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News :: Labor |
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Labor Headlines, 10-26-02 |
Current rating: 0 |
by Peter Miller
(No verified email address) |
26 Oct 2002
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Headlines broadcast during the Illinois Labor Hour, Saturday at 11 a.m. on WEFT 90.1 FM, Champaign. ICFTU Highlights Zamibian Worker Rights Problems, Boston Janitors' Strike Ends, Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone Dies in Plane Crash, Longshoremen Issue Response to Charge of Slow-down, EIU Picket Calls for More Faculty Spending, OSHA Checking Contractor at UI. |
ICFTU Highlights Zamibian Worker Rights Problems
On the eve of a World Trade Organization review of Zamibia's trade policies, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions has issued a new report on that country's protection of workers' rights. In the report, the global labor organization condemned Zamibia's "serious and widespread" usage of child labor, as well as deterioration in basic rights for workers. Zamibia's infractions are so serious that the ICFTU says they violate even the International Labor Organization's two core conventions on child labor, with children working in mining and stone quarrying, as well as child prostitution. Zamibian workers have few trade union rights. Workers are frequently fired for union activities, and even high-level union officials are punished for reporting government corruption. By contrast, the World Trade Organization report makes no mention of the plight of workers, but instead commends Zamibia for its "continuing commitment to trade liberalization."
http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp205_e.htm
http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991216610&Language=EN
Boston Janitors' Strike Ends
A 25-day janitors' strike in Boston came to an end on Thursday, as the companies that employ over ten thousand mostly immigrant custodians agreed to some of the union's demands. The win will bring heath insurance to about one thousand of the workers, and while about 7,000 part-time custodians will remain without insurance, the win sets an important precedent for future negotiations. Wages will also increase by thirty percent over the next three years, and workers will gain sick leave. Russ Davis, director of the Massachusetts chapter of Jobs with Justice, said that strong community support was a key to the union's victory, as was the resilience of the workers. Every day for twenty five days, over a thousand workers picketed several downtown Boston office buildings. Community support included religious leaders, students, numerous unions, and high-level politicians including Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. Employers gave in to worker demands after organizers called for a "day of conscience", asking all workers in downtown Boston to stay home for one day as a matter of conscience and respect for those workers who had struck for nearly a month.
http://boston.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=8563&group=webcast
Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone Dies in Plane Crash
Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash yesterday. Senator Wellstone was one of the Senate's most outspoken and active labor supporters. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney issued the following statement:
Senator Paul Wellstone stood up for the little guy, but he never had small thoughts. He was tireless and unapologetic for championing the rights of working men and women - even when he stood alone. He was an outspoken advocate of legislation to give workers a stronger voice on the job, despite the current legislative odds that favor corporate special interests. Paul Wellstone refused to shrink his vision or abandon his principles, and our nation's workers are the better for it. America's working men and women had no better friend.
www.aflcio.org
Longshoremen Issue Response to Charge of Slow-down
On Friday, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) released its response to a Justice Department request for information about work slowdowns at West Coast ports alleged by port owners, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). The union clearly stated its position that mismanagement is causing the backlog. ILWU President James Spinosa said, quote, "The PMA once again has put more priority on publicity stunts than on resolving the backlog in our ports The fact is our workers are ready, willing and able to work. PMA simply cannot manage the backlog it created [by locking workers out from their jobs] and has decided to instead engage in political games which will do nothing to get goods to consumers and reinvigorate our economy." unquote. In the letter to the Dept. of Justice the ILWU categorically denies any concerted effort by the union to slow production on the docks. Instead the ILWU noted that the PMA violated the court's order by not moving cargo efficiently. Earlier this week, the PMA made formal accusations to the Labor Department that the union was deliberately working slowly.
http://www.ilwu.org/solidarityday/20021024PressRelease.htm
http://news.ft.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=FT.com/StoryFT/FullStory&c=StoryFT&cid=1035389253983&p=1012571727102
EIU Picket Calls for More Faculty Spending
Members of the University Professionals of Illinois, which represents faculty and staff at Eastern Illinois University, staged a lunch hour picket outside the university administration building last Wednesday. The professors and support staff are facing difficulties negotiating their contract, and are calling for more faculty hiring in order to ease work loads and reduce class sizes. Union officials say too much of the university's budget is being used to hire administrators rather than faculty, despite increasing student enrollments, but the administration responds that they have hired new faculty. The union has been negotiating with campus administrators since April. Their previous contract expired in August. At issue in the negotiations are salary increases, workload, and distance learning programs. This morning, the News-Gazette reported that Eastern and the faculty union have requested federal mediation because negotiations have reached an impasse.
http://www.eiu.edu/~EiuUpi/
www.news-gazette.com
OSHA Checking Contractor at UI
The News-Gazette reported on Tuesday that officials of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration are examining the safety of work being done by Renaissance Roofing Inc. of Belvidere to replace copper gutters on Altgeld Hall and David Kinley Hall at the University of Illinois in Urbana. The inspection came in response to a complaint from an official of Carpenters Local 44, who observed apparent violations of OSHA regulations regarding scaffolding. The company was found in violation of OSHA regulations on scaffolding in 2000 and of fall protection regulations in 1997. In a separate action, members of Sheet Metal Workers Local 218 have been picketing at the repair sites, alleging that the company is not paying the prevailing wage. The union has asked for an audit by the Illinois Department of Labor.
Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, October 22, 2002, p A-1
REPUBLICATION NOTE: If this article is reproduced, please include a reference to "Community Radio WEFT 90.1 FM, Champaign", and to "www.ucimc.org". |
