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PhillyUnions.com News Archive - 2006 Current News December '06:
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December 19, 2006: Newspaper Guild Ratifies Contract by a 498-69 Vote For Immediate Release A new three-year contract was ratified by members of Local 10 of The Newspaper Guild, by a 498-69 vote. The final vote was announced after 9 p.m., at the end of a meeting that started at 7 p.m. At the start of the meeting, Diane Mastrull, chair of the Inquirer-Daily News unit, with some 900-plus members, recommended members accept the "unanimous vote of the bargaining committee" for approval. There were some 200 members present at the peak of the meeting, held in Temple Rodeph Shalom on North Broad Street. Some 275 members, who were unable to attend the meeting, voted by absentee ballot. A total of 567 ballots were cast. Speaking about the contract, Mastrull said, "it could have been far worse." After her recommendation the floor was open for comments and questions. Thirteen members spoke, a majority of them having questions about pension provisions in the contract. Only one speaker directly urged rejection of the contract. After the questions subsided and a motion was approved to start the vote, another motion was presented, and approved after some debate. That motion "instructs the Local 10 Executive Board to discuss - and pass - a resolution saying the following: "1 - Because of their tight-fisted, slash-and-burn, anti-labor tactics, we have NO CONFIDENCE in the new owners' actual desire to publish great newspapers. "2 - Because of the new owners' recent record of poor business decisions, which includes hiring executives while promising layoffs of union workers, we have NO FAITH in their desire to treat employees with fairness and dignity. "3 - Because of the yawning chasm between what the new owners promised and what they now are delivering, we have NO STOMACH to hear any more of their cheerful prattle. "For the new owners we have An amendment, which was accepted, asked that the new owners be mentioned by name. December 16, 2006: Guild Negotiators Ask for "Yes" Vote For Immediate Release CHAIR MASTRULL ASKS 'YES' VOTE FOR SHAMEFUL, INSULTING CONTRACT Unit Chair Diane Mastrull, in a letter to Guild members, asks them to vote "yes" at Monday night's ratification vote, despite the contract being shameful and insulting. She asks members to put their anger aside and closes with a message to the publisher. December 15, 2006 Dear Guild Members, We the Bargaining Committee are asking you to vote YES for the tentative contract agreement. What we will never ask of you is to not be angry about it. Be angry. We are. But vote YES. It is a contract full of pain and insult. It is a contract that requires sacrifice and trust. It is a contract that Brian Tierney and the local investors should be ashamed of. As one spirit-crushing proposal after another came across the table from our owners, we seethed. And then we processed our anger and pledged to redirect it as constructive energy. The end result is the contract you're being asked to support - one that is FAR better than the company wanted you to have. Had we let our anger consume us, no good would have come of it. DO NOT let your anger drive your decision. DO NOT reject this tentative contract. If you do, you will see the worst of the company's proposals replace those we have now - the ones the Bargaining Committee worked for months to secure. We were insulted and angry, but we worked through that anger and focused on getting the best we could for you. So spend the next few days working through your anger and focusing on the truth here: We need to take control of these newspapers through our work. We can be the true owners of these papers. If we let our anger consume us, we will destroy the papers, destroy jobs and destroy families. To Brian Tierney and his wealthy friends, it will be a mere tax write-off. They'll move on, chalk it up as a bad investment and lick their wounds on their yachts in the Caribbean. We are professionals first and foremost. We've been through a great deal together over the last few years. With each insulting development, with each new direction from management, we have endured. We have carried on with professionalism that our readers and advertisers have come to depend on. We need to do that now more than ever. We are the heart and soul of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. In the closing minutes of the contract negotiations, I told company negotiators to deliver this message to Brian Tierney: "This contract is something no amount of Tastykakes, soft pretzels or commemorative coins will make up for. On our ledger, he finds himself in the negative category when it comes to goodwill." With this contract, we are giving him the opportunity he asked for to get these papers back on track. This contract does not, however, require us to give up our dedication, our pride and our resolve. And that, friends, is our leverage going forward. In solidarity and hope, Diane Mastrull --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 14, 2006: Guild Explains Contract to Members in Marathon Meeting For Immediate Release The fireworks that some expected never materialized last night at a Guild meeting that lasted from 7 p.m. until 10:20 p.m. The meeting was somber as a funeral, as some hard-won benefits won over decades were given the last rites as a dozen members of the Guild negotiating team, and leadership, expressed bitterness about a contract they are forced to recommend to members. More than 200 members attended. The Guild has some 900 members. Guild leaders patiently answered questions about editorial and advertising rules, seniority, the pension, sick leave and other issues. Members were more mournful than mad, and they applauded the efforts of negotiators who have put in endless hours over the course of many days to come up with a contract that they themselves termed a "bitter pill." A few shed tears last night by the end of the meeting. Several Guild members strongly questioned aspects of the contract and asked about the ramifications of rejecting it at a ratification meeting scheduled for 7 p.m. Monday at Temple Rodeph Shalom, 615 N. Broad St. "This is not 1985," said Inquirer-Daily News Unit Chair Diane Mastrull, in reference to a 46-day strike, the longest in the papers' history. There is no guarantee of jobs "when we put down those picket signs." The contract's only improvements, which Mastrull termed "minor," came for the Suburban Writers and Photographers unit. Members in that unit are paid less for the same work as members in the main unit. Addressing the members, Mastrull said, "you can be angry" and cited a "sense of betrayal" the Guild feels about the publisher, but the Guild's bottom line was "to save jobs." "Be angry, be disgusted, but direct it at people who overpaid for these papers so we have to bail them out." Local President Henry Holcomb said the recommended, disagreeable contract, provides a foundation on which the Guild can build when business improves in the newspaper industry. -- Spokesman Stu Bykofsky --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 13, 2006: Newspaper Guild and the PN Reach Tentative Agreement For Immediate Release TENTATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN GUILD AND COMPANY Dec. 13, 2006 The Guild and the PN reached a tentative agreement on all issues at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday. "It's a package requiring a lot of sacrifice from our members. But it is a package that is far less devastating than what the Company originally proposed," said Unit Chairwoman Diane Mastrull, who led the negotiating team into holding onto many of our benefits. There's no sugar coating this contract. It is a disappointing, giveback deal. We will discuss elements of the contract more fully Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Congregation Rodeph Shalom Synagogue. This is not a ratification meeting, but one will be held as soon as we can book an appropriate sized venue. Below is a brief description of the hot-button issues. DURATION: 3 years. The contract expires at Midnight August 31, 2009. WAGES: Employees shall receive no pay increase in the first year. Full-time employees shall receive a $1,500 bonus (paid in two parts) in the second year. Employees shall receive a $25 per week raise in the third year. Due to rising increases in health and welfare costs, it is possible that some if not all of this money will be diverted into the Guild's health and welfare fund which is responsible for your sick benefits. PENSION: The Guild and PN will work through the Pension Board, which is comprised of three Guild trustees and three PN trustees, to merge with a multi-employer pension plan by Dec. 31, 2007. A multi-employer plan is a pension plan in which more than one employer participates. Many single-employer pension plans nowadays are also merging into multi-employer pension plans which provide economic incentives to companies and which are considered safer investments than single-employer funds. Because our plan is healthy, it is an attractive merger partner and we are hoping to negotiate a seat on the board of the new fund. Employees will receive an additional year of benefit service credit on their pensions for the year 2007. Once merged into a multi-employer plan, our pension may be frozen, but there is also an option to keep the plan alive, with employee contributions coming through payroll diversions. The Company will give $4 million to the Guild earmarked as a contribution to the new multi-employer plan or to fund an employee's existing 401(k) or establish a 401(k) for employees who do not yet have such an account. There are however, no plans for PN to contribute any additional money, or ongoing "match" to employees' 401(k) accounts. There is tremendous financial incentive for the employer if the Pension Trustees can successfully establish a multi-employer plan merger. However, if such a merger does not take place, the company may eventually assume sole administration of the pension fund. Because so many members have said they have little to no trust for our new owners, we have negotiated extraordinary transparency so we may monitor the plan and additionally, have full legal recourse in the event of any appearance of impropriety by PN with the pension fund. Despite members' concerns, PN will not be able to invest our pension fund recklessly. Under the strict federal laws of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), the employer shall be obligated to invest our pension fund with the utmost caution. SICK TIME: A Guild member can take up to 40 weeks sick time, depending on how long he/she has worked here (Article 21 of the current contract) but they will be paid at 65 percent of their salary rather than at 100 percent as it is today. In the event of injury or hospitalization, benefits (at 65 percent pay) shall begin on the first day of absence. For the first absence due to illness in any calendar year, employees will be paid at 100 percent for up to three days of absence. After the first three days, they shall be paid at 65 percent. If an employee is not absent due to illness between either January 1, 2007 to June 30, 2007 or July 1, 2007 to December 31, 2007 he/she may earn an additional "pass" of up to three days of pay at 100 percent. Employees can carry a "pass" into the next calendar year, but can at no time hold more than two. If the employee does not have a pass and calls out sick, he/she will not be paid until the fourth day of illness at which point they will be paid at 65 percent rate. SENIORITY: There are changes in the reduction in force (layoff) language for the newsrooms and for advertising sales people but not for other job categories. In the newsrooms, all classes of editors, artists and photographers will continue to live under straight seniority. However, there are carve outs for some beat reporters, columnists and critics, as designated by what Inquirer editor Bill Marimow and Daily News editor Michael Days have identified as the core functions of their newspapers. The editor may skip over those classes of reporters as he works up the layoff list. He must, however, allow anyone in danger of being laid off and who has held any of those beats for a year to bump less senior employees. As for the ad department, commissioned sales people will now be merged into the seniority list with salaried sales people based on their dates of hire. -- Spokesman Stu Bykofsky --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 12, 2006: 12/11/06 Late Guild Update: All Talk, Very Little Movement Negotiations between The Newspaper Guild and the company broke off at 12:45 a.m., with the Guild waiting for a company response to its latest modified proposal on the pension issue. Guild negotiators worked diligently for some 14 hours. No meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, but the federal mediator is to talk with company negotiator Rob Barron at 11 a.m., after which a session may be called. Guild negotiators will be standing by, as usual, ready to meet with the company. -- Spokesman Stu Bykofsky --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 11, 2006: From The Newspaper Guild 12/11/06 For Immediate Release GUILD TO RETURN TO TALKS WITH SURPRISED PUBLISHER Guild negotiators will report for joint talks scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday. The company is now expressing surprise (Inquirer 12/11/06) at Guild resistance to the company's demands to freeze the pension and take it over. "They shouldn't be," Guild Local President Henry Holcomb. "If they were surprised, it's because they didn't calibrate the cost to our members of what they proposed. We asked them to do that from the beginning, but they weren't listening." Guild negotiators met over the weekend and crafted responses to the company's positions on pensions. The company proposes to both freeze contributions into the fund and to take over sole management and direction of the fund. The fund board currently has three union representatives, three company representatives, and an impartial chair. There is almost $187 million in the safe and healthy fund, almost all of which was placed there by the newspapers' former owner, Knight-Ridder, in trust for Guild members. In some cases, contributions to the fund were made possible by members taking less as wage increases and diverting some of that money to the pension fund to insure their future financial security. Following is a story from the 12/11/06 Philadelphia Inquirer: Surprise at union's reaction to pension issue By Joseph N. DiStefano The owners of The Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News say they were surprised that, of all the issues separating company and union negotiators, their plan to stop paying into the pension plan of the biggest union and take over its assets was the one that nearly led to a strike last week. "What we are proposing" to the 1,000-member Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, publisher Brian P. Tierney told employees, "is in line with most other companies." The company needed to reduce pension costs to remain competitive and reduce threatened job cuts, he said. Indeed, DuPont Co. and Unisys Corp., two of the region's biggest employers, froze or reduced contributions to their traditional pension plans this year and offered instead to double their contributions to 401(k) plans. Those examples share a key difference from the Philadelphia Newspapers dispute: To date, the company has not offered to contribute to a 401(k) plan. Company officials declined comment. Traditional pensions are federally guaranteed, and the pension sponsor, typically an employer, must make up any shortfall between its assets, which are typically invested in stocks and bonds, and estimated future payments to retirees. By contrast, 401(k) money is invested by workers, and rises and falls with the investment markets. By freezing pension plans, employers limit their future financial liability to keeping the plan solvent so they can still pay people who earned benefits before the freeze. "Nationally, there's a trend away from these 'defined-benefit' pension plans," said G. Victor Hallman, a pension scholar at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. Tighter federal funding standards "have accelerated that move." Guild pension documents show that the company pays about $4.5 million yearly, or 7 percent of Guild workers' pay, into the fund. Under new federal rules, the company is potentially on the line for many millions more to keep the plan solvent. DuPont expects the savings from switching from pension to 401(k) contributions to boost its profit about $27 million next year and $45 million a year from 2008 forward, according to spokeswoman Michelle Reardon. Unisys expects its change to help cut overall retirement expenses, from $200 million last year to $85 million in 2008, according to spokesman Jim Kerr. Even companies like International Business Machines Corp. and Circuit City Stores Inc., which had enough money set aside to pay all future pensions, have frozen their plans, according to a recent study by the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. Verizon Communications Inc. froze pensions for its management, but did not freeze its union workers' plan. Companies are cutting worker pensions for a variety of reasons: 401(k) plans are less risky for employers; retirees are living longer, increasing the cost of their pensions; executive compensation and company health-care costs are rising rapidly, putting pressure on other employee expenses; and stricter federal accounting laws have pressured companies to put more money in their plans, according to the Boston College researchers. The Guild, which represents most white-collar workers at the company, says it is willing to consider changes to the pension plan, including combining its plan with those of other employers or unions, and having workers fund it from paycheck deductions. But it has steadfastly refused to consider the company's proposal to take control of the fund. The Guild plan is currently run by a joint board of union and company trustees. The company said that, since it has the ultimate financial responsibility for the plan, it needs the final say over the fund's future investments. The Guild has demanded continued representation, but said it would offer a new proposal today. Tierney said that he needed to improve the fund's performance from what it was under the Knight Ridder-Guild joint board or that it would drain millions of dollars from his company. The Guild says the fund has performed well. On June 1, it had $187 million in assets - more than enough under old pension standards. But under the new federal Pension Protection Act of 2006, estimated future liabilities amount to $204 million, Guild President Henry Holcomb said, creating an accounting liability of $17 million for the company. The company estimates the net liability of the fund on June 1 slightly higher, at $20 million. And while the company and the union say the deficit has shrunk since then, the company also says it expects the liability to likely double to more than $40 million over time, if the plan isn't frozen. Why the sudden switch from surplus to deficit? The new law requires plans to assume investment returns of 6 percent a year, instead of the old standard of 8 percent, according to Holcomb. The plans need more money now to offset the assumption that they will be making less later. Company officials point out that the plan returned less than 4 percent, on average, under joint Guild and Knight Ridder management from 2002 to 2005. Holcomb counters that, since 1990, the plan has returned 9.7 percent a year, on average, above both the old and new standards. While the Guild plan gained less than the typical pension plan in 2003 through 2005, it also lost less than the typical plan during the stock market crash of 2000-02, compared to national figures reported earlier this month by John Ehrhardt of the pension actuarial firm Milliman Inc. The Guild fund invests mostly in U.S. stocks, along with foreign stocks and bonds. Managers include Stoneridge Investment Managers, of Berwyn, run by former CoreStates Financial Corp. investor Philip Brown II; along with units of Legg Mason, Alliance Bernstein, and Pacific Investment Management Co. (PIMCO), among others. Tierney has said he expects to boost investment returns if the company gains control of the fund assets. The plan ran a surplus in the 1980s and 1990s, and used the money to increase benefits to retirees, noted former Guild president and plan trustee Kitty Capparella. Multi-employer funds enjoy more lenient federal funding rules than single-employer plans; they also have more limited worker protections. Retiree Henry Sandler of Philadelphia says he and his coworkers lost out when Raytheon Corp. froze his pension plan at the former United Engineers & Constructors. Even though the plan is now running a $150 million surplus, the company hasn't boosted checks in 14 years - since before it was frozen and added to Raytheon's multi-employer plan with other funds that run deficits. Company officials told retirees that they were under no obligation to pay an increase under the rules of the multi-employer plan - and that they didn't feel free to do so, given that other plans in Raytheon's combined fund were running deficits. What would Philadelphia Newspapers do if it were able to lift the plan out of its current accounting deficit so it become overfunded? "Quite honestly," executive vice president Gordon Medenica said, "we've had no discussion around here about a surplus." -- Spokesman Stu Bykofsky --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 9, 2006: Thank You from Phila. Fire Fighters' Union IAFF Local 22 On behalf of Brian McBride, President of the Philadelphia Fire Fighters' Union, IAFF Local 22, I wish to thank all the members of FOP Lodge 5, AFSCME DC 47, AFSCME DC 33 and all the other AFL-CIO unions that came out and supported our plea for Mayor Street to honor our contract. Hundreds of Local 22 members were joined by other union members and the public on Thurs. 12/7 in a march on city hall calling for the mayor to honor and implement the ACT 111 binding arbitration award. President McBride called on the mayor to, "do the right thing, and honor this award." McBride was joined by Lodge 5 president Bob Eddis, and DC 47 president Tom Cronin echoed President McBride's sentiments. "An attack on one of the municipal unions is an attack on all municipal unions," said Cronin. For over a year, Philadelphia's Firefighters and Paramedics have been working without a labor contract to help keep the City safe for you and your family. Throughout this period, the City has taken step after step to avoid honoring the Firefighters' and Paramedics' binding contract. The City has spent hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars of YOUR MONEY to fight the Act 111 contract award that was lawfully decided by a panel of arbitrators. That Award provides for a process to address fire company closings ensuring that both Firefighters and Citizens have a say in this critical public safety issue. The Award also places a trained Paramedic on engine companies to speed Advanced Life Support care to victims of cardiac arrest. Programs like this can dramatically increase chances of survival for our citizens when time is of the essence. In fact, if the protections called for by the most recent Firefighter contract award are not implemented, a Philadelphian's chance of survival from cardiac arrest will be less than 4%! Dave Kearney December 9, 2006: Guild Answers Company's Q&As on Pension This is a message to Guild members in answer to questions and answers about the pension sent out by the company on Friday. Unfortunately, I cannot access the company's FAQs from my present location. Those who wish to see them, leave a request for me at 215-854-5977 and I will get them to you on Saturday. Spokesman Stu Bykofsky December 8, 2006 Guild Members: This afternoon's Company "Bargaining Bulletin" contains a number of distortions. This will help set the record straight. Is the Guild pension adequately funded? Yes. As of June 1 it was 92 percent funded under the new pension law's assumptions, which is considered healthy. (Under the previous law its assets available for benefits was 117 percent of liabilities.) Because market conditions fluctuate, pension assets gain value during some periods and lose during others. Since June the stock market has rebounded, and the shortfall is likely to be substantially smaller in the next accounting. It is far from certain that the Company will have to make the substantial additional contributions to the fund that it complains about. Any future obligations could be dramatically reduced if the fund were merged into a multi-employer plan. While the Guild is willing to consider this, it is not willing to leave all decisions solely in the company's hands. Has the fund had poor investment performance? No. The Company has illustrated this claim by choosing a period - 2002 through 2005 - that includes a severe drop in the stock market. For the year ended Sept. 30, the return was 7.68 percent - just shy of the 8 percent in the plan's long-term projections. For the two years ending Sept 30, the fund returned 8.8 percent a year. For the past four years it averaged 11.19 percent a year. For the past 5 years it averaged 6.76 percent. For the past 16 years, 9.71 percent. Have Guild pension trustees resisted Company efforts to change investing strategy? No. Guild trustees have worked collaboratively with management trustees to refine the strategy as times have changed. If the trustees were to split evenly over strategy, the issue would be resolved by an arbitrator. The arbitrator would, by law, have to resolve the dispute according to what he or she believes to be in the best interest of beneficiaries of the pension fund. Have the pension trustees hurt the fund by raising benefits in the past? No. Benefits have been raised only on occasions when the fund ran such large surpluses that the company stood to lose the tax deduction on its contributions. Company trustees approved these benefit increases. Has the Guild created financial problems for the company? No. The new owners knew this was a union company when they bought it. They knew the Guild had a pension plan, good health benefits and a traditional seniority system. Prior to the purchase, they did not approach the unions to discuss givebacks. If the Company does have financial difficulties, a large part of the problem is the owners' decision to pay too much for the company and to borrow too much at very high interest rates. The owners apparently failed to take the basic precaution of setting aside an emergency reserve. If the Company has a financial problem, does it have alternatives to slashing employee benefits? Yes. It can attempt to renegotiate its loans. It can get the owners to contribute more money to pay down the high-interest debt. Or it can recruit new partners to raise funds and pay down debt. Reducing debt payments would give the Company breathing room until the advertising market improves. The Company could thus avoid cost cutting that is likely to throw the business into a death spiral. -- Your bargaining committee --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 8, 2006: Open Letter from Brian Tierney and Guild response For Immediate release Brian's Song Below you will find a 12/7/06 open letter from Brian Tierney to employees of Philadelphia Newspapers, which we are sharing as a public service. Skipping over the self-serving blather, Brian Tierney writes (on Page 2) that "we are all in this together" - except when it comes to directing the investments of our pension fund. That's when it becomes "me," not "we." We have a problem with that for one simple reason: It's OUR money, put there for US by Knight-Ridder. It is not Brian's money to invest. The fund is both safe and healthy. The text follows: December 7, 2006 An Open Letter to Employees: At the very beginning of negotiations with our unions, I said that I would treat our discussions with confidentiality and respect, and not negotiate in public. However, with all the rhetoric going around, I feel we must separate some facts from fiction. Let me highlight a few examples. We are not proposing to take away anyone's pension benefit. The Pension Fund is federally guaranteed. We are only proposing to no longer make additional commitments to the Fund. Those employees with many years of service have already earned and vested their pension benefit. The benefit you have will still be paid to you upon your retirement. Employees with many years ahead of them before retirement will have plenty of time to plan for their own retirement with a variety of tax-advantaged plans, for example a 401(k). Everyone's existing pension is fully protected by law. It is illegal, immoral, and repugnant to take any actions that would threaten the security and integrity of the Pension Fund. We are offended by suggestions that our proposal to manage the Fund has the ulterior motive of "raiding the fund" or stealing its capital. Our investors, including another union's pension fund, are highly visible and respected members of the Philadelphia community. We are saddened by the rumor-mongering that has spread fears among the Guild rank and file. Our proposal to manage the Fund has a simple motive; we want to maximize the investment returns of the Fund because we are fully responsible for its funding level. We are legally bound to insure the full funding of the Fund, and recent Federal legislation has only strengthened the legal framework of such funding requirements. Since we are on the hook for the unfunded liability, we want the decisionmaking authority to maximize the investment returns of the Fund. The Guild has no incentive to maximize returns since we must fund any shortfalls. We have also proposed to allow the membership to accrue additional pension benefits in the legacy Fund. This would involve merging the Guild's pension into a multiemployer plan that will allow the Guild to increase future benefits. We have already begun looking for merger partners in order to speed this process along. PN Employees If the fund remains independent, our management of the Fund will be completely transparent; all investment and administration decisions, as well as the Fund's performance, will be shared with Guild leadership. What we are proposing is in line with most other companies, both in the media business and other businesses. Ask your friends and neighbors what their companies are doing. Remember, you will continue to be guaranteed your legacy pension benefit, the "severance" pension we already fund, and your current 401(k) plan. And, if we find a merger partner, the Guild could fund additional benefits to the legacy pension. Will this proposal cost everyone a little more? Perhaps. But it is critically important for everyone to understand how difficult the newspaper business has become. You can look all over the country for examples. We simply can no longer afford the very generous pay and benefits of a bygone era, when newspapers dominated the media. We would much prefer for everyone to share a little bit in the pain, so that we can spare perhaps dozens of our colleagues from losing their jobs altogether. There is a silver lining in this cloud. If we can break the downward spiral of this business, if we can save dozens of newsroom jobs, if we can improve the quality of our newspapers, if we can invest in marketing and product and equipment and technology, if we can grow circulation and thereby grow advertising, we can, in fact, win, and win big, together as a team. And that's my dream. I want these newspapers to be great, and I'm sorry that we must take such painful steps to achieve greatness. But to those of you who understand this vision and understand the need for these difficult decisions, you will understand that it is our only choice. I am fundamentally optimistic. I want to break the cycles of negative thinking, of "us vs. them." We are all in this together, and need to keep the best interests of this fine journalistic institution in the front of our minds. I want this organization to still be around, to still employ thousands of people, to still make a difference in our community, and to still be relevant for decades and decades to come. Let's work together to make this happen. December 8, 2006: Guild Outlook for Friday-Sunday FYI The Newspaper Guild negotiating committee is meeting today (Friday) and over the weekend to formulate, at the federal mediator's request, a response to the company on the issue of the pension. Please note there are two issues involved here. It is not merely the company's desire to freeze the pension, as most of you report. It is also the issue of the company's desire to take over sole administration and direction of the pension, which currently is jointly administered by three union representatives, three company representatives and one impartial chair. It is a carefully constructed and balanced system that has worked very well for everyone. Your reporting, whenever possible, should mention both issues. In his open letter yesterday, Brian Tierney said a change in the pension would "perhaps" cost "everyone a little more." There is no "perhaps." The freeze (meaning no more company contributions) would definitely cost members a great deal more. In explaining why he felt the company should solely direct the fund, he wrote, "The Guild has no incentive to maximize returns since we must fund any shortfalls." That is nonsense. The Guild's "incentive" is that our members benefit from a strong, healthy, wisely- and safely-invested fund. --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 8, 2006: Bulletin from Newspaper Guild to Members For Immediate release HANG IN THERE Federal Mediator Walter Bednarczyk said today that he would call back the Guild and the Company to face-to-face bargaining Monday to discuss pension issues. He strongly suggested that neither party take any action at this time. The Company wants to freeze the pension fund and take full control of our fund away from the joint board of trustees. The union plans to work with its experts through the weekend to come up with a counter proposal. (Translation: No work stoppage) --------------------------- The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. Direct questions or comments to voices@local-10.com December 6, 2006: 12/6 Newspaper Guild Update: Negotiations end for day with situation serious For Immediate release Contract talks between The Newspaper Guild and the company stalled today on the remaining major issue of the pension. Talks began at 12:30 p.m. and ended around 6 p.m. with no date and time set to resume. The following bulletin was sent out this evening to Newspaper Guild members: Bad Situation Today, the Company refused to move on its plan to freeze the pension fund. It wouldn't budge on its desire to take full control of our fund away from the joint board of trustees. The Company wants all that power as it, and it alone, seeks a multi-employer plan in which to place the frozen fund. The Guild negotiating team told the Company it would go into a multi-employer pension fund, but it would not relinquish its place in the decision making process. Under the Guild plan, the pension trustees -- composed of an equal number of representatives from the Company and the union -- would seek a suitable multi-employer pension fund to merge into. If the sides could not agree on a fund, they would go into arbitration. It is essential for both sides to be involved, to keep the process moving quickly and to protect OUR RETIREMENT SAVINGS. "This is a damn sad situation," said Guild President Henry J. Holcomb. "The Company's position threatens to undo all of the good work we have done and put us on strike." The Company also refused to make a wage proposal, even though it settled with the other unions last night. With that information, the Guild could possibly craft a solution to the Company's problem. Because this is the most serious of our strike issues, members should please take home their personal items from work and await instructions on other actions. The Guild's website -- http://www.local-10.com -- is being updated periodically with information on the status of negotiations. December 6, 2006: ACTION ALERT: AFSCME DC33 Local 1971 Rally on 12/7 in Support of Union Jobs HELP! AFSCME District Council 33 - Local 1971 is UNDER ATTACK! Local 1971 has lost over 50 members employed at the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) and the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) due to the Street Administration's reorganization of the Housing Agencies in order to fund the Administration's pet Agency, the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). On Thursday, December 7, 2006, City Council is holding a Public Hearing in order to transfer funds and programs and this will allow them to hire the individuals of their choice and not necessarily the members of our Local, who have held these positions for years and are experienced in running these programs. They are UNION busting by forcing our members to take drastic wage cuts and jockey for EXEMPT positions. Please help us in our fight by joining in our March to City Hall starting at 8:30 AM at 1234 Market Street and our Silent Protest in City Hall - Room 400 when the ordinance is read for Public review. In Solidarity, December 6, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Phila. Fire Fighters' Union IAFF Local 22 to March on City Hall on 12/7 On Thursday, December 7, 2006, at 11:30 AM, Local 22 will march from their headquarters at 5th and Willow Streets to City Hall. They will be calling attention to the mayor's refusal to honor their Act 111 binding arbitration award. For over a year, Philadelphia's Firefighters and Paramedics have been working without a labor contract to help keep the City safe for you and your family. Throughout this period, the City has taken step after step to avoid honoring the Firefighters' and Paramedics' binding contract. The City has spent hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars of YOUR MONEY to fight the Act 111 contract award that was lawfully decided by a panel of arbitrators. That Award provides for a process to address fire company closings ensuring that both Firefighters and Citizens have a say in this critical public safety issue. The Award also places a trained Paramedic on engine companies to speed Advanced Life Support care to victims of cardiac arrest. Programs like this can dramatically increase chances of survival for our citizens when time is of the essence. In fact, if the protections called for by the most recent Firefighter contract award are not implemented, a Philadelphian's chance of survival from cardiac arrest will be less than 4%! WE CAN DO BETTER! Come march with us and show your support. We will step off at 11:30 from 5th and Willow Streets and march over Market Street arriving at City Hall at 12:00. If you can't march with us, please join us on the NE corner of City Hall to show your support. For more information go to www.iaff22.org. Thank you! December 4, 2006: Rep. Cohen Supports Philadelphia Newspaper Guild A statement of support for the Philadelphia Newspaper Guild in its negotiations, from State Rep. Mark B. Cohen, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, along with the response from Brian Tierney, can be found at http://www.local-10.com. Working together, we can continue to pressure Tierney and his management team to safeguard both the seniority and the pensions as well as the general rights of Newspaper Guild members. State Rep. Mark Cohen Dem PA December 4, 2006: From The Newspaper Guild - Negotiations Update Tentative Agreement on Non-Economic Issues, After All-Day Session The Newspaper Guild negotiators reached a tentative agreement with the company on non-economic issues, after a day-long bargaining session that ended about 12:45 a.m. The session started at 12:45 p.m. Sunday. Local President Henry J. Holcomb said critical economic issues, including the pension, remain on the table. The company indicated it may not be able to meet with the Guild until Wednesday because it has to meet with other unions. Holcomb said he will press to meet with the company earlier. There is an agreement on the key seniority issue, which "basically preserves" seniority, said Holcomb, adding that he plans to call a membership meeting to explain some of the details. "The pension issue has not yet been discussed," he said, adding that health and welfare payments have yet to be explored. During Sunday's sessions, Daily News Editor Michael Days and Inquirer Editor Bill Marimow joined the talks for several periods. Union leadership will meet Monday to evaluate the agreement so far and to plan for the next session. December 1, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Immediate action requested to help Phila Newspaper Guild Attention Philadelphia area union leadership and members, Due to actions currently being considered by the new owners of the Philadelphia Daily News, Inquirer and Philly.com, literally hundreds of union members from the Philadelphia Newspaper Guild, who have worked so hard over the years to help create their publications' nationally acclaimed status and success, may soon be out of jobs. It has been rumored, but not confirmed, that non-union workers are being considered to replace many of them! HOW CAN YOU HELP? Please email your message of support for these hardworking employees to: voices@local-10.com and demand that the newspapers' owners bargain in good faith. For more facts on the situation please go to: www.phillyunions.com. November 30, 2006: Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Holiday Reception Seasons Greetings President Pat Eiding Tuesday, December 5, 2006 Horizons Rooftop Ballroom November 30, 2006: HOLCOMB: NO NEWSPAPER STRIKE TONIGHT "We're not going to finish tonight," said Local President Henry Holcomb at 9:42 PM, during a break in negotiations. "We will keep talking as long as we are making progress, and we are." For that reason, a strike will not be called tonight. Negotiators for both sides will continue talking until the federal mediator sends them home for the night. They will return tomorrow to resume talks. This is not an "extension," Holcomb said. Even though the contract expires at midnight, it will remain in effect. "We will keep talking and keep making progress," Holcomb said, although major issues have not been resolved. Spokesman Stu Bykofsky November 27, 2006: Volunteer Writers Wanted PhillyUnions.com is seeking volunteer writers with an interest in covering issues, topics and editorials pertaining to our Philadelphia area union community. For more information or to apply, please email your contact information along with your qualifications and experience to info@phillyunions.com. November 27, 2006: Open Letter from The Newspaper Guild to the Community For Immediate Release A MATTER OF SURVIVAL The new owners of the Inquirer, Daily News are having an acute case of buyer's remorse. Philadelphia Media Holdings -- a group of local investors with no prior media ownership experience -- now realize it paid too much for the papers and Philly.com, outbidding its rivals. Sadly, the new owners now are targeting their own union employees -- and particularly the workers' previously negotiated pensions, job security and sick pay -- as the solution to their mistake. There is absolutely no justification for the company's behavior as it negotiates for the first time with The Newspaper Guild, the union that represents 900 workers including writers, editors, photographers, artists, clerks, auditors and ad salespeople. While we are dedicated to a fair, professional and frank collective bargaining process, and welcome the intervention of a Federal mediator, we also recognize a responsibility to our readers and the community to explain the key issues at the heart of this dispute. As should be obvious to the new owners, we are totally dedicated to keeping our region one of the leading newspaper and online journalism markets in America. This is why we quickly welcomed the new owners who professed a love for the highest standards of local, independent, hard-hitting journalism, and vowed to be a responsible employer-of-choice. In stirring speeches on the newsroom floor and interviews with out-of-town media, they said they were different from other owners: they would never put profits before people; they would work hard to sustain profitability through new means of revenue generation and clever reader incentives like front-page, peel-off coupons. Sounded good, maybe too good to be true. Still, we vowed to continue to do our share, meeting them more than halfway for the good of the papers, the community and all of our fellow workers. So what went wrong? In just a few short months, we now see spin trumping substance, efforts to demonize the workers as the turnaround master plan turns increasingly ugly, apparently aimed at gutting the Guild. While we hope it's all a well-orchestrated bargaining ploy, consider these recent developments:
What about health insurance and prescription drug benefit co-pays, the usual labor contract hot buttons? We already shoulder that expense and manage our own health and welfare fund. You see, like so many other workers here and across the country, we've made concessions in the past and know what it's like to be on the short end of givebacks and cutbacks. In this round of talks, we've made numerous work-rule concessions, and the company knows it, even though its spokespeople continue to claim otherwise. We're sharing this background because we know you care about the possible dilution, if not demise, of these newspapers. We are heartened that you believe, as do we, that the newspapers are an important part of our vibrant and diverse community. We were moved when a cross section of the region rallied for our survival when we were put up for sale. We cannot have a robust economy and evolve into a world-class community with a diverse array of jobs without world-class newspapers to keep us and the rest of the world informed about the region. Competitors -- including those in broadcast and cable TV news, and even some of our critics from the ranks of government and business -- will candidly acknowledge that our newspapers are crucial to the flow of objective, in-depth news and information in our region. There is a reason that local electronic journalism begins its day with producers reading our newspapers for the whole story to determine what is really the big story of the day, from healthcare to education, business and sports. We are not only first with the news, we're factual, and that is a tribute to the editorial staffs and a system of checks and balances you won't find in many other newsrooms, let alone living-room blogs. The result is news that you can trust to be accurate, whether it's the real story behind why your taxes are going up, your school children's test scores are going down, or your favorite sports team is on the verge of a title or collapse. We do our homework, present all sides of a story, and keep opinions on the opinion pages so you can make your own decisions. Isn't this what a democracy is all about? Our owners have made a mistake and now want us -- and you -- to pay for their blunder. Tell us, and them, what you think by emailing voices@local-10.com. Thanks for listening, and we'll keep you informed, as always. November 27, 2006: From The Newspaper Guild... IF They Were to Hire Scabs... If They Did It: Here's how Philadelphia Media Holdings would hire scabs Philadelphia Media Holdings, the company that cries poverty while demanding devastating cuts from Guild members, seems to be gearing up to spend a fortune on scabs to produce our papers and drive our trucks. The Philadelphia Weekly reported today that an ad seeking "replacement workers" (aka scabs) was recently posted on careerbuilder.com. The mystery company seeks scabs to come to an East Coast city to work as reporters, photographers, graphic artists, news assistants and truck drivers in the event of a strike. The Weekly was told that the potential strike would be in December. The Guild's contract expires Nov. 30. A Guild member responded to the ad and got a company calling itself Strom Engineering. Asking for more information about the jobs, he learned there is an expected strike in December. The Guild "job applicant" was told that the undisclosed company was a newspaper operation on the East Coast that "could be in Philly," but Strom declined to be specific. When the "job applicant" said he was interested in politics and would love to cover City Hall and government, but had no experience except for penning a few letters to the editor, he was told that may not be a problem. Send your resume along and we'll try and take care of you, he was told. When the caller said he had a couple friends looking for work too, including one who just got out of prison and was a great fighter, he was told to also have them send their resumes along, as there are no background checks. The company is also advertising for scabs to drive trucks, filling in for Teamsters drivers who may also be on strike. All you need is a Class B license, the caller was told. Drivers would be asked to operate "small trucks, a UPS-type truck." If they got the job, the company is willing to pay reporters and other editorial employees an hourly rate based on a minimum 60-hour work week, with no benefits. Doesn't this East Coast newspaper company know that you get what you pay for? "Bringing Home the News" with scab labor is not a new great era in journalism. Direct questions to voices@local-10.com November 27, 2006: Update: Major Union Project Seeks Final Zoning Change To update you on the progress of a previous story, tomorrow (November 28) is an important day in the progress of the proposed Bridgeman's View project, a project that is viewed by many as the cornerstone of the waterfront district that will create hundreds of union jobs in Philadelphia. The developer will appear before the Rules Committee of the Philadelphia City Council to seek zoning approval of the proposed and required parking garage next to the tower. The approval of the parking garage is vital to the construction of the tower. Although the tower itself has been approved for zoning and has previously gained union, political and community support, there has been a delay in the zoning approval so the developers and the planning commission, as well as Penn Praxis, could hold meetings to discuss this iconic project for Philadelphia. Unsurprisingly, the local developers, including union ironworkers themselves, have held these meetings and the outcome has been very positive and reassuring of the future of this world class tower that will help transform the Delaware Avenue waterfront. November 22, 2006: ACTION ALERT: SEIU Local 32BJ Rally on 11/20 to Support ScotlandYard Security Officers After a brief spell of optimism, THE FIGHT IS BACK ON between SEIU Local 32BJ and ScotlandYard Security Services. WHAT: Rally for Justice for Scotland Yard Security Officers WHERE: Thomas Paine Plaza, Municipal Services Building, 15th and JFK WHEN: Monday November 20, 12 PM FOR MORE INFO CALL: Jeff Hornstein, 267-250-6480 Will we tolerate ANTI-UNION BEHAVIOR in City Buildings? ScotlandYard Security Service provides security services at the Municipal Services Building, One Parkway, and City Hall. ScotlandYard officers make as little as $9.01 an hour for keeping our City's most important buildings safe and secure. These men and women have been trying to improve their working conditions and their lives by exercising their legal right to join a union. In response, Scotlandyard has made unlawful threats of reprisal for union support and unlawfully interrogated employees about their union activity. The Union has filed unfair labor practice charges against Scotlandyard with the National Labor Relations Board. RALLY FOR JUSTICE *** PLEASE CALL ME IF YOU ARE ABLE TO ATTEND, AND IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SPEAKING AT THE RALLY *** In solidarity, November 20, 2006: A Perspective on John Dougherty PhillyUnions.Com Presents "Perspectives" On Union Leaders in Our Community Because the mainstream media does not always represent the best interests of our labor leaders, issues, standards, conditions or rights, PhillyUnions.com is presenting a new periodic editorial feature that provides a new perspective on some of the most high profile and influential labor leaders throughout Philadelphia and vicinity. To launch our inaugural "Perspectives" editorial we have chosen to feature John Dougherty, Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local #98 and potential candidate for Mayor of Philadelphia. ----------------------------- A Perspective on John J. Dougherty: A son of Philadelphia who grew up in a hard-scrabble, working class neighborhood in South Philly, a place he still calls home today. As "Doc" likes to say, "The best way to never forget where you came from is to never leave." An Irish Catholic, South Philly row home kid from a respected family with a deep history in Philadelphia politics. A 1978 graduate of Saint Joe's Prep, John married his high school sweetheart, his beautiful wife, Ceilie, with whom he has raised two wonderful daughters. After he graduated from the apprentice training program of Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, John's natural leadership skills began to emerge. In 1993, at the age of 32, John Dougherty was elected Business Manager of IBEW Local 98, the youngest person ever to be elected to Local 98's highest position. His business savvy and inherent political skills brought Local 98 back from the brink of bankruptcy to its current status as one of our city's most active union locals. The commitment John has made to our Philadelphia area union community and working men and women across our great city is evident every day by the way he treats his own members as well as associates from other locals and the citizens of Philadelphia. His generosity in helping others is tireless and is also evident by his many charitable endeavors. In the words of Ironworkers Local #405 Business Representative Albert Fratali: "Johnny Doc has helped to lead our union community to the forefront of the Philadelphia business and political communities. There's not a union member or family in the city who has not been directly or indirectly affected in a positive way by his influence. Often in the face of staunch anti-union sentiment, John has forged ahead to continue his quest to keep Philadelphia and vicinity the strongest union region in the country while at the same time giving others less fortunate a better life. But you don't read that in the papers every day do you? He truly is every working man and woman's friend and that often threatens the powers that be." Government and Civic Appointments (Current and Previous):
November 14, 2006: Union Appreciation Night With the Philadelphia Flyers The Philadelphia Flyers are extending a discount to the men and women of the Philadelphia Unions. Come down to Union Appreciation Night at the Wachovia Center when the Philadelphia Flyers face off against Tampa Bay on January 30, 2007. Each Union member will receive $7 off each ticket. For more information or to purchase tickets please contact Chris Engart at 215-218-7537 or cengart@comcast-spectacor.com. November 8, 2006: Holidays Trips and Union-Made Gifts from PhillyUnions.com PhillyUnions.com and the Pro-Union Preferred Partners Program is pleased to bring you the following great offers for union members and families: * Holiday Trips to Vegas From Ron DePietro, The Riviera Hotel and Casino Las Vegas Want to be treated as a high roller? Ron DePietro, special consultant for the Riviera Casino in Las Vegas can make it happen. Providing premier casino packages including hotel and casino accommodations in Las Vegas exclusively for Philadelphia area union members, retirees and families. If you are interested, contact Ron DePietro at: (856) 858-4141 or (866) 469-6800 or email: casino346@aol.com to inquire about special packages, group rates and promotions. The Riviera is a UNION Hotel and Casino! Web: http://www.rivierahotel.com ------------------------------------------ * Union-Made Gifts From Belinda Lader, VP Product Sales, Phillyunions.com It's not too late to order Union Made/USA Made holiday gifts, 2007 calendars and planners through Belinda Lader of PhillyUnions.com! Contact me at blader@geiger.com or call 610-517-6793 for ideas that fit any budget. The nation's largest privately held promotional products distributor, one of the best known and most respected companies in the industry. Geiger is family-owned and family-oriented, yet forward thinking. Geiger produces calendars, planners, and The Farmers' Almanac using the latest technology and tools. Union/USA made promotional products with the union bug imprinted are supplied by the manufacturers we represent. Products include sportswear, gifts, promotional office supplies, buttons, tee shirts, bags, work clothing, and more! Phone: 610-517-6793 November 8, 2006: UPDATED 11/8: SEIU 32BJ Rally Thursday 11/9 is CANCELLED Due to progress in talks with ScotlandYard Security Services regarding the company's employees at the City's TriPlex buildings, Local 32BJ has agreed to cancel tomorrow's planned noontime rally at the Municipal Services Building. Apologies for the short notice. We thank you for your support! *** OF COURSE, IF SCOTLANDYARD RENEGES ON ITS PROMISE, WE WILL BE IN TOUCH *** November 1, 2006: Drexel University's Free Stop Smoking Program for Men Men Working Together to QUIT! Upcoming Program Information Sessions: Learn about the program with no obligation - November 9, 2006 at 5:30 PM - December 14, 2006 at 12:00 PM Convenient Center City location! Call 215-762-8120 for more information or to register. About the Program: When men work together they get things done. Our program empowers men by creating a sense of community, where men learn the skills necessary to quit smoking and gain opportunities to mentor other men. Drexel University Stop Smoking Program for Men offers free stop smoking programs in Center City or we travel throughout Philadelphia County to offer programs onsite. The program is about six to seven weeks in duration and each week is about an hour to an hour and a half long, which includes:
Free nicotine replacement therapy, which is the patch, gum or lozenge, to everyone that enrolls in the program. Professional and Community Educational presentations on the health risks and costs of smoking and the impact of secondhand smoke to the individual and those around him/her. In addition to the men's program we also have programs for women and pregnant women. Call 215-762-8120 for more information or to register. This program is sponsored by Drexel University's Office of Government and Community Relations. Funding provided by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health. November 1, 2006: Monthly PUdotcom B2B Event - Union Members also invited PhillyUnions.com Pro-Union Preferred Partners, local business leaders and professionals, and area union members are invited to attend our next monthly business to business networking event on Wednesday, November 15. These monthly events provide an outstanding opportunity for local union and pro-union businesses and professionals to network, exchange referrals, find new clients, learn about opportunities to streamline and improve your business, and do better business with the Philadelphia area union community. For businesses and professionals who are not currently Pro-Union Preferred Partners, you'll learn about the Philadelphia Council's authorized screening, certification and marketing program designed to connect you with our area union community. Union members and leaders are also invited and encouraged to attend and meet some of our outstanding pro-union local businesses and Preferred Partners. This month's honored guest speaker will be Joseph J. Dougherty Sr., Business Manager of Ironworkers Local Union 401. IMPORTANT: Businesses and professionals interested in participating in the excellent B2B networking portion of this event MUST register or you will not be able to participate, including Preferred Partners. The event is FREE of charge for our Pro-Union Preferred Partners (you'll enter your special Partners code when registering to get your free admission). Cost is $35 for businesses and professionals who are not currently Preferred Partners. Event is FREE for union members to attend. Location: Ironworkers Local Union 401 Bridgeman's Hall 11600 Norcom Rd., Philadelphia, PA 19154 Date: Wednesday, November 15 from 6 PM - 8 PM Theme: Doing better business with Philadelphia area unions Sponsors: Tom Wines of 5minutepitch.com and Jim Stevenson of Northeast Lincoln Mercury Businesses and Professionals register here: (Preferred Partners note -- When you register, you'll need to log into your 5minutepitch.com account or create a new account. This is NOT the same as your PhillyUnions.com Networking Tools account. Your PUdotcom login info will NOT work on 5minutepitch.com. Click the link to create a new account and put in a username and password of your choice.) November 1, 2006: Historical Black Colleges and Universities Mini Expo on Fri. 11/10 Columbia North Branch YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity Sponsors the Historical Black Colleges and Universities Mini Expo Friday, November 10, 2006 11:00 AM -- 2:00 PM We're calling 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, (Chaperones, Clergy, Counselors, College Prep Professionals, Parents, Family and Friends) to the College Fair. ADMISSION FREE This is a gift to our universities and communities from the Columbia North Branch of the YMCA and our HBCU Alumni. RSVP 678-463-3944 or email vlrable@aol.com with contact name, organization, telephone numbers, time of arrival, departure & total # of people. We will call to confirm your RSVP. ------------------ Philadelphia International Art Expo Nov. 10, 11 & 12, 2006 Take the students to October Gallery's 21st Annual Philadelphia International Art Expo on Friday, November 10. 2006 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Conversations & Interviews with the Artist 10:00 AM - 12 noon Liacouras Center, Temple University Meet actor/artist Billy Dee Williams & Receive a Free Print ADMISSION FREE RSVP 215-629-3939 x 17 November 1, 2006: Dash for Democracy On November 4, 2006, three days before one of the most important elections in our nation's history, Philadelphia's premier non-partisan and nonprofit government watchdog organization, The Committee of Seventy (http://www.seventy.org/), is giving your voice legs - literally. The Philadelphia AFL-CIO is proud to sponsor Seventy's inaugural Dash for Democracy™ 5K Run and Walk (http://www.dashfordemocracy.org/) that will turn Independence Mall into one gigantic platform for everyone to "run" or walk for the issues, passions and beliefs that are most important to them. We invite you to participate in the Dash by wearing your union-made shirts! Our very own Pat Eiding is on the Committee of Seventy's board so if you enter "Eiding" as your coupon code when you sign-up online at http://www.dashfordemocracy.org/ you will receive $3 off your registration. If you'd like to register a team of four, you can enter "Eidingteam" and you will receive $20 off. To register by phone, please call Anne Mahlum at 215-557-3600 ext. 203. November 1, 2006: Thank You from Phila AFL-CIO regarding Newspaper Guild Rally The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO extends a heartfelt Thank You to all our union brothers, sisters, and friends of organized labor that came out this Monday Oct. 30 in strong support of the workers of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News. In Solidarity, Patrick Eiding October 24, 2006: "Buy-Union" Store Opens for Philadelphia area union community! PhillyUnions.com is excited to announce the launch of the PhillyUnionStore.com. It is a groundbreaking online store where our Philadelphia area union members can conveniently purchase a great variety of top quality union made/American made products and promotional items including sports wear and apparel items, gift packages, promotional office products, travel and leisure items, and work clothing items at premium discount prices. It is also a great effort to support our fine union manufacturers who have done such a fantastic job providing these quality products. We are also happy to announce the hiring of Belinda Lader as our VP of Product Sales for the PhillyUnionStore.com. Belinda will be contacting all area unions to offer you the best service, products and prices for your members. For additional information, to browse the store selections and/or to make a purchase visit: http://phillyunionstore.com. We look forward to speaking with all of our area union leaders soon about placing an order and providing the Philadelphia area union community another quality product and service! Sincerely, Joe Dougherty October 24, 2006: Philadelphia Union Official Seeks Public Office Gloucester County, NJ Residents Vote Al Frattali for Washington Township Council Al Frattali, Business Manager of Ironworkers Local #405, is running for Washington Township (NJ) Council. A longtime member of Ironworkers Local #405, he is a leader in the community. Al is president of the UNICO Philadelphia Chapter and volunteers as a karate teacher for special needs children. He and his wife Sandy have two children. Al and his running mates seek to enforce stricter ethical standards to ensure government accountability, restore civility to Township Government, and provide quality, dependable Township services. On Tuesday, November 7, 2006, be sure to get out and vote in Gloucester County for Al Frattali, a longtime union member and proven leader. October 24, 2006: Election Day Volunteers Needed Non-Partisan Get Out the Vote Activity -- Voter Protection Too much is at stake on November 7th. Help us make sure EVERYONE who can vote does! What skills are we seeking? * OFFICE WORKERS: Answer phone calls from voters; Provide non-partisan voting information; Document allegations of misconduct at polling sites. * FIELD STAFF: Visit polling sites to provide information to election officials; Settling minor disputes; Investigating reports of Election Code and voting rights violations. WHEN: Tuesday, November 7th WHERE: Committee of Seventy Headquarters We need volunteers for any block of time you can join us for this important work. Training will be provided. For more information or to sign up call Janet Ryder -- 215.665.9800 October 5, 2006: MDA's Muscle Team Challenge: Rally for Research on 11/4 Join the Muscle Team Challenge™: Rally for Research! WHERE: Philadelphia's Memorial Hall and Fairmount Park WHEN: November 4, 2006 The Muscle Team Challenge™: Rally for Research will be an exciting, festive day filled with fun and entertainment in Philadelphia, PA. Participants are encouraged to build "Muscle Teams," and walk in honor of those living with neuromuscular diseases. Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 22, PhillyUnions.com, and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) are inviting families, businesses, and individuals across the region to challenge themselves to a full marathon walk (26.2 miles), a half marathon walk (13.1 miles), or a 5K family fun walk (3.1 miles). Those who do not wish to walk are invited to become tailgaters, fundraise, and enjoy the festivities that will continue throughout the day! At Memorial Hall, the site of the start and finish lines, local bands and performers will entertain spectators. Participants must raise a minimum of $130 (equal to two minutes of research) for MDA. Children ages 5-12 must raise $65 (equal to one minute of research) for MDA. Through MDA, participants will have the option to earmark their fundraising dollars towards research for the neuromuscular disease of their choice! Funds raised for MDA through the Muscle Team Challenge™: Rally for Research will be used for research, summer camp, clinical support, and services for thousands of individuals living with neuromuscular diseases in the Greater Philadelphia region. Call Meghan Callen or Megan Halferty at MDA (215.692.1781) for additional fundraising and event information. Visit http://www.muscleteamchallenge.org to start your own Union Team or to register individually. October 5, 2006: 14th Annual Bogus Male Beauty Contest on 10/24 to Benefit Officers and Families in Need Benefits Officers & Families in Need Sponsored by: FOP Lodge 76 WHEN: Tuesday, October 24, 2006 WHERE: Coastline Restaurant Open Bar 6 PM - 8 PM / Buffet / DJ Entertainment Tickets -- $10.00 Donation 2006 Contestants: Ptl. Steve Cittadini -- Lumberton Police For tickets contact any contestant or call FOP Lodge 76 President Brian Cranmer 609-820-4753. October 5, 2006: Local Boxing Event on 10/14 Caters to Union Community and Benefits Veterans Charity Former Heavyweight Champion "Terrible" Tim Witherspoon, in association with Fingerspoon Promotions, presents REDEMPTION. In a night that is sure to be one of the best nights in Philadelphia Boxing, Undefeated Chazz Witherspoon 13 - 0 (7KOs) will attempt to keep his streak going under the lights of the National Guard Armory in NE Philadelphia. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides critically needed services to our region's (Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey, Delaware) homeless, unemployed, disabled and less fortunate Veterans. For details or to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.fingerspoon.com/events.htm or view the Press Release (.PDF file) here: http://phillyunions.com/witherspoon.pdf October 5, 2006: AIDS Walk Philly on 10/15 Sunday, October 15, 2006 Join us for AIDS Walk Philly! It's not too late! You can still make a difference in the lives of the thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS in the Philadelphia region. This year we solemnly mark the 25th anniversary of the AIDS epidemic. And as we have done every year since 1987, our community will join together in raising funds to fight this disease by participating in the 20th Annual AIDS Walk Philly on Sunday, October 15. Please join us this year for Philadelphia's largest HIV/AIDS public awareness and fundraising event. The money raised through AIDS Walk Philly goes to fund over thirty area HIV/AIDS organizations that provide much-needed care to the over 30,000 people living with HIV in the Philadelphia region. Don't delay! Walk, run, volunteer, or donate. Register today for AIDS Walk Philly by visiting http://www.aidswalkphilly.org or call us at 215-731-WALK. Until there's a cure, we'll keep walking. We hope you'll join us. October 5, 2006: Beef & Beer to Benefit Fallen Police Office Gennaro Pellegrini Jr. Scholarship Fund on 10/7 On Saturday, October 7, 2006, we will be having a Beef & Beer Benefit in memory of our fallen brother, Gennaro Pellegrini Jr., Police Officer, Soldier, Pro Boxer, and friend. Gennaro "Jerry" Pellegrini was a Phila. Police Officer assigned to the 26th District as my partner and a Reservist in the PA National Guard. He was deployed to Iraq and soon due to return home when he was killed on Aug. 9, 2005 in an ambush bombing by the enemy. He died a Hometown HERO, to all of us. Shortly after his death, his family and the Phila. Police Dept. started a scholarship fund in his name to continue Jerry's tradition of helping neighborhood children. With the generous contributions of many businesses and residents from the tri-county area, the 1st Annual Beef & Beer on October 28, 2005 gave the fund a great start. The purpose of this letter is to ask you to open your hearts again. Any product donation that you can offer for a great raffle prize would be greatly appreciated to ensure the success of this year's Beef & Beer, enabling The Pellegrini Scholarship Fund to continue financially helping the needy children and families in the neighborhoods where Jerry grew up, lived, and worked. Thank you for your time and consideration. Please contact any of the following numbers for donation pick-ups, tickets to this year's event, or any other questions. Police Officer Michelle Winkis 215-776-2216 26th District Captain's Office 215-686-3261 EVENT DATE: Saturday October 7, 2006 LOCATION: Fraternal Order of Police TIME: 7 PM - 11 PM All proceeds will benefit the Gennaro Pellegrini Jr. Scholarship Fund For Tickets and Info: http://www.pellegrinischolarshipfund.com/wst_page3.html 26th District Captain's Office: 215-686-3260 October 3, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Rally Today 10/3 - Justice for Arkema Workers! Take a Stand for Fairness! For more than a month, over 40 brave Birdsboro men and women, members of Teamsters Local 429, Reading, PA, have been on strike against a giant French-owned, multi-national corporation -- Arkema. Fed up with a lack of respect and concession demands from the company, these workers took to the picket line to protest Arkema's attempts to reduce their pay, change family health care protection and alter their retirement benefits. These loyal, hard-working men and women, your union brothers and sisters, are not asking for much. They just want the same rights and fairness that you would want on your job. They are asking for your help and support. Join them in demanding that Arkema live up to its corporate social responsibility, come back to the bargaining table and negotiate a fair agreement. Is this too much to ask? Rally for Justice! WHEN: Tuesday, October 3, 2006 (TODAY) WHERE: Arkema Corporate HQ Stand Up for Pennsylvania Working Families! October 2, 2006: ** CANCELLED ** Volunteers Needed TONIGHT 10/2 to Campaign for Bob Casey Please note: In light of today's tragic events in Lancaster County, PA, the following event scheduled for this evening has been cancelled. The Dezzi Group joins PhillyUnions.com in extending our sincere condolences and best wishes to the families involved and the entire Lancaster County community. The Dezzi Group is looking for volunteers to campaign with Ed Rendell and Bob Casey tonite before the Eagles Game. Volunteers should come to 11th and Pattison at 7 PM where they will be given signs and asked to help greet people entering the stadium. Any questions please call Eleanor Dezzi at (215) 483-4863. Thank you. September 29, 2006: Upcoming VOAD and Citizen Corps Training Please contact Jessie Helwig, VOAD Training Coordinator @ 215-405-8523 or helwigj@redcross-philly.org to register for a course. You must be registered in advance to attend. Note that the following is a summary of the dates and classes available. For full details and information please download the full schedule here: http://phillyunions.com/2006RevisedVOADTrainingSchedule2.pdf (PDF document) OR http://phillyunions.com/2006RevisedVOADTrainingSchedule2.doc (Word document) Saturday September 30: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM Saturday October 14: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Saturday, October 21: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Saturday, October 28: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM Tuesday, November 14: 5:30 PM - 9 PM & Thursday, November 16: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM MARK YOUR CALENDERS! REGION-WIDE EVENT! September 29, 2006: Comey Institute Classes In participation with the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, the Comey Institute of St. Joseph's University will be offering a fall line-up of labor education classes. The classes offered range from a Labor law survey class regarding the history and development of labor law and centered around issues like organizing, recognition and bargaining; to specific issue classes like grievance handling and workers compensation. For the technology minded, the Comey Institute also offers an introduction to Internet Communications to help members learn to harness the power of online communications most effectively. Courses begin October 2 for a run of 8 weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays and the registration fee is $60. For more information on the classes being offered and how to enroll contact Janet Ryder at 215.665.9800 or download the flyer and registration form here: http://phillyunions.com/2006ComeyInstitute-FallCourses.pdf (PDF document) ORhttp://phillyunions.com/2006ComeyInstitute-FallCourses.doc (Word document) September 29, 2006: Labor Day at the Phila. Zoo on 10/21 Enjoy Labor Day for a second time by going wild with your family at the Philadelphia Zoo for only $11 a ticket! All AFL-CIO members and their families are invited to explore the new $20 million dollar Bank of America Big Cat Falls exhibit on Saturday, October 21. You'll come face to face with 12 endangered big cats. While you're here, see nearly 1,300 rare and exotic animals from around the world including elephants, polar bears, reptiles and magnificent birds on 42 acres of picturesque Victorian gardens. Simply log on to www.philadelphiazoo.org and enter your promotional code "AFLCIO" to purchase an Adult or Child ticket for only $11 each! That's a savings of $5.95 for adults and $2.95 for kids. Discount tickets are valid the day of event only and will not be available at the Zoo, so make sure you log on today. The Rain Date for this event will be Sunday, October 22. For more information, call 215-665-9800 or view the flyer here: http://phillyunions.com/2006LaborDayattheZoo.pdf September 29, 2006: Electronic Services/General Business to Business Networking Event this Wed. 10/4 This Wednesday, 10/4/06, PhillyUnions.com Preferred Partner Mark Morgan of FM Digital Service Corporation (http://www.fm-digital.com) Sponsors an Electronic Services/General Business to Business Networking Event (Free Event for all Pro-Union Preferred Partners, $35 if not a Partner). Where: Finnigan's Wake (In the Quiet Man's Room), 3rd & Spring Garden Sts., Philadelphia, PA 19123. When: From 6 - 7:30 PM. This is a fantastic opportunity for pro-union business professionals to establish strong business/networking relationships that will ultimately generate future referrals and leads. In fact, our first such event on August 16 generated a plethora of networking relationships that have already lead to successful business and professional transactions. You must register to participate. To do so please visit: http://www.5minutepitch.com/view-event-details.php?event_id=18 We look forward to seeing you there. - PhillyUnions.com September 18, 2006: Help End Handgun Violence in Pennsylvania MAKE OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR CHILDREN SAFE Join Us in Harrisburg Tell them to: * STOP the flow of illegal handguns now * ENACT smarter laws and support more effective law enforcement to curb gun crime * INVEST in a peaceful future by expanding opportunities for education and employment/jobs September 26 Events in Harrisburg: * Prayer Vigil at Noon on Capitol Steps * Visits with Legislative Staffs * Rally at 2 PM in Capitol Rotunda Our lawmakers will devote the day to a discussion of gun violence, so make sure they know you want more than just talk! Join Us and Get on the Bus! Contact us today to reserve your seat(s) on buses at (215) 923-1940 or http://www.september26rally.org Sponsors include: Men United for a Better Philadelphia September 18, 2006: Health Fair/Personal Injury/Workers Comp Seminar & B2B Event this Wed. 9/20 This Wednesday, 9/20/06, PhillyUnions.com along with our Pro-Union Preferred Partner Dr. Paul Rubin is hosting a Health Fair/Personal Injury/Workers Comp Seminar & Business To Business Networking Event at Finnigan's Wake, 537 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia from 6 PM - 8 PM. Also featured will be attorneys David Stern and Matthew Weisberg. * 6 PM: Personal Injury/Workers Comp Presentation -- Free for union members and PhillyUnions.com Pro-Union Preferred Partners, open to registered guests * 7 PM - 8 PM: 5Minute Pitch Business to Business Networking Session -- Free for Preferred Partners, open to registered guests (not open to the public) This event is an excellent opportunity for union members to get valuable, free information on the topics of Personal Injury and Workers Comp, and to meet many of our Pro-Union Preferred Partners who will be in attendance. Again, the health industry seminar portion of the event at 6 PM is free to all and open to the union community. The second portion of the event, the 5MinutePitch.com business to business networking session, is open ONLY to Pro-Union Preferred Partners and registered professionals (cost is $35 for professionals who are not Preferred Partners). This is a fantastic opportunity for pro-union business professionals to establish strong business/networking relationships that will ultimately generate future referrals and leads. In fact, our first such event on August 16 generated a plethora of networking relationships that have already lead to successful business and professional transactions. You must register to participate in the business to business networking session. To do so please visit: http://www.5minutepitch.com/view-event-details.php?event_id=24 We look forward to seeing you there. - PhillyUnions.com September 18, 2006: Philadelphia Premiere of IRAQ FOR SALE: The War Profiteers Tomorrow 9/19/06 Please Join Us for the Philadelphia Premiere of IRAQ FOR SALE: The War Profiteers With Director ROBERT GREENWALD, Director of WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price, OUTFOXED: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism, and UNCOVERED: The War on Iraq. SEIU & the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Sponsor the premiere of the Documentary Slamming War Profiteers Making Billions on the Backs of American Working Families Tuesday, September 19, 2006 The festivities will be held at the International House, 3701 Chestnut Street Panel Discussion to Follow Premiere Guests to Include: PLEASE RSVP: http://iraqforsale.org/philly September 7, 2006: UPDATED: IATSE8 "Skerski Night at Lights" Fundraiser on 10/21/06 Dear Friends, It is official, the Stagehands Union & the AOH/LAOH, Division 87 will host a fundraiser for the family of slain Philadelphia Police Officer, Gary Skerski, on Saturday, October 21, 2006. This fundraiser will take place at the "Lights of Liberty" (6th & Chestnut Sts.) which is a sound and light show about America gaining its independence back in the late 1700s. To view the show, patrons will go on a walking tour through historical sites in Society Hill. Headphones will be worn to hear the narration by Walter Cronkite. The first show begins at 7 PM with a new show every fifteen minutes until all of the patrons have been serviced. The cost for a ticket is $20.00 and 100% of the profit will go directly to the Skerski family. To purchase tickets, you can write a check payable to "IATSE, Local 8" and mail it to: Attention Matthew McIntyre, 8130 Winthrop Street, Philadelphia, PA 19136. Be sure to include a note with the address where you'd like the tickets sent. I will mail the tickets to your residence or place of business immediately upon receiving your check. I am appealing to you to please support this very worthy cause. Officer Skerski is a true hero who gave his life protecting the citizens of Philadelphia, and we can never let him be forgotten. Thanks for your anticipated support, it is very much appreciated. Best regards. Respectfully, Matthew J. McIntyre August 30, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Rally Tomorrow 8/31 to Defend Union Standards Meet at 5th & Market Streets * STOP THE ARTHUR JACKSON COMPANY, THE NEW JANITORIAL SERVICES CONTRACTOR AT THE CURTIS CENTER, FROM UNDERMINING THE STANDARDS WE HAVE FOUGHT FOR YEARS TO MAINTAIN. * ARTHUR JACKSON IS HIRING WORKERS FOR as little as $8.25 an hour to clean the Curtis Center, a high-rent building on Independence Mall. * Most commercial office cleaners in Center City are union members and make at least $12 an hour. * MORE THAN 30 WORKERS FACE THE UNEMPLOYMENT LINE. Many of these workers put in 10 or 20 years on the job. PLEASE RSVP TO JEFF HORNSTEIN AT 215-226-3600. THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR SUPPORT. Jeff Hornstein August 29, 2006: PUdotcom Introduces Networking Events Schedule PhillyUnions.com is pleased to announce that we have added an important new page to our site, accessed by a new link in the left navigation column called "Networking Events." This new page features a calendar of upcoming PhillyUnions.com-run or sponsored business to business and business to union networking events. These events are an important part of the PhillyUnions.com Pro-Union Preferred Partners Program. Pro-Union Preferred Partners usually attend these events free or at a discount and have the opportunity to sponsor the events and/or be a featured business. Other pro-union businesses and professionals are invited and welcome to attend, network, and learn about the Program. Pro-Union or Union businesses and professionals, click here to learn more about the PhillyUnions.com Pro-Union Preferred Partners Program. Click here to check out the new Networking Events Schedule. August 29, 2006: Volunteers Needed to Help Rebuild Louisiana Clinic The United Way of Pennsylvania Hurricane Katrina Volunteer Project is in need of volunteers to go to Louisiana to help rebuild a clinic. Last year, we all watched in horror as people in three southern states lost their life's possessions during two major storms that hit North America. September will mark the one year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina but the memories have not faded. Many of the affected communities are still devastated and need our expertise and talents. Opelousas is the third oldest city in Louisiana and is the parish seat of St. Landry Parish. This community is home to hundreds of storm evacuees that will not be returning to the New Orleans area. The center provides medical visits, medication assistance and health education programs. Traffic at the clinic has more than doubled since the storm. According to published reports, families displaced by Hurricane Katrina are suffering from mental disorders and chronic conditions like asthma and from a lack of prescription medication and health insurance at rates that are much higher than average. We are seeking volunteers to go to Louisiana for a week. Volunteers will be flown to Lafayette, Louisiana with ground transportation waiting to transfer you to a hotel in the area. Delicious home cooked meals will be prepared by local residents. When: Saturday, September 16 - September 23, 2006. What skills are we seeking? 4 Roofers, 4 Framers, 1 Plumber, 2 Carpenters, 2 Painters. If you need more information, please call Janet Ryder at 215-760-9474 or the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO at 215-665-9800. To apply to volunteer, please use this application form (Word Document). (Use your RIGHT mouse button to RIGHT-click the link above and choose "Save target as..." to save the Word Document application form to your computer's hard drive. Then you can open it, fill it out and follow the included instructions. Or if you prefer you can simply click the link and print the form out right from your browser. If you do not have Microsoft Word installed on your computer, call one of the numbers above for information.) Since time is important, we would appreciate any and all attention you may give to this matter. Thank you. Updated August 29, 2006: Tri-State Labor Day Parade and Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Family Festival What: Philadelphia's 19th Annual Tri-State Labor Day Parade and Philadelphia AFL-CIO Family Festival Date: Monday, September 4, 2006 Starting point: Sheet Metal Hall Local 19, Columbus Boulevard & Washington Ave. Time: Parking: Parking is available at Penn's Landing Great Plaza for a fee of $10. There will be FREE trolleys that run all day between the start of the parade and the family festival. Main Stage Schedule: Ambient Entertainment: Activities: Details: The AFL-CIO, the federation of America's Unions includes 13 million of America's workers in 65 member unions in virtually every part of the economy. More Information: Call 215-665-9800 or 215-923-2893 or visit www.phillyunions.com August 29, 2006: Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Cope - Pac Fundraiser on 9/22 - Jazz, Rhythm & Blues Night When: Friday, September 22, 2006, 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM Where: Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Cost: $250 per person Featuring: Hors d'oeuvres, buffet dinner and drinks. Entertainment provided by the Urban Guerilla Orchestra (www.urbanguerillaorchestra.com). For more information contact Joni Bernard 215-665-9800 or visit PhillyUnions.com for updates. August 21, 2006: Career and Technical Education this Wed. 8/23 What: Career Fair and Orientation for the Philadelphia Building Trade Council in Partnership with the School District of Philadelphia Where: School District of Philadelphia When: Wednesday, August 23, 2006 For more information contact: Reginald Moton at 215-400-5912. August 15, 2006: Election Organizer Job Posting Working America's Philadelphia Office is currently hiring canvassers through the November election. If you or someone you know cares passionately about issues like healthcare, job security, and raising the minimum wage, give us a call. You don't need experience, just great communication skills and a passion for social justice work. Here is more information about the position... As an organizer you will:
Other Details:
CALL OR EMAIL JULIE@ Thank you, August 15, 2006: ACTION ALERT: TUGSA/AFT Local #6290 (Temple U.) Rally on Thurs. 9/14 On Monday, August 14, TUGSA resumed negotiations with the administration of Temple University after a long break. Negotiations had previously broken off when TUGSA made it clear to the administration that we would not settle a contract without negotiating a new workload grievance procedure that would allow Teaching and Research Assistants to have a formal avenue of complaint when they were consistently asked to work over the contractual 20 hour maximum per week. The administration had recently indicated its interest in resuming negotiations, but today, when the first meeting in over three months took place, TUGSA was abruptly informed that the administration's position had not changed on the workload issue, even though this is exactly why negotiations had stalled in the first place. Having a procedure for grieving workload is a basic union right; every union must have fair processes for enforcing the terms of the contracts they sign. Temple's administration's refusal to bargain on this issue can only be seen as an anti-union stance; moreover, after over seven months of negotiating, the Temple administration has still not made any written wage offer. TUGSA plans on sending a message to the administration that such treatment at the hands of management is unacceptable; there will be a rally on Temple's campus on Thursday, September 14 at 12:00 PM, beginning at the Bell Tower, to deliver this message to the administration. We welcome anyone and everyone in the labor movement to join us in making this statement before the administration. In Solidarity, TUGSA /AFT Local #6290 August 7, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Postal Workers Rally on 8/17 The American Postal Workers Union will be holding its 18th Biennial National Convention in Philadelphia from August 14 through August 18, 2006. The event is being tri-hosted by the Philadelphia Area Local, The Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center Local and The Pennsylvania Postal Workers Union. We are expecting over 3,000 delegates and their families to be attending the convention. On Thursday, August 17, beginning at 11:00 A.M. the convention will recess to a rally and informational picket at 30th and Market Sts. in front of the Philadelphia Mail Processing Plant. This rally will be HUGE! The United States Postal Service is moving all operations performed at this plant to its new facility on Lindbergh Boulevard. Management has relocated over 700 employees who used to work at the 30th Street plant to areas as far away as Ohio, Virginia and New York. Postal Service management told these employees they would not be needed at the new facility. However, only a short time after getting the new plant up and running, the USPS went out and hired temporary employees to do the work that the over 700 displaced employees used to perform. We are asking all of our Union Brothers and Sisters to stand side by side with us and help the APWU voice our displeasure and demand the wrongs be righted. What: Rally to support the APWU and their displaced workers' rights. When: Thursday, Aug. 17, 11:00 A.M. Where: 30th and Market Sts. in front of the Philadelphia Mail Processing Plant. Please come out and join our fight for workers' rights! We will continue to post reminders and any more information as it is made available leading up to the event. August 2, 2006: Union Brothers & Sisters Invite to 1199C Author Reading on Thurs. 9/7 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 22, 2006 JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT IT WAS SAFE Author reading: Thursday, September 7, 2006 -- 4:30 - 5:30 PM In the midst of a brutal heat wave, the tragic death of a poor young black woman following a botched abortion has workers and medical students at James Madison University Hospital up in arms. They say the cold-hearted Dr. Leslie Odom is guilty of murder for his brutal methods, and ask union shop steward Lenny Moss to investigate. But Lenny has his hands full dealing with the ungodly working conditions brought about by Philadelphia's raging heat wave and the hospital's antiquated air conditioning system. As employees in the laundry and kitchen pass out from the heat, the evidence piles up that Doctor Odom was indeed a monster with a sinister agenda. Lenny and his friends uncover even more disturbing facts about the women under Odom's care -- facts that the hospital administration need to bury forever. Just as Lenny and company are about to reveal the depths of Dr. Odom's depravity, another death throws them off track and forces them to cast a cold eye on the very people they thought to help. Will the dreaded chief of security Joe West finally eliminate Lenny Moss? Will the hospital cover up Odom's dirty deeds? Will the workers in the laundry and kitchen survive the heat wave that is sending them to the emergency room? Find out in the third Lenny Moss crime novel, A Race Against Death. Mr. Sheard will be kicking off a 13-state book tour in his 1969 Avanti. Come meet the author and get a copy of his exciting new crime novel. Full tour schedule at: http://www.timsheard.com Mr. Sheard is a UAW activist, local 1981, in NY, and the author of 3 crime novels set in Philadelphia. His hero is a union shop steward and custodian, Lenny Moss, who organizes his coworkers to fight against horrible working conditions and to bring a killer to justice. His hero is inspired by the work of a real life 1199C steward in Philly. Mr. Sheard is from Philadelphia; he worked at Temple Hospital and Germantown Hospital. August 1, 2006 (updated August 10): PhillyUnions.com Seeking Independent Promoters/Sales Persons Attn: Union Members, Retirees, Sick or Injured Members Part-time opportunity available (Must be recommended or referred by Union Leader) Position: Independent Promoter/Sales Person/Event Coordinator
Interested individuals contact PhillyUnions.com at: info@phillyunions.com or call (215) 333-7400. August 1, 2006: Stagehands Fundraiser to Support Terminally Ill Members Dear Friend, I am appealing to you to please support a fundraiser for two of our terminally ill members. These two individuals can no longer perform their work duties due to their illnesses so we are attempting to provide health coverage for these members and their families for the foreseeable future. We have a fundraiser scheduled for Thursday, August 3rd, 2006 at the Pilsudski Club located at Belgrade and Ontario Streets in the Port Richmond section of the city, 8PM until 12 midnight. The requested donation is $50.00 per ticket which includes open bar, buffet style food and music. If you are interested in attending this affair, please contact me for tickets and/or information at unionmatty@aol.com or (215) 870-5831. If you are unable to attend this affair but would still like to support this worthy cause, you can make checks payable to "IATSE, Local 8" and mail to my attention at 8130 Winthrop Street, Philadelphia, PA 19136. Thank you in advance for your support and participation. It is very much appreciated. Best regards. Respectfully, Matthew J. McIntyre August 1, 2006: Let's Hear from Working Women Worried about the rising cost of health care? Pay that doesn't keep up with growing prices? Are you concerned that life will be tougher for the next generation of working women than it has been for us? Make your voice heard today with the Ask a Working Woman survey. This Labor Day, the tens of thousands of survey responses will be delivered to every member of Congress and to state and local officials around the country. As candidates campaign before the November elections, they need to hear what you have to say. Click here to take the Ask a Working Woman survey. So far, more than 14,000 working women have taken the AFL-CIO's 2006 Ask a Working Woman survey. The survey concludes next Monday--and we'd like to have at least 20,000 responses by then to take to elected officials. This election year, the stakes are high, and this survey identifying the concerns and recommendations of working women is more important than ever. Please don't miss this chance to make a difference. Working women: Take the Ask a Working Woman survey. Working men: Please encourage the working women you care about to take the survey. It often seems like politicians aren't listening to working women. Well, the Ask a Working Woman survey gives us a louder voice when it's most likely to count--right before a major election. Please take the survey and encourage other working women to take part as well. Thanks for making your voice heard. In solidarity, Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO July 19, 2006: Local 686 Gas Workers Bash at the Beach Fundraiser Help raise money for our Scholarship Fund! WHEN: August 4, 2006 7PM to 10PM WHERE: Keenan's in North Wildwood, NJ COST: $25.00 per person includes beer, wine, food and soda. Contact Mike McDonough 267-249-7038 or Dave Burns at 267-249-6667 for tickets or further information. July 19, 2006: PhillyUnions.com Co-Sponsors B2B Networking Event on 8/16 PhillyUnions.com is co-sponsoring a Business to Business Networking event in cooperation with 5MinutePitch.com. This event will include up to 50 local businesses and professionals who will take part in 20 one-on-one conversations over two hours. Attendees will spend five minutes "pitching their business" with every person they meet, resulting in countless referrals. PhillyUnions.com President Joe Dougherty will be featured as the guest speaker. Joe will discuss doing better business with Philly area Unions and the upcoming Union to Business Networking Event series to be held at selected Philadelphia area union halls starting this Fall. WHEN: Wednesday, August 16, 2006, 6:00 PM WHERE: Manayunk Diner, 3740 Main Street in Manayunk (Phila., PA) COST: $35. (FREE for PhillyUnions.com Pro-Union Preferred Partners, who will attend this event at NO COST.) Seating is limited. You MUST RSVP if you wish to attend. For more information please visit http://www.5minutepitch.com/eventreg/view-event-details.php?event_id=11. July 19, 2006: Philadelphia DooWop Festival to Benefit Area Veterans Philadelphia DooWop Festival Music - Fun & Games for the Entire Family Ticket Price: $10.00 Donation Children 12 & under admitted Free Visit us on the Web at: www.phillydoowopfestival.org for a complete entertainment line-up, ticket information, directions and more. Or call: 215-923-2600 All Proceeds Benefit The Philadelphia Veterans Multi-Service & Education Center, Inc. to help provide valuable free services to area Veterans. PVMSEC is a Non-Profit 501 (c)(3) organization. June 29, 2006: FOP Union Liquor Officers Threaten to Strike Union has worked four years without pact. BY REGGIE SHEFFIELD After working four years without a contract, the 140 people who investigate violations of the state's liquor code are threatening to strike. Members of the state Liquor Enforcement Officers Association say they will consider all options -- including walking off the job -- to end what they say is a four-year stalemate on contract negotiations. The officers have worked under the terms of their old contract without any word on a new one from state negotiators, said Tom Weaver, the union's president. "It's either take it or leave it," Weaver said, describing the attitude of state negotiators toward his group. The officers want to re-establish a base-level enforcement officer's position and reimplement annual steps for longevity of service. "What teeth do we have? We have none. We can strike," Weaver said. Liquor enforcement officers start at a salary of about $34,900. Weaver wrote Mark Koch, president of the Pennsylvania Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police, and said he received a thumbs-up on his group's plans to step outside of negotiations and look at other options. "Only 140 liquor enforcement officers are charged with finding and busting thousands of illegal speakeasies in Pennsylvania," Koch said in a statement. "Their sole function is to work undercover with no backup -- often in some of the most dangerous places you can imagine. Their work has also gone a long way toward keeping drunk drivers that frequent these illegal places off our roads," Koch said. State negotiators have been meeting with the union, said Mia Devane, a spokeswoman for the state's Office of Administration. "The bottom line is we just haven't reached an agreement," Devane said. Devane would not disclose specifics of the talks but said labor negotiators talked with the union in May. A report by the state Legislative Budget and Finance Committee released this month called the turnover rate among liquor enforcement officers "problematic," with less than half staying on the job as long as five years. Because many of their investigations involve undercover work in smoky, dusty and dirty bars, health benefits are a key bargaining point, Weaver said. Dave La Torre, a spokesman for the state Fraternal Order of Police, said the stalemate is "ridiculous." "At some point you have to say, 'Enough is enough.' They deserve a contract and they deserve it now," he said. REGGIE SHEFFIELD: 255-8170 or rsheffield@patriot-news.com June 20, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Minimum Wage 'Showdown' This Week *** See important update below *** The Senate is expected to vote on a minimum wage increase this week, but opponents may try to block it with phony proposals that actually hurt workers. Meanwhile, the Republican House leadership has refused to schedule a vote even though an increase to $7.25 an hour won a solid majority vote in committee. We have fought long and hard to give America's low-wage workers a raise. What happens depends on your action now. Please click the following link to urge your U.S. senators and representative to vote to increase the minimum wage and reject any amendments to the legislation that would hurt workers. We expect a Senate vote on increasing the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour as soon as Wednesday. Opponents are likely to try to replace it with a much smaller increase loaded with amendments that would hurt workers--in the past, anti-worker senators have tossed in measures to eliminate overtime pay eligibility and take minimum wage protection from millions of workers. We have to demand that our senators vote to raise the wage to $7.25 an hour and reject any amendments that would hurt workers. In the House, in the same week members approved the ninth increase in their own pay since minimum wage workers last got a raise, Republican leaders said they will not allow a vote on the minimum wage increase. Democrats in the House are determined to move an increase. "We're going to have a showdown on the minimum wage," said Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.). Our job is to convince the House that America will not accept stonewalling on the minimum wage. Congress has not increased the minimum wage since 1997--it's still stuck at an intolerable $5.15 an hour. But meanwhile, members of Congress voted themselves nine raises--the most recent vote just last week--totaling $34,930 a year and boosting their salaries to $168,500 a year in 2007. Compare that with the $10,712 earnings of a full-time minimum wage worker. Now add in the billions in tax breaks Congress has handed over to the rich. It's time to raise the minimum wage. Tell your senators and representative to vote to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour and reject any amendments that would hurt workers. http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/minwagevote Thanks for all you do to give low-wage workers a raise. In solidarity, Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO P.S. Congress needs to hear the call for a minimum wage increase from thousands of constituents. Please forward this e-mail to others you know who care about a fair wage for all workers, and urge them to join you in taking action. *** IMPORTANT UPDATE from the AFL-CIO Working Families e-Activist Network *** Shame on the Republican leaders in Congress. They're trying outrageous stunts to block a minimum wage increase. It's going on right now, and you need to tell your members of Congress to stop this nonsense and give us a clean vote on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. Call toll free now: Monday, Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) added a wage increase proposal to defense authorization legislation--his latest attempt to force a real minimum wage debate in the Senate. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) responded by linking Kennedy's proposal to a controversial abortion-related amendment designed to drain support from the minimum wage increase. Last year, Republican leaders countered Kennedy's minimum wage increase proposal with a much smaller wage raise that came with unacceptable poison pills--doing away with the 40-hour workweek, eliminating wage and hour protections for more than 7 million workers and actually lowering wages for millions of workers who earn tips. Why are Republican leaders so afraid of a clean up or down vote on raising the minimum wage? In the House, leaders have blocked Rep. George Miller's (D-Calif.) bill to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. Some rank-and-file Republicans have jumped the fence to support the increase in committee but later retreated, indicating they're stuck between public pressure to increase the minimum wage this election year and the heavy hand of House leaders. Representatives need to hear us calling loud and clear for debate and a full House vote. Incredible maneuvering is going on right now. Please pick up the phone now and call your senators and representative. Demand a clean vote on raising the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour--no nonsense, no poison pills. Call toll free now: 1-888-355-3588 Congress has not passed a minimum wage increase in 10 years--it's still stuck at an intolerable $5.15 an hour. But meanwhile, members of Congress voted themselves nine raises totaling nearly $35,000 a year--more than three times the $10,712 entire yearly earnings of a full-time minimum wage worker. America's low-wage workers need a raise--now. Please call your members of Congress right away. Thank you for fighting for a minimum wage increase. In solidarity, Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO June 20, 2006: Tinius Olsen Update Special Report - Health Care Action Day 2006 Health Care Action Day was a big success! The support that the thirty workers at Tinius-Olsen Machine Testing Company received from the Jobs with Justice network was unprecedented. 229 activists sent faxes to US Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz and more than 100 people joined our online action network. The solidarity action in Horsham, PA was attended by more than 70 people despite being in the middle of a work day, in a remote location, on the Willow Grove Naval Air Base, and on a busy highway (Route 611). Unions like TWU Local 234, AFSCME Local 2187, UFCW Local 1776, PUP and Taxi Workers Alliance all had impressive turn-out, and more than a dozen unions and community groups sent supporters. Tinius-Olsen managers called the police on our delegation (John Cairns, Jim Moran, Cathy Scott and Constance Spinozzi) and made clear that they were not interested in what we came to talk about. Jeff Brooks, TWU Local 234, pledged financial support for the UE Local 155 strike fund from his union. It is important to note that US Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz went out of her way to NOT HELP these workers. Despite hundreds of faxes and several meetings, Schwartz's office broke its promise and did not show up to the action. Despite the support that Schwartz received from the labor movement to get elected, she and her office have done nothing for the last 19 weeks as these workers were forced out of work by their callous employer. Tinius Olsen workers still need your help! Click here to take action now by sending a fax to US Representative Allyson Schwartz. The fight is not over yet. UE Local 155 will be back in negotiations on June 20. We expect to get periodic reports on the progress from union representatives. For full details of this situation please download this pdf flyer or visit http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/schwartz/explanation. June 20, 2006: The Passing of Marty Berger The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO is sad to announce the passing of our dear friend and colleague Marty Berger of UNITE-HERE! Many of you have worked with Marty on several labor campaigns and also his diligent fight to protect the rights and welfare of Senior Citizens. A memorial service will be held 10:30 AM on Friday, June 23, 2006 at the Suburban Jewish Community Center/B'Nai Aron, 560 Mill Road, Havertown, PA. The family has requested in lieu of flowers donations be sent to: Expressions of sympathy may be sent to: June 14, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Justice For Janitors March & Rally on Thurs. 6/15 WHAT: Justice For Janitors March & Rally Janitors in the Philly suburbs are trying to organize with SEIU Local 32BJ. They make as little as $6.75 an hour with no benefits, while Center City janitors make $12-14/hr with full benefits. THIS IS A THREAT TO CENTER CITY STANDARDS! SEIU LOCAL 32BJ CALLS UPON ALL SUPPORTERS OF JUSTICE FOR WORKING PEOPLE to stand with commercial office cleaners in the Philadelphia suburbs in their struggle for living wages, benefits, and respect. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL JEFF HORNSTEIN AT 267-250-6480 June 13, 2006: Workship on Building Effective Safety Committees Protecting our Safety and Health: A four hour workshop on Building Effective Safety Committees Friday, June 23, 2006 3001 Walnut Street, 5th Floor (Room 1) Registration Fee: $40 per person To register, download and return the bottom portion of this leaflet along with your registration fee (made out to "Philaposh") to: Philaposh, 3001 Walnut Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19104 For More Information call Philaposh at (215) 386-7000. (This workshop made possible by a grant from Cheyney University Labor Education Program.) June 13, 2006: ACT NOW to End PA's Longest Worker Lock-Out! Demand that PA State Politicians Stand up for Health Care! Since February 16, Tinius Olsen workers have been locked-out of work. The loss of income from these workers in the communities of Willowgrove and Horsham, PA has hurt the local economy and these workers' families. Despite the efforts of United Electrical workers Local 155 to bring the company back to the negotiating table, Tinius Olsen workers now face the possibility of being permanently replaced by the company for standing up for their health care... For full details of this situation please download this pdf flyer or visit http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/schwartz/explanation. Click here to take action now by sending a letter to US Representative Allyson Schwartz. Also please join Jobs With Justice on Wednesday June 14 at 1 PM for a Solidarity Picket at the gates of Tinius Olsen, 1065 Easton Road (Rte 611), Horsham, PA 19090. Contact Fabricio at 215.732.8318 to join the caravan and picket. May 26, 2006: City of Hope Spirit of Life Award Reception Invitation The City of Hope National Medical Center and Beckman Research Institute hereby invite you to The Spirit of Life Award Reception on Thursday, June 8, 2006 at the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing, honoring Brian J. Preski, Esq., Chief of Staff, Speaker's Office, and Joseph Sellers, Jr., President & Business Manager, Sheet Metal Workers Local Union 19. Proceeds will establish an honorary research fellowship in pediatric oncology and other life-threatening illnesses at City of Hope. City of Hope would like to have as many unions as possible represented. Also, there is still time to place an ad if anyone wants to. If you have questions, the City of Hope's numbers are on the invitation. For full details and/or the sponsorship/ad form, please download or view the invitation here (pdf file). May 26, 2006: Life Knocks Offers Theater Camp Sponsorships for a Union Child Life Knocks is sponsoring three special needs children from union families to attend a summer theater camp. This is a great opportunity for union children ages 7 to 16 with special needs. For details please visit the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO News & Events page. May 19, 2006: UPDATED: Free Red Cross VOAD Volunteer Training on Saturday 5/20/06 Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Red Cross VOAD Volunteer Training Training on Helping our Communities when Disaster Strikes Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) One day Certification Saturday, May 20, 2006 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM Free! Bring your own lunch & please be on time. Training location: Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Call to sign up Ample metered parking in the area May 16, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Major Delaware Ave. Project Needs Your Support Attention Union members, families and friends living or working in the Northern Liberties/19123 section of Philadelphia This upcoming Thursday evening, May 18 at 7PM, a meeting of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association will be held specifically to determine whether or not to approve the construction of the newly proposed high rise building Bridgeman's View Tower. Bridgeman's View Tower will be an architecturally pioneering 66 story tower located at Delaware Avenue and Poplar Avenue and will be a vital part of the beautification plan to redevelop Delaware Ave. in Philadelphia. This project is very important to the City of Philadelphia and in particular our Philadelphia area union community because it is literally the cornerstone project that will set the tone for the redevelopment of Delaware Ave. It will not only employ scores of union workers during its construction and beyond, but it will also help influence future redevelopment on Delaware Ave. which will provide countless jobs and opportunities for our Philadelphia union community. HOW CAN YOU HELP? If you, your families, co-workers, friends or anyone you know lives or works in the Northern Liberties section of Philadelphia or in the 19123 area code, we encourage all to attend the meeting of the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association this Thursday night, May 18 at 7PM, at St. Michael's Church at 4th and Fairmount Avenue and voice your support and approval for the construction of the proposed Bridgeman's View Tower. Countless union jobs are on the line as is the redevelopment of Delaware Ave. We thank everyone for your support in advance. Together we can make a difference! In Solidarity, Joe Dougherty May 16, 2006: Sponsors Needed for Autism Awareness Campaign The following letter was sent to PhillyUnions.com by Dylan Isaacson, a local high school student. Please read it and do what you can to assist his efforts to raise awareness for Autism. Dear Unions of Philadelphia, My name is Dylan Isaacson. I'm a high school junior at the William Penn Charter School in East Falls, Pennsylvania. This summer, a group of friends and I are embarking on a bike ride from Maine to Chicago, a distance of over 1,200 miles, to raise money for Autism awareness. Such a trip isn't possible without the help of corporate and private sponsors. I was wondering if any Philadelphia area Union or Unions would be willing to sponsor our cause. Such help would be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, you can contact Cure Autism Now's Special Events Manager, Sam Levitt, whose contact information is listed below. Many thanks, Sam Levitt Phone: (323) 549-0500 ext. 747 You may also email questions or comments for Dylan to info@phillyunions.com and we will forward your message on to him. May 11, 2006: Navigating Medicare Part D The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO recently co-hosted a forum on Medicare Part D. All members who are currently Medicare eligible have until Monday May 15, 2006 to make a Prescription Plan selection under Medicare Part D. By now, all eligible members and retirees should have received information from their employer or union about how their current prescription plan compares to the Medicare standard drug coverage plans. This is important because if a person is Medicare eligible, and is NOT covered by a prescription plan at least as good as the standard Medicare plan, there will be penalties for enrolling after May 15, 2006. Medicare eligible members and retirees who have questions should contact their employer or union benefits administrator and ask about current prescription coverage. For answers to other questions, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE. May 9, 2006: Rally on 5/17 for the Rights of NJ's Special Education Children Statewide Mobilization for the Rights of Our Children Outside May 17 State Hearings on Removing Our Children's Rights! There will be a demonstration outside the Department of Education before the hearings. Where: 100 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ Thousands of NJ parents and other supporters have signed petitions, written letters, testified, answered surveys and otherwise spoken out to maintain the rights, protections and important processes for NJ's special education students. The Department of Education and the Board of Education have improved some things in response including restoration of short term objectives. While that is a tremendous victory for our children, there are still many other protections that we stand to lose. We need to mobilize for a massive presence for the outside rally and to testify inside to send a clear message that the top administrators of the Department of Education and the members of the Board of Education are on notice and will be held accountable by an increasingly organized and engaged parent body. For more details about the cause, the rally, and what you can do to help, please visit the NJ Student Advocacy Union website now. May 9, 2006: Picket Line Alert For TODAY 5/9 - TUGSA/AFT #6290 Please take note of and honor the following picket line: April C. Logan of the Philadelphia Central Labor Council Targeting Subcommittee and the Temple University Graduate Students' Association/AFT #6290 (TUGSA) will conduct a picket line TODAY, TUESDAY, MAY 9 from 2:15 - 3:15 PM on Temple University's Main Campus at Sullivan Hall, at the corner of Broad and Berks streets, about TUGSA's expired contract and the administration's workload violations. TUGSA represents teaching and research assistants at Temple University. May 5, 2006: United Way of SE PA Champions for Impact Award Ceremony On Wednesday, May 10, UWSEPA will salute top campaigns and outstanding volunteers at our annual awards event entitled Champions for Impact. The celebration, complete with Latin Jazz Band, will take place at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The event will begin at 5:30 PM with a cocktail reception, followed by the awards ceremony beginning at 6:30 PM. We expect the ceremony to end by 7:30 PM. Our guest emcee will be CBS 3 Anchor Larry Mendte. Irv Sannit Labor Volunteer: Charles Gaskins, AFSCME Dist. Council 33, Local 403 Congratulations to all of our winners. If you are interested in attending, please email maryann@uwsepa.org to register. We're also in need of a couple of volunteers to help on-site. If you can spend a couple hours and are willing to help, please email maryann@uwsepa.org. Thank you. April 27, 2006: Two-Paper-Town Media Campaign Launches in Philadelphia The Newspaper Guild-Communications Workers of America For Release April 25, 2006 Two-Paper-Town Media Campaign Launches in Philadelphia On Wednesday, April 26, 2006, The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, Local 10, is launching a media campaign starting with a full-page ad in the Philadelphia Daily News and a website (www.2papertown.com) as part of widening efforts to ensure continued publication of both the Philadelphia Daily News and Philadelphia Inquirer. The papers are for sale and the Guild wants a buyer who will invest long term in enhancing the important services the papers provide the Philadelphia region, America's fourth largest media market. The international Newspaper Guild of the Communications Workers of America hired investment bankers to seek worker-friendly, community-minded investors to form a privately-held media company. With the investment advisors' assistance, the Guild recruited the Yucaipa Companies of Los Angeles, a 20-year-old investment fund, to bid for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News and 10 other Knight Ridder newspapers now on the market. "We believe the Yucaipa-backed bid is best for Philadelphia, its readers and advertisers," the ad says. "Yucaipa impresses us as the best opportunity for ensuring the kind of comprehensive coverage of your communities that you deserve from major metropolitan dailies with no local agenda that would threaten the objective, balanced coverage that has been the hallmark of our newspapers. An owner who would not keep Philadelphia a two-paper town would deprive readers and the advertisers of competition and choice, so treasured in a free market." For an electronic copy of the ad or further information, call Henry J. Holcomb, president of The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia, at (215) 928-0118. April 19, 2006: Building a Rapid Response Community The PhillyUnions.com e-newsletter keeps our Philadelphia area union community in touch with important issues and situations that affect union workers, families and supporters. It helps to create a powerful network within our union community that allows us to instantaneously react to important and time sensitive situations like never before. Sign up: In order to continue building our online network into the most powerful "Rapid Response" tool in America, if you don't already receive the PhillyUnions.com e-newsletter directly from PhillyUnions.com... Spread the word: If you already receive the PhillyUnions.com e-newsletter or if you have just signed up, please take a moment to pass on this message to interested friends, family and supporters. Help us build the most powerful Rapid Response team possible and keep Philadelphia and vicinity the strongest and most informed union region in America. April 19, 2006: Careers in Construction through WDEP If anyone you know is interested in applying for a career in the construction business, The Philadelphia Revitalization & Education Program is offering a Diversity Apprenticeship Program through Temple University. Temple University is looking for area residents who want construction careers. Several construction projects are being planned. Temple will pay the cost for a limited number of residents from the following zip codes: 19121, 19122, 19125, 19130, 19132, 19133 and 19140 to be a part of a Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program offered by the Diversity Apprenticeship Program to learn some of the skills and information needed to enter the building trades. You must: 1) have a high school diploma or GED Only serious applicants need apply! For a copy of the application, which must be completed ASAP - please contact: Sharon Myrick at 215-516-7113 April 19, 2006: Carpenters Union Accepting Apprenticeship Applications The Carpenters Joint Apprenticeship Committee will be accepting applications for Carpenter, Floor Layer, Mill/Cabinetmaker, Millwright, Wharf and Dock Builder, Lather and Drapery Worker Apprenticeships. Call 215-824-2303 for the most up-to-date application and test information, or access the web site at http://www.carpentersofphila.com. The Carpenters will also host their 10th Annual Open House & Skills Contest on Friday, May 12 from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Carpenters Apprentice School, 10401 Decatur Rd., Phila. PA 19154. April 12, 2006: Waterless Urinals: Plumbers 690 Responds The following letter was written by Ed Keenan, Business Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of Plumbers Union Local 690. The fight over non-flush urinals has become an illustration of how unions can be made scapegoats for all types of things the public doesn't understand. This letter does an excellent job of explaining why this is a public health issue, not a union issue. It's a great illustration of how a little education can go a long way. Philadelphia Inquirer Taking Exception Non-flush urinals pose a health risk to the nation In reference to the March 28 editorial, "Comcast Center Tower: Stand up to plumbers," the use of waterless urinals is not a union issue. This is a health and plumbing-code issue. We support water conservation and green buildings. We have received many calls from organizations and master plumbers united in one cause: "Protecting the health of the nation." Waterless urinals are a threat to the health of the nation. All major plumbing codes require urinals to have a water flush and a trap. Non-flush urinals lack wall washing and have no flush. Thus, bacteria and viruses will be deposited on urinal walls by sick people. These remain on the walls until the fixtures are manually cleaned. For this reason, health organizations recommend that all such surfaces be thoroughly washed with water between each use to protect public health. Non-flush urinals fail this standard. Non-flush urinals use a removable bell trap that is not self-cleaning. Bell traps are prohibited in all major plumbing codes in the United States. These cartridges must be manually removed and replaced in the urinal drain. Used cartridges are disposed of in the nearest trash. There is also an occupational health risk to maintenance personnel because there is an open passage that allows sewer gases into the living areas. Sewer gas can carry water-borne diseases. Modern plumbing codes have effectively prevented such diseases. Non-flush urinals threaten to disregard hard-learned sanitation lessons. A safe alternative would be ultra-low flush urinals, which meet plumbing codes and use only 0.5 gallons per flush. We as plumbers, contractors, code enforcers and engineers are well-aware of green building standards. We were at the forefront of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Why not go for a "platinum" rating, which is the highest energy-efficient rating? How? By using a "gray water" system to flush water closets, urinals and irrigation. This type of system is being installed at the Microsoft School of the Future at 42d and Girard. In these systems, wastewater from lavatories, showers, drinking fountains, etc., is stored in a tank, filtered and reused to prime floor drain traps, toilets and urinals. Rainwater can also be recaptured. This type of system would truly save water. Edward Keenan April 6, 2006: Community Impact Training Institute - Register now for April workshops! The Community Impact Training Institute Spring 2006 semester is well underway! Check out this month's featured workshops: Microsoft Publisher Supervisory Skills 101: The New Supervisor Getting Off to a Good Start: Introduction to Volunteer Management Excel One: Controlling and Formatting the Worksheet Word Two: Advanced Excel Two: Formula Writing Upcoming FREE workshops: ABCs of Mentoring: Basic Mentor Training Laying the Foundation: Developing a Quality Mentoring Program Train-the-Trainer for Basic Mentor Training For free workshops or to pay by credit card, register online at www.uwsepa.org/training. To pay by check, print this registration form and mail or fax "attention Sabra Williams." Checks should be made payable to United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Please note that all registrations must include both your phone number and email address. This information is required to confirm your registration and notify you in the event a workshop is cancelled. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about workshops or registration. I may be reached by email at citi@uwsepa.org or phone at 215-665-2660. I look forward to seeing you in a workshop soon! Thank you, Sabra Williams March 17, 2006: Workers' Memorial Day Breakfast Program and Memorial Service on Fri. 4/28 This year, on Friday April 28th, we will once again honor those men and women who were killed or injured at work at our Workers' Memorial Day breakfast program and memorial service, co-sponsored by Philaposh and the Philadelphia Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Tragically, several of the victims in 2005 were teenagers. This year Philaposh has begun going into area high schools to present information about work place safety to students, many of whom are already working. We are hoping to be able to invite some of these teen workers to our breakfast program. If you would like to be a sponsor for these students, please call us or indicate this on the below reservation and gift form. On Workers Memorial Day last year, we focused on the explosion at the BP Refinery in Texas City, Texas where 15 workers lost their lives and 170 were injured. This year, we have already seen another national tragedy at the Sago Mine in West Virginia. In spite of these incidents and the evidence that willful neglect of safety procedures was involved, there have been further cuts to the OSHA budget in Washington, and to safety programs in general. We hope you will join us this year. If you or members of your organization have never been to this event (now in its 18th year), we know you will be touched by the courage of victims' family members, and inspired to help in the fight to protect workers' health and safety. Below is information that you should return by April 19th. Please note that the breakfast will be at a new location this year: the Hyatt Regency at Penn's Landing. Information about speakers will be sent to you as the program is finalized. Flyer (Word Document) In Solidarity, Barbara Rahke, Director, Philaposh April 12, 2006: UNITE HERE Presents Two Day Organizer Training WANTED: People Passionate about Economic Justice
UNITE HERE is a progressive labor union, representing approximately 440,000 workers in the hotel, restaurant, textile, laundry, gaming and food service industries in North America. These industries employ large numbers of women, recent immigrants and people of color. UNITE HERE is committed to raising the living standards of these workers who do some of the most "invisible" work in North America. Innovative organizing campaigns and a strong training program make UNITE HERE an exciting place to create change and empower disenfranchised workers in the service industries. UNITE HERE's goal is not only to organize non-union workers and win campaigns but also to train effective new leaders and organizers who can develop creative and strategic campaigns and change the economic balance of power in North America. If you are committed to social and economic justice and want to help workers gain power, apply today for our training program. UNITE HERE will host a specialized 2 Day Organizer Training April 21-22 in Philadelphia to teach and evaluate basic organizing skills. Participants will learn and be evaluated on identifying and recruiting workplace leaders. Recommended participants will be placed on live campaigns in a 6 to 12 week apprenticeship for potential hire. Spanish speakers and people of color are highly encouraged to apply. UNITE HERE Two Day Organizer Training Please specify "Philadelphia 2 Day" on the online application. For More Information: Ethomson@unitehere.org April 7, 2006: H. R. 3509 will slam the courthouse door on injured workers! Legislation before congress will harshly affect workers. H. R. 3509 will slam the courthouse door on injured workers! H. R. 3509 eliminates workers' rights to hold manufacturers and sellers responsible when workers are severely injured by a defective product under these circumstances: All claims for personal injury and death are barred when the product is more than 12 years old -- even though the product was designed to last much longer than 12 years. Many items today -- industrial machinery, tractors, construction equipment -- are made to last longer than 12 years. H. R. 3509 will leave innocently injured workers and their families without a remedy when they are injured or killed by such a defective product. Examples of injuries that would have no remedies under this proposed law: Printing pressman's arm caught in a printing press. The printing press was manufactured in 1970s. In later years the manufacturer adds safeguards to the same model printing press, but doesn't notify prior owners of the machine's dangerous defect. By 1995, at least eight pressmen had their arms crushed or severed while operating the 1970s presses. Hydraulic molding machine was manufactured more than 20 years earlier. Evidence revealed the machine was constructed without proper guarding devices which could have prevented worker's hand from being caught, crushed and burned. Crane made in 1953 collapsed on top of worker. At trial evidence showed the crane was negligently designed and manufactured. You can easily email your U.S. Representative now at www.house.gov/writerep/ and tell them you're opposed to H R. 3509. March 17, 2006: April 10 Community Roundtable in Philadelphia Be a part of HISTORY! Tell Congress and the President what you think about Health Care You are invited to tell the President and Congress how they can fix our health care system. The Citizens' Health Care Working Group is coming to Philadelphia to hear from you! Community Roundtable Monday, April 10, 2006 Sign-in: 3:30 PM - 4 PM The College of Physicians of Philadelphia This is your chance to let Washington know what you think -- and what you, your family and loved ones need to stay healthy. And your voice does matter. Your ideas will help form an action plan that the President and Congress are required by law to consider as they work to improve health care. Don't miss this chance to make your voice heard! You must pre-register! Space is limited! To register, call (215) 685-5698 or go to: Refreshments will be served. If you need child care or a language interpreter, call (215) 685-5698 by April 3. If you would like to be a community partner, and would like flyers to pass out, or a speaker for your group, please call (215) 685-5697. ROUNDTABLE HOSTED BY the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, with these co-sponsors: the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, and the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776. Can't attend the community roundtable? You can still have a say. Go on line: http://www.citizenshealthcare.gov/speak_out/experiences.php. Answer these sections: What's Important to You, Share Your Experience, and Health Care Poll. Tell your story and take the on-line poll. You can make a difference! View PDF Flyer in English Please help us to spread the word:
March 14, 2006: United Steelworkers to Demonstrate this Friday 3/17 in Support of Mexican Mineworker Union Leader Media Advisory Immediate Release: March 16, 2006 United Steelworkers to Demonstrate at Mexican Consulate in Support of Mexican Mineworker Union Leader Following the Deaths of 65 Miners Who: The United Steelworkers (USW), the AFL-CIO, Jobs with Justice, United Students Against Sweatshops and various Philadelphia community organizations What: Union members and friends from the greater Philadelphia area will march from the Liberty Bell to the Mexican Consulate where a demonstration will be held in support of Napoleon Gomez, the democratically elected leader of the National Union of Mine and Metal Workers of Mexico who was illegally removed as leader of the union by the Mexican government following the tragic mine disaster in which he demanded an investigation into the deaths of 65 miners in an accident on Feb. 19, 2006. The USW is demanding that Napoleon Gomez be restored to his leadership position with the Mexican Mineworkers Union and that the Mexican government end its shameful, naked aggression against the workers of our NAFTA trading partner who are entitled to the inalienable right of association and representation by union leaders of their own choosing. When: Meet at 11:30, March at 12 Noon, Friday, March 17, 2006 Where: Philadelphia: The Liberty Bell, Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets to the Mexican Consulate, at the Bourse Building, 111 South Independence Mall East, Philadelphia, PA Why: The USW is a partner in a strategic alliance with The National Union of Mining, Steel and Allied Workers of the Republic of Mexico with the commitment to increase communication, collaboration and coordination across our national border in order to retain and build strength that provides both unions with effective countervailing force to the power of global capital and multinational corporations. March 14, 2006: 6th Annual International Maritime Food Festival "Happenings" TV Network Presents: 6th Annual International Maritime Food Festival A Tribute to the Maritime Community, Labor Unions of PA - NJ - DE Special Scholarship Program Hosted By Bob Pantano WOGL, & Russell Cerminara "Happenings" TV Entertainment & Awards Presentation Monday, March 27, 2006 Featuring the finest Restaurants from the Delaware Valley Tickets $50.00 each -- Group Discounts 866-841-3123 March 6, 2006: REMINDER -- 8th Annual Peggy Browning Fund Awards Dinner on 3/9/06 This is our final effort to urge your local union's support of the Annual Peggy Browning Fundraiser which will be held this Thursday, March 9 at Penn's Landing Caterers, 1301 S. Columbus Blvd. Cocktails and Dinner buffet will be served at 6:00 PM and the Awards Ceremony will begin at 7:00 PM. If your schedule does not allow you to attend, an ad or donation would be greatly appreciated. This fund recruits aspiring attorneys by supporting them in summer internships with labor friendly advocacy groups and law firms. As leaders we understand how crucial this is in our constant quest for both qualified and sensitive legal counsel. The prices for purchasing an ad or tickets are as follows:
Levels of Contributions: Friend - $500.00, Supporter - $100.00 Please do not mail your ads. Instead ads can be sent electronically to Maryann Moffa at mmoffa@peggybrowningfund.org or contact her by phone at 215-665-6815 for more information. More info: Please join the Peggy Browning Fund on March 9, 2006 in celebrating Peggy's legacy while honoring one of Philadelphia's renowned labor leaders Ted Kirsch, President of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers and also the Pennsylvania Federation of Teachers. Click here for:
All the above images will load in a new browser window. RIGHT-click (using your right mouse button) and choose "Save Target As..." if you wish to save an image to your hard drive for printing. For more information please contact Joe Lurie at 215-665-6824 or email jlurie@galfanderberger.com or Mary Anne Moffa at 215-665-6815 or mmoffa@peggybrowningfund.org. You can also log onto their web site www.peggybrowningfund.org for further details. Thank you for your support. February 18, 2006: PHA Home Ownership Opportunity for Union Members The Philadelphia Housing Authority is selling homes to the general public at its Martin Luther King development in South Philadelphia. PHA is looking for middle class buyers, people that are union members such as teachers, police, firefighters, building trades people, just to name a few, who are looking for a home ownership opportunity. Please see our flyer/brochure for more information, or call 216-684-3260. February 16, 2006: Picket Line Alert for Fri. 2/17 Please take note of and honor the following picket line: Bricklayers & Allied Craft #1 picket line (George Posner) on Friday, 2/17/06, 6:30 AM at 23rd & Westmoreland, Phila. against Martin Salaj Masonry for wages and standards. February 8, 2006: Important: Focus 5000 and Committeeperson Positions Dear Brothers and Sisters: The AFL-CIO is asking you to take our Union principles to your own neighborhood and use the political process as a tool to ensure that the elected officials we elect have "Working Family" values and issues in mind as they set policy for the District they represent. We are the constituents and the fabric of the working class of Philadelphia. Every four years the elected committeeperson races come about, and the structure of electing people from our communities is here and now. Fortunately, the AFL-CIO is sponsoring a program called "Focus 5000." This is a program where each Union recruits candidates for elected office. You or a member from your household now has the opportunity to run for that committee position you always wanted. Now is also the time to take our voice to another level; a level which is much more respected. Why? The Labor movement has always engaged in political activity, second to none. Once elected to those available positions, you will have the accommodation of working where you live, and can affectively talk the talk with your own neighbors. Committee people only run every 4 years. Time is of the essence. First, members that are interested must contact Bob Henon 215-563-5592 or Janet Ryder at the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO for available vacancies. Second, we must gather quickly and discuss what is expected from a committeeperson and how it works. The urgency is nominating petitions; one must get 10 signatures, though 20 is preferred, to be on the May 16th ballot. The first day to circulate those petitions is Feb 14th (next week). Two meetings are being held to go over this plan, and to distribute the petitions and the instructions for getting them filled out properly. Spouses and relatives are welcome to participate. All politics are local and many voters in the Philadelphia area are either union members, or family of union members. As the President of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO, I encourage you to participate in this program. Listed above are the meeting dates and times. I look forward in seeing you, your spouses and family. In Solidarity, Patrick Eiding February 8, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Important meeting tomorrow (Thurs. 2/9) @ 2 PM Re: Proposed LNG Terminal in Phila. To our Brothers and Sisters: This is a very important issue and we need everyone's support. Please make every effort to have a representative attend. Please wear your union colors and show your union pride. Thank you for your continued support. On behalf of the Maritime Port Council of the Delaware Valley and Vicinity For the full operation of a Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) terminal to take place, Philadelphia City Council must give approval. City Council has made known its objection to such a terminal for a variety of reasons. A number of these reasons point directly to the maritime industry. The Seafarers Internationsl Union (SIU) and its apprenticeship school, Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship (SHLSS) asks that you join them at City Council on 2/9/06 at 2 PM as the SIU and SHLSS are scheduled to educate City Council as to how LNG can be transported safely via ship on the Delaware River to a LNG terminal in the city. A LNG terminal in Philadelphia will create jobs for many Unions in this Council. Please show your support by having your members at City Council in their Union colors on 2/9/06 at 2 PM. The theme directed at Council must be SAFETY. February 8, 2006: Picket Line Alert for Thurs. 2/9 Mike Angellilli, Cement Masons #592, will be putting up a picket line on Thursday, February 9 at 7 AM at Belgrade & Buckius St., Phila. against Pleasant Construction for wages and standards. February 2, 2006: 31st Annual Union Women's Summer School "UNION WOMEN: CHANGE STARTS HERE" 31ST Annual Northeast Regional Summer Institute for Union Women July 30 - August 4 Who Should Come? The Summer Institute is a residential school that brings union women together -- rank and file members, staff and officers -- to understand the current challenges and issues of the American labor movement, share experiences, and develop skills that will motivate them to be more active union members. For a brochure and more information, contact one of our co-coordinators: Kristina Bas Debra Lancaster Tuition to be announced shortly. Attendance at the Union Summer School for Women can only make your Union stronger. Eastern Pennsylvania contacts: Judy Hoover, AFSCME Local 2187, 215-893-3725 Cathy Scott, AFSCME Local 2187, 215-893-3763 February 2, 2006: Upcoming Event: All Star Labor Classic Tournament on Sun. 4/2/2006 Sunday, April 2, 2006 This year, the best of the best senior high school basketball players (boys and girls) will hit the courts in two "city vs. suburbs" basketball games. Share in the fun and excitement at the All Star Labor Classic tournament to be held at Saint Joseph's University, 54th and City Avenue. It will be a wonderful family day complete with an exhibition game, area cheerleaders and dance teams, prize give-aways and more! In addition to benefiting children and adults with disabilities in the Greater Philadelphia area, the Labor Classic awards our student athletes scholarships to put toward their continuing education. Tickets are free for students, $5 for adults. For more information on the Labor Classic contact United Cerebral Palsy's Development Department at 215-242-4200, ext. 289 or email seucp@aol.com. Visit www.ucpphila.org to learn more about the organization. *** PhillyUnions.com Pro-Union Preferred Partners please note you will be receiving information about sponsorship opportunities for this event by the end of this week. Rachel I. Crossot February 2, 2006: Press Release: New Online Shopping Site DealMine.com Announces Partnership with PhillyUnions.com DealMine.com and PhillyUnions.com have announced a partnership designed to promote our screened and certified Pro-Union Preferred Partners to a wider audience while helping to introduce DealMine.com, a next generation comparison shopping site that combines member benefits from a wide range of qualified programs, to the Philadelphia area union community. On the DealMine.com web site, all PhillyUnions.com Preferred Partners are listed under PhillyUnions.com within the union programs section, and are also displayed in their appropriate categories in the categorized Deal Directory. Read the press release here: See the PhillyUnions.com Partner listings here: February 2, 2006: TUGSA/AFT #6290 & SLAP Baby Day Rally for Health Care on 2/14/2006 When: Tuesday, February 14, noon to 1:00 PM Where: Temple University, Student Activities Center (13th & Montgomery) The Temple University Graduate Students' Association/AFT #6290, which represents teaching assistants and research assistants, has been in negotiations with the Temple administration since September. TUGSA's contract will expire on February 15, 2006. This Valentine's Day, please join the Student Labor Action Project, Teachers Assistants (TAs), Research Assistants (RAs) and their spouses, partners, and babies and other members of the Philadelphia community at a march and rally to call on the Temple administration to show its love for working families by providing quality health care coverage and services. Instead of roses and chocolate, TUGSA asks that the administration give TAs and RAs this Valentine's Day: A subsidy to provide health coverage for dependents, domestic partners, and spouses. A subsidy for child care. Year-round health coverage. Dialogue about reopening the campus day care center that was closed in 1995. February 2, 2006: Health Care For All: Meeting on 2/8/06 @ 10:30 AM -- Please RSVP Please come to a meeting to plan for the Citizens Health Care Working Group hearing that will be held in Philadelphia at the end of March. The planning meeting will be held on: Wednesday, February 8, 2006 10:30 AM As many of you know, the Citizens Health Care Working Group is a national panel created by the U.S. Congress as part of the 2003 Medicare law. The panel is organizing a two-year series of public hearings to find out how to get "health care that works for all Americans." The Philadelphia Department of Public Health has been successful in getting the Working Group to hold one of its hearings in Philadelphia in late March -- we know that many Philadelphians have a lot to say about the kind of health care we need. We want to work to make sure that Philadelphians' ideas about health care are heard loud and clear! We are currently looking for community partners to build momentum for the hearing. The role of community partners is to do outreach to your members, friends, and communities about the hearing and the other opportunities to make sure Congress hears what we have to say. We know that all Philadelphians need access to high quality health care, not just legal citizens. We encourage those of you who represent those who are not legal citizens to participate as well. If you'd like to learn more about the Citizens Health Care Working Group, you can go online at www.citizenshealthcare.gov. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you'd like to discuss! And please let me know if you'll be at the planning meeting, so we can make sure to order refreshments for you. So, just email me and let me know if you'll be attending! Thanks so much... Carol Rogers Philadelphia Department of Public Health Tel: 215.685.5697 January 31, 2006: Picket Line Alerts for Wed. 2/1 The Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council asks you to please be aware of and honor the following picket lines on Wednesday, February 1, and show your support if possible: Carpenters Regional Council Picket Line (Mark Durkalec) on Wednesday, 2/1/06, 6:30 AM at 4235 Ridge Ave., Phila. against DSC for wages and standards. Laborers #135 Picket Line (Dan Woodall) on Wednesday, 2/1/06, 6:00 AM at 420 Delaware Dr., Fort Washington, PA against Shields for wages and standards. January 24, 2006: Free Red Cross VOAD Volunteer Training on March 11, 2006 Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Red Cross VOAD Volunteer Training Training to learn how to help in our Communities when disaster strikes Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) One day Certification Free! Bring your own lunch. Training location: Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Call to sign up Ample metered parking in the area January 18, 2006: ACTION ALERT: Rally for a $7.15 Minimum Wage on Tues. 1/24/06 Rally for a $7.15 Minimum Wage by 2007 with Future Annual Adjustments for Inflation (COLA) When: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 Where: At the State Capitol Rotunda The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO will have a bus leaving 16th & JFK (Love Park) at 7:30 AM. All members wear your Union colors and show your Union Pride! Everyone's support is needed to make this rally a success! To reserve seating please call the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO at 215-665-9800 OR John Dodds, Director of Philadelphia Unemployment Project at 215-557-0822. January 12, 2006: Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO hosts successful Leadership Conference This past weekend from January 8-10 in Atlantic City, NJ, the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO Planning Leadership Seminar and Conference took place with over 150 union leaders and labor activist representatives in attendance. The conference itinerary covered a wide variety of important labor-related topics including Organizing, Arts, Sciences and Entertainment, Education and Training, Public Sector, the Young Leaders Forum, Health Care, Media Perspectives on Labor, Economics, Politics and the Working Family Agenda, Safety and Health in the Workplace, and PhillyUnions.com and the Pro-Union Preferred Partners Program. Guest speakers included many of our area's top industry experts, union leaders and professionals as well as media members Jane M. Von Bergen (Reporter, Philadelphia Inquirer), Michael Days (Editor, Philadelphia Daily News), Dick Sheeran (Professor, Temple School of Journalism/Anchor Person, KYW-TV), and many more. The success of the conference is a tribute to the leadership of its host, Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO President Patrick Eiding, whose hard work, attention to detail and relentless commitment to keeping the labor movement throughout Philadelphia and vicinity strong and progressing into the future was clearly evident as all forums were well attended and enthusiastically received. Please look for more events like this one as they are posted at PhillyUnions.com and stay in tune with our Philadelphia area union community as we move into a new era of union communications and progress. |
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