SEATU Leadership Visits Piney Point
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The Official Publication of the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trades Union, Affiliated with the Seafarers International Union, AGLIW, AFL-CIO. Volume 21, Number 1 January-March 2018 The Also available online at www.seatu.org ENTERTAINER SERVICE • HOSPITALITY • GAMING SEATU Leadership Visits Piney Point Members of SEATU’s leadership recently trav- elled to the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Maryland, to attend a series of classes that fo- cused on building and im- proving leadership skills. In the photo at left, SEATU officials and rep- resentatives assembled in the auditorium. Additional photos can be found on Page 8. From left to right: Assis- tant Representative Sha- ron Cipolla, Assistant Vice President Karen Horton- Gennette, Representative Chad Partridge, Assistant Vice President Bryan Powell, Representative Patti Christian, Represen- tative Gerard Dhooge, Representative Ashley Smith, Representative Tyson Little, Representa- tive Amber Akana, SIU Port Agent John Hoskins and Representative Shane Sterry. Workers’ Rights at Stake in Crucial Supreme Court Case Editor’s note: The following piece was Some of those non-members pay Kagan. That includes the non-members, so-called right-to-work. Kennedy, for written by Mark Gruenberg, editor, Press agency fees. The others, in right-to-work he added. example, reeled off a list of issues he Associates News Service. states, are “free riders.” A decision for “A two-tiered workplace” where some said public sector unions are involved Mark Janus and the right-to-work crowd people pay dues and the rest are free rid- in, starting with raising taxes. And Alito “Agency fees,” paid by non-union would automatically make all 6.8 million ers “would be corrosive to collaboration suggested that even raising grievances public workers whom unions represent in state and local government workers “free and cooperation,” he added. And, to keep are free-speech issues to be subject to the many states, hit the U.S. Supreme Court riders.” their members, unions might be forced to court’s “strict scrutiny” for constitutional on Feb. 26. But what was really at stake is “You do realize the resources” for become more militant, including demand- violations. the future of the union movement. the unions “would be substantially di- ing the right to strike. The union “can be a partner with you in “You’re basically arguing, ‘Do away minished” if his side wins, Justice Ruth Making all state and local government advocating for a greater size workforce, with unions,’” Justice Sonia Sotomayor Bader Ginsburg told Messenger. “The 1st workers free riders “drains the union of against privatization, for teacher tenure, told the attorney for the union foes who Amendment means that’s a perfectly ac- resources that make it an equal partner” for higher wages, for massive govern- brought the case, William Messenger of ceptable result,” the lawyer replied. in bargaining with the state and local em- ment, for increasing bonded indebted- the National Right to Work Legal De- Janus and two other dissident Illinois ployers, Justice Ginsburg re-emphasized. ness, for increasing taxes?” Kennedy fense Fund. workers, recruited by the right-to-work “If you are right,” she told Messenger, asked Franklin. “That’s an interest the Messenger ducked a reply to her state- faction, argue that everything any public “it’s not only the people who are opposed state has?” ment, the final one in the court’s oral worker union does is “political.” Thus, to the union, but union supporters who “No. The state has no overriding inter- argument on Janus v AFSCME District forcing them even to pay for just the ba- may think ‘I’d rather keep the money in est” in those issues at the bargaining table, Council 31. sics of collective bargaining and enforc- my own pocket’ and then you’ll have a Franklin replied. Kennedy remained un- As the justices heard the case inside ing contracts violates their free speech union with diminished resources, not able convinced. All those are public policy is- the court’s white-marbled hall, unionists rights and is unconstitutional. to investigate what it should demand at sues where forcing Janus to pay even an made themselves heard outside. More Illinois Solicitor General David Frank- the bargaining table, not equal to the em- agency fee “is compelled subsidization” than 1,000 demonstrated for worker lin and AFSCME counsel David Fred- ployer that it faces.” of a view he dislikes, the justice said. rights on the plaza outside the building. erick countered by arguing there is no Messenger ducked her question. When The two silent GOP justices were And they drew support from pro-choice, constitutional issue involved. In bargain- Ginsburg repeated it, he claimed the im- Clarence Thomas and Neil Gorsuch, civil rights and community allies. A much ing and handling grievances, the state is pact was “immaterial.” the court’s newest member, named by smaller group supported the so-called acting as an employer, Franklin said, not Trump administration Solicitor Gen- Trump, whose lower-court rulings and right-to-work crowd. as a political entity that can determine eral Noel Francisco, the government’s top writings were consistently anti-worker. The case is the most important labor what its workers can say, or not say, on lawyer, also spoke for the right-to-work That lineup has led court specialists to case to hit the High Court in decades, the job. people. That reversed the federal govern- predict unions will lose the case 5-4 on said attorneys for both the union and the “The state’s interest here is dealing ment’s prior stand – a reversal, along with party lines. state of Illinois, whose law lets AFSCME with a single spokesman, and that they” others, that Sotomayor noted. The court will decide Janus by late collect the agency fees from the non- – the union – “have a duty of represent- Justices Samuel Alito and Anthony June. A transcript of the oral argument members. ing everyone,” Franklin told Justice Elena Kennedy also came down on the side of has been posted on the court’s website. That’s because state and local govern- ment workers – nurses, Fire Fighters, Teachers, police, EMTs, city sanitation What’s Inside workers and more – total 6.24 million (42 percent) of all unionists nationwide. - President’s Column - Wage Reopeners in Ohio - Class Photos Those unions also represent 576,000 non- member state and local workers. Page 2 Page 3 Pages 4-6 Common Misconceptions About Unions President’s Column Editor’s Note: The following forth that help to ensure that the op- futed by recent history. If a highly article was written by Union Built portunity for member participation unionized workplace was, as the Job Safety Remains Paramount PC. is available to all. argument goes, the cause of com- panies sending jobs overseas, then Members of the American labor force and their unions – 1.Unions are no longer necessary 3. Unions pay their officers and the absence of high union density many SEATU members among them – for years have fought Wage stagnation and a decline staff obscene amounts should lead to very few jobs going together on various fronts to enhance our rights as workers and upgrade the conditions under which we earn our living. in real incomes for middle class Union salaries are determined overseas, right? For instance, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, along families has become one of the democratically, often with the sala- Well, union density in the pri- with the Mine Safety and Health Act both promise workers the biggest problems facing the coun- ries approved by delegates and set vate sector has been declining for right to a safe job. Unions and our allies over the years have try. The middle class is shrinking forth in the bylaws or constitutions. decades and is currently less than battled hard to make that promise a and college graduates are putting The reality is that most union 10%. Yet for the last few decades, reality – winning protections that off buying homes and cars because officers are local officers. They American businesses have shifted have made jobs safer and saved lives. of low salaries. Meanwhile produc- get paid very little especially when millions of good paying jobs over- Today, we have in place new rules tivity is higher than ever and corpo- you take into account the hours that seas, despite the huge increases in to protect workers from deadly silica rate profits are through the roof. So they put in when it comes to nego- productivity at home and the stag- dust and beryllium, a stronger coal where is the money going? Instead tiations, union administration, and nating wages. dust standard for miners and stronger It’s not unions that lead to job of to the worker, more and more of contract administration. And many anti-retaliation protections for work- loss. It’s greedy corporate execu- don’t get paid at all. ers who report job injuries. it is going to corporate execs and tives who simply don’t want to While our collective skirmishes so CEOs, leading to increasing in- Some officers and staff at the share the fruits of higher produc- far have yielded significant improve- come inequality. national level get paid more but tivity and profits with American Michael Sacco ments, the struggle we face is far it is far from obscene. They often workers – unionized or not. from over. There still is a great deal 2. Unions are undemocratic work long hours in cities with very to be accomplished. As a matter of fact, it appears that it’s once Nothing could be further from high costs of living, such as DC 5.