NMB Orders Union Vote For American Airlines Agents

In a big victory for Democracy and the Right to Vote, the National Mediation Board (NMB) last week decided to move forward with the Union Representation Election for nearly 10,000 American Airlines Agents - despite the carrier's efforts to block the Vote.  "It is the NMB's long-standing policy consistent with (existing law) to resolve representation disputes as expeditiously as possible," wrote NMB General Counsel Mary Johnson. "The Board notes that as a result of American's Motion, the processing of this representation case has already been delayed for four weeks."  Voting begins on June 21st and ends on August 2nd, when at that time the votes will be tallied a NMB Offices.  The NMB ruling arrived just as the Communication Workers of America (CWA) turned up the heat on Congress, launching an on-line and print ad campaign labeling airline unAmerican for trying to prevent the election and building support on Capitol Hill.  Agents and CWA Supporters held a briefing for Congressional Staff and Agents Rosemary Capasso and Freddy Lopez laid out American Airlines' plans to stop Workers from voting.  "American Airlines has been using stall and deceptive tactics to deny our right to Vote," said Capasso, who has been fighting to organize for 15 years. Lopez said the Airline "is trying to slow down the election so it can get rid of us. Every cargo station will be outsourced" and jobs lost, he said, calling on members of Congress to "help us."  American Airlines has been doing everything it can think of - both legal and illegal - to stop agents from exercising their legal right to a Union Representation Vote. The Airline repeatedly refused to turn over the list of Agents, violating a direct order from the NMB. The latest outrage was a lawsuit filed by the Company on May 2nd, in which American Airlines is seeking to substitute its own judgment for that of Congress, so it can stop Passenger Service Agents from having a Union Voice.  Leading members of the House and Senate, including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Ranking Committee Members George Miller and Nick Rahall, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Committee Chairmen John Rockefeller and Tom Harkin, and members of the Illinois Delegation all have called on American Airlines CEO Thomas Horton to obey the law and stop blocking Workers' Right to Vote in a Democratic Union Election.  And the Justice Department had sought to have the American Airlines Suit dismissed, noting that the NMB has broad discretion in ordering representation elections.

CWA: We Can't Allow The 1% To Set Our Public And Economic Policy

In the Wisconsin Recall Election, Democrats gained control of the State Senate for the first time since Republican Governor Scott Walker took office.  Though Voters failed to recall the Governor himself, there's now a firewall to block his divisive, Anti-Worker Agenda.  CWA Members and Leaders in Wisconsin did amazing work, a model for political work going forward. Hundreds of CWAers from 11 States provided critical support, calling Wisconsin Members so CWA's State Activists could focus on worksite and other turnout activity. CWA Volunteers made 9,000 phone calls and 10,000 robo-calls in the days leading up to the election.  There were worksite contacts and Get-Out-The-Vote efforts that lasted long into Tuesday's election night.  In Racine, Democrat John Lehman was able to topple Republican Van Wanggaard in their tight race for the 21st Senate Seat.  Unfortunately, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett couldn't compete with millions of dollars being spent to support Walker and stop Workers from having Bargaining Rights. The Election results demonstrated once again the reach of the 1% into nearly every aspect of Americans' Economic and Political Lives. And it was more proof that the Supreme Court's Citizens United ruling, which allows unfettered Corporate Spending in Elections, has dramatically tipped the balance of power in U.S. Politics.  Right Wing Billionaires dumped $40 million into a sophisticated ground campaign as well as paid media, overwhelmingly outspending Workers. The Republicans outspent the Democrats 7-to-1 in this Recall Campaign. Just three donors to the Walker campaign provided him with $3 million - more than Barrett's entire campaign fund.  "We are now the only democracy in the world with that kind of unregulated spending, that at this point is obscene," said CWA President Larry Cohen on "The War Room with Jennifer Granholm." "And there is no other word for it."  Working People will never have Economic and Social Justice if the Country continues to allow big money to flood the political system. To go deeper, Workers need to invigorate a renewed progressive movement - in workplaces, in the streets and at the ballot box - to start to reverse results like those in Wisconsin.  "We need to fight for our basic values and link the fight to restore our Democracy to those values," Cohen wrote in a letter to CWA Local Presidents. "Our fight for secure jobs and Fair Trade, Health Care Coverage for all, Retirement Security and most importantly Bargaining and Organizing Rights cannot appear to be just for us, but a renewed commitment to fight for all of us. Our commitment to getting the big money out of politics and reversing Citizens United, reforming the Senate rules, stopping State Legislation that is intended to hold down voter turnout and supporting Immigrants with a path to legalization so they can join us in this fight are all directly linked to our economic issues."

New Mexico: Three CWA-Backed Candidates Win Primaries

New Mexico's Democratic Primary saw some great victories and a few tough losses for CWA-Endorsed Candidates.  Democratic U.S. Representative Martin Heinrich, son of an IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) Llineman and a Factory Worker, won his party's nomination for the State's open Senate seat, which now is held by retiring Democrat Jeff Bingaman.  Two of the five endorsed candidates in Democratic Legislative Primaries - Christine Trujillo in House District 25 and Maxine Velasquez in Senate District 30 - won their races.  But Bernalillo County Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham narrowly edged out CWA-backed State Senator Eric Griego in a close Democratic Primary in New Mexico's 1st District.  Working Families of New Mexico - a new progressive coalition of community organizations including CWA New Mexico, other Labor Unions and Progressive Activists - came together only a few short months ago.  Candidates that earned the Coalition's support had demonstrated the bold, uncompromising vision that the country and New Mexico need for the future.  Rallying behind Griego and the five legislative candidates, Working Families of New Mexico knocked on doors, made phone calls, and had one on one conversation with more than 11,000 Voters.  The Coalition also produced radio ads and direct mail outreach.  "I know that our coalition will continue to grow, bring in more Members and be a powerful voice for the heart of New Mexico: Working Families," said Tomas Garduno of New Mexico New Majority.  CWA New Mexico is now gearing up for the general election fight.  "We're confident, that with our electoral activism, on November Seventh, New Mexico will have a stronger Pro-Labor, Progressive Caucus at the State Level and strong leaders in the U.S. House and Senate," said Miles Conway, Political Director for CWA New Mexico.

New Jersey State Workers Ratify Contract

CWA New Jersey State Workers last week overwhelmingly ratified their contract.  Following a year-long fight with the most Anti-Union Governor in the history of their agreement, Workers successfully preserved the integrity and enforceability of decades of Collective Bargaining.  Republican Governor Chris Christie's Administration had sought more than 90 concessions from Union Workers, eliminating significant chunks of their contract.  But last month CWA Members negotiated a four-year agreement that maintains contract language protections, reduces Clothing Maintenance Allowances and recognizes a new law governing Health Care, among other provisions.  A year ago, thousands of Union Workers marched on Trenton after Christie pushed through legislation to remove Health Care Benefits from the bargaining table.  In an interview in The Philadelphia Inquirer, CWA New Jersey Director Hetty Rosenstein linked the attacks on Workers' Rights in Wisconsin and New Jersey: "I think that the politics that drive Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker are the same politics that are in operation in New Jersey, but we were able to engage in Collective Bargaining. It was a very tough contract, but we did it.  Walker is seeking to destroy Collective Bargaining."

Votes To Be Counted At GE Plant In Iowa

General Electric (GE) Workers at an Iowa Switchgear Plant voted in early April on IUE (International Union of Electricians)-CWA Representation.  Soon, they'll finally learn the results of that vote, as the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ordered the votes to be counted.  The NLRB had impounded the ballots as GE contested the election to block the NLRB's determination about the make-up of the Bargaining Unit.  The Board had determined that the Voting Unit should include 170 Workers from Seven Departments (Materials, Fabrication, Assembly, Quality, Facilities, Environmental Health and Safety, and lean Manufacturing) at the West Burlington Factory.  GE wanted to pad the unit with 27 more Workers.  Just two years ago, the Company threatened to close the Plant, but Production and Maintenance Workers agreed to drastic pay cuts to keep it running.  Then, as an added incentive to stay, GE received thousands of dollars in financial support from Local Governments.  The Workers' goals include a Competitiveness and Job Growth Committee that will work with the Company on bringing new products and new Jobs to the Plant, and a Health and Safety Committee.

A Petition To Make Labor Organizing A Civil Right

Should Labor Organizing be a Civil Right?  The authors of a book answering that very question - Why Labor Organizing Should Be a Civil Right: Rebuilding a Middle-Class Democracy by Enhancing Worker Voice - are now petitioning the Democratic Party to make it a platform issue.  Recognizing declining Union Density, shrinking Middle Class and America's weak Labor Laws, Richard D. Kahlenberg and Moshe Z. Marvit argue for reform that recognizes the Civil Right to form or join a Union.  "This Legislation would provide Anti-Discrimination Protection to Workers trying to organize a Union akin to those provided under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act to protect against discrimination based on Race, Sex, Religion, and National Origin," says the petition. "This change would give Workers ‘real’ rights and remedies in exercising their right to have a ‘Voice’ in the workplace, would diminish Employers' violation of currently weak Labor Laws, and would finally recognize what most Americans already believe: It is an individual's civil right to join or organize a union, and they should not be fired for exercising that right."  Sign it here.

Dunkin' Donuts Workers At New York's Penn Station Join TNG-CWA

If you're passing through New York's Penn Station, be sure to stop for a doughnut with the Union Label - specifically The Newspaper Guild-CWA.  The Guild's New York Local now represents Workers at two, soon to be three, new Dunkin' Donuts shops that are located inside Hudson News stores at Penn Station.  For more than 10 years, the Local has represented Hudson News Retail Workers at Penn Station and other locations in New York City.  Because e-readers and other digital media are cutting into sales of magazines and newspapers, Hudson Management decided to turn some of their space into Dunkin' Donuts outlets.  New York Guild Leaders heard rumors about the combined stores last year and laid the groundwork to ensure that TNG-CWA would represent the Dunkin' Employees.  "We had a meeting with Hudson about it and they said, 'Yes,’ they would be willing to negotiate those jobs under our existing contract," said New York Guild President Bill O'Meara, adding that he believes the new Members are the only Unionized Dunkin' Donuts Workers in the United States.  The Guild has built a positive relationship with Hudson News, which Managers acknowledged when it came to discussing the Dunkin' Donuts Workers, he said.  The new combination stores at Penn Station are just the first for Hudson's New York Group, with the potential for dozens more, O'Meara said.  Sixty people have been hired already for the first two stores.  Like Hudson's Guild-represented Employees, the Dunkin' Donuts Workers are fully covered by the Union Contract and are accruing vacation and sick leave, have access to Medical Plans and to CWA's 401(k) plan.  Bargaining begins this Summer for a new contract for all the Hudson-Dunkin' Workers.  Read more about the Dunkin' deal on the TNG-CWA website at www.NewsGuild.org.

June 22nd Is Day Of Action For Verizon And Verizon Wireless Workers

Join thousands of Union Members and Community Partners in National Day of Action for Verizon Workers on June 22nd.  Activists again will protest the Telecommunications Giant's insatiable greed.  Verigreedy Verizon is a $100 billion company that has made tens of billions in profits, but when it comes to the 45,000 Workers who made the Verizon's success possible, suddenly it cries broke.  In addition to sky-high Executive Salaries, the average Verizon Board Member is paid about $230,000 - that's three times the salary of a top, full-time Verizon Worker with years of experience.  Meanwhile, Verizon continues to demand big cuts in compensation from workers.  Check out www.unityatverizon.com for the latest on June 22nd events.

GOP Senators Block Paycheck Fairness Act

Republican Senators this week blocked a bill aimed at closing the wage gap between Men and Women.  The Paycheck Fairness Act - a measure that would bolster protections for Women who share salary information with their colleagues or sue their Employees for Gender-Based Wage Discrimination - failed to earn the 60 votes needed to break the GOP Filibuster.  The final party-line vote was 52-to-47.  The Legislation has been stuck in the House for more than a decade, as Women still only earn 77 cents for each $1 earned by Men.  "In 1963 we made fifty-nine cents for every dollar that men made. Now its seventy-seven cents," U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (Democrat-Maryland), the Bill's chief sponsor, according to The Washington Post. "What does that mean?  It means every five years we make an advancement of one penny.  Oh no.  No more.  We're not just going to take it anymore."