Labor

June 15, 2008 -- HONOLULU – An attempt by management and pilots at Hawaiian Airlines to turn around a strained and difficult post-bankruptcy relationship appears to be failing. After more than a year of effort to reach a new contract outside of the regular negotiating process, both sides are still far apart and the pilot group is rapidly losing patience, according to the Hawaiian Airlines unit of the Air Line Pilots Association, Int’l (ALPA).

Hawaiian Airlines jet: Photo by Dylan Ashe (CC)    » read more »

New Distribution Center Expected to Bring 265 Jobs to State

June 17, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Gordon Food Service (GFS) will construct and equip a 480,000-square-foot distribution center in Kenosha. The new Kenosha facility is expected to create up to 265 jobs for Wisconsin residents.    » read more »

Governor Awards $177,000 in CDBG Funding to Support Operations

June 17, 2008 -- Columbus, Neb. -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman was among those celebrating the opening of a new business today. Katana Summit, LLC, selected Columbus as the site for its new manufacturing facility.

At the event, the Governor announced $177,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to help city and county officials construct a road to provide access to the site. Katana Summit manufactures 80 and 90 meter steel wind turbine towers and the grant will help build and pave a road to support traffic at the facility.    » read more »

06/17/2008 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Oregon Governor Theodore Kulongoski and Washington Governor Christine Gregoire sent a joint letter to President George Bush today expressing strong opposition to the Administration's proposal to remove $70 million in emergency disaster assistance for fishing families, communities and businesses impacted by the closure of the salmon season, and they urged President Bush to reconsider his opposition to helping these families in need.    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- John McCain claims that a part of his economic plan for America is "bolstering job security," but his record tells a different story. When Senator McCain has had the chance, instead of fighting to keep America's jobs here at home he helped steer a tanker contract to a European company for which his campaign advisors then lobbied, shipping tens of thousands of American jobs overseas. This follows McCain's pattern of mocking and subverting "Buy America" rules in the Senate. [johnmccain.com, accessed 6/15/08]    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that individuals in Columbia, Crawford, Racine, Richland, Milwaukee, Sauk, and Vernon counties affected by the recent severe storms and floods that began on June 5, 2008 will be eligible to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to unemployed workers who worked or were self employed if they:

* worked or were self employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self employment, in one of the affected counties; or were unable to reach their employment because they must travel though the affected area;    » read more »

1,500 OTB Workers Will Report To Work Monday Morning; Legislative Action to be Taken up By Legislature Tomorrow

June 15, 2008 -- Today New York Governor David A. Paterson announced the details of the City and State agreement on an immediate State takeover of New York City Off-Track Betting (OTB).

OTB window, New York City: Photo by Adam Kuban (CC)    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Today’s vote in the House of Representatives to pass a vital extension of unemployment benefits marks an important step forward in getting desperately needed help to some of the most vulnerable in the rapidly failing economy – and giving the economy a needed boost. We commend Democratic leadership and all members who voted for this important legislation.    » read more »

Employees at Miller’s West Virginia Distributor Fight for Health Care and Livable Wages

June 13, 2008 -- (Charleston, WV) – Workers at the West Virginia distributor of Miller and Coors beers will kick off a summer handbilling series at local bars and restaurants today. The workers say they want to bring attention to contract demands by SABMiller’s West Virginia distributor, Capitol Beverage Company, that would hike workers’ cost for family health care.    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- SEIU today sent a fourth “Dear John” letter to Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president. SEIU members are offering their assistance in the absence of any economic blueprint from McCain that puts working families first. The letters will continue until McCain personally meets with members.

In the letter, Iris English, a Medical Billing Specialist at the University of Illinois Medical Center from Chicago and member of Local 73, asks McCain how he would use the money currently being spent in Iraq here in America.

“Dear John,    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement this afternoon after the House voted 274 to 137 to pass legislation that will help workers who have lost their jobs as a result of an economy on the brink of recession. The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act passed by a 2/3 majority, a margin large enough to override a threatened veto by President Bush.

“Today, the House voted to help 3.8 million Americans who are out of work in large part because of the disastrous economic policies of this White House and its allies in Washington.    » read more »

June 13, 2008 -- Colorado Governor Ritter today welcomed the news of Leprino Foods’ decision to expand operations in Colorado.

"This is such a great victory for Colorado, and Leprino Foods' commitment to the state is clear," said Gov Ritter. "We appreciate their considerable investment in jobs and facilities in Greeley and the economic impact of their decision is significant. With Weld County's rich agricultural history, they could not have selected a more appropriate location."

Leprino Foods of Denver, the world's largest producer of mozzarella cheese, announced today that it will construct a cheese and whey production facility in Greeley. The new facility will initially bring 260 more jobs to Colorado's economy, with potential for more in the future.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined a bipartisan majority of his colleagues today in voting to approve legislation that will aid workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the current economic downturn.

The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act provides up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. Approximately 3.8 million unemployed Americans can benefit from this legislation, which will be fully paid for through existing reserves in the federal unemployment trust funds.    » read more »

Increase “long overdue,” according to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney

June 09, 2008 -- Today AFL-CIO President John Sweeney urged members of Congress to aid working people hit the hardest and boost the our floundering economy by extending unemployment benefits.    » read more »

Job Action Affects About 1,250 Workers at 24 Terminals Across the Country

June 9, 2008 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Teamster carhaul members employed at Performance Transportation Services Inc. went on strike against the company at 9 a.m. EDT today to enforce the union’s bargaining table demands.

The nationwide strike affects 24 terminals and about 1,250 Teamster employees at the PTS’ companies: Leaseway Motorcar Transport Company, E. and L. Transport Company, Hadley Auto Transport and Transportation Releasing.

“We are on strike to enforce our bargaining table demands,” said Fred Zuckerman, Director of the Teamsters Carhaul Division.

PTS employees haul vehicles for Ford, General Motors, Toyota and other manufacturers.    » read more »