The Protecting America's Workers Act

Tomorrow, workers and safety advocates from around the world will observe Workers Memorial Day—a day to honor the thousands of workers who are killed or hurt on the job each year.

The day of recognition comes only days after a New York Times article revealed how the Bush administration has placed worker safety “in the hands of industry.” Under President Bush, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) “has killed dozens of existing and proposed regulations and delayed adopting others,” the Times said. Since Bush became president, “OSHA has issued the fewest significant standards in its history, public health experts say. It has imposed only one major safety rule. The only significant health standard it issued was ordered by a federal court.”

Government records show that in 2005, more than 6,800 workplace-related deaths occurred, along with 4.2 million injuries and illnesses. Labor leaders and health experts say those numbers significantly undercount the problem, in part because the Bush administration has reduced the categories of recognized injuries and because many dangerous jobs are now performed by undocumented workers who do not report problems.

You can do something about it. Tell our senators and representative to co-sponsor the Protecting America’s Workers Act, S. 1244 and H.R. 2049. The bill would expand OSHA protections to millions of uncovered workers, enhance whistleblower protections and substantially increase penalties for serious, willful and criminal safety violations.

You can send an e-mail to Senator Pryor, Senator Lincoln, and Rep. Boozman by clicking here.

Candlelight Vigil in Memory of Workers

The Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center is remembering and honoring Arkansas workers who have been killed on the job and those who have been injured by accidents or diseases in the workplace. They are sponsoring a Candlelight Vigil on Tuesday, May 1st, at 8:00 p.m. in Murphy Park, Springdale, and they invite everyone to join in memorializing the Arkansas workers who have lost their lives or given their health on the job this past year.

This will be the main public event for Workers Memorial Day in Northwest Arkansas. It is an opportunity to join with other working families and give tribute to those workers who came before us and struggled for justice.

For additional information about the vigil or to learn more about the Northwest Arkansas Workers Justice Center, call 759-8015, drop by their office at 2200 W. Sunset in Springdale, or email Rachel Townsend at rtownsend@nwawjc.org

Local 965 Has Questions for Chancellor

In response to the Report from the Financial Advisory Committee to the UA Faculty Senate on April 18th documenting that women faculty members are paid less than their male colleagues at every academic rank, the following letter was sent to UA Chancellor John A. White. AFSCME Local 965 is very concerned about the findings in the Report, and we are seeking additional information as well as offering our support in efforts to correct current salary inequities.
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Dear Chancellor White:

Today is Equal Pay Day. The date—Tuesday, April 24th—symbolizes the fact that on average, a woman must work for a year and four months to earn the same wages as a man receives in a year.

The Equal Pay Act of 1963 made it illegal to pay women less than men for work that is “substantially equal,” unless the pay difference is because of legitimate factors such as seniority or experience, but wage discrimination based on sex still exists in the workplace. Now, 44 years later, a Report last week from the Financial Advisory Committee to the Faculty Senate revealed that the wage gap still exists for women faculty members--at all ranks from Instructor to Full Professor--at the University of Arkansas and that it is actually increasing.

The wage gap for women faculty members appears especially egregious at the Assistant Professor level that includes most hires within the last seven years, where seniority and experience are not significant factors. Assuming that a female Assistant Professor hired at 30 years of age remained at the University of Arkansas until retirement at age 65, the present $11,000 salary gap could be projected at $385,000 by time of retirement, even if women faculty received raises equivalent to their male colleagues.

The members of Local 965, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, representing employees at the University of Arkansas oppose sex discrimination in employment and strongly support equal pay for equal work. We were both surprised and shocked to see the documentation of salary discrepancy that exists between male and female faculty on our campus. We are committed to working with you and your administration to address and eliminate this gender-based salary gap among the faculty at the University of Arkansas .

Equal pay is not only about basic fairness; it’s also about basic family economics. The earnings of many of these working women are essential to supporting a family. For every dollar lost because of the salary discrepancy, that is one dollar less that our female faculty members have to spend on groceries, housing, child care, retirement contributions, and other family expenses--$11,000 less for female Assistant Professors.

We would be very interested in your response to the Report of the Faculty Senate Financial Advisory Committee, especially:

(1) (1) Are the data presented in the Report reasonably accurate, and, if not, can the administration provide more accurate data?

(2) (2) If the Report presents reasonably accurate data, how can you explain the significant salary gap between male and female faculty members?

(3) (3) If the Report presents reasonably accurate data, who was responsible for approving the initial salaries that resulted in the differential salary gap between male and female faculty?

(4) (4) If the Report presents reasonably accurate data, how can you explain the recent increases in the salary gap between male and female faculty?

(5) (5) Of the 28 upper level administrators noted in the Report, how many of those positions are held by women in each group?

(6) (6) Of the 28 upper level administrators noted in the Report, what are the average salaries of male and female administrators in each group?

Thank you for your time in reading this message and considering our questions. We look forward to receiving your responses to our questions and concerns and to working with you to achieve equal pay for women and fair pay for everyone on our campus.

Sincerely,

Stephen Smith
President
AFSCME Local 965

Equal Pay Day

April 24th is Equal Pay Day, declared such by the American Association of University Women which strongly supports efforts to close the persistent wage gap between men and women. AFSCME Local 965 joins their effort to remind the country and our leaders that equity is still an issue, and equal pay is essential in eliminating wage discrimination.

New research released today by the American Association of University Women Educational Foundation shows that just one year out of college, women working full time already earn less than their male colleagues, even when they work in the same field. Ten years after graduation, the pay gap widens. This is not good news for UA women students.

In the report, Behind the Pay Gap, the AAUW Educational Foundation found that just one year after college graduation, women earn only 80 percent of what their male counterparts earn. Ten years after graduation, women fall further behind, earning only 69 percent of what men earn. Even after controlling for hours, occupation, parenthood, and other factors known to affect earnings, the research indicates that one-quarter of the pay gap remains unexplained and is likely due to sex discrimination.

The reality of wage discrimination against women at the University of Arkansas was made abundantly clear last week in a report to the Faculty Senate. Women faculty members make less than their male colleagues at every academic rank--from instructor to full professor. Among faculty hired in recent years at the Assistant Professor level, women faculty make only 83 cents for every dollar paid to male faculty.

This practice of sex discrimination must stop. The UA Administration owes women faculty an immediate explanation of why they are paid less, and Chancellor White should move immediately to assure pay equity for women.

Workers' Memorial Day - April 28th

The first Workers Memorial Day was observed in 1989. April 28 was chosen because it is the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the day of a similar remembrance in Canada. Every year, people in hundreds of communities and at worksites recognize workers who have been killed or injured on the job. Trade unionists around the world now mark April 28 as an International Day of Mourning.

Decades of struggle by workers and their unions have resulted in significant improvements in working conditions. But the toll of workplace injuries, illnesses and deaths remains enormous. Each year, thousands of workers are killed and millions more are injured or diseased because of their jobs.

On April 28, AFSCME Local 965 and the unions of the AFL-CIO observe Workers Memorial Day to remember those who have suffered and died on the job and to renew the fight for safe workplaces. We will fight to make workers’ issues a priority and to keep and create good jobs in this country. We will fight for the freedom of workers to form unions and, through their unions, to speak out and bargain for safe jobs, respect and a better future for our families. We will demand that the country fulfill the promise of safe jobs for all workers. It’s time.

The theme of this year’s Worker Memorial Day is “Good Jobs. Safe Jobs. It’s Time.” We urge our members to get involved and organize actions, activities, or observances in our campus workplaces and our communities.

The Arkansas AFL-CIO, the UALR Labor Education Project, and the Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice will sponsor a public ceremony at Riverfront Park in North Little Rock. Rev. Steve Copley of Arkansas Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice will preside, and we will be reading the names of those Arkansas workers who have died on the job this past year. We have found that families of union members who died on the job do appreciate being asked to participate. They can't always come, but when they do, they find the ceremony dignified and consoling. If you know someone who has been hurt on the job or a family of someone who lost their life on the job, please ask them to join us.

Curb the Clutter -- May 5th

Litter is a problem for communities of all sizes, and only with the help of all of its citizens can a community hope to keep their environment clean and beautiful. AFSCME Local 965 is helping to take collective responsibility for our environment by participating in the City of Fayetteville’s Curb the Clutter program. This program provides us with the opportunity to perform a worthwhile community service that enhances the public image and natural beauty of our campus and our community.

AFSCME Local 965 members have adopted a section of Razorback Road from 6th Street to Cleveland for the purpose of litter control, to increase public awareness of the monumental task of managing Arkansas' rights-of-way, and to promote public involvement. Not only does roadside litter detract from our State's natural beauty, it costs Arkansas taxpayers over $2 million annually to pick up. In 2004, more than 85 tons of litter was collected from city streets in Fayetteville. The Curb the Clutter programs provide a mechanism for our union members to address this problem and become personally involved in improving our campus, our community, and our environment.

Our next pick-up date is scheduled for 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 5^th. Meet at the physical plant parking lot on Razorback Road. Safety vests and litter bags will be provided for all participants.

Local 965 Officers for 2007-2008

AFSCME Local 965 held elections for officers, executive board, and trustees at the regular monthly meeting on April 19th. The following members listed below were elected to serve you for the upcoming year.

The Local officers have a deep sense of responsibility to the entire membership, and they work diligently to ensure that your interests are protected. They attend regular seminars and workshops, keeping up to date on the various issues, laws, and changes that have an impact on our members. The Local officers have an earnest desire to help our University employee members change things for the better, something we've been doing since 1963. They work for legislation to protect members' rights, and they articulate the needs and interests of University employees that are so often overlooked or ignored by administrators.

They are always available to answer any question, help with any problem, or assist in any way they can. The officers of Local 0965 firmly believe that the members are our first priority. You are not outsiders in our union business; you are our union’s business. We have given them an opportunity to serve us for the upcoming year, so please let them know how they can help you.

Canfield, Randy (Trustee-2008)

Hill, Paul (Executive Board-2)

Ferguson-Rivers, Fillan (Executive Board-4)

Jongewaard, Joni L (Trustee 2010)

Jordan, Lioneld (Delegate to Council 38)

McNully, Bruce W (Treasurer)

Martin, Betty (Vice President)

Morris, Dwight (Executive Board-3)

Nance, Cynthia (Executive Board-1)

Sims, Theresa (Secretary)

Smith, Stephen (President)

West, Larry D (Trustees-2009)

Home Foreclosures Up 47% in March

Foreclosure filings in the United States jumped 47 percent last month from a year ago as the housing slump continued to take its toll on homeowners, with more than 149, 000 filings posted in March. In Arkansas, 505 familes faced home foreclosures in March.

The number of owners making late payments on mortgages is at a four-year high and many borrowers are unable to refinance their debt because the value of their homes has stagnated or fallen. With the failure or sale of 50 subprime mortgage companies, which provide loans to people with poor or incomplete credit, there’s also less money available for lending.

“Foreclosure activity shifted into a higher gear in the first two months of 2007, and March’s numbers continued that trend,” said James Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. Nationally, one of every 775 households moved into the foreclosure process, which can range from default notices for late payment to auction sales and bank repossessions. Banks typically start the process after mortgage payments are 90 days late.

Families in Poverty Surge Under Bush

Poverty in America is much more widespread than has been previously acknowledged. According to the Census Bureau, nearly 37 million Americans — 12.6 percent of the population — were living in poverty in 2005. That means that four years into an economic expansion, the percentage of Americans defined as poor was higher than at the bottom of the last recession in late 2001, when it was 11.7 percent. But that’s not the worst of it.

The measurement criteria recommended by the National Academy of Sciences show a 2005 poverty rate of 14.1 percent. That works out to 41.3 million poor Americans, 4.4 million more than were officially counted.

Lawmakers must listen to what the new numbers are telling them. They must also realize that improvements in antipoverty programs — such as expanding the earned income tax credit for the working poor and providing better early education — are some of the best investments the nation can make. And we need economic policies and budget priorities that consider jobs for American workers more important than tax cuts for corporate executives.

April Monthly Meeting -- April 19th

The regular monthly meeting of AFSCME Local 965 will be held at 4:15 on Thursday, April 19th, at Jim's Razorback Pizza on West 6th Street. In addition to other regular business, we will be electing officers for the coming year, so please try to attend and make your voice heard in choosing our local union leadership.

Pizza will be provided. Beverages on your own.

Bring a new member! We will have membership cards available.

Arkansas Legislative Wrap-Up

The recent legislative session can be considered a success for working families and for AFSCME Local 965 and District Council 38. Thanks to each of our members who joined this fight for working families and contacted our legislators.

Here’s how our local legislators voted on the AFSCME Local 965's ten targeted bills affecting working families:

Rep. Lindsley Smith (D-Fayetteville) 100%

Rep. Jim House (D-Fayetteville) 70%

Sen. Sue Madison (D-Fayetteville) 70%

Rep. Marilyn Edwards (D-Fayetteville) 60%

Rep. Mike Kenney (R-Siloam Springs) 50%

Rep. Eric Harris (R-Springdale) 50%

Sen. Bill Pritchard (R-Elkins) 50%

Rep. Mark Martin (R-Prairie Grove) 50%

Rep. Jon Woods (R-Springdale) 40%

Of the 16 bills on which we took a position and contacted legislators, 10 became law—7 that we supported and 3 that we opposed. Six additional bills that we supported faced strong opposition from business interests and did not make it out of committee.

New Laws Supported by AFSCME 965

ACT 1028 Paid leave for UA employees to participate in child’s educational activities

ACT 110 Cuts state sales tax on groceries from 6% to 3%

ACT 1205 Alternative dispute resolution for public employee grievances

ACT 195 Provides state income tax relief for low income families

ACT 551 Creates Workforce Service Training Trust Fund

ACT 1030 Need-based college scholarships for low income students

ACT 1599 Assures solvency of workers’ Death and Total Disability Trust Fund

New Laws Opposed by AFSCME 965

ACT 707 Freezes minimum wage for tipped employees at $2.62

ACT 545 Exempts numerous jobs from state minimum wage

ACT 1415 Abolishes Workers Comp Second Injury Fund

Other Bills Supported by AFSCME that were not enacted

SB248 ( Madison ) Regular and uniform wage payment policies

HB1204 (D Johnson) Provide UA employees defined benefit retirement plan

HB2772 (Smith)Provide family maternity leave for new employees

HB2532 (Smith) Protect Worker Comp claimants from retaliatory discrimination

HB2533 (Smith) Provide Worker Comp coverage of mental illness or injury

HB2247 (Smith) Allow city zoning for affordable workforce housing

Spring Picnic this Sunday

The AFSCME Spring Picnic for UA faculty and staff will be this Sunday, April 15th, 10:00-2:00, at Agri Park (North Garland).


Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, and drinks provided by AFSCME Local 0965. Bring the whole family for an afternoon of food, fun, and fellowship with your union brothers and sisters!

Open to all UA employees, not just members!! Bring your FAMILY!! Games!! Food!!