[Educationforall] spam con huevos labor news, views and concerns, 3.12.12
Carlos Pelayo
cgpelayo at hotmail.com
Tue Mar 13 06:44:05 UTC 2012
Dirty vs. Green Jobs: Labor's Keystone Dilemma Blacks, Latinos march together for "una familia, una Alabama." May Day 2012: National Mobilization For Immigrant Workers Rights! Sixty Thousand People Protest Gov. Scott Walker The Precarious Jobs Recovery Alabama Revives Jim Crow with Anti-Immigrant LawsUnique Way to Finish College"‘America’s Storage Shed’ Occupied" "Britain’s Young, Black, Jobless Males"
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Dirty vs. Green Jobs: Labor's Keystone Dilemma
by Brendan Smith and Jeremy Brecher
http://www.labor4sustainability.org/articles/dirty-vs-green-jobs-labors-keystone-dilemma/
These are tough times to be a construction worker in
America. While other sectors of the economy are showing
signs of life, the unemployment rate in the
construction industry is getting worse, not better -
rising from 13% to 16% in January.
It is against this backdrop that the titanic struggle
over the Keystone XL pipleline is being waged. On one
side are unions such as the Laborers International
Union of North America and the United Association of
Plumbers & Pipefitters, who support the pipeline
because they believe that it will create thousands of
high-wage jobs for their members. On the other side are
environmentalists and others who believe the pipeline
will hasten the climate crisis, threaten our water
supplies and increase oil prices.
The fallout from the conflict has been significant.
When six labor unions joined the Sierra Club and other
environmental groups in support of President Obama's
decision to oppose the permit last month, LIUNA
President Terry O'Sullivan accused the coalition as
being "job killers," and withdrew his union from the
BlueGreen Alliance.
Inside Washington, this divide over Keystone appears
insurmountable - especially since the "jobs vs.
environment" debate has been played out repeatedly for
decades. But outside of Washington, the very same
unions that support the pipeline are down in the
trenches fighting for a transition to a green economy.
LIUNA, for example, has created OptiHome, an alliance
of skilled workers and certified contractors working in
the energy efficiency sector. The program includes
training and job placement, and has been effective at
bringing a new generation of workers into the green
economy. One of these workers is Tahlia Williams, a 30-
year-old single mom had been interested in construction
work for a long time but saw it as "man's work" and was
unsure how to break into the industry. But after Tahlia
completed LIUNA's weatherization training program she
was quickly hired as an energy efficiency mechanic by
the Community Environmental Center - the largest
residential weatherization contractor in New York City.
According to Tahlia, she is "proud to be working to
protect our environment, while at the same time helping
fellow residents save money on their energy bills and
enjoy a more comfortable home. This is about a better
future for my family, for New York homeowners, and for
everyone!"
LIUNA's green jobs agenda has also helped grow the
union. They negotiated a card check agreement with
Conservation Services Group, a company which conducts
nearly a half million home energy assessments annually
for utilities and energy efficiency organizations
nationwide, reaching more than 2 million homes in the
last 25 years. And LIUNA recently chartered a green
local designed for workers specializing in
weatherization and other green jobs. Green Jobs Local
58's first round of recruits graduated from LIUNA's
training center this month and are earning $14 an hour
with benefits. To fund the program, LIUNA joined forces
with local environmentalists to pass the New York Green
Jobs Financing Law that provides funding for
residential weatherization work.
Another building trades union that is riding the green
wave is the United Association of Plumbers &
Pipefitters. UA created the nation's first union
"sustainability office" in the country, which is
developing three new "green" craft-specific
certifications: Green Plumbing/Pipefitting, Green
Sprinkler Fitting, and Green Heating, Ventilation, Air
Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR). UA has also
been driving a "Green Systems Training Trailer" around
the country to educate members and the general public
about the importance of energy efficiency.
So despite their support for the Keystone pipeline, on
the ground in cities and towns around the country
building trades unions are at the cutting edge of green
economic development. These green success stories show
that the green jobs path for LIUNA and other
construction unions is not a "pie-in-the-sky" promise -
these jobs are shovel-ready and offer a secure future
for their members. It is also significant that some of
these unions have stepped out in front at the
international level by joining environmentalists around
the globe fighting to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
LIUNA, for example, was one of three unions in the U.S.
to support science-based targets and timelines for
carbon reduction at the 2009 climate summit in
Copenhagen.
But here is the problem: For environmentalists, the
Keystone battle has called into question unions'
commitment to addressing climate change, which is the
primary rational for green jobs and energy efficiency
programs. Some unions are trying to play both sides of
the fence: siding with fossil fuel companies and
Republicans for new coal plants, pipelines and
refineries; while simultaneously teaming up with
environmentalists for green jobs programs. Keystone has
laid bare this contradiction.
The Keystone campaign has also put a strain on labor's
relationship with Occupy - a movement seen by unions as
a powerful new ally. Indeed, LIUNA's own homepage
features a statement that "LIUNA Backs Occupy Wall
Street Movement. In November the Building Trades
launched the Jobsforthe99.com website and began running
ads in newspapers and radio along the pipeline route,
using the rhetoric of Occupy and the 99 percent to push
for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. In
response, the main governing body of Occupy in New York
issued a statement of disavowal: "The leadership of the
unions behind this campaign have made a public alliance
with the oil industry and Tea Party funders.We must
dissociate from this attempt at co-optation by the 1%
to preserve our movement as the 99%."
The last decades have shown that partnering with the
right wing and corporations has been a devil's bargain
for workers, whereby companies use unions to push for
environmental deregulation and subsidies for carbon-
intensive projects, while simultaneously funding
"right-to-work" and other anti-union campaigns. This
unholy alliance has crippled unions' ability to
organize workers and laid the foundation for a private
sector unionization rate of less than seven percent.
Unions and environmentalists agree on most issues -
ranging from living wages and health care to corporate
greed and green job creation - and there is consensus
that defeating the right wing agenda requires
solidarity of the 99%. With this in mind, it's time for
labor and environmentalists to sit down and hammer out
plan for putting union members to work rebuilding our
country and protecting the planet. None of us can build
a sustainable future alone.
____________________________________________
PortsideLabor aims to provide material of interest to
people on the left that will help them to interpret the
world and to change it.
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Blacks, Latinos march together for "una familia, una Alabama."Estela De Los Rios posted in CSA San Diego County.Estela De Los Rios2:50pm Mar 12http://www.facebook.com/l/jAQEl2dOG/noticias.univision.com/noticiero-univision/videos/video/2012-03-10/multitudinarias-protestas-contra-la-leyMultitudinarias protestas contra la Ley HB56noticias.univision.comInmigrantes de todo el país se manifestaron en Montgomery, Alabama, contra la Lay Antiinmigrante.
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1 attachment (1.1 KB)message-f...txtDownload(1.1 KB)Download as zipMay Day 2012National Mobilization For Immigrant Workers Rights!National Immigrant Solidarity Network http://www.immigrantsolidarity.orgPlease send your May Day 2012 action report to info at immigrantsolidarity.orgWe are calling A national day of multi-ethnic unity with youth, labor, peace and justice communities in solidarity with immigrant workers and building new immigrant rights & civil rights movement! Wear White T-Shirt; organize local actions to support immigrant worker rights!1. No to anti-immigrant legislation, police surveillance and the criminalization of the immigrant communities.
2. No to militarization of the border.
3. No to the private prison, immigrant detention and deportation.
4. No to the guest worker program.
5. No to the NDAA.
6. Yes to a path to legalization without condition for undocumented immigrants NOW.
7. Yes to speedy family reunification.
8. Yes to civil rights and humane immigration law.
9. Yes to labor rights and living wages for all workers.
10. Yes to the education and LGBTQ immigrant legislation.We encourages everyone to actively linking our issues with different struggles: wars in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine & Korea with sweatshops exploitation in Asia as well as in Los Angeles, New York; international arm sales and WTO, FTAA, NAFTA & CAFTA with AIDS, hunger, child labors and child solider; as well as multinational corporations and economic exploitation with racism and poverty at home—in order we can win the struggle together at this May Day 2012!
Past May Day Actions:
May Day 2010 Reports from Across the Country
May Day 2010 Reports Home PageLos Angeles, May Day 2010May Day 2009 Photos & Essay Reports from around the WorldDownload the PDF formated Report:
http://www.immigrantsolidarity.org/MayDay2009Report/MayDay2009Report.pdf
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Sixty Thousand People Protest Gov. Scott WalkerAllison Kilkenny, In These Times: "This weekend marked the year anniversary of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signing disastrous anti-union plans that undermined collective bargaining rights for employees in his state. On Saturday, tens of thousands of union activists and supporters rallied at the state Capitol in Madison to mark the macabre commemoration." Read the Article
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The Precarious Jobs RecoveryRobert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog: "Jobs are coming back fast enough to blunt Republican attacks against Obama on the economy and to rob Romney of the issue he'd prefer to be talking about in his primary battle against social conservatives in the GOP. But jobs aren't coming back fast enough to significantly reduce the nation's backlog of 10 million jobs." Read the Article
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March 12, 2012
After a scolding by Rush Limbaugh and other extreme conservatives, Mitt Romney flip-flopped on his support for increasing the minimum wage.Alabama’s anti-immigrant law is this century’s version of “Jim Crow laws,” the Rev. Al Sharpton told a rally of several thousand union, civil rights, community and faith activists. The Montgomery rally marked the last day of a five-day re-enactment of the historic 1965 Selma to Montgomery civil rights march. Read more and comment. After Limbaugh Scolding, Romney Flip-Flops on Minimum Wage Increase Wrong Mitt, Newt, Rick et al.: Rich Americans Are Not Overtaxed Crandall Canyon Mine Operator to Plead Guilty and Pay Fine Bricklayer Hunts Montana Mule Deer in Latest ‘Brotherhood Outdoors’ Working America Launches New Website Alabama Marcher: ‘Together We Will Make Change’ Cash-Rich Giant Won’t Share with Workers Limbaugh’s Advertisers Sponsored These 10 Attacks on UnionsRead more important news of the day on the issues working families care about.Follow the AFL-CIO:
Take the next step. Become a mobile activist
by joining the AFL-CIO Rapid Action Text Team.
Text NEWS to AFLCIO (235246) to receive action alerts and more.
(Message and data rates may apply.)
To find out more about the AFL-CIO, please visit our website at www.aflcio.org.
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Matthew Paquette, Bricklayers Local 3, is an NLC student and a Union Plus NLC Scholarship recipient. Want to join him?
Are you or is someone you know trying to complete a college degree? If so, now is the time to do something about it.
At the National Labor College (NLC), a college degree may be closer than you think—you can even start this summer.
The NLC’s program is tailor-made for full-time working men and women like you. Call 1-888-427-8500 or click here to visit NLC.edu for more information.
If you haven’t finished your degree, this is a great opportunity to expand your job skills, increase your salary, enhance your job security and improve your job satisfaction. And NLC is the only accredited labor college dedicated to educating union members and their families.
Apply by April 9 to be eligible for financial aid and scholarships.
Visit NLC.edu or call 1-888-427-8500 to get more details and apply.Think you don’t have time to go to class? All degrees from the National Labor College offer an online format so you can manage your courseload and pace. To make your degree that much closer, you can receive college credits for what you have learned through trainings and work experience.
Tuition is highly discounted for union members (about $265 per credit). If you aren’t a union member, you can join our community affiliate, Working America, and get the discount. And Union Plus scholarships also are available to help with tuition costs.
Bridget Benjamin, UA Local 601, is a Union Plus NLC Scholarship recipient. Online bachelor’s degrees and certificates are offered in:Business Administration,Construction Management,Emergency Readiness and Response Management andLabor Studies.Call 1-888-427-8500 or click here to visit www.NLC.edu for more information. Take the first step and apply today!
In solidarity,
Manny Herrmann
Online Mobilization Coordinator, AFL-CIO
P.S. Worried about how to pay for your degree? You can find out more about financial aid here. You could complete your degree in less than two years for less than $10,000.
If you apply now, take 50 percent off the application fee—and you can start taking classes in May.To find out more about the AFL-CIO, please visit our website at www.aflcio.org.
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"‘America’s Storage Shed’ Occupied" -- Wal-Mart shut down three warehouses in Southern California on Feb. 29 when Occupiers gathered in Mira Loma to show support for the region’s 118,000 storehouse workers, many of whom are underpaid and overworked.
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"Britain’s Young, Black, Jobless Males" -- Half of the U.K.’s black males aged 16 to 24 are unemployed—twice that of their white counterparts—according to unpublished government statistics acquired by The Guardian.
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Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107..
http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html
Listen to Native Voice One http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/nv1/ppr/index.shtml
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