October 2009, Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton edition of The Union News

Department of Labor releases millions for program

BY PAUL LEESON
THEUNIONNEWSABE@AOL.COM

REGION, August 30th- The United States Department of Labor released $6,499,992 to assist national industry and employer associations and labor-management organizations in advancing Registered Apprenticeship through the development of innovative programs that utilize an updated 21st century Registered Apprenticeship farmework.

Registered Apprecticeship is an earn while you learn model that provides a combination of on-the-job learning and related classroom instruction in which workers learn the practical and theoretical aspects of highly skilled occupations. Apprenticeship programs are sponsored by joint employer and labor groups, individual employers, and/or employer associations.

Currently the Registered Apprenticeship system includes a network of approximately 30,000 program sponsors nationwide, offering nearly 1,000 different career opportunities.

“This funding will promote the development of flexible training options that allow organizations to continue to provide workers with state-of-the-art apprenticeship opportunities. Traditional as well as new and emerging industries, such as those related to gree technologies will benefit from the innovative program designs that this $6.5 million will help to support and expand,” said Hilda Solis, Secretary of Labor is a prepared statement sent to the newspaper regarding the program.

The grants will fund the development and adaption of innovative national apprenticeship guideline standards that incorporate competency based progression or hybrid-style progression (a combination of traditional time=based programs and competency-based models).

Funds will also be available to support the development and use of interim credentials to track an apprentice’s skill progression; as well as the use of technology based learning related technical instruction. Funds will also be used to support partnerships with the workforce and education communities.

DOL added funds are also available to train staff, apprenticeship instructors and members on these revised and innovative program designs.

For more information on Registered Apprenticeship and DOL training services visit the agencies web-site at: http://www.doleta.gov.

October 2009, Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton edition of The Union News

Trade union files complaint against Lehigh Valley employer

BY PAUL TUCKER
THEUNIONNEWSABE@AOL.COM

NAZARETH, September 14th- The Road Sprinkler Fitters Union Local 669, which is affiliated with the United Association of Journeyman and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry International Union, filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region Four in Philadelphia alleging a Lehigh Valley employer has violated the National Labor Relations Act (NLRAct).

According to the Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) charge Kim Green, Local 669 Organizer, filed the complaint on behalf of the union on September 9th, 2009. The newspaper monthly reviews complaints and election petitions filed by labor unions and employees throughout the Lehigh Valley. The newspaper became aware of Local 669’s ULP during the montly review.

The complaint alleges, De Ja Vu Mechanical, Selfert Road in Nazareth, violated section 8 (a), subsection (1) and (3) of the NLRAct.

The complaint states the employer, which installs, maintains and repairs sprinkler systems, has approximately six employees.

According to the complaint, the union alleges the employer on or about May 11th, 2009, and again on May 14th, 2009, after Local 669 distributed information to their employees showing them the proper prevailing wage rates that they should have been paid, threatened employees that if they turned the Employer in for failing to pay prevailing wage under the Pennsylvania Wage Law, they would be fired.

Also, the ULP alleges the Employer threatened employees with layoff for asking about the difference in their pay rate.

The union alleges employee Glenn Minnick was isolated from other employees to prevent him from continuing to talk to them about the proper pay rates they should be paid. Also, other employees were assigned overtime other than Mr. Minnick in retaliation for his complaining about the Employer’s failure to pay the proper prevailing wage rates.

The complaint alleges Mr. Minnick was later terminated for complaining about and pursuing the proper wages on behalf of him and other similarly situated employees, and told him “good luck with what your are doing,” only four days after Mr. Minnick filed a state lawsuit to recover prevailing wages on behalf of himself and others similarly situated.

As Job Loss Rises, Obama Aides Act to Fix Safety Net

By Jackie Calmes
NY Times
Oct 6, 2009

WASHINGTON — With unemployment expected to rise well into next year even as the economy slowly recovers, the Obama administration and Democratic leaders in Congress are discussing extending several safety net programs as well as proposing new tax incentives for businesses to renew hiring…..

(read more at link below)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/06/us/politics/06jobless.html?_r=1&th&emc=th
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Republicans had held up vote on O’Malley’s former labor secretary

By Paul West

October 6, 2009

WASHINGTON

Thomas E. Perez, the Maryland lawyer picked by President Barack Obama for the administration’s most important civil rights post, is expected to win Senate confirmation today after months of delay.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has scheduled an afternoon vote on Perez’s nomination to head the Civil Rights division at the Justice Department. The nomination is expected to be approved by a comfortable margin, according to aides to Maryland Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin…..

(read more at link below)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-md.perez06oct06,0,4362594,print.story