Tag: labor

Obama Hates Unions

Labor Haters: Rahm Emanuel and Barack Obama

President Obama, who is trying to destroy the industry in which we make our living, was at it again yesterday.  He was comparing the GOP to striking workers who should be fired.

Via the Washington Examiner…

President Obama again compared Republicans in Congress to workers going on strike, telling reporters Tuesday that GOP lawmakers had no more right to shut down the government than factory workers had to walk off their jobs.

The president made similar remarks at an event in Rockville, Md., on Thursday. He even referenced that event in his remarks Tuesday.

Both times, he compared GOP lawmakers to hypothetical striking workers. He argued those workers would be rightfully fired if they tried to shut down a plant to extract concessions from management.

In each case, Obama seemed unaware that the worker activity he was describing was a classic organized labor strike, a federally protected activity under the National Labor Relations Act. The law was signed by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1935 and is considered one of the era’s major liberal victories.

It makes you wonder why labor has endorsed him in the last two elections.  Unions may want to start paying attention to a politician’s actions when choosing who they endorse, rather than just handing over the endorsement to anyone who pays them lip service.  Despite claiming to support unions in the past, Obama has proven to be nothing more than another anti-labor neoliberal pandering to the corporate dollar.

Black Friday with the PJSTA

LONG ISLAND
Take ActionWalmart has seen their fair share of “days of action” from community and labor activists. But the recent call to “Stand Up, Live Better,” culminating in walk-outs throughout the country this month, is a game-changer.

The momentum has been building for months. Workers from throughout the supply and distribution chains have walked out and even taken their demands to Walmart’s Home Office in Arkansas. The rest of us have stood in solidarity with them—leafleting, organizing delegations to managers, picketing, and inspiring a groundswell of activity across the country of historic proportions.

On Black Friday, November 23rd, 2012 we will be sponsoring two actions: 

East Meadow Walmart, 10:00am

2465 Hempstead Turnpike,  East Meadow, NY 11554 

“100% off for the 99%” 

Centereach Walmart, 11:00am

Assemble on Middle Country Road (Rt 25); 161 Centereach Mall, Centereach, NY 11720

 

Walmart Strike

In what could be “the largest-scale labor action ever,” many Walmart employees around the country are set to strike on Thanksgiving as Walmart is one of many stores set to begin their Black Friday sales as most of the country is set to sit down at their Thanksgiving dinner tables.

In addition to being an enemy of public education, Walmart is potentially the biggest enemy of the labor movement in the world.  It goes without saying that no PJSTA member, no NYSUT member, no member of the AFT or the NEA should be giving their business to Walmart this Thanksgiving, Black Friday, holiday season, or ever!  You would simply be funding those forces who are working against you.

Here is an opportunity to sponsor a Walmart striker!

 

 

NYSUT at Terryville’s Career Day

On Friday morning, October 26th, NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist Laura Graves presented to approximately 100 fifth grade students at Terryville Elementary School.  Ms. Graves’ presentation was part of the school’s Career Day activities, a day where guest speakers present to students on what their career entails.  The focus of Ms. Graves’ presentation was on:

  • What are labor unions
  • The history of labor unions in the United States
  • Important labor leaders in our country’s history
  • What her role within our state and local union is
She used a Youtube video of the story Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type to help illustrate to the ten and eleven year old students how unions can be beneficial for workers.

Ms. Graves is the LRS for the Port Jefferson Station Teachers Association .

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Wear Red Tomorrow… and a Sunday Night Update on the CTU

*UPDATE*
No deal has been reached yet. CTU President Karen Lewis has scheduled a press conference at 10 pm. The CTU’s House of Delegates (equivalent to PJSTA’s rep council) would have to approve an agreement and they have not been called to meet yet. More after the presser.

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Please remember to wear red tomorrow to show solidarity with the Chicago Teachers Union in their fight for the soul of public education. My outfit is laid out already…

Now for an update…

CTU and officials representing the Chicago Public Schools have been in negotiations for most of the weekend. While some progress was reported yesterday, a settlement was still not reached. The two sides sat down again this morning and neither side has made a statement since then. It is believed the district is sticking to the elimination of steps in the contract, which could obviously be a sticking point.

The “Wear Red for ED to Support the Chicago Teachers” seems to have caught on as locals across the country are attempting to do that tomorrow. There are other ways you can help as well:

  • This site gives you information on how you can buy lunch for a teacher who is picketing.
  • Donate to the CTU’s solidarity fund.
  • Post a message of solidarity.

Finally, as per AFT President Randi Weingarten, the AFT is planning a day of nationwide support later this week…

As always, you can follow the action on Twitter with the #CTU hashtag or by following @CTULocal1. Or of course you could just keep checking thepjsta.org!

PJSTA Members: PLEASE WEAR RED ON MONDAY!

The situation in Chicago has been well documented on our blog (here, here, here, and here too!).  As the above graphic suggests, their fight is truly our fight.  The CTU is on the front lines of the war against public education.  They are now four days away from a strike with their strike date set for September 10th.  As a result we are asking ALL PJSTA MEMBERS TO WEAR RED ON MONDAY.  Red is the CTU’s signature color.  We are doing this to raise awareness within the education community about the CTU’s incredibly important fight and to show our support to our brothers and sisters in the Chicago Teachers Union.

To briefly update you on the story, the CTU reported yesterday that merit pay is now off the table.  The city, lead by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, is still trying to ram through an ill-constructed teacher evaluation system, an extended day, and is seeking to eliminate step increases.  Additionally they have cancelled an agreed upon 4% raise, trying to make it 2%, while increasing the length of the day by 20%.

Today, our parent union, the American Federation of Teachers, issued the following statement in support of the CTU:

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–September 6, 2012.  Statement of American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten in support of the Chicago Teachers Union.

“Yesterday, on a call with her fellow AFT executive council members, including the union’s three national officers, Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis reported on the status of the CTU’s ongoing negotiations with Chicago Public Schools, the CTU’s hope for a settlement, and its preparations for a strike if a settlement is not reached.

“Chicago’s teachers want what is best for their students and for Chicago’s public schools. And they want to work in an environment that respects their work and their role as partners with administrators in ensuring that every Chicago child has a chance to succeed. The AFT and its members stand with the CTU.

“Chicago teachers have already agreed to a longer school day—and offered ideas to make it not just a longer day but a better day by investing in art, music and other subjects that expand and enrich our children’s minds. And they’ve galvanized parents and community to support these ideas.

“No one takes a strike lightly. CTU members feel that a clear message has been sent by the school district that they and their work are not valued. This message is demonstrated not simply by the school board’s denial of agreed-upon pay raises, but also by Chicago Public Schools’ exclusion of the CTU from conversations it had with outside groups about potential school closings.

“CTU President Lewis and CTU members are committed to working around the clock to reach a fair, substantive agreement that keeps them where they want to be: on the job, in the classrooms, educating Chicago’s students. That will remain their goal if a strike is not averted.”