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August 26, 2008National/PoliticalLabor group highlights candidates' differences on federal employee issues Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain may not be talking extensively about federal employee issues on the campaign trail, but the political director for the AFL-CIO said at the Democratic National Convention on Sunday that two issues that affect government workers show the differences between the two presidential candidates. Those issues are collective bargaining rights for Transportation Security Administration airport screeners and the outsourcing of government work, said Karen Ackerman, head of political operations for AFL-CIO. …… The presumptive Republican nominee also has said since 2007 that he would use the upcoming federal retirement wave to shrink the size of the workforce and curb employee unions. For Those From Swing States, The Watchword Is . . . Worry The anxiety comes in several forms, but particularly common is the pained look, followed by the quick glance away and the lengthy pause, in the face of a simple question: How is Barack Obama doing? "Ahhh . . .," said Barry Bogarde, political director for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Pennsylvania, a battleground state that the senator from Illinois needs to win. "Better," he finally said. "He's doing better." …….. Bogarde's superior, AFSCME President Gerald W. McEntee, was more blunt. "It shouldn't be as close as it is now. It just seems to me it shouldn't be that close. It should be a no-brainer," he said. The union spent heavily on Clinton's campaign before lining up behind Obama, but McEntee insisted that his concern about the closeness of the race is not meant as an "I told you so." Other Clinton supporters here also sought to put their apprehension in context, saying that it was possible that had the senator from New York won the primaries, she would be facing her own tough fights in key states because of her polarizing effect on many voters. Union Dues / Barack Obama hasn't made the sale with blue-collar Democrats or Hillary supporters. And some Democrats are worried. … These two trends--blue-collar worries, and reluctant Clinton supporters who feel they are being ignored--cross in a particular geographical area: the Great Lakes states of Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. It's a cliché of the campaign but nevertheless true: this election battle with John McCain will be won or lost in those places, where less educated, Roman Catholic blue-collar workers still form the backbone of the traditional Democratic Party. Said another union official, who did not want to be quoted: "The fact that we are fighting tooth and nail in Pennsylvania--when we shouldn't have to be, given George Bush's record--tells you everything you need to know about this election." … There was a fair amount of talk among insiders that Obama's economic plans and language remain vague--an argument summarized in The New York Times Magazine by influential reporter David Leonhardt. "Just read that article and you will see what the problem is they have to solve." Stark County-area delegates ready for Democratic Convention … The others are prominent Canton union officials: Robert L. Thompson Sr., a regional director with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Ohio Council 8; and Susie Camper of the United Steelworkers Local 1123. "It's a history-making event. ... whatever happens in November, you can always say you were there," said Thompson, a delegate who had pledged to support former Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. " … Thompson said that even though AFSCME endorsed Clinton, it's now firmly behind the Illinois senator. "When we back a candidate, we go full out. We were full out for Hillary. We're now in support of Obama. We'll be full out for Obama." Mid-South convention delegates plan for week of receptions The Tennessee delegation to the Democratic National Convention had its first luncheon Monday at the elegant Denver Press Club, hosted by Middle Tennessee Congressman Lincoln Davis. … Sidney Chism, in his trademark cowboy hat, sat at a table with fellow delegates Lexie Carter and Willie Ruth Davis, president of the Memphis AFSCME local. Labor's Election Ground War--And How The Media Is Missing It Yesterday, I attended two briefings in Denver held by labor leaders that gave very concrete outlines to labor's battle plan for the 2008 elections: where resources will be deployed and how much money will be spent. Both briefings were sparsely attended by the traditional media--and, while they seem obsessed by polling snapshots, they are missing an important component to the election battle ahead that polls don't catch--but count for millions of mobilized voters. I think this will be the difference in the election. Here's why. … Another interesting feature is the role Working America will play in the election. Working America was set up as a kind of affiliate to the AFL-CIO to solve this problem: with labor only representing 12 percent of the workforce, and less than 8 percent in the private sector, how could unions each voters who, polling showed, supported the labor movement on issues of wages, job security and general workplace fairness. Working America sent canvassers out across the country, focusing on battleground states. They knocked on doors of non-union homes and, when successful, signed up people to the organization. Get this: Working America now has 2.5 million members... Kennedy Tugs at Hearts, as Obama’s Wife Praises Values Senator Edward M. Kennedy, struggling with brain cancer, arrived on Monday night at the Democratic National Convention in a triumphant appearance that evoked 50 years of party history as Democrats gathered to nominate Senator Barack Obama for president. Mr. Kennedy’s appearance wiped away, at least for the evening, some of the tension that continued to plague the party in the wake of the primary fight between Mr. Obama and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton. … Mrs. Obama spoke of her own family’s blue-collar past and spoke of her husband’s life as “a great American story.” Labor Groups Working Separately For Obama Like partners in a marriage of convenience, the AFL-CIO and rival labor federation Change to Win are putting on a show of unity this week in Denver. But this fall they will pursue separate electorate strategies -- a departure from the cooperation that characterized the 2006 elections. That year, a majority of the Change to Win unions participated in the AFL-CIO's political program. At a Monday rally sponsored by the AFL-CIO, Change to Win, the National Education Association, and the American Federation of Teachers, both AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and Change to Win Chairwoman Anna Burger said that labor needs to work together for Barack Obama. … But expressions of unity were largely confined to shared goals. It was clear that the federations are pursuing their own strategies. Unions working to get everyone on board for Obama As Barack Obama tries to convince blue-collar voters that he's one of them, union leaders acknowledge that some of their white constituents are still reluctant to support an African American for president. "There are people who are not going to vote for him because he's black," said James Hoffa, president of the Teamsters. "And we've got to hope that we can educate people to put aside their racism and to put their own interests No. 1. " … In 2007, there were 12.7 million white union members, far more than the 2.1 million black, 1.8 million Hispanic and 654,000 Asian members reported, according to the Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics. … This is the first presidential election since the organized labor movement split into two factions: the AFL-CIO and Change to Win, whose seven unions defected from the AFL-CIO in 2005. Both organizations pledge to work together to get Obama elected. Related article from The Hill: Unions stress over racism in the ranks Nolan Finley: Hoffa: Bush blew chance with labor Jim Hoffa can't stop talking about Barack Obama. Wherever there's a microphone, a camera, a notepad, you'll find the Teamsters president delivering his pitch that the fate of working Americans is tied to the success of Obama and the Democratic Party in November. It's a different Jim Hoffa than the one I interviewed in Philadelphia in 2000, when he was a darling of the Republican National Convention. The GOP sat Hoffa in a box where everyone could see him, and Hoffa obliged them by hinting broadly that the Teamsters were in play. … "I didn't leave them; they left me," Hoffa says. "They had an opportunity to build a relationship with labor. But as soon as Bush took office, he slammed the door. It was a shock to us." CongressNow: Labor Union Sets Sights on ‘Card Check’ Measure Unions and Congressional Democrats believe a Barack Obama presidency could mean that after years of futility, the political stars might finally align to pass controversial labor organizing legislation. The legislation, known as the Employee Free Choice Act, or card check act, requires employers to recognize a union if the National Labor Relations Board finds a majority of employees have signed cards designating the union as their bargaining representative. It also mandates arbitration if contract negotiations stall and imposes penalties on employers that illegally coerce workers not to join unions. CONVENTION BUSINESS: Hollywood Backs Pro-Union Bills "The Devil Wears Prada" star Anne Hathaway hardly comes to mind when one thinks of the labor movement and union organizing. But the actress and her fellow Hollywood elite were on hand Monday in Denver to offer their support for legislation expanding workers' ability to unionize. A Possible Plot Against Obama City and federal authorities said Monday night that at least three people were under arrest on firearms and drug charges in connection with a possible plot to kill Senator Barack Obama during his speech accepting the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night. Democratic Convention Video: Everywhere Online, But HD Awesomeness on Official Site Yes, I know..we don't need more coverage of the Democratic convention which started this evening, but I have to point out the live video feeds online. Every major site and TV network is live streaming it online in full, including MSNBC.com, ABCnews.com ( on Yahoo News), CNN.com, CBSnews.com, FoxNews.com and Cspan (with a very nice aggregation site). … But the most awesome (I have probably never used that word in seven years of this site) online video feed is on the official Democratic Convention site, on DemConvention.com site. It is in HD, and uses Move Networks' plugin and using Microsoft Silverlight... Social Security Gets Clean Bill of Health from CBO From the Economic Policy Institute (EPI): Fears about the future of Social Security were allayed on Friday by a new report issued by the independent Congressional Budget Office. The report finds that not only can future beneficiaries keep counting on receiving benefits in retirement, they can expect those benefits to be larger – even after adjusting for inflation – than those being paid to today’s retirees. Bush and company in 2005 failed miserably to convince the American public that Social Security privatization was the holy grail of retirement security. Doomsayers will continue to claim the sky is falling, but the facts tell a different story. 20,000 Quest Workers Settle Contract and More Bargaining News … AFSCME, Illinois: A tentative agreement has been reached for nearly 35,000 Illinois state workers represented by AFSCME. Details have not been released. Workers previously agreed to work under a contract that expired June 30, as long as talks continued. Report Faults Medicare Audits The rate of improper payments, including fraud, in Medicare's purchases of wheelchairs and other home medical equipment is significantly higher than the government has estimated, according to a federal audit released yesterday. The report by Inspector General Daniel R. Levinson at the Department of Health and Human Services found an "error rate" of almost 29 percent in a sample of claims paid in 2006 under Medicare's multibillion-dollar durable medical equipment program. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had estimated a rate of 7.5 percent, or about $700 million in improper payments. Leasing of Landmark Turnpike Puts State at Policy Crossroads (no link) Hobbled by the credit crisis, Wall Street firms and many state governments are hoping that a pockmarked strip of Pennsylvania highway could provide a road out. Next month, the Pennsylvania legislature is expected to vote on a $12.8 billion deal struck between the governor and a group of private investors to lease America's oldest major toll road, the 537-mile Pennsylvania Turnpike. If it passes, the deal would be by far the largest ever of its kind in the U.S. Under these arrangements, known as public-private partnerships, investors lease or buy roads, bridges or other infrastructure, operate them independently and collect tolls. A green light in Pennsylvania could bolster the political will of officials in other states trying to hash out similar deals. That in turn could jump-start projects in waiting, from Florida's Alligator Alley to Chicago's Midway Airport. Last month, New York Gov. David Paterson urged legislators to consider leasing some of his state's roads, bridges and tunnels to help shrink a budget deficit projected at $26.2 billion by 2011. State/LocalPortage bus drivers walk picket line as contract talks break down Dozens of bus drivers opted to stand still Monday rather than make a living moving around town. … Contract talks with the Portage Area Regional Transit Authority -- or PARTA -- broke down Sunday. The two sides were close to a deal that would create a union for the bus drivers, but when a deal couldn't be solidified, the drivers walked out. "These people live paycheck to paycheck," said Lloyd Rains, regional director for AFSCME. Related articles: Madison bus woes mushroom Bus delays and problems Monday morning and afternoon for the Madison Local School District with the private bus company Community Bus Services were called “unacceptable” by many furious parents who made many angry calls to the schools and the transportation department. … Michelle Popovich said she was willing to give CBS the benefit of doubt and realized that delays are normal for the first day of school, but found the delays on Monday ridiculous. … Madison’s school board hired CBS to transport students after negotiations broke down with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 238, representing district bus drivers. Group Doesn't Want To Wait; Fix It Now! Now is the time now to fix health care -- that's according to a local consumer group. NBC 4's Tacoma Newsome was there when Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage kicked off its new "Fix It Now" campaign Monday. The OCHC is a coalition of organizations similar to AARP, ACORN, American Cancer Society and AFSCME. Tax breaks pulled / Deals yanked for 3 firms in Summit; incentives continue for 43 others Summit County is yanking tax breaks for three companies — two of which are already closed. The County Council voted Monday to terminate enterprise zone agreements with BWC Industrial Tool & Machine, Falls Lumber and Millwork, and WCCV Hardwood Flooring. … The council, upon the recommendation of the county's Tax Incentive Review Council, also agreed to continue tax breaks for 24 companies — three of which have more than one deal. … The council also: Approved a three-year labor contract with about 15 union workers at the county Medical Examiner's Office. The workers — represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees — will receive 3 percent raises each year. Hillside Hospital For Sale? Officials with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees are pledging to mount a grass roots campaign to stop any sale of the rehabilitation hospital. The union says they believe Forum's board of trustees on Tuesday will approve a letter of intent to a local nursing home operator that will allow that company to inspect the facility and offer a bid for purchase. Opponents charge that selling Hillside is unnecessary and could lead to the closure of the hospital. Forum Board president Walter Piskur says the board will just be discussing the issue tomorrow and does not know if any action will be taken. Judge, 2 sides meet over union battle The legal battle between Governor Carcieri and state government’s largest union is growing more complex by the day. Lawyers for both sides met for nearly an hour yesterday with Superior Court Judge Patricia A. Hurst, who had issued a 19-page ruling just five days earlier that left both the governor’s office and organized labor claiming partial victory. … Yesterday’s meeting in the judge’s chambers –– the second closed-door meeting in the last three business days –– produced no public resolution. Lawyers from the governor’s office and Council 94, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, refused to comment on the substance of the meeting. Mich. LG lays groundwork for gubernatorial bid Cut the crap! Danny Homan, the president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Iowa made it clear what he expects of some of the elected officials in the upcoming legislative session at this morning’s breakfast for the delegation. Homan pitched some of labor’s top priorities in the state, such as expansion of the state’s collective bargaining law. Labor and some of their Democratic allies last session tried to expand the list of items that have to be put on the bargaining table. … Homan didn’t name names but said mayors, legislators and politicians in general should get on board. “Knock off the crap, let’s get it done and start supporting organized labor,” he said. Union demands negotiations on proposed Rochester residency requirement The largest union representing city of Rochester employees demanded negotiations Monday to discuss the impact of a proposed residency requirement for new hires. … "I don't know where this mayor is coming from, but he's been a disappointment," said Gingello, president of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Locals 1635 and 1635-P. "He is not taking a hard look at this." Damren's severance package detailed BATH — The Times Record has obtained the severance agreement between the Sagadahoc County Commissioners and former deputy Mark Damren. … Damren — who was in the midst a grievance appeal with the county and who, along with Turndorf, filed a whistleblower complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission against the sheriff's department in June — also agreed to forever release and discharge the county from any "issues, grievances, claims, assertions, suits or other actions or liabilities ... arising directly or indirectly from the employee's employment with the sheriff's office." This includes any claims that could be brought by American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Council 93, the union bargaining unit that represents the county's deputies. AFSCME contract fight continues, UC Berkeley protest AFSCME workers at the University of California are still without a contract. Today, 8.25.08, we used the ritual "Chancellor's greeting" at Memorial Glade to leaflet, chant, banner and the new students heard some of us speak.The pressure on UC management for a settlement with AFSCME |
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