Labor Union Blog

Economic Report:

Americans continue to be skeptical of the economy. A new poll from Reuters and the University of Michigan projects that consumer spending will increase by only 0.2 percent in the next quarter. Consumer spending is projected to slow even more after tax rebate checks are used up. The survey also projects that consumer expectations will drop to their lowest point since 1980 in the next six months.

Economic Report:

Americans continue to be skeptical of the economy. A new poll from Reuters and the University of Michigan projects that consumer spending will increase by only 0.2 percent in the next quarter. Consumer spending is projected to slow even more after tax rebate checks are used up. The survey also projects that consumer expectations will drop to it’s lowest point since 1980 in the next six months.

Concrete workers in New York City are back to work today after a ten-day strike that held up important concrete pours across the city. The strike lead to stoppages at the new Mets and Yankee stadiums and also New York City’s Freedom Tower at Ground Zero. The strike by concrete truck drivers represented by the Teamsters came to an end when the two sides reached an agreement on Thursday night. During the day on Thursday, Quadrozzi Concrete Company broke away from the Association of New York City Concrete Producers to make a deal separate from the concrete organization.

Concrete workers are back to work today after a day 10 strike that held up important concrete pours at the new Mets and Yankee stadiums and New York City’s Freedom Tower at Ground Zero. The strike by concrete truck drivers represented by the Teamsters came to an end when the two sides reached an agreement on Thursday night. Quadrozzi Concrete Company broke away from the Association of New York City Concrete Producers on Thursday to strike a deal separate from the concrete organization.

The arguably most powerful actor in California is offering his help if contract negotiations between studios and the union representing actors continue at a standstill. California Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, star of films such as True Lies and Predator, said during a news conference that the “last thing” the state needs is “another strike.” He said a new strike, on the heels of a writers’ strike earlier this year, would the “devastating” not just for the entertainment industry, but also the California economy. No talks are planned between the Screen Actors Guild and the studios. The studios recently offered what they have called their “final” offer. Schwarzenegger said he hasn’t been asked to intervene in discussions, but if he were, he would be “more than happy” to take part.

The arguably most powerful actor in California is offering his help if contract negotiations between studios and the union representing actors can’t reach an agreement. California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, star of films such as True Lies and Predator, said during a news conference that the “last thing” the state needs is “another strike.” He said a strike, on the heels of a writer strike earlier this year, would be “devastating” for not just the entertainment industry, but also the California ”economy.” No talks are planned between the Screen Actors Guild and the studios. The studios recently offered what they have called their “final” offer. Schwarzenegger said he hasn’t been asked to intervene in discussions, but if he were he would be “more than happy” to take part.

Lede: Hundreds of Carpenters Union members from three Midwestern states turned out to help flood-ravaged residents of Cedar Rapids, Iowa Saturday. Doug Cunningham reports.

Saturday was an organized community Clean-Up Day In Cedar Rapids, Iowa to clean up after the major floods that hit the region. The Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters sent hundreds of its members from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa. They joined forces with
The Hawkeye Labor Council to assist Cedar Rapids residents. The Carpenters Union people helped with demolition work as well as the removal of wet debris. Teams were dispatched led by carpenters and other labor professionals to nearly a hundred designated sites for the cleanup.

Lede: Hundreds of Carpenters union members from three midwestern states turned out to help flood-ravaged residents of Cedar Rapids , Iowa Saturday. Doug Cunningham reports.

Saturday was an organized community Clean-Up Day In Cedar Rapids to clean up after the major floods that hit the region. The Chicago regional Council of Carpenters sent hundreds of its members from Illinois, Wisconsin and Iowa. They joined forces with
The Hawkeye Labor Council to assist Cedar Rapids residents. The carpenters union people helped with demolition work as well as the removal of wet debris. Teams were dispatched led by carpenters and other labor professionals to nearly a hundred designated sites for the cleanup.

Union teachers, who are mostly women, earn between 59 percent and 130 percent more than their nonunion counterparts.

Last month, a group of women delivered 9,000 résumés to John McCain’s office on Capitol Hill to remind the senator from Arizona that women are well-trained, highly educated and qualified and should be paid the same as men for doing the same work.

McCain and those who oppose equal pay for working women claim women just need more training to get a better job.

Not so, according to recent data compiled by the AFL-CIO Department for Professional Employees (DPE). The DPE finds that even though women workers clearly are better educated than men, they receive less pay in nearly every profession than their male counterparts. The best way to get better pay, the fact sheet shows, is to join a union, something McCain—who opposes the Employee Free Choice Act—wants to make harder.