Today's Teamster News 09.17.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/lincare-drivers-join-local-170" rel="nofollow">Lincare Drivers Join the Teamsters Union</a>  teamster.org   ...Drivers with Lincare Inc. in Marlborough, Mass., voted unanimously on Sept. 16 to join Teamsters Local 170 in Worcester, Mass...<br /><a href="http://fleetowner.com/safety/legislation-would-prevent-shortcuts-setting-sleep-apnea-regs" rel="nofollow">Legislation would prevent shortcuts in setting sleep apnea regulations</a>   Fleet Owner ...Trucking interests, including the Teamsters Union, are applauding legislation introduced late last week that would prevent the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration from taking shortcuts in the process if they intend to set standards for screening and testing professional drivers for sleep apnea...<br /><a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/09/15/3629437/culinary-union-warns-of-citywide.html" rel="nofollow">Culinary Union warns of citywide strike in Vegas</a>  Associated Press   ...The Culinary Union has issued a written warning to Wall Street investors, saying a citywide strike by Las Vegas hotel workers is possible if contracts aren't inked soon with two major companies...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/rich-poor-employment-gap_n_3933757.html" rel="nofollow">Rich-Poor Employment Gap Now Widest On Record</a>  Associated Press   ...The gap in employment rates between America's highest- and lowest-income families has stretched to its widest levels since officials began tracking the data a decade ago, according to an analysis of government data conducted for The Associated Press...<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-lower-class-20130916,0,5616335.story" rel="nofollow">Amid slow economic recovery, more Americans identify as 'lower class'</a>  Los Angeles Times   ...A small but surging share of Americans consider themselves 'lower class,' a surprise to some researchers and activists despite the bruising economy... <br /><a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/agriculture/322469-house-gop-moves-forward-with-bill-cutting-food-stamps" rel="nofollow">House GOP moves forward with $40 billion cut to food stamps </a> The Hill   ...House Republicans on Monday introduced a food stamp reform bill that they say will cut $40 billion from the program over 10 years....<br /><a href="http://www.aflcio.org/Blog/Corporate-Greed/CFPB-Warns-Employers-About-Payroll-Card-Abuse" rel="nofollow">CFPB Warns Employers About Payroll Card Abuse</a>  AFL-CIO Now   ... The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warned employers yesterday about the misuse of prepaid payroll cards and that they cannot require workers receive their wages via prepaid cards.  ..<br /><a href="http://news.firedoglake.com/2013/09/16/larry-summers-withdraws-from-fed-chair-race/" rel="nofollow">Larry Summers Withdraws From Fed Chair Race</a>   Fire Dog Lake   ...In a stinging rebuke to the forces of financial deregulation in general, and the Robert Rubin clique in particular, Larry Summers withdrew his name from consideration for Chairman of the Federal Reserve after it became clear he could not be confirmed... <br /><a href="http://www.icij.org/offshore/american-fugitive-used-big-banks-shuffle-more-1-million-offshore-records-show" rel="nofollow">American Fugitive Used Big Banks To Shuffle More Than $1 Million Offshore, Records Show</a>  ICIJ   ...An American wanted on organized crime charges in New Jersey and New York shuffled more than $1 million around the world through accounts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Australia’s ANZ Bank, confidential records show...<br /><a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/18835-the-us-federal-deficit-continues-to-shrink" rel="nofollow">The US Federal Deficit Continues to Shrink</a>  truthout   ...The federal budget deficit has been plummeting in size over the last few years; however, judging from polls, most Americans do not know that – indeed, their concern over the deficit has grown even as the annual deficit has shrunk significantly...<br /><a href="http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2013/09/third-world-watch-deadly-brain-amoeba-found-in-us-tap-water.html" rel="nofollow">Third World Watch: Deadly Brain Amoeba Found in US Tap Water</a>  Naked Capitalism   ...The US now ranks 27th in life expectancy among 34 advanced economies, down from 20 in 1990.But in addition to the considerable health dangers of stress and weak social bonds, more obvious public health risks may be coming to the fore. Strained municipal budgets means reduced public services...<br /><a href="http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-13-720?source=ra" rel="nofollow">POSITIVE TRAIN CONTROL: Additional Authorities Could Benefit Implementation</a>  GAO   ...To install positive train control (PTC)--a communications-based system designed to prevent certain types of train accidents caused by human factors-- almost all railroads are overlaying their existing infrastructure with PTC components; nonetheless, most railroads report they will miss the December 31, 2015, implementation deadline...<br /><a href="http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-09/16/c_132725838.htm" rel="nofollow">Week-long strikes against austerity, reform begin in Greece</a>  Xinhuanet   ...Greece's labor unions launched on Monday a new week of strike action, the most extensive this autumn, against austerity and reform measures introduced to tackle Greece's crippling debt problems...<br /><a href="http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/20130910phoenix-pension-spiking-rules-vary.html?nclick_check=1" rel="nofollow">Phoenix pension ‘spiking’ rules vary for city employees</a>  Arizona Republic   ...While retiring Phoenix City Manager David Cavazos considers converting roughly $200,000 in unused sick leave to enhance his pension, the city is fighting rank-and-file municipal employees in court to keep them from doing the same thing...<br /><a href="http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130915/NEWS/309150029/Groups-may-seek-privatized-liquor-sales-Oregon?nclick_check=1" rel="nofollow">Groups may seek privatized liquor sales in Oregon</a>  Statesman Journal   ...Grocery stores and convenience stores may get behind a ballot initiative to privatize state-run liquor stores now that the Oregon Liquor Control Commission has decided to let liquor stores sell wine and beer...<br /><a href="http://posttrib.suntimes.com/news/22533215-418/no-cinch-for-right-to-work-ruling-in-indiana-supreme-court.html" rel="nofollow">Right-to-work ruling faces rough road</a>   Post-Tribune   ...They couldn’t stop it in the General Assembly, and they failed in federal court. But last week, opponents of Indiana’s right-to-work law finally had reason to celebrate, when Lake Superior Court Judge John Sedia ruled the law unconstitutional...<br /><a href="http://www.progressiverailroading.com/mow/news/Wisconsin-DOT-provides-grant-loans-for-four-freightrail-projects--37714" rel="nofollow">Wisconsin DOT provides grant, loans for four freight-rail projects</a>  Progressive Railroading   ...Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker on Friday announced the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) will provide grants and loans totaling nearly $11 million for four freight-rail improvement projects...

Today's Teamster News 09.17.13

Lincare Drivers Join the Teamsters Union   teamster.org   ...Drivers with Lincare Inc. in Marlborough, Mass., voted unanimously on Sept. 16 ...

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