|
|
WeAreThePeopleMichigan posted this on July 26th, 2011.
Here are today's top stories –
Here are today's top news stories…
WILX (with video): State Workers Rally Outside Governor's Office in Detroit - About one thousand state workers from five different unions took to the sidewalk outside Governor Snyder's Detroit office Monday afternoon, hoping to get their point across. "Instead of taking more from the people who are providing services, they can look at the contractors," Ed Mitchell, UAW 6000 president, said. A few months ago, a coalition of state employees released several ideas for streamlining government and saving money, and it didn't include layoffs or benefit reductions.
WLNS (with video): Michigan State Workers Rally in Detroit - Monday, State employees picketed outside Cadillac Place, Governor Snyder's Detroit office. State employees are not happy over some of the concessions he's asking for. Union representatives for State workers say they have a better solution. State workers want to know where the shared sacrifice is. They're out here protesting Governor Snyder's proposed cuts, and they're raising their voices loud and clear.
WXYZ: UAW says negotiations with State of Michigan will fight “anti-worker agenda" - In April, thousands of union members rallied in front of the State Capital to protest the state budget and tax plans that called for layoffs and cuts in benefits. On Monday several hundred gathered again to voice their concerns on the eve of the start of contract negotiations. Governor Rick Snyder has said in the past that many state workers are simply paid more than the state can afford, and that cuts need to be made. The union disagrees. "It's no secret that Governor Snyder wants to dramatically reduce the compensation of our hard-working members, but we know there are more effective ways to save the state money," said Cindy Estrada of Local 6000.
AP: State Employees Protest - Some state of Michigan employee unions rallied at a state office building in Detroit. The midday event at the Cadillac Place on Monday comes as Gov. Rick Snyder's administration seeks $145 million in concessions from state employees to help balance the state budget for the fiscal year that starts in October. Those discussions [...]
Christine 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.
# # #
View Larger Map
posted this on July 21st, 2011. I never understood the importance of unions. I was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and worked for a large grocery chain before moving to Michigan – and became a union member for the first time.
Long story -short version – I made some choices – I crossed a picket line, I promoted to a store that was called an “open shop” and chose not to pay union dues, all because I needed to pay my bills, and do what was best for me. I never had the “need” for a union, I was a good employee and felt that they just took money out of my pocket that I needed more than they did.
Fast forward to moving to Michigan and a lesson in the “need” for unions. My first position was as a clerk in a hardware store – had to sign a paper saying I would not organize or participate in organizing efforts. WHAT?? I asked my husband what this was about and boy did I get a lesson from him!
Now, let’s just say that my husband is, was and always will be a PROUD union member. This is when and where I started learning about the need for unions.
What did I see at this job? Let’s see – the cute young girls got all the perks, I did the manager’s job so he could hang out in the stock room with the cute young girls – or out in the parking lot…. and then I came back from having a baby! Well, the tides really changed then – according to them my work performance went down, my attendance stunk, the raises didn’t come – all because of “THE BABY” and how much I didn’t do since I had “THE BABY”!
Without union representation what were my options? Well, not many – and the responses I submitted to my performance evaluation – never submitted to the home office. Why? Well, the manager didn’t like what I wrote!
No grievance procedures, no protection, no rights on the job, no guaranteed raises. Just one example of why unions are necessary, why all [...]
Communications Guru posted this on June 20th, 2011. Anyone who survives on a pay check knows the only thing falling is their take home pay, and a chart compiled by the Labor Department floating around the internet illustrates what we are experiencing.
The chart shows that the decline in pay checks began with the brief recession that followed 9/11 in 2001, but it has not stopped its free fall. The free fall is not hard to explain when you consider the assault on organized labor that is destroying the middle class.
But workers are the only people suffering in this economy. U.S. companies have made record profits, while unemployment has stayed high and wages fell, yet they still refuse to hire people as we throw cash at them in the form of tax breaks that is forcing cuts in public safety, schools and the social safety net many people have contributed to for their entire working lives.
The inequity gap between the working class and the top 1 percent is turning the U.S. into a banana republic. The richest 1 percent of the population gobbles up 20 percent of the national pie. To quote Warren Buffett, one of the richest investors, in the world, “There’s class warfare, all right, but it’s my class, the rich class, that’s making war, and we’re winning.”
The fact is the richest 1 percent of Americans now take home almost 24 percent of income, up from almost 9 percent in 1976. That means the United States now arguably has a more unequal distribution of wealth than traditional banana republics like Nicaragua, Venezuela and Guyana, according to Pulitzer Prize winning columnist Nicholas D. Kristof.Also making a killing while wage earners take a bath are CEOs. In 1965 the average CEO was earning 24 times what the average worker was making. But by 2001 the C.E.O.’s of the largest American companies earned an average of 531 times as much as the average worker.
According to a USA Today analysis of data from GovernanceMetrics International, they found .
With those stats, it’s amazing that Michigan Republicans are pushing right to work for less using stats like disposable and personal income [...]
Chris Savage (aka Eclectablog) posted this on June 6th, 2011. Oh, great. Rep. Bill Rogers, the guy who sponsored two bills to diminish, threaten and punish unionized teachers (and their union) in Michigan is now heading up a group reform Michigan’s entire education system.
State Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Genoa Township, is spearheading an education-reform work group he said will be “proactive instead of reactive” in pursuing changes to education funding and how students learn.
Rogers’ work group was announced Tuesday, less than a week after the Legislature approved deep cuts to Michigan’s K-12 schools and universities.
He said the bipartisan committee will likely discuss the efficacy of the per-pupil K-12 school funding system, school start times, the possibility of year-round school and potential unfunded mandates on districts.
~SNIP~
Rogers said his work group will meet throughout the summer, up to three days per week, and has the goal of introducing related legislation in the fall.
But wait. It gets better.
The 13-member panel will be co-chaired by House Education Committee Chairman Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc. Rogers and Scott together sponsored House Bills 4465-4466, which would broaden penalties against illegal schoolteacher strikes.
I’ve written about H.B.s 4465 and 4466 before:
State Rep. Bill Rogers, R-Genoa Township, on Tuesday introduced legislation creating penalties for public schoolteachers and the Michigan Education Association for inciting or participating in strikes.
House Bill 4466 would fine the Michigan Education Association $5,000 per teacher for each full or partial day public school employees are engaged in a strike or “strike-like activities.”
The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Paul Scott, R-Grand Blanc, also would require school employees to pay a fine equal to one day of pay for every day or partial day they participate in a strike.
House Bill 4465, sponsored by Rogers, would require district superintendents to suspend or revoke teachers’ licenses if teachers are caught breaking existing strike laws.
The version of H.B. 4466 that got passed out of committee was actually even more punitive than first written.
Under the bill, if one or more public school employees strike, their union would be kicked out for five years. A school superintendent or parent could report any strike activity – and, [...]
|
|
Wednesday briefing and open thread
Effort to recall Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder faces opposition – FROM THE LEFT
Teacher Job Satisfaction Suffering as New TV Attack Ads Set to Air
Tell Hoekstra and Romney NO on November 6
The Return of EAGTruth.com
Snyder to consider deregulation of 18 industries
Comments