Support Growing for Verizon Strikers
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The strike by some 45,000 Verizon workers, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and the Electrical Workers (IBEW), continued into its third day today as workers across the country offer support to the strikers, whose struggle reflects the situation for millions of workers.
Rather than reward the hard work of Verizon employees who have provided the quality service that earned the company more than $32.5 billion in revenue over the past three years, management continues to insist on cuts that total $1 billion. These workers have played by the rules—and now Verizon wants to break them.
Verizon’s concession demands would strip away the standard of living workers have gained through bargaining over the past 50 years, workers say.
Proposed NLRB Rule Change Draws Wide Support
The National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB’s) modest, common-sense proposed rule to remove roadblocks for workers who want to vote on whether to form a union has drawn praise from working men and women, political leaders and activists around the country. Here’s a sample of the comments:
Electrical Workers (IBEW) President Edwin Hill:
By eliminating delays, the board is not only bringing some balance. It is also saving money for taxpayers who foot the bill because of unnecessary litigation.
Communications Workers of America (CWA) President Larry Cohen:
Workers at T-Mobile USA and nearly every other company know firsthand how U.S. corporations use delay to keep workers from making a fair choice about union representation. The changes proposed by the National Labor Relations Board are a first and modest step toward ending some of that delay.
IBEW Installs Solar Panels on Illinois Governor’s Mansion
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When Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn decided to put solar panels on the roof of the governor’s mansion in Springfield, the state turned to the Electrical Workers (IBEW) to handle the job.
David Burns, business manager of Electrical Workers Local 193 in Springfield, Ill., contacted Rich Marsaglia, a 15-year IBEW member and solar project manager for a Haenig Electric, a local company, whose owners agreed to donate the labor to install the panels.
The project kicked off Oct. 10 as part of the 10/10/10 Global Work Party. The Global Work Party, a day of action to fight climate change, includes more than 7,000 events in 183 different countries to help find solutions to climate change.
Report Shows Social Security Is Strong for the Long Term
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Despite the nation’s overall economic problems, Social Security is still in long-term strong shape, according to the most recent report by the Social Security Board of Trustees. The trustees project that after 2037, tax revenue will be sufficient to pay 78 percent of full benefits. The projected funding shortfall over 75 years is actually lower than in last year’s report.
Also, a report by Medicare’s Board of Trustees shows that the recently enacted health care reform law will significantly slow Medicare cost growth, thereby extending the life of Medicare’s trust fund for 12 years, reducing Part B premiums and reducing the federal deficit.
Social Security’s $2.5 trillion trust fund will continue to grow for another 14 years and Social Security will pay out full benefits from its own dedicated resources for another 27 years, according to the report.
Says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka:
The reports are a needed comeuppance to right-wing, ideological opponents of Social Security and Medicare who, year after year, twist the facts Read the rest of this entry »
Union Leaders Praise Obama’s Support for Nuclear Plant
Union leaders praised President Obama’s announcement yesterday of federal loan guarantees for the construction of two advanced reactors at the Plant Vogtle nuclear power station in Georgia. They said it is a major step forward in addressing the nation’s energy needs as well as creating badly needed jobs. And they urged the president to ensure all the components used in the plant are made in America.
Obama made the announcement during a visit to an apprenticeship training facility in the Washington, D.C., suburbs that is jointly administered by Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26 and local electrical contractors. Check out a video of the announcement here.
IBEW Launches ‘Working Green’ Website
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The Electrical Workers (IBEW) recently launched “Working Green,” a new section on its website dedicated to keeping members, contractors and others looking to break into the new energy economy updated on the latest news about the union’s role in the green revolution.
IBEW is aggressively training and preparing its members to help transform the nation’s struggling economy through a range of environmental investments in green technology, energy efficiency and renewable energy.
The new site, which you can find here, offers news stories about IBEW members working in solar, wind, biomass, nuclear power and clean coal, as well as information about green training and how to find work in the renewable energy sector. Working Green will be a one-stop spot for those who want to make sure green jobs will be good jobs.
