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Daily NewswireNational/PoliticalAFL-CIO To Bring Hammer Down On Wavering House Dems A second labor powerhouse is about to bring the hammer down on wavering House Dems. The AFL-CIO is set to rachet up the pressure on House Dems who are considering voting No on the health reform bill, a source from the union tells me, implicitly threatening primaries and third-party challenges. The news comes days after the SEIU went public with a very explicit threat to do the same. In the days ahead, the presidents of the AFL-CIO’s unions — heavy hitters such as Richard Trumka, AFSCME’s Gerald McEntee, and CWA’s Larry Cohen — will be making direct personal (ahem) appeals to these House Dems, the source says. AFSCME’s GOP First Aid Kit AFSCME today began distributing hundreds of first aid kits for protection against the deadly virus of opposition to health care reform being spread by the GOP and their allies. “The American people shouldn’t believe the insurance industry or the Republican party when they try to hide their opposition to meaningful health care reform,” said AFSCME Pres. Gerald W. McEntee. AFL-CIO Will Support Health Care Despite Last-Minute Setback The powerful union conglomerate AFL-CIO will fully support the health care bill and campaign for its passage despite a last-minute setback over a change to a provision that would tax high-cost insurance plans. The group's Executive Council met on Thursday to discuss new legislative language that will index the excise tax on so-called "Cadillac" plans to the Consumer Price Index (the rate of inflation) rather than the Consumer Price Index plus one percent. Related: Cadillac tax change The reconciliation bill will contain further adjustments to the tax on Cadillac health plans, according to Rep. Chris Van Hollen. The tax will be indexed to inflation, rather than inflation plus one percent. House Democrats and labor leaders wanted it to rise higher than inflation to prevent more people from being ensnared each year, but the leadership made the change after they ran into problems this week trying to reach their deficit reduction targets in the bill. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka was called to the White House for meeting Wednesday to discuss the changes. Interest groups play health hardball …. The AFL-CIO, meanwhile, has its eyes on the Democrats who signed onto Michigan Democratic Rep. Bart Stupak’s amendment that supporters argue would prevent federal tax dollars from paying for abortions. AFL-CIO locals are staffing phone banks and visiting districts in which labor is a key constituency. How Does It Cost $940 Billion—and Cut Deficit? The latest version of the Democrats' health overhaul costs $940 billion over a decade, yet it would bring down the federal budget deficit by $138 billion, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. How can the bill spend so much and still reduce the deficit? The answer lies mainly in new taxes and curbs on Medicare spending. Why We Reform One way or another, the fate of health care reform is going to be decided in the next few days. If House Democratic leaders find 216 votes, reform will almost immediately become the law of the land. If they don’t, reform may well be put off for many years — possibly a decade or more. So this seems like a good time to revisit the reasons we need this reform, imperfect as it is. Labor and business focus more on the Obama administration than Congress Organized labor and business will spend most of the year focused on the Obama administration, and pay less attention to Congress. With top labor legislative priorities stalled on Capitol Hill, both sides are turning more to the executive branch for smaller fights over proposed appointments and regulations. That will require more of a ground game of Washington-insider lobbying this year and less of the attention-grabbing campaign rallies and fly-in visits staged by both unions and business groups in 2009. Unspent federal stimulus cash gets political A popular proposal among Republicans in Nevada and nationwide is to take unspent money from the $787 billion economic recovery act — the stimulus bill — and return it to Washington, where it can be used for tax cuts or to pay down the national debt. States Pressure E-Tailers to Collect Sales Tax The economic slump is helping rekindle a debate on whether online retailers should have to collect state sales taxes, a question that has pitted the new economy against the old. A half dozen cash-strapped states are contemplating new laws that would require e-commerce sites to charge shoppers local sales tax on purchases. Smith voices support for bargaining agreement / Mayor testifies before Congress Lancaster Mayor Dave Smith testified before a congressional subcommittee this past week about the city's success with collective bargaining. Smith's testimony was part of a hearing for the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2009, which would extend the right to bargain collectively for public-safety employees in all states. … "I wish to tell those not familiar with collective bargaining that our success has been built on common sense and respect," Smith testified March 10. "Both sides need to share goals, appreciate the financial status of government and be relatively open to the other's thoughts and ideas." Arizona Drops Children’s Health Program Arizona on Thursday became the first state to eliminate its Children’s Health Insurance Program when Gov. Jan Brewer signed an austere budget that will leave nearly 47,000 low-income children without coverage. The Arizona budget is a vivid reflection of how the fiscal crisis afflicting state governments is cutting deeply into health care. The state also will roll back Medicaid coverage for childless adults in a move that is expected to eventually drop 310,000 people from the rolls. … Three states, including Arizona, had in the last year capped enrollment in the Children’s Health Insurance Program, financed jointly by states and the federal government. But two of those states — California and Tennessee — quickly removed their caps, said Jocelyn Guyer, co-executive director of the Center for Children and Families at Georgetown University. Illinois High Court: Nonprofit Hospital Can Be Taxed An Illinois Catholic medical center isn't a charitable enterprise and must pay property taxes, the state's highest court ruled Thursday in a case that has been closely watched by hospitals nationwide. The Illinois Supreme Court ruled 3-2 that the state was correct when it decided in 2002 that the charity care provided by Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana was too paltry to permit the nonprofit to qualify for a tax exemption. The court also ruled that the hospital, run by three Catholic religious orders, didn't qualify for a religious exemption. …. Nonprofit hospitals around the country have anxiously awaited the decision, worried that it might encourage other counties and states to tax their institutions. … States and counties have historically waived taxes for nonprofits such as hospitals and religious enterprises, citing the beneficial work they provide a community. Some government entities in recent years, though, have taking a harder position, taxing part of some medical centers and universities when the work is deemed to be mainly commercial or not a public benefit. U.S. to buy Illinois prison even if it won't hold terror suspects, official says The Obama administration plans to purchase a state prison in rural Thomson, Ill., regardless of whether Congress allows terrorism suspects to be transferred there, a Justice Department official said Thursday. In a letter to a member of the Illinois congressional delegation, Assistant Atty. Gen. Ronald Weich spelled out the administration's intent to go ahead with plans to buy the nearly empty Thomson prison, even if lawmakers refuse to approve its use as a new home for detainees at the military-run prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Empowering Shareholders With Help From the SEC …. The commission also hosts a “Proxy Matters” page on its web site that explains how investors can participate. “Chairman Schapiro is quite clear that retail investors must have the opportunity and information to fully use the proxy voting franchise,” said Richard Ferlauto, deputy director of policy at the SEC’s Office of Education and Advocacy. “I believe now that every vote counts with the onset of majority voting and the changes in the broker voting rules for directors that small and individual shareholders can play a critical role in election outcomes.” IBM stops disclosing U.S. headcount data …… IBM has stopped providing breakouts of the number of employees it has in the U.S., and in doing so is closing a door to data that provided insights into this bellwether company's employment shift. Over the years, IBM workforce data showed accelerating overseas hiring, especially in India, and a steadily declining U.S. workforce. …. Ron Hira, an associate professor of public policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology, said the workforce data is critical to helping policymakers understand the dynamics of offshoring. State/LocalL.A. Court Employees Rally Against Layoffs More than 100 Los Angeles County Superior Court employees [AFSCME Council 36] rallied Wednesday to protest recent staff layoffs and courtroom closures. Pink slips were sent to 329 of about 5,400 Superior Court employees on Tuesday -- the first of three announced sets of layoffs and courtroom closures designed to cope with a $79 million budget shortfall. UC could oversee prison health The Schwarzenegger administration wants to put the University of California in charge of state prison inmates' medical needs in an overhaul of the troubled corrections healthcare system that could save $12 billion over a decade, officials say. The arrangement, similar to a centralized system of managed care, would dramatically expand the use of telemedicine, a technique by which patients are seen by doctors in remote locations over a screen with an Internet connection. It would institute electronic record-keeping so providers could access medical information from anywhere. Employees Disciplined In Wake Of Teacher's Slaying Nearly a half-dozen employees have been disciplined or fired at a Prince George's County youth facility where a teacher was slain last month. There is still no arrest in the killing of 65-year-old Hannah Wheeling, of Bel Air, whose body was found in February outside the Cheltenham Youth Facility in the snow. …. AFSCME Union Director Patrick Moran told 11 News he does not agree with the decisions made by the department and said staff members were following procedures and protocols that managers created. Rawlings-Blake plans to merge city agencies / Up to 15 positions would be lost, up to $1.5 million saved …. Glennard Middleton, president of the local chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, decried potential job losses. "Our members already provide the most necessary services to the city of Baltimore," he said. If they are laid off, "they would go on the city's social services, and the city would still have to pay." Jackson Health, SEIU iron out deal Jackson Health System reached a tentative labor agreement with its major health care workers union on Thursday that could help ease its financial problems. .. On Monday, Jackson Health announced a plan aimed at keeping it open through September that required the Service Employees International Union Local 1991 to make concessions. The total savings to Jackson Health in this deal was not disclosed. ….. Discussions about concessions between Jackson Health and its other union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, will continue, she noted. Delaware cities: Baker's budget holds cuts and hikes The average city resident would pay $216 more in property taxes and water-sewer fees under a budget proposed Thursday by Mayor James M. Baker. The plan also includes laying off police officers and other workers, closing city pools, freezing employee wages and canceling a popular New Year's Eve event. …. Baker also wants city employees to forgo raises for the second year in a row. Only the police department got raises this year. Michael Begatto, who directs Delaware's Council 81 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said Baker needs union approval for that to happen. County Board Defeats Proposal to Lower Pensions The Milwaukee County Board split 7-7 Thursday on a measure that would have lowered their pensions, meaning that the proposal failed. ….. The board keeps their retirement plan while begging unions for more concessions. "The message that they're sending is that sacrifice is something somebody else has to do," said AFSCME Local 28 Executive Director Rich Abelson. Temporary layoffs may affect services in Merrill Temporary layoffs may affect city services in Merrill. City Council members voted last week to temporarily cut five workers from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union. They're all serving a three month layoff. Battle expected over City of Detroit pension boards plan ….. Al Garrett, president of the Michigan American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 25, that represents about 3,500 city workers, said he was surprised that the topic has not come up in labor negotiations with the unions, and that he wasn't sure what Bing wants to accomplish. Wayne County furloughs to fade out Wayne County will permanently lay off 30 workers each month for at least six months and phase out a controversial Friday furlough program that had infuriated members of the American Federation of State, City and Municipal Employees, the county's largest union. Genesee County workers challenging unpaid days off The county’s largest employee union is challenging the legality of eight unpaid days off this year, much as city of Flint workers did earlier. … Three chapters of AFSCME Local 496 filed grievances over the planned unpaid days off for most county employees, two of which already have taken place. An arbitrator has been assigned the cases, union and county officials said Michigan Tax Shift Pits Cities vs. Big 3 A tax change in Michigan has sparked a conflict between the Big Three auto makers and the cities and towns that are homes to their plants, normally a big source of support for the car companies. The conflict stems from a little-noticed change in Michigan tax rules that was passed last year, and is likely to save the auto makers tens of millions of dollars. But the change to the tax-assessment tables will mean lower revenue for factory towns that are already being hit hard by the industry's downturn and the loss of thousands of jobs. City to cut jobs, reduce hours | In more financial belt-tightening, the city of Eugene will cut jobs and reduce employee hours, City Manager Jon Ruiz said Thursday. ….. Rick Henson, business representative of the American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees Local 1724, said more than a dozen full-time librarians will each lose eight hours a week. Last week, an arbiter ruled that the city violated its AFSCME contract by reducing worker hours, and ordered the city to repay affected employees for lost wages. Missouri may trim holidays for state employees Missouri has long been criticized for giving state employees the day off on some unusual holidays that few workers in the private sector enjoy, such as the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman. …… Union leaders said Nixon should be trying instead to raise revenue by reducing business tax credits and closing tax loopholes. Cutting employees' benefits "will worsen already high turnover rates and work against the quality care and services they are expected to provide," said a statement from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 72, which represents employees in the departments of mental health and public safety. Historic revenue decline results in $126 million in additional budget cuts Facing the largest revenue decline in Missouri history, Gov. Jay Nixon cut an additional $126 million from the current budget Thursday. Hannibal schools seek pay freeze from 6 unions; teachers say no Hannibal’s school board has asked for a two-year pay freeze from its six employee unions to help close a $1.6 million budget gap. But so far, the teachers union is balking. …. The six unions involved are the …… ; Civil Service Employees Association, for custodians, bus drivers and food service workers; Warren County towns predict layoffs, service cuts to meet $2.5 million state aid reduction In what could lead to layoffs and service cuts, Warren County's 22 municipalities stand to lose a combined $2.5 million in state aid this year. ….. Ongoing negotiations between the town and the AFSCME union will likely be affected by the news, Wyant said. N.J. towns predict layoffs, service reductions after Christie's aid cuts Leaders of towns and cities around New Jersey predicted layoffs and sharp cuts to public services after Gov. Chris Christie detailed today where he will slice $275 million from state aid Unions decry advancement of bills on public pensions An Assembly panel yesterday approved legislation that would make public-worker pension and health benefits less generous, a move designed to put the state retirement system on sounder financial footing for tens of thousands of future retirees. NJ state employees protest governor's budget plan A union representing New Jersey government workers says it staged more than 20 lunch hour demonstrations outside state agencies Thursday to protest Gov. Chris Christie's proposed spending cuts. Hawaii Gov. Lingle's 6-year budget plan calls for delayed tax refunds every year, pay cuts ….. The proposed across-the-board government employee salary reduction hasn't been discussed with labor unions, Lingle said. Most government employees are already getting paid 8 percent less this year due to furloughs, so the 5.5 percent cut would be a slight improvement, she said. "We understand that the governor is obligated by law to do a financial plan, but her plan calling for continued cuts is irrelevant, as she will no longer be in office," said Hawaii Government Employees Association Executive Director Randy Perreira. "It's irresponsible for her to presume that her successor will undertake her plan." City Council denies grievance …… The Decorah City Council Monday night approved the recommendation of its personnel committee to turn down the grievance over a retiring employee's health insurance. …. The union grievance said the employee's health insurance should be covered by the city through the end of the month. City Attorney Rick Zahasky said there was "no standing" for the grievance since it was filed by someone who is not a member of the Union, AFSCME Council 61, which includes non-supervisory employees in the police department, water department, library, street department and waste water treatment plant. Westin workers call for a boycott of hotel Westin Providence hotel workers protesting management’s decision to unilaterally impose salary cuts and health-care increases called for a boycott of the downtown hotel Thursday, the first day of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament. …. Council 94, the state’s largest public employee union; the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council, which represents construction workers; and the Providence Central Labor Council said their members would honor the union’s boycott. Curbside recycling expansion planned for Indy For years, Indianapolis residents have called for a cheaper, more efficient trash recycling program. By summer, there could be a plan for one. Wednesday, the city released 15 responses to a request last month for ideas to boost recycling efforts, many from garbage-collection companies.They'll use some of those ideas to come up with a way to replace Indianapolis' subscription-based curbside recycling service with one that's affordable or free of charge. City at impasse in police negotiations ….. Akron is still negotiating with the fire union and the blue-collar American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, and is in wage-reopener talks with the Akron Nurses Association. State staffers rip pay freeze The state Civil Service Commission has been flooded with e-mails from rank-and-file state employees angry about a proposed suspension of pay raises. … The state Civil Service Commission scheduled a public hearing this morning on the proposal to withhold 4 percent pay raises to eligible workers for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Board approves agency furloughs More than 5,000 state employees could be sent home without pay as agencies grapple with continually shrinking budgets. Library system will close 12 branches, lay off staff Leaders of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Public Library system today announced the closing of 12 branches and layoffs of a third of the system’s staff, even as they expressed hopes citizens will rally to help make up budget shortfalls. … Charles Brown, the library system’s director, called it the worst day of his career. Previous Daily Newswires |
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