By the PA. AFL-CIO

Union members and labor leaders from across Central PA held a press conference in York Pennsylvania on Wednesday, March 5 and accused some in the legislature of union-busting.  They urged area State Representatives to oppose legislation which unfairly attacks teachers, nurses, corrections officers and all public sector workers in Pennsylvania.

Fred Wilson, President of the Teamsters Local 776, helped lead the press conference which was hosted by Democratic State Representative Kevin Schreiber.  Tom Santone, President of the York-Adams Central Labor Council; Danny Grace, Secretary-Treasurer of IBT Local 830; Mickey Sgro, the Chair of the Central PA Area Labor Federation; and Frank Snyder, Secretary-Treasurer of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO all called for the defeat of HB1507 and its Senate counterpart, SB1034. They asked local Republican legislators to withdraw their support for these bills and to begin working together with their Democratic colleagues on the important business of putting Pennsylvanians back to work and supporting policies that expand the middle class.

After the press conference, attempts were made to have meetings with the Republican legislators – Rep. Seth Grove, R-Dover, Ron Miller, R-Jacobus and Stan Saylor, R-Windsor Twp. Governor Corbett has said that if this legislation reaches his desk that he will sign it.

Source: http://www.paaflcio.org/?p=3586

By Mike DeNardo

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Philadelphia principals tonight heard about the serious givebacks included in their tentative contract agreement with the financially-struggling school district (See Previous Story).

The deal calls for principals to be paid as 10-month instead of 12-month employees, and to begin paying health care premiums.   Members of the Commonwealth Association of School Administrators heard about the tentative agreement during a two-hour closed-door meeting at Lincoln High.

“The majority of the bargaining unit would be conceding 15 to 17 percent of their annual salary, plus making contributions towards their health care,” Union president Rob McGrogan said.

The 500 members will vote by mail, with ballots counted March 17th.  McGrogan says he believes if members reject the deal, the School Reform Commission will test its powers to impose terms.  That’s something that concerns laid-off assistant principal Judy Haughton.

“The truth is, I think the fear is that we don’t know what could be imposed on us,” Haughton said.

The cash-strapped school district is demanding $133 million in concessions from its labor unions.

With the principals deciding on concessions, all eyes turn to the teachers union.  Philadelphia Federation of Teachers president Jerry Jordan had no comment on the CASA agreement.

Source: http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/03/06/philadelphia-principals-asked-to-take-deep-pay-cuts/

By The Philly Public Record

– In time to make it an interesting race, Council President Darrell Clarke has issued a writ of election to fill the seat vacated by Councilman at Large Bill Green whose appointment by Gov. Tom Corbett to head the School Reform Commission has been confirmed by the Senate. The contested seat will appear on the primary ballot.

President Clarke will issue the writ of election on Monday, Mar. 24. He said, “This will give the County Board of Elections time to prepare the voting machines and for other steps required by the Election Code.”

Clarke noted, “The special election will be a one-step election, with the winner serving the balance of the term to which Councilman Green was elected until Jan. 4, 2016. The deadline for each party to file its nomination certificate designating its candidate is Apr. 8.”

Unlike the independents running, the two major-party candidates will only need a nominating certificate forwarded to the Registration Commission from their respective party leadership which attests to their endorsements.

Frontrunners for the endorsement by the city’s two major parties are Democratic State Rep. Ed Neilson (D-Northeast) and Republican Ward Leader Matt Wolfe. There may be others running, but they’ve got to come up with a minimum of 1,785 signatures on their nomination petitions, which no doubt will be challenged by both major parties. Their petitions need to be filed by Apr. 8 as well.

If you need more information, we suggest you contact (215) 686-3469 or PHLCouncil.com.

Source: http://www.phillyrecord.com/2014/03/may-special-election-called-for-philadelphia-open-council-seat/

PhillyLabor.com Welcomes FOP #5 president John McNesby as the guest Speaker at Tonight’s (3/5) Meet and Greet Event to be held at District council 21 Painters and Allied Trades Union Hall.

– One of the highest profile union leaders in Philadelphia, often having to negotiate and fight his battles in the public eye and in the media, John Mc Nesby is a passionate advocate and supporter of his members, Philadelphia’s finest, who are out on the streets everyday risking their lives to protect us in the line of fire under the most stressful circumstances and conditions imaginable.

Where do Philadelphia Police officers go when they have a problem and need support when they are being treated unfairly, THEY GO TO JOHN MCNESBY because they know he has their back, he will represent them to the fullest and do everything necessary on their behalf to ensure that they are treated fairly.

A 23 year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department and the FOP, John McNesby has been actively involved in the FOP on many levels, serving as squad director and being elected to delegate, since joining the department. He served on the Appropriations Committee, and was Chair of the Grievance and By-Law Committees through the year 1994-2000. In addition he served on the Contract Committee for the contract arbitrated in the years 2000, 2002 and 2004.

In 2000, John was elected to the FOP Executive Board as Trustee, and in 2002 as Vice President. As Vice President, John handled numerous labor issues on behalf of our membership. From 2005 to 2007, John was the FOP’s Chief of Staff where he directed the everyday operations of the Lodge.

In 2007, while running for President John said “When elected as President, I make this promise to you, that my team will work as hard as we can, give it our all, day in and day out, to improve, wages, benefits and pensions and to continue to work diligently for our pensioners! During his time as FOP 5 president, John and his team have kept their promise and done exactly that on behalf of their FOP membership.

PhillyLabor is proud to have John McNesby as our featured event speaker tonight!

For additional information on the PhillyLabor.com Business to Labor Network, go to: http://phillylabor.com/advertisenetworkpromote-your-business/

By The Associated Press

(Washington) —  Pennsylvania’s senior U.S. senator is urging Republican leaders of the state legislature not to move forward on a bill that would make it harder for labor unions to collect dues and political action contributions through payroll deductions.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Democratic Senator Bob Casey expressed concern the legislation could be quickly pushed through in an election year with the support of conservative groups and major business associations.

In a letter to state Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, and state House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, Casey said the bill could undermine unions’ ability to bargain collectively.

The issue has leaked into this year’s hotly contested governor’s race. Republican Governor Tom Corbett has pledged to sign the bill if passed.

The full text of Senator Casey’s letter is below:

Dear Senator Pileggi and Representative Turzai,

I am writing to you regarding Senate Bill 1034 and House Bill 1507. It is my understanding that these bills have been introduced in both the Senate and House respectively and are awaiting further consideration. I have heard from my constituents and I wish to express my concern that these bills may unfairly target public employees and could ultimately undermine the right of these employees to bargain collectively.

It is my understanding that these bills would end the right of certain public employee unions to bargain for automatic dues deductions from their paychecks. This is a right that has been shared by the likes of teachers, bus drivers, road maintenance crews, and many other public servants for decades. Automatic dues deductions is a policy that unions and public officials have negotiated jointly in the past.  I am not aware of any particular reason why that bargaining right should be taken away now or why this type of deduction would be singled out.

As the majority leaders in both the House and Senate, I respectfully ask you to not move forward with taking up these bills. I appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Robert P. Casey, Jr.

United States Senator

Source: http://www.witf.org/news/2014/02/senator-bob-casey-urges-state-lawmakers-to-sidestep-union-bill.php