Why we vote for Judges
A short discussion of the importance of electing
Judges.
In Pennsylvania we are fortunate that we have the
opportunity to elect our judges. In many state they are appointed for life by
people who have no more understanding of workers and their problems than the man
in the moon.
However while we have the
opportunity to elect them many voters don't even take the time to learn about
them and then vote. And the very thing that happens when they appoint judges we
get the ones that don't understand our needs.
Many of our members ask why care about
Judges. They figure that they will never be in front of a Judge so why
bother.
Here's why: Judges oversee appeals on
worker compensation cases, and unemployment compensation. They deal with
injunctions on job actions and they can set limits on pickets. Everything we may
win in the legislature can be overturned or upheld by the courts. We can win
important victories on the right to organize and prevailing wage. It is the
third branch of government where we can get a shot to protect our jobs and
livelihoods. Good News on November 4th Pennsylvanians elected a Supreme Court
Justice and at least 2 maybe 3 Superior Court Judges friendly to
workers.
Posted at 12:22 AM
The beginning
Periodically I get questions on how to start a
union or what are they all about. So for folks who want to start a union let me
lay out a few basics.
...we will work with
our affiliated unions to find the best union to help you
organize.
...You will have to work with
the organizer to help them with names and people interested in a
union.
...While many employers break
the law it is illegal to fire someone for union activities.... Once you have
30% of the employees showing interest the Union will make a decision to call for
an election. While the law only requires 30% some organizers will try to get
50% or more so once an election is called they know they have the votes. This
is the point where the names of those interested in the union will become known
to the employer.... I wish I could tell prospective union members that forming
a union was easy and that all employers would abide by the wishes of their
employees, but they don't.... And most drives for a union are a fight, But the
benefits and respect you gain from that fight are worth it all.
Periodically I get questions on how to start a
union or what are they all about. So for folks who want to start a union let me
lay out a few basics.
1. If you
contact the AFL-CIO in Pa. we will work with our affiliated unions to find the
best union to help you organize.
2. You will
have to work with the organizer to help them with names and people interested in
a union.
3. The organizer can help protect
the workers confidentiality. While many employers break the law it is illegal to
fire someone for union activities.
4. Once
you have 30% of the employees showing interest the Union will make a decision to
call for an election. While the law only requires 30% some organizers will try
to get 50% or more so once an election is called they know they have the votes.
This is the point where the names of those interested in the union will become
known to the employer.
5. I wish I could tell
prospective union members that forming a union was easy and that all employers
would abide by the wishes of their employees, but they don't.
6. There's an old saying that anything worth
having is worth fighting for. And most drives for a union are a fight, But the
benefits and respect you gain from that fight are worth it all.
Posted at 03:00 AM