Support Wichita’s Park Workers   Help stop a dumb idea! Wichita's city council is considering laying off some employees next year and privatizing parks maintenance in the face of an $8 million budget shortfall. The moves were discussed publicly for the first time last Tuesday and have sparked lots of criticism. Send a message to the city council. SAY NO TO PRIVATIZING PARK MAINTENANCE In essence, the city is talking about getting rid of the entire Park Maintenance division and 70 or more decent paying jobs (about $17 an hour) and turning them over over to private, basically unaccountable company which would most likely pay little more than the minimum wage--with no benefits. Some of the speakers at the July 1 Wichita budget meeting opposing plans to privatize the city’s park service. Pat Lehman State Rep. Phil Hermasson State Rep. Dale Swenson State Rep. Delia Garcia    Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation President Judy Pierce   Read op-ed by SEIU’s Harold Schletweg Tell Senator Roberts: Fix Health Care the Right Way   What will happen to your health care when you retire? What about during the next round of bargaining? Or if your company goes bankrupt or you change jobs? And can you afford to have your health care benefits taxed? Right now in the Senate, behind the scenes work is being done that will affect how these questions are answered. We need your help today because reform has to be done the right way, including the right priorities, from the start. Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas is on the Finance Committee, and will be one of the first to mark up this legislation. It's especially important for you to tell your Senators about the right way to reform the health care system. Speak out now Senator Roberts, like many other Senators, now requires constituents to use a form on his web -site. Please take a little extra time to make sure he gets your message. AFter using the link, you will see a results screen. Click the link for Senator Roberts. Then follow the instructions at the top of that page. It enables you to paste your message. Just fill in the information Senator Roberts asks for and submit. Or if you prefer, you can print out your letter and mail it via the USPS. This is a crucial moment. At these beginning stages, we can have a huge impact on the shape of the legislation that Congress considers. But you also know that insurance companies will be pushing hard to protect their profits at the expense of everyone else. It's up to us to push back and show Congress how to achieve commonsense health care reform for the American people. The AFL-CIO identified four key elements to health care legislation: · Every employer must pay. · Benefits should not be taxed. · Provide a choice of private or public insurance plans. · Retirees must be protected.   Health Insurance Coverage in Kansas Keeps Shrinking as Premiums, Family Costs Continue Climbing   HEALTH CARE FOR AMERICA NOW Medical care has become too expensive in Kansas, leaving 340,000 state residents uninsured and exposed to the catastrophic costs of accidents and illnesses.1 The economic downturn that began 19 months ago has vaporized 7 million jobs across the U.S. and driven the Kansas unemployment rate to 6.4 percent from 4.1 percent.2 More families are finding themselves without health benefits just as the cost of buying coverage on the open market has climbed to record levels.3 While the employed take comfort in holding on to their jobs, thousands of workers at small businesses in Kansas and millions more nationwide remain uninsured because the price of comprehensive health insurance has soared out of reach. And across the nation more than of Americans whose jobs and benefits are intact nonetheless live in fear of becoming sudden casualties of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.4 Health insurance premiums have risen so high that experts forecast 52 million Americans will be without coverage next year.5 Left alone to purchase coverage directly from private health insurance companies, families often have no choice but to remain uninsured or buy policies with meager benefits. Kansas Data Points Health insurance premiums for Kansas working families have skyrocketed, increasing 88 percent from 2000 to 2007.6 For family health coverage in Kansas during that time, the average annual combined premium for employers and employees rose from $6,237 to $11,722.7 MORE   KC EFCA Rally Targets Home Depot    Randolph Hester reported in the June 22 Kansas City Star Supporters of a bill that would make union organizing simpler gathered in front of a Home Depot store in Kansas City last week, protesting the company’s opposition.The rally, organized by Kansas City Jobs with Justice and the Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO, was held June 17 in midtown. “It was a raucous affair,” said Judy Ancel, labor instructor and president of the Cross Border Network for Justice and Solidarity. “Home Depot was picked because Bernie Marcus, the founder of Home Depot, was responsible for organizing the high-dollar opposition to EFCA. Home Depot’s current CEO Frank Blake also has been an enthusiastic opponent.” Photo is courtesy of Eric Bowers. Fordazzling photos, check out his website.   Cessna will cut another 1,300 job   Molly McMillin reported in the June 12 Wichita Eagle: Cessna Aircraft Co. will reduce its work force by another 1,300 people, the company told employees Friday. Including the cuts announced Friday, Cessna has reduced its staffing by 8,265 people since November -- about 53 percent of its work force. With Friday's announcement, Wichita's three general aviation manufacturers -- which also includes Hawker Beechcraft and Bombardier Learjet -- have announced layoffs totaling 11,875 since November as a result of the downturn.   USD 259 BOE Proposes 2% pay cut for teachers   The UTW Negotiations Team met with the BOE Team Wednesday morning, June 3. The BOE Team shared a formal salary and benefit proposal. Their proposal calls for a reduction of salary equaling about 2%. UTW rejected that proposal and informed the BOE Team that their salary and benefit proposal was an obstacle to an agreement. UTW President Paul Babich told the BOE’s team, “UTW will not agree to any reduction in the salary schedule for teachers.” UTW believes it is a bad idea to try and balance the district’s budget by taking money out of teachers’ pockets. A more detailed update on the negotiating session may found on the UTW web site, www.utw-ks.org.   CWA Joins LL 774 as Bargain Food Site for July Orders   CWA 6042, 530 E. Harry, is now officially a pickup location for Prairie Land Foods joingin IAM LL 774 as a distribution site. It's time to place your orders for the July Prarie Land Foods stretch your food dollars project. Orders can be placed through June 15 at the IAM Hall 3830 S. Meridan at the CWA Hall or on-line at www.prairielandfoods.com. Each order in just $24 plus 2 hours of community service. The program is open to the public. It's time to place your orders for the July Prarie Land Foods stretch your food dollars project. Orders can be placed through June 15 at the IAM Hall 3830 S. Meridan or on-line at www.prairielandfoods.com. Each order in just $24 plus 2 hours of community service. The program is open to the public. Download a menu here. Examples of volunteering opportunities Church Choir . 4-H . teach Sunday School . Coach a little league . Scouting . take a walk and pick up trash . Big Brothers / Big Sisters . Volunteer for the Zoo / Animal shelters .Babysit Grandchildren . Give a ride to Doctor, etc . volunteer in some way for Prairie Land Food .Caregiver . Help at school functions . House / Pet Sit . Paint out graffiti . offer a ride to a friend say a prayer for others. Bring a meal to a friend / neighbor . Carpool with a co-worker . Mow a neighbors lawn . Volunteer at the Senior Center . Hospital Volunteer . Community Organizations Bob Gainer of IAM LL 774 says, "The community service committee of LL774 started this last month. We really hope for it to grow into a big deal. For this to happen we need your help to get the word out. So please tell your co-workers, friend and neighbors. If anyone would like to help on distribution day we would be glad to see you anytime between 6:30 to 10:30am or so that Saturday morning. Spread the word the Unions are here to help the community. If you have any questions call me at 316-838-8289." * P r a i r i e L a n d F o o d i s f o r E v e r y o n e . * NO income guidelines   Join SPEEA at the Annual Juneteenth Celebration    Saturday, June 20, 2009 “Bringing About a Change in the Lives of Families & Children” The parade starts at the WSU Parking Lot (17th Street) and ends at McAdams Park, location of the celebration. We are in need of volunteers to ride our float and walking to hand out goodies to the kids. Our theme this year is Mardi Gras. What a fun way to start the summer off! Today, Juneteenth celebrates African American freedom while encouraging self-development and respect for all cultures, as we cultivate knowledge and appreciation for African American history and culture. Please RSVP by June 17th if you are able to volunteer! Contact: Carolyn Summers at 523-4933(email: carolyn.j.summers@spiritaero.com) or, call Vicki at the SPEEA office 682-0262 (email: vickim@speea.org)   Cessna Plans More Layoffs   Molly McMillin reports in the Wichita Eagle  Cessna Aircraft will have another round of job cuts as it grapples with economic uncertainty and a deteriorating business jet market, CEO and president Jack Pelton told employees in a memo Thursday. The company didn't say how many jobs will be lost. Sixty-day layoff notices are expected to be issued by June 19, and employees have until Tuesday to apply for voluntary layoffs. "The industry continues to struggle as the economic recovery remains very slow and the negative perception surrounding business jets creates a battle to keep our customers sold," Pelton said. The layoffs will be in addition to 6,900 previously announced job cuts   Kansas Consumer group alarmed by medical bankruptcies   By Jim McLean KHI News Service June 5, 2009 TOPEKA — The director of a Kansas consumer group says she isn’t surprised by a new study linking more than 60 percent of bankruptcies in the U.S. to medical debt. “This is not surprising — it’s terrifying, but not surprising,” said Corrie Edwards, executive director of the Kansas Health Consumer Coalition. The study, conducted by researchers at Harvard University and Ohio University, to be published in the August edition of the American Journal of Medicine, found that 62.1 percent of all bankruptcies in 2007 were tied to medical debt, a 50 percent increase since 2001. It also found that 60.3 percent of those who filed for bankruptcy because of medical debt had private health insurance at the start of their illnesses.MORE   Laid-Off Workers Center July Appointments   Center For a July appointment call 211 between June 22-26. Calendar NOTE: Laid-off workers must pre-register and set up an appointment by calling United Way's information phone number, 2-1-1 (this is a toll-free number): • Call only during designated call weeks (see schedule below) • Call only between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m   AFL-CIO Applauds Sotomayor Nomination to Supreme Court   AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has issued a statement in support of Barack Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. America’s workers applaud the nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the United States Supreme Court. She is a brilliant jurist and in her distinguished career has worked at almost every level of our judicial system -- as a prosecutor, litigator, trial court and appellate judge -- and would bring more federal judicial experience to the Supreme Court than any justice in 100 years. Judge Sotomayor will also bring to the Supreme Court a direct and personal understanding of the struggles America’s workers endure every day. She grew up in public housing in the Bronx, the daughter of a factory worker, and understands the real world consequences of the decisions she makes from the bench. Judge Sotomayor’s record reflects an understanding of the law’s impact on working families and has consistently interpreted our labor laws in the manner in which they were intended. In the baseball strike of 1995, she recognized that the owners had forced the strike by engaging in unlawful conduct, and issued an injunction which reversed the unlawful acts. She has enforced the rights of all workers to be free of all types of discrimination at work, to be paid the correct wages and to receive health benefits to which they are entitled. She has recognized that persecution for union activity can be a basis for granting asylum in this country. Judge Sotomayor is a bipartisan choice -- she was initially appointed to the bench by President George H.W. Bush and has previously been confirmed by the Senate -- we urge the Senate to swiftly confirm her to the Supreme Court..   Study Shows Increased Anti-union Intimidation    In a study released last week, Kate Bronfenbrenner, Director of Labor Education Research at Cornell's School of Industrial and Labor Relations, documents this in detail -- including the increase in corporate tactics to interfere with, block and delay workers' attempts to form unions, and the ineffectiveness of current labor law to protect and enforce workers' rights in the election process. The study, "No Holds Barred: The Intensification of Employer Opposition to Organizing," examines more than 1,000 union-representation campaigns and finds that "intense and aggressive" tactics to block workers' freedom to form unions are becoming more commonplace. We need your help to make sure every senator and representative in Washington, D.C., reads this new study. Click here to share this study today:. Here are a few highlights (or lowlights) of the study: During union campaigns, bosses threatened to close plants 57 percent the time and threatened to cut wages and benefits 47 percent of the time. In more than 60 percent of union campaigns, workers are forced to attend mandatory one-on-one sessions with supervisors and are given anti-union messages or interrogated about their support for a union. The number of employers using 10 or more identified coercive tactics to intimidate and harass workers has doubled. When employees actually win an election to form a union, 52 percent still have no contract a year later, and 37 percent are without a contract two years after they voted to join a union. Want to learn more? Click here to read the full study:   Solidarity and Justice   Moti Rieber Director Mid-Kansas Jewish Federation Invocation at 2009 AFL-CIO Service Conference Moti Rieber When faced with difficult times like these, there are some values that it is useful to re-learn. I’m going to share a couple of them with you – and they are values of both the labor movement and from Jewish tradition. These values are solidarity, and justice. For our purposes today, solidarity is realizing that there but for the grace of God go I, and that it is our responsibility to do what we can to help the other person weather the storm. If we think of the best organizations we’ve known or belonged to – whether they be churches, civil organizations or unions, they are the ones that reached out to help those in need. This is exactly the opposite of the “I got mine, pal” ethos that we’ve been living out too long in this country. MORE     Theron Black: 2009 Charles Duran Award Winner by Mario Cervantes United Way Labor Liaison [Each year the Kansas AFL-CIO community Services Conference gives a Charles F. Duran Award to a union member for oustanding community service.] Theron Black Theron Black exemplifies what the Charlie Duran Award represents. First a little back ground on Brother Theron Black. Theron Black became a member of local lodge 733 at Beechcraft in 1941  He entered US Air Force 1943, and served as Flight Engineer and Crew Chief for B-29 configured as an F13A which did Aerial Reconnaissance Photography in the South Pacific & Japan during World War II. ... Theron has spent a lifetime in the service to the people of his union, his church, his community, and his country. These examples are only a few of the endless list of Boards, commission, and projects he has worked on in his lifetime. His service continues, and we hope it will for many more years to come. MORE   New Record for Wichita Food Drive--Passes 200,000 Pound Goal   photo courtesy of Cathy Lamb \Wichita's 2009 Letter Carriers Food drive has set a new record and passed their 200,000 pound goal. Larry Gunkel of the Kansas Food Bank reports 160,614 pounds were delivered to the food bank from Wichita post offices. Cathy Lamb, food drive coordinator for NALC branch 201, adds that 45,985 pounds were collected in outlying offices covered by the her branch. That gives a total for 2009 of 205.599 pounds. The 2009 results were a 20 percent increase over 2008. Across the country, some cities show experienced a decrease in contributions. Milwaukee, for instance, had a decline of 24 percent. Cathy Lamb, coordinator for the Wichita area food drive, said, “ Please help me tell everyone who help this year, a big THANK YOU! We would not have had such a great success if it was not for the help we had from this great community. Their are so many people to thank. Dillon's for the sacks ,the volunteer's at the station's , the truck drivers who helped transport the food from the station's to the Food Bank. The businesses that helped by putting it up on their signs, churches that put it in their bulletins. The Letter Carriers both city and rural for all the effort and hard work on top of their normal duties of the day. The USPS for their help. Last but not least the Kansas Food Bank for all their help in making every year more easier for all of us. God bless you all!.” Richard Flaharty photo courtesy of Larry Wilson Mario Cervantes, United Way labor liaison,  extended his thanks to the union volunteers who helped this year. Site Coordinators – Cassie Reicher IAM LL774;Richard Flaharty IAM, Deb Tracy IAM & AW LL639, and Tony Spicer IAM LL639 Site Volunteers: Larry & Linda Wilson –IAM 733 , Stuart Elliot- APWU 735, Bob Gainer-IAM 774, Marty Marty Reicher – IAM 774; Kathy Knox – IAM774; Debbie Stewart – IAM 774: Linda Abercrombie – IAM 774; Jackie Sayama – IAM 774; Susan Chambers – IAM 774 ,Ruth Mullhatten - SPEEA, David Drake-SPEEA, Sharlene Shaffer – NALC, Ron Cook – Teamsters,Brian Alexander – IAM LL774, Roy Markham – IAM LL73, Don Wilmoth- IAM LL 639, Mike Munday – IAM LL639   WSU Wins Student Labor Chapter of the Year Award   by Chris Hicks Wichita State student labor activists with their award Wichita State University Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) was named SLAP Chapter of the year (2008-2009). This award recognizes work students commit towards worker rights. This year Wichita State SLAP has focused on farmworkers struggles in Florida, Employee Free Choice Act, recent strikes in the Wichita aircraft industry, and raising the Kansas minimum wage. They plan to follow this year up by continuing their work in addressing farmworker plights by working to ensure Sodexo food service provider comes to an agreement with the workers, and gaining support for Employee Free Choice Act at Wichita State University.   Compromise Reached on Holcomb Plant   At a May 4 press conference Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson announced that Sunflower Electric and Kansas Department of Health and Environment have signed a settlement agreement to allow the Holcomb Expansion project to move forward with the construction of one new coal plant.  The agreement for a net 895 MW unit will allow Tri-State and Golden Spread to participate in the project while preserving the 200 MW for Sunflower’s Members, Midwest Energy and municipal customers. The agreement also includes emission reductions for Holcomb Unit 1 and development of other renewable energy through biomass, wind development. Sunflower also has a commitment to invest in demand-side-management and energy efficiency programs. Moving electricity to the west will require the construction of at least 345 kV transmission lines which will help move Kansas wind to Colorado. A smaller single unit was previously offered as a compromise by former Governor Kathleen Sebelius . A deal seemed to elude decision makers for many reasons including the economic feasablitiy of a signle unit. But, those key elements were worked out to make the project greener with more wind now and into the future. Further, net-metering was strenghtened and transmission line construction concerns was firmed up to ease concerns about costs and rates. Success for this agreement is contingent on legislative action to pass a new comprehensive energy bill.             Sweeney Letter Clarifies Labor Reunification Stories   AFL-CIO President John Sweeney released a letter last week clarifying erroenous news reports about recent talks between leaders of AFL-CIO, Change to Win, and NEA. The meetings were set up to explore the prospects for reunification of the labor movement. Former Democratic Congressional Leader and current American Rights at Work Chair David Bonior has helped facilitate these discussions. AFL-CIO has absolutely no intention of converting itself into a mere political/lobbying operation --- leaving all other labor-movement-wide activities to individual unions to undertake on a cafeteria style pay-as-you-go basis. Nor does it view the present reunification process as one by which some newly created organization will emerge. As stated above, we are open-minded and receptive to any and all suggestions as to how to improve the structure and programs of the Federation. And if any or all of the Change to Win unions are so inclined at the end of this process, their reunification will be welcomed. However, the AFL-CIO will not be disbanding to start anew, it will not be subordinating itself to or merging itself into any other organization, and it will not be abandoning its historic mission of fighting for economic, social, political, and workplace justice at every level.   AFL-CIO & Change to Win Issue Joint Position on Immigration Reform   On April 14, the AFL-CIO and Change to Win (CtW) today announced a historic joint unity framework for immigration reform. The joint announcement and proposal is a critical sign of support for the Obama administration and Congress to address immigration reform and to ensure that the issue remains a priority. It also signals that immigration reform is an important part of economic recovery.  Immigration reform is a component of a shared prosperity agenda that focuses on improving productivity and quality; limiting wage competition; strengthening labor standards, especially the freedom of workers to form unions and bargain collectively; and providing social safety nets and high-quality lifelong education and training for workers and their families. To achieve this goal, immigration reform must fully protect U.S. workers, reduce the exploitation of immigrant workers and reduce employers’ incentive to hire undocumented workers rather than U.S. workers. The most effective way to do that is for all workers— immigrant and native-born—to have full and complete access to the protection of labor, health and safety and other laws. Comprehensive immigration reform must complement a strong, well-resourced and effective labor standards enforcement initiative that prioritizes workers’ rights and workplace protections. This approach will ensure that immigration does not depress wages and working conditions or encourage marginal low-wage industries that depend heavily on substandard wages, benefits and working conditions. MORE   Cesar Chavez Celebration 2009: A Big Success   Ernie Gonzales Wichita LCLAA President Braving the after effects of the heaviest snow of the season , more than 100 turned out for Wichita’s second annual Cesar Chavez Celebration on Sunday, March 29, including State Representatives Delia Garcia and Gail Finney, Labor Federation President Judy Pierce and District 70 leader Rita Rogers.  The celebration was organized by the Greater Wichita Labor Council for Latin American Advancement, the Wichita/Hutchinson Labor Federation, and State Representative Delia Garcia. The centerpiece of the celebration was a showing of the documentary "Viva La Causa." "It is especially important that the younger generation of Hispanic workers know our history," said Ernest Gonzales, President of the Wichita Labor Council for Latin American Advancement. And a member of IAM LL 839 "Cesar Chavez is one of the most important and inspiring parts of that history.” MORE..   Lear Jet Workers Ready for Negotiations   IAM members at Bombardier Learjet in Wichita, KS, are looking forward to negotiations this year, and the Negotiating Committee is preparing for what promises to be tough negotiations during a tough economy. The Local 639 Bargaining Committee attended a week-long Negotiations Preparations session at the Winpisinger Center for training that included Communications and Member Mobilization, Strategic Planning, Law and Collective Bargaining, Bargaining Strategies, Contract Costing, Power Analysis, Drafting Contract Language and Presenting Proposals. The week culminated with a realistic Negotiations Simulation, where Winpisinger Center staff transformed into hard-nosed company bargainers, taking sides with real issues and proposals that negotiators will likely be facing this year. The entire Negotiating Team attended the training, including District 70 DBR Steve Rooney, BR Terry Carrington, Aerospace Coordinator Ron Eldridge, and Southern Territory Special Representative Mark Love. "This training helps provide the team with the skills and the strategic plan to bargain hard for the best possible contract," said Rooney. “The week brought the Negotiators into focus for the job ahead, and the Local Lodge will start preparing for the negotiations immediately.”€? The current collective bargaining agreement expires Oct. 5, 2009. (Source:IAM iMail)       2009 Union Label Chili Feed   Kansas Senate Passes Raise the Wage Bill   By a vote of 33 to 7, the Senate on Thursday approved an increase in the state minimum wage from its current $2.65 to the federal minimum of $7.25. Currently about 17,000 Kansans earn the Kansas minimum wage which is the lowest in the nation and lower than all the U.S. Territories. It was a remarkable day at the capitol Thursday as Senate Bill 160 was introduced on the floor of the Kansas Senate. In the debate that  followed, Senators Brownlee and Wagle attempted to add an amendment that would have repealed the minimum wage altogether. The amendment was defeated. (15 for the amendment, 17 against.) A motion was then made to end debate on the bill and recommend it for final passage. It passed by a very strong margin. Eight Senators switched from wanting to do away with the minimum wage to vote to increase it to the federal level.   Kansas Blue Green Alliance forms to highlight thousands of new jobs in the clean energy economy On January 8 Wichita eleven labor and environmental organizations launched the Kansas chapter of the Blue Green Alliance. "Wichita lost 1,300 jobs last year alone," said Emil Ramirez of the United Steelworkers. "By supporting a green economy, we want to bring manufacturing jobs back to Kansas." BGA is an uncommon partnership born of a common goal: to realize the enormous opportunities of a renewable energy economy for the state. Kansas stands to gain more than 11,000 family-supporting manufacturing jobs in the renewable energy industry, according to a recent report from the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP), a nonprofit, nonpartisan policy research organization based in Washington, DC. The report, which projects $1.97 billion of investment, spurred local labor unions, community and farm organizations, and environmental groups to form a Kansas chapter of the Blue Green Alliance . (See summary link below for full breakdown of the top 20 Kansas counties who would benefit.) MORE