Harrisburg, PA: The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO endorsed statewide judicial candidates for the Tuesday, May 19, 2015 Primary Election. The state labor federation is the largest labor organization in Pennsylvania representing over 800,000 union workers.

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO endorses the following judicial candidates for the Primary Election:

PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURT

Judge Kevin Dougherty, (D)
Judge David Wecht, (D)
Judge Christine Donohue, (D)

SUPERIOR COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Judge Robert J. Colville, (D)

COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA

Todd Eagan, (D)

“In our judgment these candidates are exceptionally qualified in applying equal justice and dignity for workers under the laws protecting the working families of Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said in announcing these endorsements. “Each has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to the values and principles of fairness and justice. We will work on their behalf, sharing their record of support and respect for the rights of working men and women,” Bloomingdale said.

“We have a historic opportunity to elect well-qualified candidates to the most important courts in the Commonwealth. Their success will enable us to end the political gerrymandering that has disenfranchised millions of Pennsylvanians. The importance of electing these judges cannot be underscored enough,” Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder said. “Starting immediately, we will be working with our unions and our members to help elect our endorsed candidates,” Snyder added, who is also the statewide Political Director of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

The endorsements were made today by the members of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO’s Executive Council. The Council also endorsed Sarah Del Ricci, the Democratic candidate for the 170th State House seat in the Special Election to be held on Tuesday, March 24, 2015.
Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5846

By The PA. AFL-CIO

The United Steelworkers have reached a tentative agreement with Shell Oil that is expected to set the pattern for bargaining in the oil refining industry, after a strike lasting nearly 6 weeks and involving over 6,500 workers. According to USW president Leo Gerard, the the tentative agreement includes “vast improvements to safety and staffing.” Dangerous conditions at refineries, and the companies’ refusal to bargain in good faith over those conditions, were the primary motive of the largest strike by US oil refinery workers in over 30 years.

– On Friday, March 13th the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO voted to endorse Jim Kenney for Mayor of Philadelphia in the May 19, 2015 primary election. “Jim Kenney is the right choice for Philadelphia,” said Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Pat Eiding. “As a Councilman, he stood up time and again to defend working families on everything from prevailing wage to the right to organize. The son of a union firefighter from South Philadelphia, Jim has always focused on families in every neighborhood because he knows Philadelphia is not truly succeeding unless everyone is moving forward. We look forward to working with Jim to create a city where everyone has access to fair, safe working conditions and a living wage.”

Read Jim Kenney’s statement on receiving labor’s endorsement on the Philadelphia AFL-CIO’s website at: .

– The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO announced endorsements in a number of races in the May 19, 2015 primary elections. Here is the full list of candidates endorsed by the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO.

Mayor of Philadelphia: Jim Kenney

City Council Districts:
1 – Mark Squilla
2 – Kenyatta Johnson
3 – Jannie Blackwell
4 – Curtis Jones Jr
5 – Darrell Clarke
6 – Bobby Henon
7 – Maria Quinones Sanchez
8 – Cindy Bass
9 – Cherelle Parker
10 – Brian O’Neill

City Council At-Large:
Democratic Primary:
Ed Neilson
W. Wilson Goode, Jr
William Greenlee
Isaiah Thomas
Blondell Reynolds Brown

Republican Primary: Dan Tinney

City Commissioner: Lisa Deeley

Registrar of Wills: Ron Donatucci

Sheriff: Jewell Williams

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO has endorsement jurisdiction in state-level races, and will announce endorsements in those races next week.

By The PA. AFL-CIO

– Over the next several weeks, legislative committees are reviewing the Governor’s Budget proposal. As the Governor promised, his budget levels the playing field for Pennsylvania and begins to rebuild our middle class. These are the same goals that Pennsylvania’s working families share and they are the principles we voted for in the election. Some don’t like it because they will no longer get the free ride they have enjoyed over the past few years. They like the way things are. They don’t want things to change.

Now is the time to show our elected representatives that we support the Governor’s budget proposal. It is a fair budget that provides tax relief for low and middle income families. It is a budget that gives a tax break to business, but closes loopholes so that corporations, including drilling companies, will finally pay their fair share of taxes. It is a budget that restores the cuts in education so that our children have books and resources needed to learn and prepare for careers, and it is a budget that raises Pennsylvania’s minimum wage, makes additional investments in higher education and workforce development, and restores cuts in human services – especially programs the help elderly and disabled people.

This budget is a blueprint to move our state to prosperity and sound economic growth. Opponents will try to pick off the pieces of the budget they don’t like, but this budget must be viewed as a complete package to understand the relief that it will provide to average workers. We want to share with you some helpful budget information on the Governor’s web-site which will show you how this budget will provide funding for school districts across the state while also achieving property tax relief for all Pennsylvanians. Visit the website at www.schoolsthatteach.com to see how the budget will impact your district and your tax bill.

Ask your State Legislator to support the Governor’s budget in it’s entirety and oppose those attempts to defeat or undermine the goals of this budget.

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5832