Posts tagged Miami
Despite arrest, corruption charge, Miami police union still all in on Diaz de la Portilla
October 19, 2023 // A month after Miami Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla was arrested on charges of trading a vote for hundreds of thousands of dollars in political donations and gifts, it hasn’t cost him the support of Miami’s men and women in blue. In June, Miami’s Fraternal Order of Police announced it was putting its considerable political heft behind Diaz de la Portilla, a former state representative who was once chosen politician of the year by the union. And Monday — a month after Diaz de la Portilla’s Sept. 14 arrest — the union’s president made it clear that as far as he was concerned, nothing had changed. “There are two kinds of people that are always presumed guilty before innocent, cops and politicians,” said FOP President Felix Del Rosario.
Majority of Miami XPO Logistics Employees Vote to Oust Teamsters Union
June 27, 2023 // Martin Garcia and his coworkers at XPO Logistics’ Hialeah, FL, location have voted to remove Teamsters Local 769 union officials from their workplace. Garcia and his colleagues received free legal assistance in their effort from National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation staff attorneys.
U.S. Independent Professionals Earned $286 Billion in 2022, a Nearly 10% Increase Compared to 2021, According to Fiverr’s Sixth Annual Freelance Economic Impact Report
May 19, 2023 // Women see a clear advantage to freelancing over traditional employment This year’s report reveals that women are pursuing freelance work for a number of reasons, including that they prefer to work from home (41% versus 31% men), want more flexibility in their schedule (39% versus 22% men), feel burned out (25% versus 17% men), want to avoid an unpleasant or toxic work environment (26% versus 15% men), and experience a lack of enjoyment in their work (22% versus 13% men). The ability to “work from anywhere” remains a priority for freelancers and more plan to work and travel next year The ability to “work from anywhere” while traveling is a major factor or somewhat of a factor in the decision for nearly three-in-four (73%) freelancers who work independently to do so. Working remotely while traveling is becoming more common, with one-third (32%) of independent professionals reporting they did at least some work from remote locations in 2022 compared to only 23% in 2021.
Independent workforce climbs as U.S. women leave traditional jobs
May 17, 2023 // The independent professionals in the report are defined as not employing others and working in the following industries: • Professional services, such as legal, accounting and marketing • Skilled technical services, including architecture and computers • Creative services, such as artists and video producers Here's a breakdown of independent professionals and their typical revenue in 2022, based on the study's survey: • Professional, 3.4 million people, with average earnings per hour of $103 • Technical, 1.9 million people, with average earnings per hour of $90 • Creative, 1.4 million people, with average earnings per hour of $71 Despite mounting concerns over the economy, most independent professionals feel financially secure, according to the survey. More than eight in 10 reckon that having multiple sources of income provides a greater level of security than relying on a single employer.
Police union presidential candidate got 20-hour pay suspension after pulling gun while off duty
December 14, 2022 // But early this year, Reyes was the one under investigation. In February, Reyes had his wallet and police badge stolen by a man he met on a dating app in Tallahassee — a man he later pointed a gun at and allegedly forced to the ground. Tallahassee Police's report on the incident was redacted and MPD refused to comment on the ensuing Internal Affairs case. Now, documents obtained by WLRN show Reyes was offered a reduced punishment by the MPD Chief of Police: 20 hours of unpaid suspension, half the amount recommended by IA. One local civil rights attorney believes the decision creates a "bad perception" of the police department. Speaking to WLRN, Reyes insists he had the right to "stand [his] ground" and, having served his suspension, he is now campaigning to maintain his leadership at the FOP against controversial former MPD captain Javier Ortiz.
The Tangled Tale of Miami’s Untouchable Police Union Boss
September 29, 2022 // Ortiz had been with MPD since 2004. Over the course of his career, he received more than 50 citizen complaints, had 20 use of force incidents, and was suspended with pay three times, all the while ascending through the ranks to become an influential police captain. Claims of abuse of power, corruption and prejudice followed the longtime police union leader for years and made him a household name in the Miami area, perhaps more so than any other MPD officer. His career survived multiple internal affairs investigations, which tended to dawdle past their completion deadlines and often yielded no disciplinary action.
Contract Controversy at MIA Escalates Into Court Fight
July 12, 2022 // Elevators, escalators and moving walkways at center of battle over non-union company losing balance of deal to a union shop. But the company terminated by the county, Oracle Elevator, says it was all about the county mayor returning a favor to one of many labor unions that have supported her. Tim Shea, Schindler Elevator, Mayor Daniela Levine Cava, subsidy payments,
Op-ed: Hunter Tower: In Pennsylvania, Janus is more relevant than ever
June 21, 2022 // Government employee unions responded to Janus by adopting a variety of still-being-litigated defensive strategies, including: only processing opt-out requests during a two-week annual window; challenging each request in court, forcing individual workers to battle the union’s well-financed legal team; subjecting union defectors to workplace harassment; and, when all else fails, forging the worker’s signature on membership documents. HB-2042, Charles Lane