NORTH CAROLINA STATE AFL-CIO
1. Developments at Ecusta
The members of PACE Local 2-1971 have voted to end their strike against Ecusta based upon a memorandum of understanding that employees will return to work under the terms of the recently expired collective bargaining agreement while negotiations on a new agreement continue. The Local is uncertain how many workers actually will be recalled but is certain that many will be on layoff during the holiday season.
2. Victory for The Charleston 5
The false felony charges of rioting and conspiracy to riot were dismissed against The Charleston 5. They pled no contest to minor misdemeanor charges of participating in a non-violent "riot, rout, or affray." Each paid a $100 fine. The pleas are not admissions of guilt. Thanks to all those who supported these 5 longshoremen.
3.State Fed Participates in Two Press Conferences
The North Carolina State AFL-CIO and NCOSH sponsored a press conference in Raleigh addressing the economic stimulus bill in Congress. Speakers included President James Andrews, Vice President Ray Curry of UAW 5283 in Mt. Holly, Greater Cape Fear CLC President Marina West of USWA 959 in Fayetteville, and representatives of a number of our coalition partners in this effort. The State Fed also helped sponsor and participated in another press conference on the issue with the NC Democratic Party. Speakers included President Andrews; Onella Dunston of UNITE!, laid off from KR Sportsware in Spring Hope; Joyce Wlodarczyk of AFA, laid off from Midway Airlines; and Congressmen David Price and Bob Etheridge. Press coverage for both events was excellent.
This report comes from the staff at UCF. I know many North Carolina local
unions and individuals contributed to the fund, and thought you would be
interested to see where the money has gone. I think it's a great group of
grants. Hope you agree. Cathy Howell, AFL-CIO
UNION COMMUNITY FUND
September 11th Relief Fund
As of November 1, 2001:
Received $1.9 million
Given grants of $1.2 million:
Asociacion Tepeyac de New York - $20,000
To help Hispanic immigrants who lost family members or livelihoods as a
result of the World Trade Center attack, particularly those who with
limited access to public services and benefits. [www.tepeyac.org]
Community Food Resource Center (New York City) - $25,000
To provide food and other social services to September 11th disaster
victims and their families. The Center's headquarters, one block from the
World Trade Center, were destroyed. Operations have now moved to West
Harlem.
Consortium for Worker Education (New York City) - $75,000
To support a Job Seekers Hotline to unions and employers for the hiring of
additional workers for at least a 3 month period along with health
insurance. In cases where employers respond with jobs and wages but not
benefits, then the Consortium will act as a third party employer and
provide health insurance. [www.cwe.org]
D.C. Employment Justice Center - $50,000
To provide legal assistance to workers who lost their jobs as a result of
the attack on the Pentagon and subsequent lay-offs in tourism and
transportation-related industries, particularly workers who are deemed not
eligible for Unemployment Insurance or Disaster Unemployment Assistance.
[www.dcejc.org]
5th Avenue Committee (New York City) - $25,000
To provide direct support and comfort to families of September 11th
victims, through Good Shepherd's Services, and to support an anti-bias
hotline and neighborhood watch committees through the Arab Family Support
Center. [www.fifthave.org]
Flight Attendants Disaster Relief Fund - $50,000
To support the families of flight attendants who died in the September 11
attacks, and to provide counseling and other services to thousands of
flight attendants who have been laid off since the attacks.
Garment Industry Development Corporation - $200,000
To help coordinate relief efforts in Chinatown and the Lower-East Side; to
provide critical language/translation assistance; to provide a drop-in
center for displaced workers; to set up an Emergency Unemployment Insurance
Center; and to convene discussions with Chinatown-based garment employers
about recovery needs and employment.
[www.gdic.org]
HERE New York Assistance Fund - $150,000
To provide assistance with housing, food, child care and travel to the
families of 44 workers killed at Windows on the World at the World Trade
Center, and to the thousands of restaurant and food service workers in New
York who have lost their jobs as a result of the attacks.
HERE Education and Support Fund - $200,000
To provide job placement and social services to immigrant workers in the
hospitality sector who have lost jobs or work drastically reduced hours in
the wake of September 11.
Metro N.Y. Health Care for All Campaign - $25,000
To provide information to groups and individuals about health services
available to disaster victims and their families.
National Employment Law Project (New York City) - $20,000
To educate service providers about federal and N.Y. state programs to
assist workers who have become unemployed as a result of the September 11
events, to analyze those programs and to offer recommendations for reform.
[www.nelp.org]
New York City ACORN - $25,0000
To provide information and services to workers impacted by the September 11
attacks, in 30 low-income neighborhoods.
New York City Rehabilitation Council - $20,000
To provide both direct relief and referral services to disaster victims and
their families, to provide a hotline to monitor results, and to support the
infrastructure for the organization's response to the disaster.
New York Firefighters 9-11 Disaster Relief Fund - $10,000
To assist the families of fallen fire fighters and EMS personnel in New
York City.
New York Immigration Coalition - $40,000
To conduct outreach to immigrant communities regarding job placement, legal
rights and services, and social service referrals.
Patrolmen's Beneficial Assoc. of Widows and Children's Fund - $10,000
To provide direct services to victims and their families.
SEIU September 11 Relief Fund - $10,000
To provide services and assist workers affected by the attacks of September
11.
Tenants' and Workers' Support Committee - $75,000
To organize meetings of those affected by the Pentagon bombing; to put out
bilingual mailings to 17,000 impacted workers' households about meetings
and opportunities to address issues and problems and to access the suport
they need; to meet with unions and their members impacted by the closing
and slowdown at National Airport; and to communicate continually with
public and private agencies setting up support mechanisms and funding
streams necessary to help local working families through this crisis.
Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia Disaster Fund - $190,000
To support the Community Services Agency of the Metro D.C. Labor Council,
which provides housing, food, cash assistance and other services to victims
and families directly affected by the attacks; to workers affected by the
closing of National Airport; and to workers in tourism-dependent
industries.
1. Seven hundred members of PACE Local 2-1971 who are employed at the
Acusta paper plant in Brevard were forced out on strike on October 15th -
more than one month ago. Nat Pura, the new owner, acquired the plant in
September with both loans and a $9 million investment of his own money. He
proposed $70 million in captial expenditures and also proposed to cut wages
and benefits about 35%! The local union had already offered to forgo a new
contract and work under their existing one for two years to help Pura get
his feet on the ground. Instead, he asked for a 5 year contract with 20%
wage cut, increased health insurance costs and deductibles and other give
backs from employees. Unfair labor practices have been filed for the
company's refusal to bargain in good faith and for threatening a plant
closure if the union did not agree to his outrageous demands. Pura has
closed down plants in England and dismantled pension funds of workers
there. It is critical for PACE to win this fight - and the union is
stronger by the day.
You can help by: making a donation to the strike fund and asking your
local union to do the same: Pace Local 2-1971, P.O. Box 1072, Brevard, NC
28712. The local also welcomes help on the picket line - out there in all
weather 24/7! - and contributions of food for families affected. As the
holidays support we can show our love and support for our brothers and
sisters by making such contributions.
2. There was a follow-up press conference to last week's rally/press event
this morning in Raleigh hosted by Congressmen Etheridge and Price on the
Economic Stimulus package now being debated in DC. We are trying to get
more worker benefits included in this package - instead of just give-aways
to corporations. Etheridge and Price are supporting the better plan - now
in the Senate. You can help from where you are by calling 1-800-718-1008
and telling your congressional representative and Senators Edwards and
Helms to support worker friendly legislation that includes extended
unemployment benefits and payment of health insurance costs for unemployed
workers.
Cathy Howell,
AFL-CIO
October 9, 2001
Unions Seek Federal Help
Please call your
Congressperson at 1-800-393-1082 to support this legislation for Laid-Off Workers
Aviation workers, union leaders and lawmakers called on Congress
and the president Oct. 3 to pass and sign legislation to aid those workers,
whose industry is bearing the brunt of the economic aftershocks of the
Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
More than 100,000 aviation industry job cuts already have been
announced, and another 40,000 are expected in the coming months. Last
month, Congress approved a $15 billion airline industry bailout but didn't
provide any aid to workers who have lost their jobs.
"When working Americans lose their jobs, they lose more than a
paycheck. They lose health care benefits, pensions and other means of
keeping their families afloat," AFL-CIO President John Sweeney told an Oct.
3 press conference on Capitol Hill. Aviation industry workers and union
leaders visited members of Congress to discuss the impact of the layoffs.
Bipartisan legislation in the Senate and House of Representatives
S. 1454, H.R. 2955 and H.R. 2946) would provide extended unemployment
insurance benefits, expand the number of workers eligible for such benefits
and provide job training and retraining and health care coverage to
laid-off aviation workers.
More INFO Here, Including A Flyer To Post
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