Businesses behaving badly
In past posts, I have explained actions that businesses–usually large corporations–have taken that are decidedly contrary to the interests of the general public. For this, commentors have claimed that I’m anti-business, that I’m using scare tactics, I’m just a socialist, or some combination thereof. However, in the news over the past month or so we [...]
Rhode Island celebrates International Workers’ Day
Happy May Day, Rhode Island! Most of the globe calls it International Workers Day , though it’s a largely ignored holiday here in the States. To celebrate locally, meet at Central High School in Providence at 3:30 for a march to the State House expected to arrive at roughly 5; more info here. And here’s a [...]
Remember Seth Luther
UPDATE April 29, 2013: Today is the 150th anniversary of Seth Luther’s death. Since last year’s post, records have been found locating Luther possible final resting place in Brattleboro, Vermont. A WIKI page is in formation, and other plans to follow. Here is a great link to a 1974 essay by on Luther by Carl [...]
For MetLife and Rhode Island, size matters
In the brouhaha about MetLife leaving, I did see and hear people try to blame this on the too-high RI taxes. Of course; it’s always about the taxes, isn’t it? I would like to make one point about that. For 2012, MetLife reported $1.4 Bn of operating earnings. In comparison, the $80-90 Mn of tax [...]
ProJo Scapegoats Unions, Ignores Wall Street
It’s fine if the Providence Journal editorial board wants to espouse a right wing philosophy, even if such ideas are largely out of touch with the people of Rhode Island. It’s not okay for the Providence Journal to blame organized labor for their policy positions when unions have nothing to do with it. The latest [...]
Move RI Beyond the Box: Stop Job Discrimination
This past week, the House Labor committee heard from “Ban the Box” supporters, including a short film to illustrate the challenge of finding employment, and a new life, with a criminal past. The film (available here) makes the case for House Bill H5507, known as “Ban the Box.” This piece of legislation removes that question, [...]
The Jilted Spouse
Here’s a familiar story. A man and a woman get married when they’re young. Time passes, they age, they grow, and, before you know it, 25 years have passed. Then, one day, with no real warning, the man tells the wife that she’s too old. He’s dumping her for a younger woman who doesn’t have [...]
Is North Kingstown Going The Way Of Wisconsin?
Has sticking it to public sector workers become such popular politics in Rhode Island that the North Kingstown Town Council is willing to risk more than a million dollars to do so? That’s what NK fire union president Ray Furtado is beginning to think after the Council was again admonished by Judge Brian Stern; in [...]
Judge to Gina: Negotiate Pension Reform Law
Gina Raimondo didn’t want to come to the negotiating table voluntarily, but now thanks to a court order she will have to sit down with organized labor and Gov. Linc Chafee to try to hammer out a compromise on Rhode Island’s landmark pension reform law, according to a story first reported by WPRI. Chafee has [...]
Did a Progressive Coin Term ‘Right-to-Work’?
One need look no further than the opinion of the Providence Journal to see just how extreme the anti-labor laws misidentified as right-to-work rules truly are. Even the right-skewing ProJo editorial page calls them “right to be paid less” laws. “There’s a strong argument to be made that since all in a union shop benefit [...]
Blame Gina Raimondo? Not So Fast, Progressives
Regular readers of the blog know that Treasurer Raimondo has become a lightening-rod for criticism of the state’s recent changes to the public employee pension system. As a tactic, I’ll admit it’s a good one, simultaneously riling up the base and drawing media attention to the union and retiree’s position. It’s also the first salvo [...]
‘Right to Work’ Is Wrong Name for Law
Of all the ridiculously obvious ways in which the press panders to conservative ideology and terminology, one of the most egregious examples is when reporters refer to the union-busting legislation such as what passed in Michigan yesterday as “right to work” bills. As a point of fact these laws have absolutely, positively nothing to do [...]
Firefighters Plan to Protest All Raimondo Fundraisers
Paul Valletta, the head of the Cranston fire fighters’ union who is organizing a picket line in front of a Gina Raimondo fundraiser tonight says his members plan to protest every fundraiser Raimondo has until the governor’s race is decided in 2014, he said today. “When you do something like this to working class people,” [...]
Register for ‘Leadership For A Future’ Class of 2013
The 2013 Leadership for a Future class is now accepting applications. The premier organizer training program in the Rhode Island, Leadership for a Future is a great opportunity for people to learn how Rhode Island REALLY works and but also how to make it work better. You can register for the program ONLINE or download [...]
Labor vs. Management
Full disclosure: I grew up in a time and an environment that accepted an adversarial relationship between labor and management. I still agree with that belief. Everything I have experienced in the last 30 years has convinced me, over and over again that this is the fundamental relationship between the workers and the bosses. More, [...]
Anti-Blue Law Spin Is Walmart Propoganda
Black Friday, America’s annual homage to rampant consumerism, is not only the day after Thanksgiving, it’s also the perfect enemy of the day we give thanks to all the things that really matter in life: family, health and harvest. Conversely, Black Friday celebrates stuff we don’t need, and so often shows just how ugly we [...]
Income Inequality and Entry Level Wages
Evidence shows that real wages for college grads fell in 2011. More: real wages for college grads are down from 2000, and real wages for college grads are down from 2004, the trough of the Bush recession. These wages did go up–sharply–in 2005, and then began a long, not-so-slow slide from which they have not [...]
What’s Wrong with the NK School Committee?
If you are a close reader of this blog, you are likely aware of the controversy involving the North Kingstown School Committee and the termination of its school custodians. But maybe you are not aware of just how acrimonious the relationships are between the members of the school committee members are themselves. The video clip [...]
Remember the Battle of the Gravestones in Saylesville
In 1934, during the height of the Depression and one of the largest national strikes in history, 4 unarmed Rhode Island workers were killed by State Police and Militia Men called out by Governor TF Green to protect the Saylesville Bleachery in Lincoln, Rhode Island. It wasn’t a “strike,” he declared, but a “communist insurrection.” [...]
Labor Strike Could Delay School Start in NK
Summer break might be extended in North Kingstown as school staff is considering striking to fight for school custodians whose jobs were outsourced to a private corporation earlier this summer. “At this time it is unclear if school will open on time,” said Pat Crowley, an official with the National Education Association of Rhode Island, [...]
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