Communications Workers Rally, March 23

The Communication Workers of America and the German Union Ver.di have formed a partnership to give T-Mobile workers a voice on the job and to protect those jobs from being outsourced overseas.

T-Mobile closed 7 call centers including one located in Lenexa, KS, and outsourced nearly 3,300 jobs overseas in June 2012. Now T-Mobile is trying to merge with Metro PCS who outsources almost all of their customer service jobs. T-Mobile has said that if the merger goes through, jobs will go overseas.

Please join CWA workers and three German Ver.di guests for a rally on Saturday, March 23, 2013 from 1-3 pm to highlight the need for fairness for workers, and to make sure that there are no jobs lost here in Wichita as a result of this merger.

Support members of our community and their families. Support fairness for workers. Come to the rally at

T-Mobile Call Center

2525 North Woodlawn

March 23, 2013

1-3 pm

Labor's Food Pantry-Union Members Care

Our thanks to Mario Cervantes, the AFL-CIO Community Service Liaison Coordinator for the following article. As he explains, Labor's Food Pantry is open to all. If you or your faith community would like to contribute to the pantry, please contact Mario directly at the number below. Thank you, David Hansen

With the economy showing signs of a glimmer of a recovery we must still remember that we have many individuals and families that are struggling to make ends meet. Most of these families struggle towards the end of each month, after paying rent, utilities, just to put food on their table. And for those families that are unemployed their neighborhood food pantry is a vital resource.

That’s where Labor’s Food Pantry comes in by providing a food box to help supplement their family’s food budget, which helps them make it to the next payday or unemployment check. Labor’s Food Pantry touches the lives of 8 to 12 families each month and the help they receive is more than just nourishment for their body, it’s the sense that someone cares and is willing to help! And that someone is the union member! Ready and willing to help anyone in need!

Labor’s Pantry touches the lives of anyone that is in need of food, not just union members, but anyone that struggles to provide food for their family, anyone that might be hungry, should we allow any person or child to go hungry? A resolving NO! In community service we recognize this important principle, that the Union member is first and foremost a member of the community, and as a member of a community the union member cares about the entire community and everyone in that community!

 When I hear or read comments that unions are the problem, it makes me mad first and sad second because those that make those comments, just don’t know the real story or don’t want to know! Union members provide millions of dollars annually to United Way and other charities in the community.

And through these dollars provide the resources needed to fund programs and services utilized by anyone in need in the community, the hot meal delivered to a homebound senior or the hospice care that a family receives for their love one at the end of their life or maybe services for a disabled child or help for a woman that might be fleeing domestic violence. All of these services and many more provided by the support of union members working together with other community members to improve the life’s of everyone. The support union members give is not only financial but hundreds of hours of volunteer time, helping at local nonprofits, churches, mentoring at schools, scouting or just helping a neighbor, community service in the true sense of the word. Community Services, it might be a well kept secret but we really weren’t trying to keep it a secret, we see a need, we act on it, and we Git-ur-Done!

If you would like to help support the Labor Pantry please consider bringing a nonperishable food item to each union meeting and I’d be glad to pick-up. Pantry wish list: cereal, macaroni and cheese or any boxed meal.

 If your community service committee is looking for a group project or you would like more information on Labor’s Pantry please contact me at 267-1321 ext 4209

 Thank you sisters and brothers for all you do to support the partnership and our community.

Flyer placed in each food box Wichita-Hutchinson Labor Federation of Central Ks, AFL-CIO Labor’s Food Pantry - Emergency Assistance Food Items Donated and/or Purchased by area “Union Members” UNION YES         X Members of Organized Labor!  Helping the whole community! Labor Cares - Labor Shares

In Solidarity,

Mario Cervantes

AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison

United Way of the Plains

Faith and Labor Forum Report/Larry Smith's Talk

The IWJ Kansas Faith and Labor Forum sponsored by Pine Valley Christian Church was held on March 8th. The band, Shoulder to Shoulder, brought us great energy and inspiring music. Martin Eddy, representing the International Aerospace and Machinists Union, Tammy Chaffee of the Communications Workers of America, Stuart Elliot of the United Postal Workers Union, Bryan Pfiefer of the American Federation of Teachers, and Larry Smith of the United Teachers of Wichita represented the voice of labor. Representative Carolyn Bridges brought us a message from the Kansas House of Representatives. Reverend David Hansen moderated the event and shared a faith perspective. Our thanks to all who attended and shared in this event and to the members of Pine Valley Christian Church for your hospitality. Our thanks to Larry Smith for allowing us to publish the text of remarks, which are printed here.

Faith Communities and Labor: Natural Allies


The faith community has always been the natural ally of the working class and the labor movement. During the 1800s, it was the faith community that worked for legislation to help the poor, and supported efforts to create an 8-hour work day and child labor restrictions. In the1930s, faith communities partnered with government to help the working class that were hardest hit by the Great Depression. In the 1960s and 70s, it was the faith community that walked with workers in Memphis, Detroit, Philadelphia, and other cities across the nation.

Today we are facing an attack on the working class and on organized labor that has not been seen since the days of the Gilded Age. Unions are blamed for the mismanagement of bloated corporations. Workers are blamed for being lazy, are dismissed because they are not "job creators." And public school teachers are called "thugs" and "terrorists" by politicians and media outlets firmly in the pocket of Big Business. And so I am here on behalf of the workers, on behalf of the labor movement, to ask for your assistance once again.

The state elections of 2010 and 2012 have brought a new type of politician to Topeka. This politicians has decided that large corporations are people, but that unions are gangs of bullies and thugs. This politician has decided that large corporations should be able to funnel endless amounts of money into political campaigns, but that unions should not be able to collect any dues from members if those funds involve political activity. This politician has decided that business should not have to pay any income tax, but the poor and working class should pay more in sales tax and have their mortgage exemptions taken away.

There are many bills in the state legislature that can only be termed anti-teacher, anti-labor, anti-worker, anti-poor. Too many to count, in fact. But here are a few that you may have heard of:

HB 2023: The "Payroll Exemption Act," which seeks to take away the right of public unions to have their union dues deducted from their paycheck. But the real purpose is to deny unions their funding so that they cannot speak out on behalf of teachers or students.

HB 2027: Was the old HB 2085, now has become a gut-and-go bill to remove 25 of the 30 work items now negotiated between teacher unions and the local school boards. It would also let any person or group bargain with the school board, and all unions would have to have a re-certification election every two years. In other words, this bill would practically destroy teacher unions, and let school boards issue unilateral contracts.

HB 2069: This bill would prohibit local prevailing wage provisions for all state construction projects; it is probably unconstitutional, but will require an expensive lawsuit to bring it to the Kansas or U.S. Supreme Court.

SB 73: This bill would make major changes to the worker compensation rules in favor of business, and very much against the worker. The worst change is that appeals would no longer go to district court, but to the Workers Comp Board, which would have already ruled on the issue.

There are many other bills in the same vein. Many of these bills affect an enormous number of working Kansans, including many of you.The net effect of this type of legislation is to take away our freedoms and our hard-earned money. But even more importantly, many of these bills would destroy our public education system, and create a society of have's and have-nots.

I'm a history teacher at East High School. We're currently teaching my favorite part of American History: the civil rights movement. I tell my students that the history of the civil rights movement, and the impact it had on our country, is more important than World War 2, more important than the Cold War, more important than Vietnam and Watergate. I tell them that because the civil rights movement goes to the very heart of what this country is all about: the fulfillment of that outrageous idea that "all men are created equal." Public education is an essential part of that idea, for without an adequate education, the poor and the marginalized have no way to achieve the American Dream. Without an adequate education, the poor and the marginalized are taken advantage of. Without an adequate education, the poor and the marginalized are doomed to generational suffering.

It has been encouraging to see a lot of my fellow teachers waking up to all that is going on around them, and to begin to speak up. You know, teachers aren't any different from anyone else: we have families to raise, bills to pay, houses and yards to take care of. There never seems to be enough time to do all we want, and when we get done taking care of those never-ending tasks and chores of our work and our homes, we just want to be able to sit down and spend a little time with our families and friends. But I've seen so many teachers that are giving up that time to get involved in fighting for what they believe in: a decent education for our students, and decent pay and working conditions for teachers.

But we need your help. We need Kansans all over this state to stand with us and fight these politicians and their legislation. We need Kansans like you to write letters, make phone calls, send e-mails, to your legislators and tell them you want them to stop these attacks. Tell them to vote NO on these bills that seek to harm teachers, workers and students. Tell them to start working to represent everyday Kansans.

I was born in 1959, just as the civil rights movement was gaining momentum. I've been proud to be from Kansas, the home of Linda Brown and the Brown v. BOE decision. I've been proud to be from Wichita, the home of the first student-led lunch counter sit-in.

But I've also been sad that I was too young to participate in the civil rights movement in those days. As I studied those events,and later taught them, I told myself that, if I had been older, I would have been there. I would have marched and protested in Birmingham. I would have gone to Mississippi to register voters. I would have gone to Washington to hear Dr. King tell us about his dream. And I would not be surprised to find many of you have had similar feelings.

Well, now we have that opportunity. Public education is the civil rights movement of our time, and it effects all of us. People of color, people of all faiths, people of all political beliefs. Now is the time to stand up. Now is the time to speak up. Now is our time.

Events for You

IWJKansas Salutes IAM Local 639

Reverend Charles R. Claycomb, pastor of University United Methodist Church, Wichita, and an IWJ Kansas board member recently attended a meeting of IAM Local 639 where he presented the union a check of $250 and an IWJ certificate to honor the union for standing up for workers rights.

Pine Valley Christian Church and IWJ Kansas

Invite you to attend a Faith and Labor Forum on Friday, March 8, 2013 at 7:00. Music will be provided by Shoulder to Shoulder. Speakers include Bryan Pfiefer and Rennie Holland, AFT, and Rev. David Hansen, IWJ Kansas. We will also learn about developments for the Sunflower Worker Center. This is a time to network and learn more about what is happening locally and in Kansas.

Communication Workers/Ver.di T-Mobile Rally

We are happy to share the following news from CWA. For more information please contact the Communications Workers of America office in Wichita.

We will have a German Delegation here from Dortmund call center/Ver.di union to highlight the differences between how they are treated in Germany and how the T-Mobile workers are treated here in the United States. They will also be highlighting their mission to make sure that jobs are not lost during the T-Mobile/MetroPCS merger. 

Please join us for this rally and bring any and all interested parties with you so we can highlight the differences in treatment between the workers in Germany and the United States. Lets make this a big rally.

When	Sat Mar 23, 2013 1pm – 3pm Central Time
Where	2525 N Woodlawn, Wichita, KS

Public Forum: Faith and Labor

If you are concerned about the future of labor and of our communities and you want to know what you can do to help create a positive environment for all workers and their families, please join us.

Friday, March 8, 2013

7:00 pm

Pine Valley Christian Church

5621 E. 21st Street

**************

Music provided by Shoulder to Shoulder

Speakers:

Mr. Bryan G. Pfiefer, Organizing Coordinator, American Federation of Teachers

Ms. Rennie Hudson, Organizer, American Federation of Teachers

Rev. Dr. David Hansen

Interfaith Worker Justice Kansas

Interim Pastor, Pine Valley Christian Church

Stand with Working Kansas Alliance Saturday

http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=2ad1462c50995d53c5cebc996&id=0a4900e3e3&e=c8fe7b453c
This coming Saturday at 2pm workers from all across Kansas will be gathering in Topeka on the steps of the State Capitol to rally for workers rights! Join us in standing up for your rights, and telling Governor Brownback and the Kansas Legislature that it’s time to end these senseless attacks on the hard working men and women of Kansas.

Help us spread the word about Saturday by taking a moment to share this post on your social networks.

You can also RSVP to our event on Facebook by clicking here (http://www.facebook.com/events/569806503032239/) , and be sure to invite your friends, family, and coworkers to join us as well!

See you Saturday.
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Copyright © 2013 Working Kansas Alliance / Kansas Coalition for Workplace Safety, All rights reserved.

HB 2123 Attacks Unions

Kansas lawmakers have launched a frontal attack on unions. The Feb. 1, 2013, Wichita Eagle blog noted that, "Legislation, which the House approved Thursday, is entirely about trying to weaken unions--which is why it is being pushed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and Americans for Prosperity." The goal, made clear in HB 2123, is to get rid of public sector unions. But don't take my word for it. The text of this bill is printed here. I am opposed to this bill and similar anti-union legislation.

There is no question that unions have improved working conditions and increased wages and brought better benefits for all workers--union and nonunion. Union members want good jobs, safe working conditions and good pay. These are things that make for healthier families and better communities. In future articles I will reflect on why  I believe worker rights should be of concern to members of faith communities and why now is the time to support working men and women in our community.
                                                                                    Reverend David Hansen, IWJ Kansas                                                                

                                                                                          

Session of 2013

HOUSE BILL No. 2123

By Committee on Commerce, Labor and Economic Development

1-29

AN ACT concerning public employees; enacting the public employees

freedom act.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

Section 1. Sections 1 through 11 shall be known and may be cited as

the public employee freedom act.

Sec. 2. It is declared to be the policy of this state that:

(a) An employer and employee should be free to contract on their

own terms;

(b) mandatory collective bargaining laws violate this freedom; and

(c) as a result, it is hereby declared to be against the public policy of

this state to impose mandatory collective bargaining laws on public

employees and the organizations that represent such public employees in

the collective bargaining process.

Sec. 3. As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires, the

following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in

this section:

(a) "Employee organization" means any association or organization

of employees, and any agency, employee representation committee or plan

in which employees participate that exists, in whole or in part, to advocate

on behalf of employees about grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of

pay, hours of employment or conditions of work.

(b) (1) "Public employee" means a person holding a position by

appointment or employment in the government of this state, or any taxing

or political subdivision thereof, including, but not limited to, public

schools, any authority, commission or board, or in any other branch of

public service.

(2) The term "public employee" shall not include any employee

whose job involves managerial, supervisory, or confidential

responsibilities.

(c) "Public employer" means any state or local government,

government agency, government instrumentality, special district, joint

powers authority, school board or special purpose organization that

employs one or more persons in any capacity.

Sec. 4. (a) Public employees shall have the right to represent

themselves in their relations with their public employer.

HB 2123 2

(b) No provision of any agreement between an employee organization

and a public employer, or any other public policy, shall impose

representation by an employee organization on any public employee who

is not a member of such employee organization.

Sec. 5. No dues, fees, assessments or any other automatic payroll

deductions by public employers from public employee payroll

compensation shall be allowed for transmission to any public employee

organization, any intermediary or private individual, other than for primary

and supplemental pension plans, life, health and other employee benefits,

or contributions made to 501C(3) charitable organizations through a

workplace giving program.

Sec. 6. Any agreement, understanding, or practice, written or oral,

implied or expressed, between any employee organization and public

employer that violates the rights of employees as guaranteed by provisions

of this act, and amendments thereto, is hereby declared to be unlawful, null

and void, and shall have no legal effect. Any strike, picketing, boycott, or

other action by an employee organization for the purpose of inducing or

attempting to induce an employer to enter into any agreement prohibited

by this section is hereby declared to be for an illegal purpose and is a

violation of the provisions of this act.

Sec. 7. It shall be unlawful for any person, employee organization, or

officer, agent, or member thereof, to compel or attempt to compel such

employee or prospective employee to join, affiliate with, or financially

support an employee organization by any:

(a) Intimidation, threatened or actual, of an employee or prospective

employee, or an employee's or prospective employee's parents, spouse,

children, grandchildren, or any other persons residing in the employee's or

prospective employee's home; or

(b) damage or threatened damage to an employee's or prospective

employee's property.

Sec. 8. Any person who directly or indirectly violates any provision

of this act shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.

Sec. 9. It shall be the duty of the attorney general to investigate

complaints of violation or threatened violations of this act and to prosecute

any or all persons violating any of its provisions, and to take all means

available to the attorney general to ensure effective enforcement of this

act.

Sec. 10. The provisions of this act shall apply to all contracts or

extensions thereof entered into on or after the effective date of this act.

Sec. 11. If any provision of this act, including any amendment made

by this act, or the application of any such provision to any person or

circumstance, is held invalid, the validity of any other provision of this act,

or the application of such provision to other persons and circumstances,

HB 2123 3

shall not be affected thereby.

Sec. 12. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its

publication in the statute book.