Labor Union Blog

With several thousand Indiana workers inside and outside the statehouse, a state Senate committee this afternoon approved a so-called right to work bill. The 6-4 vote included one Republican who voted against the bill.

The vote followed more than five hours of testimony, but in their drive to ram the bill through the legislature, Senate Republicans did allow the usual practice of offering amendments. The House committee did not vote on the bill because House Democrats continue to filibuster the legislation.

Democrats have called for a series public hearings on the legislation in communities throughout the state, but in an effort to rush the bill through—possibly for a final vote next week—leaders in the Republican-controlled legislature have refused. Indiana AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott says “when there’s an issue that is complicated or controversial, local public hearings are standard practice.”

While the motivations of “right to work” pushers aren’t that complicated—it is a raw power grab and meant to give political payback to CEOs and special interest groups – the issue is certainly controversial. Open public hearings are appropriate and necessary. Citizens of Indiana should have a say about the decision to put one bill ahead of all the business of the state, including education and the state budget.

The workers who could get into the jammed chamber watched the testimony on televisions up inside and outside the statehouse.  Many people inside the statehouse also sent regular updates via Twitter. Here’s a sample:

@ViSimpson: Shameful that #RTW bill passes Senate Co even though there were many unanswered questions. Fasttracking this bill is unjustified. #INLegis.

@marybschneider: Final witness reminds legislators IN passed RTW in 1957 and it was repealed in 1965 because “it didn’t work.” Or maybe was cuz Ds elected?

@ericbradner: We’re nearing the end of the fifth hour of this #RTW hearing. Opponents still lined up to testify. They’re arguing for a slow-down. #INLegis

@JoeforIndiana: Meeting hard-working Hoosiers at the statehouse to stand up against so-called Right to Work law. #INUnion

@nkellyatJG: Lafer concludes by saying the unbiased professional evidence shows RTW lowers wages and benefits while doing nothing to boost job growth.

@evale72: REPUBLICAN Sen says OK saying RTW created jobs same as Darth Vader kid in VW commercial “starting” the car w/the force

You can follow the action from Indiana on Twitter with the hashtag #InUnion and at the Stand Up for Hoosiers Facebook page here.

An Arkansas agriculture company has agreed to pay $1.5 million in back wages to 1,500 guest workers in a settlement with the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). The group filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the workers in 2007.

Jim Knoepp, the lead SPLC attorney on the case, says:

This settlement sends an important message that guest workers have rights. Companies treating guest workers as disposable labor should take notice. They will be held accountable.

The guest workers—in the country under the federal H-2A agricultural guest worker program—harvested and packed tomatoes for Candy Brand in Bradley County, Ark., from 2003 to 2007. The 2007 lawsuit alleged that the company failed to pay its guest workers federally mandated minimum wages and failed to pay overtime wages for work in its packing sheds.

To cover travel expenses and applications for visas, Candy Brand’s workers paid up to $500 simply to work for the company during eight-week harvests. The SPLC lawsuit alleged the company refused to reimburse workers for the travel, visa and other fees they paid to obtain the jobs—a problem commonly faced by guest workers.

The NFL Players Association (NFLPA) today urged the Indiana state legislature to reject a so-called right to work bill that the union says is a “political ploy designed to destroy basic workers’ rights. It’s not about jobs or rights.”

As Indianapolis proudly prepares to host the Super Bowl, it should be a time to shine in the national spotlight and highlight the hard-working families that make Indiana run instead of launching political attacks on their basic rights.

In a statement released this morning, the NLFPA says, “As NFL players, we know our success on the field comes from working together as a team.”

We’re not just a team of football players—we’re also the fans at games and at home, the employees who work the concession stands and the kids who wear the jerseys of our favorite football heroes. NFL players know what it means to fight for workers’ rights, better pensions and health and safety in the workplace. To win, we have to work together and look out for one another.

The union points to a recent Economic Policy Institute (EPI) report that shows so-called right to work legislation would lower wages for a worker in Indiana by $1,500 a year because it weakens the ability of working families to join together and get a fair shake on the job, and it will make it less likely that working people will get health care and pensions.

So-called “right-to-work” bills divide working families at a time when communities need to stand united. We need unity—not division. We urge legislators in Indiana to oppose “right-to-work” efforts, and focus instead on job creation.

Click here for the full statement.

The nation gained 200,000 jobs in December, and the unemployment rate improved to 8.5 percent from 8.6 percent in November, according to Department of Labor data out this morning. The unemployment rate has declined by 0.6 percentage points since August, and the number of unemployed workers dropped to 13.1 million from close to 14 million.

The data also show the:

unemployment rate for adult men decreased to 8 percent in December. The jobless rates for adult women (7.9 percent), teenagers (23.1 percent), whites (7.5 percent), blacks (15.8 percent) and Hispanics (11 percent) showed little change. The jobless rate for Asians was 6.8 percent.

Most industries added jobs, with the exception of construction and government. In 2011, 280,000 jobs were cut in local government, state government, (excluding education) and the U.S. Postal Service.

In December, employment in transportation and warehousing (50,000) and manufacturing (23,000) rose. Retail trade continued to add jobs in December, with a gain of 28,000. Health care added 23,000 jobs in December, and mining employment rose by 7,000 over the month. Over the year, mining added 89,000 jobs.

Hailing the report, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said ”the leadership of
the President and Democrats in Congress is demonstrating a way forward.” In fact, more private-sector jobs have been created under the Obama administration in either 2010 or 2011 than were createdunder the eight years of George W. Bush.

But Trumka warned:

Immediate growth depends critically on extending unemployment insurance and the payroll tax cut, for the entire year, without the politicking and brinksmanship that has become the norm. From investing in infrastructure, keeping jobs in America, aiding our cities and states, keeping homeowners in their homes and continuing to reform Wall Street, we are hopeful for a New Year defined by putting America back to work.

The jobs report is a “step in the right direction,” according to the nonprofit Economic Policy Institute (EPI), which pointed out that data also show  hours and wages were up, underemployment dropped and the duration of unemployment declined.

The organization cautioned, however that:

The jobs deficit left from losses in 2008/2009 remains well over 10 million jobs; even at December’s growth rate, it would still take about seven more years—until around 2019—to fill the gap and get back to the pre-recession unemployment rate. We need reports this strong and stronger for many years to come to bring our labor market back to health.