Olbermann: Legislators for Sale

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

At a recent town hall meeting, a man stood up and told Representative Bob Inglis to “keep your government hands off my Medicare.” The congressman, a Republican from South Carolina, tried to explain that Medicare is already a government program — but the voter, Mr. Inglis said, “wasn’t having any of it.”

A very small niche of America's uber-wealthy have pulled off what may well be the biggest con job in the history of our republic, and they did it in a startlingly brief 30 or so years. True, they spent over three billion dollars to make it happen, but the reward to them was in the hundreds of billions - and will continue to be.

"the Select Few"

That's how it works. And it works that way because we let it. The game goes on and the insiders keep dealing themselves winning hands. Nothing will change - nothing - until the moneylenders are tossed out of the temple, the ATM's are wrested from the marble halls, and we tear down the sign they've placed on government - the one that reads, "For Sale."

Just Another Cog in the Machine

Tradespeople oppose Bill 80 because it will allow contractors, instead of workers, to pick the union with which they want to deal. The employer chooses the so-called union, and chooses the terms of the collective agreement. That is not choice for workers. Worse yet, Bill 80's abandonment provisions will let unionized contractors shed their unions without any input from workers. Again, no choice for workers.

Bill 80 robs workers of choice

Union blasted for supporting Bill 80

Bill 80 Written Submission

The Truth About CLAC

Wind Generation has it's Problems Too

Wind farms and gleaming white turbines are springing up across the country as part of the green movement to reduce dependence on coal. But some critics are seeing red, claiming the government isn't doing enough to protect human health, or the environment.

Caution to the Wind - W-FIVE Staff

part one , part two

"They Were Coming at us Hard before the Election. Now they are backing off because we have a Union Standing behind us"

Annual Survey of Violations of Trade Union Rights

Countries where widespread and grave anti-union practices have unfortunately continued include: Colombia, Burma, Belarus, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Iran, Pakistan and the Philippines. Countries such as Honduras and Guatemala should this year be added to this list. In many other countries, where violations are not as outrageous, there is an overall growing tendency to undermine workers’ rights. Interference in trade union activities has been reported in Iraq, Kuwait, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Venezuela, among others. Despite some legislative proposals or measures in some Middle East countries and Gulf States, migrant workers are still denied trade union rights in many countries. In addition to that, companies continued to take advantage of poor legislation and weak implementation to undermine workers' rights.

Worldwide in 2008, at least 76 labour activists were killed as a result of their actions for workers’ rights. Latin America remains the deadliest continent for trade unionists with over 66 murdered in 2008. 49 Colombian trade unionists lost their lives (including 16 union leaders, 4 of whom were women), a 25% increase over 2007. Trade unionists were also killed in Guatemala (9), Honduras (3) and Venezuela (4) among others. In Asia, at least 6 murders were reported (Nepal and the Philippines), as well as 3 in Africa (Nigeria, Tunisia and Zimbabwe) and 1 in the Middle East (Iraq).

In countries in every region, trade unions continue to be banned, or their establishment restricted. China still bans independent trade unions. Those attempting to unionise groups of workers or organise protests are often arrested, with some given prison sentences and others condemned to ‘re-education through work’.

Read More HERE

Boston Local Installs Wind Turbine on Historic Nantucket Farm

More than 15 electricians from Boston Local 103 recently completed installation of the first 250-kilowatt wind turbine in the United States on Nantucket’s largest and oldest family farm.
Located less than a quarter of a mile from the southern shore of the island off of Cape Cod, the turbine can produce enough electricity to provide 80 percent of Bartlett’s Farm’s energy needs.
The turbine, which has a rotor diameter of more than 100 feet, is unique because of its size.

“Most turbines are either small models for residential use or 1-megawatt ones for large commercial facilities,” said Herb Aikens, owner of Lighthouse Electrical Contracting, Inc. “The 250 kilowatt is the just the right fit for medium-size businesses.”

Lighthouse Electrical Contracting has specialized in wind power since it was started in 2002.
The farm’s owner, John Bartlett, was inspired to install the turbine after seeing a presentation by Local 103 member Newell Thomas at a wind energy conference more than two years ago.

“His farm had hosted experimental turbines back in the ’70s and was interested in bringing them back to the island,” said Thomas, manager of the renewable energy division for Lighthouse.

The farm, which grows fresh produce for Nantucket residents and tourists, has been in the Bartlett family for nearly two centuries.

Thomas, an electrical engineer, has been an advocate of green energy since the energy crisis of 1974. “Wind power really caught my imagination then, and has held it ever since,” he said.
Bartlett helped finance the turbine through grants from the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust and the U.S. Agriculture Department meant to encourage farms to establish renewable energy sources. The project ended up costing more than $1 million.

Cape Cod and its nearby islands are quickly becoming a center of wind energy in the region. Cape Wind, a planned 130-turbine offshore wind farm to be located in Nantucket Sound, cleared a major hurdle in January when the U.S. Minerals Management Service issued its positive final assessment of the project.

“We are very proud of this installation and congratulate Herb Aikens for the completion of this significant project at the doorstep of Cape Wind,” said Local 103 Business Manager Michael Monahan.

Coalition Touts Nuclear Power’s Benefits

With eyes on the present and future green jobs picture, more than 800 organizations and 1,000 individuals have banded together to champion nuclear power’s low carbon emissions, safety and career opportunities.

The CASEnergy Coalition—short for clean and safe energy—boasts a broad roster of members from labor unions, environmental groups, the business community and beyond. More than 130 IBEW locals from California to New York have signed on to the group.

“Good jobs for IBEW members in any low-carbon setting should be celebrated,” said Todd Newkirk, IBEW Utility Department International Representative. Newkirk touted the environmentally friendly aspects of nuclear power—an industry rich in IBEW membership—which provides nearly 75 percent of all carbon-free electrical generation in the U.S. and offsets nearly as much carbon dioxide as is released from all U.S. passenger cars combined.

CASEnergy is a strong advocate for creating well-paying jobs that can’t be outsourced. The average annual salary for a nuclear engineer is nearly $83,000. There are currently more than 30 new reactors under consideration to be built across the U.S. If constructed, more than 20,000 temporary and permanent jobs could be added to the market—many of them with union representation.

“Union members are the best people to help lead this new age of nuclear energy,” said Cranbury, N.J., Local 94 Business Manager Chip Gerrity. Local 94 is part of the coalition, representing nearly 1,000 members at the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station and the Salem/Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant. “When it comes down to it, it’s all about the training and the quality of people. The IBEW has both. Our members know the value of a good day’s work and have high standards.”

President Barack Obama’s and Vice President Joe Biden’s New Energy for America plan includes nuclear power as a key piece of greening the power sector. “It is unlikely that we can meet our aggressive climate goals if we eliminate nuclear power as an option,” a statement from the administration said. While safety is a high concern—especially with this year’s 30th anniversary of the Three Mile Island meltdown in the background—the coalition highlights the stringent regulations the industry has adopted.

“Some people still have the misconception that nuclear is a risky business, when it’s actually the most heavily regulated industry anywhere at any given time,” Newkirk said. “That is why it is important to belong to CASEnergy. It is time for the nuclear sector to be seen for what it is, day in and day out—green and clean.”

CASEnergy is headed by former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christine Todd Whitman and a former Greenpeace leader. Studies presented by the coalition have drawn approval and support from diverse members of Congress, AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department President Mark Ayers and IBEW International President Edwin D. Hill.

“We know that nuclear energy is one of several ways to boost economic growth and support good jobs in the construction and operation of new plants,” President Hill said. “The industry will also help ensure that our nation has a diverse and secure supply of energy to meet the needs of the American people well into the future.”

For more information, visit http://www.cleansafeenergy.org/.

Friday's With 2067

IBEW President Hill on the Employee Free Choice Act

Reform US Foreign Policy. Pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

And The CAW is to Blame......

Tired

"Our complaints are legitimate, but the complaints aren't changing anything. And the fat cats get fatter, and they scoff at our complaints like they're only a big fat joke. This is not a new problem. SO what can we do to actually change this stuff. It's time, and people the little people are listening. "

By Michael Brush - April 16, 2009

As millions of people cope with job losses and struggle to make ends meet, there's been only a little belt tightening in the corner offices.

Despite terrible performances that cost lots of jobs and produced huge shareholder losses, hundreds of CEOs pocketed millions in bonus pay last year -- thanks to good friends on company boards.

Consider the Ryland Group (RYL.N) CEO whose bonus went up in 2008 compared with 2007, though more than a third of the homebuilder's employees got the boot. Or the Honeywell International (HON.N) chief who missed the benchmarks for his annual bonus -- and got $3.5 million anyway.

All told: CEOs earn big bonuses for bad year

* Among all the Fortune 1,000 companies, nearly 400 CEOs got bonuses last year, taking home $402 million in annual bonus pay, according to Equilar, an executive compensation research firm. But that's only part of the picture; more bonus pay figures will roll in as additional companies file reports on 2008.

* These privileged CEOs got an additional $66 million in "discretionary" bonus pay. Annual bonuses are linked to some performance target, while boards can hand out discretionary bonuses for whatever reason they choose.

* These bonuses topped off already-large pay packages. CEOs at larger companies earned about $10 million on average last year, according to Equilar.

(CBS) The effects of the current economic crisis have touched everyone. Even if you still have a good job and a paid up mortgage, chances are your monthly 401(k) statement will remind you that you've lost a good chunk of your savings.

Trillions of dollars have evaporated from those accounts that have become the prime source of retirement funds for a majority of American workers, affecting their psyche and their future. If you are still young enough, there's time to rebuild and recover, but if you are in your 50s, 60s or beyond the consequences can be dire, and its drawing attention to the shortcomings of a retirement system that has jeopardized the financial security of tens of millions of people.

Retirement Dreams Disappear With 401(k)s