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UAW Pres Bob King vows to organize at least one transplant operation this year

posted this on July 28th, 2011.

Hey, the title says it all. The UAW has it’s eye on US transplant automakers.

According to this article, foreign automakers that operate in the US have about an $8 per hour competitive advantage over US automakers.

“Those managements are going to understand that when they work together with their work forces — when they treat them with respect and give them fair contracts and a middle-class standard of living — that’s the best way to be the most competitive country in the world,” King said.

King has vowed to organize at least one transplant operation this year as a first step in his campaign. He says that the only way UAW members can see compensation rise is if compensation at the transplants rises in unison.

This is good to see. In a year when the righties are pushing the Right to Work FOR LESS, we need the UAW to get aggressive. Organizing the transplants will help lift wages and ultimately lift spending in the US economy. This is exactly what we need right now.

July 28th, 2011 | Tags: , | Category: Budgets & Economy, Featured Articles, Organized Labor, Right to work for less | One comment

Michigan workers rally in support of proposed reforms

posted this on July 25th, 2011.

Michigan workers rallied at Cadillac Place today to oppose the crazy-a$$ actions of the Snyder administration and to bring attention to their own proposed reforms. Earlier this year a coalition of workers published New Solutions for Michigan (pdf), which is a set of policy reforms designed to streamline Michigan government. The reforms focus primarily on,

Improving management ratios so that they are more in line with national norms and the private sector directing more resources to the frontlines of the workforce Reducing the state’s dependence on private contractors Requiring private vendors to share in the sacrifices working families are making Collaborating with frontline employees to modernize and streamline state agencies

Overall the plan takes the best ideas from private sector management and applies them to public sector management.

Public sector employees have given over $4 billion in concessions in the last decade. Time to try something new.

h/t We Are The People Michigan

July 25th, 2011 | Tags: , | Category: Budgets & Economy, Featured Articles, Organizations, Organized Labor, snyder | Leave a comment

Rally to support state reforms in Detroit TODAY

posted this on July 25th, 2011.

I can’t make this but I hope it has a good turnout. If you go, take some pictures for us and we’ll put them in our gallery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 25, 2011 CONTACT: Zack Pohl, 517-980-6190

* * * MEDIA ADVISORY * * *

RALLY TO SUPPORT STATE REFORMS IN DETROIT TODAY Workers to push for common-sense solutions to streamline state government

DETROIT – At noon today, a coalition of state employees will gather at Cadillac Place in Detroit to oppose the recent attacks on working families by state politicians and push for common-sense new solutions to streamline state government.

WHAT: Rally to support state reforms

WHO: Local workers from the following state employee labor organizations, including – AFSCME Council 25; SEIU Local 517M; Michigan Corrections Organization; MSEA Local 5; UAW Local 6000

WHEN: TODAY, Monday, July 25, 12:00pm

WHERE: Cadillac Place, 3040 W. Grand Blvd, Detroit

WHY: The Snyder administration is currently pushing for an additional $145 million in concessions from hard-working state employees to help pay for a $2 billion tax break to wealthy corporations that outsource jobs. Earlier this year, a coalition of state employee labor organizations released a New Solutions for Michigan report, which includes innovative cost-savings, efficiency, and accountability solutions that could save tens of millions in taxpayer dollars in this fiscal year and beyond. An editorial in the Detroit News said the solutions in the report, “can’t be ignored.” Yet the administration has thus far done just that and must choose between continuing the attack on public services and working families or embracing new solutions for Michigan.

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July 25th, 2011 | Tags: , , , , | Category: Activism, Budgets & Economy, Featured Articles, Organized Labor, snyder | Leave a comment

The People’s News 7/22/11

posted this on July 22nd, 2011.

Here are today's top news stories…

GRAND RAPIDS PRESS: State of Change: How Michigan's business tax revenue will fall and income tax revenue will rise Down and up: How state revenue from business taxes will fall and income tax revenue will rise under this year's tax changes.

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Some say tuition hikes at MSU, WSU really surpass 7.1% cap Matt Lockwood, a spokesman for WSU, said in a written statement: "The state budget director has asked all Michigan public universities for certification that their tuition will not increase by more than 7.1% in the coming school year. We have begun that process and are confident that we are in compliance with the state's tuition restraint incentive."

DETROIT FREE PRESS: Detroit 3 automakers hope to reduce health care costs in next UAW contract General Motors, Ford and Chrysler hope to work with the UAW to lower their health care costs for active workers in contract talks that begin next week, but the union plans to resist higher costs for its members.

DETROIT NEWS: Prisons director: Security a concern in privatizing meal service Michigan's prisons director says he has serious reservations about privatizing food and other services, as called for in its recent budget. Dan Heyns said in an interview with The Detroit News he shares security concerns that Corrections officers have expressed about allowing more workers not employed by the Department of Corrections into the state's 34 prisons.

LSJ COLUMN: Schneider: Inquiry response time leaves something to be desired Average citizen Pamela Heos got blown off recently by the folks in Gov. Rick Snyder's office, and it looks like somebody will go to the woodshed for it.

July 22nd, 2011 | Tags: , , , , , | Category: Budgets & Economy, Featured Articles, Organizations, Recalls, snyder | One comment