News for today's 2018

Today's Teamster News 11.04.13

4:06 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://inthesetimes.com/working/entry/15809/osha_weaknesses_force_workers_to_choose_report_safety_violations_or_keep_th/" rel="nofollow">OSHA Weaknesses Force Workers to Choose: Report Safety Violations, or Keep Their Jobs?</a>  In These Times   ... the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) inspects only 1 percent of workplaces in the United States in a given year. In the absence of inspections, that means more of the burden to report safety abuses falls on individual workers themselves. However, the CEG study shows that due to weak protection laws, many workers find themselves choosing between reporting a safety violation and keeping their jobs—creating a vicious cycle that can lead to workers too fearful to report potentially deadly workplace hazards... <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/19786-state-department-apologizes-for-calling-unionization-a-security-threat" rel="nofollow">State Department Apologizes for Calling Unionization a Security Threat </a> truthout   ...at a private meeting with labor groups earlier this month, the State Department opened the door to collective bargaining by workers who perform critical services for the American government overseas... <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2483652/William-Gross-Californian-billionaire-apologizes-wealth-accumulated-workers-expense.html" rel="nofollow">Billionaire apologizes for wealth he accumulated 'at expense of workers' and says rich should pay more taxes</a>  Daily Mail   ...‘Congratulations. Smoke that cigar, enjoy that Chateau Lafite 1989. But (mostly you guys) acknowledge your good fortune at having been born in the '40s, '50s or '60s ... and having had the privilege of riding a credit wave and a credit boom for the past three decades,’ he writes... <a href="http://www.greens.org/s-r/60/60-06.html" rel="nofollow">Inside the Psyche of the 1%</a>  Synthesis/Regeneration   ...Do the rich and super-rich tend to be psychopaths, devoid of guilt or shame? Are the 1% lacking in compassion? Does their endless accumulation of possessions actually bring them little to no happiness? To each of these, the answer is “yes”—but a very qualified “yes” with lots of subtleties... <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/citi-rich-families-are-hoarding-cash-2013-11" rel="nofollow">CITI: Rich Families Are Hoarding Cash</a>  CNBC   ...A new survey of family offices by Citi finds that the wealthy are cash heavy—meaning they may fall short of the investment returns they're expecting... <a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/02/u-s-food-banks-struggle-to-meet-new-demand-caused-by-food-stamp-cuts/" rel="nofollow">U.S. food banks struggle to meet new demand caused by food stamp cuts</a>  Raw Story   ...37 million Americans were reliant on food banks to meet their nutritional needs in 2010, up from 25 million in 2006. The numbers have only grown through the recession brought on the deregulation of the financial markets and cuts to social programs... <a href="http://angrybearblog.com/2013/11/another-congressman-and-stunning-subsidies-to-his-district.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Hzoh+%28angrybearblog.com%29" rel="nofollow">Another Congressman and stunning subsidies to his district</a>  Angry Bear   ...AB had a post on Congressman Steve King, an advocate of austerity and shut down yet received $9.17 billion in subsidies 1995-2012 for his district without offering cut backs for his district to share the sacrifices needed for austerity... <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/koch-brothers-harry-belafonte-ku-klux-klan-99282.html" rel="nofollow">Koch brothers slam Harry Belafonte’s Ku Klux Klan remark</a>  Politico   ...“Already we have lost 14 states in this union to the most corrupt group of citizens I’ve ever known,” Belafonte said at the First Corinthian Baptist Church, according to Capital New York. “They make up the heart and the thinking in the minds of those who would belong to the Ku Klux Klan. They are white supremacists... <a href="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=10952" rel="nofollow">Colombian Farmers and Union Activists Under Attack</a>  The Real News   ...In Colombia terror is systematically used as a weapon for social oppression, violence against farmers and unions continues; and while President Santos allowed protests, there are still scars of Uribe government’s alleged violence and ties to paramilitary organizations... <a href="http://jerseyjazzman.blogspot.com/2013/11/exclusive-govchristie-to-teacher-i-am.html" rel="nofollow">EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: @GovChristie to Teacher: "I Am Tired Of You People!"</a>  Jersey Jazzman   ...Is it not obvious that there has been an enormous amount of frustration and anger building up over Chris Christie's condescension toward teachers, parents, and students?...

OSHA Weaknesses Force Workers to Choose: Report Safety Violations, or Keep Their Jobs? In These Times ... the Occupational Safety and He...

Former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal endorses NJ Gov. Chris Christie

5:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

Former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal endorses NJ Gov. Chris Christie

2013 gubernatorial election Aaron Blake Chris Christie Lynn R. Mitchell Real Clear Politics Shaquille O'Neal Washington Post Former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal endorses NJ Gov. Chris Christie

"I don't endorse many politicians. But Chris Christie is different." In a television ad endorsing New Jersey Governor Chris Ch...

NJ Gov. Christie: misclassifying workers is okay

11:36 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hj4QWGaEdz1D-ykDPYklBMpW9eIV_M58eMy2EY41Ejc2Tf0r_uDjACQzz_ZRRPZCjdYkox65doFKNTWokWsxPD6C_k_GXS_wFzLKu2e3NNvpklnto_CZENTTfpHepYKE4l6cC_YP0Dg1/s1600/misclassification.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7hj4QWGaEdz1D-ykDPYklBMpW9eIV_M58eMy2EY41Ejc2Tf0r_uDjACQzz_ZRRPZCjdYkox65doFKNTWokWsxPD6C_k_GXS_wFzLKu2e3NNvpklnto_CZENTTfpHepYKE4l6cC_YP0Dg1/s1600/misclassification.jpg" /></a></div>This week New Jersey Gov. <a href="http://wepartypatriots.com/wp/2013/09/11/gov-christie-delivers-one-two-punch-to-the-gut-of-nj-construction-workers/" rel="nofollow">Chris Christie vetoed a bill</a> that would have helped the state crack down on the misclassification of workers in the trucking industry. By killing the <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/05/woot-nj-senate-approves.html">legislation</a> (A1578/S1450), Christie gave his blessing to employers that deny basic employee rights to port truck drivers and cheat the state out of tax revenues through willful and widespread misclassification. Teamsters International Vice President <a href="http://www.teamster.org/sites/teamster.org/files/91013A1578VetoCoalitionStatementdocs.pdf" rel="nofollow">Fred Potter said in a statement</a>: <blockquote class="tr_bq">Governor Christie has demonstrated time after time that he does not care about New Jersey’s working families. He is leaving New Jersey behind by doing the bidding for law‐breaking trucking companies that willfully misclassify drivers to avoid paying employer taxes and to push the most basic cost of doing business onto the workforce.</blockquote>The problem of misclassification in the trucking industry is <a href="http://nelp.3cdn.net/000beaf922628dfea1_cum6b0fab.pdf" rel="nofollow">well-documented</a>. It's part of an industry-wide effort to keep workers out of the middle class so companies can rake in more profit. But it's also a problem that -- thanks in part to <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/teamsters-fight-misclassification.html">Teamster action</a> -- is finally being addressed in many states. The <a href="http://cleanandsafeports.org/new-yorknew-jersey/about-the-campaign/" rel="nofollow">Coalition for Healthy Ports</a> points out: <blockquote class="tr_bq">Across America, the trucking industry is being modernized as states crack down on the misclassification of truck drivers. A worker misclassification law was recently signed in Illinois and another one is expected to be signed in New York.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">And port truck drivers are not waiting for new laws to assert their rights as employees. In California over 500 claims have been filed with the CA Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (CA DLSE) by port truck drivers who say their companies have misclassified them. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">At a time when so many agencies and Legislatures are moving in the right direction on worker misclassification, Governor Christie’s veto is in the wrong direction.</blockquote>Thousands of port truck drivers in the U.S. are wrongly classified as owner-operators. Drivers are often required to buy or lease their own trucks from companies and pay for their upkeep. But they are denied "employee" status despite the fact that the companies control their compensation and regulate their work. This means the workers are not allowed to form a union and the companies avoid paying millions in taxes. <a href="http://www.thenation.com/blog/175424/industry-where-few-workers-are-employees-teamsters-mount-multi-front-attack#" rel="nofollow">Teamsters have been leading</a> the fight for workers' rights and against misclassification in the industry, using lobbying, lawsuits and organizing to bring dignity to drivers. In July, Teamsters successfully organized Toll Group <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/woo-hoo-another-teamster-organizing.html">drivers in New Jersey</a> following an historic organizing victory at <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2012/04/woo-hoo-historic-teamster-organizing.html">Toll in Los Angeles</a>. And just a few weeks ago Teamsters organized a <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/la-port-strike-ends-with-return-to-work.html">powerful one-day strike at the Port of LA</a>. But with anti-worker politicians like Christie at the wheel in New Jersey, there's still a lot of work to do to stop the war on workers in port trucking and beyond. Christie also used this week as an opportunity to <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2013/09/09/chris-christie-no-prevailing-wage-provision-in-tax-incentives-bill/?mod=wsj_streaming_latest-headlines" rel="nofollow">attack workers in the building trades</a> by gutting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prevailing_wage" rel="nofollow">prevailing wage</a> provisions in the New Jersey Economic Opportunity Act of 2013. That's a blow to construction workers whose employers won't be required to pay prevailing wages even while they receive tax credits from the state. The struggle continues.

Chris Christie misclassification New Jersey port drivers prevailing wage NJ Gov. Christie: misclassifying workers is okay

This week New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a bill that would have helped the state crack down on the misclassification of workers in t...

NJ polls: Christie dominates governor's race

11:05 AM Tukiyooo 0

Governor Chris Christie continues to dominate in the polls for New Jersey's 2013 gubernatorial race. <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2013/governor/nj/new_jersey_governor_christie_vs_buono-3411.html">Real Clear Politics</a> took six polls -- <a href="http://www.quinnipiac.edu/institutes-and-centers/polling-institute/new-jersey/release-detail?ReleaseID=1918">Quinnipiac</a>, <a href="http://publicmind.fdu.edu/2013/summercampaigns/">Fairleigh Dickinson</a>, <a href="http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2013/new_jersey/election_2013_new_jersey_governor">Rasmussen Reports</a>, <a href="http://intraweb.stockton.edu/eyos/hughescenter/content/docs/Christie%20leads%20Buono%202013-0615.pdf">Richard Stockton College</a>, <a href="http://www.monmouth.edu/assets/0/84/159/2147483694/3dc2fa01-5d0f-4400-b766-d560177df60e.pdf">Monmouth University</a>, <a href="http://www.rci.rutgers.edu/%7Eredlawsk//EP/Tables2013/GovElectionJune2013.pdf">Rutgers-Eagleton</a> -- and averaged them to show Christie leading 60 percent to 28 percent against Democratic opponent state Senator Barbara Buono. Christie, seeking reelection for a second term, is a well-liked Republican governor in a blue state who has been praised for his <a href="http://vapoliticalpineapple.blogspot.com/2013/06/chris-christie-republican-governors-are.html">leadership in the aftermath</a> of Hurricane Sandy and his <a href="http://vapoliticalpineapple.blogspot.com/2013/05/chris-christie-compromise-is-not-dirty.html">willingness to reach out</a> to President Barack Obama in his search for help.

Barack Obama Barbara Buono Chris Christie Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Quinnipiac Rasmussen poll NJ polls: Christie dominates governor's race

Governor Chris Christie continues to dominate in the polls for New Jersey's 2013 gubernatorial race. Real Clear Politics took six polls...

Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

1:05 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzu6mx_OP-aLZIZi7Ucyom47Zw-LDmp_2YgIElcYCyPc7Si7jGyYwuPbY7epVwA-z9Tck9k2KUuUMK8rKhVVm-qDU8QqbblpuxnMQ5A1Do1fszC1tXWH4sf5Hcd_GEmnWM5fXj2bOqxOT/s1600/2009+McD,+Bolling,+Cooch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzu6mx_OP-aLZIZi7Ucyom47Zw-LDmp_2YgIElcYCyPc7Si7jGyYwuPbY7epVwA-z9Tck9k2KUuUMK8rKhVVm-qDU8QqbblpuxnMQ5A1Do1fszC1tXWH4sf5Hcd_GEmnWM5fXj2bOqxOT/s400/2009+McD,+Bolling,+Cooch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> Attacking Republicans seems to be the sport of the day, not only by Democrats, but also within the Republican Party. Recently, Marco Rubio and Chris Christie were attacked by the right wing of the GOP for not being conservative enough on their policies about immigration and other issues. Now add Bob McDonnell to that list. Conservative bloggers like <a href="http://bearingdrift.com/2013/07/10/on-conservativsm-vs-access/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+bearingdrift+%28Bearing+Drift%29" target="_blank">Willie Deutsch at Bearing Drift</a> have joined with Democratic bloggers in the mindless act of becoming participants in attacking the Virginia Republican Governor. What should be more disconcerting is the effect this circular firing squad will have on GOP gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli who has also been <a href="http://www.c-ville.com/cuccinelli-mcdonnell-and-the-star-scientific-scandal-that-just-keeps-growing/#.Ud68GW2kNRw" target="_blank">caught up in the controversy with his own issue of unreported gifts</a> from Star Scientific and Jonnie Williams. When the far right is done with Bob McDonnell, will they then turn their guns on Cuccinelli? In the words of Richmond Times-Dispatch political writer <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/jeff-schapiro/schapiro-even-mcdonnell-s-friends-bracing-for-the-worst/article_245b13e4-371b-54cc-ab69-08165cdc980b.html">Jeff Schapiro</a>, "... all Democrats have to do is watch a great Republican tradition: cannibalism." The hemorrhaging needs to stop. Interestingly enough, in the shadows away from this controversy stands Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling. The far right had its fair share of attacking him earlier this year by calling him a RINO and questioning his conservative credentials. In hindsight, perhaps Bolling did the wisest thing by stepping aside in this toxic environment. Meanwhile, as Jim Hoeft  <a href="http://vapolitics.us/2013/07/bollings-office-says-business-as-usual/" target="_blank">reported,</a> it's business as usual in the LG's office as he goes about the job of working for the people of Virginia. The LG is also on the minds of the editorial board at Charlottesville's <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bolling-in-shadows-as-mcdonnell-s-star-plunges/article_8311a3ea-e9c3-11e2-833f-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank">Daily Progress</a>, wondering what if concerning Bolling's aborted campaign for Governor. Noting the issues surrounding the Governor, the <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bolling-in-shadows-as-mcdonnell-s-star-plunges/article_8311a3ea-e9c3-11e2-833f-0019bb30f31a.html" target="_blank">Daily Progress</a> wrote: <blockquote>“Much of this has occurred on center stage during a summer that was supposed to have belonged to Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling, a better man who stands in the shadows, cast there by a party that failed him and failed Virginia. Undercut by state GOP leaders whose political IQ’s can only be measured in minuses, Bolling was thrown to the side by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a man with more baggage than Samsonite. Rather than hold a primary to allow voters to select the next Republican candidate for governor, party string-pullers conducted the rough equivalent of a meeting in a smoke-filled room, holding a convention to hand Cuccinelli the nomination. Bolling could have taken his shot in 2009 — surely, he wishes now that he had — but he agreed to stand aside to unify the party, paving the path to McDonnell’s sweeping victory. The idea was that Bolling would wait his turn until 2013. Then along came Cuccinelli. One wonders how strongly the capital’s most powerful Republican stood for the friend who helped him win election. There are apparent prices to be paid for McDonnell’s friendship. Williams is Exhibit A, evidently. That has stirred rumblings about McDonnell’s possible early departure from Richmond. A conservative blogger claimed over the weekend that two sources told him the governor was preparing to resign in a plea deal to avoid ethics charges. McDonnell’s staff quickly denied the rumor. It’s a sign of how deep the governor is in his own mess. Were he to be forced out, moving Bolling into the mansion, Virginia would be served in the interim by a leader superior to the alternatives being offered up for the fall. Perhaps Bolling might gain fuel enough for a write-in run. That might be a dream, but it is far pleasanter than the nightmare now being lived out in the state’s highest office.</blockquote>What the far right's circular firing squad is doing is driving people like Laura Lennox of Richmond to<a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/your-opinion/letters-to-the-editor/article_2d1648dc-9440-5bf3-968b-678c444fd32a.html" target="_blank"> consider a write-in vote for Bill Bolling</a> while others have <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Write-in-Bill-Bolling-for-Virginia-Governor-2013/599114856787021?hc_location=timeline" target="_blank">taken to Facebook.</a> The loser in all this is the Republican Party, both statewide and nationally. Maybe we all need to reconsider the 11th commandment often quoted by Ronald Reagan: Thou shalt not speak ill of another Republican.

Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

Bill Bolling Bob McDonnell Chris Christie Daily Progress facebook Jim Hoeft Lynn R. Mitchell Marco Rubio Virginia Politics On Demand write-in campaign Va Dems circle wagons ... Va Republicans join in circular firing squad

Attacking Republicans seems to be the sport of the day, not only by Democrats, but also within the Republican Party. Recently, Marco Rubio a...

Rubin: 'Maybe Christie got it exactly right in New Jersey'

10:07 AM Tukiyooo 0

The <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2013/06/10/maybe-christie-got-it-exactly-right-in-new-jersey/">Washinton Post's Jennifer Rubin</a> doesn't pull any punches when it comes to tea party criticism of New Jersey Governor Chris Christie: <blockquote>It is fitting, I suppose, that the right-wing screechers have it so wrong again. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is the most popular politician in the country, but they hate him. They have generally fallen for pols who are anathemas to everyone but them (Rick Santorum, Sharron Angle, Richard Mourdock, Todd Aiken), so it make sense that the Republicans who appeal to a wide cross-section of voters are anathemas to the crowd that seeks refuge in policy positions — be it gay marriage or immigration — rejected by so many Americans. It just might be that Christie, who is super-popular in a deep-blue state, understands New Jersey and its voters a tad better than talk-show hosts, junior lawmakers from deep-red locales and right-wing bloggers with fewer readers than there are residents of Newark. They are excoriating Christie for setting the U.S. Senate special election for October rather than holding out until November 2014.</blockquote>Rubin goes on to make the case that a Republican winning the U.S. Senate seat left open by the death of Sen. Frank Lautenberg is a long shot but there are even more reasons for having separate elections, as she lays out in her column. It is easy to get caught up in the anti-Democrat echo chamber but Rubin hits the nail on the head as she concludes: <blockquote>It’s a challenge for any elected Republican to screen out the noise from pundits and far-right lawmakers. But Trenton, in a lot of ways, is far from D.C., and Christie is a confident man. Maybe that is why his staff seems indifferent to the fussing of national right-wing pundits. A Republican doesn’t get to a 20- or 30-point lead in New Jersey by being a sap.</blockquote>

bloggers Chris Christie Jennifer Rubin New Jersey right wing writers Washington Post Rubin: 'Maybe Christie got it exactly right in New Jersey'

The Washinton Post's Jennifer Rubin doesn't pull any punches when it comes to tea party criticism of New Jersey Governor Chris Chri...

Christie appoints NJ Attorney General as temporary replacement for Lautenberg's seat

12:36 PM Tukiyooo 0

Christie appoints NJ Attorney General as temporary replacement for Lautenberg's seat

Attorney General Chris Christie Frank Laudenberg Jeff Chiesa New Jersey U.S. Senate Christie appoints NJ Attorney General as temporary replacement for Lautenberg's seat

The Hill reported Thursday that NJ Governor Chris Christie has made his choice for a temporary replacement to the late Senator Frank Lauten...

Dem Sen. Lautenberg dies at 89 ... will Christie appoint Republican?

10:10 AM Tukiyooo 0

Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/303001-sen-lautenberg-dies-at-age-89">died Monday at the age of 89</a> of viral pneumonia. The oldest member of the Senate, he had served more than 30 years in Congress. <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/floor-action/senate/303001-sen-lautenberg-dies-at-age-89">The Hill</a> reports that Governor Chris Christie can appoint a replacement until a special election is held, and some are speculating whether he will appoint a Republican: <blockquote>According to New Jersey <a href="http://thehill.com/%20http://law.onecle.com/new-jersey/19-elections/3-26.html" target="_blank">election law</a>, Christie may appoint a replacement to temporarily fill Lautenberg's seat until a special election occurs to elect someone to serve out the remainder of Lautenberg's term. Christie may set the date of the special election. It's unclear whether he'll choose to schedule it on the same day as the gubernatorial and state legislative elections on Nov. 5. Setting the special on the same date as the upcoming gubernatorial election could give a boost to a Republican candidate from Christie's coattails, as he's running far ahead of the Democratic candidate for governor and is expected to easily defeat her.</blockquote>Lautenberg's passing offers the opportunity for Christie to appoint a Republican. Virginia conservative radio host <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheJohnFredericksShow?hc_location=stream">John Fredericks</a> speculated on Facebook Monday afternoon that two names Christie may be considering are Sen. Joe Kyrillos, a longtime friend, or Tom Kean, Sr., a former NJ governor.

Dem Sen. Lautenberg dies at 89 ... will Christie appoint Republican?

Chris Christie Frank Lautenberg Joe Kyrillos John Fredericks New Jersey Sr. The Hill tom Kean U.S. Senate Dem Sen. Lautenberg dies at 89 ... will Christie appoint Republican?

Democratic Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey died Monday at the age of 89 of viral pneumonia. The oldest member of the Senate, he had ...

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