Published By AMERICAN INCOME LIFE & NATIONAL INCOME LIFE LETTER LABOR ADVISORY BOARD SEPTEMBER 2014 Vol. 46 No. 5

NEWS FROM THE 2013 “report card” of the American Society The AFL-CIO Executive Coun- AFL-CIO, CTW, of Civil Engineers (ASCE), the U.S. must cil announced it will organize a high-level INTERNATIONAL & spend $3.6 trillion by 2020 to modernize labor delegation to investigate the root infrastructure. “The condition of the nation’s causes of the Central American Child Ref- NATIONAL UNIONS roads and bridges is a scandal — danger- ugee crisis and develop recommendations ous, economically wasteful and inadequate for addressing them. The Council called for Congress must “pass a long- to the task. Poor road conditions are a fac- a “comprehensive approach” to the refugee term surface transportation bill without de- tor in nearly one-third of all traffic fatalities situation that should take into account the lay, backed by dedicated funding adequate and cost Americans $67 billion in vehicle long-term impact of U.S. policies on im- to the task,” urged the AFL-CIO Executive repairs,” the Council said. They also said the migration, trade, development and foreign Council which met in Washington, D.C. natural gas infrastructure is “decrepit and affairs. “Central American nations are suf- at the end of July. The Council said the wasteful” and the nation’s electrical grid, fering from acute problems with violence, nation’s infrastructure is “out of date and designed more than 100 years ago, is today lawlessness and lack of decent work oppor- falling apart,” and funding the necessary substandard. “Fixing our infrastructure will tunities. Shifting U.S. foreign policy mea- projects and repairs “requires leadership to not be inexpensive, but the cost of inaction sures in the region to focus on job creation, keep the nation strong.” According to the is higher,” the Council stated. decent work and meaningful protection of labor and human rights would reduce the ‘push factors’ that breed desperation and drive people away from their homes and communities,” the Council said. The Amalgamated Transit Union paid $31.4 million to acquire the former National Labor College in Silver Spring, Maryland. Union President Larry Hanley said the union will relocate its in- ternational headquarters from Friendship Heights and use the 46-acre campus for training and education for its members. Hanley said the union will renovate the main building on the campus, the Meany Center, but has no immediate plans to re- develop other parts of the property. “The principal development we’re interested in is in developing the minds and skills of people to restore democracy from being stripped away from the U.S. and Canada,” Hanley said. The property was purchased by I-35W Bridge Collapse in Minneapolis from miker / Shutterstock.com. the AFL-CIO in September 1971 to locate

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, President & Chief Executive Officer - American Income Life Insurance Company, President - AIL/NILICO Labor Advisory Board DENISE BOWYER, Vice President - American Income Life Insurance Company, Secretary - AIL/NILICO Labor Advisory Board Pg 2 LABOR LETTER the George Meany Center for Labor Stud- IKEA locked out about 350 workers on South America, although outlawed in most ies which was formally dedicated in 1974. May 13, 2013 after bargaining broke down. countries. They are responsible for making Facilities and programs were expanded The union said no bargaining sessions have iPhones, garments and even work in mines over the years, culminating with the 1997 been held since December. The union com- for minerals used in electronic batteries. establishment of the National Labor Col- plained to the labor board that the company lege, which was authorized to grant bacca- offered locked-out workers an extra $2.50 laureate degrees by the State of Maryland an hour, additional weekend premiums and NATIONAL AND Higher Education Commission. other incentives to cross picket lines on its POLITICAL EVENTS website. Dawson said the offer made direct- United Mine Workers Union in- ly to employees was for more than what was The United States has lost 36 tensified its campaign against proposed rule offered during bargaining. The Richmond percent of the jobs in primary metal man- by the Environmental Protection Agency store is one of only two unionized IKEA ufacturing since 2000. These jobs include (EPA) that would restrict the use of coal outlets in the country. steelmaking and smelted or refined metals to generate electricity. More than 5,000 such as iron and copper. Fourteen years UMW members and their supporters re- Bolivia became the first coun- ago, 625,000 workers across the country cently rallied and marched in downtown try in the world to legalize child labor after worked in the primary metals manufac- Pittsburgh against the proposal. The union Vice-President Alvaro Garcia Linera signed turing sector, according to the U.S. Bureau charged the EPA’s power plant rule will cost a new law July 17 which dropped the legal of Labor Statistics. Today, the workforce tens of thousands of jobs for coal miners, age of workers from 14 to 10. The law stipu- is about 400,000. In 2000, nationwide utility workers, boilermakers, railroad work- lates children are allowed to work as long as employment at U.S. steel mills was about ers and others. The EPA is holding a series the child has permission from parents and is 135,000 which has fallen to about 91,000. of public hearings regarding this proposed enrolled in school. Human rights and anti- The steel industry consolidated but also rule, one of which is scheduled in Pittsburgh child labor groups decried the law saying it became more efficient because of technol- the same day as the rally. “It is beyond belief goes against international standards. “Child ogy and automation. ArcelorMittal USA’s that the EPA would refuse to hold one of labor already exists in Bolivia and it’s difficult recently published 2013 Fact Book noted a its public hearings in the coalfields where to fight it. Rather than persecute it, we want single steelworker accounted for 831 tons the people who will be most adversely af- to protect the rights and guarantee the labor of raw steel production a year in 2000. To- fected by this proposed rule live and work,” security of children,” one of the bill’s spon- day, a single worker is responsible for 1,054 said UMWA International President Cecil sors told Associated Press. “Bolivia’s move is tons of raw steel production, or about 27 E. Roberts. “We believe that EPA still can out of step with the rest of the world,” said percent more than at the turn of the 21st and should hold a hearing in the coalfields, Jo Becker of Human Rights Watch. “Child century. With only two-thirds of the but since they have not scheduled one yet, labor may be seen as a short-term solution workforce from 14 years ago, U.S. mills we decided to bring the coalfields to them.” to economic hardship, but is actually a cause produced 95 million tons of steel last year, of poverty.” Child workers are common in only about 10 percent less than they made INTERNATIONAL most parts of Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa and between 2000 and 2007 despite weaker LABOUR NEWS demand and increased imports. Wisconsin Supreme Court on Canada’s Teamsters Local July 31 upheld a controversial law that lim- 213, representing locked-out workers at its collective bargaining rights for public IKEA’s flagship store in Richmond, B.C., employees. By a 5-2 vote, justices rejected report the provincial labor board has found arguments that the law restricts collective the Swedish retail giant guilty of unfair la- bargaining rights so severely that the Con- bor practices. According to the union, the stitutional rights of workers are violated. board ruled IKEA bargained in bad faith “No matter the limitations or ‘burdens’ a and violated provincial labor law by trying legislative enactment places on the collec- to bargain directly with workers through a tive bargaining process, collective bargain- website posting. The company was ordered ing remains a creation of legislative grace to remove the website posting and stop and not a constitutional obligation. The paying workers to cross the picket lines. First Amendment cannot be used as a ve- IKEA said in the statement that it will ap- hicle to expand the parameters of a benefit peal the ruling. Union spokeswoman Anita that it does not itself protect,” wrote Justice Dawson said the company refuses to ne- Michael Gableman for the majority. The gotiate an end to the lengthy dispute even Protesting child labor. Flickr.com photo used bill, known as Act 10, repealed most union though it makes billions of dollars a year. under Creative Commons from Takver. bargaining for most public employees and LABOR LETTER Pg 3 barred the automatic deduction of union October 2013 after Kellogg demanded the “company unions,” unless the workers are dues from workers’ paychecks. The law pro- right to hire cheaper labor with “alternative” represented by a certified union. Germany’s voked a national controversy, leading to a re- schedules.” Workers were given the choice powerful IG Metall union is a visible and call election against Governor Scott Walker of accepting management’s demands or be effective supporter of the UAW at VW. that he won. The law remains an issue in locked out. “We have people who have been Even without union recognition, the UAW Walker’s re-election campaign this year. evicted out of their homes, foreclosed, lost said Local 46 will do community service cars, lost property, health issues, that you activities and work with the employer to The U.S. standard of living won’t believe,” said union president Kevin offer job training. could decline to the level it was in 2000 by Bradshaw. “Such a hardship. We are just the year 2030, a drop of 9 percent, predicted glad they can get their lives back together.” President Obama recently cre- a new report by the consulting firm Accen- The lock-out attracted national attention ated a presidential emergency board under ture of Arlington, Virginia. “For the first and led to an AFL-CIO boycott of Kel- the Railway Labor Act to end four years of time in our nation’s history, the next genera- logg’s products. stalled contract talks between the Brother- tion may not be better off than their par- hood of Locomotive Engineers and Train- ents,” said Peter Hutchinson, who leads Ac- Despite losing an election at men and the International Brotherhood centure’s public service strategy for North Volkswagen’s Chattanooga plant after an of Electrical Workers with the Southeast- America state, provincial and local business. onslaught of outside anti-union pressure, ern Pennsylvania Transportation Author- “For decades, people have come to expect the United Auto Workers have quietly es- ity (SEPTA). On June 14, more than 400 our economy and way of life to continue to tablished a new Local 42 to signup workers workers conducted a one-day strike after improve, not decline. Our standard of liv- at the plant. There is no official recognition the end of the 30-day cooling off period ing hinges on harnessing a skilled work- or bargaining with the local, so member- kicked off by SEPTA’s refusal of bind- force to power our economies.” The report ship is dues-free. According to the union, ing arbitration by the National Mediation highlighted three areas threatening the U.S. there is an informal understanding with Board which had been accepted by both standard of living: the working age popu- the company to recognize and deal with unions. Governor Tom Corbett made the lation is shrinking as Baby Boomers retire, the union once the local has signed up a request to President Obama to create the not enough working age people are actually “meaningful” share of the workforce. Both presidential emergency board. Accord- working today, driven in part by high youth management and the union want to estab- ing to the unions, the main issue separat- unemployment and an unreliable growth lish a works council in the plant, reflective of ing the parties is SEPTA’s refusal to offer rate in workforce productivity now at one the German-style system of labor-manage- both unions an agreement similar to the of its lowest points since 1960. The findings ment cooperation. Works councils already one they recently signed with the Transit are based on an analysis of U.S. Bureau of exist in every large VW plant around the Workers Union Local 234, which repre- Labor Statistics and number of surveys and world. In the U.S., however, works coun- sents city subway and bus workers. The interviews conducted between September cils are illegal because they are considered workers have been without a contract since and November 2013. REGIONAL & LOCAL LABOR NEWS U.S. District Judge Samuel “Hardy” Mays ordered Kellogg Company to put more than 200 locked-out people back to work at the company’s Mid-South cereal plant in Memphis. The workers are represented by the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers In- ternational Union (BCTGM). The federal court upheld a National Labor Relations Board ruling issued in March that Kel- logg violated federal labor laws because the company made unlawful demands during bargaining and threatened the lockout dur- ing contract negotiations. Talks between the union and the company broke down in President Obama. Flickr.com photo used under Creative Commons from IREX. Pg 4 LABOR LETTER

2009. “Our objective remains to reach eq- Erroll B. Davis and to bus yards, held labor- its franchise owners were ordered to strictly uitable settlements that address the needs management meetings, helped elect Board follow the corporation’s rules on food, clean- of our members along with our friends and of Education members who support them, liness and employment practices and that neighbors in the Philadelphia metropolitan and hosted political forums to air potential McDonald’s often owns the restaurants that area who rely on the SEPTA system,” said innovative solutions for APS officials and franchisees use. An administrative law judge the unions in a joint statement. Board of Education members,” the union will now rule on the claims and the company said in a statement. is expected to appeal the general counsel’s decision to the full five-member board if the IN THE PUBLIC More than 100 federal contract cases go against them. SECTOR workers and their families protested in front of Washington, D.C.’s Union Station July Mercedes-Benz U.S. Interna- American Federation of State, 29 for the right to unionize. D.C. House of tional Inc. violated the organizing rights County and Municipal Employees Local Representatives Delegate Eleanor Holmes of workers at its Vance, Alabama plant by 1644 members in Atlanta recently won an Norton announced that she would intro- not allowing the distribution of union lit- agreement that provides across-the-board duce legislation giving low-wage contract erature in common areas during off-work raises and includes a settlement from a workers the right to bargain collectively. hours, National Labor Relations Board 2013 pay dispute. The pact covers public Norton said she called her bill the ROSIE Administrative Law Judge Keltner Locke school bus drivers and monitors with the Act, named after famous World War II icon, recently ruled. The decision can be appealed Atlanta Public Schools (APS). In addition, “Rosie the Riveter.” Although President to the full NLRB. The United Auto Work- all part-time workers were transferred to Obama recently signed an Executive Order ers filed charges alleging numerous unfair permanent full-time status, which includes in February raising the federal minimum labor practices against the company which much-needed benefits and retirement se- wage to $10.10 an hour for federal contract were dismissed by Locke, who noted Mer- curity. Workers received a 5 percent pay in- workers, the protestors said the increase was cedes took “prompt remedial action.” But crease, the first in seven years. In addition, “not enough” and only a step in the right he found Mercedes violated the act when bus drivers and monitors will receive “fair direction. Most federal service contract jobs employees were barred from disseminating pay” checks to resolve a dispute in 2013 af- are low-wage serving food, cleaning and union materials in the plant’s atriums and ter they were not paid for five days when doing similar work in federal buildings. team centers, which he determined were they were called in early for training in vio- mixed-use areas. He also said the company lation of the contract. The union conduct- was in violation for “maintaining a solicita- ed a year-long campaign on behalf of the SIGNIFICANT tion and distribution rule which employees members in support of negotiations. “Since LEGAL AND NLRB reasonably could understand to prohibit all last summer, Local 1644 marched on APS RULINGS solicitation in work areas.” No penalties were Headquarters, the home of Superintendent assessed, but Locke ordered Mercedes to be The National Labor Relations “explicit” about informing workers who are Board ruling that McDonald’s is a “joint “off the clock” that they may solicit other employer” with its franchise operators could employees during non-work times. German potentially remake the fast-food and other union I.G. Metall has been supporting the franchise businesses, legal experts said. The UAW organizing efforts since 2011 by mak- decision by the NLRB’s general counsel, ing house calls to Vance employees and col- Richard F. Griffin, Jr., will make McDon- lecting union authorization cards. ald’s, and possibly other businesses that use subcontractors or temp agencies, at least partially liable for overtime, wage or union- organizing violations. Griffin issued the ruling after his staff investigated numerous complaints brought by fast-food workers in the last 20 months accusing McDonald’s LABOR LETTER and its franchisees of unfair labor practices. provided through Griffin said there was merit in 43 of 181 claims by workers who allege that they had been fired, had their hours cut or were other- wise punished for protests arising out of the $15 wage campaign that began in Novem- ber 2012. The workers who filed claims said Protecting Working Families McDonald’s was a joint employer because www.ailife.com AGENDA SEPTEMBER 2014

New Jersey. We have members building a communities across the nation. coal-fired power plant with revolutionary The marketing campaign has several Edwin Hill carbon sequestration technology, we have components. One is a website, www.ibew- International members just beginning careers as helpers canada.ca, which introduces visitors to the President, on construction projects and others build- kind of jobs IBEW members do every day, International ing a space telescope that will see into the from wiring local hockey rinks to main- Brotherhood of very farthest reaches of time and space. taining power stations and cable lines. Electrical Workers We also represent cameramen and It also features local stories about rail workers, wiremen and telephone IBEW members doing their part to help SPREADING THE operators and so many, many more. The their community. Called “Local Heroes,” IBEW is hundreds of thousands of hard- it profiles members who are involved in UNION MESSAGE working, creative folks who rarely make charity and community service organiza- TO ALL WORKERS news outside of our pages, but they repre- tions. It also lets readers post their own sent the very best of North America and stories recognizing good deeds. Strong unions are built on two pillars. its labor movement. It began airing nationally in April. So First is the willingness of the mem- But a big obstacle to growing our far it has been seen by 25 million Cana- bership to stand together. If there is no unions is the lack of awareness by the pub- dians on multiple cable networks and on unity of purpose and no confidence in the lic about who we are, what we do and our CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, one of courage and fortitude of the members, values. Organized labor is under increased the country’s biggest programs. there is no union. attack from wealthy right-wing zealots, The ad was funded in part from a do- Second is a broad membership repre- right-wing politicians and the right-wing nation from the Joint Electrical Promotion senting a variety of backgrounds, but also media. We must not let their untruths Plan, a joint labor-management program — and this is often forgotten — a wide about “union bosses” and our unions go between the IBEW Construction Coun- variety of jobs and industries. The most unchallenged. cil of Ontario and the Electrical Contrac- obvious reason is that a union in only one One of the important ways to expand tors Association of Ontario. Several locals industry can be devastated by a recession. our ranks is by “spreading the news” about are also running ads in their own media A labor movement that does not represent the benefits of union membership, particu- markets. The ads also target the French- the full diversity of jobs and people in the larly at a time when the media is dominat- speaking population in Quebec. U.S. and Canada also opens itself up to ed by right-wing money. Throughout North America, the political attacks — however unfair — that For the past couple of years in the IBEW is committed to tell the real story it is an elitist club that only looks out for U.S., the IBEW has aired national ads about unions rather than the picture paint- its own. during football season and on news net- ed by the right-wing about “union bosses.” From the beginning, the labor move- works informing viewers about our union Our unions have a powerful story to ment has committed itself to winning and our members at work. Some locals tell. There are heroes in our ranks who respect, a voice and a dignified living for have been placing ads for years and many save lives. Our members give of their every worker. others are getting in on the act. National time and effort to charities and national At times, I believe some people in ads are necessary but expensive. Local service. When disaster hits, union mem- the labor movement have seen these two union marketing offers the advantage of bers are the first to respond. When things sources of strength as mutually exclu- targeting local media markets with less break down or need repair, union mem- sive. They say you cannot be both wide expensive ads which also allows us to bers are on the job. And when war breaks and deep. highlight specific projects. out, it is union members and their chil- I have never believed that to be true Just recently, IBEW’s First District dren who are among the first to step for- and offer our membership as a rebuke to in Canada launched a national marketing ward to serve. those who do. campaign, “We’re There for You”, which “Spreading the word” is just one way Just in recent months, we’ve wel- highlights the more than 65,000 skilled to expand our ranks to include workers in comed to our ranks scores of tree trim- IBEW members who help keep the lights every industry throughout North America. mers, the men and women keeping rights on and the economy moving forward. The Union members are proud of their work of way passable for utility linemen as well purpose of the campaign is to show the and their union. And they want everyone as several hundred attorneys general from public how IBEW members support their to know about their “union story.” Pg 2 AGENDA

LCLAA Convention AIL Public Relations Simone Johnson (left) and Christa Davis hosted the AIL booth at the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) Convention August 6-9 in Houston.

AFL-CIO Backs Shauer for Michigan Gov. AIL’s Steve Matous presents a donation to the campaign of Mark Shauer (center), Democratic candidate for Governor of Michigan, with Detroit AFL-CIO Central Labor Council President Rick Blocker (right) also present.

IBEW 7th District Conference AIL representatives from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas participated in the recent International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 7th District meeting, reports AIL’s Julia DiBartolomeo (pictured).

Chicago Teamsters 710 Strike Hinckley Springs Texas Supports Wendy Davis The members of Teamsters Local 710 in State Senator Wendy Davis, Democratic nominee for governor of Texas, was the keynote speaker Chicago continued their strike against at the “Momma Ain’t Happy, A Rally Honoring the Legendary Ladies of the Texas Labor Movement,” Hinckley Springs bottled water company where she was presented with a campaign donation from Office & Professional Employees Local for a new contract. The company has hired 277, which represents AIL employees. Shown in the photo are (from left to right) Richard Shaw, non-union truck drivers and is threatening Secretary-Treasurer of Harris County (Tex.) AFL-CIO; Lacy Martin; Texas State Senator Wendy to break the union. AIL is supporting the Davis; and AIL’s Simone Johnson and Christa Davis, who presented the donation. workers with food and other donations, reports AIL’s Dawn Trudden. AGENDA Pg 3

Building Trades "Labor of Love" Charity The AFL-CIO Building & Construction Trades Dept. recently sponsored a "Labor of Love" poker tournament to benefit diabetes research. AIL was a proud sponsor of the event which was one of the most successful fund- raising activities ever. Shown in the photo are the winners (from left): 2nd AFSCME Local 1199J Honors AIL’s DiSomma Place – Joseph Sellers, SMART General Secretary-Treasurer; 1st Place – Larry McGann, IUEC General Secretary-Treasurer; 3rd Place – AIL PR AIL’s Brenda DiSomma (center) was recently recognized by AFSCME Local Representative Brenda DiSomma. 1199J with an award for community service.

Cork, Ireland, Fire Brigade Donation NE Veterans Homeless Shelter Union Heritage Life Assurance Company P.R. Director Susan Kelleher AIL Vice President for Public Relations Denise Bowyer (left) presents presents a donation on behalf of the Company to the Cork City (Ireland) a donation to the New England Center for Homeless Veterans on behalf Fire Brigade for the Temple Street Children's Hospital. Accepting the of the Company to the National Postal Mail Handlers Union with NPMHU check is Cork City Fire Fighter Anthony O'Donohue. In the back row (from President John Hegarty (right). Accepting the contribution is C. Andrew left) are UHLA SGA Finbarr O'Mahony and the members of the Cork City McCawley, president and CEO of the Center, which is the nation's first and Fire Brigade. largest veteran-specific homeless shelter. Pg 4 AGENDA

Nurses Strike In Wilkes-Barre, Pa. AIL’s Jeffrey S. Hapke meets with Elaine Weale, president of the local chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Professionals, while marching on the picket line with members and other supporters during a 5-day nurses’ strike at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. The nurses cited decreased staffing and high turnover among their concerns.

Bricklayers Picket Nevada Contract Carpets AIL’s Carl Zablotny (center) joins Bricklayers & Allied Crafts Local 13 Secretary-Treasurer Richard Crawford (left) and President Carlos Aquin on an information picket line against Nevada Contract Carpets in Las Vegas which Texas Labor Protests Right-Wing Group pays substandard wages and benefits. Labor and other progressive groups recently picketed the convention of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), a group funded by the super wealthy to push extreme right-wing policies at the state level. ALEC’s keynote speaker was Texas Governor Rick Perry. Other activities included a rally and panel discussion on ALEC. In the photo, AIL representatives join the rally.