In a close vote, the New Hampshire State Senate voted 12-11 to pass right-to-work (for less) in January. The bill then went to the Republican-controlled House for a vote and was expected to pass. The bill surprisingly failed in the House 200-177, with 32 Republicans voting against the measure.
The State House went even further and voted to indefinitely postpone consideration of right-to-work. This means that the N.H. House cannot vote on another right-to-work bill for the next two years. N.H. Governor Chris Sununu (R) was expected to sign the bill into law if it passed in the House.
Click here to read more from OneNewsNow.
According to the AFL-CIO, states that have enacted these so-called right-to-work laws have lower wages and incomes (about $6,000 less per year); little or no health insurance coverage and pay higher premiums; higher poverty rates; higher workplace fatality rates by 49 percent; and lower investments in education. These laws not only hurt unions, but the members who depend on the union as well.
Click here to go to the SMART TD Legislative Action Center (LAC) to contact your state or federal representatives and voice your opposition of right-to-work laws – and also, to voice your support of H.R. 233: two-person crews on all trains.
Author: amyr
Seymour Kramer, 70, retired alternate vice president, bus – west, died January 20, 2017. Kramer began his career as a bus operator for Laidlaw Transit in San Francisco in 1970. As a member of Local 1741, he served as president, vice general chairperson, general chairperson and delegate.
In 1991, he was elected to the UTU’s executive board and in 1994, Kramer was appointed to the position of alternate vice president, bus – west by the UTU board of directors. He was elected to that position at the 1995 UTU convention. During his time as general chairperson and alt. vice president, Kramer assisted with many contract negotiations and assisted in organizing properties that are still part of the bus department today.
In 1996, Kramer left his post as alt. vice president and later served as a mediator for the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Kramer is survived by his wife, Laurie Goldsmith; daughters Hannah and Sasha Kramer; sister Karen Florman and many friends.
Click here to leave condolences for the family.
SMART TD member and former railroad conductor, William “Butch” E. Young III died at the age of 74 on Feb. 15, 2017, in Chino, Calif. Family was his main priority, and Butch was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
He is survived by his wife Carol; son Mike, daughter-in-law Lisa and their boys Nathan and Garrett; son Danny and daughter-in-law Julie; and his sister Dianne Howard and brother-in-law Jim Howard.
Young served his country in the Vietnam War as a tank commander and rose to the level of sergeant. After his military service, he spent the rest of his life devoted to helping others in both his personal life and in his professional life. Most knew Young as a dedicated union man who loved his job and the people that he worked with.
He served as the UTU local chairperson for Local 113 in Winslow, Ariz., for 15 years and finished his career as the Coastlines general chairperson. He will be missed by his many friends and his family who held him so dearly, and he will be remembered always.
Memorial Services were private. Click here to leave condolences for the family.
Richard P. “DG” De Genova, 67, died Tuesday, February 14 surrounded by his family.
De Genova hired out with the Youngstown and Southern (Y&S) Railway while attending Youngstown State University (YSU). After receiving his BA in History/Secondary Education in 1972, he was a substitute teacher for the Struthers, Lowellville and Campbell, Ohio, high schools.
De Genova realized that his true passion was the railroad and hired out as a brakeman with the then B&O Railroad (now CSX) in August of 1973. Throughout his career, he held the positions of brakeman, road conductor and yardmaster. A member of Local 1948 in Youngstown, Ohio, De Genova served the union as general chairperson for CSX B&O Yardmasters (GCA 247) for 24 years. He settled countless claims for the membership and worked tirelessly to defend the rights of the membership.
In his free time, De Genova was a history buff who enjoyed reading historical books and watching documentaries. He was also a fan of the Cleveland Indians and other local baseball teams.
De Genova is survived by his wife of 38 years, Phyllis (Gallas); two daughters, Angela (Jonathan) Bellack and Natalie De Genova; parents, Mary K. and Joseph De Genova; and sister, Barb (Gary) Roberts. He was preceded in death by an infant son, Patrick.
Visiting hours are Friday, Feb. 17 from 5-8 p.m. at the Higgins-Reardon Funeral Home, 2726 Center Rd., Poland, OH 44514. A prayer service will be held Saturday, Feb. 18 at 9:30 a.m. at the funeral home. A mass of Christian burial will follow at 10 a.m. at the Holy Family Parish, 2729 Center Rd., Youngstown, OH 44514.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Beatitude House, 238 Tod Lane, Youngstown, OH 44504-1714, or online at www.beatitudehouse.com.
Click here to read De Genova’s official obituary and to leave condolences.
SMART TD extends their condolences to the De Genova family, friends and all who knew De Genova.
Source: Cleveland.com, 2/13/17
COLUMBUS, Ohio – On February 13, 2017, Rep. John Becker (R) introduced H.B. 53, a Right-to-Work measure designed to weaken collective bargaining rights for public and private employees.
H.B. 53 would allow public sector employees to opt out of joining a unio
n or paying union dues, and would eliminate state mandated “fair share” or agency fees used for collective bargaining purposes.
Current state law allows collective bargaining agreements to require collection of “fair share” fees from non-union employees.
The measure would also enable unions to opt out of representing employees who choose not to join.
Read more here.
Left: Dr. King’s quote on ‘right to work’ lie.
According to the National Review. com, a jury in Madison county, Wisconsin ruled against Union Pacific Railroad by awarding $7.5 million in damages to a former railroad worker for contracting severe illnesses that were deemed directly linked to his longterm exposure to creosote and other toxic materials during his 31-year career as a railroad worker. Read the complete article here.
According to an article posted by LaTimes.com, despite taxpayer support and route expansion, bus ridership with Los Angeles County’s Metropolitan Transit Authority (Metro) has dropped considerably over the past several years. Conversely, commuter rail ridership has increased, prompting Metro officials to look at possible long-term plans for commuter rail expansion. Read the complete article here.
The Alaska Railroad announced Friday, Feb. 10 that they will lay off 31 people and eliminate 18 vacant positions, 8 percent of its workforce. Employees were told on Friday that their last day will be March 13. The positions being eliminated range from interns to vice president-level jobs.
The railroad has 609 full-time employees and hires approximately 150 more employees in the summer months to help with increased traffic in passenger rail.
Since 2008, Alaska Railroad has eliminated more than 300 year-round positions.
Click here to read more from the Alaska Dispatch News.
Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich explains why “Right-to-Work” legislation is wrong for working families.
John Henry Hines Jr., 69, died Feb. 4 at a local rehabilitation facility after battling ill health for the past couple of years.
Hines hired out as a conductor/brakeman in 1969 with the Seaboard Coast Line Railroad (now CSX) at the Hermitage and Brown St. yards in Richmond, Va. After those yards closed, he worked out of the Acca Yard, also in Richmond.
“John was a passionate union man and loved his members and his work,” said retired Human Rights Committee Director Miles R. Cunningham Jr.
As a member of Local 924 in Richmond, Hines rose to president of the local and vice local chairperson. He was instrumental in working on the agreements of the RF&P and SCL equity issues.
“He was a pioneer African American in the trainman’s ranks. John became a yard brakeman and conductor on the Seaboard Coast Line, a railroad in the south, at a time when we were just beginning to see black railroaders in roles other than the traditional roles of laborer, sleeping car attendant, car porter or dining car cook and waiter,” said Chapter 15 member Doug Riddell. “At a time when African Americans were just beginning to be begrudgingly integrated into that part of the railroad workforce, John not only became active in the United Transportation Union, but ran for and was elected to local office. He gained the respect of his coworkers, black and white, for his willingness to be a leader.”
After retiring on disability in the 80’s, Hines went on to coordinate meetings with the Seaboard retirees group, which later became Chapter 15 of the Alumni Association.
“John was the heart and soul of our Seaboard retirees group – he always led us in prayer, kept up with other retirees and kept us informed on their conditions, and sometimes he even sang to us,” Riddell said. “He worried less about himself than he did about looking out for his fellow co-workers, friends and family. Physically and fraternally, John Henry Hines was a “Big, big man,” to borrow a line from the late Jimmy Dean.”
Hines is survived by his daughter, Ewana Hines; son, Dr. Zeno Hines; sister, Leuvenia Craighead; one nephew, four nieces and many other family and friends.
Click here to leave condolences for the family.