TRUCK DRIVERS STRIKE AT PORTS OF
LOS ANGELES AND LONG BEACH
Truck drivers and warehouse workers from companies serving Long Beach and Los Angles ports are out on strike. Accoring to a statement, "the truckers are protesting 'exploitation by greedy corporations using predatory subcontracting schemes, including misclassifying employees as independent workers in order to lower wages, deny them benefits such as health insurance, unemployment, and workers compensation".
To Register your vehicle, download registration form above and return via email to jgarcia@teamsters952.org or in person at Local Union Hall 952 located at 140 S. Marks Way, Orange CA 92686
If you have any questions please contact Jessica Garcia at (714) 740-6218
Centrist Republicans in Democratic-leaning districts face particularly furious constituents
By Natalie Andrews and Kristina Peterson April 14, 2017 1:22 PM ET
GOP House Leaders Pull Their Health Bill Opposing factions within the party deal a setback to President Trump, House Speaker Ryan By Siobhan Hughes and Kristina Peterson
Updated March 24, 2017 10:38 p.m. ET
C.B.O. Rates Republican Health Care Plan The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office on Monday released its estimates of the cost and coverage of the American Health Care Act, the Republican plan to replace the Affordable Care Act.
• Right-to-work laws block unions from charging nonmembers fees as part of the collective bargaining unit
By Tyrone Richardson and Ben Penn
The Trump administration reaffirmed support for right-to-work laws, days after House Republicans reintroduced a bill that would prevent unions from requiring nonmembers to pay representation fees.
“The president believes in right to work. He wants to give workers and companies the flexibility to do what's in the best interest for job creators,” White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said during the Feb. 3 daily news conference. “Obviously the vice president has been a champion of this as well.”
The National Right to Work Act (H.R. 785), introduced by Reps. Joe Wilson (S.C.) and Steve King (Iowa), would prohibit “union security” clauses in collective bargaining agreements, which require nonunion members who are covered by the agreements to pay representation fees. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Robert Pittenger (N.C.) and Jeff Duncan (S.C.), was referred to the Education and the Workforce Committee Feb. 1. Wilson is vice chairman of the committee.
Similar bills introduced in recent years didn't move, but supporters say GOP control of the White House and Congress could make this time different.
President Donald Trump expressed support for right-to-work laws on the campaign trail during his run for the White House.
Vice President Mike Pence is the former governor of Indiana, which is one of 27 states that has enacted right-to-work laws. That number could increase in coming months, as Missouri and New Hampshire lawmakers consider measures.
To contact the reporters on this story: Tyrone Richardson in Washington at trichardson@bna.com; Ben Penn in Washington at bpenn@bna.com
TEAMSTER HORIZON AIR PILOTS TAKE LEGAL ACTION TO PROTECT PASSENGERS, IMPROVE BUSINESS, MITIGATE GROWING STAFFING CRISIS
Pilots Say the Alaska Air-Owned Regional Carrier is Breaking the Law With Irresponsible Policies That Have Grounded Flights, Warn of Pilot Strike
(SEATTLE) – Pilots at the SeaTac-based Horizon Air took legal action against their employer on Friday, claiming that executives at the airline broke the law by violating the terms of a labor contract.
Horizon’s actions, the pilots say, are not only illegal, but also bad for business. In the face of a nationwide pilot shortage, Horizon is unable to hire and retain enough pilots to fly the company’s fleet of airplanes—a growing problem that is systemically disrupting the travel plans of loyal customers, jeopardizing the economic vitality of dozens of communities across the Pacific Northwest and risking the financial success of Horizon’s parent company, Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE:ALK).
Horizon Air was forced to cancel 720 flights in December 2016 because there were not enough pilots to fly scheduled routes. Alaska Air instead flew many of the routes on larger planes, adding a significant additional expense for Alaska Air and putting a strain on its staff and regularly scheduled flights.
Horizon’s ability to recruit and retain pilots is strained because pilots at Horizon make substantially less money than pilots at comparable airlines. From last summer through December, the pilots at Horizon had been negotiating with Horizon executives to alter compensation and resolve a severe staffing shortage.
Company executives broke faith with the negotiation process and began making unilateral changes to compensation – a drastic step that will not address the pilot shortage and violates the terms of the Railway Labor Act, a federal law which governs labor relations in the airline industry.
The pilots say they will make strike preparations if executives continue to put the financial stability of Horizon and Alaska at risk and violate the contract agreement. In a September 2016 survey of Horizon pilots, over 80 percent of respondents said they are ready to strike.
“Short-sighted maneuvers won’t solve the staffing problem, and as our airline continues to ground flights, the real victims will be the passengers, customers and communities in the Pacific Northwest that rely on Horizon Air for their livelihood,” said Capt. Jeff Cox, a longtime Horizon pilot and Executive Council Chairman of APA Teamsters Local 1224. “Many of us have worked at Horizon for decades, through thick and thin. We cannot stand idly by and watch executives destroy an operation that provides vital air services to communities throughout the Pacific Northwest.”
Recently, in a desperate attempt to recruit more pilots, Horizon and Alaska executives started offering new Horizon Air pilot recruits signing bonuses – a move that pilots confirm will do nothing to curb the massive retention issues for experienced pilots.
“A one-time payment to new recruits does nothing to address the pilot retention issues at Horizon Air that are already jeopardizing service,” continued Capt. Cox. “While they bring in millions in profits, Horizon and Alaska executives are trying to put a Band-Aid over gaping wounds and forcing our passengers to suffer. The only way we can continue serving our loyal customers in the months and years ahead is to offer industry-standard pay and benefits so we can recruit and retain skilled pilots. We also need a career path that allows Horizon pilots to grow in the nine-time J.D. Power award-winning Alaska family that we are so proud to be part of. The Horizon Air pilots remain ready and willing to negotiate with the company to resolve these long-term issues and are deeply disappointed that the company has not shown the same respect for the bargaining process.”
Alaska Air Group, Inc. brought in $700 million profits in the first nine months of 2016 and recently acquired Virgin America for $2.6 billion. Its subsidiary, Horizon Air, employs approximately 675 pilots and connects passengers on the West Coast, flying routes between Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Alberta and British Columbia in Canada.
Among 16 regional airlines similar in size – including PSA Airlines, Republic Airways, Mesa Airlines and ExpressJet – pay rates for new hires at Horizon Air rank second to last.
"The pilot family at Teamsters Local 1224 stands united with the Horizon pilots. We will not stand by and allow Horizon Air and Alaska Air executives to ignore the provisions of the contract and willfully disregard negotiations with the pilot group by unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of employment," said Daniel C. Wells, president of the Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224.
The lawsuit was filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
HOFFA: WITHDRAWAL FROM TPP THE RIGHT CHOICE FOR U.S. TRADE POLICY
Trump Administration Signals New Approach to Trade Policy
(WASHINGTON) – The following is a statement from Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa on President Donald Trump signing an executive order to formally withdraw the United States from the Trans Pacific Partnership. Withdrawal
“Today, President Trump made good on his campaign promise to withdraw the United States from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. With this decision, the president has taken the first step toward fixing 30 years of bad trade policies that have cost working Americans millions of good-paying jobs.
“The Teamsters Union has been on the frontline of the fight to stop destructive trade deals like the TPP, China PNTR, CAFTA and NAFTA for decades. Millions of working men and women saw their jobs leave the country as free trade policies undermined our manufacturing industry. We hope that President Trump’s meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Jan. 31 opens a real dialogue about fixing the flawed NAFTA.
“We take this development as a positive sign that President Trump will continue to fulfill his campaign promises in regard to trade policy reform and instruct the USTR to negotiate future agreements that protect American workers and industry.”
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.
Why Workers Everywhere Should Be
Scared by Kentucky's Assault on Unions
By John Nichols Twitter thenation.com
“A lot of working people voted for change in this election,” argued Bill Finn, the director of the Kentucky State Building and Construction Trades Council, as Kentucky legislators were shredding labor rights in the Bluegrass State. “They didn’t vote for this. They didn’t vote for a pay cut.”
Finn got that right. Kentucky Republicans launched the new year with a race to enact sweeping anti-labor legislation, and they weren’t concerning themselves with the question of whether they had a mandate to assault labor unions and undermine wages and workplace protections. They are moving immediately, aggressively, and thoroughly to implement an across-the-board assault on workers and the unions that represent them.
And with just two weeks to go before Donald Trump is inaugurated as president, Kentucky Republicans were doing something else. They were providing a powerful reminder of the threat to working families that arises when Republicans gain “trifecta control” (taking charge of the executive branch and both legislative chambers) of the governing process. Until this year, Democrats controlled the Kentucky House of Representatives and were able to block anti-labor legislation that was advanced by Republican Governor Matt Bevin and his allies in the Republican-controlled state Senate—with strong backing from national anti-union groups financed by the Koch brothers and other billionaire donors. But in November Republicans won a majority in the Kentucky House. That gave them complete control of the process, and they made it their first priority to approve anti-labor measures.
Union busting moved onto a fast track in Kentucky, where Republican legislators refused to even consider the arguments of workers, community leaders, responsible business owners, and academics who explained that assaults of worker rights do little or nothing to promote economic development—and much to harm working families. Among those expressing thoughtful opposition to the anti-union measures that were approved by Kentucky legislators was Bishop John Stowe of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lexington, who wrote in an open letter that “The weakening of unions by so-called ‘right to work’ laws, has been shown to reduce wages and benefits overall in the states where such laws have been enacted. This cannot be seen as contributing to the common good.”
When Republicans take full control of the executive and legislative branches of government, workers are threatened.
Unfortunately, there was no stopping Kentucky’s newly empowered Republicans. They were on a deliberate and determined mission that was not going to be delayed by economic, social, or moral arguments. “The chants of union workers were little deterrent to Gov. Matt Bevin and his GOP colleagues in the Kentucky House and Senate, who have made approving the bills their top priority of the 2017 General Assembly,” the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Wednesday. “Shouts and banging could be heard from the hallway, but the meeting room itself was packed with supporters as the House Committee on Economic Development and Workforce Investment passed House Bill 1, which would allow workers to avoid paying union dues even if they work under a union-negotiated contract, and House Bill 3, which would repeal the prevailing wage law.”
By the weekend, the anti-labor initiatives had been approved.
“Trump’s true priority [is] assaulting the rights of working people and helping corporate CEOs line their pockets.”
Kentucky is just one state. But this is not a one-state phenomenon. Kentucky Republicans followed a playbook written by Republican governors such as Wisconsin’s Scott Walker. That playbook suggests that, upon grabbing the reins of power, Republicans should move immediately to undermine unions that might support Democrats and that argue for maintaining public services and public education. Former Indiana governor Mike Pence, the incoming vice president, is a Walker-allied anti-labor zealot. And he is already working closely with House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Walker ally from Wisconsin, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who praised the anti-labor push in his homestate of Kentucky, on the new administration’s agenda. Trump has already sent a strong anti-labor signal with the nomination of corporate CEO Andrew Puzder, a harsh critic of proposals to raise the federal minimum wage, to serve as secretary of labor.
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No one should be fooled by this president-elect’s attempts to portray himself as a friend of workers. Trump and Pence were elected on a militantly anti-labor Republican platform that is dismissive of the federal minimum wage, declaring (in a stance similar to the one Trump appears to have evolved toward) that decisions about base hourly wages “should be handled at the state and local level.” That platform endorsed the anti-union “right-to-work” laws enacted by Republican governors such as Walker, and calls for taking the anti-union crusade national with a proposal “for a national law” along “right-to-work” lines. The 2016 GOP platform also attacked the use of the Fair Labor Standard Act to protect workers; ripped the use of Project Labor Agreements to raise wages and improve working conditions; and proposed to gut the 85-year-old Davis-Bacon Act, which guarantees “prevailing wage” pay for workers on federal projects.
There may still be a few Republicans who recognize the historic GOP position, as stated by President Abraham Lincoln, that “Labor is prior to and independent of capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.” But they are few and far between. And the evidence from Kentucky suggests that the combination of a Republican executive with Republican-controlled legislative chambers — which the United States will see on January 20 — must be recognized as a threat to workers.
Last July, after Trump selected Pence as his running mate, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said,
Everything Donald Trump says shows he is desperate to be working people’s friend, but everything Donald Trump does proves he is our enemy. This decision proves that he does not stand with working families. Mike Pence might be the right choice for Donald Trump, but he’s the wrong choice for America… Mike Pence once again proves Donald Trump’s true priority of assaulting the rights of working people and helping corporate CEO’s line their pockets.
Trumka was right to be wary. Workers should be preparing, with a sense of urgency, to push back as the Republicans who control the White House and the Congress bring their anti-union agenda to Washington.
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