ckaihatsu
13th November 2016, 14:02
Unions & Voters push back Right-to-Work! Join us at SHROCX, Jackson, Dec 9-11
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Despite the Election of Trump, Virginia Voters Reject Right-to-Work (for less) Constitutional Amendment!
The election of Trump as President presents many challenges for workers, our unions, and the broader social justice movement. Trump has a long record of supporting the wealthy 1% at the expense of workers, and attacking Black, immigrant, Muslim, women, disabled and other oppressed people. He has refused to negotiate with newly organized hospitality workers at his Trump Towers, and they have filed NLRB charges against him. Over the coming weeks and months, we will need to continue to build our movement to fightback!
Meanwhile, there were many positive signs at the polls last Tuesday:
Colorado, Arizona, Maine and Washington state all voted to raise their statewide minimum wages to $12 per hour by 2020, Washington to $13.50. All states workers get $1 per year increase over next few years.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b/images/000555ce-199f-42e4-846d-e74c89ca99eb.jpg (http://southernworker.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b&id=2afe03dc50&e=48ada11f89)
Unions across Virginia built a broad movement to defeat the Right-to-work amendment there, very notably the role of the Virginia Education Association with thousands of members all across the state helped mobilize the "No" vote.
Unions Defeat Right-To-Work Amendment In Virginia (http://southernworker.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b&id=066afb198a&e=48ada11f89)
Dave Jamieson
November 8, 2016
Huffington Post
Virginians voted down an amendment that would have established the states right-to-work status in the state constitution.
In a bit of good news for labor unions, Virginians voted down a ballot initiative Tuesday that would have enshrined the state’s right-to-work status in the state constitution.
Unions in Virginia campaigned hard against the proposal, which was supported by business groups and Republican lawmakers. Virginia has had a right-to-work law on the books for decades, but the ballot measure would have effectively made it permanent.
Right-to-work laws forbid contracts between unions and employers that require all employees in a workplace to pay the union for bargaining on their behalf. Under U.S. labor law, unions have to represent all employees in a particular bargaining unit, even those who want nothing to do with a union. Unions say it’s only fair that everyone chip in to cover the costs of representation.
In states with right-to-work laws, employees in unionized workplaces aren’t obligated to pay any fees to the union, allowing them to opt out completely. Conservatives refer to this as “workplace freedom,” but unions call it “free riding.” Whatever you want to call it, it’s been the reality in Virginia since 1947, when changes in federal law first allowed states to pursue right-to-work laws. It’s one reason union membership is so low in Virginia when compared with other states.
But the prevailing state of affairs in Virginia wasn’t sufficient for backers of what was called Constitutional Amendment Question 1 on the ballot. If approved, the measure would have amended the state constitution so that Virginia could never not be a right-to-work state, save for another change to the constitution. Terry McAuliffe, the state’s Democratic governor, would not be able to veto it.
Those who pushed the amendment claimed it would make Virginia more attractive to employers, who wouldn’t have to worry about the state repealing its right-to-work law (if they ever worried about that in the first place). Typifying this argument, the head of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce claimed that cementing right-to-work in the constitution would make Virginia a more “competitive and attractive place for business and job creation.”
Backers of the amendment may have feared that, as Virginia creeps bluer and bluer, a Democratic-controlled statehouse could one day repeal its right-to-work status. But that seems unlikely. When he was Virginia’s Democratic governor, even Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate, said the state’s right-to-work law was something he “strongly supports.” And once a state goes right-to-work, it tends to stay that way ― especially when it’s the long-standing tradition in a place like Virginia. Besides, right-to-work laws are now more popular than ever, to the great detriment of unions.
It used to be that right-to-work laws were confined to the South and parts of the West. But in the past four and a half years, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and West Virginia have all gone right-to-work. After West Virginia passed its law in February, a majority of states ― 26 ― were right-to-work for the first time ever, making it the norm in the U.S.
The fight in Virginia says a lot about where organized labor finds itself right now. With the help of state Republicans, business groups around the country have been pushing laws that restrict collective bargaining and deplete the labor movement. A case in point is Wisconsin, where in 2011, Republicans stripped most public sector workers of their bargaining rights. When these conservative groups succeed, unions lose out. When they fail, unions don’t make any gains.
In the case of Virginia, unions there were able to mobilize and defeat a constitutional amendment that posed a threat to them. But all their victory accomplished was preserving the status quo.
Join SWA at the Southern Human Rights Organizing Conference (SHROC) 20th Anniversary Conference
Jackson, MS
December 9-11
Register Today!
For more information: 662-334- 1122 or email [email protected]
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b/images/becb8053-ee0a-4aeb-98e5-1e0d28b4a6b6.jpg
"SHROC is an important gathering of people from different movements." Sarah White, Board President of Mississippi Workers' Center For Human Rights.
SHROC serves as an important link between US Southern human rights struggles and those in the Global South. The primary goal of SHROC is to identify innovative and practical methods of organizing across the region. Another important objective is to strengthen the capacity of civil rights and social justice organizations in the Deep South. This would enable these organizations to expand their programmatic work beyond civil rights and social justice campaigns to more effectively address international human rights issues.
The reality of globalization demands that the US southern human rights struggle connects with struggles in other parts of the world. Through SHROC, activists and organizers will work together across the region to build an anti-racism movement that adheres to a human rights framework in its struggle toward justice.
Everyone should be aware of their individual and collective human rights and have the capacity to defend them. SHROC uses a collaborative approach to fighting injustice by encouraging activists from the anti-racist, women’s rights, children’s rights, disability rights, and gay and transgender rights movements to come together as a unified force.
"I've met people from all over the world at SHROC. I have learned about their struggles and what it means to be people who are not respected and not treated like human beings. And so I come to every conference so I can learn about the struggles of people of color from wherever they may come." Shelley Inniss, Retired Teacher.
"SHROC reinforces the application of human rights standards and the use of international mechanisms in establishing a standard for human dignity. Also, it keeps the existence and the work of imprisoned political activists and human rights defenders in the minds of the people and on the agenda for liberation." Efia Nwangaza, Director of The Malcolm X Center for Self Determination.
"As the founder of the very first SHROC convening, I am amazed at how the gathering has become an institution in our movement. It is hard to believe that we've been coming together for 18 years, bearing witness to struggles and victories. Raising our voices and making just demands for an end to all forms of slavery, discrimination, xenophobia and colonization. We are really a central point for solidarity and principled unity. May we continue for the next twenty years and beyond. " Jaribu Hill, Human Rights Defender.
Make a donation to support the Southern Workers School! (http://southernworker.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b&id=502bb907a6&e=48ada11f89)
Copyright © 2016 Southern Workers Assembly, All rights reserved.
You either attended an event hosted by the Southern Workers Assembly or have signed one of our online petitions.
Our mailing address is:
Southern Workers Assembly
PO Box 934
Rocky Mount, NC 27802
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Despite the Election of Trump, Virginia Voters Reject Right-to-Work (for less) Constitutional Amendment!
The election of Trump as President presents many challenges for workers, our unions, and the broader social justice movement. Trump has a long record of supporting the wealthy 1% at the expense of workers, and attacking Black, immigrant, Muslim, women, disabled and other oppressed people. He has refused to negotiate with newly organized hospitality workers at his Trump Towers, and they have filed NLRB charges against him. Over the coming weeks and months, we will need to continue to build our movement to fightback!
Meanwhile, there were many positive signs at the polls last Tuesday:
Colorado, Arizona, Maine and Washington state all voted to raise their statewide minimum wages to $12 per hour by 2020, Washington to $13.50. All states workers get $1 per year increase over next few years.
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b/images/000555ce-199f-42e4-846d-e74c89ca99eb.jpg (http://southernworker.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b&id=2afe03dc50&e=48ada11f89)
Unions across Virginia built a broad movement to defeat the Right-to-work amendment there, very notably the role of the Virginia Education Association with thousands of members all across the state helped mobilize the "No" vote.
Unions Defeat Right-To-Work Amendment In Virginia (http://southernworker.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b&id=066afb198a&e=48ada11f89)
Dave Jamieson
November 8, 2016
Huffington Post
Virginians voted down an amendment that would have established the states right-to-work status in the state constitution.
In a bit of good news for labor unions, Virginians voted down a ballot initiative Tuesday that would have enshrined the state’s right-to-work status in the state constitution.
Unions in Virginia campaigned hard against the proposal, which was supported by business groups and Republican lawmakers. Virginia has had a right-to-work law on the books for decades, but the ballot measure would have effectively made it permanent.
Right-to-work laws forbid contracts between unions and employers that require all employees in a workplace to pay the union for bargaining on their behalf. Under U.S. labor law, unions have to represent all employees in a particular bargaining unit, even those who want nothing to do with a union. Unions say it’s only fair that everyone chip in to cover the costs of representation.
In states with right-to-work laws, employees in unionized workplaces aren’t obligated to pay any fees to the union, allowing them to opt out completely. Conservatives refer to this as “workplace freedom,” but unions call it “free riding.” Whatever you want to call it, it’s been the reality in Virginia since 1947, when changes in federal law first allowed states to pursue right-to-work laws. It’s one reason union membership is so low in Virginia when compared with other states.
But the prevailing state of affairs in Virginia wasn’t sufficient for backers of what was called Constitutional Amendment Question 1 on the ballot. If approved, the measure would have amended the state constitution so that Virginia could never not be a right-to-work state, save for another change to the constitution. Terry McAuliffe, the state’s Democratic governor, would not be able to veto it.
Those who pushed the amendment claimed it would make Virginia more attractive to employers, who wouldn’t have to worry about the state repealing its right-to-work law (if they ever worried about that in the first place). Typifying this argument, the head of the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce claimed that cementing right-to-work in the constitution would make Virginia a more “competitive and attractive place for business and job creation.”
Backers of the amendment may have feared that, as Virginia creeps bluer and bluer, a Democratic-controlled statehouse could one day repeal its right-to-work status. But that seems unlikely. When he was Virginia’s Democratic governor, even Tim Kaine, Hillary Clinton’s running mate, said the state’s right-to-work law was something he “strongly supports.” And once a state goes right-to-work, it tends to stay that way ― especially when it’s the long-standing tradition in a place like Virginia. Besides, right-to-work laws are now more popular than ever, to the great detriment of unions.
It used to be that right-to-work laws were confined to the South and parts of the West. But in the past four and a half years, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and West Virginia have all gone right-to-work. After West Virginia passed its law in February, a majority of states ― 26 ― were right-to-work for the first time ever, making it the norm in the U.S.
The fight in Virginia says a lot about where organized labor finds itself right now. With the help of state Republicans, business groups around the country have been pushing laws that restrict collective bargaining and deplete the labor movement. A case in point is Wisconsin, where in 2011, Republicans stripped most public sector workers of their bargaining rights. When these conservative groups succeed, unions lose out. When they fail, unions don’t make any gains.
In the case of Virginia, unions there were able to mobilize and defeat a constitutional amendment that posed a threat to them. But all their victory accomplished was preserving the status quo.
Join SWA at the Southern Human Rights Organizing Conference (SHROC) 20th Anniversary Conference
Jackson, MS
December 9-11
Register Today!
For more information: 662-334- 1122 or email [email protected]
https://gallery.mailchimp.com/552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b/images/becb8053-ee0a-4aeb-98e5-1e0d28b4a6b6.jpg
"SHROC is an important gathering of people from different movements." Sarah White, Board President of Mississippi Workers' Center For Human Rights.
SHROC serves as an important link between US Southern human rights struggles and those in the Global South. The primary goal of SHROC is to identify innovative and practical methods of organizing across the region. Another important objective is to strengthen the capacity of civil rights and social justice organizations in the Deep South. This would enable these organizations to expand their programmatic work beyond civil rights and social justice campaigns to more effectively address international human rights issues.
The reality of globalization demands that the US southern human rights struggle connects with struggles in other parts of the world. Through SHROC, activists and organizers will work together across the region to build an anti-racism movement that adheres to a human rights framework in its struggle toward justice.
Everyone should be aware of their individual and collective human rights and have the capacity to defend them. SHROC uses a collaborative approach to fighting injustice by encouraging activists from the anti-racist, women’s rights, children’s rights, disability rights, and gay and transgender rights movements to come together as a unified force.
"I've met people from all over the world at SHROC. I have learned about their struggles and what it means to be people who are not respected and not treated like human beings. And so I come to every conference so I can learn about the struggles of people of color from wherever they may come." Shelley Inniss, Retired Teacher.
"SHROC reinforces the application of human rights standards and the use of international mechanisms in establishing a standard for human dignity. Also, it keeps the existence and the work of imprisoned political activists and human rights defenders in the minds of the people and on the agenda for liberation." Efia Nwangaza, Director of The Malcolm X Center for Self Determination.
"As the founder of the very first SHROC convening, I am amazed at how the gathering has become an institution in our movement. It is hard to believe that we've been coming together for 18 years, bearing witness to struggles and victories. Raising our voices and making just demands for an end to all forms of slavery, discrimination, xenophobia and colonization. We are really a central point for solidarity and principled unity. May we continue for the next twenty years and beyond. " Jaribu Hill, Human Rights Defender.
Make a donation to support the Southern Workers School! (http://southernworker.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=552d3a984b02de482ee7d0a6b&id=502bb907a6&e=48ada11f89)
Copyright © 2016 Southern Workers Assembly, All rights reserved.
You either attended an event hosted by the Southern Workers Assembly or have signed one of our online petitions.
Our mailing address is:
Southern Workers Assembly
PO Box 934
Rocky Mount, NC 27802
Add us to your address book
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
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