Pennsylvania Federation

Eisenhower Once Noted "A Few Texas Oil Millionaires" Wanted to Abolish Social Security

Did Ike really say this? Read More on Snopes.com, and then Read More about the right-wing agenda for raising the retirement age or eliminating Social Security.

House Democrats Offer Plausible Scenario
Party Strategists Argue They Can Hold the Majority in a Tough Environment, and They Might Be Right

Democratic strategists see a path to retaining their House majority. To do so, they are aiming to pick off four seats held by Republicans, two open and two held by incumbents; then hold onto at least eight of their most endangered 16 open seats; and keep their incumbent losses down to less than 35 -- two-thirds of the Democratic incumbents in competitive districts, or just over 40 percent of the number if you include those who are potentially endangered. Read More...

Before leaving for August recess, the House passed the Fiscal Year 2011 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill by a vote of 251-167. The bill includes a number of important appropriations for rail, including: $11.3 billion for rail and bus public transportation projects, $1.77 billion for Amtrak, $1.4 billion for intercity passenger rail and a national high-speed rail system, and $75 million in grants to help railroads implement positive train control. Read More...

FedEx Express wants Congress to think its truck drivers are actually airline pilots. Why? Because the company doesn't believe it should have to be subjected to the same rules and regulations that all other package delivery companies follow.

2.4 Million U.S. Jobs Lost Since 2001 as Trade Deficit Soars
Massive U.S. Job Loss to China Trade shown by State and Congressional District

The United States is hemorrhaging millions of jobs as a result of the nation’s growing trade deficit, largely with China, according to a report issued today by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI). Contrary to conventional wisdom, high-tech industries are losing jobs faster than any other sector of the economy, the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM) pointed out. Since China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, 2.4 million jobs have been lost or displaced in the United States as a result of the burgeoning trade deficit with that nation, the report concludes. Read More...

So he hasn’t plugged the leak, and his poll numbers are sagging. Truth is, Obama has exceeded in 18 months what Clinton and Carter achieved in a combined 12 years. I know this is supposed to be Barack Obama’s summer of discontent. The oil spill is still gushing; the economy is still floundering; the Afghan war is deteriorating; Americans don’t find him so charming anymore. But have you noticed that when it comes to actual policy, he keeps racking up the wins? Read More...

Entering the tumultuous primary season, the respected political analyst Charlie Cook speculated that 2010 might be the year of the "angry white senior." Although there are certainly plenty of angry men around, the results of last Tuesday's primaries suggest that this may turn out to be the year of the angry (and determined) female Republican candidate. Read More...

Rail Workers Win "Genuine" Whistleblower Protection from FEDS
March 2, 2010 ~ Press Release from BMWED-IBT

After months of discussions with the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division (BMWED) has helped obtain “strong” whistleblower protection for its members and “all railroad workers nationwide,” according to the union. Read More...

Numbers Don't Lie - In October 2008, Democrats worked with the Bush Administration in a good faith effort to pass legislation to prevent the economy from collapsing into a depression. In February 2009, Democrats worked with President Obama to enact recovery legislation to begin the long process of repairing our damaged economy and creating jobs. Read More from Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (MD-D).

Study Says Antiunion Tactics Are Becoming More Common
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE - The New York Times May 19, 2009

A new study by a Cornell University professor of 1,004 union organizing drives has found that employers threatened to close plants in 57 percent of the campaigns and threatened to cut wages and benefits in 47 percent...read more

Tuesday, February 17, 2009 Transportation Weekly. Deadlines for Transportation Funding Apportioned to States and Localities. “Use It Or Lose It” Deadlines For Transportation Stimulus Funding. A schedule of all of the transportation “use it or lose it” dates appears on page 12 of this issue.

The Employee Free Choice Act

The Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) is legislation which aims to "amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing efforts, and for other purposes."

Under current labor law, the U.S. National Labor Relations Board will certify a union as the exclusive representative of employees if it is elected by either a majority signature drive, the card check process, or by secret ballot NLRB election, which is held if more than 30% of employees in a bargaining unit sign statements asking for representation by a union. If enacted, this bill would require the NLRB to certify a bargaining representative without directing an election if a majority of the bargaining unit employees signed cards, the card check process.

Pursuant to the bill, a union can demand that an employer begin bargaining within 10 days of certification of the union as the exclusive bargaining representative for an appropriate unit of employees via the card check. In addition, if the union and employer cannot agree upon the terms of a first collective bargaining contract within 90 days, either party can request federal mediation, which could lead to binding arbitration if an agreement still cannot be reached after 30 days of mediation.

Where government arbitration determines terms of the agreement, employees would lose their current right to ratify the terms of the agreement. Finally, the Act would provide for liquidated damages of three times back pay if employers were found to have unlawfully terminated pro-union employees. The EFCA also would impose a $20,000.00 penalty upon employers for each employer violation of the proposed legislation if the NLRB and/or a court deems the violation willful or repetitive.

Why Vote?

...Because it is your fundamental right as an American, and the most basic means by which you have a voice in how your government works. Voting is an essential part of democracy. It is every American citizen's right to be able to voice their opinion and take part in electing public officials. By voting, people take a stand and help decide who represents them and how their government works. Also, citizens not only have rights, but with these rights come responsibilities. Citizenship means participating in the political process by being an informed and active member of society.

Voting rights have come a long way. The first presidential election in 1789 only allowed white males who owned property to vote. After a long struggle for equal rights, African Americans, Hispanics, women and others have been granted their right to vote and fully participate in government.

Today, any U.S. citizen 18 years old or older can legally vote. However, in the 2004 presidential election only 55% of the voting population actually voted. This is troubling given the fact that each vote often does count and can make a difference in who is elected to office.

It is easy to register to vote and the process of actually casting a vote in an election is just as easy. One does not need to take or pass a test, pay a fee, drive a long distance, or set aside more than a few minutes in order to vote. Registering to vote and voting are quick and easy, and there are even individuals whose job it is (along with countless volunteers) to assist you in both tasks. The same can be said of learning about the issues and staying informed.

"An Injury To One Is An Injury To All"

IBT Legislative Updates ~ Archives

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