Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Today's Teamster News 05.21.14

Teamster News
Can The Teamsters Save Union Pensions?  Institutional Investor   ...the Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Fund ...(has)..."been conservative in their investments, professional in their management and fortunate in their economics..."
Pekin Schools Notify Parents Of Strike Possibility  Pekin Daily Times   ...Officials of Pekin School Districts 108 and 303 as well as the city's private schools notified parents Monday evening that they may need to find alternative transportation for their children to get to school starting Wednesday...
Trade
Thousands of dogs, and 3 people, sickened by jerky pet treats, FDA says  CBS News   ... The Food and Drug Administration released updated information on Friday about an ongoing investigation into illnesses and deaths caused by jerky pet treats imported from China...
Fine Line Seen in U.S. Spying on Companies  New York Times   ... the government does not deny it routinely spies to advance American economic advantage, which is part of its broad definition of how it protects American national security. In short, the officials say, while the N.S.A. cannot spy on Airbus and give the results to Boeing, it is free to spy on European or Asian trade negotiators and use the results to help American trade officials — and, by extension, the American industries and workers they are trying to bolster...
For U.S. Companies That Challenge China, the Risk of Digital Reprisal  New York Times   ...The United Steelworkers union lost computer records containing trade policy strategies and discussions about rare earth metals and auto parts. All four had something in common besides data theft: Each was in the middle of pushing back against China’s trade policies by seeking help from the World Trade Organization or the Commerce Department...
TPP Talks To Intensify, No Accord Yet  Channel News Asia   ...Asia-Pacific trade ministers said on Tuesday they would intensify talks on a vast trans-Pacific free trade agreement, but offered no clue on when a final accord would be reached...
State Battles
NSA data-gathering may run into California roadblock  Reuters   ...The federal government would need a warrant from a judge if it wants the cooperation of California officials in searching residents' cellphone and computer records, under a bill making its way through the state legislature...
If Ohio Eases Green-Energy Rules, Will It Spark National Trend?  Columbus Dispatch   ...Ohio is on the cusp of becoming the first state to significantly ease its renewable energy standards, a milestone that would be noticed in states around the country where similar debates are being waged...
War On Workers
Harris v. Quinn Is About the Right of Home Care Workers to Improve Their Wages  Economic Policy Institute   ...The Supreme Court is expected to decide Harris v. Quinn, a case of major importance for American workers, in the next few days. Many observers predict a disastrous decision that will cripple union organizing and collective bargaining for home health aides, child care workers, and other direct care aides. But the Court could go much further and threaten the ability of all public employees to form unions and bargain collectively with any state or local government...
Florida high school charging parents $200 to see their child's graduation - and even seniors must pay $20 to attend  Daily Mail   ...High School Principal Don Sauer told reporters that the fees are an effort to cover the $12,000 graduation costs for the school after the school district pulled $3,400 from its annual contribution to cut costs...
This Chart Is The Fate of Housing In America As Student Loans Bankrupt A Whole Generation  naked capitalism   ...Student loan balances soared 362% to $1.1 trillion since 2003, during a period when mortgage debt – including the effects of the current Housing Bubble 2 – rose “only” 65% to $8.2 trillion and credit card debt actually declined by 4.2% to $660 billion (chart). ...And so the proportion of first-time buyers – the single most important sign of a healthy housing market – has been shrinking for years...
GM issues more recalls, this time for 2.42 million vehicles  Los Angeles Times   ...None of the four recalls is related to GM’s faulty ignition switches. That issue, which has been linked to at least 13 deaths and recalls of 2.6 million vehicles, has prompted federal fines and several investigations into why GM neglected to issue the recalls for more than a decade...
No, Taking Away Unemployment Benefits Doesn't Make People Get Jobs  Think Progress   ...When 1.3 million long-term unemployed people lost benefits because Congress let the program lapse, some claimed that taking away the checks would encourage people to go out and get a job. That isn't panning out for the 74,000 people who are no longer getting checks in Illinois...
NFL Cheerleader Alleges She Was Paid $2 An Hour  Think Progress   ...The Tampa Bay Buccaneers became the fifth NFL franchise to face a minimum wage lawsuit Monday, when a former cheerleader alleged in a complaint that the team paid her just $2 an hour...