Blog Archives
Statement by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka on Arizona’s SB1070 Two-Year Anniversary
Two years ago this week, Arizona’s Governor Brewer signed into law SB1070, an anti-immigrant law that has, unfortunately, served as a model for legislation passed by several other state legislatures. The results have been shattering – these laws are tearing families apart and destroying the hopes and dreams of children and making it hard for workers to exercise their most fundamental rights. These laws have legalized discrimination, encouraged racial profiling, and sanctioned egregious violations of civil and human rights, and labor laws. Read the rest of this entry
Callahan Joins AFL-CIO Board
For Immediate Release: March 13, 2012
Contact: Jay Lederer
(202) 494-2549 (cell)
(202) 778-2626 (office)
jlederer@iuoe.org
International Union of Operating Engineers
General President James T. Callahan
Elected to AFL-CIO Executive Board
James T. Callahan, general president of the International Union of Operating Engineers, was elected today as a vice president of the AFL-CIO. The Executive Council — composed of 57 union leaders — is the key decision-making body of the 12 million member AFL-CIO.
“I look forward to working with my fellow leaders in the labor movement to fight for working people across America,” Callahan said. “I’m honored to receive their trust and support.”
Callahan was elected IUOE general president in November 2011 to fulfill the term of retired general president Vincent Giblin. He previously served as IUOE general secretary-treasurer and as president and business manager of Local 15 in New York City since 2003. A 32-year IUOE member, he was one of the many operating engineers who responded immediately to the September 11 tragedy and worked the entire recovery effort at Ground Zero.
“I firmly believe that working together, we have the collective strength and ability to deal with the challenges of our time – an erratic global economy, a hostile political environment and a stubbornly sluggish recovery,” Callahan said. “Don’t underestimate the character and resolve of American workers and their unions.”
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The International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) represents more than 400,000 members in 123 local unions across the U.S. and Canada, including operating engineers who work as heavy equipment operators, mechanics, surveyors in the construction industry; stationary engineers in building and industrial maintenance; nurses and other health care workers; and public employees.
Busting so-called “Right-to-Work” Myths
You’ve heard of ALEC, right?
The acronym stands for “American Legislative Exchange Council,” an industry-sponsored group dedicated to promoting CEO-friendly changes to laws — that lobbies elected officials. They’re promoting a tempting-sounding change to Minnesota’s constitution, and Minnesota’s Republicans are ignoring the founding father’s warnings about the “tyranny of the majority” as they flex their new-found muscle at the state house.
American workers won the right to bargain collectively; it's like big business using the Chamber of Commerce and ALEC.
Contrary to the talking-points being spread by the Center of the American Experiment, evidence shows that adding new government regulations in the form of so-called “Right to Work” laws actually hurts economic growth and development.
It’s a job killer! Read the rest of this entry
Union Dues?
Union Life, courtesy of BCTD
One of the things often thrown up as a reason to avoid union membership is “dues.” They vary from place to place, but in general terms $1/day or so is not a huge burden when you understand what it buys you.
A brief video from the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD) helps put it all into perspective.
