Posts tagged Pension
Opinion: Collective Manipulation; Whether in courts or in legislatures, public employee unions need to be reined in.
February 22, 2023 // The book contains countless examples of collective bargaining agreements effectively allowing employees to get away with gross misconduct and preventing managers from sanctioning them for lackluster work. An EPA employee was caught surfing porn in his cubicle at work and was paid for nearly two years before agreeing to retire. An IRS agent systematically denied benefits to African immigrants, repeatedly made discriminatory remarks in the office, and tried to run another employee off the road. His union lawyers got him a deal that left him with a clean personnel record when he left the agency, allowing him to get a job with the Forestry Service. “As a practical matter,” Howard writes, “almost no public employee can be dismissed without a massive managerial commitment,” and even that commitment does not guarantee success. California has 300,000 teachers and only about two or three a year lose their jobs because of poor performance. At the federal level, more employees die at work than face termination for poor performance. Public sector unions provide more than direct financial contributions to political campaigns. Howard recounts how they recruit and train candidates, manage phone banks, lead door-to-door canvassing drives, staff campaigns, and run ads. Such union political activity makes them larger and more influential than other political interest groups. The protracted legal battles former Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker faced after he proposed reining in public-union power supports Howard’s thesis that union power is formidable. Walker beat a union-led recall effort against him, but union opposition to modest changes led to electoral annihilation in New Jersey in the 1990s.
Union representing Disney World employees urging workers to reject company’s latest wage offer
January 31, 2023 // Disney spokesperson said, "This very strong offer provides our Cast Members with a nearly 10% average increase immediately and guaranteed raises for the next four years with every single non-tipped Cast Member promised at least a $20 starting wage during the contract, and the majority seeing a 33% to 46% increase during that time." All six unions representing workers in the Service Trades Council Union (STCU) are recommending that members vote no on Disney's contract proposal to keep fighting for a better pay rate.
Flanked by Union Allies, Biden Touts $36 Billion Pension Bailout
December 9, 2022 // President Joe Biden announced a $36 billion bailout for the Central States Pension Fund, one of the nation’s biggest multi-employer plans, touting the help for union workers and retirees as he looks to mend ties with organized labor after a contentious rail deal.
After Unionizing And Picketing, Senate Cafeteria Workers Secure $20 Minimum Wage And Benefits
October 24, 2022 // Cafeteria workers at the U.S. Senate have ratified their first contract, securing a $20 per hour minimum wage and benefits like pension contributions and affordable platinum-level health insurance with coverage for family members. The workers are organized with UNITE HERE Local 23. The union’s contract with the workers’ employer, Restaurant Associates, went into effect Tuesday and will remain in effect until Sept. 30, 2026.
Hundreds of Teamsters on strike against food distribution company Sysco Boston
October 3, 2022 // In a statement, Sysco said they did offer a wage increase of 25% over the life of the contract and more health care options at lower costs. The company said the union declared a strike without allowing workers to vote on the offer. "The work stoppage at Sysco Boston is unnecessary and union leaders have taken this action with little regard for the damage it will cause to our associates and our customers. Sysco Boston is willing to continue to bargain to reach a resolution," a company spokesperson wrote.
Report: Kroger eyes possibility of Ohio employee strike
September 19, 2022 // "It's business as usual at Kroger. A strike authorization doesn't mean a strike. Associates should continue to report to work as scheduled." WBNS also quoted the Kroger statement as saying: "The fully recommended agreement on our last best and final offer showed our commitment to the whole person, providing wage increases, high-quality, affordable health care, and a pension benefit for retirement.
St. Louis Machinists union members vote to strike Boeing Aug.1
July 25, 2022 // IAM workers are one of the biggest trade unions in the U.S. and Canada. There are about 600,000 active and retired members in the aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, transit, healthcare, and other sectors. IAM District 837 members make and manufacture the world’s top weapons and military aircraft, like F-15, F-18, and others. St. Louis, St. Charles, and Mascoutah, Illinois. International Association of Machinists and Aerospace (IAM) District 837
‘We want to be able to survive’: Atlantic City casino workers to strike over wages
June 29, 2022 // According to the union, the Borgata could lose an estimated $1.6m a day if workers strike, and Caesars, Tropicana, and Harrah’s could lose an additional $1m a day combined from a strike, hitting the casinos ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, historically one of the busiest times of the year. Irina Sanchez, housekeeper, Jeff Payne, Caesars Hotel, Caesars, Harrah’s, Tropicana, Borgata, Hard Rock, Laurel Lounge, Al Kare, Ruth Ann Joyce,
UPS, pilots union strike deal on two-year labor contract extension
June 17, 2022 // The pilots union’s leadership is giving “an unqualified recommendation for ratification” of the tentative agreement by rank-and-file members, after the executive board unanimously approving and endorsed the deal. If approved, the contract that originally ran through Sept. 1, 2023 would be extended for another two years to Sept. 1, 2025. Atlanta Journal Constitution, Kelly Yamanouchi,
Feds want up to 18 months in prison for ex-state Sen. Thomas Cullerton in Teamsters ghost payrolling scheme
June 15, 2022 // The prosecution memo also revealed for the first time that after he was fired by Coli, Cullerton “went on to get another do-nothing job” with a video gaming company that made him the company’s only salaried salesman, working first for $1,000 a week, which was later doubled to $2,000 a week. “Even though his salary was doubled by the video gaming company, Cullerton brought in little if any business for the video gaming company,” the memo stated. “He was kept on their payroll only until the current investigation went overt.” The charges against Cullerton came three days after Coli pleaded guilty to extortion charges and agreed to cooperate with federal authorities. Jason Meisner, District Judge Robert Gettleman, Independent Review Board, Alex Pissios, Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, village president, Villa Park