Today's Teamster News 02.28.13

<="http://tv.msnbc.com/2013/02/27/scalia-renewing-voting-rights-act-a-perpetuation-of-racial-entitlement/">Scalia: Renewing Voting Rights Act a ‘perpetuation of racial entitlement’  MSNBC   ...Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia referred to Congress’s renewal of the Voting Rights Act as the “perpetuation of racial entitlement,” during Wednesday’s Supreme Court hearing on the law—a comment that one voting-rights advocate denounced as “shocking"....
<="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/02/26/business/government-tightening.html?pagewanted=all">Austerity Is Already Here  New York Times   ...Combined with cuts by state and local governments, the drop in government’s contribution to economic growth is the largest in more than 50 years...
<="http://www.tradereform.org/2013/02/the-trans-pacific-partnership-would-destroy-our-national-sovereignty/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-trans-pacific-partnership-would-destroy-our-national-sovereignty">The Trans-Pacific Partnership Would Destroy our National Sovereignty  TradeReform   ...U.S. multinational corporations have the goal of imposing on more countries a set of extreme foreign investor privileges and rights and their private enforcement through the notorious “investor-state” system...
<="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/feb/27/greece-blames-drug-companies-shortages">Panic in Greek pharmacies as hundreds of medicines run short  The Guardian   ...Greece is facing a serious shortage of medicines amid claims that pharmaceutical multinationals have halted shipments to the country because of the economic crisis and concerns that the drugs will be exported by middlemen because prices are higher in other European countries...
<="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/ethan-cox/2013/02/new-quebec-tuition-hike-draws-10000-back-streets">New Quebec tuition hike draws 10,000 back into the streets  rabble.ca   ...The ... government is still pretending that indexation will calm students, while over ten thousand are marching in the streets for free education and against the PQ tuition hike...
<="http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/paycheck-protection-bill-remains-stalled-mo-senate">"Paycheck Protection" Bill Remains Stalled In Mo. Senate  St. Louis Public Radio   ...It was laid aside Wednesday night without a vote, and may sit idle until Democrats and Republicans can reach an agreement...
<="http://www.tampabay.com/news/when-the-salvation-army-is-your-probation-officer/1158647">When the Salvation Army is your probation officer  Tampa Bay Times   ...In an unusual mix of religion and justice, of church and court, the Salvation Army has for decades had a lock on handling misdemeanor probation in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, with the blessing of judges on both sides of the bay...
<="http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/sit-in-at-fau-presidents-office-as-protesters-oppo/nWY24/">FAU president agrees to discussion of naming stadium for GEO Group  Palm Beach Post   ...The announcement came Monday after 40 students conducted a two-hour sit-in at Saunders’ office, demanding that the university rescind the agreement...
<="http://wpr.org/news/display_headline_story.cfm?storyid=62546&search_text">Budget would allow easier foreign purchase of Wisconsin farmland  WPR News   ...For decades, foreign investors and corporations couldn't purchase more than 640 acres of land in the state. The provision was originally put in place over concern Canada was trying to buy up land in Minnesota and other states. Now, Governor Walker says he wants those restrictions lifted because it conflicts with international trade treaties...
<="http://www.indystar.com/article/20130227/NEWS05/302270075/State-reverses-decision-suspending-federal-jobless-benefits-?odyssey=mod%7Cbreaking%7Ctext%7CIndyStar.com">State reverses decision on suspending federal jobless benefits  Indianapolis Star   ...After a torrent of criticism, Gov. Mike Pence’s administration reversed its decision to suspend extended federal unemployment benefits for about 32,000 jobless Hoosiers...
<="http://www.plunderbund.com/2013/02/23/inspection-of-kasichs-private-prison-shows-staff-assaults-up-over-300/">Inspection of Kasich’s private prison shows staff assaults up over 300%  Plunderbund   ...Privatization of the facility under Corrections Corporation of America has lead to serious violations, safety issues for inmates and employees, an increase in drug use and crime in and around the prison and a dramatic increase in calls to local law enforcement...
<="http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Union-Cuts-threat-wrong-4310895.php">Teamsters file complaint against Thruway Authority  Albany Times-Union   ...The Teamsters local that represents state Thruway Authority workers has filed an unfair labor complaint alleging its members were improperly threatened with layoffs if they failed to make concessions during contract talks...
<="http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/02/27/4652868/teamsters-at-republic-services.html">Teamsters At Republic Services Unanimously Vote To Authorize Strike  Teamsters Local 728   ...members of Local 728 in Atlanta employed as drivers and mechanics at Republic Services in McDonough voted unanimously to authorize a strike if the company continues to delay negotiations for the workers' first contract...