Angell Animal Hospital workers, your contract expires November 15, 2008, and we'd like to hear your opinions on how we can best help you get the contract you want. Click here to be taken to the survey.
Thank you!
Thursday, May 22 is Health Care Action Day!
Rally for Health Care for All,
Not Cuts in Health Insurance Benefits!
On May 22, thousands of workers and community activists will wear stickers, hold rallies and do other creative actions to promote health care reforms that will cover everyone, control costs, and improve the quality of care.
IBEW and CWA members at Verizon facilities across Massachusetts and Rhode Island have invited all labor activists and supporters of health care reform to join them at events for Health Care Action Day.
Verizon is just one of many companies attempting to pressure its employees to pay more for the cost of their health insurance. But shifting premium costs to employees is not a solution. It won't hold down skyrocketing health care costs or improve the quality of care. It only lets employers avoid their responsibility to work for real solutions.
When workers stand up to their employers to prevent shifting benefit costs, it puts pressure on management to begin working for a real national solution -- instead of hiding their heads in the sand.
All working people need secure, affordable health care coverage, even if they get laid-off, change jobs or work part time. Only a "Medicare for All" reform that would improve and expand our national Medicare program can provide that kind of coverage. On May 22, help send a message to corporate America and our elected officials that we're ready to fight for it!
Locations
Andover @ 12:00 PM
Shattuck Road, Andover, MA 01810
Boston @ 12:00 PM
185 Franklin St., Boston MA
Boylston @ 3:30 PM
170 Shrewsbury St. (Rt 140) Worcester, MA 01545
Our official title is Chapter 3 Firemen and Oilers Local 615. We are now officially merged with SEIU Local 615 as an independent, autonomous chapter. Look for a fresh, new site soon!
We've just learned that a US-based company, Golden Star Resources, is planning to expand the Prestea Mine in Southwest Ghana—a plan that threatens communities surrounding the mine.
The Prestea Mine has posed challenges to the rights and livelihoods of the people who live around it. Since 2001, this has included two cyanide spills and a violent confrontation between community members and mine guards. The expansion plans involve leveling low-income housing and schools—and it’s all being done without adequate consideration for community concerns.
Be fair for those who care! Many Boston hospital workers are struggling to make ends meet on wages that don't reward their years of labor. Come to the 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers East rally on May 8, 2008, at 4 pm on Brookline Avenue in the Longwood Medical area to support free and fair elections.
The Boston Central Labor Council wants you to know that McCain is WRONG on Healthcare. You'll see many issues on that link where John McCain is just plain WRONG for working families. Pass it along.
Are You a supervisor?
From Michael Capuano, Member of Congress:
The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), also known as the Wagner Act, was a landmark piece of legislation, passed in the 1930s, allowing most workers in the private sector to organize labor unions, engage in collective bargaining, and take part in strikes. It also established the National Labor Relations Board, giving it the power to investigate and decide unfair labor practices. In recent years however, the NLRB has been used by the current administration to take away important worker rights and workplace protections guaranteed under the law.
As you know, in 2006 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decided to substantially change the definition of a supervisor so that the term may now include workers such as nurses, building and construction trade workers, and journalists. Prior to the decision, under Section 2(11) of the National Labor Relations Act, a supervisor is defined as an individual who “directs” employees using “independent judgment”. By choosing to broaden the definition of supervisor to those who are supervisors in name only, the NLRB has taken away the workplace rights of millions of workers who will no longer be able to unionize.
In order to overturn the NLRB’s decision and restore the intent of the NLRA, H.R. 1644 would amend the definition of supervisor to require that a supervisor have authority over employees for the majority of their work time. In addition it would remove the responsibility to “assign and direct other employees” from the criteria of what constitutes a supervisor, since the NLRB gave too much weight to these criteria when reaching their flawed decision. I hope you will be pleased to know that I am a cosponsor of this important legislation, which has been referred to the House Education and Labor Committee. Please be assured that I am following this issue very closely and I will continue to have your views in mind as this legislation moves forward.
