Tag: National Labor Relations Board

AFL-CIO Executive Council Passes Statements on Energy, Jobs and Immigration

02/26/2013 Jackie Tortora

 AFL-CIO officers at the annual Executive Council meeting.

At its February meeting, the AFL-CIO Executive Council, representing 57 affiliate unions, adopted several statements that covered energy and jobs, workers’ rights and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and immigration, among other things.

The AFL-CIO supports a comprehensive energy policy focused on investing in our nation’s future, creating jobs and addressing the threat of climate change. It is clear that for the foreseeable future our nation will continue to use a wide range of energy sources—including both traditional sources like coal, oil and natural gas, and newer sources like wind, solar and nuclear. Any serious effort to tackle climate change must begin with ensuring we use a range of tools, including policy incentives and technology, to make our economy more energy efficient and by doing so to minimize greenhouse gas emissions from all of these sources. Continue reading “AFL-CIO Executive Council Passes Statements on Energy, Jobs and Immigration”

Union says right-to-work laws equivalent to slavery; NRTW says unions want monopoly

Union says right-to-work laws equivalent to slavery; NRTW says unions want monopoly

young-james.jpg

Young
PHILADELPHIA (Legal Newsline) – One of the more controversial labor law initiatives in modern times – the right-to-work law – is fraught with confusion and contention.

Union opponents have termed right to work laws as immoral, illegal and unconstitutional. Indeed one union, the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 (IUOE), filed suit against the state of Indiana claiming the state’s newly enacted law was tantamount to slavery.

“The right-to-work law in Indiana forces Local 150 and other unions to provide identical services to workers whether or not they pay dues,” said Ed Maher, communications director for IUOE Local 150. Continue reading “Union says right-to-work laws equivalent to slavery; NRTW says unions want monopoly”

Palermo’s Workers Speak Out Following Washington DC Meeting

Palermo’s Workers Speak Out Following Washington DC Meeting

Striking Palermo’s workers paused their daily picket line in front of Palermo’s, 3301 W. Canal St. in the Menomonee Valley for a brief press conference at 2:30 PM Friday. Workers offered immediate reaction to the outcome of a highly anticipated meeting between Palermo’s CEO Giacomo Fallucca and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in Washington D.C.

The AFL-CIO made it clear that they did not speak on behalf of the workers at Palermo Villa who are on strike for union recognition. The AFL-CIO communicated the Palermo employees most basic demand to the company: meet with the Palermo employees directly. At the meeting, Mr. Giacomo Falluca did not agree to meet with the striking workers.

Orlando Sosa, an employee of Palermo Villa for more than ten years and a member of the Organizing Committee of the Palermo Workers Union, expressed the sentiment of the workers when he said, “Palermo’s says they are a family company, but what kind of family refuses to talk with one another?”

Palermo workers have been on strike since June 1. They are demanding formal recognition of their union, the Palermo Workers Union, as well as immediate re-instatement of all striking workers who were fired. The workers are also calling for the company to follow the direction of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and cease any any re-verification or audit of workers documentation status. Continue reading “Palermo’s Workers Speak Out Following Washington DC Meeting”

NLRB Decision a Victory for Illinois Mine Workers

09/06/2012; Jackie Tortora

 Photo courtesy of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO Flickr stream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wisaflcio/

The decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) yesterday that upheld last December’s decision by an administrative law judge (ALJ) that the Mine Workers (UMWA) fairly won the representation election at Big Ridge Inc.’s Willow Lake coal mine in Harrisburg, Ill., is a tremendous victory for miners, says UMWA President Cecil Roberts.

Roberts said: Continue reading “NLRB Decision a Victory for Illinois Mine Workers”

Baristas and Buttons: NLRB v. Starbucks

Baristas and Buttons: NLRB v. Starbucks

By Craig Cowart

(Hospitality Update, No. 3, September 2012)

The next time you stop in for your morning “must-have” caffeine, take a look at your Starbucks barista. He or she is likely to be wearing the familiar “Starbucks green” apron and black pants. Your barista may also be sporting a number of pins and buttons touting Starbucks products and promotions. Who knows what those pins and buttons will say?

You may not be able to predict what pins and buttons your barista will be wearing. But, after a recent federal appeals court ruling there is one thing you can know for sure. There won’t be more than one pro-union pin on the uniform. The court told Starbucks that it was okay to limit employees to wearing only one pro-union button with their uniform at work.

So, how did this ruling come about? And what does it mean for you? Continue reading “Baristas and Buttons: NLRB v. Starbucks”

%d bloggers like this: