Thursday, August 18, 2011

Today's Teamster News 08.18.11

Democrats win last two Wisconsin recalls (opinion)  Washington Post   ...What’s clear is that the fight has moved public opinion the Democrats’ way, but not as fast or as dramatically as the Democrats had hoped...
Wisconsin Democrats Score Two More Recall Wins as Voters Reject a GOP Governor's Anti-Labor Agenda  The Nation   ...Democrats won the overall majority of votes cast in the nine districts, with roughly 243,000 votes statewide to 239,000 for the Republicans. That’s a narrow margin but remember that Governor Walker won these districts in 2010, and that Republican Senate candidates easily won six of them in 2008...
Kasich, fellow Republicans propose SB 5 deal to unions  Columbus Dispatch   ...Gov. John Kasich pleaded with organized labor leaders today to compromise on Senate Bill 5 and cancel a fall referendum on the controversial bill that peels back public employee collective bargaining rights...
Right to Work legislation to be considered by state legislature  Michigan Messenger   ...Michigan can expect a push in the state legislature to pass Right to Work legislation following the end of the summer break at the capitol...
Drive to repeal emergency manager law still needs 130,000 signatures on petitions, organizers say  Detroit Free Press   ...The deadline to turn in the petitions is in March. If the State Board of Canvassers certifies that the group -- the Stand Up for Democracy committee -- collected sufficient signatures, the law would be suspended until voters decide its fate on the ballot in November 2012...
Citing Debt and Benefits, Fitch Lowers Bond Rating for New Jersey  New York Times  ...Despite its efforts to cut spending, New Jersey is a riskier investment, one of the leading ratings agencies said on Wednesday as it lowered the state’s credit rating, citing heavy debt and benefits obligations...
Right-to-work battle grows between PA business, labor  Statehouse News Online   ...A package of bills, introduced this session by state House Republicans, seeks to repeal state laws requiring all state workers, local government employees and public school teachers to pay dues, even if they choose not to join a union...