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Speaking of Rick Berman… |
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We noted yesterday the great new website, Berman Exposed, but if you want to learn more about mega-lobbyist and corporate front man Rick Berman, check out Art Levine’s latest piece, “Dr. Evil Is Baaaack,” published by In These Times.
Levine’s column focuses on a big ad buy in The Hill, Politico and other D.C. insider publications, sponsored by Berman’s misleadingly named “Center for Union Facts.” As you may have guessed, this misnamed organization is not a “center” and doesn’t provide “facts.” Instead, it’s essentially an operation through which Berman funnels big-dollar, undisclosed corporate donations into vicious anti-union messages in the media. Berman gets to play super-villain and get cited as an expert in the mainstream media, while his corporate donors hide in the shadows. Everybody wins, except workers.
In his column, Levine takes apart Berman’s bad-faith rhetoric and fact checks the false claims made about the Employee Free Choice Act in the “Center’s” latest round of ads. In particular, Levine notes the absurdity of Berman masking himself as an advocate for workers’ rights, since the goal of his operation is protecting corporate control of the process by which workers form unions.
Levine asks some great questions about Berman and the other corporate shills who serve as the well-paid face of the anti-worker campaign:
Is that the person the public and leading journalists should rely on for accurate information about the Employee Free Choice Act? Will the smears and falsehoods be able to carry the day with the new Congress?
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Prision Guards to Walkout. One More Reason Why We Need The Employee Free Choice Act Now!
PEARSALL — News 4 WOAI has learned guards could go on strike at a detention center in South Texas Detention Complex. Negotiations over a pay raise have stalled and it could end up costing you money.
The South Texas Detention Complex in Pearsall is where illegal immigrants are held while waiting to be deported. But soon those detainees may have no one to guard them.
The union’s chief negotiator Howard Johannssen from the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America (SPFPA says, “This employer refuses to give them a pay raise of any sort.”
The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), sponsored by Senate and House Democrats, would level the playing field and restore workers’ freedom to form unions and collectively bargain by: 1) strengthening penalties for companies that coerce or intimidate employees; 2) establishing mediation and binding arbitration guidelines when employers and workers cannot agree on a first contract; and 3) enabling employees to form unions when a majority express their desire to do so by signing authorization cards.
http://www.employeefreechoiceactnow.org
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/
That employer is GEO, a private company hired by the government to run the prison. After six months of negotiations GEO says the offer is now final and it doesn’t include a raise. The union says it hopes it doesn’t come down to a walkout, but if it does it’ll work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to set a strike date.
Johanssen says, “I want the inmates in a safe place. I want the people who protect them in a safe place, but we cannot go on as we’re going on now.”
If there is a strike, one possibility would be that all the detainees would have to be moved to other facilities across the state and that would be a huge expense to taxpayers.
A union representative estimates it’d be 10-15 million dollars to make the arrangements to move the detainees.
The union is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday to discuss its options. If union members reject GEO’s offer, a strike is possible. GEO, based in Florida, says its policy is not to comment on negotiations.
ICE Statement:
News 4 WOAI received the following…
“Discussions are underway between the GEO Management staff at the South Texas Detention Complex (STDC) in Pearsall, Texas, and the union that represents its bargaining unit employees. GEO is under contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to operate and maintain STDC. The employees involved in these discussions are not employed by ICE or the Department of Homeland Security. ICE is not directly involved in these discussions. Any questions regarding specific issues under discussion should be directed to GEO or to its union.”
“ICE is committed to ensuring that all ICE detainees — at the STDC and throughout the country — are maintained in a safe, secure and humane environment. Whatever the result of the ongoing discussions at STDC, ICE is prepared to respond appropriately to ensure the continuation of safe and secure operations at the facility.”
“ICE encourages all the parties involved to continue their efforts to reach a fair and equitable agreement. However, it would be inappropriate for ICE to comment or speculate regarding hypothetical situations, especially while discussions and negotiations are underway.”
The International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America is the largest, oldest and fastest growing 9(b)(3) in the world today.
http://WWW.SPFPA.ORG
http://www.thenewsroom.com/details/3608869
For More Information on the EFCA please Visit
http://www.employeefreechoiceactnow.org
http://efcanow.blogspot.com/