President Obama has nominated a package of five individuals to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. It is essential that the U.S. Senate act promptly to confirm these individuals in order to keep this important agency operational to protect workers’ rights. Presently, two of the five seats on the Board are vacant, with the term of a third member expiring in August. Without action by the Senate, the Board will soon be left without the quorum required for the Board to function. In addition, a recent decision by the DC Circuit Court on President Obama’s recess appointments to the NLRB has greatly undermined enforcement of the law as cases are being put on hold, leaving workers without remedy when they are fired illegally, or when their employer refuses to bargain.
The package of five nominees includes three current members of the Board, and two who have not served previously and are attorneys who come from the management side. While we would not be in agreement with the views of the new members on labor relations matters, it is in the best interests of us all that this five member bipartisan group be confirmed by the Senate immediately so that the stability and function of the Board is restored and preserved.
As these nominations will be reviewed shortly, right now – today – we need each and every one of you to contact your U.S. Senators, both Democrat and Republican, and urge them to immediately confirm these nominations.
Enter your zip code below to access a list of your Senators and an email template letter to use.
Enter your name and address, any additional comments, and automatically an email will be sent to your Senators.
Download and edit the sample letter*, add your own comments, then print and mail to your Senators. They probably don’t get many mailed communications these days. Let’s let them know we’re still here.
You can also get the phone numbers for your Senators by entering your zip code below. Give them a call, let them know you are watching what they do and you will grade them come next election; but in the meantime, they should do the right thing.
Encourage others to do the same, Share this call to action.
Working people need and deserve a confirmed NLRB now! Without a fully operational Labor Relations Board, who will working people turn to when their rights are violated?
If the Michigan legislature passes proposed changes to election laws, many legitimate voters will have a much harder time making their political voices heard. Our state legislature is currently considering a set of bills that regulate groups that register voters, impose stricter photo ID requirements for voters and add a citizenship check-off box to ballot applications.
Even the Secretary of State acknowledges that voter fraud is not a problem. In response to a recent audit, the Bureau of Elections said, “In every instance, where it appears that a deceased or incarcerated person voted and local records were available, a clerical error was established as the reason for the situation.”
The Michigan State AFL-CIO, the A. Philip Randolph Institute and many diverse organizations oppose these bills because they will make voting more difficult and confusing, without improving election security or integrity.
New training, certification and paperwork requirements will make it more difficult for groups such as the A. Philip Randolph Institute to conduct registration drives, resulting in fewer opportunities for citizens to register at locations such as schools, community centers and places of worship. According to national data, Hispanic and African American voters are twice as likely as white voters to register through voter registration drives and, therefore, more likely to be adversely affected.
Depending on the level of interest we'd like to staff 5 signing locations throughout the duration of the event.
Shifts can be chosen according to your availability and also discussed when we call you.
Detroit - Hart Plaza
We will have a booth at Motor City Pride on Saturday and Sunday. Also a golden opportunity to get thousands of signatures in a limited time. If you can spare a couple of hours over the weekend of June 2nd & 3rd, Please Sign Up Here.
The only way working men and women are going to regain their voice within the current state and federal political environment is for workers to run for and win election at every level of political office. We need to have true worker advocates at every level within our local, state and federal government. The opportunity to support one of our own, a UWUA Local Union President, in his re-election bid for the position of Mayor of Westwood New Jersey is not only privilege but an opportunity for the membership of the UWUA to provide assistance to a true advocate for workers and their families.
The UWUA National C.O.P.E. Committee endorses Brother John Birkner is his re-election bid and has contributed to his campaign fund. Time is of the essence, there are only two weeks left before the election, please read the letter from Brother Birkner below and please do all that you can to support one of own.
John Duffy
UWUA Vice President, AFL-CIO
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Dear Brothers and Sisters of the UWUA,
As you are aware, the labor force in the State of New Jersey is under direct attack by politicians intent on destroying the rights that thousands of working families have earned through collective bargaining. Everything from working conditions, to pensions and benefits have been the subject of a well orchestrated media campaign designed to divide public and private labor unions, and to destroy the gains we have fought for decades to achieve.
For the past thirty years I have been an active member of the UWUA, AFL-CIO, Local 534, and the President since 2002. I have fought attempts at privatization of public utilities, joined our health care professionals on the picket line, and been a vociferous advocate for the rights of working families. For the past four years I have served as mayor of the Borough of Westwood, working hard to ensure that the quality of life of the residents I represent is maintained, and the working conditions of our Borough employees are not compromised due to draconian cuts to municipal aid from Trenton.
I am a candidate for re-election in November and I am reaching out to you because I need your help. As a labor leader, I have successfully completed the NJ State AFL-CIO Labor Candidates Education program and pride myself in the commitment I have made to New Jersey’s working families. My opponents in the upcoming election are well funded and will stop at nothing to move their anti-worker agenda forward. I realize this is a difficult time economically, however I am asking for your financial support so that we may continue to ensure that the ranks of our elected representatives include the voice of working families and organized labor.
Your generosity and continued support is greatly appreciated.
Donations can be sent to :
Friends of Mayor John Birkner, Jr.
c/o 416 Fourth Ave.
Westwood, NJ 07675
In Solidarity,
John Birkner, Jr.
President Utility Workers Union of America AFL-CIO, Local 534
Support Occupy - Ask Mayor Bloomberg to Allow Tents
I just wanted to make sure you didn't miss this email from over the weekend:
As the snow began falling on the Occupy Wall Street protest in Manhattan's Zuccotti Park, we called on Mayor Mike Bloomberg to make it clear that he’ll work with the protesters and allow them to address their own needs for shelter and warmth so that the protest can continue.
The petition is catching on, and over 28,000 people have signed it so far. Can you help us reach our goal of 100,000 signatures before the end of the week? We'll deliver them to Zuccotti Park and to Mayor Bloomberg's office.
After you sign, please be sure to spread the word to help us meet our goal.
The snow has mostly melted. But it’s only going to get colder. We don’t have long to make sure the protest has what it needs to survive.
Mayor Bloomberg doesn't have to agree with the protesters. But he should honor the letter and the spirit of the First Amendment and allow them to set up what they need to continue spreading their message. We hope he’ll declare -- as the Irvine City Council, in California's conservative Orange County, did last week – that in this case, tents are free speech.[1]
The message of the protest is a critical one, and it’s focused the attention of the nation on the problems we most urgently need to fix. Let’s make sure they can keep at it.
Thanks again for your support,
Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) and Working Families
Petitions for a referendum to repeal Public Act 4 of 2011, which allows the governor to declare a local government or school district in receivership and appoint an emergency manager to take control with the following powers, among others: to assume the powers of local elected officials, to take control of revenue and spending; to terminate, modify and renegotiate contracts, to refuse to bargain with employee representatives; to take control of employee pension funds under certain circumstances; and with the governor’s approval to sell public assets or dissolve a city, township or county are currently being circulated across the State of Michigan.
The purpose of the petition is to gather enough valid registered voters’ signatures so the referendum proposal can be voted on at the General Election, November 6, 2012. In other words, allow the people of the State of Michigan vote on whether or not they wish to grant such authoritative powers to one person or consultant. If you wish to circulate a petition in your neighborhood, or with your family, or co-workers, please call the UWUA Local 223 Union Hall at (313) 271-9700 to receive a petition and instructions. Only one petition can be circulated per county, only registered voters can sign and only once.
Last week two bills were introduced in the Indiana House of Representatives
that deal with an issue that adversely impacts all Hoosier workers. The
bills, HB 1028 and HB 1043, promote something commonly referred to as
"Right-to-Work" legislation.
So-called "Right-to-Work" legislation contains neither rights nor work.
Simply put, so-called "Right-to-Work" legislation will lower wages and
benefits for all Hoosier workers. Less than half of the states in our great
nation have adopted this destructive legislation.
Surrounding mid-west states have repeatedly rejected this legislation.
However, out-of-state special interest groups such as the "National
Right-to-Work Committee" continue to support this legislation in an attempt
to push their special interest agenda on hard-working Hoosier families.
Please educate your family, friends, and neighbors on this potentially
devastating law. I have pasted below a number of online resources available
with real facts about the destructive nature of so-called "Right-to-Work"
laws. Please visit these links to learn the truth about so-called
"Right-to-Work" laws. Feel free to forward this email and these links to
those hard-working Hoosier families who will suffer reduced wages and
benefits as a result of this legislation.
Hoosier families expect their elected officials to engage in positive work
toward keeping good jobs in this state, not support legislation that lowers
wages and benefits. Demand that Indiana legislators stand up to outside
special interests and fight for better wages and benefits for Hoosier
families. Demand that they say "NO" to a so-called "Right-to-Work" law.
Urgent - Support Fair Pay for Women - Call Your Senators Today
Sisters and Brothers - We Need YOUR Help!
Everyday hard-working women show up on the job throughout America and work alongside male co-workers. Yet time and again women are being paid less than men for doing the same work.
That's why we need to strengthen the rights of women to challenge these unfair pay practices. Paying women less for the same work as men is discrimination - plain and simple. And while there are laws on the books against wage discrimination, they are full of loopholes and hard to enforce. And worse, current laws are not strong enough to protect women against retaliation when they stand up against unfair pay practices on the job.
Our union is working with the AFL-CIO and the rest of the labor movement to pass The Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182). The House of Representatives passed this important legislation in 2009. But we are still waiting on action in the U.S. Senate.
Take Action Now!
Please call your senators toll-free at 1-877-667-6650 and ask them to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 182) before the end of September. Simple instructions will direct you to your senators' offices.
This critical bill will provide greater safeguards against pay discrimination by:
Deterring wage discrimination by closing loopholes in the Equal Pay Act
Barring retaliation against workers who disclose their wages to coworkers
Call Your Senators Today At 877-667-6650
Every call makes a difference in these final weeks, so please, take a few moments to call the Senate and ask them to do the right thing - pass Paycheck Fairness for women and their families!
President Obama has nominated a package of five individuals to serve on the National Labor Relations Board. It is essential that the U.S. Senate act promptly to confirm these individuals in order to keep this important agency operational to protect workers’ rights. Presently, two of the five seats on the Board are vacant, with the term of a third member expiring in August. Without action by the Senate, the Board will soon be left without the quorum required for the Board to function. In addition, a recent decision by the DC Circuit Court on President Obama’s recess appointments to the NLRB has greatly undermined enforcement of the law as cases are being put on hold, leaving workers without remedy when they are fired illegally, or when their employer refuses to bargain.
