The Lady Is a Leader! AFL-CIO Names Jeter Year’s ‘Outstanding Trade Unionist’

The Lady Is a Leader

AFL-CIO Names Jeter Year’s

‘Outstanding Trade Unionist’

The Metropolitan Washington Council AFL-CIO presented Jackie Jeter, president of ATU Local 689, the JC Turner Award for Outstanding Trade Unionist of the Year at its annual dinner at Washington, DC’s Omni Shoreham Hotel on Saturday, March 12. Now in her second term as president, she led the local through a run of challenges, including the 2009 fatal Red Line metro crash, which killed nine and injured at least 75 more.  In accepting the prestigious honor, Jeter acknowledged the hard work and dedication of her local, which represents the nearly 11,000 current and former transit worker members who keep this nation’s second busiest system moving.  For more on the labor evening, see http://www.dclabor.org/ht/display/ArticleDetails/i/91060.

Lessons from Japan: US Leaders, Forget Special Interests and Protect Our Future

Lessons from Japan: US Leaders, Forget Special Interests and Protect Our Future

A USA Today article brings attention to an important message from the earthquake/tsunami disaster in Japan: the infrastructures in many earthquake-prone cities in this country are not strong enough to withstand large-scale natural disasters. As our nation’s leaders continue to engage in a tug-of-war over tax cuts for the wealthy and limiting rights for union workers,  systems that will protect our schools, dams and nuclear plants and create jobs continue to take a back seat. It’s time to turn our attention away from special interests and to focus on proactive planning that will prepare a holistically secure future for all Americans.

Highlighted Clip for Monday, March 14, 2011:

"Japanese earthquake sends sobering message for USA"
Of all the disasters that can wreak havoc, earthquakes stand out for not being entirely natural. To a farmer in a field, a quake is a strange and frightening occurrence, but probably not life threatening. In cities, however, the man-made structures that provide shelter from other disasters can turn into a lethal enemy. Add a tsunami, and farmer and city dweller alike could be swamped.

WHC spent $6 million to replace striking nurses: Wouldn’t it be cheaper to negotiate agreements before strikes?

WHC spent $6 million to replace striking nurses: Wouldn’t it be cheaper to negotiate agreements before strikes?

According to the Washington Hospital Center, it cost the hospital $6 million to replace striking nurses with 600 temporary hires, including paying for additional security for the five-day strike.  After months of stalled negotiations, the nurses planned a one day strike for Friday, March 4; management, however, locked striking nurses out additional four days, preventing their return until Wednesday, March 9. Relations between nurses and management have been tense since the February 2010 blizzard last year, when 18 nurses were fired after they did not show up for work.  Only 9 them were reinstated.

Who really suffers when management and labor can’t negotiate?

Highlighted Clip for Friday, March 11, 2011:

"Nurses' strike cost Washington Hospital Center $6 million"

Washington Hospital Center spent about $6 million to hire 600 temporary nurses, beef up security and cover other costs during last week's nurses' strike and subsequent lockout at the region's largest hospital, hospital officials said.

Illinois Governor Slashes the Death Penalty

Illinois Governor Slashes the Death Penalty

Following a grueling debate about the risk of executing an innocent person, Illinois has finally moved to eradicate its use of capital punishment, making it the 16^th state in the nation without a death penalty.

In light of the fact that 20 people sentenced to death in the state had their cases overturned after evidence proved them to be innocent, Governor Pat Quinn – a long-time supporter of the death penalty – could no longer support the measure.

Question: Whether guilty as charged or not, do you believe that the government should have the power to end a person’s life?

Highlighted Clip for Thursday, March 10, 2011:

"Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn abolishes death penalty, clears death row"

 After two decades of debate about the risk of executing an innocent person, Illinois abolished the death penalty Wednesday, a decision that was certain to fuel renewed calls for other states to do the same.

Camden Childhood Obesity Rate Tops National Average

Camden Childhood Obesity Rate Tops National Average

Although obesity in children has reached epidemic proportions nationally, in Camden, NJ, the rate of obesity among children ages 3-19 is a staggering 40 percent. In response, the Camden-based Campbell Soup Company in partnership with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the New Jersey Partnership for Healthy Kids, Food Trust and others, today pledged $10 million to dramatically decrease childhood obesity and hunger in Camden in the next decade.  The 10-year strategy includes providing increased access to affordable, healthy food; expanding availability of and participation in physical activity and physical education; and increasing nutrition and health education.  

Highlighted Clip for Wednesday, March 9, 2011:

"Campbell Soup Company Unveils Ten-Year Plan to Reduce Childhood Obesity and Hunger in Camden"

Campbell Soup Company (NYSE:CPB - News) today unveiled a plan to reduce childhood obesity and hunger in Camden, Campbell’s home since 1869. The company will invest $10 million over ten years with the goal of reducing childhood obesity and hunger in Camden’s 23,000 children by 50 percent.

No Smoking in PG-Rated Films: A Valid Argument or Just Blowing Smoke?

No Smoking in PG-Rated Films: A Valid Argument or Just Blowing Smoke?

California anti-smoking advocates are fuming over the number of times characters in the newly released film, Rango, lit a cigarette. The film, which grossed $38 million in its opening weekend (March 4^th), includes at least 60 instances of smoking, according to anti-smoking group, Breathe California. With all of the effort that has been put into keeping kids away from tobacco, health advocates are concerned that the film, with its primarily youth audience, poses a major setback by promoting smoking as an acceptable norm. Proponents of the film see no harm. Would you take your child to see a movie if you knew the characters in it were smokers? Do you think smoking in films causes young viewers to want to try cigarettes?

Highlighted Clip for Tuesday, March 7, 2011:

"PG-rated 'Rango' has anti-smoking advocates fuming"

The film, which opened Friday and topped the weekend box office with a gross of $38 million, includes at least 60 instances of characters smoking, said Kori Titus, CEO of the Sacramento-based non-profit Breathe California.

Hey Walmart—Try a Little “Conscious Capitalism”

Hey Walmart—Try a Little “Conscious Capitalism”

Putting employees before profits (and even customers) is very profitable.  Just ask Container Store co-founder Kip Tindell, who not only boasts excellent profits this year for the 50-store chain but actually exceeded promised performance in the first year of the recession.  Although Tindell gives the retail industry as a whole a ‘C minus’, Tindell’s peers give him an ‘A’.  The National Retail Federation awarded the retailer and his stores this year’s Gold Medal, the most coveted award in retail, given to individuals who have served the industry with distinction and achieved a national reputation for excellence.

According to Tindell, retail success comes from balancing the needs of all stakeholders - employees, suppliers, customers, community and investors. A business has to have a purpose other than profits in order to achieve profitability. Under “conscious capitalism,” the shareholder isn't Number 1.  In the case of the Container Store, the employee comes first.

Walmart certainly could use a lesson in this refreshing approach.  For more about the Container Store strategy, see www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7358608n.