News for today's 2018

Teamster UAL mechanics picket for pension reinstatement

1:52 PM Tukiyooo 0

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiEWjCeX-0V7lSc-d_2WVrA1eynaK8rt_1bJ3ysSpS9-UqlPgsEPXn0v4TWHTIIAoDW-X1f_zmKGE5MfDQxgRzF2H6A34NYASiBub2zHIr0xpCLyh0ovpi-oSdzkoI7TOUoMHuWKPazJk/s1600/teamsters+at+SFO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbiEWjCeX-0V7lSc-d_2WVrA1eynaK8rt_1bJ3ysSpS9-UqlPgsEPXn0v4TWHTIIAoDW-X1f_zmKGE5MfDQxgRzF2H6A34NYASiBub2zHIr0xpCLyh0ovpi-oSdzkoI7TOUoMHuWKPazJk/s400/teamsters+at+SFO.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamsters picketing at San Francisco International Airport today.</td></tr></tbody></table><a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters</a> who work as United Airlines mechanics today walked the picket line in 10 airports to announce they may be forced to strike if their pensions aren't reinstated.<br /><br />According to the <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/united-airlines-mechanics-call-pension-reinstatement-during-informational-pickets-airports" rel="nofollow">press statement</a>,<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">In 2005, UAL took away the pensions for 11,000 professional aviation mechanics, but promised when the company’s financial situation improved they would get their retirement plans back. UAL has since rebounded and is reporting hundreds of millions in profits. The second quarter of 2013 saw UAL earn its highest revenue in history. After a year of stalling, UAL executives broke off contract negotiations without agreeing to the pensions they had promised, and declared that 3,500 mechanics will be forced to pay an additional $300-$500 each month for their health care.</blockquote>UAL mechanic John Lauren, a member of <a href="http://www.teamsters856.org/index.cfm?section=1" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 856</a>, said they'd weathered the storm with the airline when times were tough, and now management wants to leave them in the cold:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">It is insulting that United Airlines is asking me to pay an extra $300-$500 each month for my health care when the company brought in record profits last year. What happened to us being in this together?</blockquote>The 10 airports where mechanics picketed include:<br /><ul><li>A.B. Won Pat International Airport Authority, Guam (GUM)</li><li>Honolulu International Airport (HNL)</li><li>Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)</li><li>San Francisco International Airport (SFO)</li><li>Seattle–Tacoma International Airport (SEA)</li><li>Denver International Airport (DEN)</li><li>George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport (IAH)</li><li>Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE)</li><li>Dulles International Airport (IAD)</li><li>Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) </li></ul>Stand strong, brothers and sisters!

Teamsters picketing at San Francisco International Airport today. Teamsters who work as United Airlines mechanics today walked the picket l...

Today's Teamster News 10.27.13

5:10 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://peoplesworld.org/teamsters-score-big-organizing-gains-go-kosher-too/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters score big organizing gains, go “kosher” too! </a> People's World   ... while the biggest win was in Santa Monica, Calif., the most unusual saw the union "go kosher" - winning an election and a first contract for 15 kosher dining hall workers at the University of Pennsylvania...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/nine-democratic-senators-side-gop-entitlement-cuts" rel="nofollow">Sell-Out Alert: 9 Democrats Already Caving to GOP On Social Security Cuts </a> Alternet   ...There are at least nine in the Senate. California’s <a href="http://ourfuture.org/20130326/senate-kicks-the-chained-cpi-to-the-curb-but-leaves-the-back-door-open">Dianne Feinstein</a>, Montana’s <a href="http://ourfuture.org/20130326/senate-kicks-the-chained-cpi-to-the-curb-but-leaves-the-back-door-open">Max Baucus</a>, West Virginia’s <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/disrupt#53275328">Joe Manchin</a>, Delaware’s <a href="http://www.coons.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/release/serious-attempt-at-deficit-reduction-requires-closer-look-at-advice-in-bowles-simpson-report">Chris Coons</a> and <a href="http://www.carper.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/pressreleases?ID=39f20a2e-d3b9-49b1-82a0-e9c67f00ba4f">Tom Carper</a>, and Colorado’s <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2012/10/09/the-gang-of-six-nay-eight-is-back-will-it-matter/">Michael Bennett</a> have all said they support cuts to entitlements in letters to constituents, proposed bills or statements...<br /><a href="http://medicalobserverph.com/putting-profits-first-no-way-health-groups/" rel="nofollow">Putting Profits First? No Way – Health Groups</a>  Medical Observer   ...militant health groups belonging to Health Alliance for Democracy and the People’s Health Movement-Philippines picketed the office of the World Health Organization to express their strong opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement...<br /><a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/china-insider/article/1336647/jiangxi-businessman-pays-model-mo-lulu-100000-yuan-breastfeed-him" rel="nofollow">Jiangxi businessman pays model Mo Lulu 100,000 yuan to breastfeed him</a>  South China Morning Post   ... at a private dinner after the automobile show, Mo breastfed a man who paid her 100,000 yuan. According to the report, the businessman called Mo “mom” every time he took a sip. Other people at the dinner took photos and uploaded them online...<br /><a href="http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/labor/news/2013/09/20/74751/middle-classes-are-stronger-in-states-with-greater-union-membership/" rel="nofollow">Middle Classes Are Stronger in States with Greater Union Membership</a>  Center for American Progress Action Fund   ... four of the top five union states—Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, and Rhode Island—had middle classes of above-average strength...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/10/26/marty-sullivan-figured-out-how-the-worlds-biggest-companies-avoided-billions-in-taxes-heres-how-he-wants-to-stop-them/" rel="nofollow">Marty Sullivan figured out how the world’s biggest companies avoided billions in taxes. Here’s how he wants to stop them.</a>  Washington Post   ...it was Sullivan who in 2010 pieced together from public filings that Apple had understated its reported profits to hide the fact that it was paying a tax rate of less than 2 percent on its overseas profits, shining the spotlight on Apple’s tax avoidance schemes...<br /><a href="http://www.mybudget360.com/means-tested-benefits-government-benefits-more-than-fulltime-workers-census-data/" rel="nofollow">Means-Tested recovery: Over 108,000,000 Americans received means-tested benefits in latest report from Census Bureau, more than are currently employed full-time. </a> My Budget 360   ...the stock market is rallying higher and higher thanks to financial maneuvering but the actual American worker is taking it on the chin.  This is obviously unsustainable...<br /><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/rosiegray/libertarians-and-progressives-team-up-against-nsa-surveillan" rel="nofollow">Libertarians And Progressives Team Up Against NSA Surveillance</a>  Buzzfeed Politics   ...Organized by the coalition Stop Watching Us, which includes dozens of groups ranging from Internet freedom advocates to Tea Party organizations, the rally attracted hundreds of people to the Capitol Reflecting Pool to protest the electronic surveillance by the National Security Agency revealed by Edward Snowden this year...<br /><a href="http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2013/10/24/First-responders-pension-fund.html" rel="nofollow">Police, fire pension fund still falls short, report says </a> Columbus Dispatch   ...Rep. Lynn Wachtmann, the Napoleon Republican who leads the Ohio Retirement Study Council…threatened to dismantle the Police & Fire Fund as a separate board because of what he perceives as members’ continued intransigence. “Some of these members are union thugs who know about power and aren’t afraid to use power or abuse power if they need that to win...”<br /><a href="http://www.plunderbund.com/2013/10/26/tea-party-activists-gather-signatures-for-so-called-right-to-work-amendment/" rel="nofollow">Tea Party activists gather signatures for so-called right to work amendment</a>  Plunderbund   ...At this rate, Ohioans could vote to make Hillary Clinton the next president of the United States before we ever get a chance to vote on another anti-union measure in Ohio.  Unless, of course, they pick up a lot of funding and start collecting signatures at a faster pace...<br /><a href="http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/mailbag/letter-asbestos-bill-will-complicate-veterans-claims/article_c7f20289-bc20-5923-bc09-411005281a94.html" rel="nofollow">LETTER: Asbestos Bill Will Complicate Veterans' Claims</a>  Wisconsin State Journal   ...veterans make up only 8 percent of the population, but 30 percent of all mesothelioma-related deaths. Senate Bill 13 would add additional hurdles for victims seeking claims against asbestos companies and would delay or deny justice for asbestos victims...<br /><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/bizarre&id=9300706" rel="nofollow">Georgia man runs into burning home to save beer</a>  KTRK   ..."I went back into the house like a dummy." That's what one man in Georgia said after he risked his life to save beer from his fridge while his house was on fire...

corporate tax avoidance organizing pensions plutocracy right to work for less social security spying TPP Today's Teamster News 10.27.13

Teamsters score big organizing gains, go “kosher” too! People's World ... while the biggest win was in Santa Monica, Calif., the most...

Teamsters fight Wegmans' pension grab

8:15 AM Tukiyooo 0

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajc-7Euh2zD_FOgi1H2gk3tdbGyUURkybL2afDHMoxhTEiIvyee5y8zYuASGVwk92F6RYqHNzxS1iEwFYVopcUnV-etRGxweUHZClPgm8lD8flnHkiO-mjwkVL9rQEgtT4i0DA2tSoaj0/s1600/wegmans2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhajc-7Euh2zD_FOgi1H2gk3tdbGyUURkybL2afDHMoxhTEiIvyee5y8zYuASGVwk92F6RYqHNzxS1iEwFYVopcUnV-etRGxweUHZClPgm8lD8flnHkiO-mjwkVL9rQEgtT4i0DA2tSoaj0/s320/wegmans2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wegmans Teamsters at a recent informational picket.</td></tr></tbody></table>For more than 15 years, Wegmans grocery stores have been ranked as one of the best places to work in America.<br /><br />Until now.<br /><br />Although the chain made over $6.6 billion in sales last year, it is trying to cut costs on the backs of workers.<br /><br />Rochester, N.Y., stores are threatening to take away secure retirement plans for <a href="http://www.teamsterslocal118.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 118</a> delivery and warehouse workers by replacing it with a Wegmans 401(k) plan.<br /><br />Other Wegmans workers already on the plan are urging members to stay away. Said Kevin McIntosh, Teamsters Local 118 business agent:  <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">They’re telling us to keep fighting because they know they can’t survive on the company’s plan.</blockquote>Having a good company retirement plan is more important now than ever before.  As company pension plans have disappeared, <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/401k-revolution-and-inequality">almost half of American households cannot afford to set aside any money for their retirement</a>.<br /><br />A better outcome than that is not likely if Teamsters are switched to Wegmans 401(k) plan.<br /><br />Not only is the company trying to take away the hope of a good retirement for workers, but management retaliated against members who spoke out against the switch.<br /><br />On behalf of members at Wegmans, Local 118 filed for an unfair labor practice charge on Monday and is practicing picketing outside company headquarters. Said McIntosh: <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">We want to send a strong message to Wegmans that our members are committed to protecting quality jobs in our community and will not tolerate threats and intimidation on the part of the company. We will not stand by while Wegmans attempts to undercut the standards our members have worked hard to build for decades.</blockquote>If you think workers deserve a better future, like them on their Facebook page and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WegmansTeamsters">send a message of support to our brothers and sisters at Wegmans</a>.<br /><br />

pensions Wegmans Teamsters fight Wegmans' pension grab

Wegmans Teamsters at a recent informational picket. For more than 15 years, Wegmans grocery stores have been ranked as one of the best place...

Even in retirement, America is more unequal

10:36 AM Tukiyooo 0

Only half of Americans saved more than $2,500 for retirement, <a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/retirement-inequality-chartbook/">according to a new study published by the Economic Policy Institute</a>.   Researchers warn that retirement plan “participation has been flat or declining in recent years [when participation should be increasing] as the baby boomers enter their 50s and early 60s, [ages] when participation rates tend to be high.”<br /><br />Households in the top one percent average over $1.3 million in retirement account savings.<br /><br />At the same time, only 45 percent of workers age 26 to 61 added to any sort of retirement plan in 2010.  Ten years ago, 52 percent of the population participated.<br /><br />Shrinking retirement plans are a stark reminder of how few people actually can afford to save for their futures, as workers across all ages are finding it harder to contribute to retirement savings.<br /><br />Even as little as a decade ago, more workers across the board were paid enough that they could plan for the future.<br /><br />Only 36 percent of 26 to 31 year olds had savings for their retirement in 2010.  In 2000, 43 percent did. <br /><br />Almost 60 percent of workers aged 50 to 55 added to pension plans in 2000. A decade later, nine percent fewer workers in the same age group manage to add anything to their retirement savings. <br /><br />And the later workers were born, the less likely they are to actually have significant retirement savings as they grow older. <br /><br />After adjusting for inflation, Americans aged 62 to 67 in 2010 managed to increase their average retirement savings 455 percent over their 1992 counterparts, but the average worker in any age bracket under 44 managed to save just about what a similar worker in 1998 did. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.epi.org/publication/retirement-inequality-chartbook/">The EPI report notes</a>:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Successive generations should be saving more in retirement accounts due to their higher average incomes, the shift from pensions to individual savings, and Social Security benefit cuts. But while the retirement savings of middle-aged and older households have generally grown, those of younger households have stayed flat or declined in recent years.</blockquote>Just like income itself, who can afford to save for retirement is grossly unequal.  <br /><br />Seventy-two percent of total 2010 retirement savings came from households in the top 20 percent of income, meaning that most tax subsidies for retirement savings go to high-income households, assuming they file their taxes correctly. <br /><br />Even factoring in <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/us-income-inequality-record-high-top-1-earned-fifth-total-income-2012-1404335">record-breaking salaries</a>, the top fifth of paid workers still has a much higher percentage of retirement savings-to-income than any other group and save over 90 percent more than what their 1989 equivalents managed. <br /><br />At least Americans can keep on working for longer, as people are getting older and older.  <a href="http://www.urban.org/uploadedpdf/411964_senior_unemployment.pdf">Unless they actually can’t</a>. <br /><br />

pensions retirement Even in retirement, America is more unequal

Only half of Americans saved more than $2,500 for retirement, according to a new study published by the Economic Policy Institute . Resear...

The truth about public pensions

9:28 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O2T0QecJHOoeAfue_HCvvIvuZgpaRPkgYvbp-fqTkhDNNCPErQIBrf7mb7yekNiJD_ULvQMEx6sOH5PHYzMvR7BEhmw3Ku9bESNht_OCDLmAktOECBbVCIjnkLu6Df8_5Gof1Xx7qEBl/s1600/collectivebargaining.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6O2T0QecJHOoeAfue_HCvvIvuZgpaRPkgYvbp-fqTkhDNNCPErQIBrf7mb7yekNiJD_ULvQMEx6sOH5PHYzMvR7BEhmw3Ku9bESNht_OCDLmAktOECBbVCIjnkLu6Df8_5Gof1Xx7qEBl/s200/collectivebargaining.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="tr_bq">Pensions, which are so <a href="http://www.iaff.org/pensions/documents/why_do_pensions_matter.pdf" rel="nofollow">essential to retirement security</a>, are being attacked as the cause of state and municipal budget shortfalls. These <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/01/fix-debt-is-full-of-crap.html" rel="nofollow">attacks come from radicals</a> who want to dismantle public institutions, like pensions, that don't benefit greedy billionaires. Don't listen to them.<br /><br />Listen, instead, to economist <a href="http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/unfunded-pension-liabilities-are-1-trillion-not-38-trillion-never-take-anything-in-a-washington-post-editorial-at-face-value" rel="nofollow">Dean Baker</a> recently called out the Washington Post for making the nonsensical claim that state and local pensions have unfunded liabilities of $3.8 trillion. Baker notes the funds are basically okay: </div><blockquote class="tr_bq">...the $3.8 trillion figure was an estimate of total liabilities, not unfunded liabilities. Since the pensions have $2.8 trillion in assets, their unfunded liabilities are just $1 trillion. Or, to put this in terms that may be understandable to Post readers, the unfunded liabilities are 0.22 percent of projected GDP over the next 30 years. And, as I noted in my earlier post, most state and local governments are already funding at levels that are consistent with making up this shortfall so there will no required tax increases or spending cuts to meet these future obligations.</blockquote><div>It shouldn't be a surprise, then, when Brother Brian Aldes, secretary-treasurer of <a href="http://teamsterslocal320.org/index.cfm?zone=%2Funionactive%2Fview_article.cfm&HomeID=297639&page=Brian27s20Blog#.Ue28svsp5Gs.twitter" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 320</a> in Minneapolis, brings us some good news about Minnesota public employee pensions. Cross-posting from <i><a href="http://teamsterslocal320.org/index.cfm?zone=%2Funionactive%2Fview_article.cfm&HomeID=297639&page=Brian27s20Blog#.Ue28svsp5Gs.twitter" rel="nofollow">Brian's Blog</a></i>.</div><blockquote>Today there is a lot of news surrounding pensions for public employees. If you’ve heard the bad news coming out of Detroit you might have retirement on the mind. There’s certainly bad news in Detroit for city workers and retirees, but I'm happy to report there’s also some great stuff in the news today for Minnesota. </blockquote><blockquote>The latest report on Minnesota public employee pensions have all three funds (MSRS, PERA and the Teachers’ Fund) with an investment return of 14.2 percent for the fiscal year that just ended, and it was much higher than expected. </blockquote><blockquote>According to the <a href="http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_23695107/minnesota-public-pension-funds-report-unexpected-gain-investments" rel="nofollow">St. Paul Pioneer Press</a>: </blockquote><blockquote>"The investment return is crucial for the pensions because, historically, investment gains have accounted for about 70 percent of their revenues, helping reduce taxpayer costs. Returns have been rocky in recent years, although the average over the past decade has been 10 percent [investment return]." </blockquote><blockquote>What this year's strong investment return demonstrates is the improved funding ratios and how the total unfunded liability for all three plans is expected to drop. This is positive news and Senator Sandra Papas (DFL-St. Paul) who chairs the Legislative Commission on Pensions and Retirement (LCPR) told the Pioneer Press that she is “cautiously optimistic” about the funds’ future. </blockquote><blockquote>Meanwhile in Detroit a judge ruled that Michigan Governor Snyder’s action to place Detroit in bankruptcy had violated the state’s Constitution because the move could cut the pension benefits of retired public employees. The judge said pensions were protected under state law, and issued an order that the bankruptcy filing be withdrawn. Gov. Snyder is challenging the judge’s order in the state’s Court of Appeals. If the bankruptcy is allowed to continue it will enable a bankruptcy judge to impose further city-wide budget cuts, void any and all union contracts, and target the pensions owed to 21,000 city retirees and 9,000 active workers. </blockquote><blockquote>What is happening in Detroit is simply a tragedy, but for public employees in Minnesota things are looking up, and for that I am grateful!</blockquote>