Brady “jobs” program cuts workers’ rights

Republican candidate for Governor State Senator Bill Brady says he’s the “jobs” candidate. A close examination of Brady’s voting records shows his “jobs formula” is cutting workers’ wages and benefits.

 Let’s start with the minimum wage. Illinois has a minimum wage higher than the federal level. Brady voted against those increases in 1999, 2003 and 2006. During this campaign, he is calling for cutting the Illinois minimum wage by one dollar an hour. Despite the popular misconception that only teens work at minimum wage, 63 percent of minimum wage earners are women and 76 percent of all minimum wage earners are over age 20.

 Currently Illinois is borrowing money to pay unemployment benefits to laid-off workers. The unemployment insurance debt is $1.7 billion. In the 1990s, Illinois actually had a surplus in its unemployment insurance accounts, funds that today could help stabilize families. In 1996 Brady voted successfully to empty $300 million from the unemployment account as a business tax break. Leaving those funds alone and allowing them to grow would certainly have aided today’s shortfall.

When someone is hurt on the job, they need workers’ compensation benefits to pay their medical bills and compensate them for lost income. In an August 11, 2010 press release, Brady called for “restructuring an expensive workers’ compensation system.” In 1995, Brady voted for the biggest cut in Workers’ Compensation benefits for injured workers.

Brady and his endorsing organization, the Illinois Chamber of Commerce, like to point to neighboring states like Missouri for Workers’ Compensation changes. In 2005, Missouri passed a law that the workplace has to be the “prevailing factor” in the injury. In other words, if the employer can point out an out-of-work activity that potentially contributed to the injury, then the work related claim is gone.

For repetitive injury claims, the Missouri law says that normal aging is a basis for disallowing a claim. The Missouri statue explicitly says: “Ordinary, gradual deterioration, or progressive of the body caused by aging or by the normal activities of day-to-day living shall not be compensable.” Could a worker suffering from carpal tunnel be denied coverage, claiming their injury is a by-product of aging?

 Brady is a non-union home builder. Some construction companies classify their workers as “independent contractors” – meaning the individual worker has to pay all their own taxes, Social Security and carry their own workers’ compensation. Brady voted against a 2007 bill defining who is truly an independent contractor and who is really a worker.

This is the “jobs” world of Bill Brady – save business money by lowering wage, limiting injury claims and allowing employers to skirt the law through misclassifying their workers as “independent contractors.” A final consistent vote Brady takes is against workers’ rights. Illinois has some of the best union rights legislation in the nation. In 2003 Brady voted against “card check,” allowing public employees the right to join a union by signing union representation cards. In 1995 and 1999, he voted to “bust” an existing teachers union at the University of Illinois in Springfield. He consistently votes against Project Labor Agreements on construction jobs (1997, 2005).

At election time, think about your paycheck and on-the-job rights. Then examine Bill Brady’s record on unemployment, workers’ compensation and union rights. A vote for Pat Quinn for Governor is a vote to uphold decent jobs and worker rights’.

-Mike Matejka, Great Plains Labor Council

Bumper Sticker Contest Winner Announced

The Quad City Labor Day Parade Alliance is proud to announce the winner of our 2010 Bumper Sticker Contest. Congratulations go out to Dave Shaw, Springfield Area Educator and son of IUOE 150 retired member.

Winning Labor-Bumper-Sticker

We will be selling these great-looking bumper stickers at the Labor Day Parade for $1.00 each. Let us know if your union would like to bulk order more: 309-738-3196

All proceeds from sale of these bumper stickers goes to help support the non-profit organization that operates the annual parade in East Moline.

Statement from Richard Trumka on LIUNA Reaffiliation with AFL-CIO

August 16, 2010

We are very happy that LIUNA is rejoining the AFL-CIO at a critical moment for working people. Union members, like all working families, have been hard hit by a brutal economy and decades of policies that have undermined the middle class. More than ever, now is the moment for a unified labor movement.

And as we rebuild and strengthen the labor movement, we will work together to create good jobs, restore a middle-class economy, and elect leaders who stand with working people. Together, brick by brick, we will build an economy that works for everyone. LIUNA brings a proud history and dedication to the union movement and we are delighted to welcome them back to the AFL-CIO.

I want to personally recognize the president of LIUNA, Terry O’Sullivan, for his leadership and commitment to working people.

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QCFL Protests Korean Free Trade Agreement

On Friday, August 6, over 30 labor leaders held a press conference at the Laborer’s 309 Hall in Rock Island in opposition to remarks made in the Dispatch Argus Newspaper by Bobby Schilling about the proposed Korean Free Trade Agreement.

The following statement was read:

Jason Keller, IL AFL-CIO Legislative Director

On Monday, August 2^nd, Bobby Schilling wrote an editorial to the Rock Island Argus explaining his support for the South Korea Free Trade Agreement.  The Labor community in the Quad Cities wishes to highlight why we feel Mr. Schilling is wrong.

The proposed trade pact is wrong for Illinois because it would allow a massive flow of highly technical industries from Korea into the United States with few opportunities for reciprocal export of U.S. products to Korea. In its current form, the net result will likely further job losses in segments of an industry critical to our area.

The current framework for the South Korea Free Trade Agreement was negotiated by the Bush administration, whose record on the economy is abysmal.  We strenuously object to the tariff schedule proposed by the Korean government. We take great exception to the fact that the tariff phase-out schedules for highly technical industrial products are nonreciprocal, providing Korea with a much more generous tariff elimination schedule than what is afforded U.S. producers and exporters. Since the purpose of this agreement is to provide fair and equitable treatment to all parties, the United States simply cannot accept an agreement that places U.S. manufacturers and workers at such a blatant disadvantage. Bobby Schilling may call this “free trade” when one party imposes tariffs on imports and the other party does not, but working families call it unfair.

Karen Kinney talks about the experience she and her co-workers faced when Seaford Clothing in Rock island closed - sending their jobs to India

Korea exported 476,833 cars to the United States in 2009 while U.S. carmakers sold only 5,878 in Korea. As a result, our automotive trade deficit with Korea now stands at $7.8 billion. In addition, Korea has maintained unfair restrictions on American beef, an insult to our nation’s farmers.  This may seem fair to Bobby Schilling, but it doesn’t seem fair to working families.

The current trade framework will give goods of Korean origin duty-free entry into the U.S. market, while U.S. exports to Korea will still be subject to a 10 percent value added tax. It is misleading for U.S. officials to speak of zero-for-zero duty reductions when the U.S. imposes no comparable border tax on imports from Korea. Remedying this inequity should be part of any Korean trade agreement.

IBEW 145 Member showing his union pride

Mr. Schilling referenced “South Korea’s strong unions” in his editorial.  We would point out that dozens of trade unionists are serving time behind bars – in some cases for years – for the exercise of trade union rights, including the organization of strikes and/or demonstrations.  The use of irregular workers, or temporary workers, in South Korea is alarmingly high.  55% of the workforce consists of these temporary workers.  This may be sound economics to Bobby Schilling, but it is not to us.

In his editorial, Bobby Schilling chastised Congressman Hare for not knowing his district and doing what is best for his district in opposing free trade.  We would remind Bobby Schilling that in 2009 Seaford Clothing Company based in Rock Island, closed its doors, leaving 350 people without a job here.  Eventually, the company that bought Seaford out, Emerisque, shipped those jobs to India.  Also in 2009, BOMAG Americas, Inc. in Kewanee outsourced their jobs, leaving 133 people without employment.  If this is Schillingnomics, we don’t want it.

Free trade agreements must apply the same rules to both parties. To accept an agreement that imposes a nonreciprocal tariff schedule violates the most basic concept of free trade.

Top 5 Social Security Myths

Myth #1: Social Security is going broke.

Reality: There is no Social Security crisis. By 2023, Social Security will have a $4.6 trillion surplus (yes, trillion with a ‘T’). It can pay out all scheduled benefits for the next quarter-century with no changes whatsoever.

1. After 2037, it’ll still be able to pay out 75% of scheduled benefits-and again, that’s without any changes. The program started preparing for the Baby Boomers’ retirement decades ago.2 Anyone who insists Social Security is broke probably wants to break it themselves.

Myth #2: We have to raise the retirement age because people are living longer.

Reality: This is a red-herring to trick you into agreeing to benefit cuts. Retirees are living about the same amount of time as they were in the 1930s.

The reason average life expectancy is higher is mostly because many fewer people die as children than they did 70 years ago.3  What’s more, what gains there have been are distributed very unevenly-since 1972, life expectancy increased by 6.5 years for workers in the top half of the income brackets, but by less than 2 years for those in the bottom half.4 But those intent on cutting Social Security love this argument because raising the retirement age is the same as an across-the-board benefit cut.

Myth #3: Benefit cuts are the only way to fix Social Security.

Reality: Social Security doesn’t need to be fixed. But if we want to  strengthen it, here’s a better way: Make the rich pay their fair share. If the very rich paid taxes on all of their income, Social Security would be sustainable for decades to come.5 Right now, high earners only pay Social Security taxes on the first $106,000 of their income.6 But conservatives insist benefit cuts are the only way because they want to protect the super-rich from paying their fair share.

Myth #4: The Social Security Trust Fund has been raided and is full of IOUs

Reality: Not even close to true. The Social Security Trust Fund isn’t full of IOUs, it’s full of U.S. Treasury Bonds. And those bonds are backed by the full faith and credit of the United States.7 The reason Social Security holds only treasury bonds is the same reason many Americans do: The federal government has never missed a single interest payment on its debts. President Bush wanted to put Social Security funds in the stock market-which would have been disastrous-but luckily, he failed. So the trillions of dollars in the Social Security Trust Fund, which are separate from the regular budget, are as safe as can be.

Myth #5: Social Security adds to the deficit

Reality: It’s not just wrong-it’s impossible! By aw, Social Security’s funds are separate from the budget, and it must pay ts own way. That means that Social Security can’t add one penny to the deficit.8

Defeating these myths is the first step to stopping Social Security cuts. Can you share this list now?

Thanks for all you do.

 

 -Nita, Duncan, Daniel, Kat, and the rest of the team

 

Sources:

 

 1.”To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security,” New Deal 2.0, June 14, 2010

 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703 &id=22140-6697699-v8SDEix&t=4

 

 2. “The Straight Facts on Social Security,” Economic Opportunity Institute,  September 2009

 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89704 &id=22140-6697699-v8SDEix&t=5

 

 3. “Social Security and the Age of Retirement,” Center for Economic and Policy Research, June 2010

 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89705 &id=22140-6697699-v8SDEix&t=6

 

 4. “More on raising the retirement age,” Washington Post, July 8, 2010

 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89706 &id=22140-6697699-v8SDEix&t=7

 

 5. “Social Security is sustainable,” Economic and Policy Institute, May 27,   2010  http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89707 &id=22140-6697699-v8SDEix&t=8

 

 6. “Maximum wage contribution and the amount for a credit in 2010,” Social  Security Administration, April 23, 2010 http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/240

 

 7. “Trust Fund FAQs,” Social Security Administration, February 18, 2010

 http://www.ssa.gov/OACT/ProgData/fundFAQ.html

 

 8.”To Deficit Hawks: We the People Know Best on Social Security,” New Deal  2.0, June 14, 2010

 http://www.moveon.org/r?r=89703 &id=22140-6697699-v8SDEix&t=9

 

 
 

THEY CALLED LBJ A SOCIALIST TOO!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MEDICARE

Medicare was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson 45 years ago today. Looking back to July 30, 1965, the parallels to the historic health care legislation enacted a few months ago are striking. In 1965, many interest groups and lawmakers were philosophically opposed to the idea of the government providing health care to the elderly and people with disabilities.

 Ronald Reagan urged people to stop Medicare at all costs. “If you don’t do it and I don’t do it, one of these days you and I are going to spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it once was like in America when men were free.”  On the contrary, President Johnson and Congress persevered despite enormous political opposition and fear-mongering about socialism and did what was best for the seniors, their families and their communities.  At that time, only half of seniors had health insurance, now all are covered.                

President Obama has pushed vigorously for health reform in America.  In 2008, 45.7 million Americans did not have health insurance.  Each year, 45,000 deaths are caused by lack of insurance. When the provisions of the Affordable Care Act take effect in 2014, 32 million Americans will gain health coverage as the law makes coverage attainable for middle-income families—and many of those needless deaths will be prevented.          

Now, 45 years later, what President Johnson was able to achieve for seniors, President Obama has achieved for the rest of us.

 And don’t forget, August is also the 75th birthday of Franklin Roosevelt’s socialist plot to destroy America — Social Security!

 (from the Guam Teachers – AFT)

AFSCME 988 Picket City of Rock Island

AFSCME Local 988, which represents the City of Rock Island workers, organized an information picket on Monday, July 26, 2010, outside city hall just before the city council meeting.

Local 988 is asking for parity with the city’s other bargaining units and administrative personnel.

For more information, contact President Rick Hitchcock, 309-230-1601 local988@hotmail.com

AFL-CIO National Boycotts

The May-June 2010 issue of Label Letter, put out by union lael & service trades dept. of the AFL-CIO advises that you boycott the following companies and products. For more information, visit the websites of the international unions that have called for each of the boycotts.

Also, visit the union products and printers tab in this website to learn about how to take a union vacation with your family this summer.

Transportation & Travel

Pacific Beach Hotel (HTH) Luxury Hotel, Waikiki, Hawaii

• International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU)

Entertainment & Recreation

Echostar Dishnetwork – Satellite Television Service

• Communications Workers of Americaa

Blueman Productions

• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)

Others

Vincent Bach Division

Conn Selmer, INC.

Elkhart, Indiana Musical Instruments

• United Auto Workers

RJ Reynolds Tobacco Co. Cigarettes: Best Value, Camel, Century, Doral Eclipse, Magna, Monarch, Mre, Now, Salem, Sterilng, Vantage and Winston; plus all Moonlight Tobacco products

• Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers Intl Union.

Two Down – Two to Go

Finally, some good news. During the last six days, the Senate has moved on two key priorities for working families and it is halfway toward our pre-recess goal.

Last Thursday, the Senate voted to reform Wall Street, and just hours ago it finally overcame a Republican-led blockade and extended unemployment benefits, helping more than 2 million long-term unemployed workers.

This is welcome news, but it’s not enough. Before our senators return home for recess, they still have work to do: More than a million state and local teachers, nurses, firefighters and other workers are facing layoffs and the Senate needs to act.

Take Action: Tell Your Senators to Help Save More than 1 Million Jobs NOW.

Last week thousands of you raised your voices and demanded action and we finally saw the Republican blockade broken twice, but the Senate is planning to go on recess in less than three weeks and it is vitally important for lawmakers to act fast on our two remaining priorities.

Cash-strapped states already are beginning to cut services, and if the Senate doesn’t provide aid to these states in the form of direct education funding and the Federal Medical Assistance Program (FMAP) soon, the situation for millions is going to get much, much worse.

We cannot allow obstructionism by the Republican minority to stop help from reaching those most in need. Every senator needs to hear loud and clear from their constituents: No recess until you provide aid to cash-strapped states to save teachers’ jobs and protect vital state and local services, including firefighters, nurses and more.

Take action NOW.

IBEW 1379 Solidarity Letter

To: Our Brothers and Sisters in the Quad Cities Labor Movement

Re: Contract Negotiations   

Very shortly we will be entering contract negotiations with Alcoa. We hope as in the past, these negotiations come to a mutually agreeable conclusion without any conflict, but with the current economy we are very concerned about the outcome.

As you may well know employees work for more than a paycheck. Benefits such as paid heath care, pension, wages, and job security are as important as the paychecks we receive. We also believe that we earn these benefits by meeting the challenges the company has given us, such as providing timely quality products for our customers.

We hope you will support us in reaching a fair contract.

On behalf of the members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1379

Local 1379 Bargaining Committee;    President: Duane Smith;  Vice President: Will Bradshaw; Executive Board Chairman: Luis Cruz; Financial Secretary: Scott Carlson; Steward: Greg Miller; Steward: Rod Sharp