Lots to Say

by Tula Connell, Aug 29, 2006

Here are some of the latest comments we’ve received at AFL-CIO Now.

Got news? Send it to blognews@aflcio.org.

Al Gould in North Canaan, Conn., responds to our recent post describing Wal-Mart’s plans to tell its workers in Iowa how to vote in the presidential primaries.

Wal-Mart is a public magnet for the times when majority has nothing else but to purchase from the “lowest” provider of goods….they mentally beat the employee down in terms of their position of needing a job and unlike the military they keep you there. The military may lower you and all in boot camp but show you the way to more self-respect and dignity.

Unions, press ahead.  

Speaking of big-box stores…Beth Spencer at the Illinois AFL-CIO sends us the following link to an article in ChicagoBusiness.com: “Targeting Chicago: Can Big-Box Retailer Really Thrive Without More Stores Here?”

In July, the Chicago City Council approved an ordinance that requires “Big-Box” stories like Wal-Mart and Home Depot to pay their workers at least $10 an hour with benefits. Following the bill’s passage, Target announced it was scrapping plans to build a store on the city’s North Side.

Spencer notes it is

interesting that a business publication is the only place that hits the nail on the head about how much business Target and others will lose if they stick to their threats not to build in Chicago over the big box ordinance. 

Jose D. Trujillo, president of AFSCME Local 164, Council 36, which represents workers at the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles (CRA/LA), writes that he and his co-workers at CRA/LA have been working without a contract since July 2004.

We reached our agreement with our agency management several months ago and the CAO’s [City Administrative Officer’s] office, the EERC [Executive Employee Relations Committee] and the mayor refuse to honor our agreement with management.

We invited the CAO’s office several times to sit down and negotiate directly with us. However, the EERC and the CAO’s office refused our offer by stating that CRA management had total autonomy to reach agreement with our four locals.

Up to now, the mayor continues to refuse to honor our agreement and gave a directive to the CRA-LA to award the CAO’s office authority to renegotiate our MOUs [memorandums of understanding] for a period of one year.

From Mauriceville, Texas, W. Wood suggests the following:

Let’s boycott Exxon/Mobil due to substandard wages that are paid to union contractors & nonunion contractors in the Gulf Coast areas.

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