Sacramento Valley Owned and published by the Sacramento Central Labor Council and Sacramento-Sierra’s Building & Construction Trades Council, official councils of the AFL-CIO VOL. 87, NO. 7 JULY 2015 Justice for Janitors campaign marks 25-year anniversary Groundbreaking union organizing and immigrant rights effort still working today Photo courtesy of SEIU. Dozens of SEIU members, in- ment, we have the power to win.” cluding activists fighting to orga- Below is an excerpt from SEIU nize local security guards, gathered on the history of the campaign, on Capitol Mall on June 15 to which transformed both the janito- celebrate the 25-year anniversary rial industry in the U.S. as well as of the groundbreaking Justice for serving as a social justice model for Janitors campaign during a national modern organizing efforts: day of action. In 1983, the average janitor “Justice for Janitors shows what working in Los Angeles earned a workers can do when we stand to- salary of more than $7.00 an hour gether, when we fight,” said SCLC and full family health insurance. president Lino Pedres. “As long But by 1986, wages dropped to as we have solidarity and commit- $4.50, and health care coverage had evaporated. By the mid-80s, membership in SEIU’s 21 janitors’ Inside: unions was in sharp decline. The property services industry CARPENTERS was changing. Building owners LOCAL 46 ..................................P. 7 were no longer hiring cleaners directly, and employers were IRONWORKERS starting to hire Latino immigrants LOCAL 118 ..............................P. 10 and becoming very resistant to BRICKL AYERS, janitors’ unionization efforts. So TILESETTERS AND ALLIED SEIU took action. CRAFTWORKERS (BAC) Justice for Janitors began in Los LOCAL 3 ..................................P. 11 Angeles in 1990 when SEIU Local See Justice for Janitors, page 3 Justice for Janitors began in LA in 1990, where workers were attacked by police during a march. INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS LOCAL 340 .............................P. 14 Congress passes destructive “fast-track” authority SACRAMENTO/SHASTA Two local Democrats vote in favor of anti-worker measure opposed by Labor BUTTE AREA ELECTRICAL TRAINING CENTER & JATC ....................................P. 14 Despite a nationwide effort by organized Labor, Congress recently passed so-called “fast-track” trade promotion authority, which allows presidents in office through 2021 to push through trade pacts in Con- gress with simple yes or no votes – effectively taking away legislators’ ability to protect workers rights. “In essence, it takes away Con- gressional authority to oversee trade agreements like Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and others and gives that to the administration,” said Robert Longer of CWA, who helped lead the local effort against fast track. “It takes the legislative branch out of the equation.” The passage of the bill included votes by about 10 Senate Demo- crats and 28 House Democrats who voted against Labor. Locally, Congressman Ami Bera and Senator Dianne Feinstein voted in favor of fast track, despite mas- sive outreach from the anti-TPP Coalition to ask that they stand with working Americans by voting ‘no.’ Local union members sent hundreds of thank you postcards to Rep. Doris Matsui and Rep. John Garamendi in See “fast track”, page 5 June, thanking them for standing with working families by voting against fast-track authority for trade deals. 2 WWW.SACLABORBULLETIN.COM JULY 2015 Supreme Court takes up “free rider” case that could ban fair share fees Decision has massive impact for unions nationwide (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, California workers who aid the disabled in Illinois, who Teachers Association President (CTA) Eric C. are paid by the state and represented by unions, The Supreme Court will hear a case from At issue: Whether any state or local gov- Heins, American Federation of State, County were “quasi-public” workers and thus states California that could virtually outlaw the ernment worker, represented by unions in and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Presi- could not legally order them to pay dues or fees. union shop, union dues or fair share fees for workplaces, must legally pay union dues or dent Lee Saunders, and Service Employees The right-wing business-backed RTW all public workers – turning state and local agency shop fees to help fund collective bar- International Union (SEIU) President Mary group, whose unstated goal is to abolish governments into right-to-work havens. gaining, grievances, negotiations or anything Kay Henry issued a joint statement: unions by defunding them, funded the win- The case, Friedrichs vs. California Teach- else, under any circumstances. “We are disappointed that at a time when ners – eight dissident workers -- in the Harris ers Association et al pits four dissident teach- After the news broke that the case would big corporations and the wealthy few are case. The eight said the fees violated their ers – funded by the anti-worker anti-union reach the high court, unions leaders quickly rewriting the rules in their favor, knocking rights of free speech under the Constitution’s National Right to Work Committee and its voiced their concerns. National Education American families and our entire economy 1st Amendment. “legal defense” arm – against California’s Association (NEA) President Lily Eskelsen off-balance, the Supreme Court has chosen At that time, one majority justice, Samuel teachers unions and the state. García, American Federation of Teachers to take a case that threatens the fundamental Alito, said he would question whether any promise of America—that if you work hard public worker should pay dues or fees, as and play by the rules you should be able to a decades-old Supreme Court ruling held. provide for your family and live a decent life. Overturning that ruling, Abood vs. Detroit Providing auditing The Supreme Court is revisiting decisions Board of Education, would effectively that have made it possible for people to stick convert all state and local governments into and accounting together for a voice at work and in their com- so-called right-to-work shops. munities—decisions that have stood for more Since only four justices need to agree to services to labor than 35 years—and that have allowed people consider a case, at least three of Alito’s col- to work together for better public services leagues also agreed to hear the Friedrichs suit. organizations and vibrant communities. Even before taking the Friedrichs case, the When people come together in a union, Supreme Court said on April 27 it would hear and employee they can help make sure that our communities at least one other case important to workers have jobs that support our families. It means – in this case, to whistleblowers. Green vs. benefit plans teachers can stand up for their students. First Brennan pits Colorado postal supervisor Mar- responders can push for critical equipment to vin Green against his agency, and other firms. since 1941. protect us. And social workers can advocate Green, an African American, claims the effectively for children’s safety. Postal Service forced him to resign – what America can’t build a strong future if labor law calls “a constructive discharge” people can’t come together to improve their – after unfounded allegations about miscon- work and their families’ futures. Moms and duct in handling mail. The real reason USPS dads across the country have been standing fired him, Green says, was to retaliate for his up in the thousands to call for higher wages complaint that he was passed over for promo- and unions. We hope the Supreme Court tion due to his race. Federal law gives him heeds their voices.” 45 days to pursue such a complaint within The justices set no date for oral argument USPS’ grievance procedures. Green missed of the case, just announcing they accepted it that deadline, USPS says. for argument and decision in their next term, Green wants the Supreme Court to rule which starts this October. But their decision when the 45 days starts to run: When an em- in another workers’ case in June 2014, Harris ployer – in his case the USPS – takes “the last vs. Quinn, foreshadowed this one. discriminatory act that led to the resignation” There, the court’s 5-person GOP-named or when the worker actually quits, which came majority ruled home health care workers and later. Lower courts have split on that issue. Union leaders applaud recent Supreme Court ruling on health care Decision affirms legality of Obamacare San Francisco • Los Angeles • Seattle • Portland • Las Vegas Washington (PAI)—Union leaders ap- who need financial assistance to make health plauded the U.S. Supreme Court’s 6-3 ruling insurance affordable and for everyone com- on June 25, protecting the Affordable Care mitted to improving America’s health care Sacramento Valley Act’s payments towards healthcare insur- system.” It also removes the threat of them ance for users of exchanges, whether state being “at the mercy of” the law’s GOP foes, or federal. who hate the law and its mover President “Congress passed the Affordable Care Act Barack Obama. 2840 El Centro Rd. Suite 109, Sacramento, Calif. 95833 to improve insurance markets, not destroy Trumka advocated expansion of Medic- Office: (310) 739-0751; Fax: (916) 646-4008 E-mail: [email protected] them,” the court majority said. The challeng- aid to “low-income workers in every state ers wanted to outlaw the subsidies in states and making changes that will protect and BOARD OF PUBLISHERS that did not establish their own health care strengthen the health coverage workers have Sacramento Central Labor Council: Bill Camp, Marty Zimmerman, Dick Mayberry, Fabrizio Sasso exchanges to cover the uninsured - some 7 fought for on the job.” Building Trades Council: Vince Echeverria, Gary Peifer, Kevin Ferreria to 9 million people in 34 states.