Published By AMERICAN INCOME LIFE & NATIONAL INCOME LIFE LETTER LABOR ADVISORY BOARD APRIL 2015 Vol. 47 No. 2

of living,” AFL-CIO President Richard President Leo W. Gerard in a statement. NEWS FROM THE Trumka told the news media when he an- “There was no way we would have won vast AFL-CIO, CTW, nounced formation of the commission. He improvements in safety and staffing without INTERNATIONAL & said the federation will fight racism as a it.” According to the union, the agreement key to raising wages. “Politicians are using calls for joint review on the local level of NATIONAL UNIONS coded racial language to divide us,” Trumka future staffing levels and hiring plans. The said, singling out recent remarks by now- tentative agreement calls for yearly wage The AFL-CIO announced a Fox news commentator Rudy Giuliani, the increases as well as maintaining the current “comprehensive national raising wages former mayor of New York. He said anti- health care plan cost-sharing ratio. Strikes initiative” at its winter Executive Council union groups try to divide white and Af- could continue at specific refineries if local meeting in Atlanta in late February. The rican-American workers. “We have to rec- unions cannot come to an agreement with purpose of the initiative is to fight “by rais- ognize it for what it is and fight it,” he said. employers. More than 5,000 workers at ing all workers’ wages” and “workers’ right to 15 refineries and chemical plants went on organize and bargain with our employers… The United Steelworkers strike starting February 1 with a handful without fear of reprisal or dismissal,” the (USW) March 12 reached a tentative of refineries and spread across the nation. Executive Council said in a statement. As agreement on a new four-year contract with Overall, the Steelworkers represent 30,000 part of the initiative, the federation and local Shell Oil, which should set a pattern agree- oil workers at more than 200 refineries and affiliates will hold a series of Raising Wages ment for the rest of the industry and end chemical plants. summits this year in the first four presiden- the largest oil refinery strike in 35 years. tial primary states: Iowa, New Hampshire, “We salute the solidarity exhibited by our With national auto talks set to Nevada and South Carolina. The first will membership,” said USW International begin in April, one of the major challenges be in Iowa this spring, the AFL-CIO said. facing the United Auto Workers is ending “Each summit will bring together diverse entry-level Tier 2 wage levels, which are voices to discuss how we can implement a about half the pay and benefits of veteran comprehensive agenda to increase workers’ workers doing the same jobs. Tier 1 wag- bargaining power, raise wages and living es start around $28-an-hour. In 2009, the standards for the vast majority of workers union agreed to allow Fiat Chrysler and and hold policymakers accountable,” ac- General Motors, both companies under fi- cording to the Council statement. nancial stress, to hire unlimited lower-cost entry level workers. Ford workers, however, A special labor commission on refused the concession and the number of race and social justice will be established by Tier 2 workers there is capped at 20 percent the AFL-CIO Executive Council that en- of the workforce. UAW President Dennis gages unions and their members in a broad Williams has not commented on the union’s conversation about the need to put an end pattern bargaining goals, but the union his- to racism. “Racism and dog whistle politics torically has opposed two-tiered wages as are being used to keep us all divided, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka. Flickr.com contrary to the goal of equal pay for equal that division holds back our ability to win photo used under Creative Commons from work. About 17.5 percent of GM’s hourly wage increases and improve our standard Jason Perlman. workforce is entry-level; approximately

TERRY O'SULLIVAN, President - Laborers International Union of North America, Chairman - AIL/NILICO Labor Advisory Board VICTOR KAMBER, Vice President - American Income Life Insurance Company, Executive Director - AIL/NILICO Labor Advisory Board ROGER SMITH!"#$ DENISE BOWYER, Vice President - American Income Life Insurance Company, Secretary - AIL/NILICO Labor Advisory Board Pg 2 LABOR LETTER

23 percent at Ford; and about 44 per- This [latest ruling] is one of a series of cases, workers who are demanding a raise of cent at Chrysler. In addition, veteran em- and we’ve got more planned,” she said. K30,000-a-month to K60,000 ($59). More ployees have not had a base wage increase than 3,800 workers from five garment and in 10 years. On Wednesday, March 4, Aus- shoe factories in Yangon industrial zones tralia’s unions held a national day of action to started picketing in January. Police were U.S. supervision of the Inter- oppose austerity measures which they said deployed against them to end the strikes national Brotherhood of Teamsters will be threaten working conditions and wages for which led to violent clashes and the arrest phased out over the next five years in a deal millions of Australians. Rallies and marches of two labor union leaders and an activist, approved by Judge Loretta Preska of the were held in major Australian cities, with who the government alleges were responsi- Southern District of New York. “This is a the largest demonstration staged in Mel- ble for instigating the strikes. The strike-hit historic agreement that returns our great bourne. The unions are targeting a pending factories are owned by Chinese and South union to our 1.4 million Teamster mem- review of the Australian workplace system Korean companies who have rejected the bers,” said James P. Hoffa, General Presi- by the pro-market Productivity Commis- workers’ salary demands. dent of the Union. “Our union is commit- sion. Leaked recommendations include cuts ted to the democratic process, and we can to the minimum wage and the weekend and A week of public sector strikes proudly declare that corrupt elements have night “penalty rates” which primarily impact involving hundreds of thousands of work- been driven from the Teamsters and that hundreds of thousands of low-paid workers. ers and led by the giant union Ver.di swept government oversight can come to an end.” Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s conservative across Germany March 2. Workers are The Teamsters have been seeking the end of federal oversight for years. According to the union, the final order provides for continued direct membership elections of the Team- sters Union’s International officers and for independent investigation and monitoring of internal disciplinary matters involving al- legations of corruption. The settlement will bring an end to 25 years of federal supervi- sion of the union. INTERNATIONAL LABOR NEWS New Zealand unions predicted that more employment cases will be liti- gated following a landmark Employment Court ruling that paves the way for tens of thousands of home care relief workers to receive the minimum wage and holidays. Rest home caregivers and nurses join a national strike in New Zealand. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from Simon Oosterman. Service and Food Workers Union took the winning case to court and national secretary Liberal-National party was elected with a striking for 5.5 percent more in wages, job John Ryall said litigation to secure workers’ solid majority in September 2013 over the security and employment guarantees for rights was now preferable to collective bar- Labor Party, but now polls with one of the trainee workers. Other issues involve pen- gaining. Ryall said, “We decided there’s got lowest approval ratings in Australian his- sions and pay scales. Some 200 workers at to be a better way than (collective bargain- tory, 29 percent. Abbott recently survived a a university clinic in the western city of Es- ing),” which he described as hopeless. “Ev- leadership challenge in an internal revolt by sen walked off their jobs first and another ery time we win one of these cases, someone dozens of his colleagues. 200,000 teachers struck during week. Addi- stands up, and we discover a new detail of tional strikes involved coast guard workers, discrimination. I think these cases will con- In Myanmar, more than 100 street repair crews and state administrative tinue until such time as there is a collective garment factory workers staged a sit-in offices. Ver.di chief Frank Bsirske told the bargaining system in place.” CTU’s Helen protest March 4 after police blocked their news media that the demands for pay were Kelly agreed with the tactic of strategic liti- march to Yangon city hall, where they justified because tax receipts are up in Ger- gation. “We have to rely on the minimum planned to set up a second protest camp. man municipalities. “Anyone who expects code — Minimum Wage, Holidays Act, The incident is the latest in a bitter labor good work from qualified workers has to Equal Pay Act — to get any sort of justice. dispute involving thousands of garment pay them properly,” he said. LABOR LETTER Pg 3

NATIONAL AND top the rankings. Although women have last May told the news media that his unit POLITICAL EVENTS been making strides in the workplace, the is focusing resources “on the industries, the gender wage gap remains wide. Congress workplaces and the workers where the larg- There is a direct correlation passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963 to curb est problems lie.” Judy Conti, a lobbyist for sex discrimination in the workplace, yet 50 the National Employment Law Project, between the decline in union membership years later the wage gap persists. The U.S. which advocates for low-wage and unem- and share of income going to the middle ranks 20th among countries in closing the ployed workers, lauded the Wage and Hour 60 percent of families, according to a recent gender gap. In 2013, the median annual Division’s current strategy. analysis by Ross Eisenbrey of the Economic income for female workers in the U.S. was Policy Institute. According to Eisenbrey, $38,097 compared to the $48,099 their middle class incomes suffer without collec- male counterparts earned, according to REGIONAL & tive bargaining. His analysis is supported in U.S. Census data, or less than 80 cents on a LOCAL LABOR a recent report by economist Rob Shapiro man’s dollar. The gender wage gap discrep- for the Brookings Institution which found NEWS ancy is even greater for women of color, as that almost two-thirds of American house- black and Hispanic women make even less Despite massive protests and holds earn less money today than they did when compared to white women and white demonstrations, the Wisconsin State As- in 2002, at time when union membership men. Earnings disparities between men and sembly March 6 passed a right-to-work bill significantly dropped. The share of income women are worse in some industries than after 24 hours of debate along party lines, going to the broad middle class began to others. Female workers in the legal profes- 62-35. The bill was passed earlier by the state fall as union membership and power were sion make only about half the median an- Senate and signed March 9 by Gov. Scott reduced. “The middle 60 percent of families nual earnings that male legal workers make. Walker, making Wisconsin the 25th U.S. depend primarily on wages for their income, state to enact such a law, joining neighbor- so as the unions’ ability to raise wages di- American workers received ing Iowa, Indiana and Michigan. “We can minished, so did the ability of middle class $240.8 million in back wages last year re- be proud of the fight back we accomplished. families to earn a fair share of the nation’s sulting from an intensified crackdown on Thousands of workers, union and non- growing income,” said Eisenbrey. pay abuses in low-skill industries by the union, came to Madison to oppose Right Sunday, March 8 was marked U.S. Department of Labor. The DOL re- to Work. We participated in our democratic covered an average of $890 per worker for process and made our voices heard. Now, we around the world as International Women’s back wages that employers agreed to pay, or must continue to hold politicians account- Day, the day proclaimed by the United Na- were ordered to pay, following government able to the people, not to their out-of-state tions to honor women workers, both paid investigations. Minimum wage violations special interest campaign donors,” said the and unpaid. Compared to other nations also led to an estimated loss of about $373 Wisconsin AFL-CIO. Political observers ranked by a Gallup survey, the U.S. is only million in U.S. and state income taxes and said passage of the anti-union measure will 7th on the list where women are found “to other payroll taxes. The Labor Department’s appeal to right-wing conservatives in the be thriving.” Iceland, Sweden and Denmark Wage and Hour Division head David Weil Republican Party and could bolster Walker’s presidential aspirations. Unions and their Democratic allies charged the measure was “rushed” through the legislature to increase Walker’s popularity among right-wing base GOP primary voters. Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Communications Workers of America in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont rati- fied a new contract with FairPoint Com- munications. The new contracts will be in effect until August 4, 2018 and ended a four-month walkout by 1,800 workers that began October 17, the longest strike in 2014. The workers walked off their jobs after the company implemented terms of a “final offer” that froze pensions, imposed Protestors against Wisconsin's Right to Work bill. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons pay cuts for new hires and required work- from blue cheddar. ers to contribute for the first time to their Pg 4 LABOR LETTER

have cost their jobs. The 450 food service workers, cashiers and managers who fought Aramark are employed by Sodexo whose five-year contract with the school district was about to expire. On March 2, the board voted 9-0 to retain Sodexo as its cafeteria vendor. The school board had considered a bid by Aramark that did not guarantee ex- isting workers their jobs or their recently won negotiated wages and benefits. The Local 1644 members built a coalition with parents, school teachers and clergy to op- pose the Aramark bid. They said Aramark’s attempt to underbid Sodexo would create a “race to the bottom.”

Fairpoint strike rally held in Portland, Maine. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from Ibew Fairpoint. SIGNIFICANT health plan. The company also cut retiree of the American Federation of Teachers, LEGAL AND NLRB health care. Under the contract terms, work- and Stan Johnson, secretary-treasurer of the RULINGS ers will keep their defined benefit pension United Steelworkers union. plan but with reduced contributions and be The three-member National covered under a new union-administered Labor Relations Board ruled that Seattle’s health insurance plan with better benefits IN THE PUBLIC Space Needle management engaged in anti- that will cost workers and the company less. SECTOR union practices by undertaking a number of The company also agreed to eliminate the efforts aimed at discouraging workers from two-tiered wage plan. The IBEW represents Illinois labor unions March 5 supporting or participating in their union 1,500 workers and CWA has 300 members. filed to block an executive order by Illi- since their contract expired in 2011. The The North Carolina-based company went nois Gov. Bruce Rauner to end fair share NLRB found that Space Needle manage- bankrupt after buying Verizon’s landline requirements for state workers. Under fair ment failed to recall two pro-union employ- holdings in the region for $2.3 billion in share agreements, workers pay a portion of ees; distributed letters to employees encour- 2007, and continues to struggle financially. union dues for the bargaining and adminis- aging them to resign from the union; polled tration of their contract even if they do not employees about their attitudes toward the Led by the West Virginia AFL- belong to a union. The lawsuit filed by 27 union; made coercive statements to workers; CIO, an estimated 6,000 workers and sup- unions charged the Republican governor and reneged on a prior written agreement porters marched on Charleston March 7 exceeded his constitutional authority and with the union to resume payroll-based to protest the Republican majority in the violate collective bargaining agreements and deduction of its employees’ union dues. legislature. The “Mountaineer Workers Ris- state labor law. Union leaders said Rauner’s UNITE HERE Local 8 filed the complaint ing Rally” focused on legislative propos- action strikes at firefighters, snowplow in 2013 which accused the Space Needle als involving expanding charter schools, drivers, nurses and other employees who of anti-union efforts since 2011 when their “right-to-work” laws, mine safety rollbacks provide critical state services. “Governor contract expired. That contract was later ex- and the revamping of West Virginia’s pre- Rauner’s political obsession with stripping tended into 2012. The NLRB ordered the vailing-wage law. Most of the bills are pat- their rights and driving down their wages company to rehire two workers with back terned after model legislation written by the demeans their service, hurts the middle pay and pay hundreds of thousands of dollar right-wing American Legislative Exchange class and is blatantly illegal,” said Illinois in withheld dues to the union. Council. “For nearly 60 days, they’ve con- AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan in spired with their big owners and their big an emailed statement. Rauner also filed a LABOR LETTER donors and out-of-state corporations to federal lawsuit against the unions to declare provided through lower your wages and to take your ben- fair-share dues unconstitutional. efits,” said Richard Trumka, president of the national AFL-CIO. Other prominent Members of American Federa- union leaders in attendance included Mine tion of Municipal Workers Local 1644 Workers head Cecil Roberts, Lily Eskelsen persuaded Atlanta school board officials in Garcia, president of the National Education March to reject a bid by outsourcer Ara- Protecting Working Families Association, Randi Weingarten, president mark to take over operations, which could www.ailife.com AGENDA APRIL 2015

with the needs of a lifetime career, rather When apprenticeship education is sup- than narrowly suited to a single employer’s ported with appropriate public policy—such immediate needs. as Indiana’s statewide Ivy Tech Community Challenges to the system include, College Construction Technology associ- foremost, the volatility of the construction ate’s degree program, where apprentices Sean industry. Since construction investment can earn both an associate’s degree and journey- McGarvey often be put off, there has been a tendency level status when they complete their train- President, for spikes in construction spending, requir- ing, it can provide a badly needed pathway North America’s ing a constant effort on the part of policy to the middle class. Building Trades makers to try to smooth growth and decline At North America’s Building Trades, Unions to enable workforce development planning. we’re committed to improving the comple- Another challenge to the system is tion rates of women, minority and veteran APPRENTICESHIP the practice of some employers to attempt apprentices, which is why we created our to “ride training” either by trying to attract nationally recognized Multi-Craft Core SYSTEM’S MERITS, workers from employers who have invested Curriculum, which is currently being taught CHALLENGES in training, or to try to import a construc- in 70 apprenticeship readiness programs run tion workforce from other countries rather by Building Trades Councils across the U.S. For many workers who are not on a than investing in the skill training of the There are many ways in which the four-year college education track, appren- American workforce. Employers who have construction industry could be more ac- ticeship and workplace-based training pro- followed this low-road strategy have created commodating to women. In our appren- vides a better learning environment and far their own local and even regional shortages ticeship readiness curriculum, which was larger earnings gains than one or two years of skilled workers. created by our affiliate unions’ national in a community college. Apprenticeship offers young men training directors, we teach the importance There is also a greater return for an and women the chance to work and fur- of diversity and diversity awareness, how to employer. According to the Construction ther their education, without the burden recognize and effectively respond to sexual Industry Institute, affiliated with the of student loans. It’s an “earn while you harassment, how women have special needs University of Texas at Austin, there is a learn” system that has succeeded for over when it comes to construction safety issues return for craft training of as much as $3 100 years. Union apprenticeship programs (harnesses that fit correctly, tools that are to $1 invested, accounted for by improved also offer young people the chance to learn designed for their use) and the importance safety, elimination of rework, and increased from the best-trained construction work- of strong interview skills. productivity of the craft worker. ers in North America. When they com- These parts of the curriculum are all Another strength is the fact that reg- plete their apprenticeship, they also have a designed to get more women in the trades. istered apprenticeship in the union con- portable, nationally recognized credential The lesson here is that doing appren- struction industry is a sustainable form that they can take anywhere in the coun- ticeship education right is an expensive of workforce development, financed by a try, one that comes with good pay and proposition, which takes years of sustained cents-per-hour contribution for every hour benefits that will support them and their investment, in this case funded through worked. Thus, it does not depend at all on families. Most apprenticeship programs collective bargaining. The Building Trades grants, government support, or on intermit- have also been assessed for college credit, model of apprenticeship training has en- tent investment. There is a steady stream which they can use if they choose to pur- dured for 100 years because these collective- of financing provided through collective sue an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. For ly bargained programs are market-sensitive. bargaining and the resolution of craft work- me, those are pretty good incentives for They expand and contract with the ebbs and ers and their unions and contractors. In young workers. flows of a market economy. addition, the support is flexible, rising with Apprenticeship training is a remarkably Collective bargaining also spreads the demand, and declining appropriately as successful model when supported broadly by cost of training across multiple employers, work is slack. employers, and we feel it should be available which helps provide continuity of employ- The joint administration of apprentice- to more American workers. In fact, from ment for apprentices—vital for apprentices ship funds and training enables contractors our experience, apprenticeship is one of the to complete their years-long programs— and craft organizations to develop and best ways to train the skilled workers that and it helps mitigate the perhaps natural modify training in real time to fit the needs will be needed in an increasingly techno- disinclination for individual employers to of the industry. Worker voice in the system logical and interconnected world economy. forgo the cost of training because they don’t also informs training development so that Apprenticeship training can also narrow the want to lose their newly qualified employees it is career-centered and broad, in keeping post-secondary achievement gap. to higher-paying competitors. Pg 2 AGENDA

LAB WELCOMES TWO NEW MEMBERS

=8 2 2 "1 + announced Transportation Workers International President of the Union President Harry Lombardo is Association of Flight Attendants- the newest member of the AIL Labour CWA, AFL-CIO in June of 2014, Advisory Board. Chaired by Laborers' having served as International International Union President Terry Vice President from 2011 O’Sullivan, the Labour Advisory Board through May of 2014. Sara (LAB) is made up of more than 50 became a United Airlines Flight international union leaders, AFL-CIO Attendant in 1996 and has been representatives, and ‘Change To a union activist since nearly the Win’ representatives. #88\8;

Lombardo was elected TWU Much of Sara’s union activism has International President at the 24th been focused on mobilization, Constitutional Convention on September communications and strong 24, 2013 after having served as the union contracts. Early in her International Executive Vice President since 2006. Since 2014, Lombardo has union career, Sara served in a variety of positions including CHAOS™ served as Vice President on the Executive Council of the AFL-CIO. Strike Co-Coordinator, and Local Council Vice President, Local CHAOS Strike Coordinator and Council Rep. (United Airlines, Boston). The native Philadelphian started with TWU Local 234 in 1972 as a car cleaner for SEPTA. He was named Business Agent in 1979 by then Local $1128 234 President Merrill Cooper. At the time, he was the youngest Business years directing communications and PR efforts for the union's United Agent (29 years old) in the Local’s history. Airlines unit, representing the union in all the major news media in the U.S. and abroad. She also was responsible for internal member Lombardo served as Local President until 1996 when he was named to the communications and mobilization. International staff by then International President Sonny Hall. He was elected International Vice President in four consecutive conventions. Sara also has extensive government relations experience having 818<81 LAB members provide guidance on how AIL might best serve the interests of coordinated congressional press conferences, and personally lobbied their respective members and the labour movement. members of Congress. She also designed and conducted training programs on a wide range of topics for union members.

Sara resides in the DC area with her husband, David Borer and son Jack.

Atlanta Town Hall Meeting Savannah Regional CLC representatives participated in the AFL-CIO’s Town Hall meeting in Atlanta on O&*+P* Hawaii AFL-CIO Scholarship negotiations. Joining AIL’s Brett Hulme (center) under #11 AIL is one of the contributors to the Hawaii AFL-CIO State Scholarship fund. In the photo are (left to right), International Union President Michael Goodwin (left) Hawaii AFL-CIO State Federation President Randy Perreira, AIL’s Dion Dizon and AFL-CIO Hawaii COPE and International Association of Machinists General Director Jason Bradshaw. President Tom Buffenbarger. AGENDA Pg 3

PA AFL-CIO Legislative Conference AIL participated in the recent Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Legislative Conference held in Harrisburg. In the photo, AIL’s Jeff Hapke meets with Pam Cohen and Chris Allen, executive assistants respectively to PA AFL-CIO Secy.-Treas. Frank Snyder and PA AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale.

San Antonio CLC Delegate The San Antonio AFL-CIO Central Labor Council recently elected AIL’s Steve Sanchez (center, photo) 1881 Oklahoma MLK Celebration Employees International Union. Joining him at the swearing-in ceremonies are National AFL-CIO R*QX1Y[&\1]]^]\+1_ Executive Vice President-Emeritus Linda Chavez- King Parade. Thompson and CLC President Tom Cummins. Pg 4 AGENDA

Laborers' International Union General President Terry O’Sullivan (left) presents Rabin Legacy Award to AIL’s Smith. O’Sullivan also serves The Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, Israel as Chairman of the AIL-NILICO Labor Advisory Board. RABIN CENTER HONORS ROGER SMITH

=82 was honored March 24 in Washington, D.C. by the American Friends of the Yitzhak Rabin Center, a library and research institute in Tel Aviv built in honor of assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

Smith, presented with the Yitzhak Rabin Legacy <#1#8{ by the group. AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka was also honored at the event with the Rabin Leadership and Public Service Award. =82X8Y[&|2<XY& The event, which marked the 20th anniversary of Richard Trumka. (left). Rabin’s death, raised more than one million dollars for the center, which is one of the major education centers and museums in Israel.

Past labor honorees include CWA President Emeritus _$1#<* General President James Hoffa, Jr., United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts and Terry O’Sullivan, President of Laborers’ International Union and Chairman of the AIL-NILICO Labor Advisory Board. O’Sullivan introduced and presented the award to Smith.

The Yitzhak Rabin Center in Tel Aviv is the national institute dedicated to the memory of late Prime Minister, Defense Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated on 111}_+ November 4, 1995 at the end of a rally in support Goodwin (center), CWA President Emeritus Morton Bahr (right) and International Brotherhood of Teamsters General President James of the Oslo Accords in Tel Aviv. He was shot by an OPEIU Local 277 Bus Mgr Becky Turner (left) meet with Smith. Hoffa (right) congratulates Smith on his award. ultranationalist Israeli terrorist opposed to Rabin’s peace initiative. The opening ceremony of the center took place in November 2005, on the tenth anniversary of Rabin's assassination.