workers’ memorial day: job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “tom scribner is in the...

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An Injury to One is an Injury to All! VOL. 118 NO. 20 APRIL 25, 2012 WEDNESDAY (ISSN 0023-6667) See Job safety...page 18 See Tax Day...page 11 April 17 Tax Day protestors marched from a Rainbow Center forum that focused on the Ryan budget and health care to a Civic Center rally to ask Rep. Cravaack to not support Ryan’s measure. Both events were undermined by rude tea party obstructionists. Workers’ Memorial Day to observed here next Monday The Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body’s observance of Workers’ Memorial Day will occur Monday, April 30 this year at the Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Road. Beginning at 7:00 a.m. next Monday the free Solidarity Breakfast is open to anyone who wishes to attend. It’s a won- derful, complete, made-from-scratch breakfast that is always well-attended and a great social occasion. (It is best to enter the building from the South Street doors facing Lake Superior.) At about 9:15 a.m. following the breakfast, a tree planting ceremony will take place on Labor Temple grounds to remember workers and military personnel who have lost their lives in the past year. The City of Superior held their third Workers’ Memorial Day observance this morning. A breakfast at Peter Rich Community Center at 7:30 a.m. was followed by a tree planting at 9:00 a.m. at Kelly Park, 711 Grand. “Safe Jobs Save Lives: Keep the Promise Alive” is the theme for the national observance that generally takes place on April 28 to commemorate Congress passing the Occupational Safety and Health Act on that day in 1971. On an average day, 12 workers lose their lives as a result of workplace injuries, and another 137 workers die from occupa- tional diseases. Since 1970, when the OSHAct was enacted, over 400,000 workers’ lives have been saved due to improvements in job safe- ty protections. “The Obama administration has moved forward to strengthen workplace protections with tougher enforcement on serious vio- lators and proposed new safeguards for workplace hazards,” says AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka. “But business groups and the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives are attacking those stronger measures, falsely claiming they kill jobs. They are pushing so called “regulatory reform” legislation to make it difficult, if not impossible, to issue needed safeguards to protect workers and the public. We cannot and will not let them turn back the clock.” Find out more at www.afl cio.org/WorkersMemorialDay. Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains endangered by indifference Tax Day protests target GOP budget plans see workplaces is woefully inadequate,” Peg Seminario, the AFL-CIO’s veteran Occu- pational Safety and Health chief, tells Congress repeatedly In fiscal 2009, from Oct. 1, 2008 to the following Sept. 30, “OSHA conducted 30,057 workplace inspections and had the capacity to inspect work- places under its jurisdiction approximately once every 137 years,” she said. The Obama administration has increased it to 36,000 inspections yearly. Health Administration release announcing a $231,000 fine against the firm for job safety violations, were lucky. They survived, but both were seri- ously burned over their upper bodies. OSHA put Gilster in its Serious Violators Enforcement Program extra scrutiny reserved for firms that are bad repeat offenders on job safety. The year before, 203 work- ers in Illinois, 107 in Missouri and 4,547 nationwide weren’t as fortunate as the two Gilster workers. They died on the job in 2010, federal data released last August shows. That’s 3.5 deaths per 100,000 workers. Workers who died will be remembered nationwide on Workers Memorial Day April 28 even as OSHA continues its efforts to cut deaths and injuries on the job. Those efforts greatly cut the job fatal- ity rate over the agency’s 42 years -- despite low fines, lack of staff, employer resistance and intimidation of workers into refusal to report job-relat- ed injuries and illnesses. And job safety gains are threatened. “OSHA’s capacity to over- By Mark Gruenberg PAI Staff Writer Last October 6, two mainte- nance workers were welding at the Gilster-Mary Lee Corp., pasta factory in Steeleville, Ill. when combustible dust ex- ploded. The workers , whose names were withheld from the Occupational Safety and Tax Day April 17 found tens of thousands of working class activists – including dozens in Duluth – taking part in actions that drew attention to the dis- parity in America between the 99% they represent and the 1% that live at the expense of everyone else. Taxes were the calling card of the day in that disparity, but many more aspects of daily life that are affected by the federal budget also drew activity. Working families called on the 1% to pay their fair share of taxes and for politicians to do their part to restore balance to the economy. Events highlight- ed the unfair ways our current tax system benefits the super- wealthy. In Duluth, the North East Area Labor Council and TakeAction Minnesota held a forum and a march for a fair economy. It started with a Citizen-to-Citizen Town Hall meeting at the Rainbow Center which included presentations on how the economy got this bad, what Republican Congressman Paul Ryan’s budget means for Medicare and the status of the proposed amendments to the Minnesota constitution. Discussions about health care and Medicare got waylaid by tea party member, who again rudely tried to control a forum or press conference by talking incessantly, keeping others from asking questions, or harassing speakers. Buddy Robinson of the WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE? Hurry to view “The Wobblies” Thurs., April 26...page 2 Itasca County organizing under for a CLB.....page 2 OSHA data has many gaps, Opinions.....page 3 Councilors civil service shenanigans continue .....page 4 NALC Food Drive May 12 needs volunteers.....page 5 OMB stifles silica standard...page 5 Single payer forum May 6.....page 6 Play relives Boise, BE&K, Vance, Wildcatters.....page 7 Chart compares MN, WI on worker safety...page 8 MN Firefighters Memorial seeks names.....page 10 Pressure kept on USPS to forego closures, cuts.....page 12 Construction deaths still high...page 13 AFL-CIO has candidates for WI recall primary...page 14 Here’s why we can’t get infrastructure fixed.....page 15 Revamped website gives you CEO pay stats.....page 17 DLI Commissioner Peterson talks OSHA history...page 19 Supt. Evers impressed by Local 11/589 training.....page 20

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Page 1: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

An Injury to One is an Injury to All!VOL. 118

NO. 20APRIL 25, 2012WEDNESDAY

(ISSN 0023-6667)

See Job safety...page 18

See Tax Day...page 11

April 17 Tax Day protestors marched from a Rainbow Center forum that focused on theRyan budget and health care to a Civic Center rally to ask Rep. Cravaack to not supportRyan’s measure. Both events were undermined by rude tea party obstructionists.

Workers’ Memorial Day toobserved here next Monday

The Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body’s observance ofWorkers’ Memorial Day will occur Monday, April 30 this year atthe Duluth Labor Temple, 2002 London Road.

Beginning at 7:00 a.m. next Monday the free SolidarityBreakfast is open to anyone who wishes to attend. It’s a won-derful, complete, made-from-scratch breakfast that is alwayswell-attended and a great social occasion. (It is best to enter thebuilding from the South Street doors facing Lake Superior.)

At about 9:15 a.m. following the breakfast, a tree plantingceremony will take place on Labor Temple grounds to rememberworkers and military personnel who have lost their lives in thepast year.

The City of Superior held their third Workers’ Memorial Dayobservance this morning. A breakfast at Peter Rich CommunityCenter at 7:30 a.m. was followed by a tree planting at 9:00 a.m.at Kelly Park, 711 Grand.

“Safe Jobs Save Lives: Keep the Promise Alive” is the themefor the national observance that generally takes place on April 28to commemorate Congress passing the Occupational Safety andHealth Act on that day in 1971.

On an average day, 12 workers lose their lives as a result ofworkplace injuries, and another 137 workers die from occupa-tional diseases.

Since 1970, when the OSHAct was enacted, over 400,000workers’ lives have been saved due to improvements in job safe-ty protections.

“The Obama administration has moved forward to strengthenworkplace protections with tougher enforcement on serious vio-lators and proposed new safeguards for workplace hazards,”says AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka. “But business groupsand the Republican majority in the U.S. House ofRepresentatives are attacking those stronger measures, falselyclaiming they kill jobs. They are pushing so called “regulatoryreform” legislation to make it difficult, if not impossible, to issueneeded safeguards to protect workers and the public. We cannotand will not let them turn back the clock.”

Find out more at www.afl cio.org/WorkersMemorialDay.

Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safetygains endangered by indifference

Tax Day protests target GOP budget plans

see workplaces is woefullyinadequate,” Peg Seminario,the AFL-CIO’s veteran Occu-pational Safety and Healthchief, tells Congress repeatedly

In fiscal 2009, from Oct. 1,2008 to the following Sept. 30,“OSHA conducted 30,057workplace inspections and hadthe capacity to inspect work-places under its jurisdictionapproximately once every 137years,” she said. The Obamaadministration has increased itto 36,000 inspections yearly.

Health Administration releaseannouncing a $231,000 fineagainst the firm for job safetyviolations, were lucky. Theysurvived, but both were seri-ously burned over their upperbodies. OSHA put Gilster in itsSerious Violators EnforcementProgram – extra scrutinyreserved for firms that are badrepeat offenders on job safety.

The year before, 203 work-ers in Illinois, 107 in Missouriand 4,547 nationwide weren’tas fortunate as the two Gilsterworkers. They died on the jobin 2010, federal data releasedlast August shows. That’s 3.5deaths per 100,000 workers.

Workers who died will beremembered nationwide onWorkers Memorial Day April28 even as OSHA continues itsefforts to cut deaths andinjuries on the job. Thoseefforts greatly cut the job fatal-ity rate over the agency’s 42years -- despite low fines, lackof staff, employer resistanceand intimidation of workersinto refusal to report job-relat-ed injuries and illnesses. Andjob safety gains are threatened.

“OSHA’s capacity to over-

By Mark GruenbergPAI Staff WriterLast October 6, two mainte-

nance workers were welding atthe Gilster-Mary Lee Corp.,pasta factory in Steeleville, Ill.when combustible dust ex-ploded. The workers , whosenames were withheld from theOccupational Safety and

Tax Day April 17 found tensof thousands of working classactivists – including dozens inDuluth – taking part in actionsthat drew attention to the dis-parity in America between the99% they represent and the 1%that live at the expense ofeveryone else. Taxes were thecalling card of the day in thatdisparity, but many moreaspects of daily life that areaffected by the federal budgetalso drew activity.

Working families called onthe 1% to pay their fair share oftaxes and for politicians to dotheir part to restore balance tothe economy. Events highlight-ed the unfair ways our currenttax system benefits the super-

wealthy.In Duluth, the North East

Area Labor Council andTakeAction Minnesota held aforum and a march for a faireconomy. It started with aCitizen-to-Citizen Town Hallmeeting at the Rainbow Centerwhich included presentationson how the economy got thisbad, what RepublicanCongressman Paul Ryan’sbudget means for Medicare and

the status of the proposedamendments to the Minnesotaconstitution.

Discussions about healthcare and Medicare got waylaidby tea party member, whoagain rudely tried to control aforum or press conference bytalking incessantly, keepingothers from asking questions,or harassing speakers.

Buddy Robinson of the

WHAT’S INSIDE THIS ISSUE?Hurry to view “The Wobblies” Thurs., April 26...page 2

Itasca County organizing under for a CLB.....page 2OSHA data has many gaps, Opinions.....page 3

Councilors civil service shenanigans continue .....page 4NALC Food Drive May 12 needs volunteers.....page 5

OMB stifles silica standard...page 5Single payer forum May 6.....page 6

Play relives Boise, BE&K, Vance, Wildcatters.....page 7Chart compares MN, WI on worker safety...page 8MN Firefighters Memorial seeks names.....page 10

Pressure kept on USPS to forego closures, cuts.....page 12Construction deaths still high...page 13

AFL-CIO has candidates for WI recall primary...page 14Here’s why we can’t get infrastructure fixed.....page 15Revamped website gives you CEO pay stats.....page 17

DLI Commissioner Peterson talks OSHA history...page 19Supt. Evers impressed by Local 11/589 training.....page 20

Page 2: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Effort underway to organize Itasca Countytrade unionists into a central labor body

The AFL-CIO says there are3,038 union members in ItascaCounty and over 700 retiredmembers. The county hasn’thad a strong union tradition inspite of the numbers but effortsare underway to change that.

Itasca County is one of 7counties that make up theNorth East Area Labor CouncilThe NEALC is starting a cam-paign to get labor organizedthere. An Itasca County CentralLabor Body General Assemblymeeting is scheduled for Weds,May 2, 6:30 p.m., in the Blan-din Foundation Theatre Room,100 N. Pokegama Avenue,Grand Rapids. Prospects forthe meeting are good.

“We held a right to worktraining session in Grand

“The Wobblies” April 26 LMNThursday, April 26 Labor Movie Night will screen “The

Wobblies” at 6:00 p.m. in Wellstone Hall of the Labor Temple,2002 London Road (enter via doors on South St.)

"Solidarity! All for One and One for All!" was the IndustrialWorkers of the World’s cry as they organizing unskilled workersinto one big union. Winning an 8-hour workday and fair wagesin the early 20th century, the Wobblies were one of the fewunions to be racially and sexually integrated and often met withimprisonment, violence, and the privations of prolonged strikes.

This award-winning 1979 documentary is a provocative lookat the forgotten American history of this most radical of unions,screening the unforgettable and still-fiery voices of Wobblymembers--lumberjacks, migratory workers, and silk weavers--intheir 70s, 80s, and 90s.

“Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined theWobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric Lehto, who hostsLabor Movie Night. “That’s pretty neat.”

Replete with gorgeous archival footage, the film pays tributeto workers who took equality and free speech seriously enoughto die for them. , THE WOBBLIES is a rare and challenginginvitation to rethink both past and present through the eyes of anorganization largely omitted from memory, yet still alive today.

“Wherever you find injustice, the proper form ofpoliteness is attack.” ~T-Bone Slim, IWW press colum-nist and “Little Red Song Book” contributor

Rapids April 11th and we had67 people turn out,” saidNEALC organizer JasonMetsa. “That was awesome.”He said everyone is welcometo attend the May 2 meeting.

“Besides the 3,747 mem-bers in Itasca County there arean additional 3,677 familymembers in their households,bringing the working familiestotal to 7,424,” said Metsa.

This issue of the LaborWorld will land in over 500mailboxes in Itasca County.

Dick Sackett, a GrandRapids native and resident, isassistant business manager ofIBEW Local 31. He worked atMinnesota Power’s Boswellplant in Cohasset prior to goingto work for the union. He’s

excited about the organizing.“Forming a group that

meets regularly will help withnetworking, educational oppor-tunities and improved commu-nication between unions andcommunity groups,” he said.“It is exciting to see the com-mitment from leadership. I’mlooking forward to the future.A grassroots effort is what weneed to have a concerted voiceon all our issues.”

The 2010 state election wasan eye opener to labor whenRepublican Carolyn McElfat-rick defeated DFL Rep. LorenSolberg who had representedthe area since 1982. In 2008Solberg beat her 58% to 42%.Both are from Grand Rapids.

The 2010 U.S. Census andredistricting has changed thelegislative district for thisyear’s elections. The formerHouse District 3B will now beHouse District 5B. RepublicanMcElfatrick and DFL Rep.Tom Anzelc, a labor stalwartfrom Balsam Township andDistrict 3A, have been pittedagainst each other as incum-bents. Labor wants to win itsseat back and establish a pres-ence in the county, which has apopulation of just over 45,000.It is the third largest county inMinnesota. It has 16 cities and42 organized townships.

“I am encouraged to seeworkers in Itasca County get-ting themselves more organ-ized to fight for their interests,”said NEALC president AlanNetland. “This will help all ofus in northeast Minnesota.”

For more info contact JasonMetsa at 218-290-1527 orLeann Stoll at 218-259-1761.

Rep. Tom RUKAVINASen. David TOMASSONI

Rep. Tom ANZELCRep. Carly MELIN

Paid for by: Rukavina Campaign Commit tee , 6930 Hwy. 169 , V i rg in ia MN. Tomasso ni Campaign, P.O. Box 29 , Chisholm, MN 55719

Kooch I tasca Woods People for Anze lc , 44205 Burrows Lake Lane , Ba lsam Township , MN 55709 Mel in for Representat ive , 2905-4th Avenue East , H ibbing, MN 55746

We will continue to fight in St. Paul for safer workplaces as we remember those who

have been killed or injured on the job!

PAGE 2 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

Heat & Frost Insulators Local 49Notice of E-Board NominationsAt our next regular union meeting, Friday, May 11,we will accept nominations for five Executive Boardmembers. The election will take place at our Friday,June 8, 2012 meeting. Meetings begin at 7 p.m.

~Dick Webber, Business Manager

Sheet Metal Workers’ Local 10Retirees’ LuncheonTuesday, May 1, 1:00 p.m. Sala Thai (4023 Woodland Avenue)

I.U.O.E. Local 70Monthly Arrowhead Regional Meeting

Tuesday, May 8, 2012, 5:00 P.M. Duluth Labor Center, Hall B

Dave Monsour, Business Manager, (651) 646-4566

Identifying risks to your safety andhealth is the first step in reducing thelarge number of avoidable workplace

deaths and injuries that occur. WORK SMART

STAY SAFE

Page 3: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

The Canadian Labour Con-gress observed their first“Workers Day of Mourning” in1986. In 1989, the AFL-CIOdeclared the same day, April28, as Workers Memorial Day– the 18th Anniversary ofOSHA – and said PresidentReagan was crippling OSHA.

April 28, 1989 was our firstWorkers Memorial Day obser-vance here at the Civic Centerwith 250 in attendance. Gov.Rudy Perpich had proclaimedit as such. Paperworkers rep.Marv Finendale spoke aboutthe large number of asbestosiscases among Cloquet Conwedworkers. Rep. Tom Rukavina,named chair of a new Housesubcommittee on worker safetyby Rep. Joe Begich, said jailtime may be the required deter-rent for company CEOs whosewillful neglect kills workers.

In 1990 we rememberedSgt. Gary Wilson of the DuluthPolice Dept. after he was shotdead in a hallway of theSeaway Hotel.

In 1991 we rememberedRoger Whiteside and JeffRowe, two members of IBEWLocal 31 who were electrocut-ed while working Oct. 1, 1990.

In 1992 we remembered agood friend, Charlie Ness. Hehad been business manager ofPlumbers & Steamfitters Local11, and managed the LaborTemple in retirement. Charlie,then Jim Ultican and LloydStavish in 1993, members ofAsbestos Workers Local 49 asInsulators Local 49 was knownthen, were among many westarted remembering who werevictims of asbestosis. We had-n’t heard of mesothelioma yet.

In 1994 we rememberedthree young men, Ricky Wirtz,Shane Lindula, and DavidJones, killed Nov. 17, 1993 onthe Iron Range while workingfor an explosives company.

Many of our military per-

sonnel have been rememberedin the past 20 years as war hasbecome a constant in U.S. for-eign policy.

The 20th Anniversary ofWorkers Memorial Day in2008 was our worst with 13workers and Sgt. MatthewPionk being remembered.

Last year we rememberedKyle Damberg, a MinnesotaPower employee who wasfound dead at a worksite withfew answers.

This year we have no jobsitedeaths as far as we know ormilitary deaths to rememberhere. But retired business repsRoy Niemi, Teamsters Local346, and Denny White, CementMasons Local 633, both diedquickly from mesothelioma inthe last year.

We hope things are turningfor the better as we Mourn theDead and Fight for the Living.

The breakfast and obser-vance for our Workers Memor-ial Day are always gut wrench-ing and tear filled for me. Seeyou Monday morning.

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 3

LABOR WORLD(ISSN#0023-6667) is published

semi-monthly except one issue inDecember (23 issues).

The known office of publication isLabor World, 2002 London Road,Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812. Periodicals postage is paid at

Duluth MN 55806. POSTMASTER:

Send address changes to: Labor World, 2002 London Rd.,Room 110, Duluth, MN 55812

(218) 728-4469 FAX: (218) 724-1413

[email protected]

~ ESTABLISHED 1896 ~Owned by Unions affiliated with the

Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor BodySubscriptions: $22 Annually

Larry Sillanpa, Editor/ManagerDeborah Skoglund, Bookkeeper

Board of DirectorsPres./Treas. Mikael Sundin,Painters & Allied Trades 106;V.P. Paul Iversen, BMWED1710; Sec. Jayme McKenna,AFSCME 66; Al LaFrenier,Workers’ United Midwest Bd;Mike Kuitu, Operating Engineers 49; Dan O’Neill,Plumbers & Steamfitters 11;Steve Risacher, Carpenters361; Dan Leslie, IBEW 31;Stacy Spexet, USW 9460

6 7

GOP wolfpack prowling!Editor:

A wolf pack survives by attacking a herd’s old, sick and fee-ble first. Then they go after the young and unprotected who arewithout their protectors. Our Republican led state House andSenate are using wolf tactics by pushing through idiotic amend-ments when they should be representing all of our best interests.

I’m talking about their new voter photo ID amendment that istaking a wolf pack mentality to the ballot box. They’re wastingtime & our money because they won’t win this battle of power.Their interests lie only in themselves and their kind. By elimi-nating older & sometimes sickly folks, they will eliminate ademocratic challenge to themselves. But our older people cansee a snow job when it’s happening and they won’t take it lyingdown. They will be there to vote “no”! By eliminating the col-lege students (the young of the species) they will have gainedanother toe hold on making society as they would like it to be.These young are not foolish and are not to be discarded as theyare our future leaders. They too will vote “no” come November6. This brazen absurdness cannot happen in our lifetime or thatof any other lifetime! This is nothing short of terminating ourFREE right to vote in any election! What next? Only card carry-ing GOP members with cards issued by the GOP?

World War II was fought to protect our freedom from that ani-mal Hitler and his similar self-righteous belief as his pack beingsupreme beings. Is that what this has come down to? Rememberwhat that got him! So I implore you, to see this as nothing shortof a treasonous act to our country and especially to the peoplewho reside within our Great State. I will not idly stand by andallow this atrocity to happen! I will Vote!…I will Vote “no”! …Never give up your rights!...NEVER!

R. James Syria, Union Brother, AFSCME Local 695

OSHA data has many gaps (PAI)—There are so many gaps in reporting job-caused

injuries and illnesses that the search for accurate information canbe futile, says Jordan Barab, deputy director of the OccupationalSafety and Health Administration. Addressing a seminar onOSHA’s data-gathering and its gaps, Barab, a former union safe-ty and health specialist, said sometimes that description could beapplied to much of the agency’s efforts, due to short-staffing.Accurate data is necessary he said so OSHA can discover pat-terns in occupational ailments and move to industry and nation-wide correction.

There are many reasons for the underreporting of illnessesand injuries on the job. Barab listed one as the fact that OSHA’s“National Emphasis Program” has in the past targeted only theworst firms, and not the worst injuries. Using the program to tryfor an accurate picture of injuries and illnesses on the job “is likelooking for a needle in a haystack,” he said.

UAW’s Peter Dooley, and James Frederick and Nancy Lessinof the Steelworkers, say company intimidation and firing ofworkers who report injuries and illnesses is a big problem.

OSHA’s “Voluntary Protection Program,” pushed – instead ofenforcement – by the anti-worker GOP Bush government,encouraged firms to “cooperate” with agency and thus exemptthemselves from inspections. VPP firms, once away fromOSHA’s oversight, are able to hide injuries and illnesses on thejob with impunity, unless somebody reports them.

Large groups of workers like public employees are not cov-ered by federal OSHA, though they may be covered by stateagencies of varying quality. Even public agencies often put alow priority on safety and health – Chicago State University leftits safety and health specialist’s position unfilled for two years.

To try to get a handle on the extent of the underreporting,OSHA undertook an intensive survey of 350 workplaces – out of7 million nationwide – by comparing company logs of illnessesand injuries to records from other sources. “Half had underre-ported cases of illness and injury. One-third had ‘incentives’ tounderreport injuries and punishments for those who do. And at40%, if you reported an on-the-job injury, the company sent youfor drug testing.”

Barab says the present job safety system relies on self-report-ing by companies, who have every incentive to make themselveslook good. And there are not enough protections for whistle-blowing workers, especially if they’re non-union, he added.

~NOTICE~2012 Labor World Issues May 9, 23; June 6, 27; July 11, 25; Aug. 8, 29;

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Page 4: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

City councilors continue to stick it to unions on civil service reformDuluth City Council presi-

dent Dan Hartman was in linefor an “A” for effort and cour-age. He was the only councilorwho had voted for civil servicereform March 12, much to theconsternation of city unions,but mustered the guts to showup at a Duluth Central LaborBody meeting April 12 to dis-

cuss it. But he will receive the“unkindest cut of all” award foran unbelievable double cross.

Mayor Don Ness pushed acivil service reform plan thecouncil passed March 12 on a5-4 vote. Voting for it andagainst city unions were labor-endorsed Hartman, JenniferJulsrud, Linda Krug, and Emily

Larson, along with GarryKrause, a member of IBEWLocal 242. Voting against theadministration were laborendorsed Patrick Boyle andSharla Gardner, as well as JayFosle, a member of SEIUFiremen & Oilers Local 956,and Jim Stauber.

In an open letter in the April4 Labor World to councilorsand administration, CLB presi-dent Dan O’Neill invitedeveryone to come and talkabout the issue. Hartman andGardner showed up. Krug, at aChamber of Commerce forum,was indignant about being“summoned” by labor.

Hartman received kudosApril 12 from Central Bodydelegates for his guts in show-ing up and his explanation ofbeing duped by the administra-tion in their rush for civil serv-ice reform. He said amend-ments would be offered and aworking group would fix civilservice reform with the affect-

ed unions and Civil ServiceBoard actually involved in theprocess this time around.

But Hartman had barelygotten out of the Labor Templewhen he reversed course againsaying he was misinformed andwithdrew his amendment tohelp fix civil service reform.

“He gets no positives forcoming to mislead us again,”said North East Area LaborCouncil president AlanNetland, former long time pres-

ident of AFSCME Local 66that represents city workers. “Itwas just another double cross.”

Now it will be up to theworking group, which is notappointed by administration, toaddress the civil service reformcontroversy and find out if theyhave any clout. Hopefully byJuly they will have a reviewdone of administration propos-als and amendments offered byBoyle and Gardner and a planfor moving forward. Maybe.

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PAGE 4 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

This Workers’ Memorial Day we vow to keepthe promise alive: SAFE JOBS SAVE LIVES!As we remember all workers who have been victimized by their employment, we renew our fight for strong workplace safety andhealth protections, andworld peace, so nations’resources can be used tohelp people.

Unions lead the struggle for safer working conditions,dignity, and respect on the job for all workers.

Duluth AFL-CIO Central Labor Body

Workers Memorial Day

2012Organize/Mobilize For Safe Jobs!

Join us for a free breakfast 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., Monday,

April 30, in the Duluth Labor Temple's Wellstone Hall.

A Memorial Ceremony at 9:15 a.m. will remember all our

brothers and sisters who have lost their lives, been injured

and/or fallen victim to disease as a result of workplace

hazards or wars. We’ll call on Congress to not jeopardize

workers’ lives by destroying our workplace safety rights.

USW Local 11-63

MOURN FOR THE DEAD

Page 5: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Letter Carriers 20th Food Drive needs donations, volunteers May 12The 20th Annual National

Association of Letter CarriersFood Drive is Saturday, May12. It has a remarkable historyin the U.S. as the largest one-

OMB sits on silica standard(PAI)--The AFL-CIO is upset that Obama’s Office of

Management and Budget is sitting on – apparently indefinitely –a proposed job safety rule to cut worker exposure to silica dust.OMB got the silica dust rule from the Occupational Safety andHealth Administration in February 2011. It was supposed toreview it within 120 days, then put a draft out for comment.

“Business groups have intervened aggressively with OMB,the gatekeeper on federal regulatory actions, and the SmallBusiness Administration …seeking to stop or weaken safety andhealth protections,” the federation’s executive council said dur-ing its meeting in Orlando, Fla., in mid-March.

The rule is supposed to tell firms how to cut exposure to sili-ca dust. Some 7,000 workers sicken yearly from exposure to thedust and 200 die from diseases such as silicosis and lung canceras a result, the fed said. “But more than a year later, the draftproposed silica rule is still being held by OMB, when no indica-tion when the review will be completed and the proposed ruleissued,” the fed said. “More than 30 industry groups have metin private with OMB trying to derail” the silica rule, it noted.

Meanwhile, congressional Republicans are trying a widerange of tactics to delay or kill pro-worker job safety rules, bothfrom OSHA and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, thefederation said. Their tactics include trying to cut off funds forthe two agencies and deny funds for enforcing specific rules. Thepressure, the fed said, led OSHA to drop a proposal to haveemployers count – but not regulate – musculoskeletal disorders,or ergonomic injuries, an estimated one-third of all job injuries.

“Delays in issuing needed rules leave workers at risk ofunnecessary injury, risk and death,” the fed said.

The Obama administration defends its actions, saying thatrules it has issued – not just from OSHA and MSHA but fromother agencies – are crafted to ensure their benefits exceed theircosts. OMB’s top regulatory reviewer, Cass Sunstein, said in aspeech and in an op-ed piece that, net, benefits from rules theadministration has issued exceed their costs by $91 billion.

day collection of non-perish-able food items for local foodshelves.

Scott Dulas, President ofNALC Zenith Branch 114

Merged, said over 1.1 billionpounds of food has been col-lected by Letter Carriers andvolunteers in the drive’s histo-ry. Locally well over a millionpounds has been collected.

“When you consider thisfood drive is only one day ayear, that means that the onebillion pounds of food was col-lected in 19 days, and I thinkthat’s pretty impressive,” Dulassaid.

Letter Carriers will deliverthe mail on Saturday, May 12,and along with volunteers willpick up bags of non-perishable,non-breakable food itemspostal customers leave out forthem at their mailboxes. Placeyour donations in sturdy bags,please.

“The donations customersleave out for us at their homesare the biggest, most importantaspects for a successful fooddrive,” said Dulas.

When you look at the num-bers Dulas gave, you realizethat’s a lot of heavy food itemsthat need to be moved. That’swhere volunteers come in.

“We need people with pick-ups to travel along letter carri-er’s routes with them to bringthe food to collection sites,”said Dulas. “We also need vol-unteers in the afternoon onSaturday, May 12 until about6:00 p.m. to help sort and movedonated items.”

Meg Kearns of the CHUMFood Shelf coordinates volun-

teers for the drive.“It’s helpful if people inter-

ested in volunteering check inby Wednesday, May 9 to findout where we need people,”said Kearns. “This year wecould have a problem withenough volunteers because thefood drive is the same day asthe Denfeld and East proms.

You can call Meg Kearns at727-2391.

The NALC Food Drive isan enormous boost to foodshelves nationwide.

“The need for donations isas great as ever,” said Dulas.“Your donations help fill thefood shelves for the summer,when school lunches are notavailable for children.”

Last year, people donated70.2 million pounds of food,NALC President Fred Rolandosaid. “The needs are particu-larly sad, even staggering, in2012. Sixteen percent of allAmericans are at risk of hunger-- uncertain where their next

meal may be coming from.That includes 1 in 5 childrenunder the age of 18, plus 4 mil-lion seniors who are forcedevery day to choose betweenpaying a utility bill and buyingfood.”

In this region in last yearsNALC Food Drive about150,000 pounds were collectedin Duluth, Proctor, Herman-town, Cloquet, Two Harbors,Silver Bay, and Superior.

“This food drive is onlypossible because of the gener-ous food donations of cus-tomers, the donations of timeand effort of countless volun-teers, and our local sponsors:Super One, Lakehead Con-structors, Paper Hog, Sieben,Grose, Von Holtum & Carey;the national sponsors: the AFL-CIO, United Way, NationalAssociation of Letter Carriers,National Rural Letter CarriersAssociation, the USPS,Campbell’s Soup, AARP andValpak,” said Dulas.

8 hours for work...8 hours for rest...

8 hours for what we will...That doesn’t seem unreasonable does it? In Northern Minnesota we know too manylives that have had those last two “8 hours”cut short or ruined by those first “8 hours.”Mesothelioma and other terrible diseases are foundhere at much higher ratesthan elsewhere, killing workers anddestroying families.

Why are answers so hard to come by?

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 5

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Page 6: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Single payer health care forum here May 6Amidst all the controversy

in America over the federalAffordable Care Act, ObamaCare if you must, there are stilla lot of people who have stud-ied our health care system whothink a single payer systemwould make for a healthierpopulace at a much reducedcost. Medicare for all if youwill. Some of the folks who areworking on the issue havescheduled a free forum in theDuluth Labor Temple.

“Fixing Minnesota’s HealthCare Mess: The Problems andSolutions” will be presentedSunday, May 6, from 1:30 PM– 3:30 PM in the Duluth LaborTemple, 2002 London Road,

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Wellstone Hall (enter via SouthSt. entrance facing lake at bot-tom of 20th Ave. E.)

David Zeller of Health Carefor All–Minnesota (HCAMn),which is sponsoring the forumwith the Minnesota NursesAssociation, says the forumwill address: What is wrongwith the health care system inMinnesota? How can we fix it?

In spite of conservativeinterests more concerned withinsurance company profits thanthe health of the American peo-ple, solutions beyond theAffordable Care Act do existand it is up to residents to par-ticipate in the health carereform debate to ensure that all

Minnesotans have access tohealth care.

HCAMn partners with theGreater Minnesota Health CareCoalition in coordinating thecampaign for the MinnesotaHealth Plan, a statewide effortto educate, advocate and mobi-lize Minnesotans to enact theMinnesota Health Act (SF0008/ HF0051) which would createa single comprehensive healthplan covering every Minnesotaresident. Many unions areinvolved in the campaign as isthe Citizens FederationNortheast.

You can go online to regis-ter at www.hcamn.org/duluthfor the May 6 forum.

For a listing of locations visit www.thriftywhite.com

Pinetree PlazaInside Super One Foods

Cloquet, MN218-879-6768 • 1-800-967-3421

Store hours: Mon-Fri 9am - 8pm • Sat 9am - 5:30pm • Sun 11am - 5pm

Support your local pharmacy Tell your union, health fund, and employer

you want local pharmacy servicesIt’s Better...Keep It Local!Your Local

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3Personal service

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3Questions answered reliably,accurately

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Your local White Drug Pharmacy is more reliablethan mail order. We are always available to answeryour questions face to face with a local pharmacist.

Too many of our members have had

their lives cut short, or the quality

of their lives severely affected, by

materials they use and conditions

they work under every day.

We take Safety and

Workers’Memorial

Dayvery

seriously.Painters & AlliedTrades Local 106Leading the Way to Safety thru Training

PAGE 6 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

Page 7: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

“The Mill” brings 1989 Boise Cascade/BE&K battles to MPLS stageBy Steve Share, EditorMinneapolis Labor Review In 1989 thousands of union

members and supporters pro-tested at Boise Cascade inInternational Falls, where thecompany had hired an out-of-state, non-union contractor tobuild a $535 million plantexpansion. Tensions escalated.On September 9 union support-ers stormed a housing camp fornon-union workers. Someonestarted trailers on fire and oth-ers were overturned.

The story comes to the stagewith the premiere of “TheMill,” produced by theWorkhaus Playwrights Collec-tive and running April 20through May 5 at thePlaywrights Center, 2301 East

Unions have worked hard to improve jobsite safety. As we’ve found out the hard way, politicians are able to

legislate it away. Know who it is that you’re voting for!

from your friends in the 18 affiliates of the

Iron Range Building & Trades Council

Contact us - we can direct you to high quality contractors who use highly skilled, area workers.

President John Grahek, 1-218-741-2482 Recording Secretary Dennis Marchetti

Financial-Secretary Michael Syversrud, 107 S. 15th Ave. W., Virginia, MN. 55792

Franklin Ave, Minneapolis. Allshows start at 8:00 p.m. and allseats are Pay-What-You-Can.

Playwright Jeannine Cou-lombe grew up in InternationalFalls and for her the story ispersonal. “My father worked inthe mill, my stepfather workedin the mill. My uncles workedin the mill. People I grew upwith now work in the mill.”

The mill workers wereunion but in 198, Coulombesaid, they had been pressuredby Boise to accept a conces-sionary contract with the prom-ise of expansion — and thethreat of shutting down. Theunion conceded and the influxof non-union constructionworkers brought in byAlabama-based BE&K to buildthe mill expansion produced

“ready-made conflict,” shesaid. “The union and the issuessurrounding it were the life Igrew up with.” In 1989 she was19 years old and home fromcollege for the summer.

Coulombe went on to earnher B.A. in history and B.F.A.in theatre from the Universityof Minnesota Duluth and herMasters degree in playwritingfrom the University of Iowa.“The world of the play is one Iknow and understand,”Coulombe said. “I know thesecharacters and I know them aspeople.”

“The Mill” takes real-lifeevents that took place over twoyears and condenses the actioninto one week. “I took a bit ofdramatic license,” she noted.

She tells the story through

the fictional McBride family—husband Marty, who hasworked 36 years in the mill,wife Beth, and son Rick, whois home for the summer fromhis first year in college.

“The whole play takes placein their backyard,” Coulombedivulged, following the struc-ture of McBride’s workday.

“This play has been 10years in the making,” Cou-lombe said. “I wanted to betrue to the people I know andgrew up with… Their storydeserves to be told.” One day,

she hopes to stage “The Mill”in International Falls.

For more information onperformance dates for “TheMill,” or to reserve tickets, visitwww.workhauscollective.orgor call 1-800-838-3006.

The schedule includes aspecial “Union Night” per-formance Saturday, April 28which will feature a post-playpanel discussion led byProfessor Peter Rachleff fromMacalester College, a leadingexpert in the field of labor rela-tions and labor history.

Have aSAFEMemorialDay

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LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 7

Construction workers die from work-related illnesses and injury 8 to 12 years earlier than white-collar workers.

We’re working to change that as we...F i g h t F o r T h e L i v i n g !

Boilermakers Lodge 107~(262) 798-1267Bricklayers Local 2

(715) 392-8708 or (715) 835-5164Carpenters Local 361~(218) 724-3297Cement Masons, Plasterers & Shophands Local 633--(218) 724-2323Electrical Workers Local 14

(715) 878-4068Electrical Workers Local 242

(218) 728-6895Elevator Constructors Local 9

(651) 287-0817Insulators Local 49~(218) 724-3223Iron Workers Local 512~(218) 724-5073

Laborers Local 1091~(218) 728-5151Millwrights & Machinery Erectors

Local 1348-- (218) 741-6314Operating Engineers Local 139

(715) 838-0139 Painters & Allied Trades Local 106

(218) 724-6466Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11

(218) 727-2199Roofers, Waterproofers Local 96

(218) 644-1096Sheet Metal Workers Local 10

(218) 724-6873Teamsters Local 346~(218) 628-1034

Northern Wisconsin Building & Construction Trades Council

President Norm Voorhees, Ironworkers Local 512, (218) 724-5073 Vice President Jeff Daveau Secretary-Treasurer Bill Cox

NWBCTC

Vance Security was hired by Boise and BE&K to guard theexpansion project in International Falls but caused moretrouble than they stopped. These Wildcatters and manyothers thought that agent provocateurs for corporate inter-ests provoked the attack on the mancamp and actuallystarted the fires that union members were charged with.

Page 8: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Roofers &Waterproofers

Local Union No. 96

www.rooferslocal96.com

Roofers and Waterproofe

rs L

ocal

96

Good Union Jobs

Safe Union Jobsites

Trained Union Roofers

PAGE 8 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

MINNESOTA WISCONSIN

Number of employees (1)

Number of establishments (1)

State or federal OSHA program (2)

Number of workplace fatalities 2009 (3)

Rate per 100,000 workers (4)

National rate

Ranking of state fatality rate 2009 (5)

Total cases of work injuries & illnesses 2009 (6)

Rate per 100 workers

National rate

Injury & illness lost days at work, job transfer or restriction 2009 (7)

Rate per 100 workers

National rate

Number of state and local employees (1)

Are they covered by OSHAct? (2)

Number of workplace safety/health inspectors FY 2011 (8)

Number of safety/health inspections conducted FY 2010 (9)

Construction

Non-construction

Length of time for OSHA to inspect each workplace once

Average penalty assessed for serious OSHAct violations FY 2010 (9)

National average

2,569,651

165,257

State

60

2.2

3.3

10

67,800

3.8

3.6

32,000

1.8

1.8

339,847

Yes

62

2,701

842

1,859

61 years

$631

$972

2,664,190

156,805

Federal

94

3.3

3.3

25

76,300

4.2

3.6

38,700

2.1

1.8

356,302

No

41

1,727

872

855

87 years

$1,025

$972

Comparing Minnesota and Wisconsin on health & safety...This April 28 will mark the

21st year that the AFL-CIO hasproduced their “Death on theJob: The Toll of Neglect”report. The document is full of

job fatality and injury statistics,and state by state breakdownsof how the states compare onworker safety and health. Theinformation below is from the

2011 edition and uses the latestavailable information at thetime to compare Minnesota andWisconsin.

You can access much more,

including the entire Death onthe Job Report at http://www.a f l c i o . o r g / I s s u e s / J o b -Safety/WorkersMemorialDay.

Unions have fought hard for years to improve working conditions for all American workers.

Our efforts have resulted in hugeimprovements in safety sinceOSHA became law in 1970. Still, nearly 6,000 U.S. workersa year are killed on the job, andevery year attempts are made togut Minnesota and federal OSHA toimprove companies’ profit margins.

Mourn for the Deadbut continue to

Fight for the Living!SHEET METAL WORKERS LOCAL 10Workplace safety did not evolve by accident!

In Honor of theWorkers’ Memorial Dayand city employees who servethe public with courage and

dedication every day.Mayor Don Nessand City Councilors

Patrick Boyle, Jay Fosle, Sharla Gardner, Dan Hartman,

Jennifer Julsrud, Garry Krause,Linda Krug, Emily Larson,

Jim Stauber

Page 9: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

In honor of all those who

our lives better

AFSCME Council 5

MOURN FOR THE DEAD,FIGHT FOR THE LIVING,

AND STAY ALERT!SAFETY must be FIRST!

Cement Masons,

Plasterers &ShophandsLocal 6331-218-724-2323

America’s Oldest Building Trades Union • Est. 1864

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 9

RememberingBrother Debs’

151st Birthday!

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE...

...AND WORK FOR

SAFER JOBS!

Missabe Road)

Local 1189

2002 London Road, Suite 211 Duluth, MN 558121-218-728-5174 1-800-942-3546

Don Seaquist, President

Prevention

From the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Organized Labor Department

(651) 662-2528

The best safety policy at work and at home

Blue Cross® and Blue Shield® of Minnesota is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association

Page 10: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

In the U.S. in 2006, 1,239 construction workers died on the job,far outdistancing the transportation/warehousing industry,which was second with 860 fatalities. Construction deathsaccounted for 21% of the 5,840 total number of fatalities thatyear. Every one of our members knows how dangerous their jobis and expects their union to do all it can to make their jobssafer. It's the most important thing we can do for their families.

Safe working conditions are our chief concern.In Memory Of Our Fallen Brothers And Sisters

Carpenters Local 361Hermantown, Minnesota

MN Firefighter Memorialseeks names, donations

The Minnesota Fire Service Foundation is verifying the list ofthe state’s line-of-duty deaths to ensure that accurate informationwill be included in the new Minnesota Fallen FirefighterMemorial at the State Capitol. Anyone with a connection to astate firefighter who died in the line of duty is asked to reviewthe list at http://mnfireservicefoundation.org/lodd.html. The pub-lic should let the foundation know about missing or inaccuratedetails by May 30. Contact Nyle Zikmund at 612-860-7442 [email protected]. Since 1881, 201 Minnesota firefight-ers have died in the line of duty.

The statue honoring fallen firefighters has been at the MSPInternational Airport but now is in a Howard Lake, MN foundry,where the original sculptor, Douglas O. Freeman, will prepare itto for the new Memorial. Construction on the State Capitolgrounds begins this spring, with a dedication scheduled forNational Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, Sept. 30, 2012.

In 2011, MSFS launched an initiative to create a larger, moreaccessible and interactive memorial at the Capitol. Firefighterscommitted more than $600,000 in donations. The cost to buildthe memorial is $500,000 with the remaining $100,000 for amaintenance fund, per state regulations for memorials on Cap-itol grounds. Donations exceeding $600,000 will fund scholar-ships for children of active, retired or deceased firefighters, forspouses of deceased firefighters, and for dedication expenses.

Contributions can be sent to: Minnesota Fire ServiceFoundation, c/o Flagship Bank, 7525 Office Ridge Road, EdenPrairie, MN 55344-3644, or www.mnfireservicefoundation.org.

PAGE 10 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

DEMOCRAT-FARMER-LABOR FOR U.S. CONGRESS

In solidarity, I stand with you in honoring workers on this

Paid for by Jeff Anderson for Minnesota.

One of us... for us!

www.jeffanderson.org

This nation has a terrible history of death, injury and illness in the workplace.

All working Americans owe a debt of gratitude to Unions for their efforts

in making work safer and more bearable.

Tim Andrew ~ Aaron Bransky Tom Andrew ~ Jane C. PooleRepresenting Unions and their Members302 W. Superior St. Suite 300

Duluth, MN 55802 218-722-1764

Andrew &Bransky, PA

Not Even One Familyshould suffer the tragedy of a loved

one not coming home safe ly from work. Proud to be part of Superior’s observance ofWorkers’ Memorial Day April 25 for a tree

planting ceremony at Kelly Park tohonor soldiers and workers who

have lost their lives in the line of duty or on the job.

The Superior Federation of Labor

Meets 1st Wednesdays (except July) 6:30 p.m. Superior LibraryPresident Janice Terry, 715-394-2896

Page 11: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Tax Day raucous...from page 1Citizens Federation and Lynette Swanberg did a good job of

answering questions but it didn’t matter to the rude tea partiers.After the forum marchers went to the Gerald Heaney Federal

Building in Duluth to let their Rep. Chip Cravaack know howthey feel. Again rude tea partiers tried to disrupt the rally, appar-ently hell bent on provoking violence and police intervention.

“We’re speaking out on Tax Day because we all paid a high-er tax rate than Mitt Romney, Wells Fargo and many other bigcorporations and rich people,” said Peder Nelson. “We’re proudto pay our fair share; it’s time for the 1% to pay their fair sharetoo so we can create good jobs and make our communitiesstrong.”

Protesters called on Cravaack to support the Buffett Rule(H.R.3909, Paying a Fair Share Act), which stops millionairesfrom paying lower taxes than working people, and to close cor-porate tax loopholes. They questioned Rep. Cravaack's positionon the Buffett Rule and whether he stands with the 99% or the1%. Billionaire Warren Buffet brought life to the rule with hisname when he stated that his secretary pays higher taxes thanrich people.

“While hardworking Americans pay their share so that wecan support our troops, keep our communities safe, and build theroads we use every day, the super-wealthy are taking advantageof a system to further strengthen their choke hold on the econo-my,” said AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka in a tax day state-ment. “Elected officials who voted against the Buffett Rule”which would raise taxes on the rich “put partisan politics overeconomic fairness for all,” he added. The Buffett Rule, pushedby the Democratic Obama administration with labor’s support,would have imposed a new 30% minimum tax rate for million-aires.

The Buffett Rule lost to a Senate GOP filibuster, backed by aGrover Norquist threat to trash any Republican voting for it.“It’s past time for the wealthy to play by the same rules as work-ing people and pay their fair share,” Trumka concluded.

“I have paid my fair share in taxes my whole life. Even whenmy property taxes quadrupled in one year, I still paid my fairshare. It's ridiculous that the 1% pay so little in taxes, when therest of us pay so much,” said Nelson. “Rep. Cravaack needs tostand with us to make the rich pay their fair share. I lost my jobin 2009 and if the rich don't start paying their fair share, we willbe forced to layoff other members of my community, such aspolice officers, firefighters and teachers.”

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I n R e m e m b r a n c e I n R e m e m b r a n c e o f F a l l e n W o r k e r so f F a l l e n W o r k e r sP l e a s e W o r k s a f e l yP l e a s e W o r k s a f e l y

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 11

For 60 years our attorneys haveworked together to fight for lost wages and fair compensation forinjured Minnesotans. – Auto Accidents– Medical Malpractice

April 12 was a busy night in Wellstone Hall. A labor fundraiser for Minnesotans Unitedfor All Families (background) was followed by a Central Body Retirees meeting, followedby a Labor Day Picnic meeting (at table), and then the Central Body meeting. Also thatevening postal workers were demonstrating in the Civic Center (next page).

Page 12: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

USPS workers speak out on service cutsUnited States Postal Service

employees and supporters ral-lied in Duluth and nationwideApril 12 in their continuingeffort to save the most cher-ished of government agencies.

In front of Duluth’s GeraldHeaney Federal Building ScottDulas, President of theNational Association of LetterCarriers Zenith Branch 114Merged, asked senators to votedown Senate File 1789.

The bill would:• Put an end to six-day mail

delivery in two years.• Phase out door-to-door

mail delivery with groupedboxes on city streets and per-haps a minimum of a quartermile away in rural areas.

• Fail to fully address thePostal Service’s pension pre-funding requirement, whichhas created the artificial fiscalcrisis management is using toask for severe service cuts.

• Not address the overpay-ment into the Civil ServiceRetirement System.

The House postal legisla-tion, HR2309 pushed by RightWing Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and introduced in theSenate by GOPer JohnMcCain, is even worse

“Why try to make the postalservice something no onewants to use,” Dulas asked.“The postal service is a $1.3trillion enterprise, that supports8 million jobs and was estab-

lished by the Constitution. Wehave a right to it and they workto destroy it.”

Postal unions say there areother ways to make up the vol-ume lost in first class mail totechnology. Some are as simpleas changing the ban on ship-ping alcohol. Unions are pro-posing a new USPS plan thatwould expand its packagedelivery services, whichInternet-based firms rely on.

First class mail still turns aprofit, but big bulk mailers –whom the 2006 law gave greatcuts on postal rates – do not.

Dulas said the artificial fis-cal crisis is the easiest fix forCongress. “The problem thatfew will address is the 2006law that requires $5.5 billion ayear be put into postal retireehealth care benefit accountsbefore the first stamp is evensold,” Dulas said. Thosemonies are to cover 75 years ofbenefits, but the 2006 lawrequires they be paid into thefund in 10 years he said. “Thepostal service is not broke andit is not an expense to taxpay-ers. It hasn’t used a dime oftaxpayer dollars in 30 years.”

USPS has cut 80,000 jobs inthe last 10 years to be leanerDulas said.

A moratorium on closing3,700 post offices and over 300area mail processing centersexpires May 15. Postal officialshave indicated that they intendto proceed with plans to dis-mantle the network unlessCongress acts before then.

Dulas said Sen. Franken hasbeen working hard on prevent-ing closures and cuts but Sen.Klobuchar and Rep. Cravaackhave been nowhere to be found

Franken brings amendmentto stop USPS closures, cuts

WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) introduced legislation April 18 that would give thePostal Regulatory Commission the power to overturn scheduledpost office and processing center closures when communities orindividuals make a compelling case to keep the facility open.

“Local post offices are frequently the center of their com-munities and provide jobs for the local workforce,” said SenatorFranken. He offered his legislation as an amendment to thepostal reform bill that is currently being debated by the Senate.

The amendment would:• Allow the appeal of a proposed closing of a mail process-

ing facility; • Grant the Postal Regulatory Commission the authority to

“reverse” a decision by the Postal Service to close a post office,station, branch or mail processing facility;

• Ensure that any proposed closure or consolidation is sus-pended until final disposition of the appeal; and

• Require the Postal Regulatory Commission to set aside anyclosing or consolidation that does not achieve substantial eco-nomic savings.

In December, Franken joined a group of colleagues to suc-cessfully urge the Postmaster General to hold off on future clos-ings until Congress could come up with a postal reform plan.The Postmaster General agreed to place a moratorium on clos-ings until May 15. Franken and colleagues have also been work-ing with the committee responsible for postal reform to protectlocal post offices and maintain mail delivery standards, whichwould protect some processing centers from being closed.

PAGE 12 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

Allen Richardson of TakeAction Minnesota has been a hitwith his chants for saving the postal service and other ral-lies. He led postal workers, including NALC 114 presidentScott Dulas, second from left, April 12 in the Civic Center.

USPS spent over $1 million having their latest eagle headlogo created. This I-35 scene last week should replace it asit is symbolic of USPS management’s new dis-service modelfor the most respected government agency in America.

The struggle forworkplace safety

saves l ives!

National Association of Letter CarriersBranch 114 Merged

Duluth, Two Harbors & Silver Bay

Please join us Saturday, May 12for our 20th NALC Food Drive!

Call Meg Kearns at 727-2391 to volunteer, andleave non-perishables near your mailbox May 12.

We never believed we'd have to be so vigilant aboutsafety in academic environments. As society changes it

forces all of us to reassess our beliefs and practices. At the endof the day we want to believe we've done a good job of preparingour students for a better tomorrow, for as the cycle continues, thatis precisely what they will be doing in the future.g f p p f f

Representing faculty at UMD since 1980Representing faculty at UMD since 1980

Page 13: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Construction workers have higher chance of dying on the job study showsBy Mark GruenbergPAI Staff WriterWASHINGTON (PAI)—

Over their careers, constructionworkers have a 1 in 200 chanceof deaths on the job, five timeswhat the government considersthe “significant” risk of deathat work, a new study says.Construction injury risks arealso very high.

The study, by Dr. Xiuwen

In Remembrance of ourfallen Brothers and Sisters who continue to die unnecessarily onthe job, and Lorraine Reinke

whose work for Labor is missed.Carlton County CentralLabor Body, AFL-CIO

Sue Dong of the Center toProtect Workers Rights, lookedat construction fatality, injuryand illness statistics over manyyears, to calculate the chancesof a worker being killed orinjured.

“Construction workersmake up 6%-8% of all work-ers, but account for 20% of alldeaths on the job” every year,Dong explained at an Oct. 31

job safety and health seminarduring the American PublicHealth Association’s conven-tion, in Washington.

Her study went beyond theyearly statistics from theOccupational Safety andHealth Administration(OSHA), the Census of FatalOccupational Injuries and othersources to calculate the hazardsover a worker’s lifetime – and

they were startling.OSHA says last year, there

was one death on the job forevery 33,000 active workers.

But a construction workerwho starts at age 20 and plansto work to 65 has a one in 200chance of being fatally injuredon the job, Dong said. OSHA“considers a defini-tive risk ofone death per 1,000 workers tobe a significant level of risk”for all workers.

Injury data was alsoappalling. Construction work-ers have a 75% chance of suf-fering a disabling injury duringthat same age 20-65 span. ForHispanic construction workers– who are a majority in severalcrafts – that risk rises to 90%,Dong said. Their risk of deathis about one-fifth higher thanthe overall risk of death, too,she noted.

The main risk of death isfrom falls, especially in resi-dential construction. Dong andother speakers at the seminar

said that is due to several facts:Misuse of ladders, workerstoiling on small and usuallysloped roofs close to edges, andlack of harnesses.

Residential contractors,some self-employed, either donot provide or cannot affordsafety measures. OSHArecently proposed extending itsfall protection standards to res-idential contractors, otherspeakers said. But it is meetingindustry resistance, plus GOPlegislation to halt OSHA’s pro-tection plan in its tracks, bydenying funds for it.

Dong also revealed otherrisks over a construction work-er’s lifetime: A 15% chance ofdeveloping chronic obstructivepulmonary disease and an 11%chance of inhaling enoughharmful dust to appear as lungchanges on chest X-rays.Roofers, Iron Workers andSheet Metal Workers are par-ticularly at risk for pulmonarydiseases.

We value our workers’ safety morethan the excellent quality of their work

Thanks For Working Safely!LAKEHEADCONSTRUCTORS INC.

Twin PortsIron Range

96 Years of Service! 1916 - 2012

General Contractors, Engineers and Equipment Rental Specialists

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 13

Our members work in an unsafe industry!Our members work in an unsafe industry!We need the right to refuse

unsafe work and protection from discrimination for reporting injuries, illnesses and unsafe conditions!We need a system of oversight and coordination onmulti-employer projects!We need an Office of Construction Safety, Health and Education at OSHA!

Duluth BuildingDuluth Building && Construction Trades CouncilConstruction Trades CouncilCraig Olson, President, (218) 724-6466Craig Olson, President, (218) 724-6466

Boilermakers Lodge 647 ~ 724-6999

Bricklayers & Allied Craftworkers Local 1 ~ 724-8374

Carpenters Local 361 ~ 724-3297

Cement Masons, Plasterers & Shophands Local 633 ~ 724-2323

Electrical Workers Local 242 ~ 728-6895

Elevator Constructors Local 9 ~ (612) 379-2709

Insulators Local 49 ~ 724-3223

Iron Workers Local 512 ~ 724-5073

Laborers Local 1091 ~ 728-5151

Millwrights Local 1348 ~ (218) 741-6314

Operating Engineers Local 49 ~ 724-3840

Painters & Allied Trades Local 106 ~ 724-6466

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 ~ 727-2199

Roofers, Waterproofers Local 96 ~ (218) 644-1096

Sheet Metal Workers Local 10 ~ 724-6873

Sprinkler Fitters Local 669 ~ (507) 493-5671

Teamsters Local 346 ~ 628-1034

Increasing workplace safetywill improve all of our lives

ZENITH AMERICAN SOLUTIONS2520 Pilot Knob Road, Suite 325

Mendota Heights, MN 55120651-256-1900

750 Torrey BuildingDuluth, MN 55802

218-727-6668

Page 14: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Labor has candidates for WI recall primaryIt’s getting down to the wire

for Wisconsin voters upset withwhat Republican Gov. ScottWalker is doing to their state.After huge rallies last year,things have quieted down inWisconsin, which is trying tobe only the third state to everrecall their governor. May 8primary recall elections will beheld to see which one of fourDemocratic challengers willget the chance to face Walkerin the June 5 recall election.Walker has a primary as wellbut that is no problem for thecountry crossing, fundraising,darling of conservatives whohave donated millions to him

Republicans in Wisconsinhave filed to run as Democratsas they did in last year’s statesenate recall primaries to try toaffect which Democrat comesout of the primary. The GOPseems to fear Milwaukeemayor Tom Barrett, who lost toWalker in 2010.

The Wisconsin AFL-CIOhas endorsed former DaneCounty executive KathleenFalk in the primary. She hasreceived the endorsement ofmany of the public employeeunions most affected byWalker’s agenda. This Friday,April 27 Falk will attend theDouglas County DemocraticParty meeting at 6:30 pm at theOld Town in Superior.

Also running in the Demo-cratic primary for governor areSecretary of State Doug LaFollette and state SenatorKathleen Vinehout of Alma.

The AFL-CIO has endorsedProfessional Fire Fighters ofWisconsin president MahlonMiller for lieutenant governorto run against the recalledRepublican Rebecca Kleefisch.

In the four state senate

recall elections that could makethat body Democratically con-trolled the fed has endorsedLori Compas (SD 13), JohnLehman (SD 21), KristenDexter (SD 23), and DonnaSeidel (SD 29).

An effort to recall Sen. BobJauch (D-Poplar) was startedMarch 19. It needs 15,270 ver-ifiable petitions, which haven’tcome as of yet.

Your friends at the Duluth City Council

Workers’ Memorial Day:Such a sad observance,

but such an important one to help improve the work lives

of our city employees and all workers worldwide.

LindaKrug

JenniferJulsrud

Emily Larson

PatrickBoyle

Dan Hartman

SharlaGardner

PAGE 14 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

218-729-7733 • Hermantownfcu.org Member eligibility required. Member NCUA.

low rates. fast approvals.

no hasslelending.

free hat with arecreational loan

Representing Railway Labor and their families for injuries on and off

the job for over a half century!

HUNEGS, LENEAVE & KVAS

Attorneys at Law900 Second Avenue South, Suite 1650

Minneapolis, MN 55402612-339-4511 1-800-328-4340

Clyde Larson Director of Field Operations

Duluth, MN 218-348-3091

Railroad Workers...Railroad Workers...On Workers’ Memorial Day

We honor and remember our Brothers

and Sisters in Rail Labor who have lost

their lives or suffered serious injuries.

They Shall Not Be Forgotten!

Page 15: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

The pothole in our political psyche keeps investment from infrastructureBy Sam Pizzigati, Editor

TOO MUCH ONLINEInvesting in infrastructure

used to be a political no-brain-er. Politicians of nearly everyideological stripe regularlysupported government spend-ing on infrastructure staples,everything from school build-ings to bridges. These polswould, to be sure, disagree onemphasis. The more conserva-tive would push for morespending on highways, forinstance, the more liberal forinvestments in mass transit.

But most all elected offi-cials took as a given the neces-sity of publicly funded infra-structure investment. Busi-nesses simply couldn’t thrive,even conservatives understood,without quality systems inplace for transportation, com-munication, education, and

every other basic underpinningof a modern society.

Among the American peo-ple this consensus for investingin infrastructure remains assolid as ever. Only 6 percent ofAmericans, one poll last yearfound, consider infrastructure“not that important” or “notimportant at all.” But supportfor infrastructure investingamong America’s lawmakershas ebbed considerably. Overthe past two years, Congresscouldn’t even get its act togeth-er to pass a basic transportationfunding bill. Overall, U.S.investing in infrastructure hasfallen off dramatically frommid-20th century levels. Backin 1968, federal outlays forbasic infrastructure amountedto 3.3 percent of the nation’sgross domestic product. Thisshare has sunk by nearly two-thirds. Last year, infrastructure

investing made up only 1.3 per-cent of GDP.

Various national groupshave translated the story thesepercentages tell into dollarsand cents. The AmericanSociety of Civil Engineers esti-mates that we would need tospend $2.2 trillion, over fiveyears, to adequately “maintainand upgrade” America’s roads,dams, drinking water, schoolbuildings, and the like.

But lawmakers in Congressare currently cutting, notadding, dollars for infrastruc-ture. The 2013 budget that haspassed the House ofRepresentatives slices “trans-portation infrastructure invest-ment per capita by 28 percent.”What do stats like these meanfor our daily lives? Potholes.Brownouts. Over-crowdedbuses. Even bridge collapses.

None of this makes anysense. We ought to be witness-ing, here in 2012, a historicsurge in infrastructure invest-ing. Indeed, contendsEconomic Policy Institute ana-lyst Ethan Pollack, the starshave all aligned for an infra-structure renaissance.

On the one hand, we havemore motive than ever beforefor making sizable infrastruc-ture investments. After somany years of disinvesting,things are falling apart. Ourbasic infrastructure systemsdesperately need repair andreplacement.

On the other hand, we haveopportunity: The cost of bor-rowing to fund infrastructure

projects, EPI’s Pollack pointsout, has hit record “low levels.”And the private constructioncompanies that do infrastruc-ture work remain desperate forcontracts. They’re asking forless to do infrastructure work.

“In other words,” saysPollack, “we’re getting muchmore bang for our buck thanwe usually do.”

And if we spend thosebucks on infrastructure, wewould also be creating badlyneeded jobs that could helpjuice up the economy. NotesPollack: “This isn’t win-win,this is win-win-win-win.” Yetour political system seemstotally incapable of seizing this“win-win-win-win” moment.What explains this incapacity?Center for American Progressanalysts David Madland andNick Bunker, see inequality asthe prime culprit.

The pair have just pulledtogether all the various studies,from both within and outsidethe United States, that link lev-els of infrastructure spendingto income and wealth distribu-tion. The evidence from thesestudies all points the same way.The more wealth concentrates,the more feeble a society’sinvesting in infrastructure.

Our long-term decline infederal infrastructure invest-ment — from 3.3% of GDP in1968 to 1.3% in 2011 — turnsout to mirror almost exactly thelong-term shift in income fromAmericas middle class toAmerica’s rich. And the U.S.states where the rich have

gained the most at the expenseof the middle class turn out tobe the states that invest theleast in infrastructure.

Why should this be thecase? Madland and Bunker citeseveral dynamics at play herein their new Center forAmerican Progress paper.

One set of dynamicsrevolves around the state of asociety's middle class. In moreequal societies, middle classeswill be more robust and politi-cally powerful.

Why does this power matterfor infrastructure investing?Middle class people have avested interest in healthy levelsof infrastructure investment.They depend on good roads,schools, and transit.

Wealthy people don’t. Ifpublic services frazzle, theycan opt out. They can sendtheir kids to private schools.They can commute by helicop-ter to avoid traffic congestion.And the more inequality insociety, the more political lead-ers will lean their way — anddeny public goods and servicesthe funds they need to thrive.

Some wealthy, Madlandand Bunker acknowledge, dosee the connection betweeninfrastructure and healthy eco-nomic development. Butincreased investment in infra-structure demands highertaxes, and lower tax rates havealways been among the “morecherished priorities of therich.”

“So when push comes toshove,” Madland and Bunkerposit, “infrastructure is likelyto take a backseat to keepingtaxes low.”

A deeper dynamic alsoseems to be at work. Higherlevels of economic inequality,studies show, “can breed a self-ish orientation toward publicpolicy.”

By contrast, notes the newCenter for American Progressanalysis, people in more equal,strong middle-class societies“feel they share a similar fate”and more willingly makeinvestments that may not per-sonally benefit them directly.

A “significant body of evi-dence,” the analysis concludes,“suggests a strong middle classis important for public invest-ments.” Unequal societies —like the 21st century USA —have weak middle classes.

That leaves Americans witha basic choice. We can press,on every front, for greaterequality. Or spend more timelooking out for potholes.

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 15

Let's all get home safely this construction season

Contact us at 651-429-1600www.mnlecet.org

Proudly supporting the Twin Ports Construction Liaison Committee

Your Friends at Minnesota LECETSkilled

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and Union

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VIKING INDUSTRIAL NORTH4730 Grand Avenue Duluth, Minnesota 55807

(218)624-4851 Toll Free 800-232-1367

FAX (218)624-4788 [email protected]

www.vikingindustrialnorth.com

Page 16: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

WORKERS’WORKERS’MEMORIAL MEMORIAL

DAYDAYIn memory of the deceased members of the Duluth Federation of Teachers, Local 692

We have all benefited by theircontributions to the union,

to educationand to the community.

DuluthFederation of Teachers

Local 692

wishing you thebest each work day

Workers’Memorial

day...renewing our commitment to safe jobs

PegSweeney

St. Louis County Commissioner F District 5Paid for by Peg Sweeney Volunteer Committee

Remembering Working Families

PAGE 16 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

©2012

Ted Loftness952-992-8456

www.medica.com

and Medica Health Management, LLC.

9T

652-992-845sLoftnesed

©2012

w

and Medica Health Manageme

.medica.comwww

ent, LLC.

In Memory...Of our departed members,

who have died as a result of work-related accidents, injuries or illnesses.

. . . In Their Honor This Workers’ Memorial Day

Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11

Thank You! ...to everyone who makessafety their top priority.

Proud to be a union contractorLAKEHEAD Painting Co.“Serving the upper midwest since 1965!”FREE ESTIMATES! Superior, Wisconsin (715) 394-5799

Page 17: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Updated paywatch.org has new options for the 99%ers battle v. 1%ersAccording to AFL-CIO data

released April 19, S&P 500Index CEOs got an average of$12.9 million in 2011 – a 14percent raise. The averageCEO now makes an astonish-ing 380 times what the averageworker makes. That ratio usedto be 42 times in 1980.

Minnesotans can see how

their yearly salary stacks upnext to Minnesota CEOs’ annu-al pay using the newlydesigned Executive PayWatch(www.paywatch.org), a search-able online databank that pro-vides direct comparison of topCEO pay to average wages ofworkers including a nurse,teacher, firefighter and others.

AFL-CIO Pres. RichardTrumka noted this is the secondyear in a row CEO payincreased, following the 23percent increase in 2010. Instark contrast, the averagewage for Minnesota workerswas $46,150– a 1.5% increase,slightly more than inflation.

“It’s astonishing to see just

how big the gap is betweenwhat the CEO of 3M or Targetmakes and what the averageMinnesotan makes,” saidMinnesota AFL-CIO PresidentShar Knutson. “Middle classMinnesotans work hard to con-tribute to our local economy’ssuccess. If a CEO gets a wind-fall, why should the other

workers who helped to makethe company thrive be treatedso dramatically different?”

New features on PayWatchinclude data exposing swellingcorporate cash stockpiles. Cashlevels have reached a record$2.2 trillion for U.S. corpora-tions and another $1.5 trillionfor banks in excess reserves.The site highlights companieswith the highest cash hoardsthat have cut jobs such asVerizon whose cash holdingsand short term investmentsgrew 311 percent to $14 billionbetween 2007 and 2011.During that period, the compa-ny thinned its employmentrolls by 17.5 percent.

PayWatch includes a newdatabase of mutual fund votingon “say-on-pay” and otherexecutive compensation issues.Visitors to the website canlearn which mutual funds are“pay enablers” versus “payconstrainers” and write theirmutual funds to encouragemore votes against runawayCEO pay.

PayWatch also examinesthe world of private equityexecutive pay, an area that hasoperated in the shadows untilMitt Romney’s candidacybegan raising more seriousquestions about its practices.

Visitors to the PayWatchwebsite will be empowered towrite the Securities andExchange Commission andurge them to implement theDodd-Frank Act’s requirementthat public companies discloseCEO-to-worker pay ratios.

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 17

John E. SomersUtility LinemanJune 11, 1971

Kenneth L. MeintsSr. Elect - Maint. & Construction

January 14, 1972

Teddy E. BurgraffUtility Maintenance & Repairman

April 13, 1979

Joseph W. StattelmanUtility LinemanAugust 13, 1981

Jeff RoweUtility LinemanOctober 1, 1990

Roger WhitesideUtility LinemanOctober 1, 1990

Kenneth W. GravesCable Splicer

September 19, 1997

Leslie R. BeachLinestakerJuly 4, 1999

Kerry RoeSappi Maintenance Electrician

November 11, 2003

Donald KingUtility Lineman

April 1, 1954

Robert HinkleyUtility Lineman

November 12, 1959

Tom BrownInside WiremanAugust 13, l963

Howard BluhmHead Utility Lineman

October 14, 1964

Charles A. EricksonMaintenance & Construction

February 9, 1965

Roy PaulsonConstruction Lineman

August 20, 1965

Lowell KramerUtility Lineman

November 25, 1968

Harlan W. LehtoMaintenance & Construction

June 19, 1970

Kenneth HamrenUtility Electrician

May 19, 1971

Francis LightnerHydro-Electric Operator

February 16, 1940

Louis SaelensMaintenance & Construction Laborer

March 31, 1943

Fred GrienerUtility Lineman

June, 1943

Roy MartiniUtility Lineman April 16, 1947

Walter S. JohnsonUtility Operator

December 20, 1948

George E. DionUtility Lineman

June 28, 1950

Richard J. AdamsonUtility Lineman

April 5, 1951

Toivo SillanpaaUtility Lineman

April 15, 1953

Dewey R. HarmonMaintenance & Construction Helper

September l8, 1953

All year longUnions fight for

safer jobs andworkplaces.

On Workers’Memorial Day

we understandwhy we do that.

~~~AFSCMELocal 3801

UMD Clerical &

Technical Employees

Page 18: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

Job safety endangered by OSHA inability to inspect workplaces...from page 1OSHA can only do so

much, she says, when “penaltyprovisions of (OSHA) are farweaker than most other safetyand environmental laws andfail to provide an adequatedeterrence.”

The AFL-CIO criticized theadministration for issuing onlyone final job safety rule duringits 3+ years in office. Businesslobbying of the Office of Man-

agement and Budget hasdelayed other job safety rules.

“With election of aRepublican majority in theHouse in 2010, progress insafety and health is threat-ened,” the AFL-CIO said in its2011 Death On The Job report.The 2012 edition is due onWorkers Memorial Day.

“Business groups andRepublicans are trying to block

new regulations and have tar-geted key OSHA and MSHA(Mine Safety and HealthAdministration) rules.Attempts already have beenmade to slash OSHA’s budget,with proposed cuts that woulddecimate OSHA’s alreadyinadequate enforcement,”Death On The Job adds.

The Labor Department’sown Inspector General, anindependent officer who criti-cally evaluates all of thedepartment’s agencies and pro-grams, backs Seminario up.

“Since OSHA can reachonly a fraction of the sevenmillion entities it regulates, itmust strive to target the mostegregious and persistent viola-tors while protecting the mostvulnerable worker popula-tions,” the IG wrote in a recentreport to Congress.

“However, a recent IG auditfound OSHA has not effective-ly evaluated the impact of hun-dreds of millions of dollars($351 million) in penaltyreductions as incentives toreducing workplace hazards.”The IG says negotiations withfirms result in cuts to proposedfines in 98% of all cases.

The IG’s report on OSHA’spenalty reductions stated, “Wefound 4,791 employers with ahistory of serious violations

received penalty reductions of$86.6 million. Half of theseemployers received reductionsof $42.6 million on subsequentinspections where a similarstandard was violated indicat-ing the employer’s hazard cor-rections may not have beencomprehensive and company-wide.”

That’s the case at the pastafirm. OSHA pointed outGilster has 11 plants, employ-ing 2,000 workers, scatteredover southern Illinois and ruralMissouri, plus another inArkansas. Before OSHA finedGilster after the October explo-sion, it had inspected the com-pany’s plants “30 times since2002, resulting in citations for46 violations, some involvingcombustible dust explosion,deflagration and other fire haz-ards cited at the company'sSteeleville and Momenceplants in 2008 and 2009.

The same pattern is occur-ring, still, in the nation’s mines,

Seminario points out – evenafter the fatal disasters at Sagoseveral years ago and UpperBig Branch in April 2010.Mining companies are evenmore obstructionist on safety.

“In 2009, operators contest-ed 27% of all violations repre-senting 66% of proposedpenalties,” she said. And thatwas before the Upper BigBranch explosion that killed 29miners in West Virginia twoyears ago. Massey Coal, con-tests virtually every violationMSHA found, tying up theagency in appeals.

International Association of Heat& Frost Insulatorsand Allied Workers

Local 49Duluth, MNChartered 1937

In Memory...Of our manymembers who

have died because oftheir jobs

PAGE 18 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

Boat Insurancemakes it more fun!

Wade Smith(218) 724-4507

It is unbelievable that after all we’ve learnedwe continue to have tomourn lives lost in theworkplace, and workersfalling victim to jobrelated illnesses. Restassured, I will do all Ican at the State Capitolto reduce the number ofworkplace fatalities.

SenatorTony Lourey

Minnesota Senate u District 8AFL-CIO & DFL Endorsed

Paid for by Tony Lourey for Senate, Tony Bundschuh, Treasurer, Bruno, MN 55712

How can it not be ineveryone’s best interest?

Bricklayers and Allied

Craftworkers Local Union

#1, Minnesota/North Dakota

Bricklayers and AlliedCraftworkers Local 1Minnesota/North Dakota

Bricklayers and AlliedCraftworkers Local 1

Minnesota/North Dakota2002 London Road • 724-8374

In Memorium

I r o nW o r k e r sLocal 512

Hermantown, MN.

To our Brothers of Iron Workers Local 512,whose deaths occurred while on the job

IN MEMORIAM.. .

Winston Churchill, White Pine, MI Leo Podvin, U.S.Steel, Duluth WorksOrlen Rehbein, Ironwood, MIHank Shields, White Pine, MI Leroy LeClaire, Cooley (MN) TaconiteRon Wiski, Silver Bay, MNBob Weideman, Blatnik Bridge, DuluthReino Hendrickson, Eveleth TaconiteGuy Axtell, Grand Rapids, MN, BlandinKenneth Maki, Hibbing, MNJoe Parendo, Hibbing, MNLen Pistilli, Mt. Iron, MNJohn Puttonen, Hoyt Lakes, MNJohnny Carlson, Soo LocksCharles Sarasin, Quinnisec, MIJohn Casper, Aurora, MNDarryl Roe, Duluth, MNJohn Zager, Duluth, MNRoy Salo, Grand Rapids, MNRobin Sutter, Minneapolis, MNArne Fliginger, Minneapolis, MNMike Rathjen, Two Harbors, MNRobert Wilkens, St. Louis Park, MN

Page 19: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

It was the lost art of bi-partisan compromise that created OSHA in 1971By Ken Peterson

CommissionerMinnesota Department

of Labor & IndustryEach year, Workers Mem-

orial Day is celebrated toremember those who have suf-fered and died on the job. April28 was originally chosen asWorkers Memorial Daybecause it was the date in 1971on which the federalOccupational Safety HealthAct or OSHA went into effect.

The nation’s workplaceshave grown successively safersince passage of the OSHAAct. For example, in 1970there were 14,000 fatalitiesnationwide; in 2009, there were4,547 fatalities despite nation-wide employment almost dou-bling during that time. Workersexposure to hazards and toxicchemicals such as asbestos,benzene and lead has beenreduced and far fewer workersdie today from trench cave-insor from being harmed byunguarded machinery.

Economic and technologi-

Everyone expects to return homesafelyfrom

work.Sadly,

not everyone

does.Please help us by watching

for our members as youtravel through

work zones.Thank You!

From the Officers and Members of

LABORERS LABORERS Local 1091Local 1091Duluth, MN/Superior, WI & surrounding counties

Laborers Local 1091 members plant a treeevery year on Workers Memorial Day.

“While Minnesota still has too manyworkplace deaths – Minnesota OSHAinvestigated 23 in 2011 – today’sworkplaces are safer and better, atleast in part because of the bipartisanefforts of William Steiger and HarrisonWilliams 41 years ago.”

cal changes undoubtedly arepartially responsible for thedecline in fatalities andinjuries. Fewer Americanswork in historically dangerousoccupations such as manufac-turing and coal mining. Otheroccupations, such as logging,have dramatically reducedinjuries through mechaniza-tion.

Nevertheless, OSHA – bothby enforcing safety standardsand by advising employers andemployees about safer prac-tices – has played a major rolein making workplaces less dan-gerous.

During these times, whichare often filled with politicalpartisan strife, it is instructiveto recall that OSHA’s enact-ment 41 years ago was ademonstration that job safetydoes not have to, nor should, bea partisan issue.

The road to OSHA’s enact-ment began in 1969 whenPresident Richard Nixon pro-posed a work safety bill. Thenin 1970, Sen. Harrison

Williams of New Jersey, whowas chairman of the LaborCommittee, passed a versionfavored by labor unions waslargely based on a bill proposedin 1968 by then PresidentLyndon Johnson.

The House of Represen-tatives, like the Senate, wascontrolled by Democrats. Yetthe real power was found in acoalition of mostly southernconservative Democrats andRepublicans. Their leader onthis safety issue was WilliamSteiger, a young GOP con-gressman from Wisconsin.

Although Steiger was con-servative about many ideassuch as a proposal to cut taxesto promote prosperity (latercalled the Laffer Curve duringthe Reagan Administration), hedeeply believed Americansdeserved safe places to work.I’m sure Steiger spoke oftenabout the need for increasedworkplace safety with his bestfriend in Congress, DonaldRumsfeld from Illinois, and theyoung intern on his staff namedDick Cheney.

The Steiger bill was backedby the U.S. Chamber ofCommerce and passed in theHouse. Steiger and Williams,on behalf of the Senate, workedout a compromise called theWilliams-Steiger Act that wasacceptable to businesses, laborand the president. Hence,OSHA went into effect onApril 28, 1971.

Sadly, shortly after being re-elected in 1978, Steiger died ofa heart attack. Today, he isremembered by the IndustrialHygienists Association, whichannually presents the WilliamSteiger award to the individualin the social or political spherewho has contributed the mostto workplace safety and health.

Williams’s political careeralso ended unfortunately, yet ina different fashion. The long-serving liberal who had beeninstrumental in passing a num-ber of pro-labor measures inthe ‘60s and ‘70s, was convict-ed in 1982 of taking a bribe ina FBI congressional sting oper-ation and had to resign.

However, in 1971, Williamsand Steiger were each at theheight of their legislative pow-ers. Both knew Americansneeded less dangerous placesto work, so the two fierce parti-sans set aside party politics andpassed the OSHA bill that hashelped make jobsites safer andhealthier places to work.

Their bipartisan legacy con-tinues today throughout thenation and in Minnesota. Oneof the nation’s best OSHA pro-grams is found in the reliably

Republican state of SouthCarolina, while another is inresolutely DemocraticCalifornia. In Minnesota, aseries of Republican, DFL andIndependent governors andlegislators of all politicalstripes have championedOSHA throughout the years.

While Minnesota still hastoo many workplace deaths –Minnesota OSHA investigated23 in 2011 – today’s work-places are safer and better, atleast in part because of thebipartisan efforts of WilliamSteiger and Harrison Williams41 years ago.

In that same cooperativespirit, let us all make a dailycommitment to put safety firstin our work activities.

Together, we can makeMinnesota a safer place towork.

Ensuring Minnesota’s work and livingenvironments are equitable, healthy and safe

1-800-DIAL-DLI • www.dli.mn.gov

Workers’ Compensation .................. (651) 284-5005 Duluth offi ce .............................. (218) 733-7810Minnesota OSHA Compliance ........... (651) 284-5050 Duluth offi ce .............................. (218) 733-7830Workplace Safety Consultation ........ (651) 284-5060Labor Standards .............................. (651) 284-5070 • child labor/wages/overtime/prevailing wageApprenticeship ................................ (651) 284-5090Construction Codes and Licensing ... (651) 284-5012 • building codes, standards/plumbing/electrical/boilers, high-pressure piping/residential building contractors

labor & industryminnesota department of

LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012 PAGE 19

Work Shouldn’t HurtWe Remember and Honor

Workers’ Memorial Day2012

Ken Peterson

Page 20: Workers’ Memorial Day: Job safety gains …their 70s, 80s, and 90s. “Tom Scribner is in the movie telling how he first joined the Wobblies in the woods near Cloquet,” said Eric

WI education superintendent impressed by Local 11/589 training centerYou could tell Wisconsin

State Superintendent TonyEvers was impressed. The manin charge of education in theBadger State was in Duluth atthe Plumbers & SteamfittersLocals 11 and 589 training cen-ter April 12. Local 11 has juris-diction in seven Wisconsincounties and Evers had comenorth to tour Superior HighSchool and the 11/589 appren-ticeship program.

Evers asked union staff howWisconsin and Minnesotacompared in their industry.

“It’s tougher to get licensedin Wisconsin,” said apprentice-ship coordinator Jack Pezze.But he said the union liked thatbecause it holds all workers intheir industry to the high stan-dards that the unions teach.

“Wisconsin’s plumbingstandards are a lot tougher,”said Jeff Daveau, BusinessManager of P&S Local 11.

Evers toured the trainingcenter during the lunch hourprior to going to the highschool so he wasn’t hit withsparks and flashes of workersin training. Apprentices, andfull fledged members, can beusing the facility at any giventime for training, upgrades,certification, and to learn newequipment and techniques.

The tour viewed heating,ventilating, air conditioning,welding, pipe fitting andplumbing training areas of the

facility. Between 100 and 120apprentices get trained there,on the job, and in schools.During the day, they partnerwith journeymen to gain handson experience on jobsites.Their education takes place atnight and even on weekends.The five-year apprenticeshipprograms require 10,000 on-the-job hours for completion.

“Our programs are full andwe’ve got waiting lists,” Pezzetold Evers. The same is true forsimilar programs at area voca-tional and technical schools.

“We’re not here to competewith vo-techs, we’re here tohelp steer their students,”Pezze said. The union attendsjob fairs at schools and else-where to bring student interestto their programs he said.

Running training programsrequires more space and moremoney than schools or unionscan come up with so they worktogether as much as possible.The union makes field trips tovo-techs to learn about equip-ment they don’t possess.

Before building their ownfacility the unions had rentedspace at vocational schools torun their apprenticeship classesbut they had to fit their sched-ules to the schools. Now tech-nical schools and union train-ing programs are running atcapacity.

“Plumbing and heating ven-dors have been very helpful in

donating equipment for ourmembers to use,” Daveau toldEvers. “We can actually figureout design problems andinform manufacturers.”

Scott Javner, HVAC (heat-ing ventilation air condition-ing) coordinator for the JointApprenticeship Committee forthe unions and contractors,showed Evers heat pump/chillers and steam trainingdevices that had been made inthe union training facility.

“We actually make equip-ment for training that we can’tafford to buy,” Javner said.Keeping up with building andequipment changes is a con-stant in the industry, especiallyin HVAC and heating he said.

That takes a lot of smartworkers and instructors keep-ing abreast of technology andteaching it to the next genera-tion of workers.

“We’ve had five class vale-dictorians in our programbecause they can get a goodpaying job” when they gradu-ate,” Pezze said.

“There are a lot of people inconstruction unions with fouryear college degrees,” Daveautold Evers.

“We’ve been telling stu-dents that their pathway toprosperity is a four year collegedegree,” Evers said. “That’snot true, our message has beenhorrible.”

Pezze said he has seen sta-tistics that show only 18% ofcollege graduates work in theirfield of study. When appren-tices graduate they have greatjob prospects that support fam-ilies.

Evers asked how the unionsgot the training center and wassurprised to hear they had builtthe facility themselves. Unionmembership made a long termfinancial commitment to fundthe building, which also housesunion offices. Members arestill making contributions toretire debt, for remodeling, andto buy equipment and supplies.

Daveau said the trainingcenter was first built in 1994 at6,050 square feet, added 2,300more square feet of training/class rooms in 2001. The finaladdition in 2007 was 2,400square feet for HVAC refriger-ation training and 2,450 forhands on plumbing and pipefit-ting training. The building is atotal of 13,200 square feet.

“This isn’t a big buildingbut we get a lot done,” saidJavner.

“This facility is a tribute toyour commitment to your pro-

fession and your support of theeconomy,” Evers said. “It’s aleap from high school to vo-tech to here. That’s why I liketo come to places like this, theyraise the profile, and alwayshave taken quality seriously.”

Evers job as State Superin-tendent in Wisconsin is aunique education leadershipposition in the U.S. It is theonly non-partisan, elected edu-cation superintendent job of allthe states. All others are politi-

cal appointees. Evers will be upfor election again next year. Inspite of all the trouble thatunions have had in Wisconsinunder Gov. Walker, Daveausmiled as the session withEvers ended.

“You can tell he’s a laborguy,” said Daveau.

If you would like to applyfor the Joint ApprenticeshipCommittee of Local 11 and589 contact Coordinator JackPezze at 218-733-9443.

PAGE 20 LABOR WORLD NEWS, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2012

A guest moderator along with a panel of legal experts, whichvaries week-to-week, guide you through the complexity and

fascinating nuances of the law. Find out how the legal systemcan impact your life. Call in and have your questions answered.

April 26th Topic: SOCIAL SECURITYMay 3rd Topic: AUTOMOBILE INJURY CLAIMS

May 10th Topic: PREMISES CLAIMSMay 24th Topic: ALCOHOL AND THE LAW

May 31th Topic: ART OF THE COURTROOM

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Jeff Daveau, Mitchell Diers, Tony Evers, and Jack Pezze(from left) toured the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local 11 &589 training center April 12. That conglomeration of pip-ing, “the cube,” was designed by Pezze to train apprenticeshow to thread, braze, solder and install piping in crampedquarters. “It gives us real world practice,” said Pezze.