MSHA reminds mining industry about miners’ right to make hazardous condition complaints, protections against discrimination - 9/4/2010
ARLINGTON, Va. —The U.S. Department of Labor's Mine Safety and Health Administration today announced the release of two new program information bulletins pertaining to the rights of miners who make hazardous condition complaints and request inspections, as well as miners' protections against discrimination.
MSHA decided to distribute these guidelines based on testimony delivered in May during a House Education and Labor Committee hearing in Beckley, W.Va., as well as testimony delivered during recent Senate hearings. Statements from family members of miners who died in the April 5, 2010, explosion at Upper Big Branch Mine indicated that workers who had expressed concerns over safety conditions existing prior to the deadly blast feared retaliation by mine management.
Section 103(g)(1) of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 provides that a miner or miners' representative has the right to obtain an immediate MSHA inspection if there are reasonable grounds to believe that an imminent danger, a violation of the Mine Act, or a violation of a mandatory safety or health standard exists. The agency will conduct a special inspection to determine if a violation or danger exists, issue a citation or order as appropriate, and take all reasonable steps to maintain and assure the confidentiality of the complainant. Read More at United States Department of Labor
Beacon Solar Energy project OKed; first solar thermal project approved in 20 years-8/29/2010
For the first time in 20 years, state energy regulators have approved construction on a solar thermal farm.
Hi-Tech Rechargeable Batteries Developed For Military - 8/26/2010
Scientists reported progress in using a common virus to develop improved materials for high-performance, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that could be woven into clothing to power portable electronic devices.
They discussed development of the new materials for the battery's cathode, or positive electrode, at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), being held here this week.
These new power sources could in the future be woven into fabrics such as uniforms or ballistic vests, and poured or sprayed into containers of any size and shape, said Mark Allen, Ph.D., who presented the report. He is a postdoc in Angela Belcher's group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Read More at Energy-Daily.com
How Ford and GM Turned a Corner- 8/21/2010
Behold the Ford Fiesta. The newest addition to Ford's fleet is cute and perky, with solid handling and gas mileage that will make greeniacs grin. Japanese automakers have been building quality subcompacts for years, and while vehicles like the Honda Fit, Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, and Nissan Versa typically earn strong reviews, they don't usually mark a crowning corporate achievement.
For Ford, however, it's different. For years, the No. 2 Detroit automaker turned out bland compacts and subcompacts, while focusing heavily on trucks and SUVs that were far more profitable. Neglecting the bottom end of its lineup nibbled away at Ford's customer base, then became a full-blown crisis when gas prices hit $4 per gallon in 2008 and buyers shunned the big vehicles that Ford was overdependent on. The new Fiesta—ranked first out of 31 vehicles on U.S. News's list of affordable small cars—shows that Ford got the message and finally stopped papering over the holes in its lineup. The prodigal automaker has returned to the fold. Read More on usnews.com
25 Wind Farms Views from Google Earth Video - 8/18/2010
Scientists Outline a 20-Year Master Plan for the Global Renaissance of Nuclear Energy - 8/15/2010
ScienceDaily (Aug. 12, 2010) — Scientists outline a 20-year master plan for the global renaissance of nuclear energy that could see nuclear reactors with replaceable parts, portable mini-reactors, and ship-borne reactors supplying countries with clean energy, in research published August 12 in the journal Science.
The scientists, from Imperial College London and the University of Cambridge, suggest a two-stage plan in their review paper that could see countries with existing nuclear infrastructure replacing or extending the life of nuclear power stations, followed by a second phase of global expansion in the industry by the year 2030. Read More
Charcoal Takes Some Heat Off Global Warming: Biochar Can Offset 1.8 Billion Metric Tons of Carbon Emissions Annually - 8/12/2010
As much as 12 percent of the world's human-caused greenhouse gas emissions could be sustainably offset by producing biochar, a charcoal-like substance made from plants and other organic materials. That's more than what could be offset if the same plants and materials were burned to generate energy, concludes a study published August 10 in the journal Nature Communications. Read More at Science Daily
Northern California’s Butte College Set to Become First Grid Positive College in the U.S.- 8/9/2010
By May 2011, the community college in Oroville will be producing more clean energy from sustainable on-site solar power than it uses.
The college recently received approval from its Board of Trustees to complete its Phase III solar project, which adds approximately 15,000 solar photovoltaic panels—or 2.7 MW DC—to its current 1.85 MW or 10,000 solar panels – which will ultimately make the college the largest solar producing college in the world – for a system total of 4.55 MW DC of clean renewable energy generation capability. The college will generate over 6.381 million kW hours per year – enough electricity to power over 9,200 average-sized homes, or the equivalent of removing over 6,000 passenger cars from the roadways. Read More
As Congress Delays the Energy Debate, Should Algae Green Up its Pitch? - 8/5/2010
If the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico has a silver lining, it would have to be that it drew enormous attention to our dependence on fossil fuels and the lengths that our industry leaders will go to extract them from our planet. Environmental and renewable energy issues were brought to the forefront of daily news broadcasts for all to see and debate. Finally, there was a hint of momentum building for appropriate energy legislation to curtail harmful emissions and set standards to guide a safe transition to a new styled economy over the next two decades.
At least that was the consensus thinking over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, everyone forgot that this is an election year. Before the gusher in the gulf was capped, energy lobbyists were already singing the praises of the industry on national news, reminding everyone that 10% of the jobs in this country are energy related....Read More at Green Energy News
Xcel Energy Awards Global Nuclear Fuel Contract to Ensure Reliable Fuel Supply for Monticello Nuclear Power Plant - 7/28/2010
WILMINGTON, N.C.—July 28, 2010—With more utilities seeking to boost the output of their existing nuclear power plants to generate more low-carbon electricity, Global Nuclear Fuel-Americas (GNF) is manufacturing more efficient fuel technology to help operators achieve their energy and emissionsreduction goals.
Xcel Energy is the latest U.S. utility to address its future nuclear fuel supply needs by selecting GNF to continue providing reliable fuel and reload-engineering services to the company’s Monticello Nuclear Generating Plant. The plant is located about 50 miles northwest of Minneapolis, where Xcel Energy is headquartered.
Based in Wilmington, N.C., GNF is a GE-led (NYSE:GE) joint venture with Hitachi Ltd. and Toshiba Corporation. GNF is the nuclear industry’s leading fabricator and supplier of boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel and services. Read More
On the Surface, Gulf Oil Spill Is Vanishing Fast; Concerns Stay - 7/28/2010
John David Mercer/Press-Register, via Associated Press
Though much of the oil is clearing, on Monday it could still be found in Dauphin Island, Ala.
The oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico appears to be dissolving far more rapidly than anyone expected, a piece of good news that raises tricky new questions about how fast the government should scale back its response to the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
The immense patches of surface oil that covered thousands of square miles of the gulf after the April 20 oil rig explosion are largely gone, though sightings of tar balls and emulsified oil continue here and there.
Reporters flying over the area Sunday spotted only a few patches of sheen and an occasional streak of thicker oil, and radar images taken since then suggest that these few remaining patches are quickly breaking down in the warm surface waters of the gulf. Read More
Go Inside a Wind Turbine Video - 7/19/10
Towards Nanowire Solar Cells With a 65-Percent Efficiency - 7/15/2010
ScienceDaily - Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/) researchers want to develop solar cells with an efficiency of over 65 percent by means of nanotechnology. In Southern Europe and North Africa these new solar cells can generate a substantial portion of the European demand for electricity. The Dutch government reserves EUR 1.2 million for the research.
The current thin-film solar cells (type III/V) have an efficiency that lies around 40 percent, but they are very expensive and can only be applied as solar panels on satellites. By using mirror systems that focus one thousand times they can now also be deployed on earth in a cost-effective manner. Read More
Cell Phone Chargers to go Green - 7/13/2010
Today cell-phones have become an integral part of our life and are the most used mode of communication. More prevalent the use of cell-phone, more imperative is the need to curtail eco-pollution that emanates from the huge number of still-in-use and out-of-use cell phones. Toxic products like lead, mercury, cadmium and other materials pose a real threat to our ecosystem. Handset manufactures, recognizing the need of the hour, are showing great interest and emphasis on manufacturing not only environmentally-friendly handsets but also eco-friendly chargers. Read More
Solar Powered Plane Lands Safely - 7/8/2010
Solar Impulse project is meant to show the potential of alternative, renewable energy sources.
In an effort to redefine the limits of renewable energy, a Swiss research group said their solar powered aircraft successfully completed an overnight flight Thursday thanks to its ability to store energy gathered during daylight hours. The four-engine Solar Impulse, whose wingspan greatly exceeds its fuselage length for maximum lift, took off from Switzerland's Payerne airbase early Wednesday and returned at dawn Thursday. Pilot Andre Borschberg flew the craft to an altitude of 8,654 meters while achieving a top ground speed of 68 knots.
"It was unbelievable, success better than we expected," Borschberg, a Swiss air force veteran, told Reuters television. "We almost thought to make it longer, but we demonstrated what we wanted to demonstrate so they made me come back," he said. Read More
New Super Bacterium Doubles Hydrogen Gas Production - 6/27/2010
ScienceDaily (Apr. 14, 2010) — Hydrogen gas is today used primarily for manufacturing chemicals, but a bright future is predicted for it as a vehicle fuel in combination with fuel cells. In order to produce hydrogen gas in a way that is climate neutral, bacteria are added to forestry or household waste, using a method similar to biogas production. One problem with this production method is that hydrogen exchange is low, i.e. the raw materials generate little hydrogen gas. Read More
Testing Carbon Dioxide as a Manufacturing Material- 6/24/2010
If only we could do what trees do. Trees take carbon dioxide out of the air and, under the power of sunlight, combine it with water to make cellulose while releasing excess oxygen for us to breathe. Nice of those trees to provide us with fresh air. Give them a hug. In Germany, researchers from Bayer MaterialScience and Bayer Technology Services are working together with RWE Power (Germany’s largest power generator) and academic partner RWTH Aachen University on the use of carbon dioxide as a raw material in manufacturing. The project, with EUR 4.5 million ($ 5.6 million) in investment from the German government, is called “Dream Production” project. “Dream,” I guess, because carbon dioxide would become a useful material (no longer a waste product) as well as helping to save energy while it’s being sequestered. Read More
The President's Energy Breakthrough - 6/22/2010
The story line reads like a Hollywood thriller. But it isn’t. It’s mostly real. And like all good thrillers there’s a happy ending. It goes something like this:
While lax government regulators look in the other direction, a greedy oil company shortcuts a sensitive and dangerous drilling operation in the Gulf of Mexico. The well blows. Tired, poorly maintained equipment fails to stop the gusher. The drilling rig explodes into flames. Most escape, but nearly a dozen sadly don’t survive. Read More
The World's Highest Wind Turbine FL 2500 - 6/16/10
In 2009, the union membership rate--the percent of wage and salary workers who were members of a union--was 12.3 percent, essentially unchanged from 12.4 percent a year earlier, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. The number of wage and salary workers belonging to unions declined by 771,000 to 15.3 million, largely reflecting the overall drop in employment due to the recession. In 1983, the first year for which comparable union data are available, the union membership rate was 20.1 percent, and there were 17.7 million union workers.
The data on union membership were collected as part of the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a monthly sample survey of about 60,000 households that obtains information on employment and unemploy- ment among the nation's civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. Click to Learn More at Bureau of Labor Statistics
Michael Winship: To Labor, Mott’s apples are rotten to the core - 8/29/2010
Among the many TV ad jingles sadly cluttering my brain since childhood is the one that went, “The finest apples from Apple Land/Make Mott’s Apple Sauce taste grand!”
A branchful of the juicy, singing fruit would belt it out at the end of commercials that urged us to use applesauce to accompany meats, slather onto bread, spoon on top of ice cream, spackle drywall, you name it.
The Mott’s commercials were especially meaningful to those of us who grew up in Apple Land — western New York, not far from the town of Williamson, where workers at a Mott’s factory have been out on strike since May 23. Whether the members of Local 220 of the Retail Wholesale and Department Store Union win or lose could play a role in determining the future of organized labor — and the vanishing American middle class. Read More at Mt. Shasta News
Right to Work for Less - 8/26/2010
To set the record (and the name) straight, right to work for less doesn’t guarantee any rights. In fact, by weakening unions and collective bargaining, it destroys the best job security protection that exists: the union contract. Meanwhile, it allows workers to pay nothing and get all the benefits of union membership. Right to work laws say unions must represent all eligible employees, whether they pay dues or not. This forces unions to use their time and members’ dues money to provide union benefits to free riders who are not willing to pay their fair share.
Right to work laws lower wages for everyone. The average worker in a right to work state makes about $5,333 a year less than workers in other states ($35,500 compared with $30,167).[1] Weekly wages are $72 greater in free-bargaining states than in right to work states ($621 versus $549).[2] Working families in states without right to work laws have higher wages and benefit from healthier tax bases that improve their quality of life.
Federal law already protects workers who don’t want to join a union to get or keep their jobs. Supporters claim right to work laws protect employees from being forced to join unions. Don’t be fooled—federal law already does this, as well as protecting nonmembers from paying for union activities that violate their religious or political beliefs. This individual freedom argument is a sham. Read More at AFL-CIO.com
US tour drives home clean energy jobs message - 8/21/2010
Legislation that would create and save millions of jobs across the US by building a clean energy economy has stalled, while nations like China are forging ahead, the BlueGreen Alliance has reminded legislators.
The US alliance, a coalition of union and environmental groups, kicked off a ‘Job’s Not Done Tour’ this week. The 30-city bus tour will run until 3 September. Read More at hazards.org
Construction Workers’ Union to Rejoin A.F.L.-C.I.O. - 8/15/2010
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Laborers’ International Union has agreed to rejoin the A.F.L.-C.I.O., increasing hopes for the once-splintered labor movement to reunite under a single umbrella.
“We are very excited that the labor movement is headed toward becoming more unified just as we need it the most,” Richard L. Trumka, president of the federation, said in a statement Friday.
A spokesman for the laborers, David Miller, declined to confirm the decision. But he said that leaders of his union, which has 800,000 members and represents construction workers, would have more to say after a meeting on Sunday. Mr. Trumka told the federation’s executive council last week that the move would become final in October. Read More
Remarks by AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka at the NALC Convention, Anaheim, CA - 8/15/2010
Thank you, Fred [Rolando], for welcoming me here to be with the men and women responsible for getting 176 billion pieces of mail last year to more than 148 million homes and businesses. And I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to recognize you, my brother, here at your convention.
I want to say to all of you what you already know—your president is a man to be proud of, a leader of integrity and a fighter for what's right; and Fred, I want to recognize all that you do to make life better, not only for Letter Carriers—but for all working men and women in this great country. Read More
Steelworkers Rally for Locked-Out Nuclear Workers- 8/12/2010
What makes members of the United Steelworkers (USW) hop a bus at 6 a.m. and ride six hours so they can march in 95-degree August heat to show solidarity with their union brothers and sisters? Jim Robinson, director of Steelworkers District 7 in Gary, Ind., explains:
“We love it. This is what we do.”
Some 3,000 union members and their families from at least four states recently rallied in Metropolis, Ill., in support of USW Local 7-669, which has been locked out at a Honeywell Corp. plant that processes uranium for use in nuclear fuel. Read More on AFL-CIO.org
Join Labor in the Pulpits over Labor Day Weekend - 8/7/2010
Labor Day is less than a month away and America’s workers find themselves mired in the worst economic crisis since the 1930s Depression. Some 26 million U.S. workers are without jobs or full-time work. Even if you are working, it’s hard to make ends meet. In the richest country in the world, more than 2 million full-time, year-round workers live below the poverty line, struggling to pay for necessities such as food, housing, health care, transportation and childcare.
Each Labor Day weekend, Interfaith Worker Justice (IWJ) and the AFL-CIO sponsor the Labor in the Pulpits/on the Bimah/in the Minbar program, which highlights the shared goals of the faith community and the union movement for a new vision for justice in our communities. Click here to read more.
AFL-CIO Good Jobs Now! Action Center - 7/21/2010
The Senate is in danger of leaving for its August recess without passing critical legislation necessary to help the millions of America's working men and women who are suffering in this extended recession. From the almost 2 million workers whose unemployment insurance has run out to the hundreds of thousands of teachers and firefighters whose jobs are in danger, we need the Senate to act now.
Teachers celebrate union milestone: 1.5 million members - 7/11/2010
Delegates to the American Federation of Teachers 81st biennial convention here danced in the aisles July 9 celebrating their union surpassing 1.5 million members including almost 70,000 new members organized in the past year.
AFT President Randi Weingarten hailed the victory telling the 3,000 delegates, "More and more people who work in schools, colleges, and universities, health facilities and government buildings want a union to provide members with a voice, support and resources." Read More
Turning Off the Air Conditioning Helps Save Fuel, Swiss Study Finds - 6/29/2010
ScienceDaily (June 28, 2010) — Automobile air conditioning systems do not run "free of charge." In fact in the hot parts of the world they can account for up to thirty per cent of fuel consumption. Even in Switzerland, with its temperate climate, the use of air conditioning systems is responsible for about five per cent of total fuel usage, rising to around ten per cent in urban traffic, as shown by a new study undertaken by Empa on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN). Read More
AstraZeneca has agreed to pay $103 million to settle United States litigation involving claims that it inflated prices for its Zoladex cancer drug and Pulmicort Respules asthma medicine.
The Trustees of the UWUA Power for America Training Trust recently approved the expenditures required for the trust to become a “Partner in Education” with the Midwest Energy Association (MEA). This strategic partnership will position the trust to be a dynamic training force within the utility industries in which UWUA members work.
The mission of the Sisters in the Building Trades is to expand a network of active women that will affirm building trades sisters as a positive and growing part of the construction workforce.
To increase the number of trades women through cooperative recruitment efforts and mentoring support for enhanced retention.
Hold regular meetings allowing women to network and share their experiences; match mentors to new trades’ women; enter into partnership with disadvantaged women to provide encouragement and hope; and reinforce appropriate workplace conduct.
Increase public awareness of construction careers; provide speakers to career fairs and other outreach opportunities; support recruiting efforts of apprenticeship programs; and use our skills in volunteer work.
For 25 years, the National Committee has mobilized millions of members and supporters to ensure Washington understands how important Social Security and Medicare are to Americans, young and old alike. Anti-entitlement crusaders have launched a billion dollar campaign to persuade the American people Social Security and Medicare won’t be there for them, regardless of facts to the contrary. Eroding public confidence is the only way to convince a new generation of citizens to give up on programs that have successfully served their parents, grandparents, and even great-parents for generations. Don’t buy the Lie. Social Security and Medicare will be there for you as long as you fight for it.
H&W Trust - 11/5/2009
The UWUA Health & Welfare Trust Fund provides VEBA, HRA, HSA, Fully Insured and Self Insured Health and Welfare Insurance products to members of the UWUA
The UWUA Deferred Compensation Trust - 11/5/2009
The UWUA Deferred Compensation Trust provides long-term financial security to UWUA members
Diversity Officers
Many members have benefited from the training provided by Dr. Arthur Matthews and his wife Evelyne at the UWUA Regional conferences. For more information regarding the courses they provide please go to their website listed below.
States Offer Rich Incentives for Going Green.Is Your Company Leaving Money on the Table with Unrealized Credits and Incentives? - 8/31/2010
State and local governments are offering generous “green” incentives to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy, including solar power. Despite tight budgets, most state tax incentive programs have survived or increased, providing an exceptional opportunity for companies to improve the environment while enhancing their bottom line.
Many states are looking to bolster their economies by attracting green jobs. In addition to the federal government’s $2.3 billion of new incentives for renewable energy, states are creating their own incentives to attract these new jobs. Legislatures in many states are requiring minimum investments, as well as looking at the quality and quantity of jobs that will be created. Many states are using federal stimulus money to fund their incentive programs.
Green incentives present companies with both opportunities and challenges. The applicable regulations are often complex, and the programs themselves are in a constant state of flux. State and local governments are continuously revising and adding new rules to existing programs. Read More at Green Energy News
Make An Impact: What's Your Carbon Footprint? - 8/12/2010
A Collective Solution to a ‘Personal Problem’—Unions Fight for Paid Sick Days (AFL-CIO Now Blog) - 8/1/2010
Jenya Cassidy, with the Labor Project for Working Families, sends us this cross-post from MomsRising.
When my son was almost 10, I found out I was pregnant with twin girls. I was excited but a little intimidated. I remembered one newborn being a lot of work—what would two be like? I mentally prepared for double the amount of diaper changes, laundry, bottles and child care costs. But what didn’t occur to me until after my return to work was how going from one child to three more than tripled my chances of needing to call in sick. Read More
Consumer Advocates, Entergy Employees Seek Funds to Bolster Program Helping Jobless, Poor Pay Energy Costs - 7/24/2010
Little Rock, Ark. – As energy bills arrive itemizing the cost of warding off record summer heat, customer advocates are heading to Congress to urge continued strong funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
Although the number of households helped by LIHEAP increased in 2009, the federal program still reaches only one out of every five eligible households across the nation. In Arkansas, only 24 percent of eligible households receive help from LIHEAP.
Entergy employees, advocates and LIHEAP recipients are taking part in the National Fuel Funds Network’s Washington Action Day for LIHEAP on Wednesday to draw attention to the need for strong funding. LIHEAP is the primary tool to help working-poor families, especially those with preschoolers, elderly or disabled individuals who are struggling to pay their heating and cooling costs. Read More
Green Power Express will allow this goal to be met. - 7/15/2010
Once built the Green Power Express transmission project will traverse portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana and will ultimately include approximately 3,000 miles of extra high-voltage (765 kV) transmission. Project cost is estimated at between $10 and $12 billion. Read More
Boeing, Boeing Gone! Phantom Eye to the Sky - 7/13/2010
In March 2010 the author had talked about the Phantom Eye HALE (high altitude long endurance) unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by Boeing that was getting ready to take to the skies. Now, Boeing has unveiled its hydrogen-powered aircraft.
Due to a rapid prototyping method this behemoth of a UAV with its 150-foot wingspan will demonstrate that it indeed can stay aloft at 65,000 ft for 4 days, which is an essential for military operations.
The Phantom Eye is powered by a couple of 2.3-liter, four-cylinder engines burning hydrogen fuel creating 150 hp each. The Boeing Phantom Eye will be tested carrying a 450 lb payload while traveling at 150 knots. Read More
Entergy Texas Helps Southeast Texans ‘Beat the Heat,’ Delivery of Fans to Nonprofit Agencies Set - 7/8/2010
Beaumont, Texas – Summer is in full swing with soaring temperatures expected to batter the south well into September as usual. But Entergy Texas, Inc. is ready to once again partner with Southeast Texas charitable, nonprofit agencies to bring a little relief to those most in need.
The company’s annual “Beat the Heat” fan drive gets under way this week with delivery of box fans to the agencies who will deliver them to qualified residents in the areas they serve.
Altogether, 1200 fans will be delivered this year throughout Entergy Texas’ service area. Fans have already been delivered to Entergy Texas’ westernmost areas, with agencies there set to provide 555 fans to customers in areas around Conroe, New Caney, Navasota, Huntsville, Corrigan, Trinity and The Woodlands. Read More
Southwall Awarded $1.4 Million from U.S. Department of Energy to Make Homes and Buildings More Energy Efficient- 7/6/2010
Southwall Technologies, of Palo Alto, California, has been awarded a $1.43 million stimulus grant from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to develop advanced technologies aimed at making homes and buildings more energy efficient. Southwall will use the funding to accelerate development of higher performance and lower cost Heat Mirror low-emissivity and solar-reflective films and multi-cavity, suspended-film insulating glass technology to enable the broad commercialization of “super-insulating” R-10 windows. Read More
General Electric Co. and Hitachi Ltd. are considering re-entering the U.K. nuclear market, as well as four other European countries, after gaining regulatory approval for their ESBWR reactor design in the U.S. - 6/30/2010
“By finishing the process in the U.S., it allows us to have more accurate, thorough responses so you don’t end up in this tennis game of questions and answers between the regulator and the vendor,” said Daniel Roderick, senior vice president at GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy. In addition to the U.K., “we’re looking at at least four other European countries.” Read More
Why Green Jobs Should Be Union Jobs- 6/20/2010
The union movement has worked hand in hand with allies in the environmental and social justice movements and others to push for “green jobs” that help reduce the carbon emissions that threaten our planet. Now we need to explain to them why those green jobs should provide the freedom to form a union, why our alliance should encourage workers in green jobs to form unions and why it should help us make employers recognize and bargain with them. Here are some of the reasons we can use to appeal to allies and the public, based on our report, "Why Green Jobs Should Be Union Jobs." Read More
Honda Strikers in China Offered Less Than Demanded - 6/19/2010
ZHONGSHAN, China — Wage negotiations between workers and managers at a Honda auto parts factory here ended on Friday night with the company’s final offer of a pay increase that was substantially less than employees had been seeking, a worker involved in the discussions said. Read More
Smart Grid Challenges & Choices: Utility Executives' Vision for the New Decade - 6/6/2010
"Within the next 10 years we will revamp our entire process to be more efficient."–North American utility executive
DELEG Launches Next Generation of Michigan Skills Alliances New Regional, Sectoral, and Green Workforce Partnerships Showcased at Today's Summit - 4/27/2010
Agency: Energy, Labor & Economic Growth
Michigan's next generation of Skills Alliances geared toward diversifying Michigan's economy and increasing job training efficiency that will benefit employers and workers geographically and by industry, were showcased today at a workforce Summit hosted by the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG). More than 200 employers, educators, economic developers, workforce developers, and community leaders attended today's event held at the Lansing Community College West Campus - MTEC. The theme of the Summit was Transforming Michigan's Workforce.
Women Owned Small Businesses May Be in for a Treat - 4/26/2010
Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSB) may get an advantage in federal contracting under a newly proposed Women-Owned Small- Business rule. (See link below)
For the first time, the Proposed Rule would give federal agencies the ability to set-aside federal contracts for WOSBs in 83 different industries. The 83 industries are broken into two different categories, as follows: (i) 45 industries in which WOSBs are underrepresented and; (ii) 38 industries in which WOSBs are substantially underrepresented. The 83 newly- identified industries cross a wide spectrum of areas.
UWUA Power for America Training Trust Fund Trustees - 10/23/09
The Trustees of the UWUA Power for America Training Trust Fund met on October 22, 2009.
UWUA President and P4A Trust Chair Mike Langford signs the P4A-Michigan Institute of Aviation and Technology (MIAT) Partnership Agreement at the Trust Board meeting on October 22, 2009
UWUA President and P4A Trust Chair Mike Langford prepares to sign the UWUA-MIAT Training Partnership Agreement at the Oct. 22, 2009 Board meeting
P4A Trustees and Fund professionals attend the P4A Board meeting on Oct. 22, 2009
UWUA Power for America Training Trust Fund Trustee Kevin Jenkins representing Entergy
2002 Labor-Management Award from the AFL-CIO Union Label & Service Trades Department - awarded to CUTCO for "demonstrating a commitment to the collective bargaining process and to the production of competitive union-made products and services in the United States."
The National Labor College is the nation’s only accredited higher education institution devoted exclusively to educating union members, leaders and staff.
The USA Coffee Company is a American Company providing "union grown in the USA" coffee products; featuring "Obama Java" and "All American Union Roast" among its extensive list of products.
UNION BUILT PC, computers made by Union Workers in detroit, chicago, maryland, and new york. Union consulting, support, software, programming, and web sites.
American Arbitration Association University - Courses
The American Arbitration Association provides education programs for counsel and neutrals that are delivered regionally and internationally, as well as via the Internet. AAAU offers training courses in domestic and international arbitration and mediation.
Water Solutions provides consulting services for water treatment, water disinfection and water storage projects. Our clients are public utilities, private; industrial water users. We offer Water Operator exam preparation classes.
