Missouri Times
By Collin Reischman
http://themissouritimes.com/1915/union-workers-lobby-lawmakers-against-paycheck-bill/
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Union workers rallied Wednesday against legislation that seeks to limit union rights.
Brooks Sunkett, vice president of the Communication Workers of America, called pending “right to work” legislation an “assault on workers,” and an “all out attack on working families.”
During the rally, the crowd began to chant “Stand Up, Fight Back,” as speakers warned of increasingly “anti-worker” legislation that could weaken unions and lower wages. Attendees at the rally vowed to voice their concerns to their elected officials as well as rally their local communities about politicians who support anti-worker legislation. “Right to work,” prevailing wage changes, and “paycheck protection” were all mentioned as “radical” bills written by “radical” politicians.
Members of the United Auto Workers were busy during the legislative spring break. Representatives from the UAW spent the break knocking on doors, cold-calling, and meeting with their communities to talk about Senate Bill 29, which passed through the Senate just before the break.
SB 29, which supporters call “Paycheck Protection,” would change the way union fees are deducted from public employee paychecks.
UAW workers from the General Motors plant in Wentzville brought a large postcard with more than 100 signatures opposing SB29. The postcard was to be delivered to the office of Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey, but also includes a reference to Sen. Scott Rupp, R-Wentzville. Both Senators have more than 1,300 UAW workers in their district, according David Hurst, president of the Greater Saint Louis UAW Cap Council.
“We want them to understand that we don’t approve of their votes on SB 29,” Hurst said. “They were on break, but we weren’t, we were out talking to our members and getting our message out there.”
Mile Melson, a UAW worker from the Wentzville plant, said “anti-worker” legislation of any kind of was a problem, and called SB 29 a “downgrade” for unions everywhere.
Midwest field communications director for the AFL-CIO Cathy Sherwin said private sector unions would come out in full support of the public sector unions affected by SB 29.
“An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,” she said.
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Friday, March 29, 2013
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Group Wants Senator To Stand Up Against Reductions In Union Rights
From Fox 2 News, St. Louis.
Posted on: 5:59 pm, March 21, 2013, by Betsey Bruce
View video here: http://fox2now.com/2013/03/21/group-wants-senator-to-stand-up-against-reductions-in-union-rights/
KIRKWOOD, MO (KTVI)– Union members upset with so called “Pay Check Protection” and “Right To Work” legislation protested in Kirkwood Thursday.
A group of current and retired union members gathered outside state senator Eric Schmitt’s district office hoping to meet with him. They want him to stand up against reductions in union rights.
Senate Bill 29 would require public employee unions to get written consent from members before deducting fees to run the union or to be used for political purposes.
Supporters call it “Paycheck Protection.”
Larger labor organizations like the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, praise Republican Schmitt for working to spur more job production.
All of labor is concerned about “Right To Work” legislation.
Missouri lawmakers will be back to work next week
Posted on: 5:59 pm, March 21, 2013, by Betsey Bruce
View video here: http://fox2now.com/2013/03/21/group-wants-senator-to-stand-up-against-reductions-in-union-rights/
KIRKWOOD, MO (KTVI)– Union members upset with so called “Pay Check Protection” and “Right To Work” legislation protested in Kirkwood Thursday.
A group of current and retired union members gathered outside state senator Eric Schmitt’s district office hoping to meet with him. They want him to stand up against reductions in union rights.
Senate Bill 29 would require public employee unions to get written consent from members before deducting fees to run the union or to be used for political purposes.
Supporters call it “Paycheck Protection.”
Larger labor organizations like the St. Louis Building and Construction Trades Council, praise Republican Schmitt for working to spur more job production.
All of labor is concerned about “Right To Work” legislation.
Missouri lawmakers will be back to work next week
Workers tells it like it is - Lege is anti-worker
This letter to the editor printed in the Springfield News Leaders is short and right on point.
Paycheck protection bill: Measure hurts unions, working families
Mar 25, 2013
Written by
Audra Dickens
Fair Grove
As a public employee, I’m appalled at our state Senate and House for passing a so-called paycheck protection bill.
It’s an unnecessary bill, a waste of taxpayers’ money, and nothing more than an attack on unions and working families.
The paycheck deception bill aims to strip away public sector workers’ right to choose whether or not to have union dues automatically deducted from their paychecks, and it would infringe on these workers’ freedom of speech by making contributing to a political fund more difficult.
Why are our legislators more interested in taking away union members’ rights than in actually improving Missouri’s economy? Why are they trying to burden workers and undermine unions instead of creating jobs and improving our economy?
Missouri’s legislative leaders should be working to improve schools, make our communities safer and increase economic opportunity. Instead, they’re carrying out a corporate agenda that hurts our middle class and puts working families at risk.
Paycheck protection bill: Measure hurts unions, working families
Mar 25, 2013
Written by
Audra Dickens
Fair Grove
As a public employee, I’m appalled at our state Senate and House for passing a so-called paycheck protection bill.
It’s an unnecessary bill, a waste of taxpayers’ money, and nothing more than an attack on unions and working families.
The paycheck deception bill aims to strip away public sector workers’ right to choose whether or not to have union dues automatically deducted from their paychecks, and it would infringe on these workers’ freedom of speech by making contributing to a political fund more difficult.
Why are our legislators more interested in taking away union members’ rights than in actually improving Missouri’s economy? Why are they trying to burden workers and undermine unions instead of creating jobs and improving our economy?
Missouri’s legislative leaders should be working to improve schools, make our communities safer and increase economic opportunity. Instead, they’re carrying out a corporate agenda that hurts our middle class and puts working families at risk.
Monday, March 25, 2013
Did you hear that one about...?
No kidding.
Working In These Times
Sunday Mar 24, 2013 8:55 pm
Public Employees Made To Bring Own Toilet Paper; Labor Sec Discusses Hangovers; Lansing Fist Fight
An austerity budget in Windsor, Missouri set a cap on toilet paper for male public workers.
It appears one Missouri town has taken the war on public employees to a new extreme. From Huffington Post:
City officials in one Missouri town have come up with a simple plan to cut public spending: BYOTP.With Obama's nomination of Thomas Perez for Secretary of Labor this week, Seth Harris's time as Acting Secretary of Labor may be coming to an end. But his St. Patrick's Day speech to the International Association of Fire Fighters assures that he will be missed:
That's right, male public works employees in Windsor, Missouri, were reportedly told to bring their own toilet paper to work after a city administrator claimed the male workers were using too much toilet paper during a time of budget constraints, according to KCTV5 News. The 10 male employees were apparently using far more toilet paper than the four female employees, causing the city to go over its budget for bathroom supplies.
Good morning, friends! Since St. Patrick's Day ended just a few hours ago, I'll try to keep my voice down. I don't want to aggravate your hangover or mine.Remember the viral video of a union activist supposedly socking a Fox News contributor in the face during protests over Michigan’s so-called “right to work” law? Now a Michigan prosecutor is saying the union protester acted in self-defense. From the Lansing State Journal:
With the important holiday yesterday and the start of March Madness, even the acting Secretary of Labor has to accept that today probably won't be the most productive work day of the year.
Dunnings said today the first video his office reviewed had been edited. After reviewing an unedited clip, he decided to not pursue the case.The women-dominated healthcare field is one of the fastest growing in the United States, but it is proving to be one of the most dangerous. From The Nation:
“It’s pretty clear the person that they wanted to charge was acting in self-defense,” Dunnings said of the union member who apparently slugged Crowder.
The report from the Lucian Leape Institute, “Through the Eyes of the Workforce,” reviewed the research and convened roundtables and focus groups to look at the working conditions in the healthcare industry. What it found is widespread abuse. The rate of physical harm for the healthcare workforce, particularly for nurses, is thirty times higher than other industries. In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the injury and illness rate for full-time healthcare workers is 56 percent, compared to 42 percent for all private industries—and remember that this includes dangerous jobs like police officers, construction workers and firefighters.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
The Missouri NEA Daily Legislative Update is doing a great job of covering the capitulation of Republican legislators to ALEC and the corporate overlords who fund them. It's ugly and disgusting, but that is the Republican Party of 2013. Paycheck deception and killing prevailing wage are the priorities.
Remember that the bills coming out of the House and Senate are different, so the knucklehead leaders in each chamber will have to agree to one bill in conference and pass it through both chambers again. Then Governor Nixon may veto it. Then on to the veto override attempt. In other words, it ain't over. Stay involved and keep the pressure on your legislators!~
Missouri NEA Legislative Update
by Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director
Number 10
March 14, 2013
LEGISLATURE LEAVES ON SPRING BREAK
The House and Senate have completed debate for this week and will not be in session next week during the legislative spring break. Both chambers will reconvene for session on March 25.
SENATE PASSES PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The Senate finally passed (Third Read) SS/SCS/SB 29 (Dan Brown) on March 14 by a party line 24-10 vote. The Association strongly opposes the bill.
The perfected version allows public employees to pay union dues by payroll deduction, but requires annual, written authorization from the employee. The bill also imposes unnecessary and burdensome paperwork requirements on voluntary contributions by public union employees for political contributions. The bill exempts police, firefighters and other "first responders" from the bill.
Sen. Jolie Justus offered SA 3, to remove the language banning use of payroll deduction for paying union dues entirely from the bill, but the amendment was defeated on an 11-19 vote. Sen. Ryan Silvey joined the minority caucus in supporting the amendment.
HOUSE PASSES PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The House finally passed (Third Read) HB 64 (Eric Burlison) on March 13 by a roll-call vote of 90-65. The Association opposes HB 64.
The bill applies to most public and private labor organizations and requires annual authorization for payroll deduction of member contributions for political action. The bill exempts certain trade associations and public safety workers. Unlike SB 29 (Dan Brown), HB 64 does not restrict employee's payment of dues by payroll deduction.
SENATE PASSES HUGE TAX CUT BILL
The Senate finally passed (Third Read) SS#2/SCS/SBs 26, 11 and 31 (Will Kraus) on March 12 by a 23-11 vote. Sen. David Pearce joined with minority caucus members in opposing the bill.
SB 26 will reduce state general revenue by perhaps as much as $750 million per year, which would force devastating cuts to public investment in K-12 and higher education and other vital services.
The Association strongly opposes the radical cuts to state revenues contained in SCS/SBs 26, 11 and 31. The perfected version of the bill reduces state personal and corporate income taxes by 0.75 percent and phases in a 50 percent deduction of business income. The bill also increases the state sales tax by 1/2 percent, enacts the Streamlined Sales Tax and includes Use Tax nexus language for out of state sales.
HOUSE PASSES PREVAILING WAGE ATTACK
The House finally passed (Third Read) HB 409 (Warren Love) on March 13. The bill revises the prevailing wage for construction and maintenance work in counties outside of the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas. The bill would specify a new calculation for the prevailing hourly wage rate for construction and maintenance work in those areas based on the statewide average weekly wage data, rather than actual Missouri wage data and collective bargaining agreements. The Association opposes efforts to eliminate or damage prevailing wage laws. MNEA supports the intent of the prevailing wage law to ensure that public investment supports local jobs and local wage rates. The Association supports efforts to ensure that local wages are reported in timely fashion in all parts of the state, so that the prevailing wage data accurately reflects local wages.
Remember that the bills coming out of the House and Senate are different, so the knucklehead leaders in each chamber will have to agree to one bill in conference and pass it through both chambers again. Then Governor Nixon may veto it. Then on to the veto override attempt. In other words, it ain't over. Stay involved and keep the pressure on your legislators!~
Missouri NEA Legislative Update
by Otto Fajen
MNEA Legislative Director
Number 10
March 14, 2013
LEGISLATURE LEAVES ON SPRING BREAK
The House and Senate have completed debate for this week and will not be in session next week during the legislative spring break. Both chambers will reconvene for session on March 25.
SENATE PASSES PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The Senate finally passed (Third Read) SS/SCS/SB 29 (Dan Brown) on March 14 by a party line 24-10 vote. The Association strongly opposes the bill.
The perfected version allows public employees to pay union dues by payroll deduction, but requires annual, written authorization from the employee. The bill also imposes unnecessary and burdensome paperwork requirements on voluntary contributions by public union employees for political contributions. The bill exempts police, firefighters and other "first responders" from the bill.
Sen. Jolie Justus offered SA 3, to remove the language banning use of payroll deduction for paying union dues entirely from the bill, but the amendment was defeated on an 11-19 vote. Sen. Ryan Silvey joined the minority caucus in supporting the amendment.
HOUSE PASSES PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The House finally passed (Third Read) HB 64 (Eric Burlison) on March 13 by a roll-call vote of 90-65. The Association opposes HB 64.
The bill applies to most public and private labor organizations and requires annual authorization for payroll deduction of member contributions for political action. The bill exempts certain trade associations and public safety workers. Unlike SB 29 (Dan Brown), HB 64 does not restrict employee's payment of dues by payroll deduction.
SENATE PASSES HUGE TAX CUT BILL
The Senate finally passed (Third Read) SS#2/SCS/SBs 26, 11 and 31 (Will Kraus) on March 12 by a 23-11 vote. Sen. David Pearce joined with minority caucus members in opposing the bill.
SB 26 will reduce state general revenue by perhaps as much as $750 million per year, which would force devastating cuts to public investment in K-12 and higher education and other vital services.
The Association strongly opposes the radical cuts to state revenues contained in SCS/SBs 26, 11 and 31. The perfected version of the bill reduces state personal and corporate income taxes by 0.75 percent and phases in a 50 percent deduction of business income. The bill also increases the state sales tax by 1/2 percent, enacts the Streamlined Sales Tax and includes Use Tax nexus language for out of state sales.
HOUSE PASSES PREVAILING WAGE ATTACK
The House finally passed (Third Read) HB 409 (Warren Love) on March 13. The bill revises the prevailing wage for construction and maintenance work in counties outside of the St. Louis and Kansas City metropolitan areas. The bill would specify a new calculation for the prevailing hourly wage rate for construction and maintenance work in those areas based on the statewide average weekly wage data, rather than actual Missouri wage data and collective bargaining agreements. The Association opposes efforts to eliminate or damage prevailing wage laws. MNEA supports the intent of the prevailing wage law to ensure that public investment supports local jobs and local wage rates. The Association supports efforts to ensure that local wages are reported in timely fashion in all parts of the state, so that the prevailing wage data accurately reflects local wages.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Paycheck Deception "Perfected" in both Chambers
This ain't over...ALEC and their corporate sponsors don't always win. The Republican legislators who work for the 1% elite lose sometimes. It's up to us.
Missouri NEA Legislative Update
HOUSE PERFECTS PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The House initially passed (Perfected) HB 64 (Eric Burlison) on March 12 by a roll-call vote of 93-62. The bill applies to most public and private labor organizations and requires annual authorization for payroll deduction of member contributions for political action. The bill exempts certain trade associations and public safety workers. Unlike SB 29 (Dan Brown), HB 64 does not restrict employee's payment of dues by payroll deduction. The Association opposes HB 64.
SENATE MAY VOTE ON PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The Senate is expected to finally pass (Third Read) SS/SCS/SB 29 (Dan Brown), a bill attacking labor unions, before leaving later this week for spring break. The association opposes SB 29.
The SS version allows public employees to pay union dues by payroll deduction, but requires annual, written authorization from the employee. The bill also imposes unnecessary and burdensome paperwork requirements on voluntary contributions by public union employees for political contributions. The bill exempts police, firefighters and other "first responders", and labor organizations representing such employees, from the bill.
Missouri NEA Legislative Update
HOUSE PERFECTS PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The House initially passed (Perfected) HB 64 (Eric Burlison) on March 12 by a roll-call vote of 93-62. The bill applies to most public and private labor organizations and requires annual authorization for payroll deduction of member contributions for political action. The bill exempts certain trade associations and public safety workers. Unlike SB 29 (Dan Brown), HB 64 does not restrict employee's payment of dues by payroll deduction. The Association opposes HB 64.
SENATE MAY VOTE ON PAYCHECK DECEPTION BILL
The Senate is expected to finally pass (Third Read) SS/SCS/SB 29 (Dan Brown), a bill attacking labor unions, before leaving later this week for spring break. The association opposes SB 29.
The SS version allows public employees to pay union dues by payroll deduction, but requires annual, written authorization from the employee. The bill also imposes unnecessary and burdensome paperwork requirements on voluntary contributions by public union employees for political contributions. The bill exempts police, firefighters and other "first responders", and labor organizations representing such employees, from the bill.
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