WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 20, 2019 VOL. 125, NO. 15 (ISSN 0023-6667) An Injury to One is an Injury to All! General Strike: What’s old could be new again Wage theft By Mark Gruenberg PAI Staff Writer highlighted WASHINGTON (PAI)—Is the General Strike, a worker weapon that struck fear into in House corporate chieftains and crooks By Howard Kling, and their political cronies a cen- Workday Minnesota tury ago, making a comeback? ST. PAUL — Workers and A new film, commemorat- business owners highlighted ing centennial of the Great the need for stronger wage Seattle General Strike of 1919, theft laws during a press con- plus a panel of experts in work- ference and legislative hear- er history and rights, tackled ing at the Minnesota Capitol that question Feb. 6 at a pro- earlier this month. worker pro-minority pro- The hearing before the woman D.C. bookstore event Minnesota House Labor sponsored by the Metro Committee was the first stop Washington AFL-CIO’s DC for HF6, a bipartisan bill that LaborFest. would set rules and penalties The answer: Yes, but in a for employers who avoid pay- different way than it was prac- ing, or fail to pay, wages ticed in the decades before earned by their employees. Seattle. And on a different scale. “I am here today to The Pacific Northwest demand an end to this practice Labor Heritage foundation, of wage theft,” said Humberto with both financial and Miceli, a member of Centro archival aid from Oregon and In February 1919, tens of thousands of workers went on strike in Seattle for six days. de Trabajadores Unidos en la Washington state labor histori- Labor conflicts and political turmoil today raise the question as to whether the concept of Lucha (CTUL). With the help ans and unions, produced the a general strike could make a comeback. of CTUL, Miceli was able to film, The General Strike: Back recover wages stolen by an To The Future? plicit politicians and schemes constitution said ‘The working shipyard workers, angry at cor- employer, but in the end he It traced the area’s crowded to divide and conquer workers class and the employing class porate reneging on World War received only 10% of what he and militant labor history, as by race, class and sex. have nothing in common.’” I-era promises of post-war was owed. “It is real people workers – many organized by “The IWW had the princi- The apex of the movement union recognition, raises and who suffer the consequences the Industrial Workers of the ple of overthrowing capitalism was the 6-day general strike better conditions, walked off the way things are right now,” World – battled inhumane con- in favor of syndicalism or which shut down Seattle in the job. added Miceli. ditions, corporate hatred, com- socialism,” the film said. “Its 1919. It started when 3,500 See STRIKE...page 4 Cecilia Guzman, also a member of CTUL, told the New labor college in St. Paul aims to build movement’s future committee she was owed two ST. PAUL — After months 1937 in Katonah, NY. It attract- thousand dollars by a cleaning of planning, a small group of ed over 600 students, who company in 2014. The court labor leaders, activists and went on to lead major union ordered them to pay but, “the scholars will open a new col- and civil rights campaigns person still hasn’t paid me to lege this spring in St. Paul, across the country in the this date,” she said. inspired by the belief that decades to come. “Fourteen of my 20 pay- working people can build the The school’s lifespan was checks, including my last one, labor movement of the future, brief, said Robyn Gulley, a co- have been shorted,” said in part, by looking to the past. founder of New Brookwood Allegra Bipes, a security offi- Set to begin classes in April, and local labor and human cer at the Minneapolis College New Brookwood Labor rights organizer. But its impact of Art and Design (MCAD). College is modeled after a was great. “On some, I was not paid school for labor organizers that “It’s hard to read a book for all of my hours worked, operated between 1921 and about labor history without or I was not paid for overtime coming across Brookwood hours. On others, I was not Labor College,” Gulley said. paid my shift differential or “Brookwood left behind a The East Side Freedom Library will soon be home to the for holidays. This is wage tremendous legacy. And it was New Brookwood Labor College, providing a rigorous cur- theft,” she continued. “For coed, it was racially diverse, it riculum dedicated to strengthening the labor movement. people like me, who live pay- was ethnically diverse at a time widened back to the bloated needed critical thinking – how check to paycheck, I need to when that was basically levels of the 1920s, when the to organize when traditional be paid all that I have earned, unheard of.” original Brookwood began forms of work (skilled manual on time.” Brookwood’s brand of educating organizers. labor) were being challenged Based on complaints filed inclusiveness and forward If ever there were a time for by assembly lines and scientif- with the Minnesota thinking hasn’t lost its rele- a reboot, labor historian Peter ic management; how to organ- Department of Labor and vance in an era of intense cul- Rachleff said, this is it. ize a workforce that was Industry (MNDLI), an esti- tural and political divides in the “The Brookwood Labor increasingly diverse by race, mated 39,000 Minnesota U.S. And the gaps between rich College came along at a time and working people have when the labor movement See COLLEGE...page 4 See WAGE...page 6 Governor Walz releases ambitious $50 billion budget proposal IBEWIBEW 3131 &242242 Governor Tim Walz less conversations across the Some of the highlights tax credit. announced the Budget for One state, it is clear to me that there include establishing a paid Earlier this month, Walz Retirees’Retirees’ Minnesota — his inaugural are three priorities the people family leave insurance system announced that the commerce budget proposal for the next of Minnesota share: Education; that workers could access to department will continue an LuncheonLuncheon biennium — just as this issue health care; and community help replace their salaries dur- appeal process begun by the was going to press. prosperity,” Walz said. ing leaves. Dayton Administration by peti- Tues., Feb. 26 Early assessments of his The $50 billion budget puts The governor’s proposal tioning the Minnesota Public 1:00 p.m. budget proposal indicate it forward the greatest invest- also includes a increase to the Utilities Commission to recon- focuses bringing down the cost ment in Greater Minnesota in gas tax and other taxes to put sider its decision to grant a cer- NE Barbecue of health care, improving edu- the history of the state, while $18 billion into state roads over tificate of need for the and Smokehouse cation, and ensuring communi- investing in some of the most the next 20 years, an increase Enbridge Line 3 Pipeline 7 Eighth St., ties across the state are pros- meaningful state initiatives to in per-pupil funding that would Replacement Project. pering. lift up communities of color add more than $500 million to The decision allows the Cloquet “After traveling thousands ever proposed, Walz’s office the education budget, and appeal to move forward and Members & Their of miles and enjoying count- said. boosting the working family continue. Guests Welcome! Construction Career Night highlights opportunities As part of the Duluth to talk about the opportunities in of the Construct Tomorrow Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 10 Construct Tomorrow event, construction careers to interest- event, Feb. 26-27. Almost organizers will be holding a ed students. The event will be 1,000 students will be attending Retirees’ Luncheon Construction Career Night to held Feb. 26, from 5 p.m. to the daytime events through area give young people and their par- 6:30 p.m., at the Paulucci schools, where they will wire Tuesday, March 5, 1:00 p.m. ents, mentors, colleagues and Hall/Arena at the DECC. circuits, trowel cement, set tile career coaches a chance to Area high-school students and more as they move through Cloud 9 Bistro, explore construction careers. will get hands-on opportunities stations staffed by representa- Local union apprenticeship pro- to experience the work required tives of 14 local union appren- 308 S. Lake Ave. grams and staff will be available in building trade careers as part ticeship programs. AMAZON...from page 1 Donʼt know where to turn? And it also pointed out how said, ‘why don’t we try to get Heights. “This neighborhood Dial 2-1-1 or 1-800-543-7709 or visit Amazon profits off hate and more jobs from Amazon?’ we runs on the backs of immi- anti-immigrant policies – a could counter that with ‘that grants and immigrant-owned www.211unitedway.org practice all the more doesn’t stop them from collud- businesses,” Pandey said, “and Get connected to resources in Minnesota and Wisconsin deplorable in the district HQ2 ing with ICE.’ We needed to we will all be displaced if this For services provided by the Community Services Program was to be located, where 40 highlight all of these elements project goes through.” sponsored by the Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body and percent of residents are immi- to show that no promises The end of New York’s the Head of the Lakes United Way...Call 218-726-4775 grants. would have sweetened the HQ2, while a crucial step in Rachel Loeffler-Kemp, Director Amazon provides much of pot.” showing corporations that 424 West Superior St. the infrastructure for the This multi-pronged attack cities can’t be bought, is still Suite 402 AFL-CIO Department of Homeland also helped mobilize people only one step. Virginia offi- Duluth, MN 55802 Community Services Security’s immigration data- against HQ2, Pandey said, as cials have made it clear they’re bases, the report points out, “each person was drawn to welcoming Amazon with open which means it holds the infor- fight against this deal (or arms. It will take coordinated PLEASE MENTION THIS LABOR WORLD AD mation that facilitates the mass ordeal, rather) for many rea- efforts to keep companies like surveillance, detention, and sons, be it anti-trust concerns, Amazon from setting up race- deportation of immigrants. environmental impacts, to-the-bottom competitions to Amazon also recently market- Amazon’s collusion with ICE, line their pockets with money ed its facial recognition soft- its abuse of workers, etc. We from city and state coffers. ware to ICE. were able to engage with a But first, New Yorkers must And fueling the American number of people because this celebrate beating back the rich- deportation machine isn’t the would have affected every- est man in the world. only way Amazon rakes in one.” cash over racism. The compa- According to New York Cvar open house ny has long been criticized for Times reporter J. David There will be an open house allowing hate groups to sell Goodman, this broad base of for Tom Cvar, who is retiring white supremacist products in questioning over ICE deals after serving as a union repre- its marketplace, which helps and union busting – questions sentative for 20 years. Cvar has fund their movements and that extend beyond HQ2 and also served on the board of the spread their ideas. hit the heart of Amazon’s very Labor World Newspaper. Organizers pointed to all of business model – played a role Join us on Wednesday, these components of Amazon in Amazon’s decision to call it Feb. 27, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. DIVORCE • PATERNITY – its anti-immigrant practices, quits with New York. at the UFCW hall, 2002 CUSTODY/PARENTING TIME its labor violations, the corpo- The campaign against HQ2 London Road, Suite 211. GRANDPARENTING RIGHTS rate concentration, the way it is only one component in both Congratulations, Tom! STEP PARENT ADOPTIONS fuels gentrification and dis- the fight to save New Yorkers Ironworker Retirees FELONIES • DUI/DWI placement, its tax avoidance – against gentrification and the MISDEMEANORS • OFPS/HROS when making their case longer battle against Amazon’s against letting HQ2 into the concentrated power in the Monthly Breakfast city. “If we had only addressed American economy. Queens is Thursday, Feb. 21 one part of the beast that is still pushing back against the Amazon, we would have corporatization of its neighbor- 9:00 a.m. opened up a window for nego- hoods. They’re centering their Chalet Lounge tiation,” Pandey said. efforts on a campaign against “For every person who proposed Target in Jackson 4833 Miller Trunk Hwy

PAGE 2 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 Revisiting the Time to strengthen labor laws Since U.S. labor law reform not people. They’re to be pau- General Strike is apparently part of this year’s perized, used, folded, bent, spin- By Catherine Conlan progressive agenda, at least in dled, mutilated, discarded and A growing sense of unease the Democratic-run House, now when necessary, killed. All in across the nation. Increased is a good time to discuss its the name of greater profits fun- labor actions in a wide variety assumptions and some details. neled into capitalists’ pockets. of industries and roles. Political First, let’s all agree on some Since they really mean it, turmoil. The current events we key points. The top one: we should, too. Time for read about today would sound Workers need more rights and Teddy Roosevelt’s big stick. awfully familiar to people liv- more clout against bosses. By The labor law reform legis- ing in this country 100 years any way possible. lation unions and the new ago, down to the clusters of To quote Theodore Democratic majority on the measles and flu cases. It’s in Roosevelt, who said the words House Education and Labor this environment that the weeks before he succeeded Committee drafted includes University of Washington William McKinley in the pres- tough fines, at least double Press reissued The Seattle idency in 1901, “Speak softly damages and immediate rein- General Strike by Robert pened, but as this issue’s front- simply didn’t consider with the and carry a big stick.” An espe- statement of illegally fired Friedheim, with a new intro- page article acknowledges, the discipline in its early stages. For cially big stick. workers. It also takes a huge duction by John Noble, in term has been applied to large example, Noble clarifies that That means legalizing card- step forward by applying the honor of the 100 year anniver- strikes in cities or across an this is not the first general strike check recognition and second- penalties not just to firms, but sary of the Seattle strike. industry, such as the Great in American history, but is the ary boycotts. to executives and board mem- The geographic size and Railroad Strike of 1877. first in its own way. The popula- That means removing cor- bers. That’s fine, as far as it large population make general The Seattle General Strike tion of Seattle, as well as the porate obstacles to organizing goes. It doesn’t go far enough. strikes enormously difficult in lasted six days and involved nation, in talking about the drives and forcing corporate Jail terms focus the corpo- the United States, even without around 65,000 workers. It was strike as a general one, would crooks to bargain for first con- rate mind. So how about jail considering the relentless the result of increased radical- have known they were talking tracts – or else have an arbitra- for you if your rent-a-cops efforts of moneyed interests ization and unionization during about something new. “The tor impose contracts on them. murder workers? Or jail for against class consciousness, the war, as well as strong anti- decision by the Seattle Central That means restoring class- manslaughter when you don’t organizing and solidarity. A true war efforts. A rich and Labor Council to call a general action suits, which the U.S. repair a dangerous machine or general strike — across indus- The spark was wages, as strike seem[ed] enormously Supreme Court GOP-named install a guardrail and a work- tries, positions, employers and shipbuilding unions demanded consequential,” Noble writes. majority greatly curbed, and er gets ground up or falls to her geography — has never hap- a pay increase for unskilled In addition, Noble recognizes letting individual workers sue death? Or jail for theft and workers in the shipyards. The that the book pays little attention when the National Labor fraud if you steal workers’ pay bosses said they would offer an to the women and minorities Relations Board won’t. by denying them wages, over- ~NOTICE~ increase only for skilled work- who played strong roles in the But a rewrite of U.S. labor time pay or their tips? Or jail Labor World next issues: ers, prompting all workers in strike, the former in their own law also calls for a key attitude for conspiracy, for you and March 6, 20; April 17; the shipyards to go out on unions that went out, and the lat- change: Discarding the your union-busters, if you ille- May 8, 22; June 19; strike in January. A mis-deliv- ter whose unions weren’t assumption, implicit in the gally fire workers during July 10, 24; Aug. 7, 28; ered telegram from the allowed to affiliate with the 1935 National Labor Relations organizing? Sept. 11, 25; Oct. 9, 30; Emergency Fleet Corporation Seattle Central Labor Council Act, that law-breaking bosses Executives of Canadian Nov. 13, 26; Dec. 18. went to the Metal Trades but whose actions helped “don’t really mean it.” That firms that break our northern Council rather than the bosses, strengthen the strike as it lasted. their violations are incidental, neighbor’s job safety laws face LABOR WORLD and said wage increases would The reissue is a valuable accidental or both. Wrong, jail terms if convicted, and on (ISSN#0023-6667) is published prompt it to withdraw contracts update to labor history in general wrong, wrong. criminal, not civil, charges when semi-monthly except one issue in That’s not the case with workers die. Why not ours? April, June, December (21 issues). — and everyone dug in. and the history of the Seattle The known office of publication is Increased police and mili- strike specifically. The clips from civil rights laws. U.S. civil rights laws proceed Labor World, 2002 London Road, tary presence, pressure from the Union Record, the daily Lester “Ax Handle” from the assumption that law- Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812. international offices on locals newspaper published by the Maddox didn’t just threaten breakers really mean it. They Periodicals postage is paid at and changing public percep- Seattle Central Labor Council, African-Americans who want- require the violators – from Bull Duluth MN 55806. ed to integrate his Georgia Connor to North Carolina GOP POSTMASTER: tions — the recent Russian are particularly interesting as it Revolution made a lot of peo- recorded news of the strike: “We restaurant in 1964. Maddox state legislators to Ax Handle Send address changes to: beat them with his ax handle. Maddox – to prove that they Labor World, 2002 London Rd., ple nervous — meant the strike are undertaking the most tremen- Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812 didn’t last long, but it provided dous move ever made by Birmingham, Ala., Police don’t. Labor laws should, too. Chief “Bull” Connor didn’t Yes, that turns “innocent S-70 7 a workable example of strikes LABOR in this country, a move T W I N C I T I E S DULUTH across trades and crafts, how to which will lead — NO ONE just threaten blacks who want- until proven guilty” on its head, (218) 728-4469 support each other during stop- KNOWS WHERE! We do not ed to register to vote in 1965. but in practical terms, that’s FAX: (218) 724-1413 He turned vicious dogs and what those laws ask. So should [email protected] pages and a new class con- need hysteria. We need the iron sciousness in the post-WWI march of labor.” Bring the day. high-pressure fire hoses loose we. The evidence says you’re www.laborworld.org on children and their parents. guilty, boss. Prove you’re not. ~ ESTABLISHED 1896 ~ era. Owned by Unions affiliated with the Labor history really took off Fair Use Notice Labor laws, from the That’s where our labor law Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body The Labor World may contain NLRA in 1935 through the should go. Bosses know they’re in the 1960s, and this book does copyrighted material the use of which Subscriptions: $25 Annually a good job of breaking ground has not always been specifically Occupational Safety and guilty and must prove inno- Catherine Conlan Editor/Manager and staying relevant. At the authorized by the copyright owner. Health Act of 1970 and cence. If they can’t, throw the Deborah Skoglund Bookkeeper same time, the new introduction We make such material available in beyond, lack that assumption book at them, with time behind our efforts to advance understanding of violators’ intent. Penalties bars. And while we’re at it, hit Board of Directors by Noble acknowledges things of labor, economic, political, human Pres/Treas Al LaFrenier, Workers Friedheim may have missed or rights, democracy, social justice, and are light to non-existent, in the them hard in the pocketbook. United; VP Stacy Spexet, USW environmental issues. We believe this belief that withholding punish- Deprive them of either (a) rev- 9460; Sec Kathleen Adee, The non-profit Labor World, Inc. is the constitutes a 'fair use' of any such ment will promote labor-man- enues or (b) profits from their Education MN; Mikael Sundin, official publication of the Duluth AFL- copyrighted material as provided for CIO Central Labor Body. It is an educa- agement reconciliation and law-breaking. That’s one big Painters & Allied Trades 106; in Section 107, US Copyright Law. peace. A multi-million-dollar way to bring the criminal cor- tional, advocacy newspaper for workers In accordance with Title 17 Dan O’Neill, Plumbers & and unions. The views and opinions sub- union-busting industry gives porate capitalist class to heel. Steamfitters 11; U.S.C. Section 107, the material in mitted and expressed in the Labor World this paper and on the website is dis- the lie to that. So does history. Who knows, they might Dan Leslie, IBEW 31; do not necessarily reflect the views of the tributed without profit to those who Bosses deliberately and with even decide to avoid that fate – Steve Risacher, Carpenters 361; paper, its Board of Directors or staff, the have expressed an interest in receiv- malice aforethought break labor by obeying labor laws. Tom Cvar, UFCW 1189 Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body, its ing the included information for edu- Scott Dulas, NALC 114 affiliated unions, their officers, or staff. cational purposes. law. To them, workers are costs, —PAI LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 PAGE 3 COLLEGE: ‘How to bring new people into the movement’...from page 1 gender and ethnicity; how to of roughly a dozen local unions Most existing labor courses organize when corporate man- and community groups that often How to apply or trainings focus on meeting the agement was dead-set against work in partnership with the needs of workers already in negotiating with unions; how labor movement. Staff from the New Brookwood is currently accepting applications for unions, whether it’s bargaining to organize when employers U’s Labor Education Service and entry into its first cohort through March 15. Apply at better contracts, filing griev- were able to use laws and court Metro State’s Advocacy and ances or serving as elected offi- decisions to undercut workers’ Political Leadership program newbrookwood.org/apply. cers. In response, New rights,” Rachleff said. also participated. Brookwood organizers envi- Rachleff is co-executive Together, they developed to promotional materials, is different unions who can get sion a more outward-looking director of the nonprofit, inde- New Brookwood’s “core cur- “rigorous.” Students are together and talk about how to curriculum. pendent East Side Freedom riculum” of four classes, expected to produce work that unify on pressing issues,” she “We have to think about Library, which will host New offered two at a time, to cohorts “will advance both the imme- said. how we can bring new people Brookwood classes on St. of between 10 and 15 students. diate and long-term goals of New Brookwood isn’t out into the labor movement,” Paul’s East Side. Organizers anticipate as many the labor movement.” to replace existing labor-edu- Gulley said. “We deeply Rachleff and Gulley, who as three cohorts per year. Gulley said the New cation programs, organizers believe that we can’t do that served as an instructor in the New Brookwood is inten- Brookwood experience won’t say. But it is intended to be without dealing with oppres- University of Minnesota’s under- tionally not accredited and end with core classes. “Our something different. “You sion and power imbalances.” graduate leadership program, offers no grades or diplomas, a goal is to figure out ways to can’t throw a stone without hit- At its core, Gulley added, will be among the academics co- structure that keeps tuition keep people engaged on a con- ting a sign advertising an MBA New Brookwood’s mission mir- leading courses with local organ- costs low and makes the school tinuing basis, so that we’re program,” Gulley said. rors the original Brookwood’s izers. They were part of a plan- as accessible as possible. building up community and a “There’s really not anything mission. “We’re educating ning group that included leaders The curriculum, according diverse group of people from like New Brookwood.” workers into the working class.” STRIKE: Public support for workers rights is at an all-time high...from page 1 Those workers and their IWW lead- ers as “Reds” and the raids led to thou- ability. It’s even higher among younger That’s why teachers drew enormous, ers laid their community groundwork sands of arrests and hundreds of unjus- and millennial workers. The catch is and virtually unanimous, backing even well, going to the area’s Central Labor tified trials and deportations of so- workers don’t act unless conditions are in deep-red West Virginia and Council for support and finding one called “radicals.” “right.” And many younger workers Kentucky, and why 50,000 people lone pro-worker newspaper to trumpet Later government action was impor- don’t know labor history – a lack the marched through the streets of down- their cause. More than 110 other union tant, too. One panelist, American film helps hope to correct. town Los Angeles. locals joined, and their workers Prospect senior editor Harold So workers are trying to make con- “The level of public support was 80 walked, too. And leaders spread the Meyerson, pointed out the most impor- ditions right, the panelists noted. The percent for the L.A. teachers,” said word: No violence. Don’t even go on tant action when Minneapolis and San general strikes these days have differ- Meyerson, an Angeleno himself. “And the streets, organizers often said. Francisco workers were forced to strike ent tactics, aims, beginnings – from the the biggest strikes of the past year” – all The result: 65,000 workers – from in 1934 was “FDR did not send in the bottom up, not the top down -- and, by the teachers – “have been against carpenters to lumberjacks to railroad National Guard. It was the most radical most importantly, wide community public authorities and for bargaining workers to female household workers – thing he did – nothing.” support, they said. Those factors are for the common good,” with wages and walked out. Race didn’t matter, sex Minnesota Gov. Floyd Olson also tied together. benefits as secondary aims. didn’t matter. They all struck. refused to send troops, despite The three cited the 2012 Chicago That tied into McCartin’s long Seattle ground to a halt, except for demands by a cabal of Twin Cities cor- teachers strike, the statewide teachers’ contention that bargaining for the services the striking unionists volun- porate moguls. And Congress passed strikes last year in Kentucky, public good is the way workers can teered to provide. It attracted world- and FDR signed the National Labor Oklahoma, Arizona and, most impor- and do win widespread community wide attention. The strike ended after Relations Act in 1935. tantly, West Virginia, the recent and support and success. Fight for 15, he some union locals defected and sent It’s also unlike the actions of recent successful Los Angeles teachers strike noted, is a “public good” – a decent their members back three or four days Republican-run administrations. and the 1-day strikes staged by the living wage. The teachers emphasized in, but union leaders considered it a Ronald Reagan’s 1981 firing of all the Fight for 15 And A Union movement of crumbling schools and outdated text- win. And there were other citywide Professional Air Traffic Controllers – fast-food, retail, warehouse and other books and, in L.A., an old funding strikes afterwards, notably in Centralia, who had to strike over workplace safe- underpaid, exploited workers. formula which shortchanges public Wash., and Portland, Ore. ty -- gave corporate chieftains a “green All those general strikes, especially schools. Since then, general strikes have light” to try to wreck unions, break the West Virginia one, which shut down The Chicago teachers wanted to been infrequent. One, by hundreds of strikes and reduce workers’ living stan- every public school in the state, had protect their community schools from thousands of steelworkers, before the dards, the number of traditional strikes several elements in common, the pan- Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plans to close formation of the United Steelworkers has dropped precipitously. elists noted. Rank and file fed-up work- dozens of them and run the school dis- in the 1930s, was crushed, also in 1919. The anti-worker onslaught was so ers started them, with union leaders trict like a business. It took almost two decades, though the huge that – though the film didn’t say often scrambling to catch up. Such community-wide organizing is film didn’t say so, for steelworkers to so – Pacific Coast port owners consid- The workers were forced to strike the way to go to succeed in general organize in the USW, with financial ered asking GOP President George W. against corporate chieftains or – most strikes, the panel said. It’s not enough and logistical direction from the United Bush to send in troops to run the ports often – public bodies not for pay and just to mobilize the labor movement, as Mine Workers. when negotiations broke down with the benefits, but for community causes, corporate chieftains and their political Other later, infrequent, general longshore union just over a decade ago. such as living wages (the fast food confederates have succeeded in, false- strikes, in the Twin Cities and San Bush didn’t do so, but got a court order workers) or decent funding for school ly, painting organized labor into a cor- Francisco in 1934, in Rochester, against the union, sending the workers buildings, books and in L.A., staffing. ner where the rest of the country views N.Y., in 1946, by the Steelworkers in back on the job. And recent data show Meyerson pointed out another big unions and workers as “just another 1959 and by all of the nation’s postal employer lockouts of workers have difference: Acceptance of capitalist special interest.” workers in 1970, succeeded in their been double the number of strikes. structure. The Auto Workers’ strike in The response is to lay the ground- goals: Union recognition, enactment But the panel, of labor historian Joe 1946 against GM, had changing corpo- work for general strikes by making of the National Labor Relations Act, McCartin, University of Maryland pro- rate governance to enhance worker sure, in advance, that the public knows decent pay and working conditions fessor Julie Greene and Meyerson, said power as a goal. That failed. But work- they’re in the public interest. That’s (USW) and living wages, better the tide may be turning again. They ers won better wages, pensions and what the federal workers did during working conditions and union recog- considered why. health care. GOP President Donald Trump’s just- nition for the postal workers, many of One reason, Meyerson pointed out, And, McCartin said, workers forced beaten 35-day lockout/shutdown of whom had had to depend on public is that support for workers’ rights and to strike now lay the groundwork for many agencies. “By the end of 35 days, assistance. unions is at an all-time high, public wide community support by emphasiz- the public had had it” with Trump, Bosses and politicians tarred work- opinion polls show, at 62 percent favor- ing the community-oriented goals. McCartin said. PAGE 4 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 Organizers oust Amazon’s HQ2 plans from NYC; call for local investment By Negin Owliaei firm with our stance on no con- high homelessness? Why offer city’s homelessness crisis. unionize the famously toxic Inequality.org cessions and united with other to “assist in securing access to Meanwhile, Amazon lobbied workplace. “You are in a union Amazon offered New organizations and groups a helipad” (a real thing prom- hard to repeal a head tax on the city,” City Council Speaker Yorkers the best possible across the city with this mes- ised by the city to Amazon) city’s richest businesses to deal Corey Johnson said. “This is a Valentine’s Day gift — a sage,” Shrima Pandey, an while the public transit system with that very crisis just weeks city that was built on unions, a breakup. The union-busting, organizer with Queens was melting down? And why after it had passed. The day city that loves unions,” deportation-aiding company Neighborhoods United, told offer all these perks and incen- before Amazon announced its Johnson said. “This is not a announced it wouldn’t go for- Inequality.org in an email. “We tives under a shroud of secrecy, pullout from the deal, the way to come to our city.” ward with plans to build a new made sure that our electeds without community input? Institute on Taxation and New Yorkers began draw- headquarters in Queens, knew we were not looking to Supporters said the subsi- Economic Policy reported that ing increased attention to these financed in part by tax breaks make deals because we know dies would only kick in if Amazon paid nothing in feder- predatory aspects of Amazon’s and capital grants, thanks to the you can’t make a deal with the Amazon created the requisite al income taxes for the second business model as soon as they sustained organizing efforts devil.” 25,000 jobs. But academics say year in a row. It was clear what heard about HQ2. Weeks after from New York grassroots “We also won by rallying there’s plenty of reason for kind of neighbor Amazon the deal was announced, com- groups. our people, by making sure skepticism — once incentive would be. munity groups, including The announcement was everyone was informed of the agreements like this are signed, Arrogance from Amazon ALIGN, New York welcome news to the coalition disastrous impacts that HQ2 there’s often little transparency didn’t help either. “Here is a Communities for Change, the of organizers who demanded could have had in our borough or accountability after the fact company that has concentrated Center for Popular Democracy, the city invest in its communi- and our city,” Pandey said. to ensure the companies com- so much power that they think the Partnership for Working ties instead of trying to woo the “We won by being committed ply with their end of the deal. they can dictate to states and Families and Make the Road richest man in the world. The to this campaign – we took Without explicit promises to cities what they can tell their New York, released a report coalition was made up of local early morning calls, and day- hire unemployed New Yorkers, people, how much money of outlining how Amazon HQ2 community organizations, long meetings, and hit the many worried that any jobs theirs they want take to grace would exacerbate the city’s including groups like New streets in the bitter cold even created would go to newcom- us with their presence, and already high inequality. York Communities for Change though QNU is an all-volun- ers, who could potentially without any consideration for The report explained how and Queens Neighborhoods teer group and our members drive up rents and displace the communities that their money from the tax subsidies United, tenants unions, immi- bear many other responsibili- long-term residents of Queens’ presence would affect,” State could be used on affordable grant groups like Desis Rising ties.” diverse communities. Senator Michael Gianaris said housing, education or public Up and Moving and Make the The reaction to the Amazon As details of the incentives at a press conference after the transit. It looked at how HQ2 Road NY, and more. deal was immediate as ques- agreement came out, New deal was revoked. would accelerate the rapid pace They sprang into action tions popped up over the incen- Yorkers heard from Seattleites Gianaris was one of several of gentrification, fuel the dis- soon after Amazon announced tives package proposed by about the mass gentrification lawmakers put off by an placement of New Yorkers and it would build two new home New York officials. Why offer spurred by Amazon. Seattle Amazon representative refus- local businesses, and burden bases in New York and hefty tax subsidies when the and King County declared a ing to agree to neutrality if already crumbling infrastructure Virginia. “We won by standing city is failing to address record- state of emergency over the Amazon workers tried to See AMAZON...page 2 Anti-war labor group decries intervention in Venezuela WASHINGTON (PAI)— through its alliance with Saudi Resurfacing after being quiet, Arabia, in Yemen. U.S. inter- at least on its website, for a vention in Venezuela can only year or more, U.S. Labor bring further hardship and suf- Against War denounced GOP fering,” just as it did a decade President Donald Trump’s ago in Honduras and in earlier “destabilizing” intervention in Latin American interventions, Venezuela. USLAW’s late-January state- USLAW didn’t spare ment said. Democratic leaders, saying U.S. support for the they support him. Honduran coup helped send “The U.S. has no legitimate refugees fleeing northwards. claim to intervene in the inter- They’re among the asylum nal affairs of other countries, to seekers Trump seeks to ban take sides in internal political from Central American disputes, or to undermine gov- nations, USLAW said. ernments elected by the peo- The sanctions, USLAW When you look close, your ple,” the group said of current said, are “explicitly designed elected Venezuelan President to choke off Venezuela’s union benefits are clear Nicolas Maduro. access to international markets USLAW first came to and resources, for the purpose prominence in the run-up to the of destabilizing the Maduro 2005 AFL-CIO convention in government and, before that, We bill for your union benefits Chicago. There, its lobbying the government of Hugo and votes forced the federa- Chavez.” Eye exams for you and your family tion, for the first time in its his- “The economic chaos the tory, to oppose U.S. foreign U.S. now points to in Glasses, safety glasses, contacts policy and military interven- Venezuela as a justification for Be — and be seen Brand names: Oakley, Wiley X, and more! tions, specifically then- intervention is in large part a President George W. Bush’s consequence of U.S. policy, Iraq War. which is designed to provoke Aurora | Cloquet | Duluth Kenwood | Grand Rapids | Hinckley | Moose Lake | Superior | Two Harbors | West Duluth “We have seen the disas- popular unrest, sow divisions trous consequences of recent and precipitate an uprising visionprooptical.com U.S. interventions in Iraq, against the government,” Afghanistan, Syria, and, USLAW stated. LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 PAGE 5 WAGE: ‘No repercussions for some of the worst offenders’...from page 1 workers are not paid what is Wage Theft has found that res- knowledge that wage theft is a found that, “Many of the the cases.” They conclude owed to them in earned wages idential construction, building calculated way of doing busi- largest companies in the from their findings that very each year. In 2015, the last year and other services, security, ness in certain industries. United States have . . . been profitable big businesses, data was compiled, the agriculture and the hospitali- Johnson uses the term “payroll embroiled in hundreds of law- including Fortune 500 and Department recovered $1.3 ty/restaurant industry are all fraud” to name the systematic, suits over what is known as Fortune Global 500 compa- million in back wages for areas where wage theft is a planned theft of wages and says wage theft and have paid out nies, remain heavily involved Minnesota workers. MNDLI, common practice. it is “the predominant business billions of dollars to resolve in wage theft. as well as labor and communi- “In my time in the restaurant model in the residential con- ty organizations, maintain the industry, I've seen wage theft as struction market in Minnesota.” scope of the problem is much the norm, not the exception,” Residential construction larger since most workers stated Kevin Osborn in testi- includes building and renovat- don’t report wage theft viola- mony before the committee. ing single family homes as well tions, many out of fear of retal- Osborn is a line cook in as apartment buildings, housing iation from their employer. Minneapolis and member of developments and assisted liv- “There are no repercussions the Restaurant Opportunities ing/senior housing projects. for some of the worst offenses Center (ROC-MN). Osborn In a 2016 interview, that we see in the construction said it is standard procedure for Johnson estimated that “it’s industry and I am here today cooks to set up their worksta- possibly over 50 percent of the hoping legislators support tions before punching in and market,” adding that, “it’s hard HF6," said Arturo Hernandez, continue cleaning them after to say exactly what the impact a journeyman carpenter with punching out. Sometimes of payroll fraud would be on Carpenters Local 68. "If I stole employers will move hours the construction industry, on money from my boss at work, I around between pay periods to the economy of the state of would go to prison.” avoid paying overtime, he said; Minnesota, but it’s no doubt in Wage theft crosses the other times they don’t bother the tens of millions of dollars, boundaries of income, race and paying at all. And if a worker likely over $100 million.” gender, but the incidence of complains? “We don’t call it “Good employers are get- violations is higher among retaliation,” Osborn said. “We ting burned by these criminals low-wage workers and people call it getting your hours cut.” – and that’s what they are,” of color and more prevalent in Wage theft happens in said Rep. Tim Mahoney (DFL- certain industries. A 2016 sur- many ways and for many rea- St. Paul), the bill’s lead author vey of 173 low-wage workers sons, but for some employers and a member of Pipefitters in the Twin Cities conducted in certain areas of the econo- Local 455. by CTUL found that half of the my, wage theft is a deliberate All this can make it sound workers had faced wage theft model for exploiting workers like there are simply some in their workplace. Sixty-six and extracting extra profit. “bad apples” hiding in the percent of respondents from Burt Johnson, general coun- shadows in a few select indus- the janitorial industry experi- sel for the North Central States tries. Yet a 2018 report by enced wage theft. The Regional Council of Good Jobs First and the Jobs Minnesota Coalition to End Carpenters, has first-hand with Justice Education Fund MLB players call out New Era Thanks to the Duluth Seaway Port Authority New Era Caps, a high-visi- bility union-made product spot- Learn more for a PLA on the Altec expansion! ted on every baseball player’s Go to newerahatsoff.com head, will soon be made at a The Twin Ports Construction Liaison Committee non-union facility in Florida. for updates. New Era decided to move pro- We meet regularly to ensure that customers who use our duction from a union facility in They deserve better,” tweeted services are getting the best bang for their construction dollar. Derby, New York, to a nonunion Sean Doolittle, a pitcher for the A Project Labor Agreement is a great way to accomplish that! plant in Miami, saying it was Washington Nationals. changing its business model. “When I was in the minor CWA Local 14177, which leagues, my wife and I lived with represents workers at the facili- a woman whose family worked ty, bargained a settlement for the in that factory since its incep- closing, but the Western New tion,” tweeted Collin McHugh, York Area Labor Federation now a pitcher with the Houston slammed New Era, saying the Astros. “She showed me hats company had pretended to be a from the early years of New Era • Amendola Builders • Associated General Contractors of MN • A.W. Kuettel good corporate citizen as it was MLB, and was so proud of her taking incentives from the state connection to the game. I stand • Belknap Electric • Bricklayers #1 • Carpenters #361 • Cement Masons #633 and county to expand its facility. with the workers in Derby, NY.” • Duluth Builders Exchange • Four Star • Holden Electric • Hunt Electric • IBEW #242 The move eliminates more New Era CEO Chris Koch, • Insulators #49 • Iron Workers #512 • Jamar • J.R. Jensen • Johnson-Wilson than 200 high-paying union jobs. the fourth generation to run the • Kraus-Anderson • Laborers #1091 • Lakehead Constructors • Minnesota LECET MLB’s contract requires that hats family-owned business, was • NECA Twin Ports Arrowhead Chapter • Northern Mechanical/Plumbing Contractors are made in the United States, quoted in Rolling Stone almost • Northland Constructors • Operating Engineers #49 • Operating Engineers #139 and more than 90 percent of New two years ago saying, Era caps are made overseas. “Buffalo’s given us a lot. We • Oscar J. Boldt • Painters #106 • Parsons Electric • Plumbers & Steamfitters #11 Major League Baseball owe something to Buffalo. • Ray Riihiluoma • Sheet Metal Workers #10 • Swanson & Youngdale • Veit Disposal players have tweeted their sup- Even more so, I like to think port for New Era workers. we owe something to all the If you have a project in mind, no matter how big “The Derby, NY factory work- people who live in Western or small, we will take the stress out of it for you! ers have been a part of our New York.” The company has game, making the iconic on- had a connection to Major Call TPCLC, 218-728-6895, you’ll be glad you did! field hats for over 50 years. League Baseball since the PAGE 6 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 Twin Cities Nurses prepare for contract talks Members of the Minnesota about inadequate nurse- Nurses’ community-mind- Nurses Association will soon staffing levels in area hospi- ed approach reflects an emerg- enter into the first round of tals, warning that unsafe ing trend among unions locally contract talks with six Twin staffing puts patient care and and nationally, as members Cities hospital systems since workers’ safety (link is exter- look to the bargaining process nearly 5,000 Allina nurses led nal) at risk. Allina nurses made not just as an opportunity to a six-week strike in 2016. the issue a rallying cry on the improve their own jobs, but to Anticipating another con- picket line in 2016. improve the services they pro- tentious round of negotiations, Hospitals have rejected vide, benefit the communities the union hopes to show Allina nurses’ contract proposals they serve and take action on and other employers that nurs- around safe staffing in the past, broader issues – like medical es and their community allies preferring to stick to tradition- debt. are united in support of strong al bargaining items like wages It’s a trend playing out in contracts that raise standards and benefits. teachers’ strikes across the for patient care. But nurses aren’t giving up country. In St. Paul, educators To that end, MNA will hold on their patients, Turner said. made fully funded, racially a Kick-Off Rally (link is exter- She pledged a contract cam- equitable schools the focus of Appeals court ruling could set nal) March 6 at 9 a.m., at the paign that advances the “big- their contract campaign (link is Crowne Plaza Minneapolis ger struggle against corpora- external) last year, pushing the up Scabby trip to SCOTUS West in Plymouth. The union tions that wield disproportion- school district to partner with The Seventh federal appeals enforcement of the sign ordi- invites supporters from the ate control over our jobs, our them in holding corporations court ruled earlier this month nance, and that his request to public to attend and wear red in economy, and our politics.” accountable for paying their that the order to deflate a deflate Scabby was not selective. support of MNA nurses. One issue nurses plan to fair share toward the schools Scabby the Rat balloon was not The court did note that the “We expect Allina Health, address: medical debt. A 2016 St. Paul students deserve. unconstitutional, setting the enforcement officer admitted Children’s Minnesota, survey conducted by the Home care workers stage for the possibility of an that “festive” inflatables, such Fairview, HealthEast, Park Center for Disease Control and statewide last month included eventual Supreme Court case. as Santa Claus or Frosty the Nicollet Methodist, and North Prevention found nearly three- the elderly and disabled people The use of Scabby the Rat Snowman, were generally Memorial to try to attack the quarters of Americans ages 20 they serve on their negotiating and other inflatable protest bal- allowed, and that the city rights of 12,000 nurses by to 65 said they were insured team in talks with the State of loons — one of the most rec- would likely revisit its ordi- undermining their contracts,” but could not afford to pay Minnesota, forming a united ognizable sights at a labor nance to determine whether MNA President Mary Turner their medical bills. front to advocate for invest- protest — are often seen by this constituted selective said in a letter to supporters. Nurses, Turner said, intend ments in a workforce that is courts as protected speech enforcement. “But nurses from the 13 metro to confront the non-profit hos- failing to keep up with under the First Amendment. “He admitted to allowing facilities are going into bar- pitals at the bargaining table demand. But in the latest case, inflatables he considered holi- gaining united around issues about whether “their profit- Find more information Construction and General day decorations on private that will raise the standard for seeking collections practices about the concerns nurses will Laborers’ Union No. 330 et al. property, and he suggested that patient care for all communi- and their sparse levels of com- bring into their contract talks v. the Town of Grand Chute Scabby might qualify for this ties.” munity benefit spending” are online at mnpatientsbefore- (Wis.), the federal appeals court exception if he donned a Santa For years, MNA members in conflict with their purported profits.com. ruled that when a code enforce- hat,” the court noted. have been sounding the alarm mission as non-profits. ment officer ordered that a In any case, the ruling opens Scabby balloon be deflated, the the door to banning Scabby and Buzzfeed staff files card drive after layoffs action was constitutional. other inflatables on sign ordi- By Chauncey Robinson, 90 percent of them signed And Buzzfeed refused to The case hinged on whether nance regulations, avoiding People’s World New Media National Labor Relations pay out earned paid time off Scabby was allowable under a First Amendment issues. Editor Board union election authori- (PTO) for almost all the U.S. sign ordinance, not whether it Scabby is under scrutiny by the NEW YORK (PAI)—In yet zation cards, New York News workers it fired. This led to 600 was allowable speech in the first National Labor Relations Board another piece of evidence that Guild Organizing Director Buzzfeed employees signing place. It represents a different anyway, as General Counsel new digital media workers are Nastaran Mohit said. an open letter urging manage- line of attack by businesses who Peter Robb is reportedly look- just as exploited, and require the The Guild’s success at ment to give laid-off workers feel targeted (as is the point) by ing for ways to banish the rat same rights as, traditional media Buzzfeed, along with union the PTO earned. The public let- such high-visibility protests. entirely. This case would be workers, the staff of Buzzfeed organizing successes at other ter and pressure resulted in the The union argued that unlikely to serve as the vehicle filed union election authorization new media firms, shows new company agreeing to pay the enforcement of the ordinance for a national ban as it relies on cards, seeking to unionize with media workers still require the earned and unused PTO to the violated its First Amendment local ordinance enforcement. the News Guild of New York, “old school” protection of laid-off employees. rights, as the town was engag- However, if other cases that during the week of Feb. 12. And workers’ rights on the job. Remaining current ing in “selective enforcement” rely on sign ordinances move their Buzzfeed colleagues in This past January, Buzzfeed Buzzfeed workers took their of its ordinance, which the through the court system, it Canada followed their lead, join- laid off 15 percent of their initial victory one step further, union had no clear limits. could set up a showdown in the ing the Canadian Media Guild, workforce, or a little more than by signing the cards for union- The court agreed with the Supreme Court as both sides days later, their tweet said. 200 people. This was in the izing with the New York Guild, defendants that the enforcement find the line between free and The New York Guild’s midst of other layoffs at digital TNG-CWA Local 31003. That officer was consistent in his regulated speech. organizing success at Buzzfeed media companies. local also represents workers at comes as talk intensifies around Buzzfeed CEO Jonah Peretti The New York Times and what the age of new digital laid off his workers despite the Reuters, and helped organize media means for the future of company’s revenue gain of workers at the Los Angeles news reporting and print publi- more than 15 percent in 2018. Times, who plan to set up their cations. Buzzfeed, an Internet At the time of the layoffs, Peretti own News Guild local. media, news and entertainment stated, “Unfortunately, revenue This would not be the first company, has been at the center growth by itself isn’t enough to time Buzzfeed employees tried of this discussion, as it is a pop- be successful in the long run.” to unionize. The organizing ular news and pop culture site. Buzzfeed workers are committee said employees had Yet, a bout of recent layoffs apparently pushing back been meeting “for years,” and and fights by Buzzfeed work- against this rhetoric, by mak- after Buzzfeed laid off video ers for proper compensation ing demands for job stability staffers and their podcast team led to workers on the job there and proper compensation at last fall, their efforts “ramped voting to unionize. More than their place of work. up.” LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019 PAGE 7 Federal workers expect recovery from shutdown to be slow By Mark Gruenberg That came one day after Even if Trump lets the among then. Those 500,000- Congress’s passage of the PAI Staff Writer AFGE members, with AFL- 800,000 workers hurt by his plus workers won’t get paid at funding bill, which also WASHINGTON (PAI)— CIO support, staged a silent shutdown/lockout work through all. The money bill Congress includes a 1.9 percent pay Recovery from GOP President protest in the U.S. Senate’s the rest of this fiscal year, many sent to Trump, which he says raise, retroactive to Jan. 1, for Donald Trump’s 35-day shut- Hart Office Building to get were and are still hurt, fiscally, he’ll reluctantly sign, doesn’t all two million federal work- down and lockout of almost leaders to override Trump’s physically and psychologically, cover them. ers, drew union leaders’ praise. one-third of the federal work- stand. “Our top priority is and by his gleeful imposition of the But the U.S. people the U.S. Senator Tina Smith force – including people who will always be the more than lockout/shutdown, starting at workers serve are getting hurt, (DFL-Minnesota) expressed toil for nine Cabinet depart- one million hard-working fed- midnight last Dec. 21. too, the workers said on the disappointment that her biparti- ments and many smaller agen- eral workers and contractors The fiscal impact is tangible: AFGE telephone press confer- san legislation was not included, cies – will be long and slow for who are still dealing with diffi- Missed paychecks for the work- ence. keep fighting for contract work- both them and the country, culties from the first shut- ers, many of whom live payday Temporary funding for the ers who were also not paid. affected workers predict. down,” AFL-CIO Secretary- to payday. Despite administra- agencies Trump shut ran out at “During the longest federal And that assumes Trump Treasurer Liz Shuler said. tion promises, some haven’t midnight Feb. 15. Congress government shutdown in histo- doesn’t do it again. AFGE is the largest federal been paid yet, they said. sent him new legislation pro- ry, thousands of Americans The workers, assembled for workers union. Those were among the viding money, at last year’s who serve as contractors to the a Feb. 14 telephone press con- “We won't allow the scape- 800,000 unpaid workers. levels, for those agencies. The federal government lost over ference by their union, the goating of immigrants to fuel Trump called about half of president later signaled, one month’s pay, through no Government Employees this manufactured crisis. We all them essential and forced to grumpily, that he would sign it fault of their own,” Smith said. (AFGE), gave those gloomy deserve an open and functioning toil for five weeks without pay. – and then declare “a national “Unfortunately, while federal predictions in the face of government so we will continue He locked out the rest. emergency” to grab the rest of employees have received back Trump’s lack of commitment to rally, march, protest and make At that, they’re better off the $5.7 billion he wants for his pay – a bill that this chamber to signing a spending bill to our voices heard until all federal than contract workers – fast- Mexican Wall from the passed unanimously – their keep those agencies going workers and contractors know food workers in malls in feder- Defense Department and other contractor counterparts have through the end of the fiscal they can go to work, be paid al buildings, cleaners and jani- agencies. That drew protests been left out in the cold, with year, Sept. 30. fairly and treated with respect.” tors and child care workers from both parties. no back pay.” Local president: Shutdown may have played role in suicide ORLANDO, Fla. (PAI)— (AFGE) represents the screeners. The president of the local Trump refused to reopen union of airport screeners in the agencies unless Congress Orlando, Fla., has told local prostrated itself to his demand media that depression over the for $5.7 billion for his Mexican federal government shutdown Wall, which foes call racist. – and not being paid for five Lawmakers refused, and pub- weeks while being forced to lic pressure – led by AFGE – work – may have played a role eventually forced Trump to in the suicide of one screener, yield, temporarily. Robert Henry. Trump gleefully took Henry, 36, jumped to his responsibility for the shut- death from a balcony of the down. He locked out almost Hyatt Hotel inside the busy half of the 800,000 workers, Orlando International Airport sending them home without on Feb. 2. The hotel overlooks pay. The screeners were the airport’s main screening among the other half, forced to area. toil for five weeks, unpaid, as His jump and crash to the rent and bills piled up and gro- floor below caused panic with- ceries went unbought. in the airport, as passengers “I spoke to him (Henry) a rushed through the screening week or so ago, and I asked lines to get away. Incoming him how it’s going, and he said, and outgoing flights were ‘Not so good,’ and I said, ‘Well, delayed or canceled for several if you want someone to talk to, hours. give me a call,'” Deborah Henry was a screener at Hanna, president of AFGE Orlando, most recently inspect- Local 566, told news teams for ing baggage, for 12 years, local WESH TV in Orlando. police reported. He was one of “It’s very stressful, and I the 1,200 screeners, officially don’t think that people actually called Transportation Security understand what we do on a Officers, employed at Orlando. day-to-day basis […] I told my All the Orlando screeners, officers, and I did it myself, along with some 44,000 other you pay what you need to pay screeners nationwide, were and try to put some money declared “non-exempt” from aside, because we all feel federal furloughs when GOP we’re going to be right back in President Donald Trump shut that same place,” Hanna said. down their agency, the The screeners are among Department of Homeland the lowest-paid federal work- Security and other Cabinet ers. AFGE unionized them departments and agencies at after Democratic President midnight Dec. 21. The Barack Obama OKd their right Government Employees to unionize. PAGE 8 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019