Today's Teamster News 04.26.13

<="http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/everything-is-rigged-the-biggest-financial-scandal-yet-20130425">Everything Is Rigged: The Biggest Price-Fixing Scandal Ever  Rolling Stone   ...The second huge financial scandal of the year reveals the real international conspiracy: There's no price the big banks can't fix...
<="http://ctj.org/ctjreports/2013/04/executive-pay_tax_break_saved_fortune_500_corporations_27_billion_over_the_past_three_years.php#.UXnEsEocOdw">Executive-Pay Tax Break Saved Fortune 500 Corporations $27 Billion Over the Past Three Years  Citizens for Tax Justice   ...One “single tax break, for executive stock options” allowed Fortune 500 corporations to avoid paying $11.2 billion in income taxes in 2012. The top 25 benefiting during 2010-12: Apple $3.2bn, Facebook $1.6bn, JP Morgan $1.1 bn, etc...
<="http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/25/west-texas-explosion-deadly-profit-safety">The West, Texas, explosion shows the deadly effect of profit before safety   The Guardian ...Poor regulation of the West Fertilizer plant likely contributed to 15 deaths – just as 13 US workers die at their jobs every single day…
<="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2013/04/bangladesh-factory-disasters-will-become-more-and-more-common.php?ref=fpb">Bangladesh Factory Disasters Will Become ‘More And More’ Common   Talking Points Memo   ...Walmart, H&M, Sears, Gap, etc. outsource to Bangladesh because of its low wages and labor standards. It also lacks safety regulations, resulting in the recent factory collapse which left <="http://www.emptywheel.net/2013/04/25/john-galt-outsources-death-to-bangladesh-to-save-pennies-on-fifty-dollar-t-shirt/"> at least 250 dead and more than 1,000 injured...
<="http://www.thenation.com/blog/174043/four-reasons-worry-about-potential-koch-takeover-tribune-co-newspapers#">Four Reasons to Worry About the Potential Koch Takeover of Tribune Co. Newspapers (opinion)  The Nation   ...If their bid is successful, the Koch brothers won’t just have a strong influence over the laws we all live under and the climate we pass on to the next generation, they’ll be publishing the news we read...
<="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/florida-unemployment-civil-rights_n_3154409.html">Labor Department: Florida Unemployment Regime Violates Civil Rights Requirements  Huffington Post   ...Florida violated federal civil rights law with its new and unusual requirement that unemployment claimants file online and take math and reading tests before they can receive benefits, the U.S. Labor Department determined this month...
<="http://ktla.com/2013/04/25/california-lawmakers-consider-soda-tax/#axzz2RVpgOPhv">California Lawmakers Consider Soda Tax  KTLA5 ...A bill that would impose a tax on sugary drinks in California is in front of lawmakers in Sacramento this week. The state law would tax sugary drinks such as sodas, energy drinks and sweet teas one cent per fluid ounce.
<="http://www.prwatch.org/news/2013/04/12077/anti-worker-paycheck-protection-bills-moving-missouri">Anti-Worker "Paycheck Protection" Bills Moving in Missouri   PR Watch   ...Missouri is the latest front in the attack on organized labor with so-called "paycheck protection" bills moving through the legislature, with backing from the usual array of corporate interests. But according to the Economic Policy Institute, the bills primarily disadvantage workers while preserving privileges for corporations...
<="http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2013/04/24/city-council-votes-on-right-to-work-law.html">Cincinnati city council votes no on right-to-work law  Business Courier   ...Cincinnati City Council unanimously passed a resolution opposing right-to-work laws and the “workplace freedom” amendment being pushed by some groups in Columbus...
<="http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/241118/2/Maine-lawmakers-kill-right-to-work-dues-bills">Maine lawmakers kill right-to-work, dues bills  Associated Press   ...The Maine Senate has killed a pair of bills labeled by opponents as anti-union. Senators voted 21-13 Thursday against a right-to-work bill, which would have made it illegal for a private employer to require employees to join a labor organization or pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment...
<="http://www.pionline.com/article/20130425/DAILYREG/130429933/oregon-lawmakers-pass-law-to-lower-pension-colas#">Oregon lawmakers pass law to lower pension COLAs  Pensions & Investments   ...The Oregon House of Representatives passed a pension reform bill Wednesday that lowers the maximum cost-of-living adjustment for retirees of the $61.1 billion Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund...
<="http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Ind-budget-deal-includes-5-percent-income-tax-cut-4462346.php">Ind. lawmakers reach deal on tax cuts, road funds  Associated Press   ...Gov. Mike Pence and Indiana's Republican legislative leaders have reached a budget deal that increases spending on roads and schools while giving the governor a piece of the income tax cut he has arduously sought this session...
<="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-reach-tentative-agreements-covering-250000-workers-ups-ups-freight">Teamsters Reach Tentative Agreements Covering 250,000 Workers at UPS, UPS Freight  IBT   ...The Teamsters Union announced last night that it has reached tentative agreements with UPS on new five-year national contracts for package and freight workers that protect their health care benefits, provide substantial wage increases and significantly raise contributions to pension and health and welfare benefits...
<="http://www.teamster.org/content/hudson-valley-teamster-school-bus-drivers-return-work-durham">Hudson Valley Teamster School Bus Drivers Return To Work At Durham  IBT   ...After engaging in an unfair labor practice strike today, Teamsters Local 445 has given Durham School Services an unconditional offer to return to work at the beginning of the work day on Friday morning, April 26, 2013...
<="http://www.cityandstateny.com/torres-gets-teamsters-endorsement-in-crowded-council-race/">Torres Adds Teamsters To Trove of Union Endorsements  City & State ...Bronx City Council candidate Ritchie Torres continues to pick up support from organized labor in a crowded to replace City Council Majority Leader Joel Rivera, winning the endorsement of the Teamsters Joint Council 16, one of the largest unions in the city with roughly 120,000 members...
<="http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/illinois/chicago-heights/striking-thorn-creek-basin-workers-to-return-friday/article_59b3d06c-9c06-57b6-8e6f-bfa2e67aaa76.html">Striking Thorn Creek Basin workers to return Friday  NWI Times   ...A two-month picket by Teamsters members of the Thorn Creek Basin Sanitary District will come to an end this week...