A Father’s Day 2016 Message From PhillyLabor!
Dear Dad’s of the Labor Movement,
Thank You for working hard every day and paving the way over generations so that we, our children and all working people have the opportunity at dignity, a living wage, safer working conditions and a better life! We are Proud To Walk in Your Footsteps!
Happy Father’s Day!
From Your Friends at PhillyLabor
and Today In PhillyLabor Radio
By The AFL-CIO
– Working people in the AFL-CIO’s affiliate unions have chosen to endorse Hillary Clinton for president of the United States. The endorsement reflects a comprehensive, democratic process initiated one year ago to capture the interests of the 12.5 million working people the federation represents.
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said:
Hillary Clinton is a proven leader who shares our values. Throughout the campaign, she has demonstrated a strong commitment to the issues that matter to working people, and our members have taken notice. The activism of working people has already been a major force in this election and is now poised to elect Hillary Clinton and move America forward.
Sen. Bernie Sanders has brought an important voice to this election and has elevated critical issues and strengthened the foundation of our movement. His impact on American politics cannot be overstated.
We are ready to fight hard to restore faith in America and improve the lives of all working people. Hillary Clinton has proven herself as a champion of the labor movement, and we will be the driving force to elect her president of the United States.
Working people in unions from around the country shared why they support Clinton. Here are some examples:
Lee Saunders, AFSCME president and chair of the AFL-CIO Political Committee, said:
This election offers a stark choice between an unstoppable champion for working families and an unstable charlatan who made his fortune scamming them. Working people know that Hillary Clinton has the temperament and experience to unite all Americans in our fight to increase incomes at home and extinguish threats abroad.
Beginning immediately, the AFL-CIO will put in motion its ground campaign to elect Hillary Clinton and union-endorsed candidates across the country. The federation has been laying the groundwork for this campaign for months, and Trumka pledged that “we will run a sophisticated, targeted ground campaign. And with the dire consequences Donald Trump poses for America’s working families, it has to be.”
Source – http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/Working-People-of-the-AFL-CIO-Endorse-Hillary-Clinton-for-President
Major Announcement: From Dr. William “Cap” Ingram
Doctors and friends,
I am in Harrisburg right now. House Bill 1800, the bill that would have severely limited the ability for injured workers to receive quality medical care and related benefits, was “run” on the floor and was “tabled”. All of that political language means that the bill did not make it out of committee!!!!!!
This is a gigantic victory! Obviously it is possible that this could come back next year but we will be even more prepared then. Thank you all for your hard work and please continue to fight this fight.
Also, please forward this email to anyone that helped that I inadvertently did not include!
Thank you all again,
Dr. William Ingram
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A Message of Thanks To Everyone Involved From PhillyLabor
I personally want to thank Philadelphia City Councilman Bobby Henon and the entire Phila. City Council, John Dougherty, Local 98 and Philadelphia Building Trades, Pat Eiding, President, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, Brian Stevenson of Local 98, Pa. AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale, Pa. AFL-CIO Sec Treasurer, Frank Snyder and the entire Philadelphia Area and Pa. Labor Community and everyone of the injured workers professionals including Sam Pond/Jerry Lehocky/Pond Lehocky and the Trial Lawyers Assn, Pat Bianculli, USA, Gov. Ed Rendell, Gov Tom Wolf, Mayor Jim Kenney all local and statewide political officials both Democrat and Republican who supported the effort, the leadership of Physicians for Patients Rights (Cap Ingram, Bruce Grossinger, Chris Davis, Ray Abdallah and the entire organization), George L. Rodriguez, Craig Rosen, Dr. Michael Troiano and all the participating injured workers Drs and Service Providers, Our Publicist, Frank Keel, Phila. AFL-CIO Retirees, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Philaposh, our lobbyists and everyone too numerous to mention who helped in the fight for injured workers rights and against corporate greed!!
(My Apologies to anyone I may have inadvertently missed!)
As Cap Ingram Said, The Fight is Not Over, we will face these attacks in the future but we are now organized and we are a force to be reckoned with!
“PhillyLabor is Proud To Have Been a Part of This Campaign to Protect Workers Rights In The Face Of Corporate Greed!”
In Solidarity!
Joe Dougherty,
Executive Director,
PhillyLabor Injured Workers Network
By The AFL-CIO
– Today AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, Secretary-Treasurer Elizabeth Shuler and Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre released the following statement in response to the murder of 49 people at Pulse, an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando:
“Bayard Rustin said to be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true. We in the labor movement are not afraid. We are resolved to do everything in our power to make sure this never happens again. The truth as we know it is both devastating and infuriating. 49 souls were lost in a cowardly act of violence. These are our brothers, sisters and friends. At least one was our member.
“For the LGBTQ community, clubs like Pulse are a space where people can feel safe and be their true selves. Sunday’s horrific act is a reminder of how fragile that safety can be. While we have made undeniable progress toward equality, too many in our country still face derision, discrimination and violence. These flames of hatred have been fanned by those in public life who want to marginalize an entire group of people for political gain. It’s despicable and it must stop.
“But this was more than just an attack on the LGBTQ community. The victims were overwhelmingly young and Latino.Sunday’s massacre was an assault on everything our movement stands for: equality, justice, solidarity and inclusion.
“It was also an extraordinarily difficult situation for our first responders, who had the traumatic job of sorting the dead from the living, effectively working in a war zone. We thank the police, fire and health care providers who saved lives and continue to care for the injured. We will stand with them in the trying days ahead.
“Labor is one big family, made up of people of all races, religions, genders, sexual orientations and gender identities. As a family, we will work to provide comfort to our brothers and sisters in Orlando and across the United States. And we will make it our daily mission to ensure America’s workplaces and union halls are safe and free from bigotry.
“There will be some who try to use this tragedy to further divide us, to pit communities against each other and scapegoat entire faith traditions. Let us be perfectly clear: giving in to division and fear will only add insult to injury. This is a moment for us to come together, embrace our common humanity and take the necessary steps to make our country safer, stronger and more united.”
Source – http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Political-Action-Legislation/AFL-CIO-Statement-on-the-Orlando-Massacre
By Martha Woodall
– The union that represents blue-collar workers in the Philadelphia School District overwhelmingly approved a new four-year contract Saturday that its leaders called “historic.”
The union local – SEIU 32BJ – said the new agreement ends concessions that it made in the last contract that saved the district $100 million over four years and helped the school system during a financial crisis.
Ernie Bennett, District 1201 leader for 32BJ, said the new pact boosted workers’ wages through a combination of bonuses, across-the-board increases and step raises based on years of experience. Under an agreement with the district, he declined to reveal numbers because bargaining continues with other unions.
“I remember where we were four years ago, and it wasn’t a good place,” Bennett said. “We made sacrifices not only to keep our jobs but because we love our students. Many of us have children and grandchildren in the district . . . This deal shows that our sacrifice was appreciated.”
Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. agreed.
“Four years ago 32BJ members stepped up in a time of crisis and put the students of Philadelphia first,” he said in a statement issued shortly before 6 p.m. “This contract recognizes the tremendous contributions that these members made.”
The union represents more than 2,000 bus drivers, bus attendants, maintenance workers, cleaners, and building engineers. Average starting hourly wages currently range from $12 for a cleaner to $20 for a trade mechanic.
“I’m happy,” Bennet said in an interview after more than 500 members ratified the contract during a meeting at the union’s headquarters on North 5th Street near Spring Garden Street.
Negotiations began in April for a new contract to replace the 2BJ agreement that expires Aug. 31.
Four years ago, when the district was facing a projected $282 million deficit, the union approved what its leaders called an “unprecedented” contract. Members of 32BJ agreed to forgo raises totaling 5 percent that they were due under their existing contract and to have their wages frozen for four years.
In addition, members agreed to make weekly contributions of between $5 and $45 – depending on income – to help reduce the district deficit.
In return for those concessions, the district promised to preserve the jobs of nearly all members and to provide them employment security through Aug. 31 of this year.
Under the new agreement, the weekly wage deductions will end July 1 – two months before the current contract expires.
At a City Council hearing on the district’s budget in May, Hite said the district was determined to reach new contracts this year with CASA, 32BJ, and the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers. The PFT contract expired in 2013.
Source – http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20160612_New_contract_approved_by_Philly_schools__32BJ_blue-collar_workers.html
