Today's Teamster News 04.25.13

<="http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/1005-trade/295949-business-groups-back-push-for-fast-track-legislation-by-june#ixzz2RQ90aeLD">Business groups back push for fast-track legislation by June  The Hill   ...The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is among a broad array of business groups that back the efforts of Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) to move forward with legislation that would give President Obama the authority to negotiate trade agreements amid an expanding global agenda...
<="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/japans-rice-lobby-comes-to-capitol-hill-to-fight-the-free-trade-pact/2013/04/24/8eb60766-ad02-11e2-b6fd-ba6f5f26d70e_story.html">Japan’s rice lobby visits Capitol Hill to fight free trade pact  Washington Post   ...(The) deep-seated attitude about rice is perhaps the sharpest edge of a Japanese backlash against the proposed free-trade pact. Activists mustered a delegation to bring their case to Capitol Hill, warning that Japan’s decision to take part in the negotiations could sink the whole endeavor...
<="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/04/24/1917531/just-four-lawmakers-show-up-to-congressional-hearing-on-long-term-unemployment/">Just Four Lawmakers Show Up To Congressional Hearing On Long-Term Unemployment  ThinkProgress   ...when Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D) scheduled a Joint Economic Committee hearing on one of the biggest jobs-related crises facing the United States, just four of the committee’s 20 members bothered to show up...
<="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/24/steve-kush-new-mexico-gop-radical_n_3148039.html">Steve Kush, New Mexico GOP Official, Calls 19-Year-Old Labor Advocate 'A Radical B*tch'  Huffington Post   ...Steve Kush, the executive director of the Bernalillo County Republican Party in New Mexico, called a 19-year-old Working America volunteer a "radical bitch" on Twitter Tuesday night after she testified before the county commission in favor of raising the minimum wage...
<="http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/240881/2/Roughly-250-Maine-lobstermen-join-new-union">Roughly 250 Maine lobstermen join new union  WCSH   ...Since December about 250 lobstermen in Maine have joined the Maine Lobstering Union, which is a new branch of the International Associations of Machinists and Aerospace workers...
<="http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=9934">Privatizing Europe  The Real News   ... it's not just about making cuts that we most famously hear about; almost in every agreement there is a demand for privatization of key national assets and key public services...
<="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/10016431/Italy-needs-Churchillian-leader-to-fight-war-damage-of-EU-austerity.html">Italy needs Churchillian leader to fight 'war damage' of EU austerity (opinion)  The Telegraph   ...Italy’s business lobby Confindustria said this week that austerity policies had caused “devastating damage, comparable with a war”...
<="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/world/asia/bangladesh-building-collapse.html?hp&_r=1&">Building Collapse in Bangladesh Leaves Scores Dead  New York Times   ...A building housing several factories making clothing for European and American consumers collapsed into a deadly heap on Wednesday, only five months after a horrific fire at a similar facility prompted leading multinational brands to pledge to work to improve safety in the country’s booming but poorly regulated garment industry...
<="http://www.fox10tv.com/dpp/news/local_news/mobile_county/explosion-on-mobile-river">Multiple explosions in fuel barge fire  Fox10TV   ...Officials said three people are in critical condition at USA Medical Center after a barge exploded and caught fire. Officials said units were on the scene on the east side of Mobile River...
<="http://www.motherjones.com/tom-philpott/2013/04/usda-inspectors-poultry-kill-lines-chicken">USDA Ruffles Feathers With New Poultry Inspection Policy  Mother Jones   ...The Obama administration is on the verge of dramatically scaling back the US Department of Agriculture's oversight of the nation's largest chicken and turkey slaughterhouses—while also allowing companies to speed up their kill lines...
<="http://nhlabornews.com/2013/04/steelworkers-disgusted-by-caterpillar-ceos-shameful-2012-cash-grab/">Steelworkers Disgusted by Caterpillar CEO’s Shameful 2012 Cash Grab  NH Labor News   ...USW District 2 Director Michael Bolton said that rewarding Oberholman’s  job performance by boosting his already lavish compensation by nearly one-third in 2012, despite lower than expected earnings, sends a dangerous message to other CEOs that lining their pockets at the expense of their workers is somehow acceptable...
<="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/breaking/chi-chicago-fast-food-strike-today-20130424,0,5930406.story">Retail, fast-food workers rally for higher pay in Chicago  Chicago Tribune   ...fast-food and retail workers flocked to downtown Chicago on Wednesday to make a public pitch for higher wages. Their "Fight for $15 campaign" seeks $15 an hour for employees...
<="http://www.politicususa.com/work-cost-job-democrats-tied-rick-snyder.html">Right to Work Could Cost Him His Job as Democrats Are Tied With Rick Snyder  PoliticusUSA   ...Snyder has seen his approval rating plummet, and two unknown Democrats are tied with him in the poll...
<="http://www.postbulletin.com/business/reeling-elsewhere-labor-poised-for-minn-gains/article_b1dc2362-92aa-567f-ab75-af8e813bf458.html">Reeling elsewhere, labor poised for Minn. gains  PostBulletin   ...Minnesota has emerged as one of the few places where unions are faring well...
<="http://www.plunderbund.com/2013/04/22/kaisch-cuts-spur-levy-layoffs-and-sales-tax-increase-in-fairfield-county/">Kasich cuts spur levy, layoffs and sales tax increase in Fairfield County  Plunderbund   ...local governments lost nearly $800 Million in Kasich’s first budget.   And his 2014/2015 budget deepens those cuts, with locals seeing a loss of an additional $1.4 Billion compared to 2010/2011...
<="http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20130424/NEWS04/304240044/Unions-protest-awards-GOP-lawmakers-who-passed-right-work">Unions protest awards for GOP lawmakers who passed right-to-work  Lansing State Journal   ...A building trades group’s effort to recognize two Republican lawmakers for helping to enact right-to-work legsislation sparked a protest Wednesday outside a hotel...
<="http://www.onenewsnow.com/latest-headlines-from-american-family-news/2013/04/24/the-spreading-of-right-to-work-where-will-it-show-up-next">The spreading of ‘right to work’ ... where will it show up next?  One News Now   ...Matt Patterson, senior fellow for the Competitive Enterprise Institute, sees Pennsylvania as one possibility...