NEWS FLASH

 
 
 

Arkansas Labor/Management Conference

It is our pleasure to invite you to participate in the Tenth Annual Arkansas Labor/Management Conference to be held July 16-18, 2008, at the Clarion Resort on the Lake in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  This conference will again bring together top leaders of labor, management, education, and government in a relaxed atmosphere and environment to discuss important topics of concern.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service will again be jointly hosting this three-day conference with the leadership of the Arkansas labor-management community.  The success of this conference depends upon your participation and enthusiasm.

 The enclosed forms contain basic information on registration, hotel accommodations, and activities.  Please return the registration form and fee to the Arkansas Labor/Management Conference, Post Office Box 1046, Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1046, no later than July 1, 2008.  The registration fee is $125 per person if paid before July 1 and $140 per person thereafter.  Spouses and children will be permitted to attend, and an additional fee of $40 each will be charged to cover their meals and social events. 

Registration will be held in Ballroom A (located on the seventh floor) of the Clarion Resort at the following times:

                         Wednesday        July 16          8 A.M. until 10 A.M.

                        Thursday            July 17          8 A.M. until 9 A.M.

 The conference will begin on Wednesday, July 16, at 10 A.M.

 Please make your hotel reservations directly with the Clarion Resort.

All registration fees are due and payable on or before registration at the conference.

 Please contact the AFL-CIO office for registration forms at 5001-375-9101 or araflcio@swbell.net.

Arkansas AFL-CIO Special Convention

 The Special Convention of the Arkansas AFL-CIO is to be held August 16th in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The purpose of the convention will be to take action on recommendations of State COPE concerning candidates who will be running for office in the November 4th General Elections. 

 The one-day convention will convene at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 16th at the Hilton Hotel, 925 South University, Little Rock, Arkansas, thus allowing over 11 weeks for campaigning.  Candidate interviews will also take place on Friday, August 15th.  Any delegate desiring to sit in on candidate interviews is welcome and encouraged to attend. 

We have negotiated a special hotel room rate of $95.00 for all rooms.  You may call the hotel at (501) 664-5020.  It is each local union’s responsibility to make their delegates’ room reservations.  Thank you for your cooperation on this.

 Please note: = Registration Fee - $35.00 per delegate, alternate, and guest

= Deadline to apply to register to vote in the General Election is October 6th.
                        = Early voting begins for the General Election on October 20th.
 
VERY IMPORTANT
TO GET THE SPECIAL ROOM RATES, YOU MUST TELL THE HOTEL THAT YOU ARE ATTENDING THE ARKANSAS AFL-CIO CONVENTION.    July 29th AT 5:00 p.m. IS THE CUT-OFF TIME FOR MAKING RESERVATIONS. 

 

  Are you Registered to Vote? 

 
If you would like to become a registered voter go to http://www.votenaturally.org/all_about_voting.html . 
There you will find all of the information you need on registering and can also download a voter registration form.
 
   For information on the Pacific Beach Hotel struggle go to:  http://www.ilwulocal142.org/pacbeach/index.php

 

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO INJURED WORKERS

 Effective January 1, 2008 a major change in the Arkansas Workers' Compensation law goes into effect.

 The change in the law indicates that you will not be able to file a claim against the Second Injury Trust Fund after December 31, 2007.

 If you have been involved in a job related accident and as a result you have, or expect to have, a permanent injury, the change in the law may seriously affect your rights if you already had a permanent injury or permanent health condition that existed before your most recent job related injury.

 For specific information, you should contact the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission and ask to speak with a legal advisor and ask about the change that goes in effect on January 1, 2008 regarding Second Injury Fund claims. The Little Rock telephone numbers are:  (800) 622-4472 or (501) 682-3930.  The Fort Smith telephone numbers are: (800) 354-2711 or (479) 783-7970. The Springdale telephone numbers are: (800) 852-5376 or (479) 751-2790.

 You may also obtain information by contacting a private attorney who is knowledgeable of Arkansas Workers' Compensation law. There should be no charge for such a consultation. 

This information is provided as a public service by the Arkansas AFL-CIO, 501-375-9101.

 
 
Arkansas AFL-CIO
Special Convention
The Special Convention of the Arkansas AFL-CIO was held March 29th in Little Rock, Arkansas.  The purpose of the convention was to take action on recommendations of State COPE concerning candidates who will be running for office in the May 20th Preferential Primaries.  If you would like to receive a list of Arkansas AFL-CIO Endorsed Candidates please contact our office at araflcio@swbell.net or 501-375-9101.

U.S. Senator Mark Pryor

Secretary-Treasurer Ricky Belk & U.S. Senator Mark Pryor

President Alan Hughes & Vice President Dan McAlister introducing U.S. Congressman Mike Ross

Candidate for State Senate Joyce Elliott addressing the Convention delegates.

U.S. Congressman Vic Snyder

Lt. Governor Bill Halter

Vice President Dan McAlister, President Alan Hughes. Secretary-Treasurer Ricky Belk

Executive Board Member Pete Reagan (APFF) & Mary Ann Hopkins (CWA)

Executive Board Member Gary Jones (Sheetmetal Workers) & Monte Breeden (UA)
 
Labor 2008 Coordinator Meeting
November 20th, 2007
 
 
 
 
 
 

Rally at the National Labor Relations Board

November 20th, 2007

 
 
Employee Free Choice Rally at
U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln's Office on June 8th, 2007. 
 
 
 
Arkansas AFL-CIO
Twenty-Sixth Constitutional Convention
The Arkansas AFL-CIO Convention held in Hot Springs on May 21 - 23, 2007 was a great success.  There were over 160 delegates, alternates and guests in attendance. 
 
 

National AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Linda Chavez Thompson

Delegates contacted Senator Lincolns office asking her to support the Employee Free Choice Act.
 
                                                       

Speaker Mike Scarver - PAC Coordinator USW
 
 
 
 

 

2008 United Way Campaign

 

America's working families and the middle class are being squeezed harder than ever in an unfair economy.  Between stagnant wages and soaring costs for fuel, food and health care, many hard-working families are hurting as never before. Many of our neighbors are facing the threat of mortgage foreclosure. One housing organization estimates that as many as 2,000,000 children will become homeless over the next few years as their ­family's home is foreclosed. As the Arkansas AFL-CIO works to turn America around, we want to remember our neighbors in need, many for the first time ever.

 

United Way has been the human services partner of unions through the AFL-CIO Community Services network for more then 60 years. United Way works to see that contributions go directly to programs having real impact in communities, really changing the lives of those they help. United Way has also partnered with unions to promote health care for children, early childhood development, education and financial stability for families.

 

I endorse the 2008 United Way Campaign in the communities where our members live and work, and I invite members of the Arkansas AFL-CIO to consider a contribution in support of the good work of the United Way and the AFL-CIO Community Services network It helps fund.

 

Thank you for your consideration of this request.

In Solidarity,

Alan B. Hughes

President

                                                         

 
 
 Protect Workers’ Freedom to Choose Unions and Bargain for a Better Life
Employee Free Choice Act
 
Working people are struggling to make ends meet today, and America is in danger of seeing the middle class disappear. An important way to help average people get their fair share is to remove unfair barriers to union representation and collective bargaining. Workers in unions earn 29 percent higher wages on average, are 62 percent more likely to have employer health coverage and are four times more likely to have pensions. That is why we need legislation that strengthens protections for workers’ freedom to choose union representation—the Employee Free Choice Act. States can pass resolutions supporting this important national labor law reform.
What does the Employee Free Choice Act do?
·        Strengthens penalties for employers when they break the law while workers try to form unions or bargain contracts,
·        Establishes mediation and binding arbitration when the employer and workers can’t agree on a first contract,
·        And enables workers to form unions when a majority signs union authorization cards. 
 
What’s wrong with current law?
·        Employers can refuse to recognize a union even when a majority of workers wants it.
·        Employers can force workers to endure a lengthy, combative, demoralizing National Labor Relations Board process in which workers are often coerced, intimidated or even fired.
·        Employers can campaign against the union in the workplace whenever and wherever they choose.
·        Employers can force workers to listen to an endless stream of speeches and other propaganda against the union, while denying unions access to workers.
Is the Employee Free Choice Act majority sign-up process democratic? 
·        Yes, majority sign-up is a free and fair way to vote that has always been available under current law—but only if the employer agrees. 
·        Yes, increasingly states have turned to majority sign-up as an effective way to guarantee workers’ choice; it has been adopted in New York, California, Illinois and New Jersey for public-sector, higher education, non-NLRA private-sector and tribal casino workers.
·        Yes, majority sign-up has been recognized by Congress and by the U.S. Supreme Court.
 
How will a state resolution help?
·        States often lead the way on national legislation by demonstrating broad support.
·        Advocating for an Employee Free Choice Act Resolution educates legislators, policy makers and the public about the difficulties workers face when they try to form unions to bargain for a better life.

 

Employee Free Choice Act Introduced 

 
For the first time in nearly 50 years, working families have a real opportunity to make major changes in the nation’s labor laws that will give workers greater freedom to make their own decisions about joining a union.
Last night, a bipartisan coalition in the new Congress introduced the Employee Free Choice Act, maybe the most important labor law reform in nearly 50 years.
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney says the bill brings “fresh hope to millions of America’s workers who desperately want and need the free choice to join or form a union to improve their families’ lives.”
The best opportunity for working women and men to get ahead economically is by coming together with their co-workers to bargain with their employer for a better life through a union. In fact, government statistics show that working men and women who have a union today make 30 percent more than workers who do not have a union, and they are far more likely to have health insurance and retirement plans. The bill (H.R. 800) was introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) along with 229 co-sponsors.
If passed, the Employee Free Choice Act would make the process of choosing a union more fair by:
·         Establishing stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union and during first-contract negotiations.
·         Providing mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes.
·         Allowing employees to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation.
Currently, if employees present an employer with union authorization cards signed by a majority, the employer can demand a secret ballot election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). But the NLRB election process is broken because it enables employers to intimidate, coerce and harass workers and drag out the process indefinitely.
 

Coalition of Labor Union Women Educates Members on Cervical Cancer Prevention

Maybe you've seen the TV ads where women implore you to "Tell Someone" that cervical cancer is caused by a common virus and that you need to be screened regularly to prevent getting the disease.  The Coalition of Labor Union Women (CLUW), one of the six AFL-CIO constituency groups, is reaching out to educate union women and the wives and daughters of union men about the need for screening.

The big news is that women and girls between the ages of nine and 26 now can get a vaccine to prevent the disease, says Carolyn Jacobson, director of CLUW's Cervical Cancer Prevention Works program.  The cancer is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV), which can be detected through regular screenings before it becomes cancer. Yet, this year, health experts say, more than 10,000 women in the United States will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and more than 3,700 will die from it.  Additional information is available http://www.cluw.org/cervcancer.html. 

Jacobson says:  There is no reason why union women should get cervical cancer. More than 86 percent of union members have health insurance and most health plans today cover the Pap test and the Pap and HPV test for women over 30, which is recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Cancer Society.

To spread awareness of the ways to prevent cervical cancer, CLUW prepared a two-page, ready-to-use article to use in union publications or websites. The article features two union women, both cervical cancer survivors, who have created not-for-profit organizations to get the awareness and prevention message out in unique and creative ways.

To download a copy of the CLUW ready-to-use article, click here (http://www.cluw.org/cervcancer-article.html)

The AFL-CIO recently launched an exciting new communications tool:  AFL-CIO Now, a unique news blog (web log) that covers the information that matters most to working families.  Visit the blog at www.aflcio.org/blog. AFL-CIO now gives the union movement the rare opportunity to reach working families, the progressive community and opinion leaders directly with a message unfiltered by the media. 

Organizing is the Key to Our Future

 Our congratulations go out to CWA/IUE locals 6502, 6507 and 6508.  The Arkansas locals recently completed a successful statewide organizing campaign with former AT&T Wireless who is now employed with Cingular Wireless, the only Union wireless company in the state.  The locals coordinated their efforts and mapped out a statewide effort.  Local organizers Jim Murray (6502), Robert White (6507), Tom Pevey and Mike King (6508) assessed and educated the workers, distributed literature and took part in numerous one on one conversations.  Their hard work and close cooperation with each other ensured success in the campaign.  We commend their efforts to build the Unions in Arkansas.  IAM gained Local 502 at Armtech Counter.  USW gained Local 9494 at Arkansas Aluminum.  AFSCME local 884 has doubled its membership and AFSCME local 994 now has over 200 members.  With everyone’s hard work and effort we hope to see a continued increase in membership. 

Another organizing success has been reported.  Congratulations to CWA Local 6505 and President Jackie Fields on organizing JFR Graphics in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.  JFR Graphics will specialize in yard signs, window decals and T-shirts.  There number is 870-886-6999. 

The Arkansas AFL-CIO is proud to welcome new affiliates.  The Marine Engineer's Beneficial Association (MEBA) / Professional Airways Systems Specialist (PASS) Local AR-1.  They maintain equipment at the FAA towers and our responsible for safety during air travel.  In September APWU Local 3688 in El Dorado also affiliated.

We recently also gained OPEIU PHPA Local 109 (Helicopter Pilots) as a new affiliate.

DRIVE UNION

 

This guide is prepared by the UAW to provide information for consumers who want to purchase vehicles produced by workers who enjoy the benefits and protections of a union contract. All vehicles on this list are made in the United States or Canada by members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) or the International Union of Electrical Workers-Communication Workers of America (IUE-CWA). Because of the integration of U.S. and Canadian vehicle production, all vehicles on this list include significant UAW-made content and support the jobs of UAW members.  However, those vehicles marked with an asterisk (*) are sourced from the United States and/or Canada and a third country. When purchasing one of these models, check the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN.) A VIN beginning with "1," "4" or "5" identifies a U.S.-made vehicle; "2" identifies a Canadian-made vehicle.  Not all vehicles made in the United States or Canada are made by union represented workers. The Toyota Corolla, for example, is made in the United States by UAW members, but the Canadian model is made in a nonunion plant and other models are imported from a third country. To be sure you have a union-made vehicle, buy one of the vehicles on this list.

 

 

 UAW CARS

UAW SUVS

UAW PICKUPS

UAW VANS

 Buick Lucerne

Cadillac Escalade *

Chevrolet Silverado *

Buick Terraza

 Cadillac CTS

Cadillac SRX

Chevrolet Colorado

Chevrolet Express

 Cadillac DTS

Chevrolet Suburban *

Chevrolet SSR

Chevrolet Uplander

 Cadillac STS

Chevrolet Tahoe *

Dodge Ram *

Chrysler Town & Country

 Cadillac XLR

Chevrolet TrailBlazer EXT

Dodge Dakota

Dodge Caravanl

 Chevrolet Cobalt

Dodge Durango

Ford F-Series *

Grand Caravan

 Chevrolet Corvette

Ford Escape/Escape Hybrid

Ford Ranger

Ford E-series

 Chevrolet Malibu

Ford Excursion

GMC Sierra*

GMC Savana

 Chevrolet Malibu Maxx

Ford Expedition

GMC Canyon

Pontiac Montana

 Chrysler Sebring

Ford Explorer

Isuzu I-series

Saturn Relay

 Dodge Caliber

Ford Explorer Sport Trac

Lincoln Mark LT

 

 Dodge Neon

GMC Yukon XL *

Mazda B-series

 

 Dodge Stratus

GMC Envoy XL/Envoy EXT

Mitsubishi Raider

 

 Dodge Viper

GMC Yukon/Denali *

Toyota Tacoma *

 

 Ford Focus

Hummer H I Alpha

 

 

 Ford Five Hundred

Hummer H2

 

 

 Ford Freestyle