Posts tagged Grants
Union Reporting Threshold Threatens Worker Transparency
August 3, 2025 // Another issue is the lack of plain language on the LM 2 forms themselves. For example, they categorize money coming into the union as “receipts” — yet to most union members, a receipt is something someone receives after paying for something. The forms should be at a grade 10 reading level and broken down in one line, a simple explanation
White House eyes big cuts to DOL funding
May 7, 2025 // Outside of DOL, the White House is also seeking to kill the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, an independent agency that is central to Sen. Josh Hawley’s (R-Mo.) union contract bill, as well as the Institute of Museum and Library Services, which is being overseen by Deputy Labor Secretary Keith Sonderling.
Inside The Now-Shuttered Federal Agency Where Employees Lived ‘Like Reigning Kings’
March 20, 2025 // The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) occupied a nine-story office tower on D.C.’s K Street for only 60 employees, many of whom actually worked from home, prior to the pandemic. Its managers had luxury suites with full bathrooms; one manager would often be “in the shower” when she was needed, while another used her bathroom as a cigarette lounge. FMCS recorded its director as being on a years-long business trip to D.C. so he could have all of his meals and living expenses covered by taxpayers, simply for showing up to the office. FMCS is a 230-employee agency that exists to serve as a voluntary mediator between unions and businesses. As an “independent agency,” its director nominally reports to the president, but the agency is so small that in effect, there is no oversight at all
HUD is bracing as DOGE seeks to cut waste, fraud. Union leaders have a suggestion
February 12, 2025 // Last year, AFGE Council 222 filed a complaint with HUD's Inspector General and members of Congress. It said the app made it impossible for HUD to inspect nearly all of its five million housing units across the country every five years, as required by law. There hasn't been much response so far. But Gaines hopes that will change now that DOGE has asked for a review of all contracts.
US Department of Labor announces $12.7M in grants awarded to promote workplace safety, health training, education
September 29, 2023 // Funded through the Susan Harwood Training Grant Program, the grants are being awarded in three categories, namely Targeted Topic Training, Training and Educational Materials Development and Capacity Building grants. "The award of Susan Harwood Training Grants remind us of Dr. Harwood's important contributions to making our nation's workplaces safer and healthier for countless U.S. workers," said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su. "Dr. Harwood's dedication to educating workers and employers continues to inspire those of us at the Department of Labor and those whose organizations will use these grants to help save lives."
Fire Fighters’ union stops taking millions from muscular dystrophy charity
September 7, 2022 // The change also coincides with new leadership at IAFF, after long-time President Harold Schaitberger declined to run for re-election amid an on-going federal investigation into an alleged union pension scheme. Edward Kelly, the IAFF’s secretary-treasurer during the years IAFF took millions from the charity, was elected union president, but not before facing a challenger who pledged to cease accepting so much money from the charity. Mahlon Mitchell, Greg Markley,
Pro-shutdown teachers union bosses raked in $200K during pandemic
July 12, 2022 // The top officials at Education Minnesota, the state teachers union, each made over $200,000 while advocating for school and business closures during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to filings with the U.S. Department of Labor, President Denise Specht made $211,639 between Sept. 1, 2020 and August 31, 2021. Her vice president and treasurer each made $216,000. More than 80 Education Minnesota employees made over $100,000 during the same time period, the filing shows. Several of these employees are only described as “field staff” on the Department of Labor filing. Gov. Tim Walz,
Op-Ed: Government unions divert dues to leftist politics
May 29, 2022 // According to the most recent LM-2 form submitted by the NEA to the Internal Revenue Service, the union raked in a staggering $377 million in dues and agency fees during 2021 alone. Of that total, however, only $32 million was earmarked for representational activity — ostensibly the NEA’s top priority.
Teachers union spends more on Dem causes than its own members, analysis finds
April 13, 2022 // According to data compiled by Americans for Fair Treatment, 17.6% of the NEA's spending went to political activities and lobbying, with just 8.6% going to representational activity. Political activities also accounted for more spending than employee benefits, which made up 15.1% of the organization's expenditures.
Smith’s strike averted with assist from Mother Nature
February 13, 2022 // Frazier said he believes a 10-day strike in January by Denver-area workers at King Soopers, another Kroger subsidiary, played a major role in the negotiations.