VZB Techs sworn in at 2222 meeting

• Pass The Employee Free Choice Act
• Implement a meaningful economic recovery package that rebuilds our economy and creates millions of new jobs
• Provide affordable and quality health care for all

Members of the 111th Congress were sworn in on January 6, 2009, and thanks to your hard work, we have a strong pro-working family majority in both the Senate and House. With our economy in a severe downturn due to catastrophic mismanagement by President Bush and his allies in Congress, we are fortunate to have strong congressional advocates for a true economic recovery package that works for all of America's workers, not just the wealthy few.

The economic mess that Bush is leaving behind needs immediate attention, and Congress must act fast to rebuild our economy and create new jobs by investing in our crumbling infrastructure and providing much-needed aid to states working to balance their budgets. President-elect Barack Obama has outlined a two-year approximately $800 billion investment and recovery package that accomplishes these goals. We are supportive of the magnitude of this plan, and we expect Congress to turn his outline into legislation.

Conservatives in Washington and their Big Business allies are going to voice their standard complaints about these financial expenditures. But rescuing our economy depends on taking big steps, and frankly the Republicans in Congress have little credibility on these issues right now. After eight years of Republican rule in Washington, our federal debt has almost doubled to more than $10.5 trillion. The ongoing financial crisis is a direct result of their policies and lack of oversight of the financial services industry.

As Congress begins developing a final economic recovery package, we will be in touch. One thing is certain—even with friends in Congress we will need your help to ensure that this bill is the beginning of a reinvestment in the American people, not just another corporate handout.

Thanks for your support, a happy new year to you and your family, and to keep up with important news for working families, please visit the AFL-CIO Working Families blog today and every day.

Ricky Taylor was a longtime member of local 2222.  As an OPT at the Southie Garage, Ricky showed many new technicians the ropes.  Last year Ricky lost his battle with cancer, and now his 2 year old granddaughter is battling for her life and needs our help.

ELIZABETH TAYLOR KULIKOWSKI is 2 1/2 years old.  In September 2007 she was diagnosed with an inoperable brain stem tumor ( diffused pontine glioma).  She was treated at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and received the most aggressive and progressive form of treatment currently available.  The treatment she received was a new combination of radiation and radioactive chemotherapy, she showed great progress, and passed the 1 YEAR mark with a great outlook.  In October 2008 her regular MRI showed the tumor was still stable!!!  Unfortunately, a mere 3 weeks later in November, an MRI showed that the tumor had rapidly re-grown.  Needless to say Elizabeth’s family and doctors at Dana Farber were very discouraged, as the treatment she received was the best available.  Her doctors at Dana Farber gave Elizabeth 3 months to live.

Through aggressive research Elizabeth’s family found the Burzynski Clinic in Houston, TX.  Dr. S. Burzynski has been using low-toxic gene therapy to treat cancer for the past 30 years.  The Burzynksi clinic has had SUCCESS against tumors just like Elizabeth’s!!!  Unfortunately, since the treatment is still undergoing FDA trials Elizabeth’s treatment is NOT COVERED by insurance.  Elizabeth and her family have relocated to Houston to begin treatment; the initial cost to begin treatment is $18,000!  To maintain her treatments for a year it will cost her family $7,600 a month!!!

Donations will assist with the cost of Elizabeth’s treatments as well as temporary accommodations in Houston for Elizabeth and her family.  An account has been set up at Sovereign Bank in Randolph, MA.  Assistance of any kind is GREATLY APPRECIATED.

Donations can be made payable to Elizabeth Kulikowski.

SEND TO:

SOVEREIGN BANK
c/o ELIZABETH KULIKOWSKI FUND
301 NORTH MAIN ST.
RANDOLPH, MA 02368 MA1-CBO-0890

Workers and their unions are ending 2008 with reason for optimism. After eight long years of an extremely hostile White House, the labor movement is poised to re-invigorate itself, even in the midst of the worst recession in decades. A big push for passage of the Employee Free Choice act labor law reform will be at the top of labor’s agenda for 2009. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka says the election of Barack Obama and a bigger Democratic majority in Congress sets the stage for passing this reform that will take employer intmidation out of the union organizing equation.

“People want to change the economy. They’re tired of an economy that rewards people at the top on Wall Street but doesn’t take care of Main Street. One way to help people on Main Street is to have a union because it gives you a significant advantage. It gives you a better chance to have a higher wage” said Trumka.

The total number of workers in unions in the U.S. is up slightly for the first time in decades. With the promise of a massive economic stimulus that will include major infrastructure projects, organized labor has an historic opportunity to add significant new numbers to its ranks.

There is no doubt that President-elect Barack Obama has chosen a labor secretary who could be a transformative force in a long-neglected arena. The question is whether he will let her.

Hilda Solis, a United States representative from Southern California, is the daughter of immigrant parents with union jobs. She has been an unfailing advocate of workers' rights during eight years in Congress and before that, in California politics.

Ms. Solis has been a leader on traditional workplace issues, like a higher minimum wage and an enhanced right to form unions. She also has helped to expand the labor agenda by sponsoring legislation to create jobs in green technology, and in her support for community health workers and immigration reform.

Her record in Congress dovetails with the mission of the Labor Department, to protect and further the rights and opportunities of working people. It also dovetails with many of the promises Mr. Obama made during the campaign, both in its specifics and in its focus on the needs of America’s working families.

The main issue is whether the Obama administration will assert a forceful labor agenda in the face of certain protests from business that now — during a recession — is not the time to move forward.

The first and biggest test of Mr. Obama's commitment to labor, and to Ms. Solis, will be his decision on whether or not to push the Employee Free Choice Act in 2009. Corporate America is determined to derail the bill, which would make it easier than it has been for workers to form unions by requiring that employers recognize a union if a majority of employees at a workplace sign cards indicating they wish to organize.

There were labor management problems at Santa’s North Pole Workshop. The workforce of singing whistling and gleeful elves had suddenly become sad, upset and totally disenchanted. Old Holly Jolly had hired a new management team that had promised "more for less".

Unknown to santa , the new management team had established new and unreasonable productivity goals . Toy quality and workshop safety had melted away. Some in this management team had demeaned the value of the elve's labor and their contribution to bringing happiness to children at Christmas.

Other managers had reduced elve's hot chocolate breaks and stopped providing marshmallows and cookies. Many elves who were huge college football fans were forced to work Saturdays.

Some toy construction work was outsourced to the land of Oz where the standard of living had declined after Dorothy had left and the Wizard had high tailed it out of there on a golden balloon. Global warming had forced many Eskimos to migrate to the North Pole or become dinner for starving polar bears, further exacerbating a tight job market. Things had gotten so bad that Father Time was accused of falsifying time records.

To get Santa’s attention the elves had formed informational picket lines and had protested at some of the directors homes down on Candy Cane Lane in the upscale Maple Sugar Lake neighborhood. Some elves had filed unfair labor practices with the Snow Queen.

Yes the North Pole community was in crisis!

As Christmas Eve approached many wondered would Santa embrace the policies of this new management team or would he heal this community by restoring the fairness , honesty , justice and happiness to the workshop?

As the snow fell only Santa knew...

2222 Steward Mike Madden

Mike Madden is an SST at 185 Franklin Street and a Shop Steward in Local 2222.  Whenever someone needs a helping hand Mike is always the first to ask what can I do.  Last month, Mike went in for routine back surgery.  Due to complications from the surgery, Mike sustained partial paralysis in both legs.  Although unsure of his future prognosis, Mike continues to be upbeat as usual. 

Mike has many friends in Local 2222 and beyond, and they are rallying around him and his family.  For starters we are raffling off a $350 parking pass to the Post Office Square Parking Garage in Boston.  We are also planning a larger fundraiser for after the first of the year.  The following info is from Mike's friends from the town of Milton's soccer community that Mike is very active in.

Would you like to see the World Champion Celtics from a Deluxe Luxury Suite at the TD Banknorth Garden?

Greetings to all people in the Milton Soccer Community and beyond!  We are conducting an auction to benefit Mike Madden and his family.  

As many of you already know, Mike is the head coach of Milton High School Boys Varsity Soccer Team and has coached many Milton Youth Soccer teams as well as held many soccer clinics and camps.  At this special time of need, friends from all circles are devising ways to help Mike, Heidi and their five  children. So, here is a way you can help too.

We are holding an auction for you to attend a Celtics game in a luxury Suite!  The game is on Friday, January 2 at 7:30PM vs. the Washington Wizards.  You can bid on one or more tickets to the suite (the suite holds 18 ticket holders).  The suite will also include unlimited food and beverages during the entire game.  You also are allowed to enter the Garden earlier than the general crowd through a separate entrance and have a great vantage point for the game, as well as many amenities in the suite.  All age groups welcome.   ALL PROCEEDS FROM THIS AUCTION WILL BE GIVEN TO COACH MADDEN AND FAMILY TO HELP THEM THROUGH THIS DIFFICULT TIME.

Here is how the process will work.  To place your bid for any number of tickets to the suite, send an email to Steve Shapiro at sshapiro@pinnacle-learning.com with the number of tickets you wish to bid on and a bid price per ticket.  Steve will keep you updated on all incoming bids and let you know if you need to raise your bid. We will hopefully close out bidding in time for Christmas.  Bidding will start at $250 per ticket  (each ticket has a $300 face value).    YOU MAY BEGIN YOUR BIDDING NOW.  

If you would like to help out the Madden family but cannot attend the game, we are also establishing a general fund and you can also email Steve Shapiro about it.  Or if you have another idea, please contact us as well.

Thanks for your support and feel free to forward this info to anyone you know who may have interest.   And please, in your own way, pray for a speedy recovery for Mike.  Happy Holidays!  

Once again the generosity of the membership of IBEW Local 2222 was overwhelming.  On Wednesday Evening, December 17, 2008 we held our Annual Christmas Party for the children who reside at The New England Home for Little Wanderers.  Through your outpouring of generosity and support we were able to make the holidays a bit brighter for the children.

During our eighth annual Christmas drive we collected $10,000 worth of cash and toys.  There was not a dry eye in the house as the kids received their gifts from Santa.  For this night, these kids who so often feel forgotten, and the staff who care for them, were brought to tears by your support.  

As always, your kindness & generosity is appreciated.  Thank You!

Rosie the Riveter

Women In Unions Earn More Wages And Benefits Than Non-Union Women

Women workers in unions on average earn 11.2 percent more than non-union women. Unionized women workers are also more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and more likely to have an employer-provided pension. That’s according to a report from the Center on Economic and Policy Research. The report also says if the percentage of women in unions continues to grow at the rate it has for the past 25 years – women will be a majority of the unionized workforce by 2020. Right now 45 percent of union members are women.

It's only been a month since hundreds of thousands of union members and their families helped Barack Obama win key "battleground states."  Yet, already, some labor supporters of the president-elect fear he may be backing away from a key campaign promise to workers threatened by recession.
 
While running for office, Obama said he strongly favored the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a long overdue labor law reform measure that should be part of his promised economic stimulus plan. However, when Obama introduced his top economic advisors on Nov. 25 and talked about steps to "jolt" the economy in January, EFCA was not part of the package. More disturbingly, his new chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, declined to say whether the White House would support EFCA when he was questioned about it last month at a Wall Street Journal-sponsored "CEO Forum."
 
EFCA is vehemently opposed by big business because it would enable workers to unionize and negotiate first contracts more easily. The bill would amend the 73-year old National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) so that private sector employers have to bargain with their employees when a majority sign union authorization cards. Just as the NLRA did, as a centerpiece of the New Deal, EFCA would encourage collective bargaining to raise workers’ living standards and restore greater balance to labor-management relations. Beginning in the late 1930s, this federal labor policy helped create a vast new post-World War II American middle-class.