(Source: nyatwork)
(Source: nyatwork)
Define American I produced.
A video produced by Al Jeezra English’s Fault Lines on the decline of labor unions. Worth a watch.
The decline of labour unions in the US
For decades, labor unions in the United States have been on the decline. While they are widely credited with boosting safety standards and worker pay, many have received blame for wanting too much in the struggling economy. Unemployment is at 9% and people are clamoring for jobs, unionized or not. And their greatest political ally, the Democratic party, has taken its’ support for granted weakening its’ pull on the strings of power in Washington, DC.
A new battle has emerged in 2011 as Republican governors have taken on public sector unions, in some cases stripping them of rights that have been in place for 50 years. It’s part of a trend that is happening in key swing states and may weaken democratic voting strength in next year’s presidential election. But organized labor has fought back hard. In Wisconsin unions occupied the state capitol as 100,000 protesters took to the streets. In Ohio, voters overturned a law that was intended to greatly reduce the right that unions have in that state to bargain collectively.Now as Occupy Wall Street galvanizes Americans to take action against financial institutions and big corporations, Labor has a new ally. But can organized labor harness the anger that everyday Americans are emitting or will this opportunity pass it by? Do Labor unions still have the strength to organize or has their power waned to the point that they will no longer be a major player in American politics?
This episode of Fault Lines first aired on Al Jazeera English on December 19, 2011 at 2230 GMT.
(Source: aljazeera.com, via )
Here’s a video on the Pomona College issue. Oddly, the same Carmen cited in this New York Times article, is identical to the video. But some discrepancies surface. In this she says being paid $11 after eleven years working. In the article, it states she’s making $17 an hour and lives with an American born husband.
What’s the truth?
Pomona Fires Latino Workers
In the midst of a union-organizing drive, “liberal” Pomona College demands documents of workers. Workers had been at Pomona for years, some decades. Pomona College’s Board is led by Goldman Sachs executive Paul Efron. Find out more JusticeatPomona.org
Indiana Legislatures Dive into Right-to-Work Law
Indiana became the 23rd state last week to pass right-to-work legislation (RTW). The Economist reported on it for the February 4-10 circulation. The article describes Indiana as being the first state under the nation’s old manufacturing belt to adopt the legislation. According to the report, a RTW state is one that..
“allows employers to decide whether to financially support a union. Without such laws unions can insist that all workers pay dues to help fund the cost of negotiating a contract with a contract with an employer, whether or not they wish to formally join the union.”
The article notes a prominent player in the state as noting that RTW laws make it easier to negotiate flexible work rules, and means that unions are more likely to agree to a merit-based system of employment rather than seniority. In addition, it highlights a broad trend in midwestern states to curb union power. Ohio and Wisconsin are two states extensively covered in the media for trying to fight labor organizations, although thus far have been unsuccessful.
For a further analysis on the topic, check out the non-profit, nonpartisan think tank, Economic Policy Institute report.
Small Business Support: NLRB Poster Rule Delayed. Again. (New date: April 30, 2012)
Are you keeping up? On December 27, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board announced that it was delaying yet again the implementation of its rule requiring covered employers to post notice of employee rights under the National Labor Relations Act. For your reference, here’s a roundup of…
(Source: jdsupra-biznews)
Watch this MetroFocus segment as Jane Pauley interviews Steve Rosenbaum, appointed by NYCEDC as the City’s first Entrepreneur At Large. Steve speaks about his new role incubating startups and why he thinks New York’s tech sector will soon surpass Silicon Valley.
Watch this video and then go here and give whatever you can.
An Interview with Bricklayer and Allied Workers Local 1 union member Randy Thompson. He’s been an unemployed union worker since 2008. In our conversation inside a Starbucks in the Financial District, he spoke about his hardships, including the inability to find a job. In this clip we listen into the difficulties to find work in this economic climate.
12% of Recent Veterans Unemployed
Finding work is hard right now no matter what your background, but there may be a few reasons why the unemployment rate is so high for this group of veterans. First, the timing couldn’t be much worse. As the wars wind down in the Middle East, more veterans are coming home, but hiring is very weak. Second, the sorts of jobs that might be a natural fit for veterans are particularly hard to come by right now. Government is one of the most challenged sectors, which means that new federal defense-related jobs are scarce and local law enforcement jobs may actually be declining in some areas.
via. the Atlantic
