The right to work “for less” garbage proposed in New Mexico was voted down and trashed by the pro-worker majority on the state’s Senate Public Affairs Committee, a major victory for working families across the state who spoke out against the controversial proposal in public hearings, rallies and town hall meetings held across the state.
By blocking the measure, the committee took a giant step toward ensuring a positive future for New Mexico families.
The bill was defeated just a day after Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker signed a right to work for less bill into law in his state. New Mexico legislators saw the bill for what it really is—an attack on the middle class. After hearing more than two hours of public testimony from concerned citizens this week, the eight-member committee voted to table the bill by an overwhelming party line vote of 5 to 3.
Author: paul
On March 6th, Sheet Metal Local 71 in Buffalo won a representation election at Renzenberger, Inc. This came by way of a unanimous vote by the company’s drivers for SMART representation. The election was a three way race between SMART, an independent union called the National Production Workers Union and a vote for no representation.
Fifty three new members comprise the unit which comes in addition to election victories in Binghamton and Rochester, NY. Local 71 organizer Joe DeCarlo was heavily involved in this victory through his work in keeping the workers together during the campaign.
Renzenberger has over 200 locations across 31 states and provinces with a fleet of over 1,700 vehicles and drivers. The company provides crew transportation services for North America’s largest railroads by shuttling employees in between destinations. In addition to the railroad industry, the company also shuttles oil and gas crews to their work sites.
The campaign started when a SMART TD Local 1566 Chairman, Brian Sharky contacted Local 71 about organizing these drivers since they were in direct contact with his members on the railroad. The campaign progressed from there and will continue to grow as SMART starts engaging with more Renzenberger drivers throughout North America.
Under the banner of the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) Work Boots on the Ground program, members of the Columbus Metal Trades Council (CMTC) volunteered their time and skills on Saturday, Feb. 21, to inspect six boat docks and 66 boat slips at Florence Marina State Park for electrical hazards and make needed repairs, saving the park $1,500 to $2,000.
James Carr, Curtis Culpepper and Mike Culpepper, members of Electrical Workers Local 613, along with project leader Dave Hall, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 85, and Trish Carr looked for exposed wiring, broken receptacle covers, bad ground fault circuit interrupters and other hazards that could put boat slip tenants and park visitors at risk.
Launched in 2010, Work Boots on the Ground brings together union members willing to volunteer their time and expertise to projects that conserve wildlife habitat, educate future generations of sportsmen and women, improve public access to the outdoors or restore America’s parks. Sitting at the northern end of 45,000-acre Lake Walter F. George in Omaha, GA, Florence Marina State Park is popular among a variety of outdoor enthusiasts, especially anglers and boaters. As with most state parks, it is managed with a tight budget.
“If there were any exposed wires or other electrical issues, and a renter or guest slipped into the water, it could cause serious bodily injury. The inspection helps prevent hazards and minimize risks,” said Tracy Yearta, park manager of Florence Marina State Park and Providence Canyon State Park. “Lots of these projects have to be funded by the department and, with funding the way it is, it’s very critical to bring in outside resources. Their [CMTC volunteers] skills and leadership ability is exactly what we need.”
Yearta first saw their skills and leadership in action in 2014 when CMTC volunteers cleared a 7-mile hiking trail and restored scenic views at nearby Providence Canyon State Park—Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon.
According to Hall, “Everybody was happy doing it…there was a sense of pride in knowing that we helped out the local community. The very next month at our meeting, everybody was exciting, smiling, happy. Some of the same volunteers wanted to do another project.”
This summer and fall, the volunteers will renovate Florence Marina State Park’s waste water treatment facility and install additional campsites at the park.
On February 24, 2015, Glenn Steele, an engineer in Los Angeles, CA was involved in a horrible train accident that was no fault of his own. After departing Metrolink station in Oxnard, his train hit a truck that was left parked on the tracks. The conductor and his student engineer both sustained injuries but were released that day after receiving treatment. Brother Steele, on the other hand, was not so lucky and left us on March 3rd.
His friends, family and brothers and sisters at the BLET created a gofundme account to help his family in this terrible time of need.
Please contact your Congressman and urge them to support a clean version of H.R. 749 the Passenger Rail Reform and Infrastructure Act. (PRRIA)
This important legislation funds and sustains a key component of our national transportation system.
We fully support this legislation despite having concerns that the bill does not provide Amtrak with the funding levels it needs to make needed repairs and upgrades to an aging system. As Amtrak’s annual budget requests have established, its aging fleet needs replacing and the system faces significant and disruptive renovations to tracks, bridges, tunnels, and other infrastructure in the coming years.
This bill is an important step in bringing long-term stability and investment to America’s passenger rail operations. Once again, we urge you to support a clean PRRIA bill and look forward to working with you to create the transportation network that Americans want and deserve.
To contact your Congressman click here
Tens of thousands of union members and supporters turned out for a massive rally in the Wisconsin state capital of Madison on Saturday February 28th. Among them were hundreds of SMART members and family members who will be effected by the Wisconsin GOP’s attack on organized labor.
After stating numerous times that he had no intention of considering right to work (for less) legislation, Scott Walker indicated in late February that he would sign a right to work bill once it came to his desk. At and appearance at CPAC (the Conservative Political Action Committee) on February 26, Walker not only iterated that he would sign the bill, but also bragged about his role in turning Wisconsin into what is expected to become the 25th right work state in America.
Transportation Division Pennsylvania State Legislative Director Paul Pokrowka had a meeting with Pennsylvania House of Representatives Transportation Committee Chairperson John Taylor (R-Dist. 177) Feb. 25 seeking his support of a two-person rail crew law in the state. Taylor pledged his support and said he would draft the two-person crew bill.
Pokrowka asks that SMART members in the state contact Taylor to thank him for his support and ask him to keep his promise to draft the bill. “Because Rep. Taylor is the chairperson of the Transportation Committee, any member in the state can contact him,” Pokrowka said. “You do not need to be a resident of his district.”
Members can reach Rep. Taylor by calling him at (717) 787-3179 or writing him at 214 Ryan Office Building, P.O. Box 202177, Harrisburg, PA 17120-2177. Members can also contact Rep. Taylor by visiting his website at www.reptaylor.com/Contact.aspx.
Rallies against Right to Work for less and the repeal of the prevailing wage are currently being planned across Wisconsin. On Monday, February 23rd, a rally is scheduled in Milwaukee at 5pm in Zeidler Park while two more are scheduled for the State Capitol in Madison on Tuesday and Wednesday (February 24th and 25th) both at noon.
These come in response to the Wisconsin GOP’s plans to introduce a right to work bill this week in the state legislature. Last year, House and Senate Republicans refused to discuss plans for any right to work legislation in Wisconsin and the Governor himself even called any potential legislation a “distraction” that he had no desire for.
Republican leaders in Wisconsin are fast-tracking right-to-work for less legislation and Gov. Scott Walker’s spokeswoman said Friday he would sign the measure, despite refusing to say whether he would do so in his re-election campaign last year.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said that the Legislature would call an extraordinary session and allow votes on the legislation that could occur within a week.
The legislation hasn’t been introduced yet, but such measures allow non-union workers to opt out of paying dues and become free-riders while enjoying all of the benefits of union representation while contributi
ng nothing to it.
Senate Minority Leader Jennifer Shilling, a La Crosse Democrat, says pursing right-to-work is an absurd distraction. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, a Kenosha Democrat, says right-to-work would only make things worse in a state that’s still struggling to jumpstart its economy.
SMART General President Joseph Nigro has sent a letter to all Wisconsin members, notifying them of the imminent legislation and pledging the full resources of the International to assist in fighting it off. Wisconsin Members can take action at this link.
Prevailing wage (Davis-Bacon) laws ensure that we have a highly skilled construction workforce and that our infrastructure is built safely under local area standards. This skilled workforce produces higher productivity, better efficiency, and superior workmanship, which reduces cost while ensuring taxpayers benefit from quality projects. Because local wage rates are set as prevailing on local publicly funded projects, local workers are protected and the money spent on those projects go right back into the local economy through money spent at local businesses and through income tax revenue.
Right now, across the United States, a big push is being made by deep pocketed financial interests and anti-union groups like the Associated Builders and Contractors to eliminate the prevailing wage from local and state funded projects.
They are doing this under the misleading perception that paying less for low cost labor will result in cost savings for local contractors, when time after time again, in studies and in real world examples, those ideas have been found to be wrong. In fact, the elimination of prevailing wage laws have led to massive increases in cost overruns and expensive change orders.
Your state senators and house members need to hear from their constituents, urging them to NOT repeal the prevailing wage.
You, your family, friends and co-workers can make an enormous difference by taking five minutes and sending a message to your state lawmakers about the importance and the benefits of the prevailing wage.
Click here to take action.