Open Letter to Editor Ashville Citizen-Times

Dear Editor,

The economic down turn has packed a double wallop against workers in America.  Not only are we facing lay-offs and cut backs, but pressure from lower wages and increased inflation.  All across this Country, workers are being squeezed to produce more at less cost. Our only allies, the unions, are under attack by misguided politicians and corporate business groups.  It’s a recipe for disaster!

Not every employer takes advantage of workers to the degree alleged at Sitel Call Center.  And that’s good! However, when one employer gets away with it; the message to other business owners is clear.

As I understand it, there are approximately 600 people working at the Sitel Call Center, mostly female, with two restrooms on opposite sides of the building. Workers are forced to rush, hold it, or risk discipline if taking more than the allotted time. Anyone with a daughter, sister, wife or mother should understand. This is not right!

This is America! We don’t tolerate sweatshops here. Business owners should not treat workers like trash. I know you will receive letters from business owners sighting the need for more control over workers in the workplace due of foreign competition, but I hope you will understand our friends and family members are being taken advantage of, and it’s not right!

Bob Oedy

NOFX at Occupy Los Angeles

Fat Mike and Eric Melvin of legendary punk rock band NOFX entertained the crowd at Occupy Los Angeles on Sunday. The two were joined by Johnny of Old Man Markley another Fat Wreck Chords band.  This was a free show that almost didn't happen when some speed metal band decided last minute to compete for attention. Luckily that didn't last long and the NOFX members were given their chance. 

It was an amazing set which included a song written by Mike specifically for the Occupy Movement. Its a catchy tune which the crowd insisted they play twice. Not many bands could get away with that. This was urban camping at it's best with no real stage just a small crowded concrete area surrounded by tents.  Tomorrow police are expected to close down the park and force everyone to leave. That's why today's free concert was appreciated so much by all in attendance. 

Union Organizer Website Redesigned

Union Organizer.com is a website for union organizers in the construction industry.  The site has been redesigned to be more video based. Articles are still published on the site for those who prefer to read, but now you have the option of watching videos on your computer, phone or other portable devices. Check out the new look at http://www.unionorganizer.com

Unions Now, More Than Ever

Find Bigger Labor in Union Communications Services Online Catalogue

Bigger Labor: A Crash Course for Construction Union Organizers
By Bob Oedy

This helpful 2008 book is a comprehensive guide to construction organizing best practices. It covers everything from what to do on a picket line to tips on visiting job sites, from effective handbilling to dealing with police, from building a banner to salting. It offers building trades organizers extensive communication tips for every situation, from following up with potential recruits to effectively getting your point across at public hearings.

Oedy, an experienced organizer based in Los Angeles, focuses on helping new organizers who want to get up to speed quickly and get a handle on who’s doing what work and where. “You don’t need to know every detail about common-situs picketing or the Moore Dry Dock case, you need to know how to access more job sites and what to do when someone chases you off a job,” Oedy says. “You need to know how to make a database of all the contractors and craft workers and keep in touch with them over time. You need to know what you can put on a flyer without getting the union sued. You need to know what to do – and avoid – when speaking at a city council meeting. To those ends the book offers everyday street language, no legal jargon.” 132 pages paperback

Price:

$19.95

Bigger Labor Facebook Page Launched

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bigger-Labor-A-Crash-Course-for-Construction-Union-Organizers/236840859679591

To check it out hit the link above. While you're there please "Like" Bigger Labor; A Crash Course for Construction Union Organizers. Thanks!

Using Computers to Organize

http://youtu.be/6TPzx69fEvU

New Online Degree Program for Labor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The National Labor College (NLC) Launches New Bachelor’s Degree Programs.

SILVER SPRING, MD, January 24, 2011 — The National Labor College, which is

sponsored by the AFL-CIO and is the nation’s only regionally-accredited higher

education institution devoted exclusively to educating union members, leaders, and staff,

today announced it has launched three new fully-online bachelor’s degree programs in

Construction Management, Emergency Readiness and Response Management, and

Business Administration.

“Our new online bachelor’s degree programs are designed to help union members

advance in their current jobs or move into growth areas for new, good jobs,” said Dr.

Paula Peinovich, President of the NLC. “The College is proud to be part of the solution

to our country’s current unemployment crisis.”

New Online Degrees

These new degree-completion programs offer union members the convenience and

flexibility of online study. And with special union member rates and scholarships, NLC

students can complete their degree for less than $10,000 in two years. Plus, learning

from work experience and apprenticeships can earn union members credits towards

completing their degree.

Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration

NLC’s bachelor’s degree in Business Administration is based upon the ethical treatment

of all members of society, sustainable business practices, and the idea that all

organizations should contribute to the health of the community. This program is unique

in that it has required courses that explore the labor movement’s contributions to

American society and economic prosperity. The program is designed to support the needs

of all members of the labor movement interested in contributing to the health of their

families, their unions, their organizations, and their communities.

Bachelor of Arts in Construction Management

The NLC offers the only bachelor's degree in Construction Management with required

courses that explore the labor movement’s preeminent role in the construction industry.

This degree is geared for members of the Building and Construction Trades unions who

are interested in combining their experience in the industry with the knowledge and

credentials gained in this program to become effective construction managers.

Bachelor of Science in Emergency Readiness and Response Management

The NLC is the only higher education institution offering a Bachelor of Science degree in

Emergency Readiness and Response Management that includes required courses

examining our nation’s safety and security from a labor perspective. The program is

specifically designed for rank and file union members in Fire Services, EMS, Law

Enforcement, Public Safety, Homeland Security, and other related unions. Areas of study

include the rise of modern terrorism, domestic terrorism, the Homeland Security

organization, and labor and civil liberties issues.

For more information on The National Labor College, go to http://www.nlc.edu.

The Princeton Review, Inc. (Nasdaq: REVU) has partnered with the National Labor

College to bring high-quality online bachelor’s degree completion and certificate

programs to America’s 17 million union members and working adults in their families.

About The AFL-CIO

The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

is a voluntary federation of 57 national and international labor unions

http://www.aflcio.org/aboutus/unions/. The AFL-CIO was created in 1955 by the merger

of the AFL and the CIO. The AFL-CIO union movement represents 11.5 million

members. We are teachers and miners, firefighters and farm workers, bakers and

engineers, pilots and public employees, doctors and nurses, painters and plumbers—and

more. www.aflcio.org.

About the National Labor College

Established as a training center by AFL-CIO in 1969 to strengthen union member

education and organizing skills, today the NLC is the nation's only accredited higher

education institution devoted exclusively to educating union leaders, members and

activists. The NLC became a degree granting college in 1997 and first earned

accreditation in 2004. www.nlc.edu. The college is accredited by the Middle States

Commission on Higher Education, an independent, regional accrediting body recognized

by the U.S. Department of Education. www.msche.org.

About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review (Nasdaq: REVU) has been a pioneer and leader in helping students

achieve their higher education goals for more than 28 years through college and graduate

school test preparation and private tutoring. With more than 165 print and digital

publications and a free website, www.PrincetonReview.com, the company provides

students and their parents with the resources to research, apply to, prepare for, and learn

how to pay for higher education. The Princeton Review partners with schools and

guidance counselors throughout the U.S. to assist in college readiness, test preparation

and career planning services, helping more students pursue postsecondary education.

The company also owns and operates Penn Foster Education Group, a global leader in

online education, providing career-focused degree and vocational programs in the fields

of allied health, business, technology, education, and select trades through Penn Foster

High School and Penn Foster Career School (www.pennfoster.edu). Penn Foster creates

the platform to leverage the company’s Career Education Partnerships division which is

comprised of ventures with the National Labor College (NLC) and Community College

Partnerships (CCP). The venture with the NLC was formed to bring high-quality bachelor

degree’s completion and certificate programs to the AFL-CIO's 13 million members and

the working adults in their families. The CCP venture is a partnership with community

colleges to expand distance and hybrid learning opportunities. For more information, visit

www.PrincetonReview.com.

Middle States Commission on Higher Education, (3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA

19104, 267-284-5000, http://www.msche.org/)

The National Labor College.

CONTACT: Michelle Dempsey (570) 961-4641

Michelle.Dempsey@pennfoster.edu

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Jason Mann on 5.5 Best Practices for Unions using Facebook