May 2012
31 posts
Bloomberg Subverts Peoples’ Will, Vetoes Landmark... →
Supporters Condemn Billionaire Mayor, Urge Council to Override Veto and Implement Law
New York, NY—Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s veto of the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act today brings into sharp focus his legacy as the billionaire Mayor who enriched his class of friends at the expense of the hardworking taxpayers of New York City.
The Living Wage NYC Coalition urges the City Council to override...
RWDSU Slams Living Wage Veto
Stuart Appelbaum, President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU,UFCW), made the following statement in response to Mayor Bloomberg’s veto of the Fair Wages for New Yorkers Act:
“This veto is a slap in the face to the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers who support the living wage legislation. Across the city, New Yorkers have built a movement for fairness and...
Walmart Free NYC: Today: Pressure on Walmart Board... →
walmartfreenyc:
Walmart associates, including employee-shareholders, and community activists have been confronting members of the Walmart board of directors in protests in the past several weeks, with escalating protests happening this week in the days leading up to the Walmart shareholders meeting Friday….
Tell CEO Ron Johnson to stop elimination of... →
Take a moment to sign the Retail Action Project’s petition against the elimination of commissions at JCP. Spread the word!
New York Amsterdam News: Walmart’s ‘bad neighbor’... →
Walmart continues to try to claw its way into the New York City marketplace, but in 2012, its efforts to penetrate other markets have been creating the headlines.
The New York Times has reported that Walmart paid bribes worth a staggering $24 million to win the permits it needed to expand quickly in Mexico, then shut down an internal investigation in an attempt to cover it up.
And an ongoing...
Politicker: Car Wash Politics →
washnewyork:
Organizers have been ramping up their efforts to change the way car washes treat their workers in New York City, and judging from recent events, it seems that they’ve generated a bit of momentum. For example, earlier today, the New York Daily News reported a new federal lawsuit placed against a car wash business, and advocates involved in the effort told The Politicker they feel...
NY Daily News: Bronx car wash workers file... →
washnewyork:
The New York Daily News reported last week on workers at the Xcellent Car Wash in the Bronx who are suing their employer for unpaid wages and overtime, and on the ongoing efforts of the WASH New York to reform the car wash industry in New York City. Read the full story.
Local 184-L Steward Training in Kansas City... →
Local 184-L of Kansas City, Kansas held a Union Enhancement and Stewards Training, meant hone stewards’ skills so they can better serve members in the workplace. The class was taught by long time Labor Educator Judy Ancil of the University of Missouri-Kansas City. RWDSU Local 184-L members work at Kellogg’s in Kansas City.
WSJ: Minimum wage advocates renew NY push this... →
ALBANY, N.Y. — Advocates including the Occupy Albany movement and clergy pushing New York’s proposal to raise the minimum wage are gearing up for the final four weeks of the legislative session.
Researchers are taking a close look at New York’s debate and other states’ experience and economic models have been used by both sides. A researcher who reviewed New York’s...
NY Daily News: If Not Now, Minimum Wage Hike... →
Here is the second item from my “Albany Insider” column today with some stuff that didn’t make it:
If lawmakers end the legislative session next month without approving a minimum-wage hike, expect the issue to resurface later in the year.
A number of insiders believe it will be dealt with in a post-election session that will also include a business tax cut plan pushed by the...
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TODAY: Elected Officials, Community Leaders &... →
washnewyork:
Growing Movement of Elected Officials, Community Leaders, and Workers to Condemn Illegal Practices at East Harlem Car Wash, Push for Industry-Wide Reform
May 17, 6:00 p.m., LMC Car Wash, 334 E. 109th Street, East Harlem, New York
WHAT: City and state elected leaders will join workers City and state elected leaders will join workers and community leaders to confront management...
Payne lands RWDSU backing in LD 10 →
Local 108 of the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU), UFCW, today endorsed Newark Council President Donald M. Payne Jr. for New Jersey’s 10th Congressional seat.
“Donald M. Payne Jr. has long been a champion of the many progressive causes that matter to working families in this congressional district,” said RWDSU Local 108 President Charles N. Hall Jr....
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Retail workers union endorses Donald Payne Jr. in... →
NEWARK — New Jersey Labor Unions are splitting tickets in the heated battle for the 10th Congressional District seat.
Donald Payne Jr. today picked up the endorsement of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union Local 108 which represents 5,000 retail workers. The announcement comes just a day after Ron C. Rice picked up a valuable nod from the Communications Workers of America, the...
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New York Voters Support Minimum Wage Increase,... →
ALBANY — More than three-quarters of New York State voters support a proposal by Democrats in the Legislature to raise the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour from $7.25, according to a new poll released on Monday.
The poll (pdf), conducted by Siena College from May 6 to 10, found broad support for what has emerged as the highest-profile issue in the closing weeks of this year’s legislative session,...
New Contract for Indiana RWDSU Members at Good...
Members of RWDSU Local 835, who work for Unilever Manufacturing at the Good Humor-Breyer Ice Cream plant in Huntington, Indiana, voted overwhelmingly to accept a new 5-year Agreement. The new contract provides a thirty-five cent per hour wage increase each year, and maintains the employee pension program.
The contract also provides increases to the weekly accident and sickness benefit each year...
Severe Human Rights Violations at Food Processing... →
walmartfreenyc:
Sign the petition and tell Walmart to address abuses in the supply chain!
Last week thousands of workers at two different Thai food processing facilities protested their extremely poor working conditions. Both facilities, Phattahana Seafood and Vita Food Factory, are suppliers to Walmart stores across the US. Disturbing reports coming out of the region indicate that the...
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Honor Mom by raising the minimum wage →
This weekend has many of us scrambling to figure out how to honor Mom.
Should we give her flowers? Take her to brunch?
For too many New York mothers straining to make ends meet, the best gift they could receive is an increase in the minimum wage.
Read more.
Quinnipiac University poll: Most New York City...
Most New York City voters support the living wage bill and the new bike rental program and want to live in buildings that ban smoking, though they don’t want City Hall to push for bans, according to a Quinnipiac University poll out today. Read more: http://bit.ly/IXU303
Wal-Mart At 50: A Crisis of Governance →
walmartfreenyc:
Wal-Mart may have entered the Golden Years, but its self-dealing and covers ups have seriously tarnished the brand, and put its “independent” governance in a state of crisis. Read the full story.
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RWDSU Northern Joint Council President Awarded The... →
RWDSU Northern Joint Council President, and UFCW International Vice-President, Derik McArthur received The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Medal on May 4 for his outstanding public service and strong community leadership.
“UFCW Canada is very pleased to see President McArthur receive recognition for the excellent work he and the Northern Joint Council are doing for working families in a number...
WNYC's Transportation Nation: City Council Bill to... →
washnewyork:
(New York, NY — Sharyn Jackson, WNYC) New York City City Council members have introduced legislation that would require all car washes register for a license with the Department of Consumer Affairs.
Harlem Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito announced the bill to more than 50 protestors who gathered on the steps of City Hall. She said she was surprised when she learned that car...
WFUV News: City Council to Clean Up New York... →
washnewyork:
The New York City Council is looking to clean up the city’s car wash industry.
City Councilwoman Melissa Mark-Viverito announced the Car Wash Accountability Act Wednesday. Currently, city car washes are unregulated, and don’t require a license to operate. Mark-Viverito says this leads to hazardous working conditions and unfair wages. “There have been reports by the Department of...
Crain's New York: City Council cracks down on car... →
washnewyork:
To improve working conditions, lawmakers push for annual licensing of the city’s 200 car-wash operators. Fines could reach $15,000 a year.
Local lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that would force the city’s 200 car-wash operators to obtain an annual license or pay fines of up to $15,000 a year.
To get a license from the city’s Department of Consumer Affairs, operators would...
NY Daily News: Lawmakers aim to clean up New York... →
washnewyork:
City Council bill, which would make car washes get a license, comes after accusations of labor law violations
City lawmakers say they hope to clean up New York’s car wash industry — by making operators follow the same licensing rules as tow truck companies, garages and more than 50 other businesses.
“I was actually surprised when I learned that car washes don’t need any license...
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WWD: Bloomingdale's 59th St. Workers OK Pact →
NEW YORK — The 2,000 workers at Bloomingdale’s 59th Street flagship voted in favor of a new five-year union contract with the store that opens the way for a general wage increase, more health care options and more flexibility when it comes to scheduling hours.
Workers at the store will get a $3.05 an hour pay hike over the life of the contract, which was ratified by Local 3 United Storeworkers...
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New York Post: Business briefs - "It's A Deal" →
The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union announced the ratification of a new five-year contract with Bloomingdale’s covering 2,000 workers at the flagship store on East 59th Street.
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Crain's New York: Dads get a break in new... →
Paternity leave is among the benefits that the East 59th Street department store’s workers will receive.
For the first time, new dads at Bloomingdale’s will be able to take time off to spend with their newborns. As part of a new union contract, workers at the retailer’s East 59th Street flagship location will receive paternity leave.
The majority of the contract, negotiated...
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WNYC News: Bloomingdale's, Workers Reach New... →
Bloomingdale’s and the workers in its flagship 59th Street store have reached an agreement on a new contract for the store’s 2,000 unionized workers.
The contract will increase the wage for hourly employees by $3.05 over five years and give scheduling priority to workers with seniority among other things.
“Given the economy and the overall picture, it’s an excellent package,” said...
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NY1 Online: Debating Living Wage Legislation →
NY1 VIDEO: Inside City Hall’s Errol Louis hosted a debate over the living wage legislation with two supporters — Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and President Stuart Appelbaum of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union — and two opponents — Greg David, the director of the Business & Economics Reporting Program at CUNY Journalism School and contributor to Crain’s New...
