By Jared Shelly, Philadelphia Business Journal and HOPE YEN, The Associated Press

– The Democratic National Committee once again visited Philadelphia. DNC Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and other arrived Wednesday morning.

Here’s more:

A person familiar with the convention bid says the DNC group was greeted by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell, two of the city’s biggest boosters.

Mayor Nutter lead a tour of the city’s convention venues and historical highlights, such as the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, to remind DNC officials why Philadelphia is the best choice in terms of logistics, hotel rooms, security and convention space, according to the person familiar with the plans.

Philadelphia boosters have emphasized their convention experience and space with the Wells Fargo Center and the recently expanded Philadelphia Convention Center. The city hosted the Republican National Convention in 2000. Officials say they’ll be able to handle the $55 million to $60 million price tag.

Late last week, Wasserman Schultz announced that the convention will take place the week of July 25, 2016.

Philadelphia, New York and Columbus, Ohio are the final three contenders to host the DNC convention.

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/morning_roundup/2015/01/dnc-committee-visits-philadelphia-again-as.html

Additional Source: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20150128_ap_44f4ff021b7e4357a02c478d49c565ac.html

1/28 – Today’s Featured Guests on Today In PhillyLabor Radio are City Councilman Bill Greenlee, Laura Wentz, President Philly CLUW,
Marianne Bellesorte, PathWays PA and the Coalition for Healthy Families and Workplaces, Kathy Black, AFSCME DC 47 & Treasurer Philly CLUW and Diane Mohney, PFT 3, Retired.

Featured Topics – Paid Sick Days and Pregnant Workers Act.

Tune in to WWDB 860 AM (or listen online at http://wwdbam.com/streamer/) from Noon to 2pm and See What All The Talk Is About!

BY Kevin Solari

– In his State of the Union address last week, President Obama outlined a plan to bring America in line with the rest of the industrialized world and provide paid sick and family leave for workers. Before the address, he had issued a memorandum granting federal employees six weeks of paid sick leave for the birth of a child and asked Congress to legislate another six weeks.

Although Obama’s measure only applies to employees of the federal government, he challenged Congress to address the issue on a national level.

“Today, we are the only advanced country on Earth that doesn’t guarantee paid sick leave or paid maternity leave to our workers,” the President said in his address. “And since paid sick leave won where it was on the ballot last November, let’s put it to a vote right here in Washington. Send me a bill that gives every worker in America the opportunity to earn seven days of paid sick leave. It’s the right thing to do.”

The President was referring to the Healthy Families Act, originally proposed by Senator Ted Kennedy in 2009, which would allow American citizens the chance to earn seven sick days a year. As of now, workers can use the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to take off 12 weeks for the birth of a child, to care for a family member or other medical issues. But this time is unpaid and, as the President said during his address, “that forces too many parents to make the gut-wrenching choice between a paycheck and a sick kid at home.”

On Monday, Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D–New York) took the first step to expanding paid sick time by reintroducing the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. The bill gives federal employees access to six weeks of paid parental leave. Mahoney has consistently introduce paid parental leave legislation since 2000.
Benefitting workers is not the only reason the Congress would want to pass the legislation. Government is competing with the private sector for top talent, and work life balance is consistently a top concern for younger workers.

“More and more private employers around the world are offering parents paid time off so they can take care of their newborns,” Richard G. Thissen, president of the National Active and Retirees Federal Employees Association, said. “As a result, federal agencies can’t compete with the private sector for talented younger workers who, if electing federal employment, would have to use accrued vacation or sick time, which may be only a few days, or forgo pay in order to take time off after the birth of a child.”

According to Thissen, more than 30 percent of federal employees will be eligible for retirement in the next three years, creating the need to make these positions as attractive as possible to those the agencies would want to hire.

The Office of Management and Budget has said the extra weeks of paid leave would cost $250 million and would fit within the current budget.

Currently Papua New Guinea, Oman and the U.S. are the only countries in the world that don’t guarantee paid sick leave for workers.

Source: http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/17579/paid_sick_leave

By Tom MacDonald

– Philadelphia City Council will again take up the issue of paid sick leave for workers at a hearing Tuesday. And, after several go-rounds, the bill’s sponsor isn’t willing the water the legislation down any further.

Mayor Michael Nutter wants any law to apply only to employers with 15 or more workers. Councilman Bill Greenlee’s bill, however, calls for a 10-employee standard, and he’s not budging.

“We’ve already modified it, we’ve gone from five to 10, and we aren’t going any further,” Greenlee said. “Ten has been sort of the max in the bills that have been established around the country over the last couple of years.”

Should the mayor again veto the legislation, Greenlee said he’s ready with reinforcements.

“I will go for the override, and we will override if we have to,” he said, adding that he has at least 12 votes for an override. He said support is building for the bill.

Source – http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/77663-councilman-ready-for-override-if-nutter-vetoes-philly-sick-leave-bill?linktype=hp_impact

– Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Rules That School Reform Commission (SRC) Cannot Cancel Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) Contract

By The PA. AFL-CIO

– In a significant judicial victory for organized labor, the Commonwealth Court, on Thursday, January 23, affirmed a lower court ruling which had rejected the unilateral cancellation of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers’ collective bargaining agreement by the School Reform Commission.

PFT President Jerry Jordan stated that the decision by Commonwealth Court affirms what we have been saying for months: The School Reform Commission’s move last October to unilaterally cancel the PFT contract was unjust and a blatant violation.

“The decision is a victory for collective bargaining and the notion that contracts between parties should be negotiated not imposed,” Jordan said in a statement released by the union.

The PFT is calling on the school district to immediately resume negotiations. “It’s time to redirect the energy and resources wasted on litigation to negotiating a contract that will ensure our schoolchildren and educators are given the best possible tools for teaching and learning,” Jordan stated.

PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale congratulated President Jordan and the PFT on “this important judicial victory for working people. This is a fair and just decision that defends and recognizes our collective bargaining rights. It maintains a level field of play between both sides,” Bloomingdale said.

PA AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder stated that this decision is “important to school teachers and workers in school districts throughout Pennsylvania who are having to deal with the failed policies and underfunding and of public education by the previous administration. We are joining with all of our unions in pushing for restoration of the cuts and support for policies that support our students and improve educational opportunities,” Snyder said.

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5736