AMY TRAUB SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Amy Traub, writer and Huffington Post blogger did America some justice by responding to the insipid article in a Wall Street Journal editorial which blames the demise of our economy on public employee unions.  Please read on:

YOUR MAILMAN DIDN'T MAKE THE ECONOMY COLLAPSE

Huffington Post, February 4, 2010--  Forget about the too-big-to-fail banks: the real economic menace comes from the officer directing traffic downtown. That's the message of yesterday's preposterous Wall Street Journal editorial arguing that public employees - and their unions - "may be the single biggest problem" for the nation's economy. It's part of a mounting conservative effort to direct populist rage against public sector workers and build political will to slash public services, prevent tax increases on the wealthy, and deflect attention from the real causes of our economic decline. After all, why regulate risk-taking bankers when you can stick it to the guy who picks up the trash?

Conservatives' crusade against public employees is decades old, but it's received fresh momentum now that the recession is causing tax shortfalls that have strained public budgets. And the latest impetus comes from a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report finding that a slim majority of the nation's union members now work in the public sector.  (Scroll down to January 25 post to read related article)

To read the entire article, go here.

MONROE COUNTY PART-TIME WORKERS LAUNCH BLOGSPOT

Rochester, N.Y.--  On February 4, CSEA Monroe County Part-Time Workers Local 828 Unit 7401 officially launched a blog that will keep workers informed about news and information with respect to their union representation.

Don Wallace, Unit President of the Part Time Unit, says the blog is just one more way that he and his officers are continuing to reach out to such a diverse workforce.  Part-Time workers are employed at the Monroe County Hospital, Sheriff's Office, DMV, Department of Health, Parks Department and various other locations throughout the County.

CSEA Local 828 Unit 7401 has approximately 200 eligible workers who benefit from a contract that guarantees respect and democracy in the workplace.  The Unit is now in negotiations with the County for a new bargaining agreement and are hopeful for a resolution in the near future.  The Part-Time workers have been working without a contract since December 2008.

To visit the blogspot, go here or check out the link on the blog list on the right side of this page.

AFSCME SAYS PUT AN END TO DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL

"It's time to end Don't Ask, Don't Tell"

-Gerald W. McEntee

Washington, D.C. -- Gerald W. McEntee, president of the 1.6 million member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO (AFSCME), released the following statement on February 2 regarding President Obama’s efforts to end the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy:

“We are encouraged by the steps begun today by President Obama and the Pentagon to end the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy. More than 13,000 American troops have been discharged under this unjust policy that forces gay and lesbian Americans in our armed forces to serve in silence. Discrimination has no place in any American institution. It undermines our national security and the effectiveness of our military by discharging trained individuals who are essential members of military units. It undermines our values by requiring dishonesty and promoting a misguided notion that some Americans are not entitled to full equality.

“Our allies across the globe, including Britain, Canada, France and Israel, have many years of experience demonstrating that the service of openly gay and lesbian personnel does not impact the fighting effectiveness of their armed forces. America’s military will be stronger when we stop a policy that denies talented men and women the opportunity to serve our country with honesty. Discrimination against gay and lesbian service personnel undermines the spirit of equality that has shaped our country throughout our history. It offends our deepest values. It is time for Congress to act quickly to bring this relic of bigotry to an end.

“AFSCME is proud of the role we have played in working to end discrimination on the basis of race, religion, disability and sexual orientation. For thirty years, we have led the fight to eliminate the discrimination too many gay, lesbians, bisexual and transgender Americans face every day in our nation. We support President Obama’s effort to change this destructive and unnecessary policy. It is time to end ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’”

AFSCME’s 1.6 million members provide the vital services that make America happen. With members in hundreds of different occupations – from nurses to corrections officers, child care providers to sanitation workers – AFSCME advocates for fairness in the workplace, excellence in public services and prosperity and opportunity for all working families.
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GET ON THE BUS FEBRUARY 8

 SOME CUTS NEVER HEAL

Western New York State-- CSEA will participate in AFSCME's annual Lobby Day in Albany on Monday, Feb. 8. Help us lobby against the governor's proposed budget plan that targets the working poor and middle class.

Danny Donohue, president of CSEA said in press release dated January 19, "Governor David Paterson's unwillingness to address the misuse of $62 million in taxpayer money on temporary state workers should be evidence that there are still better budget choices to be made. Hiring and shortchanging temporary workers in dozens of state agencies for years on end is a misguided priority and a violation of the law. Before the governor asks union-represented state employees for concessions, he needs to change his own administration's practices that undermine working people."

He added, "CSEA will address these issues and so many others in the course of the weeks ahead with the objective of protecting jobs and services and their impact on the quality of life for New Yorkers."

Buses leave the Buffalo area at 5:30 a.m. and will arrive at the RIT Inn and Conference Center parking lot at 6:45 am. We will leave Rochester promptly at 7:00 am. To reserve your seat, call Political Action Coordinator Courtney Brunelle at 716-691-6555 or 1-866-568-7734. 

The return bus home is scheduled to arrive no later than 8 pm. Meals will be provided. A light breakfast, full lunch upon arrival to Albany, and a light dinner will be provided.

Take advantage of this opportunity to visit our state’s capital and let our state legislators know what issues matter to our working families!

NYS LABOR COMMISSIONER BECOMES TOP U.S. LABOR LAWYER

M. Patricia Smith

Washington, D.C.--  On February 1, The Senate voted 60-32 to end debate on the nomination of M. Patricia Smith, clearing her way for confirmation as solicitor of labor and breaking the stranglehold Republicans had put on her to be the nation's top labor lawyer.

President Obama nominated Smith nine months ago, where Republicans have been using any and all obstruction tactics to block a vote on her nomination.  She is currently New York state's labor commissioner.

Prior to being named labor commissioner of New York, Smith served for 20 years as an attorney in the Labor Bureau of the New York state Attorney General’s Office, working for both Democratic and Republican administrations. She represented New York in cases involving its labor standards, workplace safety and health, unemployment insurance, apprentice training and prevailing wage statutes.

The solicitor of labor oversees enforcement of the nation's most important labor laws and set enforcement priorities.  To read an AFL-CIO blog on this development, please click here.