yard)
Time: 6:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m.
Contacts: Vince Tarducci; phillybmc7048@aol.com; (267) 994-3235
Joe Quinlan; JTQ7048@hotmail.com; (484) 336-7570

Philadelphia
Location: Bustleton US Post Office
Address: 9925 Bustleton Avenue
Time: 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Contacts: Vince Tarducci; phillybmc7048@aol.com; (267) 994-3235
Joe Quinlan; JTQ7048@hotmail.com; (484) 336-7570

Philadelphia
Location: USPS Main Office Delivery
Address: 3000 Chestnut Street
Time: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Contact: Nick Casselli at (610) 522-4520

St. Mary’s
Location: St. Mary’s Post Office
Address: 201 Chestnut Street
Time: all day
Contact: Ginny Wilson; (814) 834-3116; gwilson@yahoo.com

– See more at: http://www.apwu.org/national-day-action-may-14#PA

– On this Mother’s Day, 2015, PhillyLabor would like to acknowledge and thank all of the Mothers in the labor movement (present and past) for your eternal guidance, strength and love throughout the struggles of today and yesterday both on the front lines and behind the scenes! Your courage, example and inspiration keeps the fight going!

With Gratitude and Sincerity, Happy Mother’s Day To you All!

PhillyLabor.com

By Dave Davies

– If you follow the Balkanized world of Philadelphia politics, you know that carpenters union, which has been shut out of the Pennsylvania Convention Center, has endorsed state Sen. Anthony Williams in the Philadelphia mayor’s race.

But apparently not all carpenters agree.

Campaign finance reports filed today show that the Carpenters’ Fund for Growth and Prosperity, based in Edison, N.J., recently contributed $750,000 to a newly-created committee called The Turnout Project, and $725,000 of it quickly went to a super PAC that’s running TV ads promoting former City Councilman Jim Kenney’s candidacy.

How could that happen?

Apparently John Dougherty, business manager of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, an avid Kenney supporter, is involved.

When I called the contact person on the finance report of The Turnout Project to ask about the contributions, she said someone would soon get back to me.

Within a few minutes, I got the following statement from Local 98 spokesman Frank Keel: “The International Carpenters Union clearly understands that John Dougherty is consistently on the right side of the issues‎ and they want to work with him.”

Here are the details, as revealed in The Turnout Project’s report:

The Carpenters Fund for Growth and Prosperity of Edison, N.J. made contributions of $250,000 (on April 4th) and $500,000 (on May 1st) to The Turnout Project.

The Turnout Project contributed $225,000 (on April 23rd) and $500,000 (on May 1st) to the Build a Better Pa. Fund, which has spent a little over $700,00 on TV ads for Kenney.

Building a Better Pa. Fund’s campaign finance report shows it raisesd about $1.4 million, about a third of that from Local 98.

So what does it mean that Philly carpenters are backing Williams and some aren’t?

I reached out to a Martin O’Rourke, spokesman from Ed Coryell, business manager of the Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters here in Philadelphia.

He wrote back with this:

Here is a statement from Frank Spencer, Eastern District Vice President, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America: “The UBCJA unequivocally supports Ed Coryell and our leadership in Philadelphia – as well as the local political decisions the Regional Council makes.”

Source – http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/81690-carpenters-fueling-pro-kenney-super-pac?linktype=hp_impact

By Kimberly Paynter

– Philadelphia police officers and firefighters killed in action were honored Wednesday at the annual Living Flame Memorial Service Wednesday afternoon.

Families of police Officer Robert Wilson III and firefighter Lt. Joyce Craig placed bouquets of flowers on the memorial as city officials honored Wilson and Craig with words.

Craig of Engine 64 died responding to a call in Philadelphia’s West Oak Lane neighborhood on Dec. 9. Wilson was shot during a robbery on West Lehigh Avenue on March 5.

Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey, noting that being a police officer or firefighter is a “constant sacrifice,” said those individuals display total commitment to the safety of the city.

Mourners were then invited to place flowers on the plaques bearing the names of their loved ones. The Philadelphia Honor Guard fired a rifle salute and the Philadelphia Fire Department rang the last alarm for the fallen officers.

Source – http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/viewfinders/item/81617?linktype=hp_blogs