UK TUC (AFL-CIO) General Strike

The British Trades Unions Congress (TUC.org.UK) yesterday (Sept. 11, 2011) instructed the TUC General Council to support and coordinate Joint Strike Action against attacks on jobs, pensions, pay and public services.

Composite Motion Nine: Public Services and Their Importance to the Economy warned: ‘All services are already in danger with the increasing threat of Privatisation evidenced by the Open Public Services White Paper.’

'(TUC) Congress notes that the combination of Public services cuts, Wage freezes, Benefit cuts, growth in unemployment, changes to the calculation for pensions and other benefits from the Retail Price Index (RPI) to Consumer Price Index (CPI) and unchecked inflation amount to the biggest attack upon living standards in this country since the 1920s.’

The motion states: ‘In order to expand the campaign against the government’s austerity agenda, both in the public and private sectors, Congress supports a national day of action with pensioners organisations, youth and student groups and other local community campaigns.’

It states: ‘Congress instructs the General Council to: Support and Coordinate campaigning and Joint Union Industrial Action against attacks on jobs, pensions, pay or public services.’

Mover Jane Carolan of Unison condemned the attack on youth services and the cut in university places, saying: ‘What a time it is to be 17.’ She warned: ‘The Welfare State is no longer a safety net and the NHS is no longer safe.’ She added: ‘Cuts are only part of the agenda, the other part is privatisation.’

She said that with ‘Capitalism in action - there is no time for caring.’

Seconder Janice Godrich of the PCS union said: ‘We say austerity is not the answer.’
She added: ‘Evidence tells us that cuts make the economy worse.’

She said the aim of the government is to roll back the Welfare State. She warned:
‘The NHS will no longer be free at the point of need under the government’s plans.
‘Every cut creates a victim. This composite rejects all cuts.’

She called for ‘biggest industrial action since the General Strike’ and ended by urging everyone to ‘resist’ the cuts.

CWU delegate Tony Kearns, speaking in support, said: ‘We shouldn’t be afraid to say as Trade Unionists that Capitalism has failed.’

He added: ‘We have to stand up for public services.’ He reminded delegates: ‘Our conference called for a 24-hour General strike. We don’t accept cuts.’

Terry Hoad, of the UCU union, said: ‘The government wants to introduce changes that will see a lecturer on a £20,000 pension lose £6,000. ‘Our battle has to be for decent pensions that will see people not in poverty but in dignity in their old age.’

FBU delegate Andy Noble said: ‘Our message to (Conservative Party Prime Minister) Cameron and the government is to stop calling us heroes while making cuts to our jobs, our pensions and trying to privatise the Fire service.’ He condemned the sell-off of London’s fire engines to a private company.

UK Sources: The Guardian, TUC.org.uk

First PEOPLES CONGRESS

PEOPLES CONGRESS No. 1

October 15 - 16, 2011

by William Floyd PDWA

A parallel, Peoples' Congress to debate America's desperate needs such as Millions of Jobs, Peace, Fair Taxation of Wealthy, EFCA, Double Social Security to maimed Vets, blind, deaf and disabled Americans, Single Payer Healthcare, Wall Street Criminality, Wiretapping of American Sovereign People. Also on the job-training for Progressive Candidates (Congress).

Possible Leaders: RUSS FEINGOLD / ALAN GRAYSON ** No commitments definite**

1. JOBS NOW! Progressive Economists explain how Keynes Theory can save US Economy

2. PROGRESSIVE UNIONS: Collective Bargaining is a Patriotic Right. An American tradition like baseball and apple pie. Pass EFCA in 2011. Strengthen the N.R.L.B.

3. Speakers from a dozen UNIONS. AFL-CIO, UTW and independent Trade Unions

4. REPS from Black, Hispanic, Asian and Women's Issues Congressional Caucuses

5. PERMANENT WAR DEPT: Pfc Bradley Manning, Cindy Sheehan, Tom Hayden,

Sgt. Ron Kovic, Tim Carpenter, Marcy Winograd, PDLA, MoveOn S. Monica, PDWA and SMPC William Floyd and 20 more progressives.

Plus 150 female and male, Black, Latin, Asian, and white Progressive Candidates for Congress Nov. 2012.

VENUE: Santa Monica Civic, Hollywood or Westwood Theater

Broadcast: Peoples Congress online, U Tube, Twitter, Face Book, C-Span, Current TV, Link TV, PBS, WikiLeaks, Al Jazeera, Corporate Monopoly Media

Connect 150 new Progressive Labor Candidates to Act Blue; Darcy Burner's Progressive Congress Action Fund.org. Raise $Millions for pro-labor Progressives.

The Peoples' Congress: One weekend, Saturday October 15 and Sunday Oct. 16, 2011

Under leadership of retired Congress Members, Progressives, Union executives, and honest former State Legislators, we will conduct a clean Peoples' Congress Hearing on:

• 10-20 Million JOBS, Direct hire by Federal Gov't; green jobs; clerical, creative jobs

• $9-$16 Trillion: Recapture Bank Bailout by Federal Reserve for gambling losses

• SAVE $120 Billion/yr; Exit Afghanistan, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Yemen NOW

• SAVE $70 Billion/yr Fed Subsidies for Oil Corps, big AG, Pharma, NAFTA offshoring

• Collective bargaining is a Patriotic Right – Enact E.F.C.A. now – Strengthen NLRB

• Nixon's Wartime luxury income tax 74% for lucky people earning over $250,000 annually

• One penny fee on Wall Street Swaps and Derivatives (trades of over 1000 shares)

• Double Social Security payments to maimed Vets, PTSD, Seniors, blind, deaf, disabled

• $200 Billion Turbine and Solar incentives in 20 States (Equip. 80% Made in America)

• Peoples' Congressional Debate October 16^th - “Progressive Caucus Budget” and PDWA's “Promise to America” vs. Ryan-Boehner-Cantor 'Crash, slash & burn' GOP

Progressive Democratic Workers for America (PDWA) – William Floyd, Pres.

PEOPLES' CONGRESS 1 (pg 2/2 more detail)

VENUE: Santa Monica Civic Auditorium, Hollywood Theater, Wordsworth, Westwood

DATE: OCTOBER 15^th - 16^th (Saturday and Sunday)

BROADCAST: U Tube, Twitter, Face Book, C-Span, Current TV, Link TV, PBS, KCET,

WikiLeaks (Iceland), Al Jazeera TV / Pacifica radio, Corporate monopoly media?

HEARING: 20 Progressive 'SENATORS' from 20 States with State flags and signage.

(played by 20 volunteers from S.M. MoveOn, Progressive Democratic Workers for America)

Leader calls Peoples' Congress to order: First business, 10-20 Million New JOBS Now!

EVIDENCE: Corps are not hiring, unemployment is skyrocketing, economy is drowning.

Job Hiring Works: FD Roosevelt directly hired 11 million unemployed, and the economy boomed. Later the GOP came to power and cut Jobs. The economy slipped back into Depression. Next Congress, people elected Democrats, and FDR was able to hire more unemployed workers. The economy boomed again. Jobs conquered the Great Depression.

COMEDY RELIEF: 10 GOP Party “Members,” in 1930 black Tuxedos, with huge name tags on their backs: BIG OIL, BIG PHARM, BIG TV, BIG CELL, BIG PHONE TAP, BIGGER WEAPONS, BIGGEST INSURANCE, PIG FARM FACTORIES, BIG DRUGS, RISKIER WALL ST. SWAPS, TOO FAT 2 FAIL BANKSTER

The Tuxedoed “GOP” bang on Drums and shout loudly: “Cut Taxes, Rich Pay Too Much,” “Ten More Wars,” “Cut Un-Titlements,” “The Poor Shall Inherit the Dirt”

HEARINGS: Fed. Gov't must recover $16 trillion from too-big-too-fail Banksters.

The bank-owned Federal Reserve gave $16 Trillion taxpayer funds to Big Banks,

to cover swaps and derivative gambling losses. Illegal gambling debts must be repaid.

• SAVE $120 Billion per year – Exit Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Somalia

• SAVE $250 Billion on DOD WWII weapons; Cut Nuclear missiles, 835 world Bases.

• CUT $70 Billion Fed Subsidies for Oil Corps, big AG, Pharma, NAFTA-offshoring

• Collective bargaining is a patriotic American right. Enact EFCA. Strengthen NLRB.

• Nixon Wartime upper income tax of 74% for those earning over $250,000 annually

• ONE penny fee on all Wall Street Swaps and Derivatives (trading over 1000 shares)

• DOUBLE Social Security payments to Seniors, hero Vets, blind, deaf and disabled

• $200 Billion Turbine and Solar incentives in 20 States (80% made in America)

• BREAK up strangle hold of 5 monopoly Media, break up Big Oil, Too Big Banks, Big Insure, Big Ag, Bigger Drugs, Bigger Weapons, Biggest cells for Biggest wiretappers

• Expand the dramatically over worked Supreme Court to 11 (eleven) Justices

• 50 State Banks can absorb their State's deficits as Assets. Then, they can loan to States.

• Average citizen candidates for political office via Public Financing; 30 day max Elections.

Expert Economists will testify about New Jobs, Keynesian-Government jobs spending during a Depression. Need for Wealthy to pay fair tax. One penny fee on Wall St Swaps, & derivatives. Union Executives can describe the need for EFCA. The Dept. of Labor should help organize tens of millions of new Union Members, etc. [ Debate: T Bag Budget vs. ‘Progressive Caucus Budget’, WLA-Malibu MoveOn Contract: "Rebuild the Dream," and “Promise to America” by PDWA, on Oct. 16^th ]

Clone Peoples' Congress in 5 Cities, Madison, SFO, NYC, CHI, PHI...then in WASHINGTON D.C.

Progressives Led Democratic and GOP Parties

“Progressive-Populists' Revolt Led to Control of

Both Democratic and GOP Parties 1885-1920”

In 1885, Democrat Grover Cleveland took office over a deep Bank caused deflation. Wheat was driven down to 50 cents a bushel. Corn descended so low, it was burned for fuel more often than food. It sat rotting in mammoth Midwest warehouses. Yet in America's great cities, hundreds of thousands of unemployed black and white working families were starving. Railroad barons never got rich shipping food for free. President Cleveland founded the Interstate Commerce Commission in an attempt to gain some control over the Railroad barons. Many foreclosed farmers committed suicide. Most revolted. They organized the popular Grange movement, and launched Farmers' Alliances, town by town, and state by state. African American farmers organized separately. They were excluded from the Farmers' Alliance and Grange movements.

Mine workers in the mountainous West were also starving from falling prices. They joined the Western Federation of Miners, led by Big Bill Haywood, songs by Joe Hill.

Between 1881-1900, Progressive-Populist workers conducted over 23,000 Strikes

In May 1891, at Cincinnati, Ohio, the Populist Party was founded, by white farmers, miners, and the highest skilled craft unions from the AFL. Their demands:

1. 1. A new “Income Tax” would include wealthy Trust owners at a progressive rate

2. 2. Public (Government) ownership of monopoly Railroads, Telephone, and Telegraph

3. 3. Very popular Initiative, Referendum, and (corrupt politician) Recall were introduced

4. 4. 8-hour day (1890's average, 12 hours, 6-7 day week)

In July 1892, hungry steel workers struck the huge Homestead Works owned by steel and coal baron, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie hired Pinkerton detectives to sail barges down a River, surround and attack the Union picket line. When they reached the Works, the Pinkerton detectives opened fire on defenseless picketers. Fellow Union brothers heard the gunfire, and descended on the Carnegie Works from the high in the hills.

An explosive battle erupted. Oil was poured into the River. One of the Pinkerton barges caught fire. They screamed to surrender. The Union arrested hundreds of trigger-happy detectives. The local District Attorney charged them with Murder. In the end however, steel baron Andrew Carnegie called in the State Militia, and broke the bloody strike.

Populism was demonized in the day's Faux-scare Media as “Treason,” and/or “Socialist.”

But in 1892, so wildly popular was the Populist Party, they received 30% as a third Party. In 1893, Banks failed, causing 15,000 businesses to close, and wide unemployment.

By 1896, Populists took control of the Democratic Party. The Populist-Democrat candidate, William Jennings Bryan was a charismatic lightening rod who traveled 18,000 miles. He visited every township and village in the country. At each stop, the charming Populist champion delivered electrifying speeches, such as his famous “Cross of Gold”.

Unfortunately, his Wall St.-bankrolled Republican opponent, William McKinley used banksters to threaten farmers with cancellation of their mortgages. Industrial workers were paid off, and told not to return, if Bryan won the Election. These bare knuckle tactics proved decisive. McKinley won. He joined 'yellow journalist' Randolph Hearst

to launch the disastrous, imperialist Spanish American War 1898-1900. Luckily, an anarchist's bullet ended President McKinley's Empire yearnings in January 1901.

By 1901, the U.S. Congress was the personal property of 5-7 billionaire Baron families. The Railroad monopoly was dominated by two men. The coal mines and steel mills were owned by Carnegie. The Oil monopoly and silver mines belonged to John D. Rockefeller. The Banks to J.P. Morgan, Chase, Mellon and their Trusts. These billionaire Barons wined, dined, and bought every Congressman, and each Republican and Democratic President. (Compare with Citibank, GE, Wallmart, Exxon, Fox Empire, AT$T today)

Against this Corporate domination arose the brave Knights of Labor (1896), the American Federation of Labor (AFL-1896), Western Federation of Miners, the Populist Party (1891), and Industrial Workers of the World (IWW in 1905). Of these labor heroes, only the Knights of Labor and the IWW recruited African Americans.

BOTH PARTIES FALL to PROGRESSIVE-POPULIST SWEEP

After gaining control of the Democratic Party, Progressive-Populists took leadership of the Republican Party as well (Pres. Roosevelt and Taft). Progressive-Populists also captured Governorships in Wisconsin (Bob La Follette, Populist GOP), and California (Hiram Johnson, Democrat-Populist).

This was the result of Progressive ideas, dreams, policies and platforms, but mostly

2 decades of 23,000 labor strikes.

Nick-named 'Trust-buster Teddy,' Roosevelt (1901-1909) filed over 40 law suits to break up mammoth Monopolies dominating American life. However, the Railroad Trusts and Banksters did not surrender easily. Standard Oil and American Tobacco Trusts would only dissolve years later, via the Supreme Court, under Pres. William H. Taft (1909-1913)

In 1902, thousands of Pennsylvania coal miners struck after a series of mine disasters. They asked for a 9 hour day. The arrogant mine Barons refused to even negotiate.

A violent battle between mine families and Pinkerton Detectives left hundreds of women and children injured. Teddy Roosevelt intervened, and settled the strike in the miners' favor. He also passed several ground-breaking mine safety laws.

In America's textile mills, coal mines, wheat or corn farms, steel mills, and industrial factories, African American workers were systematically excluded. When all white coal miners or steel workers struck, the Coal/Steel barons often brought in immigrants, African Americans, or child labor to scab. Only the sea port Longshoremen were integrated. In the New Orleans Port Strike of 1902, African American and white stevedores fought together. Side-by-side, they defeated the Port's divide-and-conquer strategy, so corruptly successful in thousands of coal and steel strikes.

The Lawrence, Mass. Textile mill consisted of 25 different nationalities. In Jan. 1912, Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and Big Bill Haywood sent in organizers speaking many different languages. Once their organizers had signed 1000 IWW members, all 25,000 Lawrence ladies walked out for “Bread and Roses.” With the IWW's help, they won a brave strike.

The 1913 Paterson Silk workers strike was also led by Elizabeth Gurley Flynn and Big Bill Haywood of the IWW. They created a Musical Pageant about the Paterson Strike for a Broadway opening in NYC. It was a huge hit. The dramatic performances, by the silk strikers themselves, won over the influential NYC public, and the strike was successful.

In the 1913 Ludlow Massacre, Colorado state militia was called in by the wealthy Coal and Oil baron, John D. Rockefeller, to smash starving UMW coal miners. The UMW only asked for an 8 hour day. The state militia's intense rifle fire set fire to a Tent. A special Tent. A Tent hiding 11 small children, who burned to death for the greed of Rockefeller.

The 1912 Presidential Election featured 3 Progressive-Populist Presidential Candidates. The Republicans were split between current Pres. Taft, and the new Progressive Party's Teddy Roosevelt. This split allowed the Progressive Democrat Woodrow Wilson to win.

He immediately selected “Gold Cross” William Jennings Bryan as his Secretary of State. Between 1913 and 1921, Wilson introduced many pro-labor laws, and Corporate business restrictions. Woodrow Wilson appointed the first Cabinet Secretary in the new Department of Labor. He spearheaded laws ensuring 8 hours pay, for 10 hours work. In 1914, he passed the Clayton Anti-Trust Act to break up Monopolies that crush competitors. Wilson also happily signed the 19^th Amendment (Vote for Women).

However, Wilson's Progressive program was sidelined by a growing foreign conflict. A War between the decrepit Kings of Europe. This aristocratic conflict had nothing to do with us. But our weapons lobby, and the Hearst 'yellow journalism' media empire, conspired to drag American working people into the feudal conflict. 1 million dead. WWI (1917 - 1918)

Does Democrat Wilson's dilemma feel familiar? FDR's New deal-WWII; L. Johnson's Civil Rights-Vietnam; Barack Obama's National Healthcare - Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Libya.

After WWI ended in 1918, Corporations drastically cut hours and canceled overtime. Workers who skimped patriotically for the War effort, now struck for a 'Peace dividend'. There were nearly 4000 strikes in 1919. Wilson was criticized by GOP Congressmen for being soft on Labor. Were not these 'rabble,' the same 'socialist' and 'anarchist' strikers who protested the War effort? To prove his mettle, and stifle the growing strikes, Wilson unleashed Attorney General Palmer. He arrested the anti-war leaders of the IWW, Populist Party and Socialist Party. Big Bill Haywood, Helen Gurley Flynn, Eugene Debs, Emma Goldman, and hundreds of Progressive-Populists were prosecuted and convicted. Eugene Debs got a 10 year sentence. Their crime – criticizing the Corporate Democrat Party's and war profiteering Republican Party's jingoistic drum beat for War.

By goading Pres. Wilson to arrest and imprison his Progressive-Democratic activist base, the Republicans got Wilson to destroy the heart and soul of the Democratic Party.

Corporate GOP'ers returned to power easily in 1921. The Progressive resistance was in jail.

Democrats were denied political power for the next 12 years.

But the Progressives returned with fire in 1933. The new CIO Labor militancy of John L. Lewis, and the Auto and steel sit down strikes and the bloody coal miner strikes kept Democrats in power from 1933-1950.

Progressive Democratic Workers for (a new) America

https://pdwamerica.blogspot.com

“Progressive-Populists' Revolt Led to Control of Both Democratic and GOP Parties”

8/11/11 by William Floyd

“Cross of Gold” by William Jennings Bryan [ 1896 ]

US was in a terrible Bank recession. Banks and the Gold Standard made

dollars very scarce. Populists wanted to increase the amount of currency

via silver, to jump start employment and prosperity. Republicans insisted

on Gold only.

“Having behind us the producing masses of this nation, and the world,

supported by the commercial interests, the laboring interests, and the

Toilers everywhere, we will answer their demand for a gold standard

by saying to them: You shall not press down upon the brow of labor

this crown of thorns, you shall not crucify mankind upon a Cross of Gold.”

-– William Jennings Bryan

I am the people – the mob - the crowd – the mass.

Do you know that all the great work of the world is done through me?

I am the workingman, the inventor, the maker of the world's food and clothes.

I am the audience that witnesses history. -– Carl Sandburg

IWW

If the Workers take a notion,

They can stop all speeding Trains.

Every Ship upon the ocean,

They can tie with mighty chains.

Every wheel in the Creation,

Every mine and every mill,

Fleets and Armies of the Nation,

Will, at their command, stand still.

–- Joe Hill

Bibliography

Joyce Kornbluh, Rebel Voices, the IWW in Poems and Songs

H.S. Commager, ed. Documents of American History, Appleton-Century-Crofts

Mary R. Beard, A Short History of the American Labor Movement

Theodore Roosevelt, Autobiography

Progressive Democratic Workers for (a new) America

https://pdwamerica.blogspot.com

8/11/2011

CWA Strike Support

CWA Workers to Verizon:

‘We Need To Draw A Line Here’

by James Parks, Aug 12, 2011

Picket lines are strong and growing at Verizon and Verizon Wireless locations as workers across the country join the more than 45,000 Verizon workers on strike from New England to Virginia. The members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the Electrical Workers (IBEW) are on strike to stop the company’s attacks on the middle class.

Workers in New Hampshire will rally today at a Verizon Wireless store in Manchester. Tomorrow, strikers and supporters will rally in downtown Washington, D.C., at 1314 F Street NW at 11:00 a.m. And on Monday, Aug. 15, workers from across Missouri will rally at the Verizon Wireless Store in Creve Coeur, a suburb of St. Louis. Click here to join the Missouri rally.

In an open letter to union members, the Missouri AFL-CIO said:

The fight for Verizon workers is the fight for all of us. This corporation continues to rake in record profits but is trying to outsource more jobs, demand workers pay more for benefits and undermine workers’ retirement security.

After cancelling several bargaining sessions, Verizon returned to the table this week, but the company is still demanding $1 billion in concessions, which amounts to $20,000 per Verizon worker per year. Those demands have been on the table since bargaining began on June 22.

Workers recognize this is a strike with national significance. As Bob Master, CWA District 1 legislative and political director, explained earlier this week in a conference call with supporters:

This is an enormously profitable company, which we believe is trying to take advantage of an anti-union environment and, in a sense, to replicate at a giant private-sector corporation what the governors of Ohio, New Jersey and Wisconsin have been trying to do to the public sector. Our members feel very strongly that we need to draw a line here.

You can show solidarity with the Verizon workers and “Adopt a Store” to leaflet and educate the public about the importance of this strike by visiting http://cwa-union.org/pages/support_the_strike_adopt_a_store.

Here are some other actions you can take to support the strikers:

• Find a local picket line to support here.
• Download leaflets here.
• “Like” the strikers on Facebook here and change your Facebook and/or Twitter profile picture in solidarity here.
• Click here to demand that Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam value employees’ work and share his corporation’s success with those who make it possible.
• Click here for a list of picket sites in the New York and New Jersey area.`
• Click here to sign and Tweet an act.ly petition demanding Verizon drop its outrageous concessionary demands.
• To Tweet about the strike, use the hashtag #verizonstrike and feel free to direct to @VZLaborfacts.

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More Info:

http://blog.aflcio.org/2011/08/12/verizon-workers-we-need-to-draw-a-line-here/

AFL Support Actions for CWA Strikers

Eagles Fans Learn About Verizon Greed from Striking CWA Workers, Their Union Allies

Liz McElroy of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO and AFL-CIO field communications staffer Nora Frederickson send us this report about a Verizon action in Philadelphia.

As 45,000 members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and Electrical Workers (IBEW) on the East Coast continue their strike against Verizon to maintain quality, middle-class jobs, union locals in southeastern Pennsylvania decided to take their message directly to the public – at the local ballgame.

More than 500 CWA Local 13000 and Local 13500 members and their allies showed up for the Philadelphia Eagles pre-season game at Lincoln Financial Field in South Philadelphia last night–not to tailgate but to educate Eagles fans about the real reasons behind their strike at Verizon.

Members of the local unions there as elsewhere in New England and south through Virginia, have been on strike since Sunday. Rather than reward the hard work of Verizon employees who have provided the quality service that earned the company more than $32.5 billion in revenue over the past three years, management continues to insist on cuts that total $1 billion. That’s about $20,000 per Verizon family. These workers have played by the rules—and now Verizon wants to break them.

Union members from AFT, AFSCME, NALC, PSEA, PASNAP and UFCW joined the leafleting to show their support.

Retired Postal Letter Carriers (NALC) Local 157 member Joe Piette said he joined union members in leafleting because the strike is about more than just their negotiations with Verizon:

Workers everywhere are under attack. I’m here to support these strikers because we all need strong Unions in this country.

The Philadelphia fans were overwhelmingly supportive of the workers, many stopping to talk with the Union members about their strike and what it means for the middle class.

State Representative Bill Keller (D) joined the crowd to express his support for the Verizon Strikers and to talk about the bigger picture.

We need to be talking about putting people back to work, not destroying the good middle class jobs we have. Labor is always with me and I’m standing with them.

CWA Strike Action

Join Picket at Verizon Wireless to Support 45,000 Workers on Strike!

On the east coast, 45,000 Verizon workers are on strike to stop Verizon’s Wisconsin-style attacks on the middle class, elimination of health benefits, and outsourcing of good jobs. These 45,000 Verizon workers are members of the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and they are fighting for all of us!

Join us to picket the Verizon Wireless Store in Burbank before our delegates meeting on Monday, August 15 to support our CWA and IBEW sisters and brothers on strike!

Following the picket, you are invited to join us for our annual BBQ at our delegates meeting in Burbank at IATSE Local 80.

WHEN: Monday, August, 15, 2011 4:30-5:30pm

WHERE: Verizon Wireless Store located at 1729 North Victory Place, Burbank, CA

More information: www.cwa-union.org/verizon
LA Locals are CWA 9000, 9400
Striking Local No.1 in New York

BUILDING TRADES BOYCOTT DEM CONVENTION

Union Building Trades Tell Democrats They'll Skip Convention in N. Carolina

-- Duke Energy CEO is the Chief Local Fundraiser & N.C. is Anti-Union State

Saturday 13 August 2011

by: Tim Funk and Kirsten Valle Pittman, McClatchy Newspapers | Report

Charlotte, N.C. - Casting North Carolina as an anti-Union bastion with "regressive policies aimed at diluting the power of workers," more than a dozen trade Unions affiliated with the national AFL-CIO have told the Democratic National Committee that they will sit out the 2012 convention in Charlotte, N.C.

Coming on the heels of some liberals' complaints that President Barack Obama is giving in to Republicans, the Unions' decision is another sign that key Democratic allies are unhappy with Obama and other Party leaders as they gear up for a difficult election season.It's also a signal that anything relating to Charlotte — from its besieged homewn Bank to its lack of unionized hotels — will face scrutiny as the city eases into the national spotlight.

Labor Unions have long played an integral role in Democratic conventions. And some big ones, including the National Education Association and the Service Employees International Union, still plan to be active participants when the Democrats come to Charlotte in 2012.

Local and state labor leaders also are still on board. The N.C. AFL-CIO helped lobby for Charlotte to be the convention site. On Friday, a leader of the Raleigh-based labor group called the national unions' decision understandable, but "shortsighted."

"I think the only way we're going to change things here is if people understand the struggles here. I'm encouraged that the Democratic Party wants to make investments here in the state," said MaryBe McMillian, secretary-treasurer of the N.C. AFL-CIO. "This convention is going to bring much-needed work for Union members and thousands of unemployed North Carolinians." With new Democratic convention rules barring donations from corporations, federal lobbyists and PACs — including those affiliated with labor Unions — the Charlotte gathering already was forecast to be less reliant than past conventions on big financial support from organized labor.

Still, the decision by the national Unions — representing 2.5 million workers in the building and construction trades — reflects disappointment from labor activists who Democrats count on to get Union members to the polls.

"There is broad frustration with the Party and all elected officials, broad frustration with the lack of a union agenda," Michael Monroe, chief of staff of the AFL-CIO's building trades division, told The Associated Press. "People are looking for outlets to express that frustration." The decision by the building trades came after a vote by leaders of the unit's 13 affiliate Unions, including the Laborers, Painters and Electrical Workers.

In a letter this week to Democratic Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Unions bemoaned the persistently high unemployment rate nationwide and the choice of Charlotte at a time when Union members "face assault after assault" in Washington and in some state capitals.

"We find it troubling that the Party so closely associated with basic human rights would choose a state with the lowest Unionization rate in the country," Mark Ayers, President of the building trades unit, wrote Rep. Wasserman, who is also a Congresswoman from Florida.

Those busy planning the Charlotte convention appeared unfazed — at least publicly — by the Unions' action.

"We were proud to have the support of local labor leaders when we chose Charlotte to host the 2012 Democratic National Convention, including the N.C. AFL-CIO," Democratic National Convention Committee CEO Steve Kerrigan said in a statement. "The DNCC will continue to work closely with local and national labor leaders as we prepare for the convention next September." That reaction was echoed by former Mecklenburg County Commissioner Dan Murrey, who now heads Charlotte's host committee.

"We've been having frequent discussions with the local labor Unions and the state representatives," he said. "They've been very helpful in the planning process and ... on getting the word out to people." Charlotte Mayor Anthony Foxx, who led Charlotte's campaign to get the convention, had no comment, deferring to Party officials, said a spokesman.

There was also no comment from Duke Energy CEO Jim Rogers, who is leading the local fundraising campaign for the convention. "His work in this effort continues," said spokesman Tom Williams. "Any actual status on numbers will be via the election (fundraising) reports." Despite the strong language in the Unions' letter, at least one of the 13 says it is still considering whether to go.

"The Teamsters Union has not gone through our own internal decision process about the Democratic National Convention," said spokeswoman Leigh Strope.

Monroe of the AFL-CIO said the decision doesn't preclude individual members of the Unions from running as delegates, and some of the Unions apparently are still considering how to proceed.

But the angst could spread. The International Association of Machinists, which is not part of the building trades, said it also has decided to skip the convention after participating for decades.

"This is the Union that came up with the idea for Labor Day and this convention starts on Labor Day in a right-to-work state," said IAM spokesman Rick Sloan. "We see that as an affront to Working men and women across this country." Monroe said the Unions are being careful not to use the term "boycott" because they don't want to damage Obama's re-election prospects. He said money is also a major factor, when Unions are spending millions trying to beat back efforts by Republican lawmakers to diminish Union rights in Wisconsin, Ohio and other states.

"It would be disappointing to our members to see us doing business as usual, diverting resources that we know are scarce when we should be laser-like focused on getting elected officials focused on the Jobs agenda," Monroe said.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka warned earlier this year that Unions would focus more of their energy and money shoring up local affiliates and less on boosting a single political Party.

The choice of North Carolina earlier this year provoked immediate outrage among labor leaders, who said it was another indication that Democrats take Union support for granted. But Democrats defended the decision, saying it's part of the Party's push to win crucial swing states in the South, including a state that Obama carried in 2008.

Organized labor and Democrats had a similar squabble over the choice of Denver for the 2008 convention, where the gathering was held at the non-union Pepsi Center and the city had few Unionized hotels. At one point, Teamsters President James Hoffa threatened to "blow up" the convention with picketing and protests if Union issues were not worked out.

But the two sides ultimately struck a deal to staff the Pepsi Center with union employees.

http://www.truth-out.org/twelve-unions-tell-democrats-theyll-boycott-convention-n-carolina/1313252475

It's time to question labor's ties to Democrats by IBT Local 237 President

By GREGORY FLOYD

President, Teamsters Local 237

www.local237.org

Posted: 7/30/11

Organized labor has many enemies in this country. Unfortunately, we also need to start worrying about our friends.

Vocal conservatives continue to increase their influence and hijack the debate about restoring our economy, putting the focus on cutting deficits and not creating jobs. Their attempt to shrink government and hurt the middle class is unfortunate, but not surprising. While Tea Party Republicans have awakened a newfound passion for fiscal conservatism, the party has always been the cloak the powerful use to conceal their self-interest.

Sadly, however, this belief is finding a toehold in the Democratic Party, the once strong ally of labor unions. While Democrats and unions have stood together and fought valiantly in pockets of the country -- most notably in Wisconsin -- there are too many Democratic politicians embracing the supposed popular support of conservative policies.

To be a true ally means more than lending support when times are good. In fact, it means just the opposite. You must be able to stand with your allies during the worst of times. The strength that you gain from each other's support is essential to mutual survival.

The Democratic Party, however, has been less than a stalwart ally.

Around the country and in our nation's capital, we are seeing more Democrats willing to place the burden of fixing the country on the backs of public workers and the middle class in general. Even more alarming, we have seen a willingness to attack some of our most important institutions, including pensions, Medicare and Social Security.

One thing that can be said for Republicans: they stand by and fight fiercely for their allies. Those allies are corporate interests, oil companies and the super rich, but Republicans stand up for them unabashedly, killing tax increases of even one penny. They don't play fair; they fight dirty; and they refuse to concede any ground. They are on the wrong side, but they know how to play the game.

Where is that same passion from our Democratic supporters? Many are all too willing to abandon our partnership in the name of "reform" or "compromise," instead of standing and holding the line. Compromise has its place, but we cannot buckle too easily. We must not surrender to the Nixon-era passivity of a silent majority. The cries of debt and smaller government are coming from a minority of the extremely rich and misguided middle class conservatives. Democrats and unions have always gained their power from numbers, and regardless of what political polls may say, we still have the numbers on our side.

Democrats and labor unions have a long history together, rooted in their common values that government protects the common man from abuses by the rich and powerful. As America was built, Democratic and union leaders stood shoulder to shoulder and fought for the rights and reforms that created a strong middle class. In New York and nationally, unions are the biggest supporters, both financially and politically, of the Democratic Party. We cannot afford to put that shared respect and experience in jeopardy, especially when we are both at such risk.

In response to this trend of rising conservatism, I'm afraid to say that labor leaders must start to be more selective with our choice of friends and allies. Already, some unions have begun to withhold support from the National Democratic Party over unhappiness with their stances on some major issues. Many battles, such as the dismantling of collective bargaining rights and pensions, are mostly being waged at the state level. For example, New York pension funds have regained almost all their value since the economic collapse, and yet some Democratic leaders want to make pension cuts their main objectives for next year. To balance the budget, wages and benefits for state workers were cut, but taxes on the rich were abandoned. It appears New York state has never had a more Republican agenda.

It would be a great shame if the strong alliance between labor unions and Democrats was broken. We must do what we have to do to survive, and we will never give up our efforts to help middle class people make a decent living and have some peace of mind in retirement. Democrats need to recommit themselves to these values to show their union supporters they have not forgotten about them. Otherwise, labor unions should be asking: Is there still room in the Democratic Party for us? If not, should we start our own party and run for office ourselves?

http://www.amsterdamnews.com/union_matters/teamsters/article_3a2b7512-b88c-11e0-955d-001cc4c002e0.html

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By Joe Davidson

US Postal Service Bosses War On Postal Workers - Proposes cutting 120,000 jobs, pulling out of health-care plan

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/usps-proposes-cutting-120000-jobs-pulling-out-of-health-care-plan/2011/08/11/gIQAZxIM9I_story.html

In an attempt to stem its financial hemorrhaging, the U.S. Postal Service is seeking to reduce its workforce by 20 percent, including through layoffs now prohibited by union contracts. USPS also wants to withdraw its employees from the health and retirement plans that cover federal staffers and create its own benefit programs for postal employees.

This major restructuring of the Postal Service’s relationship with its workforce would need congressional approval and would face fierce opposition from postal unions. But if approved, eliminating contract provisions that prevent layoffs and quitting the federal employee health and retirement programs could have ramifications for workers across the government and throughout the national’s labor movement.

In a notice to employees informing them of its proposals, with the headline “Financial crisis calls for significant actions,” the Postal Service said “we will be insolvent next month due to significant declines in mail volume and retiree health benefit prefunding costs imposed by Congress.”

The Postal Service plan is described in two draft documents obtained by The Washington Post. A “Workforce Optimization” paper acknowledges “that asking Congress to eliminate the layoff protections in our collective bargaining agreements is an extraordinary request by the Postal Service, and we do not make this request lightly. However, exceptional circumstances require exceptional remedies.

“The Postal Service is facing dire economic challenges that threaten its very existence. . . . If the Postal Service was a private sector business, it would have filed for bankruptcy and utilized the reorganization process to restructure its labor agreements to reflect the new financial reality.”

The USPS says it needs to reduce its workforce by 120,000 career positions by 2015, in addition to the 100,000 it expects through regular attrition. Some of the 120,000 could come through buyouts and other programs, but a significant number likely would be the result of layoffs, if Congress allows the agency to circumvent union contracts.

“Unfortunately, the collective bargaining agreements between the Postal Service and our unionized employees contain layoff restrictions that make it impossible to reduce the size of our workforce by the amount required by 2015,” according to the postal document. “Therefore, a legislative change is needed to eliminate the layoff protections in our collective bargaining agreements.”

How Congress will respond to the postal proposals remains to be seen. Many Republicans, including those who have sponsored legislation that labor considers anti-union, may support the plan. Some Democrats probably would back union opposition. But the Postal Service’s critical financial situation could make Democrats have second thoughts.

Two members of Congress who have introduced separate postal reform bills were non-committal on the USPS plan.

A spokeswoman for Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.) said “he is particularly interested in learning whether these proposals would be fair to employees and effective in reducing the Postal Service’s costs.”

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, said: “These new ideas from the Postal Service are worth exploring. Options for reform and cost savings that will protect taxpayers from paying for a bailout, now or in the future, need to be on the table.”

Although what Congress will do is unknown, the response of postal unions has been certain.

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) President Fredric V. Rolando: “The issues of lay-off protection and health benefits are specifically covered in our contract. The Congress of the United States does not engage in contract negotiations with unions and we do not believe they are about to do so.”

American Postal Workers Union President Cliff Guffey said, “The APWU will vehemently oppose any attempt to destroy the collective bargaining rights of Postal employees or tamper with our recently-negotiated contract — whether by postal management or members of Congress.”

National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association President Don Cantriel: “We are absolutely opposed” to the layoff proposal. “We are opposed to pulling out of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. Our advisers are not advising us at all to even consider it.”

PHONE WORKERS STRIKE VERIZON

Verizon Refuses to Bargain Seriously
Verizon Proposals Would Take Workers Back Decades

Washington, D.C. -- More than 45,000 workers are on strike today at Verizon Communications. Bargaining continues. Since bargaining began on June 22, Verizon has refused to move from a long list of concession demands. As the contract expired, nearly 100 concessionary company proposals remained on the table.

As a result, CWA and IBEW have decided to take the unprecedented step of striking until Verizon stops its Wisconsin-style tactics and starts bargaining seriously.

Even at the 11th hour, as contracts were set to expire, Verizon continued to seek to strip away 50 years of collective bargaining gains for middle class workers and their families.

CWA and IBEW members are prepared to return to work when management demonstrates the willingness to begin bargaining seriously for a fair agreement. If not, CWA and IBEW members and allies will continue the fight.

Verizon financials

• 2011 annualized revenues are $108 billion and annualized net profits are $6 billion.
• Verizon Wireless just paid its parent company and Vodaphone a $10 billion dividend.
• Verizon’s top five executives received compensation of $258 million over the past four years.

The contract covers 45,000 members of CWA and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers from New England to Virginia.

Read updates at www.cwa-union.org/verizon

Media Inquiries

Candice Johnson, CWA Communications, 202-434-1347 (office), 202-415-6566 (cell), cjohnson@cwa-union.org, and Robert Master, CWA District 1, 212-344-2515 (office), 917-657-6483 (cell), rmaster@cwa-union.org