By Bill Hangley

– For the second Black Friday in a row, workers and labor advocates have singled out Walmart as a target of protests, calling for higher wages and more predictable hours, and pointing to what they say are the hidden costs behind the retailer’s famously low prices.

About 75 demonstrators gathered in front of Walmart’s South Philadelphia store Friday morning, one of about 2,000 similar protests nationwide that took place under the umbrella of the labor-backed group, OUR Walmart.

Matthew Clark, an independent filmmaker, helped organize the Philadelphia event. He said it’s time the company start paying workers enough to keep them from depending on taxpayers to make ends meet.

“By Walmart not paying employees enough to have health care, taxpayers end up paying between $4 billion and $6 billion a year in Medicaid and food stamps costs for Walmart employees — because they won’t pay those employees themselves,” Clark said.

Among those present was Richard Barnes, head of the local stagehands union, IATSE Local 8. The more workers earn in wages, the more they spend here in the region, he told the crowd. Likewise, the less workers get paid, the more profits Walmart can plow into lobbying legislatures for its preferred policies. To see those priorities in action, he said, one need only look at the company’s home state of Arkansas.

“It’s important that we shift the money from going down to Arkansas, to here,” Barnes said. “Just look at what’s going on in that state. They’re the worst in education, they’re the worst in workers’ rights, they’re at the bottom of every category you can measure.”

Walmart, which cut health benefits for about 30,000 workers this year, has long argued that its low wages translate into low prices for customers. And while Walmart CEO Doug McMillon recently said he’d like to raise his workers’ wages, he hasn’t said when that might happen.

Source: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local/item/75720-dozens-in-south-philly-join-national-rallies-urging-better-wages-for-walmart-workers?linktype=hp_topstory

– Here are ways you can participate in the Black Friday Day of Action events. The UFCW Local 1776 has organized the #AnywhereButWalmart action on Black Friday and throughout the holiday shopping season.

#AnywhereButWalmart is another way for us to join together through social media in support of stores and retailers where workers are paid better and receive good benefits. When possible, buy products made in America.

For a complete list of where to shop this holiday and what products to buy visit:
www.ufcw1776.org – or – www.paaflcio.org

When you are shopping at these stores that support our communities use the hashtag #AnywhereButWalmart. Take a picture of yourself in front of or shopping at the store that respects its employees and use the hashtag when uploading it to our social media, or, email your photos to ufcwlocal1776@ufcwlocal1776.org. Your photos will be incorporated into the social media campaign to support workers’ rights and better treatment of workers.

You can double your support by snapping your photo at a Local 1776 represented retail, grocery or Pa. Wine and Spirits store. Also, remember to buy union, buy Pennsylvania buy American throughout the holidays and all year. It is the most direct way we can help improve our economy, protect good jobs and keep Americans working.

To view the #AnywhereButWalMart flyer, go to: http://www.paaflcio.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Black-Friday-Action-Flyer-11.14.pdf

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=5654

– On this Thanksgiving Holiday, as we, the men and women of the labor movement, gather with our loved ones, let us give thanks for food we share and for the opportunities we have been fortunate enough to receive that have made it possible for us to provide for our families.

Let us also give thanks to our forefathers who, in solidarity, paved the road to prosperity that has lead us to where we are today.

Finally, as we enjoy our Thanksgiving holiday, let us remember those less fortunate and say a prayer that, with our guidance and example, they too may find their way to a life of dignity, pride and good fortune!

Happy Thanksgiving in Solidarity,

PhillyLabor

By Francis Hilario

– Philadelphia has been named one of three finalists for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

The Democratic National Committee has narrowed down its list of potential cities for the 2016 convention to three: Philadelphia, New York and Columbus, Ohio. Phoenix and Birmingham, Ala. are now out of contention.

“We’re thrilled to move to the next step of the selection process to determine where Democrats will come together to nominate the 45th President of the United States,” Debbie Wasserman Schultz, DNC chairwoman, said in a statement. “We are fortunate to have such a diverse and vibrant group of cities interested in hosting this special event and we thank Phoenix and Birmingham for showcasing their special communities. We look forward to working with Columbus, New York, and Philadelphia as we go forward.”

The weeks for the convention that are under consideration are July 18, July 25 or Aug. 22. The committee is expected to make its final decision in the next few months.

Choosing a host city is based on a number of factors, including the city’s transportation, hotels and the facility holding the convention, experts said in interviews last month. Other factors include the city’s political leadership and financial resources.

“The kind of factors that are probably the most important in terms of valuation of cities are the obvious ones: Hotels, the facility to hold the event in [and] logistics,” Alan Kessler, former finance vice chair of the DNC said in an earlier interview with the Philadelphia Business Journal. “The single most important is financial guarantee.”

Our panel of experts — including Gov. Ed Rendell — handicapped each city’s chance for the big score recently. Check it out at: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/print-edition/2014/10/17/wooing-the-dnc-sizing-up-the-competition.html

Source: http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2014/11/24/philadelphia-one-of-three-finalists-for-2016-dnc.html

By Joel Mathis

– The Pennsylvania Legislature might hold a lame-duck session before Gov. Tom Corbett’s term expires in January — one last grab at passing GOP-favored legislation before Democrat Tom Wolf replaces Corbett.

PennLive reports:

New Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman said Thursday that he’s not ruling out a lame-duck session during the final two weeks of Gov. Tom Corbett’s term so that lawmakers can push through bills before Gov.-elect Tom Wolf takes office.

“Tom Corbett is governor for four years, not three years and 10 months,” Corman, R-Centre, said in remarks taped for broadcast Sunday on WHP-TV’s “Face the State” program. “We get sworn into office on the first Tuesday [in January] and we might go to work.”

Corman said he’s “looking at the schedule” to determine if there’s enough time for lawmakers to pull off the long-shot legislative session. For the past several years, the Legislature has sworn-off holding lame-duck sessions.

Corman also said that Wolf’s 5 percent severance tax on natural gas drilling will be a “last result” as state government tries to get its fiscal house in order during the next session.

Source: http://www.phillymag.com/news/2014/11/21/pa-legislature-might-hold-lame-duck-session/