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Job Openings Walk for Dan Maloney! All Labor members are encouraged to participate! Please join us for Labor to Labor efforts on Saturday, October 31, 2009. We'll be speaking Labor member to Labor member about candidates for public office who best support Labor's legislative agenda. Next week's priority will be Dan Maloney (Town of Greece, Supervisor). To sign up, please contact Dan Mulligan, (585) 263-2650. October 31, 2009, 9:30am, 2300 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14625 [Across from Greece Ridge Mall] Labor to Labor Phone Banks: Continuing Through Election Day! Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO retirees and volunteers will begin Labor to Labor calls in support of Labor's 2009 candidates from the NYSUT Conference Center, 30 North Union Street, Rochester, NY. Please sign up today! Final 2009 dates: Friday, October 29, 2-8pm; Monday, 12pm-5pm; Tuesday, 10am-1pm. To sign up, please call Freddi Macek (585) -263-2650. Should you have time beyond the Labor Walk on Oct 31st, and Labor Phone Banks (as listed above), please consider helping one of Labor's endorsed candidates: State Supreme Court Justice (7th Judicial District) - Paloma Capanna (D) Monroe County Sheriff – Patrick O'Flynn (R) Monroe County Court Judge – Brian McCarthy (D) Monroe County Legislature: District 2 – Sheldon Myers (D) District 4 – Frank Muscato (D) District 13 – Michael Condello (D) District 14 – Travis Heider (D) District 18 – Nora Bredes (D) District 19 – Jo Maleca-Voigt (D) District 21 – Carrie Andrews (D) District 23 – Paul Haney (D) District 24 – Harry Bronson (D) District 25 – Calvin Lee (D) District 28 – Cynthia Kaleh (D) City of Rochester, Council: Tom Brennan (D); Carolee Conklin (D); Matt Haag (D) Town of Brighton: Supervisor, Sandra Frankel (D) Town of Chili: Supervisor, Sue Vandervoort (D); Council, Heath Miller (D) Town of Greece: Supervisor, Dan Maloney (D); 1st Ward, Karen Lee-Byfield (D) Town of Webster: Supervisor, Patrick Christopher (D); Council, Tammie Garowski (D) Dinner and Annual Meeting: Save the Dates! Rochester Labor Council, AFL-CIO Annual Delegates Awards Dinner: Thursday, December 10, 2009 Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO Annual Meeting: Saturday, March 27, 2010 Sweet Solidarity [As Reported by The Union City]: When those little ghosts and goblins come collecting on Halloween, make sure you have a full supply of union-made goodies to hand out. That includes some of our favorites, such as Jelly Bellies, Red Vines, Sunkist Fruit Gel Slices, A  bbazabbz, and Sweethearts, those crunchy
little hearts with sweet nothings stamped into them. But there's
way more than that. UnionPlus has compiled a list of candy
products made by members of the Bakery, Confectionery,
Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM);
snack foods by members of the United Food and Commercial Workers
(UFCW); and fruits and nuts from members of the United Farm
Workers of America (UFW). What a sweet way to support your union
brothers and sisters when you shop for Halloween treats this
year! - photo courtesy
International
Labor Communinications
AssociationHealthcare Forum: Progressive Democrats of Genesee Valley Foundation, Inc. is holding a Health Justice Forum on November 15th 2009, from 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. This forum will feature Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Chairman of the House of Representatives Judiciary Committee and Rep. Eric Massa, Chairman of the House Single Payer Caucus. Other confirmed speakers include: Donna Smith, Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate for California Nurses Association Tim Carpenter, National Director for Progressive Democrats of America Jeff Cohen, Director, Park Center for Independent Media/Associate Professor of Journalism at Ithaca College Emily Queenan, MD, Finger Lakes Chapter Physicians for a National Health Program We would like to offer your organization the opportunity to sponsor this special event at one of the levels indicated below. Deadline for sponsorship is Friday, October 23. Rotenberg and Company Services Canceled: In a letter to Rotenberg and Company, Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO President, Jim Bertolone said, "This letter is notification that Rochester Area Local APWU 215 is terminating your services effective immediately. Please be advised that this has nothing to do with the excellent service provided us by CPA John Worboys. However, your agreements with LeFrois Construction in the new building are problematic for our brothers and sisters in the Allied Building and Construction Trades." To read the full letter, please click here: http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/d/sp/i/82089/pid/82089 From the AIL/NILICO Labor Letter: AFL-CIO head Trumka recently called on insurance commissioners in Connecticut, Indiana, New York and Pennsylvania to investigate the cost impact of lobbying by companies to defeat health care reform on rising premiums paid by consumers. "The health care industry's lobbying expenditures have clearly impacted consumers' health care costs," Trumka wrote. Laws in these states require that insurance regulators approve rate changes. As an example, the AFL-CIO said Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield has requested a rate hike of up to 30 percent in Connecticut while spending more than $9.5 million on lobbying activities. "We believe that health insurance providers' lobbying expenditures have led to excessive rate hikes," Trumka added. He urged "a precise review" of lobbying expenditures before rate increases are approved. Federation called for additional federal stimulus aid as unemployment rose to 9.8 percent, highest jobless rate in 26 years. Although noting that the "pace of economic decline and job loss" has eased due to the first stimulus measure, AFL-CIO warned that heavy job losses will continue without additional fiscal support. "The economic crisis is a jobs crisis and there can be no strong and sustainable recovery until employment begins to grow. The Obama administration's aggressive actions have clearly brought us back from the brink of what might have been a second Great Depression, but we will need sustained and expanded fiscal support if we are to see a robust recovery," AFL-CIO said. Federation also urged extended unemployment benefits and additional financial support to "budget-constrained" states and cities. U.S. labor pledged solidarity with Puerto Rican workers who protested Gov. Luis Fortuno's plan to layoff thousands of public sector workers and cancel their collective bargaining rights to solve the island's budget deficit. The governor cut more than 5,000 jobs this year with another round of layoffs set for later this month eliminating nearly 17,000 jobs from the Department of Education and other agencies. A general strike was held Oct. 15 as more than 200,000 people peacefully demonstrated in San Juan against the layoffs. Sympathy rallies were held in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia and other cities in the U.S. AFL-CIO's Trumka said U.S. labor would fight "for the rights and well being of our affiliated unions, their members, and the people of Puerto Rico." He noted Puerto Rico received $5 billion in federal stimulus funds and said future stimulus money "cannot be justified" until the administration "rethinks its proposed policies." Metro-Justice Presents: Life in Occupied Palestine - Eyewitness Stories & Photos: Sunday, November 1, 2009, 7pm, First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 S.Winton Road, Rochester, NY. Anna Baltzer and Rochester Against War, Peace Action and Education, and Faith to Faith present: Life in Occupied Palestine - Eyewitness Stories & Photos. Anna Baltzer is a Jewish-American Columbia graduate, former-Fulbright scholar, the granddaughter of Holocaust refugees, and an award-winning lecturer, author, and activist for Palestinian rights. Baltzer has appeared on television more than 100 times and lectured at more than 300 universities, schools, churches, mosques, and synagogues around the world with her acclaimed presentation, "Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories & Photos," and her full-color book: Witness in Palestine. She is a contributor to three soon-to-be-released books on the subject and serves on the Board of Directors of the Research Journalism Institute, Grassroots Jerusalem, and Council for the National Interest. Baltzer’s presentation covers checkpoints, settlements, Israeli activism, the 1948 war & refugees, censorship, the Separation Wall, nonviolent demonstrations, and more. For information about Baltzer's book, DVD, and tour schedule, please visit: www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com . Baltzer will also be selling and signing copies of her book: Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories. By publicizing this event, Metro Justice is not taking a stand regarding the views expressed by Anna Baltzer. The Metro Justice Council feels that she is one of many important pro-peace voices that should be heard as part of the ongoing discussion regarding efforts to attain a just Israeli-Palestinian peace. Elmira Postal Service Reduction: Five years ago, the Elmira Post Office had the canceling operations taken out of the facility. And now, this attempt to consolidate Elmira with Rochester is not going to improve the "service". The Elmira facility currently covers an area of 3200 square miles, which includes a total of 79 offices other than Elmira, so it will have a direct effect on all those local communities. This issue alone will result in a larger decline in customer service not ony to the public but to all area businesses as well. Our local customers and communities should be provided with the best possible service and the United States Postal Service is taking that service away. In the Elmira area, the Postal Service is planning to close the Southside and Westside Stations, which would have an especially detrimental effect on senior citizens, the physically challenged, and residents who rely on public transportation. Services are being cut at the customers expense, so the Post Office can say, "they can save money." Our Local is currently contacting all local town, village and city offices to insure that they are up to date with the current plans of the United States Postal Service, and how this will effect their communities as well. With 55 jobs to be effected, the Local has not been notified as to where those employees will be excessed out of the Elmira area. -John Dahl - President and Vicky Shaban - VP, APWU Local 2255. Foodbank Donations Being Collected: Foodbank Collections Begin for Fall and Winter Seasons: IBEW Local 86 has asked members to donate canned/non-perishable goods and will continue collecting donations throughout the winter. Please remember to bring your donation to the next RLC Delegates meeting. Union Made Vehicles: For those who want to drive union-made wheels, here's a list of 2010 vehicles made by UAW and CAW members in the US and Canada: http://www.uaw.org/news/newsarticle.cfm?ArtId=565 Press release here: http://www.uaw.org/uawmade/auto/2010/index.cfm EPI Reports: Top incomes should be tapped for health reform: Marginal tax rates for those making $500,000 per year are historically low, as illustrated in today’s Snapshot by EPI researcher Anna Turner. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is proposing a surtax on these top earners to help fund health care reform. Even with the added tax, high earners will still have marginal tax rates lower than they have been for most of the past 60 years. Report projects a steep loss of employer-sponsored health insurance ahead as coverage declines again in 2008: Without large-scale health reform, rising unemployment could push the number of uninsured people under 65 to over 50 million by 2010. The health insurance most Americans depend on, employer-sponsored insurance (ESI), has declined every year since 2000, currently leaving 45.7 million people under 65 without coverage. As Congress debates the future of health care reform, the Economic Policy Institute released a report today that puts into sharp focus the strain that a broken health care system places on families and individuals. The report, Employer-sponsored health insurance erosion continues, by Director of Health Policy Research Elise Gould, shows that health care coverage delivered through the workplace declined every year leaving a disproportionate number of young, Hispanic, lower educated, and lower income people uninsured. "The current recession, rising unemployment, and rising health care costs make health reform all the more important for American families now and in the future," said Gould. The report breaks out ESI coverage in each state and the District of Columbia. The largest declines in ESI coverage for those under 65 occurred in Michigan, Tennessee, Missouri, South Carolina, and North Carolina, with losses of at least 8.0 percentage points over the 2000s. For more detailed state-level analysis, please contact these groups: California Murtaza Baxamusa, PhD, Research and Policy Director Center on Policy Initiatives 3727 Camino del Rio South, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92108 Phone (619) 584-5744 baxamusa@onlinecpi.org Maine Garrett Martin Maine Center for Economic Policy PO Box 437 66 Winthrop St. Augusta, ME 04330 (207) 622-7381 gmartin@mecep.org www.mecep.org New Jersey Ray Castro, Senior Policy Analyst New Jersey Policy Perspective 137 W. Hanover Street Trenton, NJ 08618 (609) 393-1145 castro@njpp.org New Mexico Sharon Kayne, Communications Director New Mexico Voices for Children 2340 Alamo Ave. SE, Suite 120 Albuquerque, NM 87106-3523 505-244-9505 ext. 30 505-401-8709 (cell) skayne@nmvoices.org www.nmvoices.org Pennsylvania Christopher Lilienthal, Communications Director Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center 412 N. 3rd Street Harrisburg, PA 17101 Phone: 717-255-7156 lilienthal@pennbpc.org Texas Stacey Pogue, Senior Policy Analyst Center for Public Policy Priorities 900 Lydia Street Austin, TX 78702 512-320-0222 x 117 pogue@cppp.org Virginia Michael Cassidy The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis P.O. Box 12516 Richmond, VA 23241 (804) 643-2474 michael@thecommonwealthinstitute.org Wisconsin Jon Peacock, research director Wisconsin Council on Children and Families 555 W. Washington Ave., Suite 200 Madison, WI 53703 (608) 284-0580 x 307 jpeacock@wccf.org Labor Film Series: 2009 Labor Film Series: All films shown at the Eastman House Dryden Theater, 900 East Avenue. This year's series will screen nine films on Fridays from September 4 through October 30. Ticket Information: Sponsoring organizations receive complimentary tickets. Other admission is by GEH pass or tickets at the box office. Friday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. LAILA'S BIRTHDAY (EID MILAD LAILA) (Rashid Masharawi, Palestine 2008, 75 min., Arabic with subtitles) A former Palestinian judge (the excellent Mohamed Bakri) is forced to make a living working as a taxi driver in occupied Ramallah when the government runs out of funds to pay his salary. On his daughter’ seventh birthday, the judge faces all kinds of obstacles on his simple mission to bring home a cake and presents. Wonderfully compelling and eye-opening in its episodic storytelling, Laila’s Birthday reveals the frustrating daily existence for an average, politically moderate citizen of Palestine. NYS AFL-CIO Legislative Alert: NYS AFL-CIO Legislative Department: http://www.nysaflcio.org/index.cfm?zone=view_page.cfm&page=Legislative20Issues Other Significant Topics: Baseball Stars Knock It Out of the Park for Employee Free Choice http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/D7a2q4d1LQAm/ Scariest Pumpkin Ever http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/J7a2q4d1LQAI/ AFL-CIO Outraged at Murder of Colombian Trade Unionist http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/-1a2q4d1LQAt/ Shuler in Oregon: The Sharks We Defeated Are Still Circling http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/D1a2q4d1LQAu/ Labor Across Prime Time TV http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/-pa2q4d1LQA6/ AFT Fights Exploitation of Foreign Teachers http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/-da2q4d1LQAg/ Federal Judge Blocks California In-Home Service Cuts http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/-7a2q4d1LQAb/ Rite Aid Workers Win Big Victory from NLRB http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Jda2q4d1LQAW/ Today's Health Care News http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Dda2q4d1LQAj/ More Concerns Emerge for Christie as New Jersey Election Approaches http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/J1a2q4d1LQAO/ Report: Unbalanced Immigration Enforcement Hurts All Workers' Rights http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/z1a2q4d1LjSa/ Where Things Are Made http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Sda2q4d1LjSA/ Thanking Sen. Reid, and Other Health Care News http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/z7a2q4d1LjSS/ Traub: Workers Need Employee Free Choice Now More Than Ever http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/zpa2q4d1LjSL/ AFT Civil Rights Conference: Help Turn America Around http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/a7a2q4d1LjS1/ $3.4 Billion Smart Grid Investment Will Create Tens of Thousands of Jobs http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/a1a2q4d1LBAC/ American Labor Museum Honors Wowkanech http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/apa2q4d1LjSq/ Workplaces, Laws Fail to Keep up with Growing Role of Women Workers http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/S1a2q4d1LjS/ Showdown in Chicago: Thousands Protest Bankers http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Hpa2q4d1SQA4/ L.A. Carwash Workers Celebrate Law Preventing Wage Theft, Spread the Word http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Tda2q4d1SQA3/ Reid: Public Option Will Be in Health Care Bill http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Tpa2q4d1SQAd/ Trumka: Health Care Reform Must Include Public Option, No Benefits Tax http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/H1a2q4d1SQAc/ U.S. Health Care System Wasting Billions, and Other Health Care News http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Hda2q4d1SQAB/ Karen See Elected to Lead CLUW http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/T1a2q4d1SQAx/ China and the U.S. Housing Bubble http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Y7a2q4d1SQAw/ Hate Crimes Bill Heads to Obama http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Ypa2q4d1SQAs/ Violent Repression Continues in Honduras http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/H7a2q4d1SQAX/ Showdown in Chicago http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/q1a2q4d1SBAC/ Shuler: We Need to Let Young People Know About Unions http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/C7a2q4d1SBA-/ Tanker Contract Would Create 44,000 Jobs in United States http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/1da2q4d1SBAK/ Wall Street Won't Do Right. Now They Have To http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/11a2q4d1SBAD/ Maine Union Members Tell Snowe to Support a Public Option, and More Health Care News http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Cda2q4d1SBAF/ AFL-CIO, NFL Players Association and United Way Team Up in Detroit http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/C1a2q4d1SBAG/ Taxing Benefits: The Wrong Way to Pay for Health Care http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/Cpa2q4d1SBAJ/ Bye, America http://www.unionvoice.org/ct/1pa2q4d1SBAV/ Democrat & Chronicle, Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - "Marchers Seek Justice for Mom Slain Two Years Ago" http://www.democratandchronicle.com/article/20090930/NEWS01/909300335/Marchers+seek+justice+for+mom+slain+two+years+ago&referrer=NEWSFRONTCAROUSEL Rochester Business Journal Daily Report, Friday, September, 25, 2009 - "Unshackle Upstate Proposals Receive Strong Support" http://www.rbj.net/fullarticle.cfm?sdid=80166 Democrat & Chronicle, Saturday, August 8, 2009 - "Council Blew It On RenSquare" http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/80458/pid/38068 Irondequoit Post, Thursday, August 6, 2009 - "Apprenticeship Programs Are Good for Irondequiot" http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/80459/pid/38068 RNews, Thursday, July 2, 2009 - "Out-of-Work Group Challenges Rochester Mayor" http://www.rnews.com/content/top_stories/476145/out-of-work-group-challenges-rochester-mayor/?RegionCookie=2004 National News Stories: CNNMoney, Monday, September 28, 2009 - "5 Most Overpaid CEO's" http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2009/news/0909/gallery.highest_paid_worst_CEOs/index.html Manufacturethis.org, Wednesday, August 26, 2009 - "China Is Dumping Solar Panels in US Market" http://www.manufacturethis.org/2009/08/26/china-is-dumping-solar-panels-in-us-market/ www.rollcall.com, Friday, August 14, 2009, 2009 - "Specter to Support Cloture on Card Check" http://www.rollcall.com/news/37775-1.html?ET=rollcall:e5342:80076554a:&st=email Manufacturethis.org, Wednesday, August 19, 2009 - "Chinese Tire Emissary Rolls Into DC" SouthCoastToday.com, Saturday, August 8, 2009 - "Your View: Non-union Contractors Never Shut Out" http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/80460/pid/38068 Irene Jay Liu, Timesunion.com - June 5, 2009: Unions Joining Gay [Rights] Fight http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=807215&category=REGION October 26 After eight years and at least 1,000 worker deaths – mostly Irish immigrants – the 350-mile Erie Canal opens, linking the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean. Father John Raho wrote to his bishop that "so many die that there is hardly any time to give Extreme Unction to everybody. We run night and day to assist the sick" - 1825 October 27 The New York City subway, the first rapid-transit system in America, opens. More than 100 workers died during the construction of the first 13 miles of tunnels and track - 1904 The National Negro Labor Council is formed in Cincinnati to unite black workers in the struggle for full economic, political and social equality. The group was to function for five years before disbanding, having forced many AFL and CIO unions to adopt non-discrimination policies - 1951  October 28The Gateway Arch, a 630 ft high parabola of stainless steel marking the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial on the waterfront of St. Louis, Missouri is completed after two and one-half years. Although it was predicted 13 lives would be lost in construction, not a single Ironworker died - 1965 October 29 October 30 October 31 The Upholsterers International Union merges into the United Steelworkers - 1949 Int'l Alliance of Bill Posters, Billers & Distributors of the United States & Canada surrenders its AFL-CIO charter and is disbanded - 1971 November 01
Malbone tunnel disaster in New York City; inexperienced scab motorman crashes five-car train during strike, 97 killed, 255 injured - 1918 Some 400,000 soft coal miners strike for higher wages and shorter hours - 1919 United Stone & Allied Products
Workers of America merge with United Steelworkers of America -
1972 Bruce Popper, Vice-President, 1199SEIU, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Remarks http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/d/Articles/pid/38068 Jim Bertolone, President, R&GV Area Labor Federation, It's Wrong to Blast Union Release Time http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/74642 Jim Bertolone, President, R&GV Area Labor Federation, Make US Healthier & Wealthier http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/72105 Bruce Popper, Vice-President, 1199SEIU, Labor Day Remarks http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/72270 Jim Bertolone, President, R&GV Area Labor Federation, Stewardship Is Key http://www.rgvalf.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/71361 Upcoming Labor Council Meetings: Next Generation United, General Meeting: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 5:30pm, NYSUT, Rochester, NY Chemung/Schuyler Labor Assembly, General Meeting: Wednesday, November 11, 2009, 6pm, CWA 1111, Elmira, NY Rochester Labor Council, Executive Committee: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 5pm, IBEW Local 86, Rochester, NY Rochester Labor Council, Delegates: Thursday, November 12, 2009, 7pm, IBEW Local 86, Rochester, NY Finger Lakes Labor Assembly, General Meeting: Monday, November 16, 2009, 5:30pm, IBEW Local 840, Geneva, NY Rochester Labor Council, COPE: Wednesday, November 18, 2009, 5pm, NYSUT, Rochester, NY Steuben/Livingston Labor Council: No meeting in November. For More Calendar Updates or to register for events, please visit www.rgvalf.org and select "Events" Cornell ILR Classes: For detailed listings of announced seminars & classes, please visit www.rgvalf.org Finger Lakes Occupational Health & Safety: http://www2.envmed.rochester.edu/envmed/occmed/fingerlakeswelcome.html Job Openings: For detailed job postings, please visit www.rgvalf.org Do you know someone NOT currently receiving the Mobilizer? Have them visit our new website www.rgvalf.org and sign up. Published by the Rochester
& Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, an AFL-CIO "Union
Cities" Area Labor Federation whose 300 affiliated union locals
represent 100,000 union members in the Rochester & Finger
Lakes region of New York State. JAMES V. BERTOLONE,
PRESIDENT. |
