[Educationforall] spam con huevos labor news, views and concerns, 5.11.12‏‏‏‏-I‏‏‏‏

[Carlos Pelayo]

Lockheed strike‏ RoseAnn DeMoro on Bill Moyers and Nominated for "Modern Healthcare Top 100"‏ SEIU-UHW members just won a great contract at Kaiser!‏  Seniors' Social Security Garnished for Student Debts  Caught on Camera: Scott Walker's Blow to Collective Bargaining is Part of "Divide and Conquer" Plan to Destroy Unions  More Than 200,000 Americans Will Lose Unemployment Benefits This Weekend (Even Though There Are Still No Jobs)  Here's Over One Hundred Products Made From Child Or Slave Labor (GRAPHIC)  You can help send 1,500 more workers to UFW convention next week‏ Video:Health workers protests in Bolivia‏Stamp Out Hunger Saturday‏ 
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Lockheed strike enters third week; workers fight to protect their pensions

May 8, 2012 by William Rogers 

http://leftlaborreporter.wordpress.com/2012/05/08/lockheed-strike-enters-third-week-workers-fight-to-protect-their-pensions/

As the third week of a strike by 3,600 Lockheed-Martin
workers who belong to IAM Local 776 began on May 7, the
company announced that its first quarter profits were
20 percent higher than during the same period last year
and that it would be paying a quarterly dividend of $1
per share effective June 1, 2012.

A month earlier, Lockheed CEO Bob Stevens announced
that he was retiring effective January 2013. When he
does, his retirement security will be intact thanks to
his two Lockheed pension plans worth $22.5 million.

"We would think that Mr. Stevens would agree with us
that it's nice to have a good pension," said a posting
on the website of IAM Local 776, which represents the
striking Lockheed workers in Fort Worth, Texas, Edwards
Air Force Base, California, and Pax River Naval Air
Station, Maryland.

But it appears that Mr. Stevens thinks that only the
wealthiest deserve a good pension. Lockheed demanded
that its new contract with Local 776 eliminate pensions
for new hires, which is likely the first step toward
eliminating pensions for all its union workers.

When companies eliminate pension plans for new hires,
often their next step is to freeze pensions for workers
still eligible for pensions, writes Paul Black, Local
776 president, in a column that appeared in the Fort
Worth Star Telegram's editorial page. After freezing
the plans, it becomes easier to eliminate them
altogether, which is what led more than 90 percent of
Local 776 members to reject the contract offer and go
on strike.

Lockheed has already demonstrated that it would like to
eliminate pensions. In 2006, it replaced the pensions
of its non-union workers with individual savings plans
that may or may not provide a secure retirement
depending on how well the market does and how much a
worker and her employer contribute to the plan.

In her book, When I'm Sixty-four: The Plot Against
Pensions and the Plan to Save Them, Teresa Ghilarducci
writes that there is no evidence to suggest that
"typical workers can accumulate enough assets (in
individual savings plans) to fund a comfortable
retirement."

According to Ghilarducci, corporations want to
eliminate pensions because good pensions mean that
workers don't have to work as much to obtain a decent
standard of living in their old age, which gives
workers more bargaining leverage when it comes to
determining wages and other benefits.

When employers can take away this bargaining leverage,
they can make their workers work longer and harder for
less money. "The loss in secure pensions shifts market
power from workers to employers," writes Ghilarducci.
"And that means that the value of the reduction in
workers' wages is shifted to an increased value in
employers' profits!"

Lockheed has posted on its website a calculator that
estimates workers' lost wages during the strike, but
the calculator can't tell workers how much smaller
their retirement savings will be without a pension plan
nor how much money and benefits they will lose without
the bargaining leverage that secure pensions provide.

This shift in bargaining power that Ghilarducci
describes is one reason unions like Local 776 have
been fighting so hard to hang on to their pension
plans. Other workers are starting to realize that if a
big union like Local 776 has its bargaining leverage
reduced, it will have a ripple effect in the labor
market.

As a result, the striking workers have begun to receive
support from other unions including the Brotherhood of
Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, IAM locals 2511,
2768, 2513, and 2011, the Tarrant County (Fort Worth)
Labor Council, the Transportation Communications Union,
FITU Local 900, UFCU Local 540, UAW Local 218, IBEW,
and the Doctors' Guild.

People in the larger community have been supporting
them as well. Organizers of the Austin May Day
demonstration took up a collection for the strikers,
and it will be delivered to them by John Patrick,
secretary-treasurer of the Texas AFL-CIO. A number of
local businesses and individuals have donated to
strikers.

"This fight for benefits is happening across our
nation," Black said in a statement about Lockheed's
quarterly report. "While corporations like Lockheed
(are) racking up big profits, they are working every
day to take away money and benefits from their
employees. . . . A profitable company can afford to
share those profits with those that do the tough and
highly skilled work that creates the profit."

____________________________________________

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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  Inside this issue:1. NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro on Bill Moyers Show this Sunday2. "Modern Healthcare Top 100" Please VOTE for RoseAnn DeMoroBill Moyers Interviews National Nurses Director RoseAnn DeMoro Sunday on Call for Robin Hood Tax
NNU Executive Director RoseAnn DeMoro with Journalist Bill MoyersNEW YORK - Moyers & Company, a current affairs program featuring Bill Moyers and airing on PBS stations nationwide, will run a segment this Sunday evening with RoseAnn DeMoro, executive director of National Nurses United, the largest union and professional association of registered nurses in the country, with 170,000 members. The interview focuses on the union's call for a Robin Hood Tax, a sales tax on Wall Street speculation that could raise up to $350 billion a year in revenue.Airing Sunday 6 p.m. on most PBS stationsView and share the show preview featuring RoseAnn DeMoro
 Check show times and schedules
 Read the NNU press releaseMoyers talks to NNU/CNA Executive Director DeMoro, who will lead a Chicago march protesting economic inequality on May 18. DeMoro is championing the Robin Hood Tax, a small government levy the financial sector would pay on commercial transactions like stocks and bonds. The money generated, which some estimate to be as much as $350 billion annually, could be used for social programs and job creation — ultimately to people who, without a doubt, need it more than the banks do.Though the power and influence of Big Banking is intimidating, DeMoro and her organization have an inspiring history of defeating some of the toughest opponents in government and politics.RoseAnn DeMoro Nomination for 11th Year of the "Modern Healthcare Top 100" list
Please Vote for Her and Ask Friends and Colleagues to Join You!Show your support for National Nurses United Leader RoseAnn DeMoro hereShe's made the list for 10 years in a row, and this is great prestige for our organizations and a well-deserved recognition for RoseAnn. So please be sure to vote and ask friends, coworkers and others to join you in voting for RoseAnn DeMoro.Since NNU was founded in December 2009, from the affiliation of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, former United American Nurses, and the Massachusetts Nurses Association, NNU has been one of the fastest-growing organizations in the U.S. winning representation for 11,000 RNs at 24 hospitals in nine states. Today, NNU represents more than 170,000 RNs.

Additionally, NNU has been a leader in sponsoring and achieving landmark patient reforms, such as nurse-to-patient ratios and limits on managed care abuses, winning record improvements for direct-care RNs, and campaigning for the most far-reaching healthcare reform to expand Medicare to cover everyone.

Currently, NNU is campaigning for a change in national priorities, including a tax on Wall Street financial speculation to raise needed revenue for jobs, healthcare, education, housing, and other human needs, a Main Street Contract for America. Please vote for RoseAnn DeMoro today!UNSUBSCRIBE | www.NationalNursesUnited.org | www.MainStreetContract.org
National Nurses United | 8630 Fenton Street, Suite 1100 Silver Spring, MD 20910

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 Hello UHW supporter,I have great news!We just reached a fantastic contract deal for 45,000 SEIU-UHW members at Kaiser!Our new national agreement with Kaiser not only maintains all of our benefits and provides good raises, but will help us get healthier and gives us the opportunity to promote better health in our community – right in line with our “Let’s Get Healthy California!” campaign. Learn more here.With this huge victory at Kaiser, we’re on a “Let’s Get Healthy” roll…Just last week, we announced a historic partnership with the California hospital industry to work together to improve quality and lower the costs of healthcare.And the Governor of California just adopted our ‘Let’s Get Healthy’ campaign as the official policy of the state, and will be working with us to reduce chronic disease and make Californians healthier.It’s clear that when SEIU-UHW members take action together for better health, quality care, and good jobs, nothing can stand in our way.So let’s do it! Let's get healthy, California!In Unity,Alexandra Ivanovsky
Kaiser Roseville    SEIU United Healthcare Workers - West 560 Thomas L. Berkley Way, Oakland, CA 94612
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http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/SocialSecurity/5-12-08-SS-StudentLoans.htm

Seniors' Social Security Garnished for Student Debts Ellen Brown, Truthout: "A sizeable chunk of US student loan debt is held by senior citizens, many of whom are not only unemployed but unemployable.... Two million US seniors age 60 and over have student loan debt, on which they owe a collective $36.5 billion. Almost a third of all student loan debt is held by people aged 40 and over and 4.2 percent is held by people over the age of 60. The total student debt is now over $1 trillion, more even than credit card debt." Read the Article 

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http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/928446/caught_on_camera%3A_scott_walker%27s_blow_to_collective_bargaining_is_part_of_%22divide_and_conquer%22_plan_to_destroy_unions/

Caught on Camera: Scott Walker's Blow to Collective Bargaining is Part of "Divide and Conquer" Plan to Destroy UnionsBy Ed Kilgore | Washington Monthly
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http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/928441/more_than_200%2C000_americans_will_lose_unemployment_benefits_this_weekend_%28even_though_there_are_still_no_jobs%29/#paragraph4

More Than 200,000 Americans Will Lose Unemployment Benefits This Weekend (Even Though There Are Still No Jobs)By Pat Garotalo | Think Progress
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http://www.alternet.org/rss/breakingnews/928067/here%27s_over_one_hundred_products_made_from_child_or_slave_labor_%28graphic%29/?akid=8765.16102.1mtnGl&rd=1&t=16 
Here's Over One Hundred Products Made From Child Or Slave Labor (GRAPHIC)By The Huffington Post News Editors | Huffington Post
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May 11, 2012Cesar Chavez was a personal hero and dear friend. For that reason, nothing pleases me more than to be on the honorary committee to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Cesar Chavez’ United Farm Workers.For half-a-century, the UFW has worked tirelessly to increase awareness among the American consumer of the reality within the fields. They have struggled to not only fight to empower farm workers, but also to emphasize how the laws on the books are not the laws in the fields.50 years ago farm workers didn’t even have a voice. Today, they still face conditions most of us can’t imagine happening in America. Things like being denied a few minutes to go use the bathroom. Things like having to spend hour after hour in the searing – often without being provided a simple cup of drinking water, let alone a five minute break in the shade.As long as these conditions exist, Cesar's dream of justice for the men, women and children working to put food on America’s tables will still exist.The UFW is working tirelessly to give workers the tools to create change. That’s why they want to bus 1,500 workers who are not under contract to the 50th Anniversary UFW Convention next week. Their participation will empower these workers to use these tools to change the lives of thousands more.Cesar Chavez spent his lifetime fighting to make a difference in the lives of farm workers.Now it is my turn. It is your turn. Let us honor his legacy and life’s work together, by donating to get these workers on the bus.Martin Sheen
Actor/ActivistPut 1,500 workers on the bus to the UFW ConventionThe UFW will be holding its 50th Anniversary Convention one week from today, from May 18 thru May 20th, at Bakersfield's convention center.

UFW members will be attending this event where the UFW will celebrate the past and present and even more importantly plan for the future. This historic event will be huge. It will cost $500,000 to stage the convention, including housing, feeding and transporting the 800 delegates, alternates and their families.  

In addition, on Sunday the UFW wants to bus in an additional 1,500 workers as they focus on organizing new workers. It is crucial for farm workers who do not yet have the benefit of a union contract to attend, so they can strategize about how to obtain one. Help determine what will the future will hold for these workers by making a donation towards the cost of busing in these extra farm workers. 

The 30 extra buses needed to transport these 1,500 workers from the Salinas, Oxnard, Stockton and Madera areas and feeding them for the day will cost $99,000 or $66 per worker. Can you make a donation to help the UFW cover these costs?
https://secure.ufw.org/page/contribute/50thbuses
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Bolivian strikers clash with policePlay videoHealthcare workers who have gone on strike in Bolivia have clashed with police over plans to introduce longer working hours. Al Jazeera's Adam Raney reports.00:01:13Added on 5/10/12295 viewsVideo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KS5xHWZveeU
Health workers protests in BoliviaPosted by boliviadiary on 05/11/2012 · Leave a Comment 10 May 2012Dario Kenner, La PazUpdates on Bolivia: https://twitter.com/dariokennerFacebook: http://www.facebook.com/BoliviaDiarySometimes it seems like there is a protest or blockade every day somewhere in Bolivia. But at the moment there are quite a few happening at the same time over various issues (see updated calendar of protests).As Andean Information Network summarisesVarious unions and organizations reject legislation or measures implemented by the Morales administration.  Most notably, since March 28, public health workers, doctors, and medical students have protested a supreme decree, increasing their workday from 6 to 8 hours. Although the Bolivian government promised on May 6 to suspend the measure until it meets with workers and medical students at the end of July, protests continue.  Bolivia’s central labor union, the COB has joined these protests, asking for their own agenda including increasing the minimum wageToday marked 42 days of protests by health workers who reject an increase in their working hours without extra pay (Decree 1126) and who also want improvements in the public health sector. The Morales government has tried to dialogue and has suspended Decree 1126 but health workers say they will only start dialogue once it is repealed (more background).Medical students clashed with Bolivian police (credit: Mike Murray)Since 28 March health workers have only been attending to emergency cases which have caused huge disruption. An indication of how long this has been going on for was on tonight´s evening news. One newsreader said she hoped there could be a dialogue to overcome the stalemate, in response her colleague just sighed heavily.Today there were more clashes between medical students and the police in Cochabamba and also in central La Paz, particularly near to the Health Ministry. I decided to go and see what was happening and spoke to one of the student leaders Miguel Angel Urquieta Maldonado, Medicine Faculty, UMSA.“The government thinks that increasing 2 hours of work will improve the service. But as health workers we will never say no to a patient. Sometimes we work 48 hours at a time. Working 2 extra hours for free is unacceptable. We need new equipment to replace the old stuff that is 50 years old. We need more hospitals”“Everyone, like street vendors, pay for our education because we are part of the public health system. We want concrete policies to improve the health service for our future patients”“Our marches are peaceful but all of them have been repressed by the police (the police claim the students in Cochabamba have used molotov cocktails. Today a Vice Interior Minister was hit in the head with a rock in La Paz). Meanwhile the police did nothing about the transport workers who were blockading the streets on Monday and Tuesday. The government says we are manipulated but we just want a decent education because we are the future professionals. The 6 hour day was down to the struggle under neo-liberal governments. The 6 hour day is the basis of the entire health system”“The Bolivian Constitution (approved in 2009) says there will be free universal health care that is equal for all. But in two mandates the Evo Morales government has not managed to fulfil what it says in the Constitution. The health insurance is only for those who have money”Bolivian police defend the Health Ministry in central La Paz (credit: Dario Kenner)I wanted to know why the protests were still happening if Decree 1126 has been suspended by President Morales. Miguel explained: “Decree 1126 affects our education. Increasing from 6 to 8 hours means doctors´ can´t teach us. At the moment they work for 6 hours in the hospital and then the other 2 can give us practical lessons. Suspending a decree does not exist as legal term. You either repeal it or implement it”“The government says it will hold a summit with civil society in July. The problem is the University will only have one space to represent them. There will be government allies like the cocaleros (coca growers union which President Morales still leads) and the Bartolinas (National Confederation of Native Indigenous Peasant Women “Bartolina Sisa”) there which is fine because it is a public arena. But when we get into more technical issues that is when health workers have to be present”.I asked Miguel what they will do in the future. “We don´t want what happened with the TIPNIS issue to happen to us. The march (first anti-road march) got to La Paz with overwhelming public support against the road. The government passed a law banning the road and then a few months later it passed another law (to start aconsultation process) and definitely wants to build the road. We are not going to let them mess us around like they have done on the TIPNIS issue”“We started peaceful protests and they have all been repressed. Now we are holding massive marches. If the government does not listen we will surround the cities”. It is unlikely this would happen but it shows how determined the health workers and students are to continue pressing for their demands to be met.While limited resources makes improving health care a challenge for the Morales government it is difficult to see health workers and students giving in any time soon. The pressure of the other protests happening at the moment like trade unions demanding salary increases and the second march by indigenous movements against a road through the TIPNIS might just force the government to back down on this issue.Medical students march in central La Paz (credit: Dario Kenner)
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May 11, 2012
Only half of those who graduated college between 2006 and 2011 have full-time jobs, says a new study. Find out more here.Help “Stamp Out Hunger” Saturday by joining the Letter Carriers’ 20th annual food drive—the largest one-day food drive in the nation. Collect canned goods and dry food and leave them in a bag or box by your mailbox. Your letter carriers will pick them up as they deliver your mail. Read more and comment.  College Grads: Hard Work Plus Education Alone Don’t Lead to Success Unity Runs Strong in Wisconsin Recall Race IAFF’s Mitchell Ready to ‘Restore Integrity' to Wisconsin Government Romney says Obama ‘Takes His Marching Orders’ from Unions Corporate Research Course Set for June 10–15 Labor, Politics and Brazil’s TransformationRead more important news of the day on the issues working families care about.Follow the AFL-CIO:
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