(ISSN 0023-6667) AFSCME, county partner on child care Significant improvements Our new union will give us a Together/AFSCME. “There’s are on the way for home-based unified voice and clout at the an urgent need for us to start child care in northern Capitol.” working together to improve Minnesota after a ground- Both providers and con- child care.” breaking partnership between sumers share concerns about Partnerships with metro AFSCME and St. Louis deep funding cuts and low counties have been stalled as County was reached Dec. 13. salaries. In Minnesota, $140 the Service Employees Inter- County commissioners million in childcare cuts has national Union compete with took a bold step forward when hurt prospects for higher pay AFSCME for membership of An Injury To One Is An Injury To All! they voted 6 to 1 to partner and quality child care. child care providers. WEDNESDAY VOL. 111 with 420 licensed providers in Licensed providers state- AFSCME is the only union the county who are represent- wide earn only $2.83 an hour with a division founded by and DECEMBER 21, 2005 NO. 13 ed by Council 5 of the on average, according to the for family child care pro- American Federation of State, Minnesota Department of viders. Today, Child Care County and Municipal Em- Human Services. The cost of Providers Together/AFSCME ployees. Only Dennis Fink quality will be higher salaries works with 150,000 family voted "no" with even County to attract more qualified care- child care providers nation- Attorney Alan Mitchell giving givers. wide to deliver training oppor- the deal his seal of approval. Nearly 10,000 families tunities, higher pay and better “For decades our union has have lost child care assistance benefits. teamed up with county gov- due to recent cuts in subsidies The union has made an ernments to improve service established by the state. This ongoing commitment to help delivery,” said Eliot Seide, has forced many parents to working families with their AFSCME Council 5 executive quit their jobs to take care of child care needs. AFSCME director. “Our newest partner- their children at home. To- lobbies for increased funding ship will lead the way to gether the union and county for child care and for tougher improved child care. I will try to reverse this trend by regulations to ensure safe and applaud St. Louis County for raising awareness about the stimulating care. It has won its commitment and leader- value of child care as a proven, family-friendly programs ship.” cost-effective investment. through contract negotiations, The union will give There is a direct link advocacy and public educa- providers a unified voice between quality child care and tion. regarding regulations, training success in school and later in "That's the next step in the opportunities, pay and bene- life. In fact, every dollar spent process in St. Louis County," fits. The county regulates on early childhood education said AFSCME Council 5 Buddy Robinson of the Citizen's Federation gave a seminar child care and will work with yields $13 in public benefits, organizing director Eric Lehto. on Medicare Part D to a packed Hall B in the Labor Tem- providers through their union according to a study by the "We'll meet and identify issues ple Saturday morning. There have been many such semi- to ensure that its license is a Federal Reserve Bank of we can agree so we can start nars to help people make decisions on that drug coverage sign of quality. Minneapolis. finding solutions to make before the May 15, 2006 deadline. On page 3 of this issue Like child care providers in Because counties regulate improvements in child care for you can find the chart Robinson is using in this photo. the Duluth and Iron Range child care, it makes sense for kids, parents and providers. areas, many of Minnesota’s them to partner with a union of We'll work on a plan with the St. Cloud area special election 14,000 licensed providers providers to improve it. More county on lobbying efforts If you can believe it, Governor Tim Pawlenty, of the have signed cards saying they than half of the 860 providers with the state to get more Republican Party that has a history of winning special elections would like to join a union. in Ramsey County have money for child care in in Minnesota, has set a date of Tuesday, Dec. 27 for one in the They envision acting together already signed up to join Minnesota." St. Cloud area. to improve child care for fam- AFSCME and they await a Senate District 15 and House District 15B both have candi- ilies and providers alike. partnership vote by county WHAT’S INSIDE? dates with strong union support and the Minnesota AFL-CIO's “This is a first – child care commissioners. A union drive Pols report cards.....page 2 Just the Fax says "Yes, Gov. Pawlenty did set the date to cause providers in our state haven’t is also underway for Hennepin maximum confusion and minimum turnout for two candidates." had union representation until County’s 1,400 providers. Part D disliked.....page 3 If you live in those areas consider voting for Tarryl Clark in now,” said Donna Thompson, “I urge other counties to Molly Ivins hates spying....4 the Senate District 15 race and Larry Haws for House District a Duluth child care provider. welcome our union like St. Opinions.....5 15B. Encourage family members and friends to vote. “We’re isolated, we work long Louis County did,” said Judy Skin problems.....6 You can vote before the election at your county auditor’s hours for low pay, and we Massey, a St. Paul child care Glass ceiling flunks.....8 office: Benton County - 320-968-5006: Sherburne County - don’t have time to lobby law- provider and chair of Ramsey 800-438-0576; Stearns County - 320-656-3920. makers on issues that affect us. County Child Care Providers Rich to get richer?.....10 Goldfine's pickets.....11 Possible Knight Ridder sale could be devastating locally Wal-Mart homework...12 An investment manager’s In early November, Sher- nology needs unmet. Kuchera, president of the Truth on Big Pharma.....17 ploy to increase the return for man, who holds about 19 per- But things could get worse Newspaper Guild’s local. “The Greenspan's legacy......19 his clients could cause the loss cent of Knight Ridder stock, if the company is sold. Guild is working with unions 2006 Union vehicles..... 20 of union jobs in Duluth and demanded the company be Research by the Communi- at other Knight Ridder papers reduce local news coverage by sold or that management take cations Workers of America to monitor developments, and Labor opposes Alito...21 the Duluth News Tribune. other measures to obtain the indicates an asset-only sale of to ensure that the company New progressives.....22 Bruce Sherman, founder of maximum return for share- the News Tribune would allow doesn't use the uncertainty as Union bug fraud....23 Private Capital Management, holders. A couple of other the buyer to declare union con- an excuse to violate contracts the largest shareholder in investment firms signed on to tracts void, fire all employees or the rights of the workers we Knight Ridder, the News the demand, and Knight and force them to re-apply for represent.'' Tribune’s parent company, Ridder is exploring a sale. their jobs, probably at lower The News Tribune employs wants to show “strongly posi- What a sale would mean pay. more than 160 union workers, tive results" in his portfolio, for News Tribune employees If Knight Ridder changes most represented under the which is invested heavily in and local news coverage is hands through a stock sale, umbrella of the Communi- newspapers. Because Knight uncertain, but the possibility union contracts would proba- cation Workers of America. Ridder’s stock is not con- of a sale already is being felt. bly stand, though staff cuts Pressroom workers are repre- trolled by a family interest, as While exploring a sale, Knight could be possible. sented by Graphics Com- are many of the nation’s Ridder has imposed a freeze "There is a lot of uncertain- munication Local 76-C, a largest newspaper publishers, on hiring and capital spending, ty right now, with people won- Teamster's affiliate. the company is vulnerable to leaving key jobs in the news- dering about what will happen shareholder demands. room unfilled and critical tech- with the company,’’ said Steve See Knight Ridder...page 7 Happy Holidays & Enjoy 2006! Get a report card on your congressional reps Labor World Newspaper The AFL-CIO launched a site will come up that allows side on issues that are vital to nationwide "Who’s On Our you to click on each Congress- their futures," said AFL-CIO 2006 publication schedule Side?" campaign Dec. 13 to man from that state and get Secretary-Treasurer Richard The Labor World Board of Directors has set the 2006 publi- hold members of Congress their reportcard. Trumka. "Working families— cation schedule for 24 issues of the newspaper. The sched- accountable for their votes on The lawmakers were evalu- with the facts in hand—have ule (all are Wednesdays except for Tuesday, Nov. 21) is as working family priorities. ated on their votes in five cate- the power to take back the follows: In nine states, including gories: jobs and wages, retire- country and make sure we are Minnesota and Wisconsin, ment security, health care, tax represented by leaders who are January 11 and 25 working family activists are fairness and education.