Union membership is shrinking in Pennsylvania and across the country. A report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that in 2010, the number of workers in Pennsylvania who belong to a union was 770,000 representing 14.7% of wage and salary employees. That's down from 15% in 2009.
The bureau's regional economist Kara Markley says the decline in Pennsylvania's union members hip rate is similar to the national rate which fell from12.3% in 2009 to 11.9% last year.
According to the bureau, in 1989, the first year for which state union data was available, the rate peaked at 20.9% in Pennsylvania and has been steadily dropping since. Markley says that half of the union members in the United States is concentrated in 6 states..."Those 6 states are California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey. However, the 6 states only accounted for one third of the wage and salary employment.
The state with the highest union percentage among workers is New York at 24.2% and North Carolina has the smallest rate...3.2%.
Showing posts with label unions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label unions. Show all posts
Monday, February 28, 2011
Sunday, February 27, 2011
PA Workers Rally to Support Wisconsin Colleagues
Protesters turned out Saturday at state capitals, including Harrisburg, and other cities across the nation to support teachers and other public workers holding steady at the Wisconsin capitol in their fight against legislation aimed at stripping most of their collective bargaining rights. The protest in Madison is now 12 days old and it attracted more than 70,000 people Saturday, the largest crowd yet.
Hundreds of people including auto workers, teachers, electricians, postal workers and railroad workers gathered at Pennsylvania's state capital. They chanted and carried signs. Michael Morrill of the organizing group Keystone Progress said they wanted to "stand in solidarity with Wisconsin workers and American families everywhere." Morrill said they also hoped to deter Governor Tom Corbett from any such effort in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, several dozen people across the street sounded whistles and bullhorns in a counter protest.
Hundreds of people including auto workers, teachers, electricians, postal workers and railroad workers gathered at Pennsylvania's state capital. They chanted and carried signs. Michael Morrill of the organizing group Keystone Progress said they wanted to "stand in solidarity with Wisconsin workers and American families everywhere." Morrill said they also hoped to deter Governor Tom Corbett from any such effort in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, several dozen people across the street sounded whistles and bullhorns in a counter protest.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Aggressive Driving Targeted in SW PA
PennDOT is partnering with local law enforcement and State Police in cracking down on aggressive driving in southwestern Pennsylvania now through March 27. Jay Ofsanik of PennDOT says they've been doing these "aggressive driving enforcement waves" since 2006 to reduce crashes and fatalities.....
"Speeding, tailgating someone, improper passing, weaving in and out of traffic, people who run red lights, do 'boulevard' (rolling) stops at stop signs instead of coming to a complete stop, are the types of behaviors police are looking for."
Ofsanik says they look at particular crash records and then determine the roadways that have a high incident rate of aggressive driving and then have police specifically target those roads.
PennDOT uses grants from the Federal Highway Administration to reimburse local police departments and state police for any extra costs including overtime.
According to Ofsanik, over the next 5 weeks they will be targeting 83 roads in the Pittsburgh region including Route 51 in Westmoreland County, Route 30 near Greensburg, Route 22 in Murrysville, Route 19 in McCandless Township, Route 50 in Collier Township and the Interstates.
He says the program has been effective citing the example of a stretch of Route 51 between Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. Ofsanik says prior to the program starting in 2006, there were 6 fatalities in 5 years in that corridor. But since the crackdown, there have been no fatalities in the last 5 years.
"Speeding, tailgating someone, improper passing, weaving in and out of traffic, people who run red lights, do 'boulevard' (rolling) stops at stop signs instead of coming to a complete stop, are the types of behaviors police are looking for."
Ofsanik says they look at particular crash records and then determine the roadways that have a high incident rate of aggressive driving and then have police specifically target those roads.
PennDOT uses grants from the Federal Highway Administration to reimburse local police departments and state police for any extra costs including overtime.
According to Ofsanik, over the next 5 weeks they will be targeting 83 roads in the Pittsburgh region including Route 51 in Westmoreland County, Route 30 near Greensburg, Route 22 in Murrysville, Route 19 in McCandless Township, Route 50 in Collier Township and the Interstates.
He says the program has been effective citing the example of a stretch of Route 51 between Fayette and Westmoreland Counties. Ofsanik says prior to the program starting in 2006, there were 6 fatalities in 5 years in that corridor. But since the crackdown, there have been no fatalities in the last 5 years.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Council Sends Support to Wisconsin
Pittsburgh City Council has taken up the cause of the mass of protesting union members in Wisconsin. Council passed a resolution this morning proclaiming today, “Service Workers Day” in Pittsburgh. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker has proposed legislation that would eliminate collective bargaining rights for state workers for any benefits other than base pay. It would also prevent state and local governments from automatically collecting union dues.
Resolution sponsor Natalia Rudiak says the governor is stripping the workers of their fundamental rights and in the process he is shattering the middle class. “It is a bridge too far, it is a reactionary agenda that will endanger the livelihoods of thousands of working Americans and it must be stopped before this type of thinking endangers the livelihood of millions,” says Rudiak. The resolution praises union workers in the city and recognizes their work in keeping the city and the region running.
“Workers rights are not a budget line item,” says Council Member Bruce Kraus, “you cannot just wipe away with the stroke of a pen decades and decades of work that has stabilized a middle class.” Kraus says the middle class is essential to the health and wellbeing of the nation.
In a news conference before Council’s meeting, Allegheny County Labor Council President Jack Shea jumped onto the same theme, saying this is not just an issue of concern to union members; it is an issue of concern for all workers. “Everybody knows when unions are able to bargain a fair and a decent contract and conditions of employment, it gets passed on to the non-union workforce,” says Shea.
Last week, Democrats in Wisconsin's state Senate walked out rather than vote on the bill. They fled to Illinois and other boarding states to keep from being forced back into the chamber. “We support your heroic effort to protect the futures of so many working families,” says Rudiak, “we know that you cannot go home so if you need a gathering place in your struggle to protect workers rights you are welcome to come to Pittsburgh.”
Resolution sponsor Natalia Rudiak says the governor is stripping the workers of their fundamental rights and in the process he is shattering the middle class. “It is a bridge too far, it is a reactionary agenda that will endanger the livelihoods of thousands of working Americans and it must be stopped before this type of thinking endangers the livelihood of millions,” says Rudiak. The resolution praises union workers in the city and recognizes their work in keeping the city and the region running.
“Workers rights are not a budget line item,” says Council Member Bruce Kraus, “you cannot just wipe away with the stroke of a pen decades and decades of work that has stabilized a middle class.” Kraus says the middle class is essential to the health and wellbeing of the nation.
In a news conference before Council’s meeting, Allegheny County Labor Council President Jack Shea jumped onto the same theme, saying this is not just an issue of concern to union members; it is an issue of concern for all workers. “Everybody knows when unions are able to bargain a fair and a decent contract and conditions of employment, it gets passed on to the non-union workforce,” says Shea.
Last week, Democrats in Wisconsin's state Senate walked out rather than vote on the bill. They fled to Illinois and other boarding states to keep from being forced back into the chamber. “We support your heroic effort to protect the futures of so many working families,” says Rudiak, “we know that you cannot go home so if you need a gathering place in your struggle to protect workers rights you are welcome to come to Pittsburgh.”
Friday, July 24, 2009
Unions Protest City's Development Strategies
Over 100 members of Pittsburgh’s service-sector unions held a sit-down protest outside Mayor Luke Ravenstahl’s Grant Street office this morning, until police asked the group to leave. Representatives from local branches of the Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers, and the International Union of Operating Engineers demanded good jobs and green buildings at new development sites across the city.
SEIU of Western Pennsylvania Director Gabe Morgan says developments are okay, but good jobs are better. “It’s true that there are good construction jobs created in the city by development. But after the buildings are built, there are hundreds of service-sector workers in those buildings making poverty-level wages, normally, and often without any benefits,” says Morgan.
He says despite the recent bill regulating green buildings, the city needs to do more. "We’re a city trying to transform ourselves, the first industrial, former Rust Belt city trying to transform itself into a green city. If you’re going to get a public subsidy, the city should be promoting green jobs; it should be promoting green buildings. And that’s better not just for the environment… but for the city as a whole,” says Morgan.
The unions plan to return to the mayor’s office at 2:00 p.m. today to continue their protest.
SEIU of Western Pennsylvania Director Gabe Morgan says developments are okay, but good jobs are better. “It’s true that there are good construction jobs created in the city by development. But after the buildings are built, there are hundreds of service-sector workers in those buildings making poverty-level wages, normally, and often without any benefits,” says Morgan.
He says despite the recent bill regulating green buildings, the city needs to do more. "We’re a city trying to transform ourselves, the first industrial, former Rust Belt city trying to transform itself into a green city. If you’re going to get a public subsidy, the city should be promoting green jobs; it should be promoting green buildings. And that’s better not just for the environment… but for the city as a whole,” says Morgan.
The unions plan to return to the mayor’s office at 2:00 p.m. today to continue their protest.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Steelworkers Endorse Obama
The United Steelworkers of America has endorsed Barack Obama in the presidential race. The endorsement comes a day after former presidential candidate John Edwards announced his support for Obama. The Pittsburgh-based union formerly supported Edwards, who dropped out of the race in January. Since then, the union has held discussions with Obama and fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton on issues like trade, workers' rights, and green jobs.
USWA spokesman Marco Trbovich says the union respects Clinton and her decision to stay in the race. A poll of union members found equal support for Obama and Clinton. But Trbovich says the Steelworkers decided it was time to unify voters behind Obama in preparation for the November general election. Trbovich says presumptive Republican nominee John McCain would be a continuation of the Bush administration.
USWA spokesman Marco Trbovich says the union respects Clinton and her decision to stay in the race. A poll of union members found equal support for Obama and Clinton. But Trbovich says the Steelworkers decided it was time to unify voters behind Obama in preparation for the November general election. Trbovich says presumptive Republican nominee John McCain would be a continuation of the Bush administration.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Latrobe Steelworkers Protest
Latrobe Steelworkers of USW Local 1537 have been disputing over a new proposed contract since May 1st. Many workers say it is due to management's unfairness to its employees. Instead of giving pay raises, it gave lump sum bonuses. In addition, it proposed to freeze the cost of living, double health care contribution over the next three years, and insert a two-tier wage structure for new workers.
Kevin Caruso, president of USW Steelworkers Local 1537, said a pay raise and a lump sum may add up to the same amount, but they are calculated differently.
Temporary workers were already sent to the plant to fill the spots of protesting workers. Caruso said he is worried about the quality of work the temporaries will give, and how safe they will be in unfamiliar conditions.
Kevin Caruso, president of USW Steelworkers Local 1537, said a pay raise and a lump sum may add up to the same amount, but they are calculated differently.
Temporary workers were already sent to the plant to fill the spots of protesting workers. Caruso said he is worried about the quality of work the temporaries will give, and how safe they will be in unfamiliar conditions.
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