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Daily NewswireDemocratic National Convention – Thursday schedule National/PoliticalDems choose Obama in historic acclamationBy DAVID ESPO Associated Press August 28, 2008 Barack Obama stepped triumphantly into history Wednesday night, the first black American to win a major party presidential nomination, as thousands of Democrats transformed their convention hall into a joyful, shouting celebration. .... But even as he won the nomination, there was open talk in the convention city that Obama's race remained a stumbling block to winning the White House. "A lot of white workers ... and quite frankly a lot of union members believe he's the wrong race," AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka told a breakfast meeting of Michigan delegates. Convention Notebook .... Jerry McEntee eventually found a way to wind up the New Jersey Democratic delegation. Speaking before 9 a.m. to a mostly somnolent breakfast crowd, McEntee, international president of the 1.4 million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, first tried telling folks that the Phillies were in first place. They he tried getting them to boo Bush and the Republicans while cheering Democrats. And then he told delegates they may run into people who tell them they won't vote for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama because he's black or mistakenly think he's a Muslim. "And what do you say to those people?" he said. "You say: 'That's bull----! That's bull----!'" The audience stood and roared. Related article Dayton Daily News: AFSCME leader: Racism a problem for Obama (scroll down) Union leader's concern: Vote won't be colorblind ... Gerald McEntee, national president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, predicted that support for Obama's bid to become the nation's first African-American president could be tough among the very union members he represents. ... He also said union workers might not vote for Obama because they erroneously believe he is Muslim, or because he is black. "You ask them: 'Are you going to give up your house and your job and your children's futures because he's black?' You have to tell those people to get their heads screwed on right," he told the crowd, bringing many to their feet. Race issue looms large for unions ... Gerald W. McEntee of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees told delegates at yesterday's daily breakfast that even though Democrat Barack Obama has a far better labor record than Republican John McCain, he knows rank-in-file members who like McCain and won't vote for Obama because he is black or they falsely think he is a Muslim. "And you're not going to vote for him because he's black?" McEntee asked. "After George Bush has tattooed and beaten and battered you all over this country for eight years? Let me tell you, sister and brother, we've got to tell them straight up and to their face, 'That is bull---- that you can't vote for him because he's black. That is bull----.' " At the convention with Joan Quigley: It's official: Jersey's with Obama ... The national president of AFSCME said he was worried that union workers who have so much at stake in the upcoming election were blinded by Sen. john McCain's hero status and needed to be constantly reminded of the Republican candidate's anti-labor voting record. Wisconsin allegiance to Obama is clear at Dem convention .. Lawton was wearing a big "Obama" pin as she spoke. So, too, did Tim Sullivan, a veteran party leader and AFSCME union activist who was a passionate Clinton backer. Sullivan, who said he cried when Clinton released her delegates, may have put it best when he said, "I was for Hillary. Oh, I was for Hillary. But Barack Obama beat her. And when he won, when he beat the woman I backed with all my heart and soul, he proved to me that he was ready to be president." 80,000 expected to witness historic moment .... "This is not just a speech. It is a profound statement of how far we have come in America," said delegate Henry Nicholas, 71, of Philadelphia, a black man who was part of King's famous "March on Washington" and heard him deliver his "I Have a Dream" speech. "It was his vision that he saw for the America he loved," Nicholas said. .... Delegate Ruth Davis, 60, of Memphis vividly remembers April 6, 1968, when King was assassinated in her hometown. "It was a frightful day. It seemed as if everything he was fighting for was just going to go down the drain," said Davis, an AFSCME union worker. "I believe Barack Obama has given people hope again," she said. Labor delegate from Wisconsin fears race an issue for Obama Wisconsin union activist Paula Dorsey had been a Hillary Clinton delegate, but she has thrown her support to Barack Obama now that he is expected to be nominated as the Democratic candidate. The Milwaukee-based president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 48 predicts it won’t be easy to get some long-time union members to switch. ... She will be campaigning for him but worries that “white male” voters will have difficulty with the choice. “Are they looking past color?” she asked. “Hell no! Our membership is going to be tough. The younger generation has no problem with it because they don’t see the color.” Hoosiers reflect on Obama's racial breakthrough ... Lewis Burks, 71, has been a labor union member and activist in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees through her adult life. "It's like a dagger in the heart," she said. "These (union members) are people I have worked for and worked with. It's a sad day in our country that we would turn our feelings of race to an advantage for someone that we don't believe in or agree with on the issues, and that's (Republican presidential candidate) John McCain." She can understand people who won't vote for Obama because of differences on the issues, she said, but not on skin color. What do you hear, voters? Live chat: Join Alberta Phillips and her panel during their discussion of Sen. Barack Obama's speech tonight and other campaign issues, starting at 8 p.m. at statesman.com/alberta Tired of the spin doctors and pundits giving their take on the Democratic Convention and its political stars? Want to hear what regular voters have to say about the history-making event tonight and the speech by Barack Obama? Then we're here for you. Tonight we've invited several people of various backgrounds to be panelists in a live online chat about Obama's speech. ... The following American-Statesman readers have agreed to be panelists: ... • Candace, 28, is a single mom raising an energetic toddler. She grew up and still lives in East Austin and graduated from Huston-Tillotson University. She works for the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME Local 1624). Biden Accepts VP Nomination After Rousing Speech by Bill Clinton ... After months of distance and friction with the Obama campaign, Clinton took the stage to perhaps the longest, most sustained applause yet in the three-day-old convention. Delegates greeted him with a wave of American flags and chants of "Bill, Bill, Bill." The band blared Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop," the anthem of Clinton's 1992 campaign. Lapping it up, Clinton declared, "I love this." But from the beginning, he made it clear he would not hold back on his embrace of the man who vanquished his wife to formally become the nominee of the the Democratic Party this evening. "Barack Obama is ready to lead America and restore American leadership in the world," Clinton declared. "Ready to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Barack Obama is ready to be the president of the United States." Democrats Press Battle For 60 Seats In Senate Their moments came outside prime time, but the candidates Senate Democratic leaders hope will propel them to their biggest majority in decades also had their time in the spotlight at the Democratic convention. After spending months trying to tamp down expectations, Democrats are openly discussing the possibility that they could net the nine seats that would bring them to the magic number of 60, a tally that would make it much more difficult for Republicans to filibuster their agenda in Congress next year. EEO cases resolved faster, cheaper Contractor employees hired to investigate federal-sector discrimination cases are doing the job 35 percent faster and for less than half the cost of federal employees, a new study shows. Contractors took on 7,400 of the 11,200 equal employment opportunity investigations completed in 2007, according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission data. .. Gabrielle Martin, president of the National Council of EEOC Locals for the American Federation of Government Employees, was critical of the practice. “If they can find a way to get [the work] done cheaper, they will,” Martin said. “When you’re getting contractors, you’re looking for the cheapest person you can get. . It’s like hiring scab labor for strikes.” Nonprofit Hospitals Flex Pricing Power In Roanoke, Va., Carilion's Fees Exceed Those of Competitors; The $4,727 Colonoscopy (no link) In 1989, the U.S. Department of Justice tried but failed to prevent a merger between nonprofit Carilion Health System and this former railroad town's other hospital. The merger, it warned in an unsuccessful antitrust lawsuit, would create a monopoly over medical care in the area. Nearly two decades later, the cost of health care in the Roanoke Valley -- a region in southwestern Virginia with a population of 300,000 -- is soaring. Health-insurance rates in Roanoke have gone from being the lowest in the state to the highest. .... The power of nonprofit hospital systems like Carilion over their regional communities has increased in recent years as their incomes have surged. Critics charge this is creating untaxed local health-care monopolies that drive the costs of care higher for patients and businesses. .. Originally set up to serve the poor, nonprofit hospitals account for the majority of U.S. hospitals. They are exempt from taxes and are supposed to channel income they generate back into operations, while providing benefits to their communities. But they have come under fire from patient advocates and members of Congress for stinting on charity care even as they amass large cash hoards, build new facilities and award big paychecks to their executives. Taxpayers give fat cats $20 billion As our national debt reaches new heights, some elite wealthy taxpayers get a pass when it comes to footing their share of the bill: Those lavishly paid CEOs in their corner offices. Thanks to five tax breaks cooked up by their friends in Washington, D.C., top executives and their companies enjoy at least $20 billion a year in income-tax breaks that are unavailable to the rank and file, according to a new study from the Institute for Policy Studies and United for a Fair Economy. ... Average annual CEO pay at S&P 500 ($INX) companies hit $10.54 million last year, or 344 times the pay of the average American worker. Thirty years ago, CEO pay was only 30 to 40 times the pay of the average worker. Many intelligence jobs held by private contractors More than a quarter of the U.S. intelligence agencies' employees are nongovernment contractors, hired to fill in gaps in the military and civilian work force, according to a survey of the 16 U.S. intelligence agencies. That is roughly on par with last year's number, the first year the national intelligence director's office tried to count the outside help, Ronald Sanders, the intelligence director's personnel policy chief, told reporters Wednesday. Miss. factory had tension between union, immigrants Union bosses in this region of rural Mississippi have long grumbled that the largest factories here hire illegal immigrants, and that the immigrants were starting to get more overtime and supervisory positions. Friction between the union and immigrant workers, along with a tipoff at an electrical manufacturing plant, boiled over this week into the biggest workplace immigration raid in the nation's history. When the first of the 595 suspected illegal immigrants was taken into custody Monday, some fellow workers broke into applause. A spokeswoman for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said the investigation started three years ago after agents received a tip from a union member. SEC Moves to Pull Plug On U.S. Accounting Standards (no link) The Securities and Exchange Commission signaled the demise of U.S. accounting standards, kicking off a process Wednesday that could ultimately require all publicly listed American companies to follow an international model instead. Introduced in two steps, the shift could eventually cut costs for companies and smooth cross-border investing. At the same time, investors worry it will create confusion, especially during the transition. Other critics worry that the international system offers too much wiggle room for companies, compared with the more precise rules enshrined in U.S. standards. The SEC's proposal would allow some large multinational companies to report earnings according to international accounting beginning in 2010. SEC News Releases:
Oracle's Ellison Earns Pension Fund Scrutiny With 38% Pay Raise Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison, the fourth-richest man in America, is drawing criticism from some shareholders for a $72 million pay package that's 12 times bigger than the median pay of CEOs in the technology industry. .... Shareholders are pressing for a say on compensation at Oracle, the second-largest computer software maker, whose 29 percent profit growth last fiscal year trailed Ellison's pay increase. The proposal, by the religious group Marianist Province of the U.S., is winning support from activist holders such as the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and the California Public Employees' Retirement System. ``Ellison's compensation was already sky high and didn't need to go higher,'' said Scott Adams, the AFSCME union's pension and investment analyst in Oakland, California. ``The company is hiding behind the fact that they did well in the past year.'' State/LocalAssaulted youth center aide dies An aide who suffered a stroke a few days after he was assaulted at the troubled Tryon youth center died Tuesday night after being in a coma since Friday. The state Office of Children and Family Services, which operates Tryon, confirmed that Charles Loftly, 54, died early Tuesday evening. Other published reports indicated that Loftly's family had him removed from life support at St. Luke's Hospital in Utica after it became clear he wasn't going to improve. ... Last month, Loftly was hit in the head with a piece of wood taken from a desk as part of what workers described as an escape attempt. He had worked at Tryon for nearly three decades. "The pendulum has swung too far the other way. Now the kids are in control," said Mark Davis, president of the Civil Service Employees Association's local affiliate at Brookwood Secure Center, another youth center located in Claverack, Columbia County. Related articles:
Mayor blames outsourcing delay on Aguirre advice Mayor Jerry Sanders said Wednesday that his voter-approved plan to outsource some city jobs will be delayed by months because a state administrative law judge has ruled the city acted improperly during negotiations with labor unions – something the mayor blamed on bad advice from City Attorney Michael Aguirre. ... The mayor said he will likely have to reopen negotiations with the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 127, the city's blue-collar union, and the Municipal Employees Association, the city's largest union, over the rules for outsourcing. .... AFSCME Local 127 filed a complaint with the state Public Employee Relations Board in early 2007, alleging that the city had negotiated in bad faith on the outsourcing issue. In the summer of 2007, the MEA joined the legal action. Related articles:
Carcieri appeals union case to state Supreme Court The contract dispute between Rhode Island’s Republican governor and its largest state employees’ union may span the next year. That’s the word from Governor Carcieri’s legal team, which spent several hours shuffling from courtroom to courtroom yesterday as the case with substantial implications on the state budget and the paychecks of thousands of state workers trudged through Rhode Island’s legal system. “This whole thing, once it’s all said and done, could take 12 months,” Carcieri deputy legal counsel Daniel Majcher argued in Superior Court yesterday, shortly before lawyers for the governor and Council 94, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, were sent to the Supreme Court three floors above. Related articles:
New AFSCME contract: 15 percent wage hike over four years Prison guards and other unionized state workers began voting this week on a contract proposal expected to give them raises totaling more than 15 percent over the next four years. Although details of the proposed agreement with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees haven't been released, union members and legislative sources familiar with the pact said it includes annual wage hikes averaging 3.8 percent. Related article from the Rockford Register Star: State workers drop most demands in contract, will get 15.2% pay raise Tazewell leaves pay system as is Union employees and supporters turned out in force Wednesday night and got a reversal they were looking for from the Tazewell County Board, which will leave a merit-based pay system as is until next year. "Our only argument was, 'Don't change the rules on us in the middle of the game,'" said Julie Young, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3404, which represents 84 employees in Tazewell County. No Decision on Hillside Hospital An announcement that Forum Health is selling Hillside Rehabilitation Hospital did *NOT* come Wednesday. The Forum Board of Trustees discussed the sale... but did not make a decision. A news release says the board will take up the possible sale at it's meeting next month. The AFSCME union which represents workers at Hillside is organizing public opposition to the sale. Related article from the Vindicator: Hillside Rehab Hospital not sold — for now Bus drivers still on strike in Portage As a strike by its drivers continued Wednesday, the Portage Area Regional Transit Authority exchanged words with its union. The bus system has operated on a basic-service level since the strike began Monday, said spokesman Frank Hairston. He said the transit system is not ''as flexible as we have been, but we are providing the transportation to the people who need it most in the county.'' .... An official with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 037 had another take on the level of service. While some buses have hit the road, Trina Molnar, an OAPSE field representative, said it is far from normal service. No talks set as bus strike continues PARTA running; union pleased with support The strike between union drivers and the Portage Area Regional Transportation Authority goes into its third day today with no talks on the horizon. The PARTA board of directors is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Thursday at PARTA headquarters. The status of the strike and negotiations is expected to be discussed in executive session. The sticking point continues to be "fair share," a mandatory fee on nonunion drivers paid to the union and to be collected by PARTA. In the meantime, striking members of Local 037 of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, continue their picket lines in front of PARTA's Summit Road headquarters in Brimfield. Tuesday, strikers had set up tents and grills and were waving to passing motorists who honked their horns in support. Rell names Council 4's Kuehnel to mediation/arbitration board Gov. M. Jodi Rell has appointed Betty Kuehnel of South Windsor as an alternate member of the state's Board of Mediation and Arbitration. .. For the past 27 years, Kuehnel has been an area coordinator for the New Britain-based American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Connecticut Council 4. Union officials, some lawmakers say Maynard's letter not enough Union officials and some local lawmakers on Wednesday said a letter from Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Gary D. Maynard that was published in Wednesday's Herald-Mail did not go far enough toward making amends to local prison employees who were strip searched Aug. 12. .... Employee safety is the No. 1 priority for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said Patrick Moran, director of AFSCME Maryland. Scans and searches may be done to ensure employee safety, but protocol must be followed, Moran said. County to write off nearly $600K in bad debt for nursing home As negotiations continue to move forward resulting in the likely sale of the Allegany County Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center, the county commissioners are still dealing with last year’s bad debt. .... . Certified Public Accountant Jason Bennett, of the county’s Department of Finance, said the overwhelming majority — more than 70 percent — of the bad debt is due to people’s inability to pay their bills. Another 24 percent is categorized as Medicare Part A or Medicaid bad debt, Bennett said, but much of that is bad debt, too. That’s because many of the Furnace Street facility residents can’t afford to pay the premiums, thus preventing the facility from collecting payments from Medicare or Medicaid. The facility has averaged $207,000 in bad debt being written off over the last 10 years, Bennett said. The timeline received a boost recently when union membership, represented by American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1521, voted to approve renegotiating the current collective bargaining agreement. 4-day work week gets nod Selectmen ratified a contract with Town Hall union employees Monday night that will result in a four-day work week for most municipal staff. As a result, Town Hall will be closed to the public on Fridays. .... In addition to the shorter work week, union members will receive a 4.5 percent salary increase in both year two and three of the three-year contract. The contract will take effect Nov. 12. Members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) union local, which represents 48 non-management municipal staff members, voted 30-2, with two invalid votes, to approve the three-year contract. “I can’t believe two people even voted no,” said Joyce Matthews, president of the AFSCME local. “Everybody else realizes it’s a good deal.” Guest Commentary: Remembering Jim Wright: union organizer, 'Weekly' freelancer, great man I first met Jim Wright in 1974 when we were both working on a county bond proposal. He'd just arrived from D.C. and was getting involved in local politics. ... Jim then went to work for AFSCME and started recruiting in Pima County. One of his first new members was me. I surprised him early on with my general support for organized labor, even in the public sector, with two caveats now generally ignored: that locals must be autonomous, and the goal is better conditions for members, not selling the programs of the left wing of the Democratic Party. Jim and later Jon Showalter did a great job of building that local, and I served as an officer for several years. It collapsed when higher authority arbitrarily removed a local president, and membership dropped over a lack of adequate representation. 7B Seat Debate Seven legislative candidates tried to inch a little closer to sitting in Mike Jaros' state representative seat this evening. Candidates for the state House seven-"B" district will took part in a forum at Morgan Park's Good Fellowship Community Center. ... D-F-L candidate and AFSCME representative Marsh Stenersen followed and took aim at party principles. "I thought I that I saw too many democrats not being true to democratic to democratic values and not social and economic justice," Stenersen said. State insurance rate hike a sign of the times To reduce expenses, the thermostats at some state office buildings now fluctuate between 75 and 90 degrees, depending on the time of day. .. But there are new indications nearly every day that every penny will count as agencies search for ways to pay for operational increases that the Legislature did not fund, prompting a few agencies to consider asking lawmakers for additional funds before the fiscal year ends. The point was driven home again this week after the Oklahoma State and Education Employees Group Insurance Board announced an overall 13.6 percent increase in its 2009 health-insurance premium rates for about 180,000 current and former state employees, teachers and their dependents. Previous Daily Newswires |
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