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Spotlight NewsletterJuly 02, 2010 |
Volume 1, Issue 153
Governor Holds State Workers' Wages Hostage in Budget Process
This week, the deadline passed for the state legislature to pass a budget, and Governor Schwarzenegger took the opportunity to continue his campaign of destruction against state workers. He has once again ordered that wages for state workers be slashed down to the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour - 75 cents less than California's minimum wage.
This proposal will cause untold hardship to hundreds of thousands of families who have already have been impacted furloughs and cuts, and threatens our fragile economic recovery. State Controller John Chiang continues to challenge the Governor's order, but California state workers and their families are bracing for the worst.
State Workers Protest Governor's Draconian Cuts
On Wednesday, more than 8,000 state workers and members of SEIU local 1000 descended upon the state Capitol to protest the Governor's effort to slash workers' pay down to the federal minimum wage, and to speak out against all of the draconian cuts, furloughs, layoffs he has imposed. The message of the rally was "I Am California", and the workers called on Governor Schwarzenegger to approve a fair contract and stop attacking state workers' wages and benefits as part of budget negotiations.
"We provide important, vital state services to Californians on a daily basis without any fanfare or attention," Local 1000 President Yvonne Walker said at the rally. "Today we are getting out the word that we are your neighbors, we are active participants in your communities, and we are California."
Rite Aid Workers Rally for Fair Contract
On Tuesday, more than 75 Rite Aid workers from the Southwest Distribution Center in Lancaster marched off the job during their lunch break to join supporters from dozens of other unions demanding that Rite Aid management negotiate a good contract. The workers have been organizing with the ILWU for years, and have met with management more than 100 times in an attempt to peacefully reach a first contract but the management has failed to bargain in good faith.
"Over 100 bargaining sessions and two years of talks is way too long for workers to wait for justice, ILWU Vice President Ray Familathe said at the rally. "Rite Aid management needs to get serious about reaching an agreement that will give employees the good jobs that our communities need."
California Members of Congress Introduce Workplace Safety Bill
This week, California Representatives George Miller and Lynn Woolsey, along with Rep. Nick Rahall of West Virginia, introduced a new health and safety bill that would strengthen oversight and enforcement at the nation's mines and other dangerous workplaces, provide for tougher penalties for employers who flagrantly violate the law and enhance the rights of workers who report job hazards and injuries.
"Too many employers in this country - including Massey Energy and BP-- have put profits and production ahead of worker safety and other protections. The result is the worst mining disaster and worst environmental disaster in decades and many other workplace tragedies that have claimed dozens and dozens of workers' lives," said AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka. "This legislation will save workers lives. We call on the House and the Senate to stand with the nation's miners and workers and move immediately to enact this legislation to prevent more unnecessary workplace tragedies and deaths."
This Week on "Labor's Edge"
Nikki Linnerman of SEIU 1000 reported back from the massive state workers' rally at the Capitol and other actions around the state.
The AFL-CIO's Rand Wilson blogged on the Rite Aid workers' rally in Lancaster.
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