After several failed efforts going back over a decade the Somerville Board of Alderman adopted a Responsible Employer Ordinance on Thursday June 12th. The REO protects working families and taxpayers from unscrupulous contractors requiring that contractors provide health care and have state certified apprentice programs in order to bid on municipal construction projects. The victory was the result of a tremendous partnership between the GBLC and the Metropolitan Boston Building Trades Council.

By Richard Rogers and Marjorie Decker

Cambridge - We are in a recession, and all signs indicate things will only get worse. So what does President Bush insist upon? A "free trade agreement" with a country notorious for rampant human rights and workers' rights abuses.

Never mind that the Bush trade agenda contributed to a trade deficit of $712 billion in 2007. Never mind the loss of three million U.S. manufacturing jobs during the Bush presidency. Never mind that we are losing ground in advanced technology products, autos, even aerospace.

IBEW Launches COMCAST Organizing Drive: If you have relatives, neighbors or friends that work for COMCAST the IBEW would like to talk with them. The IBEW has initiated a nation wide campaign to bring the benefits of unionization to COMCAST workers. GBLC executive-board member Gerry Leary from IBEW Local 2222 is leading this effort in Eastern Massachusetts. Brother Leary can be reached at 617-929-6000.

UPS Freight Workers Join Teamsters: Hundreds of UPS freight workers across New England recently ratified their first union contract and became Teamsters. The former OverNite workers had fought valiantly but unsuccessfully for union representation for many years. UPS freight workers have been joining Teamsters locals across the nation thanks to a card check recognition clause the Teamsters negotiated as part of its contract with UPS. Sean O’Brien President of Teamster Local 25, and a GBLC board member served as chief negotiator for the Teamsters in New England. Congratulations!

The State House steps will serve as the venue for the annual Workers Memorial Day tribute, which recognizes workers who lost their lives on the job in the prior year. The GBLC is co-sponsoring the event along with MassCosh and the Massachusetts AFL-CIO on Tuesday April 29th beginning at noon at the State House. This annual event has received significant media coverage in past years and provided moving testimony for the need to enforce occupational health and safety laws and to enact tough new standards. The event is scheduled to end at 1:15 and everyone is welcome to attend.

The historic campaign to organize Boston’s teaching hospitals, spearheaded by SEIU 1199 and the Area Trades Council, a bargaining coalition comprised of IBEW Local 103, the New England Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Local 877, Painters DC 35 and Plumbers Local 12, is gaining momentum. A rally to demonstrate worker and public support to bring unionization and a better life to Boston hospital workers has been set for Thursday May 8.

The demonstration and march will kick-off at 4 PM at the park at the corner of Brookline Avenue and Park Drive across from the Landmark

The Greater Boston Labor Council has partnered with the Boston Building Trades Council in seeking adoption of a Responsible Employer Ordinance for the City of Somerville. REO’s require contractors that bid on municipal construction projects to provide health care coverage to their employees and document that they have access to certified apprentice training.

On March 26th a strong contingent of union leaders and Somerville residents testified in support of the REO at a hearing of the Somerville Board of Alderman’s legislative committee. Representatives of the Somerville Chamber of Commerce and the Association of Builders and Contractors, the anti-union trade association, spoke in opposition.

The North Shore Labor Council, the GBLC’s sister council to the north is holding its 10th annual education conference on Sunday March 30th. ‘Building Labor in 2008: Winning Back America and Building Our Movement “ is the conference theme. It will be held at the Breed Junior High School in Lynn. For more information about the conference contact NSLC organizer Rosa Blumenfeld at 781-595-2535.

LABOR GUILD Classes start on March 10th. A wide variety of labor classes taught by a strong faculty will once again be on tap in the Labor Guild’s spring offerings. To find out more contact the Labor Guild at 781-340-7887.

GBLC President Louis Mandarini has appointed a committee to generate grassroots activity behind Governor Patrick’s proposal to bring casino gambling to the Commonwealth. Representative’s from the following unions are involved in the Committee: IBEW 103, IBEW 123, Fireman and Oilers/SEIU, Laborers Local 22, New England Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Local 877, Teamster Local 25, UAW District 9-A, UFCW Local 1445 and UNITE/HERE. This powerful group of unions is promoting the job creation and revenue aspects of the casino proposal and urging lawmakers to support the proposal. 

On Wed February 27th the GBLC convened a meeting in Cambridge City Hall with new Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons. A strong contingent of unionists attended the meeting in which a broad array of issues including public employee collective bargaining and the new ‘Green Building’ initiative being rolled out in Cambridge were discussed. The GBLC will be scheduling regular meetings with Mayors throughout the year.

A capacity crowd of nearly 350 unionists, lawmakers and administration officials attended the Greater Boston Labor Council’s annual legislative breakfast on Monday March 3rd. The venue for the event was the rooftop ballroom of the OMNI Parker House in downtown Boston.

Among the speakers were Governor Deval Patrick, House Ways and Means chair Robert DeLeo and Senator Steve Tolman.

GBLC President Louis Mandarini opened the breakfast by issuing a challenge to lawmakers and the administration to find revenues to meet the fiscal problems being faced by communities across the Commonwealth. GBLC Executive Secretary-Treasurer Rich Rogers called for several revenue measures including giving localities the power to assess meals and hospitality taxes, closing of corporate tax loopholes and adoption of Governor Patrick’s destination resort casino proposal. Rogers also spoke out against the Governor’s proposal to shift health care costs on the backs of the state workforce.