– By Mark Abrams

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Today is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania if you’re planning to cast a ballot in next month’s general election.

It’s not a presidential election year, but in the commonwealth voters will be going to the polls on November 4 to elect candidates for governor, lieutenant governor, the state House and Senate, and for U.S. Congress.

In Philadelphia, you can go in person to Room 142 in City Hall to the County Board of Elections, or to the voter registration office on the fifth floor at 520 N. Columbus Boulevard in South Philadelphia.

You can also go to a PennDOT photo driver license center or pick up a form at the post office or one of Philadelphia’s public libraries.

The bottom line, any form you fill out must be mailed and postmarked by today.

If you live in the suburban counties, you can contact your voter registration office or anyone can download a registration form at the state website, VOTESPA.com.

You can also check on your registration status at the state website. Or, if you have questions, call 1-877-VOTESPA.

Source – http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/10/06/today-marks-deadline-to-register-to-vote-in-pennsylvanias-general-election/

By Better Wages Better Benefits

– Kiss Electric of Levittown Pennsylvania is a commercial electrical contractor performing work throughout the tri-state area. Kiss employs a number of Electricians, Apprentices, & Helpers. Recently, a large number of these employees approached I.B.E.W. Local Union #98 with multiple concerns. First off, employees pay stubs were totally blank, second, it appeared that drive time, and overtime hours were not accounted for. It wasn’t until one employee approached management about this situation that suspicions mounted. Upon asking why his paycheck appeared light, and questioning why his stub was blank, he was promptly fired and told “we don’t cater to anyone”.

That is when the talented and hard working employees of Kiss Electric approached Local 98. After Local 98 intervened, the former employee was made whole, and employees were FINALLY paid for all their hours worked. As a matter of fact, the first week that pay stubs were finally furnished with the proper information, one employee noticed their check was 7 hours short! That’s a whole days pay! It leaves one to wonder, “What if my stub was still blank? What if I questioned the amount? Would I have been shown the door too?”

After weeks of meetings between Local 98 and the guys at Kiss Electric, the employees there decided that they wanted I.B.E.W. Local 98 representation. A large majority of employees decided that the time was right and they initiated the process of having a vote to join Local 98. Predictably, Kiss Electric management panicked at the thought of their hardworking employees having a voice in the workplace and all the typical anti-union propaganda started right away. But that didn’t deter the Kiss Electric workers, it only solidified their resolve.

The management at Kiss Electric would have you believe that they are the victims and being “bullied” , or that they initiated the union vote, but the facts are, the workers at Kiss Electric were the ones being bullied, and they were the ones who contacted Local 98 and demanded a vote.

Source: http://betterwagesbetterbenefits.org/kiss-electric-employees-vote-for-union-representation/

By Tom MacDonald

– Is manufacturing being squeezed out of Philadelphia? One member of city council wants hearings on the issue.

City Councilman Bobby Henon says he worries that industrial land is being gobbled up by shopping plazas. He’s calling for hearings to ensure there’s a home for modern manufacturing in Philadelphia.

“It’s a different type of manufacturing, it’s a different type of industry,” he said. “It’s high tech it’s advanced manufacturing computer numbering and simulation machines. So we as a as a marketing tool need to tell businesses and show them that we have the land and we’re preserving the land for you.”

Henon says luring the Dietz and Watson plant back from New Jersey to Philadelphia is a recent example of a success.

“We have legacy industry businesses that are here in the city we want them to grow and we also want to send a message that land preservation is important as a marketing tool to attract more companies to come here in the city.”

He says keeping a home for manufacturing is vital since those jobs often pay more than service-sector ones.

Source: http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/73511-manufacturing-hearings-in-philadelphia-city-council-?linktype=hp_impact

By The PA. AFL-CIO

– We have one month until the most important gubernatorial election in recent Pennsylvania history. On November 4, the polls will open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

The stakes are high and it is up to you to make sure voter turnout is, too. If enough voters come out, the right candidate will win, and that is Tom Wolf. To find your polling place, click here.

In order to participate in voting on November 4, you need to register! If you have not done that yet, you only have two days! October 6 is the deadline to register to vote in Pennsylvania. For more information on the many ways to register, click here.

Don’t let the October 6 deadline pass you by. There are multiple ways to register so there is no excuse to go unregistered. Make sure to get yourself, your friends and your family registered and vote for Tom Wolf on November 4.

Source – http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=4582

By the PA. AFL-CIO

– Pennsylvania AFL-CIO’s Labor 2014 Get Out The Vote (GOTV) campaign kicked off on Wednesday and the RV hit the road.

The RV stopped at United Steel Workers (USW) Local 5652, Intermetro Industries, to hand out flyers and talk with workers about the high stakes that working people face in the November 4 election.

From there, the RV stopped at AFSCME District Council 87 in Dunmore, Pa. for a meeting with the Northeastern ALF where union members discussed strategies for Labor 2014 and plans for future events.

Speaking of events, a few GOTV RV stops included Voter Registration events yesterday at East Stroudsburg University and today, Friday Oct. 3, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Bloomsburg University in the parking area between the Bakeless Building and the Student Center of Laubach Drive. We will also be at Millersville University on Monday, Oct. 6 from 4 to 7 p.m. – more details to come.

We are thrilled about all the enthusiasm surrounding these events and we look forward to being part of a historic election. Please spread the word and feel free to join us as we Get Out The Vote all over Pennsylvania!

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=4746