December 15, 2010 No

(ISSN 0023-6667) Dayton will be our next governor Labor’s worst fears from a going to be taken advantage of disastrous election Nov. 2 were in this recount as they had been laid to rest Dec. 8 when when Al Franken beat Norm Republican Tom Emmer con- Coleman in the state’s 2008 ceded to DFLer Mark Dayton U.S. Senate race. Sutton had in the Minnesota governor’s implied that lawsuits could race. The only real surprise was drag the recount out to where how graciously and early Gov. Pawlenty would still be in Emmer conceded in light of office when the Republican- An Injury to One is an Injury to All! state Republican Party Chair controlled legislature convened WEDNESDAY VOL. 116 Tony Sutton’s post election Jan. 4. That would have been DECEMBER 15, 2010 NO. 12 statements that they weren’t labor’s worst fears realized. But Nov. 2’s numbers didn’t change much after the recount, giving Dayton a 9,080 vote vic- tory out of 2.1 million. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie Mark Dayton had a good and election officials down to press conference after being the smallest polling place in declared Minnesota Gover- Minnesota have again shown nor-elect. (Steve Share, Minne- the nation how to run fair and apolis Labor Review photo) clean elections, and recounts. The State Canvassing Board and rebuild the economy just as declared Dayton the winner, he had done all along the cam- and the state Supreme Court paign trail. He started working had blocked the path to law- on his administration immedi- suits over the results. ately after the election and will Mark Dayton and Yvonne be ready to lead the state he Prettner Solon will be able to says. He is a former state audi- be sworn in on Jan. 3 only to tor as well as a former U.S. have to do battle with a Senator. He also served the last Republican controlled Senate DFL governor, Rudy Perpich These revelers had the spirit, yes, even, the Grinch, at the Duluth Central Body’s Holiday and House of Representatives. 20 years ago, as a commission- Party. They helped Operation Toy/Gift Drop with presents that the Community Services They’ll inherit the scenario that er of economic development. Program will distribute to needy union families. Donations are down this year. If you can Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty In a joint statement DFL make a donation contact Beth Peterson, 726-4775 or [email protected]. had with a DFL-controlled leg- Legislative Leaders said, “... islature that he stymied time Dayton offered Minnesotans a Obama’s tax cut deal denounced by many and time again in the past 8 strong vision for growing an By Mark Gruenberg the cuts only for those earning cans hostage so they could years. But Pawlenty also economy that works for PAI Staff Writer $250,000 or less. Obama cited carve out tax cuts for million- bypassed his responsibilities by Minnesota families, and for solving the state’s budget chal- WASHINGTON (PAI)— the other part of the package, aires and billionaires. I can’t just putting off paying the extending federal jobless bene- justify continuing a tax break state’s bills for the next gover- lenges without simply pushing AFL-CIO President Richard the burden onto our schools, Trumka, Steelworkers fits for 13 months, and criti- worth $100,000 a year for nor to take care of. Dayton cized those in both parties who someone with an income of inherits a $6.2 billion budget seniors, and the middle-class.” President Leo Gerard and Minnesota AFL-CIO Service Employees President would not compromise. over a million dollars, while deficit, about $4 billion of “Stop stealing from the you are cutting off a $350 dol- which is K-12 education fund- President Shar Knutson said, Mary Kay Henry sharply “Labor’s goal in the 2010 elec- denounced the tax deal unemployed to provide tax cuts lar a week unemployment ben- ing Pawlenty wouldn’t deal for the rich,” Gerard replied. efit that is helping a hard work- with. tion was to elect a Governor between Democratic President who shares middle class fami- Barack Obama and congres- Obama and the GOP ing family.” Within hours of Emmer’s agreed, they said, to prevent the “The tax cut deal rewards concession, Dayton spoke lies’ values and priorities. sional Republicans to extend Minnesota’s union members the GOP Bush tax cuts for all – Bush tax cuts for all from Republican obstructionism by about the need to create jobs including the rich – for two expiring at the end of 2010, giving the wealthy the tax See Dayton...page 3 years. They called the deal a producing an increase. Their breaks they demanded,” betrayal of workers and the pact left many congressional Trumka said. “It throws away WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE? middle class. Democrats fuming. Saying precious resources needed for Deadline near for Trades scholarships.....page 2 But their Dec. 7 statements Americans “do not want to investments in jobs and our Chamber’s wrong about public employees...page 3 may fall on deaf ears on give tax cuts to billionaires,” economy on upper-income tax Sen. Bernard Sanders, Ind.-Vt., cuts that will do very little to Trumka: We’re in this together.....page 4 Capitol Hill. The Senate has Wis. state workers need help, Opinions....page 5 already rejected labor’s pre- threatened a filibuster. Rep. propel economic growth — ferred alternative, extending Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., setting up excuses for the 82% of port truckers misclassified as independent...page 7 called the deal “a huge bonan- deficit hypocrites to argue for Unemployment benefits pay off.....page 8 za” for the richest. even more cuts to programs MNA has two organizing wins.....page 9 serving working families.” Minnesota Congressman Scott Walker killing jobs in Wisconsin...pages 10, 11 Jim Oberstar said Dec. 7, “It is unconscionable that “There are a lot of questions I the price of support for strug- Labor doesn’t like deficit panel’s ideas...pages 12, 13 will need to have addressed gling middle-class families and Wermter creates Wis. labor bibliography.....pages 14, 15 before I can decide if I will workers who have been unable Wal-Mart sex discrimination case to Supremes.....page 16 support a tax cut for million- to find jobs for months and Obama wants to freeze some federal wages...page 17 aires that will cost twice as months and months is yet more Look for educational solutions, not Superman.....page 19 much as the stimulus package giveaways for our country's which Republicans opposed so wealthiest families,” the feder- Why Obama is failing.....page 21 bitterly. Republicans held two ation chief added. DOL official: Labor media needed...... page 22 million unemployed Ameri- See Tax deal...page 3 Area activists protest Georgia’s SOA.....page 24 Happy Holidays~Hang on in 2011 Duluth Building Trades Council Scholarship deadline is January 15 It’s only one month to the President Craig Olson. “These meant to your family.” Workers #242; Elevator Allied Trades #106; Plumbers deadline for applications to be are really great, one-time The DBCTC established the Constructors #9; Insulators & Steamfitters #11; Roofers submitted for students to be scholarships, as good as there scholarship fund in 1999 after #49; Iron Workers #512: #96; Sheet Metal Workers #10; considered for a Duluth Build- are in the area.” selling the Shoreview House of Laborers #1091; Operating Sprinkler Fitters #669; and, ing & Construction Trades All area high school coun- Hope in 1995, a housing facili- Engineers #49; Painters & Teamsters #346. Council Scholarship. selors have information about ty for cancer patients and their If you are a member of one the scholarships, which are families that the Building of the unions affiliated with the administered by the Duluth Trades unions had established Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 10 DBCTC and have a child who Superior Area Community to fill a need in the hospital dis- is a high school senior with a Foundation. The applications trict in 1978. Retirees’ Luncheon grade point average of at least are available online as well at The first scholarships were 2.75 (on a 4.0 scale) you’d bet- http:/./www.dsacommunity awarded in 2000, and two per Tuesday, Jan. 4, 1:00 p.m. ter giddy-up. There will be two foundation.com/cms/files/2011 year have been awarded since. lucky winners chosen by lot DSACFApplication.pdf. You The unions currently affili- Little Angie’s and each will receive $2,500 to can call David Hammer at ated with the Duluth Building further their education. DSACF at 218-726-0232. & Construction Trades Council “We’ve made the require- As part of the application include: Boilermakers #647; ments a little easier to meet, so each applicant is asked to write Bricklayers & Allied Crafts #1; we’d really like to see more a 300-word essay on the topic, Cement Masons, Plasterers & n economy that’s still in the applicants,” said DBCTC “What union membership has Shophands #633; Electrical Atank has working families stillA taking the big hits as America Union leadership training continues to roll over for the rich. MINNEAPOLIS - The University of Minnesota Labor Education Service is accepting applications for the second We need to continue to pressure all cohort (2011-2012) of the Minnesota Union Leadership Education MN elected officials so they understand Program. MULP is a dynamic new educational opportunity for the plight of the middle class, which union officers and staff. Participants attend eight full-day ses- Member Discounts! sions over a two-year period. is not the problem, and find ways to The program goes beyond regular skills training offered by Wade Smith bring us happier holidays and an the Labor Education Service to provide the opportunity for top (218) 724-4507 improving 2011. leaders — and emerging leaders — to develop a deeper under- standing of the critical issues affecting working people in Minnesota. IronIron RangeRange Space is limited to 30 people to ensure a quality educa- I.U.O.E. Local 70 LaborLabor tional experience. For a Monthly Arrowhead Regional Meeting brochure and application mate- Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2011, 5:00 P.M. AssemblyAssembly rials, visit http://www.carlson President school.umn.edu/cms/page Duluth Labor Center, Hall B Tom Cvar, 10344.aspx. Applications are Dave Monsour, Business Manager, (651) 646-4566 due by Friday, Jan. 14, 2011. ASBESTOSIS

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“The Union Members Law Firm”® pocket more profits from our their state and local tax rate has wages for better benefits. 22,500 additional jobs. labor. Our union is trying to decreased by 4%. Meanwhile, • Minnesota’s state work- • State and local taxes col- force is the 10th leanest and lected on public pensions RECEIVED one of the most productive in exceed public employer pen- Dayton brings hope...from page 1 the nation. Minnesota has 71 sion contributions by $80 mil- A NOTICE knocked on more than 200,000 doors and made more than a public workers for every lion a year. half million phone calls because we know Mark Dayton will be 10,000 residents, according to • Ninety percent of retired a Governor who stands up for middle class families. Going for- the U.S. census. – the same public workers stay in FOR ward, Minnesota’s working men and women stand ready to help ratio as the state of Florida. Minnesota. That benefits the Governor-elect Dayton create family-sustaining jobs, turn our • If Gov. Pawlenty fired all economy and keeps seniors DEFECTIVE economy around, and solve the state’s revenue shortfall fairly.” state employees, the cost sav- self-sufficient. Eliot Seide, director of AFSCME Council 5, said, “Our union ings would erase only 21 per- • More than 20 percent of DePUY HIP? was first to endorse (Dayton) in October 2009 and we supported cent of the state budget deficit. senior citizens are living in him all the way. His partnership with public workers will con- • Minnesota Chamber presi- poverty with only Social tinue to be strong as we work together to build a better dent David Olson’s concern Security. CALL Minnesota where everyone can prosper. (Dayton) recognizes about public compensation is • Minnesota taxpayers pay that frontline workers are part of the solution, not the problem.” hypocritical. As a trustee of the for only 15 cents of every dol- ATTORNEY The Minnesota Nurses Association said they eagerly support Minnesota State Colleges and lar in public pension benefits. Dayton as he faces the difficult burden of solving the state’s Universities, he paid bonuses • Most private pensions are RUSS budget deficit while maintaining a safety net for Minnesota’s totaling $415,875 to 33 top 100% employer paid. most vulnerable population. MNA President, Linda Hamilton, administrators who earn six- AFSCME members pay for SUNDQUIST RN stated, “As health care providers, one of MNA’s highest pri- figure salaries. Phil Krinkie, half of theirs. orities is making sure that Minnesota accepts the federal Medical FOR A Assistance expansion and the $1.4 billion that comes with it. FREE Support your local pharmacy CONSULTATION. IBEW 31 & 242 Retirees’ Tell your union, health fund, and employer Annual Christmas Party you want local pharmacy services Tuesday, Dec. 28, 1:00 p.m. It’s Better...Keep It Local! 651-228-1881 Sunset Bar & Grill Your Local vs Mail Order The Best of the Season to All! White Drug Pharmacy Pharmacies 800-457-4811 3Personal service Service only by phone/computer 3Consulting at the pharmacy No personal contact. How do you get questions answered? 3Questions answered reliably, Allegations of re-dispensing Thank you accurately product that has been returned 315 minute service on No ability to customize orders for your IBEWsupport, 31 & 242 new prescriptions 3Ready RefillTM (Automated Two week delivery, often LATE Retirees’ Annual Refills) authorizations and HappyChristmas Holidays! Party 3Free in town prescription Do you want your meds sitting in Tuesday, Dec. 29 delivery a 110 degree mailbox? 1:00 p.m. 3We contact doctors for refills Some require you to get your 1:00 p.m. own refill authorizations Sunset 3Monthly health screenings Sunset Why trust your health & safety to Frank JEWELLWishing 3Free blood pressure checks a nameless, faceless person? the Best Your local White Drug Pharmacy is more reliable St. Louisof theCounty than mail order. We are always available to answer Holiday Season your questions face to face with a local pharmacist. Commissioner-Electto all our friends in For a listing of locations visit www.thriftywhite.com the Labor Movement Pinetree Plaza District 1 Inside Super One Foods Cloquet, MN Paid for by Frank Jewell on his own behalf 218-879-6768 • 1-800-967-3421 Store hours: Mon-Fri 9am - 8pm • Sat 9am - 5:30pm • Sun 11am - 5pm

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 3 It’s up to all of us – working together By Richard Trumka, for change, are hungry for lead- united by our common beliefs. President, AFL-CIO ership. It means giving one another the Before signing the Someone has to turn this courage to take on those offen- Declaration of Independence, economy around—fast, before sive fights. It means growing. Ben Franklin immortalized one working families lose more And it means refusing to be Season’s Greetings of my favorite quotes: “We jobs, more homes, more oppor- divided. must, indeed, all hang together, tunity for a decent future for For decades, we witnessed or most assuredly we shall all their children. the erosion of our manufactur- hang separately.” And it’s not going to be the ing sector—the outsourcing of from the I don’t think that’s too political lap dogs for Wall good, middle-class jobs. That melodramatic a statement for Street and the rich—they’re not didn’t just hurt manufacturing union members to consider going to fix this economy. It’s workers. It hurt every one of today. We know we’re in a not going to be the conserva- us. It destroyed whole commu- political bulls-eye and that the tive ideologues or the haters. nities, fractured families, gut- goal of our opponents is to tie This job falls to us—a unit- ted the middle class and hol- us up with defensive battles— ed American labor movement. lowed out our economy. Representing Media & in Washington, D.C., and in the The corporate agenda we’ve When President Reagan states—because they think that lived under for the past three fired the air traffic controllers, Communications workers will weaken our offensive for decades and the recent eco- it wasn’t one union that was in Minnesota for 77 years. jobs, good living standards and nomic collapse have left our harmed. The message was clear an economy that works for all. unions bruised, smaller than to all of us: “Shut up. We make 612-789-0044 we should be. So we have to be It’s a perilous time—but the rules and you can take them [email protected] one that is also ripe with oppor- stronger than we’ve ever been or take a hike. You can’t stand tunity. Right now, the to meet this responsibility. up to us—we’ll knock you www.mnguild.org American people, who repeat- That means hanging togeth- down.” edly have voiced their desire er. It means solidarity. When public employees are Proudly representing the It means fighting together attacked because they have pensions and health care bene- Labor World editor since 1989 We have Moved! fits, those pensions and bene- Your Community Services Program has fits—which should be a basic Your Community Services Program has right—are pushed further out moved but still offers great help from of everyone’s reach. the Ordean Building, 424 West Superior Solidarity has always been Street, Suite 402, Duluth, MN 55802. essential in our movement— but never more than now. Call us at (218) 726-4775, or email Sisters and brothers in one state [email protected]. will be fighting right-to-work Confidential Assistance for less proposals; in the next for Our Union Families state over, they’ll be fighting Director for a Made in America law. Beth Peterson, Building trades workers may face attacks on prevailing wages, while public employees are threatened with layoffs and Season's transportation and manufacturing workers demand green energy jobs in this country. And everywhere, unions will be helping workers organize Greetings and grow our movement. If we only fight our own battles, we’re in danger of winning none. And we certainly won’t demonstrate the leadership America is counting on us for. And when I say “leadership,” I’m not talking about me, or even your union president. I’m talking about you. As our political program demon- strates year after year, nothing is more powerful in turning co- workers into activists than your face-to-face, heart-to-heart conversations. That’s leadership. The Officers and Members of We have so much to do in the coming months and years. And it’s a core of our history, of IRONWORKERS all we stand for, that the way we win is by winning together. LOCAL 512 So hang together. Stand together. Fight together. Lead www.ironworkers512.com together. And no one—no one—can tear us down.

PAGE 4 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 Wis. state workers need pact, calls to legislators urged Wisconsin’s state workers are under attack, and they need your help to get their contracts passed by the Wisconsin state leg- Books make great gifts at islature before Republicans take over state government in this time of year, but I wouldn’t January. Recently negotiated contracts covering state workers necessarily recommend the one contain significant concessions—but corporate interests are on the right. You can jump all fighting tooth and nail to stop them from being approved by the over me for that, because you state legislature. are correct – I haven’t read it. “If recently-negotiated contracts are not approved this week, There just isn’t enough time for this issue will be used to drag our state workers through the mud reading. He probably hasn’t in January,” said President Phil Neuenfeldt of the Wisconsin read it even though he’d have State AFL-CIO. “We must not allow newly elected extremist us believe he wrote it. legislators to come in this January and turn our state workers into Hopefully I’ll find some scapegoats for the state’s financial problems.” time during the holidays to get He said recently negotiated contracts for state employees are some reading done. I’ve got a fair for both state workers and Wisconsin taxpayers in this tough few books I’d like to get farther economic climate. But extremists are trying to block them. along with. arrived a couple of week’s ago Somedays you just don’t have “Times are tough, and all of us in here in Wisconsin have had Retired UMD Prof. Vern for John Nichols’ “The ‘S’ the sharp edges on the glass in to tighten our belts,” said Neuenfeldt. “State workers are no Simula recommended Naomi Word: A Short History of An your guts for Klein’s or exception—they made big sacrifices in recent contract negotia- Klein’s “The Shock Doctrine” American Tradition...Social- Nichols’ work, as important as tions.” as one of the best books he’s ism.” If his “S” word would they are. “I’ll take a double Some recently elected members of our state legislature want ever read. Doesn’t leave you have been “swimming” it shot of pleasure reading, bar- to shrink government regardless of the cost in jobs and public much choice. Introductions in would have been worth reading tender, thanks.” services. They’re suggesting we scrap these contracts that work- books are often ignored, but because he wrote it, but this is When I was spending 15 ers and the state worked hard to negotiate. They want to interfere her’s to this 2007 book blew an incredibly educational book years working construction as a with the bargaining process and replace the contracts with brutal me away. She laid the ground- if you’re a history, politics or member of Laborers Local concessions next year. work convincingly for the government buff. It will be 1091, I would dream about Tell your state legislators to vote YES on the contracts. You book’s subtitle, “The Rise of released in March and Nichols’ having a job where I could can visit the Wisconsin State AFL-CIO website at www.wisafl Disaster Capitalism.” timing is perfect. He wrote that read. I was lucky enough to get cio.org and log onto the e-activist system to become involved. An uncorrected proof the “red-baiting” that has been one, thanks to a public school going on for some time in this education. Funny, but I still Cravaack just might fall country troubled him and so he wish I had more reading time. ~NOTICE~ decided he needed to set the We’re hard to please aren’t we? asleep on the 8th district 2011 issues of Labor World: record straight since echo Editor: Jan. 5, 19; Feb. 2, 16; March chambers are constantly tout- This Day In History An article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune of Nov. 13 titled 2, 23; April 6, 20; May 4, 18; ing our history as a capitalist “Chip Cravaack gets ready to report for duty” relates to how June 1, 22; July 6, 20; Aug. from country. The little I’ve read is www.workdayminnesota.org Cravaack went to Congressman Jim Oberstar’s office in North 3, 31; Sept. 14, 28; Oct. 12, fantastic. Branch to demand to talk with Oberstar. Oberstar wasn’t in. 26; Nov. 9, 22; Dec. 14 Neither of these books will December 14, 1995 Cravaack was so teed off that he decided to run against Oberstar. LABOR WORLD be easy reading for me as much Members of the International The rest is now history. as I’ll agree with and appreci- (ISSN#0023-6667) is published Association of Machinists and The article contained a bit of information that made me won- semi-monthly except one issue in ate what I consider sound Aerospace Workers ended a der if more voters had known it, would they have been so quick December (23 issues). information, but not cheerful. 69-day strike at Boeing Co. to vote against Oberstar. The known office of publication is About the time I ordered The 33,000 strikers gained Cravaack’s only elected office was president of his school Labor World, 2002 London Road, Klein’s book (from Northern Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812. increases in pay and health PTA. He was unemployed since 2007 but receives over $79,000 Periodicals postage is paid at Lights Books & Gifts, of benefits and job protections per year disability pension from Northwest, now Delta, Airlines Duluth MN 55806. course) I ran across an ad for a against subcontracting. A key for (get this) sleep apnea. Yes, a full disability pension for sleep POSTMASTER: new book about Mickey issue in the dispute was apnea. In addition, he also retired from the Naval Reserve two Send address changes to: Mantle, one of my heroes Boeing's increasing use of years earlier but did not mention his military pension. Labor World, 2002 London Rd., growing up as a Yankee fan overseas companies to pro- I wonder how long it will be before he sets up an office in the Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812 until the Twins (MN) were duce parts for its airplanes. north - the Iron Range or Duluth. If or when he does, I hope oth- 6 7 born. “The Last Boy” by Jane ers will join me on that first day, demanding to talk with him and Leavy would be the perfect December 15, 1792 (218) 728-4469 The U.S. Bill of Rights was ask if he intends to claim disability from Congress for “sleep FAX: (218) 724-1413 easy read for the holidays, red apnea.” wine, and gazes out the win- adopted. Article I guarantees [email protected] freedom of speech, religion, I, for one, hope Jim Oberstar will run again in the next elec- www.laborworld.org dows at snow globe vistas. tion in 2012. ~ ESTABLISHED 1896 ~ So would the second install- the press and "the right of Owned by Unions affiliated with the ment of S.L. Stoner’s Sage the people peaceably to George Sundstrom, Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 Retired Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body Adair labor mystery series, assemble and to petition the Subscriptions: $22 Annually “Land Sharks,” which the pub- Government for a redress of Tax deal panned...from page 1 Larry Sillanpa, Editor/Manager lisher so graciously sent me. grievances." Henry said the $134 billion cost of the 2-year extension of the Deborah Skoglund, Bookkeeper December 16, 1977 tax cuts for the rich could have been used to create an estimated Board of Directors The non-profit Labor World, Inc. is the official publication of the Eight women in Willmar, MN, 3.4 million jobs. Pres./Treas. Mikael Sundin, Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor initiated the first bank strike “It's already clear that Wall Street and corporate CEOs got Painters & Allied Trades 106; in U.S. history. They earned exactly what they paid for when they bought the Republican V.P. Paul Iversen, BMWED Body. It is an educational, advocacy newspaper for workers and international attention as Party,” which will run the House starting on Jan. 3, Henry said. 1710; Sec. Larry Anderson, “The Willmar 8. “ They didn't “CEOs and the wealthiest Americans get rewarded with millions Laborers 1091; Al LaFrenier, unions. The views and opinions Workers’ United Midwest Bd; submitted and expressed in the win their strike, but they more in tax breaks to pad their already hefty profits and bonuses Mike Kuitu, Operating Engi- Labor World do not necessarily became enduring symbols in while the American people get fewer jobs and increased hard- neers 49; Rick McDonald, reflect the views of the paper, its the struggle for women's ship. They’ve come after our jobs, our healthcare, and our retire- IBEW 31; Jayme McKenna, Board of Directors or staff, the rights and for social and eco- ments. What’s next? When it comes to creating jobs, extending AFSCME 66; Dan O’Neill, Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor nomic justice. http://www. unemployment benefits, and providing real relief for America’s Plumbers & Steamfitters 11; Body, its affiliated unions, their workdayminnesota.org/index. families, Republicans hold our country hostage until we give in Steve Risacher, Carpenters 361 officers, or staff. php?article_1_70 to another bailout for the rich.” LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 5 Hospital memo raises questions ST. PAUL - An internal Minnesota Hospital Association memo obtained by the Minnesota Nurses Association reveals that state hospital executives have no intention of honoring their very public pledge to work hand-in-hand with nurses to solve the unsafe staffing crisis that garnered international media attention during 2010 contract negotiations, the union said. Instead, May this Holiday Season the memo reveals that hospital executives across the state will bring you Joy and Peace. invest an extraordinary amount of time, money and manpower in a 3-year public relations/lobbying campaign aimed at defeat- Thanks for helping make ing any attempt by nurses to improve unsafe staffing conditions. “We are deeply disturbed by the details contained in this Minnesota a better place memo,” said MNA President Linda Hamilton. “At the conclu- to live and work. sion of 2010 contract negotiations in the Twin Cities, these hospitals literally told anyone within earshot that they were com- Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon mitted to working with – not against – nurses when it came to addressing unsafe staffing. Instead, we’ve learned that they are Your AFL-CIO- & DFL-Endorsed Lieutenant Governor-Elect likely going to spend hundreds of thousands – if not millions – Paid for by Yvonne Prettner Solon on her own behalf of dollars, countless hours of staff time and other resources to fight against the very nurses they’re supposed to be working with.” More than 30 hospital executives from across the state – including CEOs, Presidents, HR officials, Government Relations experts and PR and Communications directors – will make up a “steering committee” designed to “guide MHA’s advocacy efforts.” Duluth hospitals are part of the group.

2011

WishingourfriendsaHappyHoliday With Best Wishes for Since a Safe and Happy 1887

National Association of Letter Carriers Zenith Branch 114 Merged Duluth, Two Harbors and Silver Bay

PAGE 6 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 Study finds 82% of port truckers are HOME & 24 HOUR misclassified as “independent contractors” BUSINESS SERVICE WASHINGTON (PAI)— ed drivers are African- ing purchase, fuel, taxes, insur- HEATING Some 82% of 110,000 truckers Americans or Hispanic-named. ance, maintenance, and repair INSTALLATION who serve the nation’s major The study comes as the costs. ports – such as Los Angeles- Obama administration’s Labor * Independent contractor FREE & Long Beach, New York-New Department continues its initia- port drivers averaged a 59-hour ESTIMATES SETUP Jersey, Baltimore and tive to crack down on the workweek, with net earnings Philadelphia – are misclassi- “independent contractor” before taxes of $28,783 per fied as “independent contrac- dodge, which is widely used by year. Port drivers who were tors,” depriving them of wages, employers not just in trucking “employees” earned $7,000 labor law protection and even but also in construction and more each, and the firms paid Harbor City Oil workers comp, a new study home health care. Social Security, Medicare, says. The study, by employ- The Teamsters have made workers comp and unemploy- & PROPANE ment law experts at Rutgers misclassification of any truck- ment insurance taxes for them, University, the National ers – not just port drivers -- a as required by law. Employment Law Project and major cause. In several metro * Independent contractor 3020 West Superior Street • 624-3633 Change To Win – the 4-union areas, they successfully chal- drivers “reported average net Warming the Northland for over 40 years coalition that includes the lenged FedEx’s misclassifica- incomes 18% lower than Teamsters – adds the misclassi- tion of its drivers as “indepen- employee drivers. Independent fication is deliberate by the dent contractors.” The Internal contractors were 2-1/2 times truckers’ employers. Revenue Service has fined less likely than employee driv- Those employers, in turn, FedEx millions of dollars for ers to have health insurance load heavy expenses on the misclassifying its drivers as and almost three times less individual truckers, making independent, rather than likely to have retirement bene- them pay for everything from employees – and thus escaping fits.” SSeason’s GGreetings! tires to insurance while order- taxes and workers comp pay- * Being forced to work long ing the truckers’ schedules and ments. hours to bring home decent trips in ways that force the The report covered inter- paychecks pushed the inde- drivers to violate health and views and review of employ- pendent contractor drivers into safety rules. ment records of 39 trucking widespread health and safety The result, says Wade firms at seven major ports, cov- violations. “Drivers common- Henderson of the Leadership ering 2,183 port drivers. Its ly use dangerous and illegal Conference on Civil Rights, is findings included: equipment, and safety limits on that the port drivers toil in a * Trucking companies make working hours and vehicle form of “sharecropping on drivers responsible for all weights are routinely ignored,” wheels.” Many of the exploit- truck-related expenses includ- the report said. * “Low-wage independent contractors bear the industry’s capital expenses by owning and operating the only equipment they can afford – the oldest diesel trucks on the road. You can help our The industry’s adoption of misclassification as a business model is a direct source of the members have better environmental and public health crises surrounding the holidays if you would nation’s ports.” “Misclassification drains public coffers through uncol- PLEASEPLEASE BOYCOTTBOYCOTT Thank you for the lected taxes, it puts law-abiding businesses at a competitive dis- honor and pleasure advantage, and it leaves work- THETHE FOLLOWINGFOLLOWING ers vulnerable without basic of serving the great protections – not to mention the safety and environmental COMPANIES:COMPANIES: State of Minnesota. hazards it creates. We need lawmakers, federal agencies I’ll always work to and the ports to come together Caywood Oil to tackle these pervasive and improve the lives of illegal business tactics that Como Oil & Propane undermine the economy and working families. the workers who help make it run,” report co-author Paul Curtis Oil & Propane I’m enjoying doing it! Marvy of Change To Win said. And Teamsters Port Superior Fuel DFL & Labor Endorsed Division Director Fred Potter Tony told the Wall Street Journal the THANK YOU! Minnesota union would take the report to Senate the Obama administration and TeamstersT Lourey District 8 urge it to step up its crusade against misclassification. Local 346 Paid for by Tony Lourey for Senate, L Tony Bundschuh, Treasurer, Bruno, MN 55712

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 7 Unemployment insurance benefits pay off in a big way By Michael Kuchta +HDOWK\+ROLGD\V SOUTH ST. PAUL - Unemployment insurance does more than keep out-of-work workers afloat. It prevents additional workers from losing their jobs and gives taxpayers a 2-to-1 return on investment, a new Labor Department study says. The study, commissioned during the Bush administration, makes it harder to understand why Congressional Republicans are so willing to pull the plug on 2 million unemployed workers between now and New Year’s Day. Unemployment insurance benefits are helping in a big way to keep the economy from becoming even worse, the Labor Department study says. Without unemployment insurance: • The nation’s jobless rate would be 1.2 points higher and could have climbed to over 11 percent during the depths of the recession. An average of 1.6 million more workers would be out of a job. • The nation’s GDP would have fallen 18.3 percent more than it did. Instead, the economic impact of unemployment benefits boosted GDP by $175 billion in 2009, and by a total of $315 billion during the 19 months of the “great recession.” Unemployment benefits are “one of the most effective target- From the 20,000 members of ed tools for maintaining American families’ purchasing power and keeping the economy on track during an economic down- the Minnesota Nurses Association turn,” the Labor Department says. In 2009, jobless workers received $128 billion in income from unemployment benefits, the study says. As recently as this April, nearly 10 million workers were relying on unemployment benefits. Economists call the benefits an “automatic economic stabilizer.” They work by reducing the snowball effect of unemployment. That’s where people who lose a job reduce their spending. Reduced spending hurts businesses, which causes other workers to lose their jobs. Instead, unemployment insurance gives jobless workers money they desperately need to provide for themselves and their families. “By partially compensating the unemployed for the lost earnings, UI benefits help to break the negative cycle of increased unemployment leading to reduced consumption, which leads to a further reduction in economic activity,” the Labor Department’s study says. During the “great recession,” unemployment benefits gener- HHaappppyy ated $2 in economic activity for every $1 taxpayers that spent. That multiplier effect – 2.0 – was even higher than during previous recessions, according to the study, which was conducted by the research firm IMPAQ International in conjunction with the H o l i d a y s Urban Institute. H o l i d a y s Most unemployed workers qualify for 26 weeks of unemployment benefits when they lose their job. Because of the “great recession,” Congress expanded that to as many as 99 weeks for some workers hit by long-term unemployment. TToo AAllll!! However, the longest extensions expired on Nov. 30. In the last two weeks, Congressional Republicans twice blocked attempts to continue the benefits for those who have been out of work six months or longer. The Economic Policy Institute calculates that extending benefits for all of 2011 would create or save 723,000 full-time- equivalent jobs. Just by itself, that’s more jobs than the economy has created in the last eight months combined. But instead of extending unemployment insurance, Congressional Republicans say their highest priority is extending Bush-era tax giveaways. Continuing those tax breaks would keep the gravy train rolling for millionaires and billionaires while depriving the U.S. treasury of $700 billion over the next decade. Even though the recession is officially over (economists say it lasted from December 2007 until June 2009), 14.8 million workers are still out of work. About 42 percent of them have been jobless for at least six months, the Labor Department says; about 23 percent have been out of work at least a year. An additional 11.8 million have given up or are working part-time even , President though they would prefer to work full-time. Mike Buesing Michael Kuchta is communications coordinator for AFSCME Eliot Seide, Executive Director Council 5 in Minnesota.

PAGE 8 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 MNA organizes in MN, Iowa ST. PAUL – More than 350 Twin Cities RNs will be joining the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) under a recent agreement reached with officials from the University of Minnesota’s Amplatz Children’s Hospital. The nurses will be working on the low rates. free hat with a new Riverside Campus slated to open in March 2011. recreational loan “We are delighted to reach an agreement that allows these fast approvals. nurses the rights, privileges and protections that union membership provides,” said Barb Martin, RN, who helped broker the no hassle agreement. “I really believe it was the collective effort of more lending. than 12,000 Twin Cities nurses this spring and summer during our contract negotiations that helped demonstrate to officials at 218-729-7733 • Hermantownfcu.org Amplatz just what an important and influential role MNA RNs play in health care delivery in this market.” Member eligibility required. Member NCUA. Amplatz’s new 227,000 square foot facility will focus on pediatric and maternal services. It is being touted as Minnesota’s first eco-friendly or “green” children’s hospital. “This is a great day for the future patients at Amplatz’s Riverside Campus,” said Jody Haggy, RN, who worked closely with Martin and other MNA leaders in helping reach the agreement with the hospital. “Union nurses covered by MNA con- From all of us at the tracts are able to have an important and influential voice in patient safety issues at their hospitals, and I know the nurses at Amplatz will put that voice to good use.” Greater Northland Area Local 142 In November registered nurses at Marshalltown Medical & Surgical Center in Iowa voted overwhelmingly to join MNA. In the election, overseen by the National Labor Relations Board American Postal Workers Union/AFL-CIO (NLRB), the nurses voted by an 82 percent margin to join the largest union of registered nurses in the Midwest. We wish you and your loved ones “This process has brought MMSC nurses together in a way we have never seen before,” said Alisha Neuroth, RN. “We are proud to be a part of MNA and look forward to continuing our A Safe and Happy Holiday Season! positive working relationship with the hospital.” The 123 RNs at MMSC had been represented by the Iowa Nurses Association (INA) for decades. When the INA decided last month to no longer engage in collective bargaining activi- ties, the nurses reached out to MNA to maintain union status. Founded in 1905, the MNA has more than 20,000 members and is affiliated with National Nurses United (NNU), which represents more than 155,000 RNs across the United States. Thanks to all for a great 2010! Happy Holidays & Happy New Year MESOTHELIOMA and LUNG CANCER Proud to be a Union Contractor Why choose Cascino Vaughan to handle your LAKEHEAD Painting Co. Asbestos Claim? “Serving the upper midwest since 1965” The lawyers on our letterhead have over 75 years of combined Free Estimates Superior, WI 715-394-5799 asbestos experience.

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settled in excess of $1.9 Million. The Best of the Season and New Year to All Our Friends! - In August of 2010 we settled a case for a Sheboygan bricklayer for more than $750,000. from the Members of International Association of - In May of 2010 a jury awarded a verdict $1.45 Million for one of our Milwaukee clients. Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers CASCINO VAUGHAN LAW OFFICES Local 49 1110 Old World Third Street Suite 405 Duluth, MN Milwaukee Wisconsin 53203 Chartered in 1937 (414)226-0241

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LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 9 H a p p y H o l i d a y s Scott Walker says “no” to good family jobs, sound transportation policy, in Wisconsin By Riley Hanick the redirection of funds on panies are also obligated, Talgo Inc. said on Friday Thursday, LaHood said “I am should they receive AARA that it plans to shut down its pleased that so many other money, to hire American work- manufacturing operations in states are enthusiastic about the ers and to use American-made Milwaukee. The Spanish- additional support they are supplies. owned train company cited the receiving to bring America’s In Milwaukee, federal fund- previous day’s announcement high-speed rail network to ing will no longer pay for the that nearly all of the $810 mil- life.” $19.4 million cost of renovat- United Steelworkers District #11 lion in federal stimulus funding The administration has ing the train shed of the city’s committed to Wisconsin for a obtained commitments from 30 Amtrak-Greyhound station or 2929 University Avenue SE, Suite #150 proposed high-speed rail line domestic and foreign rail man- the $52 million cost of building Minneapolis, MN 55414 connecting Milwaukee to ufacturers to either establish or a new maintenance base for the Madison has been withdrawn. expand their base of operations two newly-purchased trains. A Great Holiday Season Governor-elect, Republican within the U.S. if they are Both projects were covered Scott Walker, who maintained awarded building contracts for and New Year to All throughout his campaign that high-speed rail lines. Com- See Walker...page 11 he would kill the project if United Steelworkers elected, called the withdrawal A Happy Holiday Season! Local 1028 of funds a win for his future constituents. “Wisconsin taxpayers were victorious today in To All defeating this project. The last Union Members & election showed that Wiscon- sonites oppose runaway gov- Area Contractors ernment spending. The Madison to Milwaukee line is from Serving: ME Electmetal Keep America dead.” Lerch Bros. (Allouez) The federal funds that had Cement Masons, Duluth Steel Fabricators Working – been designated for Wisconsin Buy American, were the bulk of the $1.195 bil- Plasterers & Cutler-Magner (Salt) lion redirected to high-speed Township of Duluth (Police) Union, & Local rail programs in thirteen other Shophands states. California, Florida, and Washington State were at the Local 633 Your Good Will is the foundation head of the list, receiving $624 of our success. Accept our “Thank million, $342.3 million, and $161.5 million, respectively. 1-218-724-2323 You” this Holiday Season as we Wisconsin will retain $2 million for upgrades on the America’s Oldest Building Trades Union• Est. 1864 wish you Happiness and Health in existing Hiawatha line, which runs from Milwaukee to the coming New Year. Chicago and reported record- high ridership levels during the Representing Railway Labor and 2010 fiscal year. Its operating costs make up less than 1% of their families for injuries on and off the state’s transportation budg- the job for over a half century! et. Talgo is in the middle of hir- ing 125 workers to build two 14-car trains for the existing Hiawatha rail line and an additional pair of trains that will service lines in Oregon. The company had planned to build two more trains for the proposed Milwaukee-to-Madison line. While the company’s existing maintenance facilities will continue to function, man- HUNEGS, LENEAVE & KVA S ufacturing will cease by the spring of 2012. Attorneys at Law The Obama administration announced last year that it 900 Second Avenue South, Suite 1650 would provide $8 billion dol- Minneapolis, MN 55402 lars for a high-speed rail program as part of the American Located at intersection of I-35 & 26 Ave. E. 612-339-4511 1-800-328-4340 Recovery and Reinvestment Act. According to ~Investigators~ Transportation Secretary Ray Arnie Flagstad Clyde Larson LaHood, the department subse- quently received over $55 mil- Superior, WI. Duluth, MN lion in requests. 715-394-5876 218-348-3091 In his statement announcing

PAGE 10 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 Walker killing jobs before he takes over as Wisconsin governor...from page 10 under the initial budget. “Our frustration is that we’re city that is desperately in need connected directly to the con- out.” Milwaukee Mayor Tom still working with Talgo while of family-supporting jobs.” struction, supply, and oversight Nora Friend, the vice-presi- Barrett has said that city offi- the new administration is wav- State projections have esti- of the project. The broader dent of Talgo, has expressed cials may take legal action ing goodbye,” said Barrett who mated that rail-related employ- economic benefits from shock and frustration at the against the state in order to lost to Walker in November’s ment would peak in 2012 with increasing connectivity bet- governor-elect’s promises to recoup the city’s investment. election. “This is part of the between 4,700 and 5,500 jobs ween Midwestern cities have kill the project. She also open- remained largely uncontested, ly criticized the Milwaukee as has the necessity of the U.S. business community that, she If you’ve had good fortune this year, even though it may have come making long-term plans for maintains, “did not speak about transportation options that are the facts on this project. A through your own hard work, remember those, especially during less dependent on fossil fuels. basic return-on-investment While Walker has consis- analysis would show that even these holidays, who have hard times knocking at their doors. tently claimed that Wisconsin if the state of Wisconsin had to taxpayers would be responsible pay the full operation subsidy Have a Peaceful Holiday and Healthy 2011 for $7.5 million annually to of $7.5 million, the benefit of operate the train, state trans- investing $810 million would portation officials have pointed clearly surpass the net cost. out that federal aid could cover Talgo was encouraged by the up to 90% of the operating business community to move costs, as it does for the to Wisconsin, and they were Hiawatha line. Such an out- silent about the very same facts come would have led to the that made this project the only Madison-Milwaukee line one in the nation that qualified accounting for $750,000 of the to be fully funded by the feder- state’s $2.7 billion transporta- al government.” tion budget, less than three Wisconsin State AFL-CIO Twin Ports • Twin Cities • Virginia, Minnesota one-hundredths of a percent- President Phil Neuenfeldt Over 95 years of service • 1916 - 2011 age. called Talgo’s planned depar- Speaking at a news confer- ture “extremely disappointing” General Contractors, Engineers, and Equipment Rental Specialists ence in Madison following the on Friday, but went on to say announcement of the redirected that the decision was “not real- funds, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz ly surprising, nor can you emphasized that he had blame the company. Governor- appy olidays and have a remained open to the possibili- elect Scott Walker sent a clear H H ty of city funds being used to message that high speed rail contribute to the train’s operat- and the family-supporting jobs Great New Year! ing costs. His calls to Walker’s that come with it aren’t wel- office, he said, were never Call us if you’re come in our state.” returned. Riley Hanick is a new member of thinking of building Cieslewicz said that Walker the University of Wisconsin- or remodeling-- “put himself in a ridiculously Superior’s Writing, Reading, and tight corner during the cam- Library Science Department. We’ll direct you to paign and couldn’t get himself qualified, licensed contractors that employ trained, skilled trades’ members of our affiliated unions: Boilermakers 647~(218) 724-6999 Operating Engineers 49~(218)724-3840 Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers 1~ Painters & Allied Trades 106~ (218) 724-8374 (218) 724-6466 Cement Masons, Plasterers & Plumbers & Steamfitters 11~ Shophands 633~(218) 724-2323 (218) 727-2199 Electrical Workers 242~(218) 728-6895 Roofers, Waterproofers 96~ (218) 644-1096 Elevator Constructors 9~(612) 379-2709 Sheet Metal Workers 10~(218) 724-6873 Insulators 49~(218) 724-3223 Sprinkler Fitters 669~(507) 493-5671 Iron Workers 512~(218) 724-5073 Teamsters 346~(218) 628-1034 Laborers 1091~(218) 728-5151 DuluthDuluth BuildingBuilding && Painters and ConstructionConstruction TradesTrades CouncilCouncil Allied Trades The cost is less when you Use The Best! Local 106 Craig Olson, President, 1-218-724-6466

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 11 Buying American, Looking for Union Labels, Patronizing firms that use Union Labor make HappyHappy HolidaysHolidays Northern Wisconsin Building & Construction Trades Council President Norm Voorhees, Ironworkers Local 512, (218) 724-5073 Vice President Dan Westlund, Jr. Secretary-Treasurer Bill Cox Boilermakers Lodge 107~(262) 798-1267 Laborers Local 1091~(218) 728-5151 Bricklayers Local 2 Operating Engineers Local 139 (715) 392-8708 or (715) 835-5164 (715) 838-0139 A Nov. 30 Labor Temple kick-off for the United Way of Cement Masons, Plasterers & Painters & Allied Trades Local 106 -- (218) 724-2323 (218) 724-6466 Greater Duluth’s Campaign again found the Duluth Build- Shophands Local 633 ing & Construction Trades Council giving the fundraising Electrical Workers Local 14 Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 effort a huge boost. The “check” was a donation from their (715) 878-4068 (218) 727-2199 20th annual golf outing in June. Applauding are Paula Electrical Workers Local 242 Roofers, Waterproofers Local 96 Reed, UWGD Director, and Dan O’Neill, President of the (218) 728-6895 (218) 644-1096 Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body. Presenting the dona- Elevator Constructors Local 9 Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 tion is Dan Olson, Business Manager of Laborers Local 1091 (651) 287-0817 (218) 724-6873 and DBCTC Recording Secretary. Insulators Local 49~(218) 724-3223 Teamsters Local 346~(218) 628-1034 Labor gives thumbs down to Iron Workers Local 512~(218) 724-5073 deficit panel’s recommendations By Mark Gruenberg, PAI Staff Writer WASHINGTON (PAI)—Deficit-cutting recommendations by a presidential panel – including raising the retirement age, cutting spending on Social Security and Medicare, eliminating the tax deduction for home mortgage interest and taxing health insurance – got thumbs-down signals from AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and labor allies. The recommendations, unveiled Dec. 1 by commission co- chairs Erskine Bowles, a former Democratic White House chief of staff, and former Sen. Alan Simpson, R-Wyo., would cost an average middle-class family an extra $1,700 yearly, one calcula- tion, in the Washington Post, showed. Bowles and Simpson retorted the panel not only cut spending but also raised $1.1 trillion in new revenues from the highest earners. All but $100 billion of that, they said, would be used to revise and simplify the tax system, cutting tax rates to 8% for anyone earning up to $70,000 yearly and 26% for corporations. Critics of the commission’s plan, scheduled for a Dec. 3 vote by the 18-person bipartisan panel, said the commissioners ignore the big problem that caused the deficit: The great recession and the lack of jobs. And commission member Andy Stern, the former Service Employees president, has not decided how to vote yet, but offered his own alternative “forward-looking” deficit plan, spokeswoman Chrissy Bonnano said. Trumka was more caustic. “The deficit commission once again tells working Americans to ‘Drop Dead,’” he stated. “No proposal on fiscal issues is serious that leaves the Bush tax cuts for the rich in place while raising taxes on the middle from our class and slashing Social Security and Medicare. All commission members should vote no….All members of Congress Membership should also oppose these job-killing policies if they are raised in future legislation or budgets.” Officers Labor may have to lobby hard to succeed in that opposition. Bowles said incoming House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan, R-Wis., will put “85% of what we recommend” into the and Staff federal budget resolution next year. “Our nation is facing an immediate jobs crisis,” Trumka retorted. “Workers from across the country have come to Washington to lobby Congress to extend unemployment insur- LaborersLaborers LocalLocal 10911091 ance. It is unconscionable this commission is proposing to slash these very workers’ Social Security and Medicare. This whole Duluth, Minnesota / Superior, Wisconsin discussion reeks of hypocrisy.” And panel member Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., plans to and Surrounding Counties vote against the recommendations. That didn’t disturb Bowles: He praised her for releasing her own deficit-cutting plan – one that leaves Social Security and Medicare alone. See Deficit or death panel?...page 13 PAGE 12 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 Tom Cvar, right, a union representative for United Food & Deficit or death panel?...from page 12 Commercial Workers Local 1189, Stern said Bowles and Simpson might not get the 14 votes was awarded the 2010 Minnesota they need to send their plan to Obama and Congress. Then State Fire Chiefs Association Congress could avoid deficit votes, too. “Members are not going Leadership Award. Presenting is to want to make compromises for a plan that won’t get a vote,” MSFCA President Marty Stern told Politico. Stern is the only unionist on Democratic Scheerer of Edina. Cvar is a 30- President Barack Obama’s 18-member commission. His “21st year veteran, including Chief for Century Plan for American Leadership” contains both spending 25 years, of the Mountain Iron cuts and tax changes, including a focus on health care, cut $100 FD. “He worked tirelessly to billion from defense spending, and maintain a freeze on defense ensure firefighters were safe and spending after that, and a “hybrid consumption tax” – a form of to upgrade the department’s national sales tax --- with rebates for the poor, and lower per- facilities, apparatus and firefight- sonal and corporate income tax rates, while broadening the cor- er personal protective gear,” porate income tax base. wrote Steve Norvitch, retired The 160,000-member National Nurses Union also blasted the MIFD Assistant Chief. Cvar no Bowles-Simpson recommendations as “an unwarranted, outra- longer works for the MIFD, but is geous attack on the health, safety, and retirement security of mil- still active with the Arrowhead lions of nurses and tens of millions of other working people. Region’s fire chiefs and the The recommendations to raise the retirement age particularly MSFCA. (Photo and information drew NNU’s ire. It noted nurses, like millions of other workers, from Jena Noah, Editor, MSFCA have physically exhausting and dangerous jobs that would only Magazine.) worsen the longer they stayed on. When another deficit panel member, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said he could consider raising the retirement age to 69, he got a sarcastic retort from NNU member Dorothy Ahmad, a registered nurse at Chicago’s Cook County Hospital. H a p p y H o l i d a y s “How would he like his nurse to be 69, rolling into his hospital room in a wheelchair or scooter with his medication, trying to take care of him?” Ahmad asked. “At 69 years old, a nurse a n d should be able to retire in dignity with security for herself and her family, not be forced to still be working at risk to her patients and herself.” Earlier, Trumka also took a shot at Bowles and Simpson, both H a p p y N e w Y e a r , self-proclaimed “deficit hawks” whom Democratic President Barack Obama appointed last year to co-chair the commission. He called them hypocrites, though not by name. “People who claim to be deficit hawks hypocritically clamor S i s t e r s a n d B r o t h e r s ! to bust the budget by showering the richest Americans with over $700 billion in wasteful tax cuts, while starving the economic growth essential to budget vitality,” he said then, while support- YourFriendsat ing another deficit-cutting plan co-authored by the labor-backed Economic Policy Institute. UnitedSteelworkers That plan preserves Social Security and Medicare, cuts defense and argues for creating more jobs, especially in infra- ofAmerica structure. “We need to put jobs and economic growth first.,” Trumka concluded on Dec. 1. “We must invest in education and HealthCare infrastructure to be competitive HealthCare in the 21st century. Wall Street and the wealthy must bear their UNITY AND STRENGTH FOR WORKERS Local9460Local9460 share of the burden; and we need to deal with the growth of OPTICAL health care costs.” Mistle-TWOGET EXTRA HOLIDAY CHEER WITH OUR Sale! BUY ONE PAIR OF FASHION FRAMES AND GET THE SECOND PAIR FREE!* Includes:3INGLE6ISIONs0ROGRESSIVE.O ,INEs"IFOCALS 4RIFOCALSs2X3UNGLASSESs#OMPUTER'LASSES We bill for: 630s"#"3s%YE-EDs5NION"ENElTS

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$ULUTHs3UPERIORs!URORAs4WO(ARBORS 'RAND2APIDSs#LOQUETs-OOSE,AKEs(INCKLEY WWWVISIONPROOPTICALCOM www.ibew242-neca.org 6HHVWRUHIRUGHWDLOV LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 13 WishingWWiishing YYouou HappyHappy HolidaysHolidays andand a Superior native creates huge ProsperousProsperous andand HHealthyealthy NewNew Year!Year! Wisconsin labor bibliography By Carmen Clark When Laurie Wermter, a professional librarian at UW-Madison, began reading and assembling an annotated list of Wisconsin labor history books 11 years ago, she did- n’t foresee 2010, when K-12 Wisconsin public schools would be A confidentialconfidential counselincounselingg service rerepresentingpresenting tthehe needs ooff union required to teach labor history. Yet, members and theirtheir ffamiliesamilies since 1981987.7. OOurur ppurposeurpose is to assist yyouou in her bibliography, now a living doc- improvingimproving the qqualityuality ooff yyourour lilifefe botbothh on and ooffffff the job. ument on the Wisconsin Labor YouYou cancan reach T.E.A.M.T.E.A.M. 24 hhoursours a day at: History Society (WLHS) website, (651)(651) 64642-01822-0182 ((800)800) 63634-77104-7710 fills that need, along with others. Her listing has grown to 403 entries and scores of pages, varied in the order of arrangement: author, geo- Laurie Wermter Auto Accidents Medical Malpractice Workers’ Compensation Wrongful Death graphic place, or topic. The bibliog- (Carmen Clark photo) raphy received high recognition when the UW Extension this summer added a link to it on the WLHS website from their inter- active web resource list for K-16 teachers at ideas.wisconsin.edu Quite an honor for both Laurie and the WLHS, whose home The Holidays are about tradition. page is now linked to a portal for “high quality educational resources,” for access to the bibliography. Fighting for your rights is ours. A meticulous thinker, Laurie said she started her project by mining the footnotes of several academic journal articles about -Paul Schweiger, Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice Attorney Wisconsin labor. Because she is a reference librarian, she was Managing Partner, Duluth office of Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey also able to extensively research reference databases available through the library. “Every time we get access to a new database I search for new Wisconsin labor history sources,” she said. So, fans of Wisconsin labor history: don't put off reading that For over 50 years, our bibliography. It's easy to find at www.wisconsin laborhistory. org. “I try to put in critical information and facts so it can be used as a reference,” she said. attorneys have worked She also created several derivative bibliographies, download- able from the WLHS website, including “40 Books About Labor together to fight for lost for Children and Youth,” and “Labor History Bibliography: Madison, Wisconsin,” created to distribute about the labor histo- wages and fair compensation ry mural at Madison Laborfest 2010. If you are an academic you have no excuse not to know and for injured Minnesotans. recommend this professionally created and annotated list of Wisconsin labor history resources. And if you are a public school After all, we know that teacher it's a must-read in order to know and teach Wisconsin labor history. nothing is more important Non-academic Wisconsin labor history buffs will find Laurie's listing indispensable. Annotated means there are com- than knowing your rights… ments about a book, its sources, its scope, its strengths, and anything else notable. Laurie only annotated items she had read and and fighting for them. thought about. Most entries are annotated. If she hasn't read it, she only lists the source and returns later to add comments. What would a Wisconsin labor history fan do with a bibliography? Here's one example: Searching databases for Wisconsin • Free Consultation IWW history reveals little is available, despite Wobbly activity and strongholds in the state. The Wisconsin Labor History bib- • No recovery/No Fee liography would be one place to launch a search for materials and links to related regional and even national resources. One obstacle she encountered was choosing subject headings. “A small bibliography just doesn't have to be as specific,” she said, but finding a broad subject heading that was narrow enough to be useful was challenging. Also, trying to list as many names as possible in annotations about organizations was tedious, but Duluth Technology Village she knew some people would be looking for their unions. “I've been a reference librarian for a long time,” she said. “I never 11 East Superior Street wanted to make a bibliography because they are lots of work. So I know this is really my passion because I've stuck with it for all Duluth, MN 55802 these years.” Asked when she will consider the Wisconsin Labor History Bibliography “done,” Laurie said an emphatic, “Never.” A 218-722-6848 recent update added eleven pages to the original, which is well past 100 pages already. www.knowyourrights.com Laurie plans to continue searching, reading, annotating, and adding new book and multimedia entries. “I want to retire so I can work on the bibliography full time. I have stacks of books Duluth • Minneapolis • Fairfax • Lakeville and articles I want to go through when I have the time.”

PAGE 14 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 From Superior to Madison, Labor’s been in Laurie Wermter’s blood Laurie Wermter grew up in “I was just in fourth grade Local 346 as a worker at Doug- which were not represented by school,” she said. a union household in Parkland when my father’s union won las County’s Parkland nursing a union,” Wermter said. While working at UW- Township ten miles south of the right to represent the school home. When that was shut “WSEU quickly asked for a Madison, she took graduate Superior, Wisconsin. Her employees,” Wermter said. “In down she joined AFSCME representation election for the classes in library science reim- father, Howard O. Wermter, their very first contract the Local 1760-A at Catholic clerical and related unit state bursed at three-fourths of the was in AFSCME Local 1397, union helped them win the Charities’ St. Francis South employees, which was easily tuition cost under the career- which represents almost all right to health insurance cover- facility, which also closed. won, as the clericals had just related education provisions bargaining unit employees of age--what a lot that provision Laurie attended Superior had an object lesson in the contained in her union contract. the Superior School District meant to our family!” public schools and then the value of a union contract.” So “I completed my Master’s other than teachers and a small Her mother, Eva (Banks) University of Wisconsin- she was a charter member of in Library and Information Building Trades unit. Wermter, was in Teamsters Superior for two years, before AFSCME Local 1285. Science in 1987 and have hap- transferring to a South Carolina “The negotiations for the pily remained in the Reference college to finish her B.A. in 1977-78 state employee con- Department of Memorial History. tract were very contentious and Library ever since,” she says. Season’s Greetings “After graduation, I moved I ended up on strike with the Laurie has been an active back to Superior and got a job other WSEU members for two union member in Superior and To Our Sisters and Brothers in Labor at UWS as a typist in the fall of weeks during the summer of in Madison’s AFSCME Local 1973,” she said. Those jobs 1977 because we believed that 2412 but for the last several The Superior were not represented by a the state wanted to break our years she has devoted most of union but the state would union,” Wermter said. “I her energies to the Wisconsin always give the clericals the believe I was probably the first Labor History Society, first as Federation same benefits negotiated by clerical to use the newly-won the treasurer for ten years, and state employees represented by right of transferring between then as an at-large member on of Labor the Wisconsin State Employees state divisions, when I trans- the board of directors. But her Janice Terry, President, 715-394-2896 Union (WSEU). ferred from a typist job at UW- main effort is the creation of, “However, because of a Superior to an vacant typist job and adding to, the on-line We meet the first Wednesday of each month (except budget crunch during the 1975 in one of the campus libraries Wisconsin Labor History contract negotiations, the state at UW-Madison, so I could Bibliography, available at July), at 6:30 p.m., at the Superior Public Library refused to extend the long-time pursue my dream of becoming www.wisconsinlaborhistory. annual ‘longevity’ bonus to a librarian--something I had org/ ref.html. those in job classifications hoped to do since junior high She also devotes time to the WLHS “American Labor History Prize” for middle and high school students, the from the members of “Frank Zeidler Academic Awards for Wisconsin Labor IBEWIBEW LocalLocal 3131 and Working-Class History” for academic papers written by undergraduate and graduate students, and is helping to create and oversee the “Special Legacy Fund” of the society, which focuses on raising additional funds for special projects seeking to preserve more WWiisshhiinngg Representing workers at: Wisconsin labor history. Arrowhead Electric Cooperative Cooperative Light & Power Association Peace for Lutsen, MN of Lake County Y o u Two Harbors, MN Y o u Bayfield Electric Co-op Our Planet, Iron River, Wl Crow Wing Cooperative Power & Light Brainerd, MN PPeeaaccee City of Brainerd - Prosperity for Administrative Support Itasca Mantrap Cooperative Electric Assn. aanndd aa Brainerd, MN Park Rapids, MN City of Brainerd - Lake Country Power All People J o y o u s Water & Light Dept. Grand Rapids, Kettle River & Virginia J o y o u s Brainerd, MN Mille Lacs Energy Cooperative City of Moose Lake - Aitkin, MN Water & Light H o l i d a y Minnesota Energy Resources Corp. H o l i d a y Moose Lake, MN Cloquet, MN City of Staples - Minnesota Power SSeeaassoonn Water & Light Commission Staples, MN Duluth, MN City of Two Harbors - Public Utility Commission of Aitkin Aitkin, MN Water & Light Dept. Two Harbors, MN Public Utility Commission of Proctor Proctor, MN City of Wadena - Electric Water Dept. Superior Water, Light & Power AFSCMEAFSCME Wadena, MN Superior, WI Todd-Wadena Electric Co-op Local 3801 Wadena, MN University of Minnesota Duluth-Clerical & Technical Employees

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 15 U.S. Supreme Court will take on Wal-Mart in world’s largest sex discrimination case (PAI)—To nobody’s sur- private corporation, Wal-Mart. class. They set no hearing date. prise, the U.S. Supreme Court In a Dec. 7 order, justices said The Wal-Mart case has been will tackle the world’s biggest they would hear oral arguments kicking around lower courts sexual discrimination case, next year on whether female since 2001. Betty Dukes has involving the world’s largest Wal-Mart workers can sue as a led approximately 1.2 million present and former female Wal- Mart workers who have alleged massive pay and promotional discrimination based on sex by the retail monster. Evidence in depositions shows wide pat- terns of discrimination. Wal- Mart says each of its stores has its own employment policy, and that therefore the women must sue the company one by one – an impossible task that would place them at huge dis- advantage against the monster. Lower courts have ruled in favor of the women, saying they could sue as a class, though the federal appellate court in San Francisco suggest- ed the class might be split into Peace and two classes, one of present Wal-Mart workers and the other of ex-Wal-Mart workers. Solidarity The actual case has yet to go to trial, due to Wal-Mart’s delays. from the In yet another indication of how Wal-Mart -- known for its always low-wages, always- Carlton County high health care costs and for forcing 46% of its workers and their families to use public Central Labor Body health and medical services – treats its workers, the retailer announced the next day that it was cutting future Sunday workers’ pay by $1 an hour, starting Jan. 1. Before that, Wal-Mart said that starting next year, it would end contributions to its profit-sharing plan for workers, replacing them This holiday season, we encourage with 401(k) matches. Company spokesman Greg everyone to shop smart and avoid Walmart! Rossiter told Bloomberg News the retailer is eliminating the +x InIn Wal-Mart’s Wal-Mart's America, America, workers workers are paidare paidpoverty poverty level wageslevel wageseven if theyeven work when full they time. work full-t extra dollar an hour on Sundays to curb labor costs. Xx InIn our our America, America, workers workers are are paid paid a livinga living wage wage with with proper proper health health and and retirement retirement benefits. benefit But Wal-Mart workers in +x InIn Wal-Mart’s Wal-Mart's America, America, suppliers suppliers are forcedare forced to make to maketheir goods their goodscheaper cheaper even if it evenmeans if it mean Massachusetts and Rhode ping U.S. jobs overseas. Island will escape the cut: State shipping U.S. jobs overseas. laws require all firms to pay all Xx InIn our our America, America, we we value value U.S. U.S. jobs jobs and and companies companies that thatbuy buyand andsell “Madesell "Made in America.” in America." workers time-and-a-half for working on Sundays. Northern Division Office Southern Division Office The average Wal-Mart 2002 London Road, Suite 211 266 Hardman Ave N worker earns around $11-$12 Duluth, MN 55812 South Saint Paul, MN 55075 an hour, according to Wake Up 1-218-728-5174 1-651-451-6240 Wal-Mart, an organization 1-800-942-3546 1-866-832-9789 formed by the United Food and Commercial Workers to spot- http://www.ufcw1189.org light the retailer’s abuses and Don Seaquist Jennifer Christensen Gary Morgan Joyce Berglund anti-worker, anti-union atti- tudes. UFCW has been trying President Secretary Treasurer Northern Director Union Representative/ to organize Wal-Mart for years, Executive Committee and the firm has retaliated with Tom Cvar, Union Representative Twil Grove, Office Manager Doug Mork, Organizing Director at least 288 instances of labor Mike Dreyer, Union Representative Bernie Hesse, Director of Special Projects/ Shirley Muelken, Recording Secretary law-breaking. Wal-Mart’s CEO Ellie Egan, Office Assistant Political Director Curtis Neff, Organizer Rafael Espinosa, Union Representative Dan Hudyma, Union Representative Jeanine Owusu, Union Representative earns 2,500 times what the Gail Freeman, Office Assistant Tamara Jones, Union Representative Dianne Rosendahl, Administrative Assistant average worker makes, Wake Jim Gleb, Organizer Barb Lowe, Office Manager Up Wal-Mart reports. PAGE 16 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 Obama’s pay freeze panned WASHINGTON (PAI)—Unions representing federal work- Happy Holidays ers criticized Democratic President Barack Obama’s plan, announced Nov. 29, to impose a 2-year freeze on the pay of most civilian federal workers. Obama made the announcement, which he estimated would save $5 billion, just before his deficit and to everyone debt commission was scheduled to release its report and recommendations for cutting the government’s red ink. In a time of high unemployment and private sector belt-tight- who makes ening, the president said federal workers must do the same thing. But his pay freeze is not complete. It does not extend to our community postal workers – two of whose unions are in tough bargaining with USPS over new contracts – the military, or private contrac- a better place tors the government has hired. Civilian defense workers would see a pay freeze, but the tens of thousands of private contractors working alongside them, hired by the prior anti-worker GOP to live Bush regime, would not. “This freeze is not to punish federal workers or to disrespect and work. the work that they do. It is the first of many actions we will take in the upcoming budget to put our nation on sound fiscal footing – which will ask for some sacrifice from us all,” Obama said. Obama’s move is “bad for the middle class, bad for the economy and bad for business,” AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said. “No one is served by our government participating in a ‘race to the bottom’ in wages. We need to invest in creating jobs, not undermining the ones we have.” AFGE President John Gage tied Obama’s cut plan to the deficit panel’s expected recommendations. The panel is consid- ering cuts in Social Security and Medicare, abolishing the home mortgage interest deduction and taxing worker health insurance – but no tax increases. “(Americans) didn’t vote to stick it to a 7ISHING9OUA VA nursing assistant making $28,000 a year or a Border Patrol agent earning $34,000 per year. President Obama asks federal workers to share the sacrifice, but it’s unconscionable for him to attack the wages of federal working people while the millionaires and billionaires on Wall Street not only get their bailouts ,IFETIMEOF(EALTH and astronomical bonuses, (but) they also get their tax cuts.” NFFE-IAM President William Dougan pointed out that incoming House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, advocates the pay freeze. “In the next session the federal workforce will undoubtedly see attempts to freeze or cut salaries that already AND7ELLNESSTHIS fall 24% behind those of private sector employees,” Dougan said. Boehner thinks they make twice the private sector wages. (OLIDAY3EASON W e A p p r e c i a t e Y o u r P a t r o n a g e ! The only Reef worth steering into has... Happy Hour 4-7 p.m. 7 Days a week Ted Loftness *IM7ARD Tuesday is Karaoke Night 952-992-8456 Wednesday has Live Music Live bands Friday & Saturday, from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. The largest game room in town! We can set-up employee parties of up to 80 people! www.medica.comWWWMEDICACOM THE REEF -EDICA-EDICAISAREGISTEREDSERVICEMARKOF-EDICA(2010 EALTH0LANS-EDICAREFERSTOTHEFAMILYOFHEALTHPLANBUSINESSES THATINCLUDES-EDICA(EALTH0LANS -EDICA(EALTH0LANSOF7ISCONSIN -EDICA)NSURANCE#OMPANYAND-EDICA3ELF)NSURED In the Labor Temple, 2002 London Road, Duluth

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 17 T r a d e U n i o n D i r e c t o r y Share Advantage Credit Union “The world is run by those who show up!” Serving the Duluth, AFSCME COUNCIL 5— President Mike DULUTH AFL-CIO CENTRAL LABOR NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER Hermantown, Proctor areas Buesing, Local 1011; VP Judy Wahlberg, BODY —Meets 2nd Thurs., 7:00 p.m., Well- CARRIERS, BRANCH 114 MERGED— Local 66; Treas. Clifford Poehler, Local stone Hall, 2002 London Rd., (218) 724- Meets 2nd Mondays, 7 p.m., Labor Temple for over 84 years. 2938; Sec. Mary Falk, Local 4001; Director 1413, President Dan O’Neill, Plumbers & Hall B, Pres. Tatyana Vahkrusheva-Wiita, Eliot Seide; Area office, 211 West 2nd St., Steamfitters 11; VP Alan Netland, AFSCME 727-4327 (office), P.O. Box 16583, Duluth Duluth, MN 55802; 722-0577 66; Rec. Sec. Terri Newman, CWA 7214; 55816; VP Scott Dulas; Recording Secretary Service, Integrity & Trust Treas. Sheldon Christopherson, Operating Sheila Fawcett; Financial Secretary Donnie AFSCME Co. 5—LOCAL 66—Meets 1st Eng. 70; Reading Clerk Larry Sillanpa, MN Leshovsky; Treasurer Karl Pettersen 2502 Maple Grove Rd. Tues. at 7:00 p.m. in the AFSCME Hall, News Guild/Typographical 37002 Arrowhead Place, 211 W. 2nd St. NATIONAL CONF. FIREMEN & OILERS Duluth, MN 55811 Come see us for your Pres. Judy Wahlberg; VP Alan Netland; DULUTH BUILDING & CONSTRUCTION SEIU 956—Meets 4th Saturdays, 9 a.m. Treas. Deb Strohm, Rec. Sec. Sue Urness. TRADES COUNCIL—Meets 3rd Tuesday, Meetings held at Central High School until 218-722-5931 Financial Needs! Sgt@Arms Dennis Frazier–Union office, 211 3:00 p.m., Freeman Hall, Labor Temple. Denfeld opens. President Sam Michelizzi, W. 2nd St., Duluth, MN 55802, 722-0577 Pres. Craig Olson, Painters & Allied Trades 628-2689; Treas. Dennis McDonald, 7208 106, 724-6466; VP Darrell Godbout, Iron- Ogden Ave., Superior, WI 54880, 628-4863; AFSCME Co. 5 - LOCAL 1123—City of Two workers 512; Treas. Jim Brown, IBEW 242; Sec. Steve Lundberg, 8304 Grand Ave, Harbors workers. Meets 1st Wed. of each Rec. Sec. Dan Olson, Laborers 1091 Duluth 55807, 624-0915 month at 3:30 p.m. in City Hall, Two Harbors. Pres. Brad Jones, 723-15th Ave., DULUTH MAILERS UNION LOCAL ML-62 NORTH EAST AREA LABOR COUNCIL, Two Harbors 55616; Sec. Karrie Seeber; Meets 3rd Monday, Duluth Labor Temple, AFL-CIO-President Alan Netland, Field Co- Treas. Paul J. Johnson 2002 London Rd., Pres. Oscar Steinhilb: ordinator Chad McKenna, 218-310-8412, Sec. Keith Delfosse, 218-628-3017 [email protected] 2002 London AFSCME Co. 5 - LOCAL 1934— Road, Room 99, Duluth, MN 55812 St. Louis Co. Essential Jail Employees. IBEW LOCAL 31 (UTILITY WORKERS)— Meets 3rd Wed., 3:15 at Foster’s Bar & Grill. Rm.105, Duluth Labor Temple, 728-4248. NORTHERN WISCONSIN BUILDING & Pres. Dan Marchetti, 726-2345, Pres. Tim Ryan; VP Paul Makowski; CONSTRUCTION TRADES COUNCIL— VP Glen Peterson, Sec. Larry Van Why, Rec. Sec. Lars Okstad; Treas. Dan Leslie; Meets the 3rd Wednesdays, Old Towne Bar. Treas. Heather Ninefeldt Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Mark Glazier, President Norm Voorhees, (218) 724-5073, Ass’t. Bus. Mgr. Dick Sackett 2002 London Rd., Duluth, MN 55812; AFSCME Co. 5 - LOCAL 3558 - Non-profit Monthly Meetings: Duluth: 1st Wednes- V-P Dan Westlund Jr., Sec.-Treas. employees. Meets 3rd Tuesdays, 5:30 p.m.. days, 7:00 pm, Labor Temple; Bill Cox (218) 728-5151 AFSCME Hall, 211 W. 2nd St. Pres. Iron Range: Gilbert VFW, 2nd Tuesdays, Michelle Fremling ; VP Phil Beecroft; Sec. 7:15 pm; Grand Rapids Blandin Workers OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 49 — Brendan Hanschen; Treas. Stephanie Hall, 2nd Wednesdays, 7:30 pm; Meets 2nd Tues. of month at 7:30 p.m., Pessenda Western Area: 3rd Wednesdays, all at 7:00 Hall B, Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London pm: Jan., Brainerd Legion; Feb., Park Rd., Bus. Rep. Brent Pykkonen, 724-3840, to Union Members AFSCME LOCAL 695 - Meets 4th Tuesday Rapids Legion; March, Nisswa Tasty Pizza Room. 112, Duluth Labor Temple. of even numbered months at Council 5 All members attend each meeting Duluth offices and odd numbered months North; April, Little Falls Legion; May, Ironton at Gampers in Moose Lake. Legion; June, Brainerd Legion; July, Park OPERATING ENGINEERS LOCAL 70— and Your Families President Don Anderson, 722-7728 Rapids Legion; Aug., Little Falls Legion; Union office, 2417 Larpenteur Ave. W., St. Sept., Jenkins VFW; Oct. Brainerd Legion; Paul, MN 55113, 651-646-4566. Bus. Mgr. AFSCME LOCAL 3801 - Representing Nov., Nisswa Tasty Pizza N.; Dec., Wadena Dave Monsour. Meets 2nd Tues. at 5 p.m. in UMD Clerical & Technical employees, Room Superior: Shamrock Pizza, 4th Tues, 7 pm the Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Rd. 106 Kirby Student Center. Meets 4th Th. @ Quarterly Meetings: 3rd Mons. Jan., April, 4:45 pm, Room 490 Humanities; July, Oct. at Schroeder Town Hall, 6 pm PAINTERS & ALLIED TRADES LOCAL Andrew & Bransky PA President Denise Osterholm, 726-6312 Locations 106 Meets 1st Wed., 6:00 p.m., Duluth Duluth-Labor Temple-2002 London Road Labor Temple. President Lee Carlson; VP AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION Brainerd-American Legion, 708 Front St. Ron Folkestad; Rec. Sec. Mikael Sundin; AFL-CIO Greater Northland Area Local— Crosby/Ironton-Ironton American Legion Fin. Sec. Brian Coyle; Treas. Bryce Sjoquist P.O. Box 16321, Duluth, MN 55816. Gilbert-Gilbert VFW, 224 N. Broadway Bus. Rep. Craig Olson, Duluth Labor Tim Andrew ~ Aaron Bransky Membership meetings held monthly in Grand Rapids-Blandin Papermill Workers Temple, Room 106, 2002 London Rd. Duluth, bi-monthly on Iron Range (in odd Hall, 1005 NW 4th St. Duluth, MN 55812, 724-6466 numbered months), 218-722-3350 Jenkins-VFW, 3341 Veterans St. Little Falls-American Legion, 108 1st St NE PLUMBERS AND STEAMFITTERS Representing Unions and their Members BRlCKLAYERS & ALLIED Nisswa-Tasty Pizza North, Hwy 371S, LOCAL 11, U.A.— Meets 1st Thursdays at CRAFTWORKERS LOCAL NO. 1—Chap- Pequot Lakes union hall, 4402 Airpark Blvd. (218) 727- ter #3, Duluth & Hibbing meetings are listed Park Rapids-Lori Lea Lanes, 1400-1st. St E 2199; President Dan O’Neill; VP Scott 302 W. Superior St. Suite 300 in the quarterly update newsletter. Chair- Schroeder-Town Hall, 124 Cramer Rd. Randall; Rec. Sec. Butch Liebaert; man/Field Rep. Jim Stebe, 218-724-8374 Superior-Shamrock Pizza, 5825 Tower Ave Bus. Mgr./Fin. Sec. Jeff Daveau, Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-1764 Recording Secretary Stan Paczynski, Wadena-Pizza Ranch, 106 Jefferson St. S. Ass’t Bus. Mgr. Dave Carlson Sergeant at Arms Jerry Lund IBEW LOCAL 242 (CONST., R.T.V., MFG., SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 10— BRIDGE, STRUCTURAL, ORNAMENTAL MAINT.)—Rm.111, Labor Temple, 728-6895. Duluth-Superior area meets 2nd Mondays AND REINFORCING IRON WORKERS Pres. Donald Smith; Rec. Sec. Darik at 5:00 p.m. in Wellstone Hall, Duluth Labor LOCAL 512—Northern MN office/training Carlson; Treas. Gary Erickson; Bus Temple, 2002 London Rd. center, 3752 Midway Road, Hermantown Mgr./Fin. Sec. Jim Brown. Meeting 4th Wed. Iron Range meets 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. MN 55810, (218) 724-5073, Pres. Kevin of every month at Duluth Labor Temple. Regency Inn, Beltline/Howard, Hibbing. Kowalski, B.M./F.S.-T. Charlie Witt, Unit meetings - Brainerd, American Bemidji area meets 3rd Thursday Jan., B.A. Darrell Godbout, Rec. Sec. Bill Gerl Legion, 7:30 p.m., 1st Wed. each month April, July & Oct., 6:00 pm, Carpenters Hall Bus. Mgr. Craig Sandberg, 1681 E Cope BUILDING & GENERAL LABORERS INTL. BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL LOCAL 1091—Meets 3rd Thursdays, 7 pm Ave., St Paul, MN 55109, 612-770-2388-89. WORKERS, LOCAL 294 - Meets 4th Thurs- Duluth-Superior-lron Range area. Bus. Rep. Duluth Labor Temple, Wellstone Hall. day, 7:30 p.m., Local 294 Building located at President Larry Anderson, V.P. Brad Buko- Dennis Marchetti, 2002 London Rd., Duluth A Holiday Wish 503 E. 16th St., Hibbing, MN. Business 55812, 724-6873 vich, Rec. Sec. Bill Cox, Bus.Mgr./Fin.Sec./ Manager Greg Topel, (218) 263-6895, Treas. Dan Olson; (218) 728-5151 Bemidji Unit, meets 3rd Thursdays of the SUPERIOR FEDERATION OF LABOR — For Our CARLTON COUNTY CENTRAL LABOR month at 7 p.m. in Carpenters Hall Meets 1st Weds, 6:30 p.m., Public Library, Pres. Janice Terry, 394-2896, Treas. Mar- BODY—Meets 1st Monday of month except INTL. BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL Sept. which meets last Monday in August. lene Case, 399-8152, Sec. Cindy Lee, 395- Trade Union WORKERS, LOCAL 366—(Electrical, Sig- 1853, PO Box 1246, Superior, WI 54880 Meeting 7:00 pm 2nd floor of Labor Temple, nal & Communication Workers of C/N) - 1403 Ave C, Cloquet 55720; President Mike Meets 3rd Thursdays, Proctor American UNITED AUTO WORKERS LOCAL 241 — Brothers and Sisters Kuitu, 391-6367, VP Tim Ryan, Treas Dan Legion. President/Local Chairman Larre Meets Ist Tues. of the month, 5:30 p.m., Swanson, Sec. Patty Harper Cole, 3309 Kolstad Av., Duluth MN 55803; Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Rd., P. CARPENTERS LOCAL UNION NO. 361— Fin. Sec. David Ostby, 303 Park Ave. Del Soiney, 591-5184; Fin. Officer Steve and Your Families... Meets 2nd Tues. of the month at 6:30 p.m. Cloquet, MN 55720, 879-0941; Rec. Sec. Wisneski, 306 E St., Superior, WI 54880 Steve Jonland; Treas. Kurt Shaw at Training Center, 5238 Miller Trunk Hwy., UNITED FOOD & COMMERCIAL 724-3297. President Steve Risacher, INTL. ASSOCIATION OF HEAT & FROST WORKERS LOCAL 1189—President Don A Joyous Holiday VP Susan Erkkila, Rec. Sec. Chris Hill, Fin. INSULATORS & ALLIED WORKERS Seaquist; Sec. Treas. Jennifer Christensen Sec. Larry Nesgoda; Treas. Chuck Aspoas, LOCAL NO. 49—Meets 2nd Fridays, 7 p.m. St. Paul Office: 266 Hardman Ave. N., South and a Field Reps. Steve Risacher, Chris Hill Duluth Labor Temple. Business Manager St. Paul, MN 55075, 612-281-8014 CEMENT MASONS, PLASTERERS & Dick Webber, 2002 London Rd., Room 210, Duluth Office: Labor Temple, 2002 London SHOPHANDS LOCAL 633—Duluth & Iron Duluth 55812, 724-3223; Pres Wade Lee; Rd., Rm. 211, Duluth 55812. 218-728-5174 Very Prosperous, Range Area Office: Mike Syversrud, 2002 VP Garth Lee; Rec Sec Randy Neumann; Retirees' Club meets 2nd Monday, 1:30 London Road, Room 112, Duluth 55812; Fin Sec/Treas. Mark Lindholm p.m., Duluth Labor Temple, Wellstone Hall 218-724-2323; Meetings to be announced UNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL 1028 - Healthy 2011 Meets 2nd Tues., Room 212, 2002 London Rd., Duluth 55812, 728-9534. Pres. Larry Libra, VP Mike Connolly, Treas. Lee Popovich, Fin. Sec. Jeff Westad, Bricklayers & Rec. Sec. Dave Lubbesmeyer UNITED STEELWORKERS LOCAL 1028 Allied Craftworkers RETIREES ASSOCIATION—Meets 3rd Weds (except Jan, Feb) Evergreen Center, 5830 Grand Ave 3 p.m. All USWA 1028 re- Local 1 tirees welcome. Pres. John Stojevich, Treas. Mary S. Petrich, Sec. Ted Krakovac Minnesota/North Dakota WORKERS UNITED LOCAL 99—Ex Board meetings 2nd Mon. of month: 1:30 p.m. in Mar., June, Oct., & Dec., 9:30 a.m. all others Quarterly membership meetings held 2nd Mon. Mar., June, Oct., & Dec. at 2:30 p.m. Office, 350 Garfield Ave., Suite 2, Duluth, MN 55802; Pres. Todd Erickson, 728-6861 PAGE 18 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 Saving schools: Expecting From Our Family To Yours, Happy Holidays! Superman or want solutions? By Randi Weingarten, President You’ve worked hard on my campaigns, American Federation of Teachers Is America ready to settle for a great We’ve worked hard on working family issues, education — for the few? That’s the ques- tion at the heart of the documentary from Together we are making a difference. director Davis Guggenheim, Waiting for Superman. Looking forward to 2011! The movie is selective and incomplete, which is not surprising. A cottage industry has sprung up around pundits who have little substantive know-ledge about public Peg Sweeney education, but opine away nonetheless. For instance, one of the major shortcomings of the film: that St. Louis County Commissioner, District 5 Guggenheim chose to include footage of a bad teacher in a Milwaukee classroom and the rubber room in New York, but Paid for by the Sweeney Volunteer Committee opted not to include footage of successful public schools where uncounted and unheralded teachers are doing extraordinary things every day to teach our children. This lack of balance may Here’s hoping you had a safe and suit Guggenheim's narrow and selective narrative, but it does not tell the full and textured story of what actually is going on in successful year that will allow for American schools. The documentary calls attention to the children who are being failed by our education system and deprived of the kind of edu- Happy Holidays cation that will open doors for them throughout their lives. Despite Guggenheim's undeniably good intentions, the film falls from your friends in the 16 affiliated unions of the short by casting two outliers in starring roles — the "bad" teacher as villain, and charter schools as heroes ready to save the day. The problem is that these caricatures are more fictional than Iron Range Building & Trades Council factual. Are there bad teachers? Of course there are, just as there are Contact us - we can direct you to the highest quality bad accountants, and lawyers, and film reviewers. I wish there contractors who use the most skilled, area workers! weren't any bad teachers. But AFT is in the forefront of devel- oping and implementing ways to improve teacher quality, and to President John Grahek, 1-218-741-2482 deal effectively and efficiently with problems when they occur. Treasurer Michael Syversrud, 107 S. 15th Ave. W., Virginia, Mn. 55792 In fact, union-led teacher assistance and review programs (in Recording Secretary Dennis Marchetti which new and struggling teachers are coached and evaluated by more experienced peers) have been shown to be far tougher on poorly performing teachers than those conducted by administrators. No teacher — myself included — wants teachers in the classroom who don't belong there. Those knowledgeable about education understand the importance of teacher quality, but they don't buy into the simplistic notion that an epidemic of "bad teachers" is bringing down an otherwise thriving enterprise of education. And tenure should never be misconstrued as a "job for life." Teachers and teachers unions are right to preserve a fair, objec- tive standard by which teachers should be judged. But due process must not disintegrate into glacial process, and teachers who — at the end of a fair, efficient process — are deemed unfit for the profession should be dismissed. Administrators also must fulfill their responsibilities: to support, properly evaluate and, when necessary, make tough decisions about the teachers entrusted to educate our children. I could litter a cutting room floor with all the snippets the film gets wrong. For example, New York City's rubber room has been closed, after years of union-led efforts to slam the door on this practice. For argument's sake, let's say a miracle happened overnight and our current, completely inadequate system of evaluating teacher effectiveness suddenly became adequate or, better yet, accurate. Say administrators identified teachers who simply did- n't make the grade, and removed them from their classrooms. What then? Who wants to deal with the more complicated (but less sexy) and absolutely necessary (but unexciting) realities, such as the fact that teachers need tools, resources and support to do their jobs well? It's cathartic to say "fire the bad teachers," but it does- n't do much to improve schools. The plain, unsexy fact is that the best way to improve teacher quality is to do a better job of devel- oping and supporting the teachers to whom we entrust our children's educations. But some seem to buy into the world according-to-Superman philosophy of education reform — that the See Schools...page 20 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 19 Schools need solutions WishingThank Thank youYou You all to to a Organized veryOrganized happy andLabor Labor prosperous forfor bringingbringing Holiday ...from page 19 recognitionrecognition to to all all Workers workers thisthis LaborLabor Day!Day! "best performing schools" Season, and looking forward to a wonderful 2011! are the boutique schools that See you in Virginia’s Olcott Park, Sunday, Sept. 2! enjoy extra resources and are See you in Virginiaʼs Olcott Park, Sunday, Sept. 6! more selective in choosing their student populations. I mean no disrespect to the many Sen. David TOMASSONI well-intentioned people who set out to provide a good edu- Rep. Tom RUKAVINA cation to students that have been denied that right. But most of them fall short, and Rep. Tony SERTICH even those who defy the odds Paid for by the Rukavina Campaign Committee, 6930 Hwy 169, Virginia MN; the Citizens for Anthony “Tony” Sertich Committee; Rick Puhek, Chair, 1210 NW 9th Avenue, Chisholm, MN 55710 touch only a minuscule per- and the Tomassoni Campaign; P.O. Box 29, Chisholm, MN 55719 centage of students. The opportunity for a great public education should come not by chance, not even by choice, but by right. We all agree that right is being denied to too many children. But, in the end, no solution is as scalable, as accessible or as accountable as a great neighborhood school. I've seen such success stories in real life. In schools everywhere from Happy Holidays! New York City to Albuquerque, N.M., from St. Paul, Minn., to Philadelphia, and from Los Angeles County to Baltimore, students are defy- ing the odds. The solutions aren't the stuff of action flicks — supports for disadvantaged students, extra help for those who start or fall behind, high expectations for all students and challenging coursework — but they achieve the desired results. Imagine a sequel to Waiting for Superman, released a few years from now. Would we rather stick with the cinematic model of providing an escape hatch — sometimes superior, Fixing Up? Look Up! most often inferior — to a handful of students? Or offer a model in which we had sum- tay clear of power lines when using ladders and other moned the will to do the hard, Slong equipment while working on outdoor projects. The but effective and far-reaching, first rule is to keep looking up and remember the 10-FOOT work to make meaningful – changes to entire school sys- RULE equipment needs to clear power lines by ten feet in tems, providing all children every direction. with the best possible choice Electric energy is a powerful friend, but if your equipment — a highly effective neighbor- comes in contact with a power line, follow the rules, or you hood school? Ninety percent of American students — nearly could receive a harmful, fatal shock. 50 million children — attend A safety message from Minnesota Power. our public schools. Change in a single classroom, a single school, or even a single school Greg Rindal district is not enough. Minnesota Power Safety Manager We cannot wait. And we must not hinge our hopes on Superman, or on any mythical ® solution or silver bullet. We Gopher State One Call cannot depend on anything DIAL 811Damage Prevention Center other than replicable, scalable, an company effective ways to provide all children the education they deserve. Call Gopher State One Call before you DIG: 1-800-252-1166

PAGE 20 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 The great American novelist cy rhyme. Mark Twain observed “history Why President Obama is failing By Thomas I. Palley The president’s failure to does not repeat itself but it scourge! Nine crazy years at corporate globalization through could be revived and as estab- deliver on the country’s desire rhymes.” Today the rhyme is the ticker and three long years NAFTA and China PNTR; ini- lishment insiders they had the for change of substance has left with the 1930s, and if you in the breadlines! Nine mad tiated the strong dollar policy; upper hand. But that argument a vacuum that is being filled by don’t hear it, read FDR’s great years of mirage and three long spoke of the “end of the era of is done and today the prospect dangerous unstable forces. This Madison Square Garden years of despair! Powerful big government”; contemplat- is of long stagnation. is the tale of the Tea Party, speech of October 1936: “For influences strive today to ed privatization of social secu- The New Deal was a break which is a tale that has reso- 12 years this nation was afflict- restore that kind of government rity; and struck down a core with both the politics and eco- nance for Europe. The econom- ed with hear-nothing, see-noth- with its doctrine that that gov- element of the New Deal by nomic policies of the past. Its ic risk, already more advanced ing, do-nothing government. ernment is best which is most ending the right to welfare. economic policy innovations, in Europe, is a doubling-down The nation looked to govern- indifferent.” The main difference bet- such as social security, the of disastrously failed hardcore ment but the government Despite this clarity, the ween the Clinton and Bush Securities and Exchange neo-liberal economic policies. looked away. Nine mocking Obama administration insists administrations was the for- Commission, the Fair Labor The political risk is a rise of years with the golden calf and on hearing a rhyme with the mer’s willingness to offer some Standards Act, and the Wagner intolerance and xenophobia. three long years with the 1990s. That tone deafness has helping-hand policies to cush- Act, granting the right to These are not normal times. its roots in political choices ion the harsh effects of the organize, are still celebrated. If the administration persists made at the administration’s invisible hand. Differences in However, it was FDR’s new with its deafness to history it outset and explains why the outcomes were not policy driv- politics of solidarity and com- will surely hit the rocks and an administration has stumbled en but reflect the fact the Clin- passion that created the neces- historical opportunity for pro- During the badly in its first years. If con- ton administration enjoyed the sary political space: solidarity gressive change will be squan- Holiday Season tinued, the economic and social good fortune of the internet that recognized the country dered. Worse yet, its deafness consequences will be grave. investment bubble. It also ben- was in the Depression together will leave the field open to the more than ever, our thoughts In 2008 President Obama efited from the beginning of and compassion that recog- extreme right whose “blame- captured the nation with a mes- the housing bubble when U.S. nized many were suffering the-victim” social message and turn gratefully to those who sage of change, yet in office he families had plenty of untapped through no fault of their own. “liquidationist-austerity” eco- has chosen to deliver change of home equity and credit. That is the political rhyme nomic policies clearly confirm have made our progress style rather than change of sub- Obama’s fateful decision to President Obama must hear, that today’s rhyme is with the stance. At the headline level go with Clintonomics meant while the New Deal is the poli- history of the 1930s. possible.And in this spirit this choice was reflected in his the recession was interpreted as call for bi-partisanship that an extremely deep downturn we say, simply but sincerely looked to split the difference rather than a crisis signaling the with Republicans. In economic bankruptcy of the neoliberal ͼͶ policy, it was reflected in the paradigm that has ruled both wholesale reappointment of the Republicans and Democrats Thank You and Clinton administration team for 30 years. That implied the 8QLYHUVLW\RI0LQQHVRWD led by Larry Summers and recession could be fully Best Wishes for Timothy Geithner, a case of addressed with stimulus, which /DERU(GXFDWLRQ6HUYLFH continuity not change. was the same response as the the Holiday Season Now, the administration is Bush administration to the ǡ sinking under the failure of its recession of 2001. and a Happy economic policy. That failure is The current recession is the due to its attempt to revive a deepest economic downturn New Year! 1990s paradigm that never since the Great Depression of worked as advertised and can the 1930s, inviting compar- 9LVLWZZZOHVFVRPXPQHGX only deliver stagnation. Painful isons with President Franklin RUFDOO Roofers & Waterproofers though it is for Democrats to Delano Roosevelt. FDR had acknowledge, the reality is the the advantage of taking office IRUPRUHLQIRUPDWLRQ

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from the Members, Officers and Staff of 2520 Pilot Knob Road, Operating Engineers Suite 325 Local 49 Mendota Heights, MN 55120 Pulling Our Weight 750 Torrey Building In Minnesota, North & South Dakota Duluth, MN 55802 www.local49.org

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 21 Labor Department official says U.S. needs independent labor media by: Dan Margolis of the International Labor when we try to put something true story about how this is (The People's World is a mem- People’s World Communications Association out,” he said. “The Washington going to affect real people in ber.) WASHINGTON - The in November. Post, the New York Times, real time in real ways.” In making his case, the offi- mainstream media has become Referring to the midterm cable television” and others Fillichio announced at the cial listed Labor Department so biased against working peo- elections, Fillichio said, “Why want to focus only on the nuts meeting that he had hired a accomplishments that the vast ple that even a federal agency we fared the way we did three and bolts of policy issues. staff person specifically to deal majority of Americans have can’t get its message out, says a weeks ago is because things “Nobody is really telling the with labor media, and then pro- never heard about. senior Department of Labor weren’t explained enough to ceeded to give his name, e-mail The department has, since official. people. There is a great need address and phone number to Solis took over, hired 720 bilin- President Obama's Labor for people to get the full story.” everyone in the audience. gual grievance personnel, Department has an impressive The role of labor media is The message was appropri- issued the largest OSHA fine in list of accomplishments, but therefore all the more precious, ate for the crowd. ILCA, with history, and, in a move most of the media doesn’t he continued. In many cases, nearly 500 members, is the unprecedented in U.S. history, bother to report on them, Carl the only way his department professional association of completely shut down a mine Fillichio, Labor Secretary can get its accomplishments newspapers, websites and other because of worker fatalities. Hilda Solis’s senior adviser for known is through the inde- forms of media published by “We believe that a worker pendent media. labor unions or about the labor doesn’t have to die for a pay- public affairs and communica- Image: Fillichio tions, told the annual gathering “We battle every single day movement across the country. check,” the federal official - Dan Margolis/PW said. More than anything else, however, the biggest accom- plishment of Solis’s depart- REPETITIVE INJURY ment so far, Fillichio told the crowd, was to bring it back up Lift,twist, stack. Lift, Sometimes it’s not just one accident. Sometimes it’s to pre-Bush, year 2000 stan- just doing your job, over and over again, that causes dards. the pain. If your muscles and joints are protesting what “That’s pathetic,” he said, “but we gotta brag about that, your mind is telling them to do, give us a call for a free because the previous adminis- twist, stack. Lift,twist, consultation. We’ll tell you what you’re entitled to, such as tration brought it so low.” He medical coverage and retraining noted that “the previous Labor “unghh!” Lift, twist,stack. benefits. secretary, Elaine Chao, was the only Bush cabinet member Lift, twist,“eeergh!” Lift, twist, who was there in the same With 40 years of trial experience department for eight years.” He and a team approach to personal argued that over the eight years injury cases, OUR SUCCESS IS of the Bush administration, the employees and the department NO ACCIDENT. itself had been “de-souled.” (Note: Chao’s husband 218-727-5384 since 1993 is conservative Sen. 800-535-1665 Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, considered one of Washing- ton’s most corrupt politicians, see http://www.crewsmost corrupt.org/node/308.) “Here’s something revolutionary,” he said, speaking of Wishing you the new department’s accom- 2010~ plishments. “It was actually Happy Holidays called ‘revolutionary.’ Hispanic workers are killed more than It's others on the job, so we held a and a Hispanic health and safety con- A Wrap! ference.” Great 2011! Fillichio is proud of the ini- tiative, but said it was “ridicu- lous” that it could be called “revolutionary” or “historic,” asking, “That was the first time an administration held such a conference?” The Department of Labor will continue fighting for working people, he said, and will assess how to best do so given the Republican takeover From your Friends of the House of Represen- tatives. Solis and her staff will focus especially on enforcing at Minnesota LECET existing labor law, he said. “We cannot depend on www.mnlecet.org those other people - the tradi- tional media - to get that mes- Proudly supporting the Twin Ports Construction Liaison Committee sage out,” Fillichio concluded.

PAGE 22 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 Best Wishes for the Holidays and a Happy New Year! If your Union isn’t listed here among our affiliates, call 218-724-1413 to learn how to become a member of our Regional Labor Movement! AFSCME Council 5 IBEW 366 (Canadian National) AFSCME 66 (City, County, Others) Insulators 49 AFSCME 695 (Minnesota DOT) Ironworkers 512 AFSCME 718 (Minnesota DNR) Laborers 1091 AFSCME 1011 (MNDOT) Lake Superior News Guild 37008 AFSCME 1092 (Amalgamated MN State Human Services) Machinists District 165 AFSCME 1123 (Two Harbors Municipal) Machinists Lodge 1575 AFSCME 1934 (St. Louis County Jail) Mailers ML-62 AFSCME 2829 (Amalgamated Minnesota State Employees) Minnesota News Guild/Typographical/CWA 37002 AFSCME 2980 (Minnesota State Agricultural Employees) Minnesota Nurses Association AFSCME 3142 (Minnesota Public Safety) Musicians 18 AFSCME 3558 (Duluth Area Non-Profits) National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 114 AFSCME 3761 (St. Louis County Attorneys/Investigators) National Conference of Firemen & Oilers/SEIU 956 AFSCME 3801 (UMD Clerical/Technical) Office & Professional Employees 12 AFSCME 3802 (Silver Bay Veterans Home) Office & Professional Employees 277 AFSCME 3887 (N.E. MN Department of Corrections) Operating Engineers 49 AFSCME 4001 (Minnesota State College & University) Operating Engineers 70 American Postal Workers Union--Greater Northland Area Painters & Allied Trades 106 Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, Grain Millers 167G Plumbers & Steamfitters 11 Boilermakers Lodge 647 Roofers 96 Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers 1 Sheet Metal Workers 10 Carpenters Local 361 Stagehands 32 Cement Masons, Plasterers, Shophands 633 United Auto Workers 241 Communication Workers of America 7214 United Food & Commercial Workers 1189 Duluth Federation of Teachers 692 University Education Association (UMD) Education Minnesota-Cloquet Teachers United Steel Workers District 11 Education Minnesota-Proctor Teachers USW 1028 Education Minnesota-Willow River Teachers USW 1028 Retirees Education Minnesota-Wrenshall Teachers USW 9460 Fire Fighters 101 USW/PACE 776 Hermantown Teachers Federation 1096 United Transportation Union 1067 IBEW 31 (Utility Workers, Others) United Transportation Union 1292 IBEW 31 and 242 Retirees Workers United 99 IBEW 242 (Construction, TV, Others) Workers United 150 Workers United Joint Board (Minnesota) Dan O’Neill, President Alan Netland, Vice President Terri Newman, Recording Secretary Sheldon Christopherson, Treasurer Larry Sillanpa, Reading Clerk Lori Doucette, Sergeant at Arms Brent Pykkonen, Assistant Sergeant at Arms Trustees Craig Olson, Scott Dulas, Christina St. Germaine Member~North East Area Labor Council Executive Board Jim Brown, Marie Pechek, Beth McCuskey, Cathy Warner

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010 PAGE 23 Area activists again travel to SOA protests in solidarity with Latin America by Coly Wentzlaff and movies, visiting tables, and one. on our elected leaders to close Twin Ports SOA Watch Claire Farmer-Lies getting to know each other and Union organizers from the school, including hopes to meet with Chip If you are a regular reader of the issue of U.S. military and many different industries in Congressman-elect Chip Cravaack early next year. We this publication, then you’ve economic influence at home many different countries face Cravaack. We can donate to urge you to write to him now to heard the story of the School of and abroad. The weekend ends this kind of intimidation by SOA Watch (soaw.org) and get the SOA on his political the Americas (SOA). You with a funeral procession for paramilitaries hired by their support their continued lobby- radar. Remind him that worker know that in 1989, six Jesuit everyone who has been killed bosses. These places also send ing and education initiatives. justice and human rights are priests, their coworker and her by graduates of the school. members of their police and We can protest every year. core values of the people of the daughter were killed in El This year, 25 Duluthians military forces to the SOA for During the labor caucus, 8th district, and that we expect Salvador by what a US made the trip and represented training. Each year, organizers Lisa Sullivan, who organizes him to carry on Jim Oberstar's Commission later found to be UMD, the College of St and strikers are killed and dis- around the issue of the SOA legacy of fighting to close the graduates of a military school Scholastica, First Lutheran placed throughout Latin and economic injustice told us SOA/WHINSEC. in Georgia. Every year thou- Church, Peace Church, and the America by graduates of the that it brings the struggling Write to: sands of people gather at the Northland Anti-War Coalition. SOA, and each year thousands people of Latin America hope Congressman-elect Chip school to call for its closure. Some of us attended the of people stand up in protest. when they hear that people care Cravaack The school got a PR labor caucus, along with about We know this is wrong, but so much about closing the 508 Cannon House Office makeover in 2001, and its 100 union members from what can we do? We can be School of the Americas that Building name changed from the SOA across the country. At the cau- more deliberate in what we they come to Georgia every Washington, D.C. 20515 to Western Hemisphere cus, we listened to speakers choose to buy, and back those year and even go to jail in Institute for Security representing AFSCME, SEIU, choices up by writing letters to protest. She said that those Wentzlaff graduated from Cooperation (WHINSEC). It's UAW, and others. companies expressing our out- people have a message for us: UMD this year with a major in still being used for training We heard from a former rage at the treatment of work- “Somos una America”. We are sociology, and Farmer-Lies is Latin American soldiers and employee of a Coca Cola bot- ers abroad. We can put pressure one America. a UMD journalism student. policemen in tactics of oppres- tling plant in Guatemala who sion. was organizing a union but fled Every year, along with thou- the country after he and his sands of people from across the family were threatened by Americas, hundreds from paramilitaries. Minnesota act on this knowl- According to US Labor edge and make the 22 hour Education in the Americas drive to Columbus, Georgia. Project (usleap.org), There they spend the weekend Guatemala is the second most listening to speakers, watching dangerous place to organize a union. Colombia is number

Area SOA protesters Joel Kilgour, left, and Coly Wentzlaff and Linda Gokee-Rindal on right, with members of the United Auto Workers group. (Photo by Claire Farmer-Lies) May you have a healthy and prosperous new year! "When it shall be said in any country in the world: 'My poor are happy; neither Left to right (top row): Sean Quinn, Stephanie Balmer, Jim Peterson, Jim Balmer & Andrew Pierce ignorance nor distress is to be found among (bottom row): Bob Falsani, Ronny Reindeer, Bill Thompson & Eric Beyer them; My jails are empty of prisoners; My streets of beggars; The aged are not in want; The taxes not oppressive; The rational world is my friend because I am a friend of its happiness.' When these things can be said, then may that country boast of its Constitution and of its Government." – Tom Paine –

a thought for the season, Bill and Laurie Hilty

PAGE 24 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2010