Category: Labor

By John Lawrence/ Will Blog for Food

The Republicans have Obama exactly where they want him: a failing economy with no chance for any significant job creation program. Why isn’t there any chance for a job creation program? Because Republicans control the House and have veto power in the Senate.

The Supreme Court on Monday blocked the massive sex-discrimination case female employees brought against Wal-Mart in a decision that might make it harder to bring future discrimination lawsuits against large corporations.

Last week was a milestone in journalism, as the Huffington Post exceeded the New York Times in Web traffic and cemented its role as a main rival to the Gray Lady. It was also noted that the combined AOL-Huffington Post newsroom staff of 1,300 people is now bigger than the Times’ 1,200 person newsroom staff. While much of the debate about the rivalry has focused on Huffington Post’s adoption of savvy Internet tactics versus the much more old-school New York Times, very little of the discussion has focused on where the two newsroom differ the most: their labor practices.

Remember when I wrote this article about Gaston, our mail man. Here is the latest news about him:

His daughter, Maiah Gianna was born on March 22, 2011. She weighed in at 6.75 pounds and was tiny at 18″. The post office offers a “twelve week bonding period” to get to know your child.

From the United Farm Workers

Our vital bill, the Fair Treatment for Farm Workers Act (SB 104) has passed the CA Senate and Assembly and will shortly go to Governor Jerry Brown.

The United Farm Workers has won solid laws to protect California farm workers who provide more than half of our nation’s produce. But with over 400,000 field workers migrating among 80,000 farms, these laws have not and cannot be enforced by the state of California.

Editor: This short history of Mexico was written for gringos because gringos are not taught anything about the real history of our close neighbor to the south in our classrooms. And this account stops at the Revoluccion.

Most North Americans don’t know too much of the history of our southern neighbor, even though our nation has been deeply involved in its internal affairs. This involvement over the last 150 years has led to the domination of Mexico’s economy by North American capitalists. To understand this relationship, and to understand why undocumented workers migrate north, we must trace Mexico’s history …

Editor: Here are several reports from local San Diego media on this issue.

Grocery Workers Get Support From Other Union Members

Union leaders say the Vons, Ralph’s and Albertson’s stores are trying to gut the worker’s health care plans, shifting up to 80 percent of the cost to the workers. The grocery chains say they’re are making a fair offer that gives workers access to excellent coverage. The AFL CIO Labor Council’s 190,000 members pledged to honor a possible strike.

By Monty Kroopkin / June 7, 2011

Saturday, June 4, 2011,the San Diego County Board of Supervisors was issued a warning. 700 County union members and their supporters rallied and picketed at the County Admin Building.

Many of the picket signs read: “More work, for less pay? No way!” and “Cut the Fat at the Top.” They marched around the County Center on Pacific Highway . They chanted. They ….

Mayor vows not to veto compromise budget as Council finds $9 million

By Craig Gustafson / SignOnSanDiego / June 6, 2011

The deep cuts once proposed for San Diego parks and libraries won’t happen and the ongoing “brownouts” of city fire engines will stop July 1 — six months ahead of schedule — under a budget approved Monday by the City Council.

Obama seems to be counting on the fact that the economy will recover on its own after the initial stimulus package. It’s starting to look like this was a bad bet. The Republicans of course have their job creation plan in place: lower taxes especially on the rich, less government spending and more deregulation or, in other words, the continuation of the transfer of wealth from the poor and middle class to the rich. However, this is precisely what has ruined the economy.

Editor: Here are a series of reports by the Center on Policy Initiatives – a labor-and-progressive-aligned think tank here in San Diego – about our San Diego County government, its employees, its revenues and services.

County Employees: Overworked and Undermined
County employees report chaotic system fails low-income residents

San Diego County Revenues and Reserves
While trailing in services, San Diego County amassed $2.2 billion in reserves

County Fiscal Policies Squeeze San Diego’s Core Public Services

Despite a budget surplus, the County of San Diego proposes to cut pay between 7 and 17 percent, for thousands of the lowest paid workers. This would harm not only their families, but the reduced buying power would ripple through the whole community. Our elected officials are NOT supposed to be in the business of REDUCING our community’s standard of living!