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Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Why It's Time to Retire the 401(k)
By Stephen Gandel
Retiree Robert Shively spends his days on the golf course. For many, that would be a dream come true, but not quite in the way Shively does it. The 68-year-old is the cart mechanic at the Niagara Falls Country Club.
Two and a half decades ago, his then employer, Occidental Petroleum Corp., cut its traditional defined pension plan in favor of a 401(k)-type system. So instead of getting a guaranteed pension check of $1,308 a month for his 36 years as a full-time, salaried employee, the former chemical-factory worker receives $225 a month from his 13 years as an hourly employee, plus $180.16 a month from a profit-sharing plan Oxy had for salaried employees until 1994. He also has $70,000 left of the money he saved from his tax-deferred 401(k). On the days he works, Shively rises at 5 a.m. to get to the golf course. He mostly enjoys the job. But on tournament mornings, he has to be at the course at 4 a.m. A few years ago the country club switched from gas to electric carts, some of which have four 84-lb. batteries each. Every year, Shively and another worker have to lift out all the batteries and store them for winter. "Your body aches all over," he says.
Read more
Retiree Robert Shively spends his days on the golf course. For many, that would be a dream come true, but not quite in the way Shively does it. The 68-year-old is the cart mechanic at the Niagara Falls Country Club.
Two and a half decades ago, his then employer, Occidental Petroleum Corp., cut its traditional defined pension plan in favor of a 401(k)-type system. So instead of getting a guaranteed pension check of $1,308 a month for his 36 years as a full-time, salaried employee, the former chemical-factory worker receives $225 a month from his 13 years as an hourly employee, plus $180.16 a month from a profit-sharing plan Oxy had for salaried employees until 1994. He also has $70,000 left of the money he saved from his tax-deferred 401(k). On the days he works, Shively rises at 5 a.m. to get to the golf course. He mostly enjoys the job. But on tournament mornings, he has to be at the course at 4 a.m. A few years ago the country club switched from gas to electric carts, some of which have four 84-lb. batteries each. Every year, Shively and another worker have to lift out all the batteries and store them for winter. "Your body aches all over," he says.
Read more
Monday, December 28, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Elected 2009 Scrooge of the Year
By jwjnational, on December 21st, 2009
The Chamber’s narrow, radical agenda advocating for anti-worker, profit-focused solutions to the broken health care, labor, and environmental systems garnered them the most votes for the national Jobs with Justice “Scrooge of the Year” award.
Thousands of votes were cast in the Jobs with Justice annual contest to determine which greedy, cold-hearted organization or person deserves the title “Scrooge of the Year.” Voters chose the Chamber of Commerce as their winner this year as it’s became increasingly clear that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has developed into a front group for a few narrow interests, not a membership association that represents the voice of mainstream American businesses. The Chamber has spent millions of dollars lobbying against legislation that would benefit workers and families like the Employee Free Choice Act, health insurance reform, paid sick days, and environmental regulations. Their extreme positions have led some companies and local chapters of the Chamber to disaffiliate from the national group.
READ MORE
The Chamber’s narrow, radical agenda advocating for anti-worker, profit-focused solutions to the broken health care, labor, and environmental systems garnered them the most votes for the national Jobs with Justice “Scrooge of the Year” award.
Thousands of votes were cast in the Jobs with Justice annual contest to determine which greedy, cold-hearted organization or person deserves the title “Scrooge of the Year.” Voters chose the Chamber of Commerce as their winner this year as it’s became increasingly clear that the U.S. Chamber of Commerce has developed into a front group for a few narrow interests, not a membership association that represents the voice of mainstream American businesses. The Chamber has spent millions of dollars lobbying against legislation that would benefit workers and families like the Employee Free Choice Act, health insurance reform, paid sick days, and environmental regulations. Their extreme positions have led some companies and local chapters of the Chamber to disaffiliate from the national group.
READ MORE
Monday, December 14, 2009
What FedEx Is Not Telling You About The U.S. Chamber Of Commerce
Chamber of Commerce: Out of Touch with the Public
by Seth Michaels, Sep 30, 2009
Here’s a proposal that makes sense: The Obama administration wants to set up a consumer financial protection agency to oversee the financial markets and make sure working families aren’t the victims of predatory lending, abusive credit card practices and the kind of irresponsibility and greed that have caused our economic crisis.
But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is putting its big bucks into preventing creation of any agency that would hold financial institutions accountable.
Earlier this month, the Chamber announced it would spend $2 million on an ad campaign opposing a consumer protection agency, and it has taken the lead in lobbying Congress to prevent new rules for our financial system.
READ MORE CLICK HERE
by Seth Michaels, Sep 30, 2009
Here’s a proposal that makes sense: The Obama administration wants to set up a consumer financial protection agency to oversee the financial markets and make sure working families aren’t the victims of predatory lending, abusive credit card practices and the kind of irresponsibility and greed that have caused our economic crisis.
But the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is putting its big bucks into preventing creation of any agency that would hold financial institutions accountable.
Earlier this month, the Chamber announced it would spend $2 million on an ad campaign opposing a consumer protection agency, and it has taken the lead in lobbying Congress to prevent new rules for our financial system.
READ MORE CLICK HERE
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Teamsters Protect Canadian FedEx Workers
At the beginning of this organizing campaign the Teamsters promised that if any FedEx worker faced threats or intimidation as a result of his/her participation and/or support of the organizing drive we would file the appropriate charges against FedEx.
Accordingly, on December the 3rd, 2009 the Union felt that the company had broken Canadian Law by violating certain employee’s right to association and by doing so felt compelled to file Unfair Labour Practice charges against FedEx.
You can view the charges that were filed by clicking here.
Accordingly, on December the 3rd, 2009 the Union felt that the company had broken Canadian Law by violating certain employee’s right to association and by doing so felt compelled to file Unfair Labour Practice charges against FedEx.
You can view the charges that were filed by clicking here.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Organizing Meeting At Local 952
DATE: SUNDAY, DEC.13,2009
TIME: 8:30-11:00 A.M.
PLACE: TEAMSTERS LOCAL 952
140 S. MARKS WAY, ORANGE
THE TIME TO ORGANIZE IS NOW!
TIME: 8:30-11:00 A.M.
PLACE: TEAMSTERS LOCAL 952
140 S. MARKS WAY, ORANGE
THE TIME TO ORGANIZE IS NOW!
Sunday, December 6, 2009
From Our FedEx Coworkers Website
Dear FedEx Coworker,
Please find attached letter that was sent to Senate majority and minority leaders by 35 Senators requesting to move the FAA reauthorization bill forward in the Senate. This is a great thing for us at FedEx Express as we await the US Senate's action on this bill. In concert or in response the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the FAA Reauthorization Bill on December 10th. We believe this is encouraging and serves to show that the process is still in motion for us. All of this activity will help in moving this bill one step closer to action on the Senate floor.
As we continue to look forward to passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill and eventual insertion of our Express Carrier Employee Protection language into the final bill it is imperative that we keep our coworkers informed of this progress and continue to sign our Express Carrier Employee Protection support cards. Signing these cards and returning them to Washington, D.C. will have great impact on our passage of our legislation. Don't let it be said that we did not help ourselves in the passage of our own legislation. Even though it seems like our legislators are moving ever so slowly, do not be discouraged. The passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill with our language contained will be a great victory for us, the workforce at FedEx Express and serve to reinstate our full rights to pursue our union. There are also items being considered by the National Mediation Board that could help all airline workers in their organizing efforts in the future.
Fraternally,
Your Organizing Committee for Change at FedEx Express
Please find attached letter that was sent to Senate majority and minority leaders by 35 Senators requesting to move the FAA reauthorization bill forward in the Senate. This is a great thing for us at FedEx Express as we await the US Senate's action on this bill. In concert or in response the Senate Finance Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the FAA Reauthorization Bill on December 10th. We believe this is encouraging and serves to show that the process is still in motion for us. All of this activity will help in moving this bill one step closer to action on the Senate floor.
As we continue to look forward to passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill and eventual insertion of our Express Carrier Employee Protection language into the final bill it is imperative that we keep our coworkers informed of this progress and continue to sign our Express Carrier Employee Protection support cards. Signing these cards and returning them to Washington, D.C. will have great impact on our passage of our legislation. Don't let it be said that we did not help ourselves in the passage of our own legislation. Even though it seems like our legislators are moving ever so slowly, do not be discouraged. The passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill with our language contained will be a great victory for us, the workforce at FedEx Express and serve to reinstate our full rights to pursue our union. There are also items being considered by the National Mediation Board that could help all airline workers in their organizing efforts in the future.
Fraternally,
Your Organizing Committee for Change at FedEx Express
Friday, December 4, 2009
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