So Cal Gas Negotiations Update

On December 18, 2008, more than 130 Shop Stewards and Officers from both Unions and all locals met in Downtown Los Angeles to plan a mobilization strategy for the upcoming bargaining sessions with So Cal Gas.

In addition, it was agreed to hold a mass meeting of the memberships from both Unions and all locals on Sunday, January 25, 2009.

On January 5, 2009, the bargaining sessions with the Company will reconvene at a neutral location.

Everyone made it clear that no one wants or intends a strike, but So Cal Gas must understand that with a net income of $190 million for the first nine months in 2008 these massive takeaways are not acceptable.

Learn more at "Whatever It Takes"

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Local 132 Secretary/Treasurer Election Re-run Results 

The counting of the ballots took place at the offices of the American Arbitration Association in Los Angeles, California on Tuesday, December 30, 2008.

The current term of the Secretary/Treasurer position under the Local 132 constitution continues through August 31, 2011.

Helen Olague-Pimentel        833

Michael Barber               691

Blank                          5

Void                           4

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U.S. Representative Hilda Solis Nominated for Secretary of Labor

U.S. Representative Hilda Solis, was nominated for Secretary of Labor on December 19, 2008. Ms. Solis is currently serving her fourth term in Congress, representing California's 32nd Congressional District, and was re-elected to a fifth term in November 2008. Prior to her election to the House of Representatives, Ms. Solis was a member of the California state senate from 1994 through 2001. She was a member of the California state assembly from 1992 to 1994.

As a member of the House of Representatives, Ms. Solis served on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, the House Committee on Natural Resources and the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.

Ms. Solis was a co-sponsor of the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which increased the federal minimum wage in 2007. Additionally, she authored legislation to provide $125 million for "green collar" job training, which was included in the energy reform bill signed into law in December 2007.

Ms. Solis was also a co-sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act. In her floor speech in favor of the Act, Ms. Solis stated, "I rise in strong support as a family member from a strong union background. My father was a shop steward for the Teamsters and my mother was a proud worker for the United Rubber Workers who worked tirelessly for 20 and 25 years. Without the help and protection we received in retirement benefits I know myself and my seven siblings would not be where we are today."

In nominating Ms. Solis, President-Elect Obama stated, "I know that Hilda will show the same kind of leadership as Secretary of Labor that she showed in California and on the Education and Labor Committee by protecting workers' rights – from organizing to collective bargaining, from keeping our workplaces safe to making our unions strong.

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U.S. Auto Makers Win Bridge Loan

Shortly before Christmas, President Bush granted a $13.4 billion bridge loan to General Motors and Chrysler, to keep the auto companies from going under and taking millions of American jobs with them.

"While we appreciate that President Bush has taken the emergency action needed to help America's auto companies weather the current financial crisis, we are disappointed that he has added unfair conditions singling out workers," said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. "We will work with the Obama administration and the new Congress to ensure that these unfair conditions are removed, as we join in the coming months with all stakeholders to create a viable future for the U.S. auto industry."

Learn more at http://www.uaw.org/auto/12_19_08auto1.cfm

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Cervical Cancer Screenings For Union Women

The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW) has launched Cervical Cancer Prevention Works, labor’s own cervical cancer awareness project aimed at empowering union women to be aware of how to prevent this deadly disease. January is Cervical Cancer month, and union members are encouraged to get informed and get screened for cervical cancer.

Learn more at http://www.cluw.org/cervcancer.html 

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Q&A on USERRA - Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act

Quarterly Testing schedule 

UNIONS 101 :  Unions are working people working together to solve problems and build a stronger advantage on the job. Unions make it possible for workers to actively participate in the workplace about safety, security, pay, and benefits. Union workers earn about 30 percent more each week than nonunion workers and are much more likely to have health and pension benefits.

Something to Remember Now that You've Paid Your Taxes You may think you've paid off the tax obligations for just your household.  But you’re also footing the bill for American companies that are dodging billions of dollars of taxes.  Most major corporations have a tax department not just to comply with the tax code but also as a profit center according to the Center for Corporate Policy, a non-profit watchdog group.  Read More . . .

Civil Rights Lawsuit Filed After Five Union Organizers Assaulted In L.A.   While picketing a non-union building contractor in the Los Angeles Fashion District, five union organizers from the Ironworkers and the IBEW were attacked and hospitalized on Friday, March 14, 2008.  In response, 600 Building Trades and other union members protested the assault on Monday, March 17, 2008 at the construction site where the attacks took place.   Read more...

The Department of Labor Changes the Family and Medical Leave Act       The DOL FMLA Changes to update the regulations under the 15 year-old Family and Medical Leave Act to include service-members.  In addition, other regulatory changes would include a more cumbersome medical certification process, eliminate medical information privacy by allowing an employer to communicate directly to a worker’s health care provider and request medical records, and require workers to make additional doctors visits at their own expense whenever the employer feels they need a clarification on the reason for requesting leave.