South Bay Labor Council Newsletter: December 18, 2007

http://www.atwork.org | December 18, 2007
South Bay Workers Welcome Resolution of Building Inspectors' Strike
Members of the Association of Building, Mechanical and Electrical Inspectors (ABMEI) returned to work last Wednesday for the City of San Jose after successful negotiation of all outstanding issues ended their 13-day strike.

"We are happy to have been able to play an active role in bringing this dispute to a resolution," said Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins, Executive Officer of the Labor Council, which worked with ABMEI and the City to negotiate issues of disagreement. "Whenever workers are forced to resort to a strike, it's a sign of failure for both sides. Resolution, however, is a victory for all involved."

The Inspectors were able to claim a significant victory, preserving key employment protections.

Labor-Community Partnership 'Team San Jose' Earns Extended Contract
The ground-breaking partnership between the working people of organized labor, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, San Jose's hotel and arts communities and the City of San Jose unanimously earned a new, five-year contract to operate the San Jose Convention Center and associated facilities.

A unique coalition born from the innovative thinking and leadership of leaders from the Labor Council and Dan Fenton of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, Team San Jose has consistently generated more business for the downtown facilities, more filled hotel rooms, and built strong relationships and protections for working people.

Team San Jose operates the San Jose Convention Center, Parkside Hall, the Civic Auditorium, and the Center for Performing Arts, and employs dozens of members of AFSCME/MEF, OE, IATSE, and UNITE HERE.

'Las Posadas' Marchers Support Dignity For Contract Workers
A large crowd of marchers and broadcast media outlets participated in Wednesday's symbolic re-enactment of "La Posadas" – a Mexican holiday tradition remembering Joseph and Mary's search for an inn in Bethlehem – in support of a Code of Conduct for Silicon Valley contract workers.

The march, organized by The Interfaith Council, went to Applied Materials and WebEx in Santa Clara, two high-tech companies that contract with Guckenheimer Enterprises for their cafeteria services, and ended with candlelit prayer at the Shrine of Our Lady of Peace.

More than 8,000 members of South Bay religious congregations have signed cards calling on companies using contract workers to endorse a Code of Conduct calling for fair wages and benefits, respect in the workplace, job security and non-interference in their efforts to form a union.

Community Budget Working Group Reconvenes Saturday, Jan. 12
After receiving scores of city budget ideas and priorities earlier this month at its first meeting, the Community Budget Working Group will reconvene at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, location to be announced. The independent financial consulting firm Applied Development Economics, hired to assess the proposals, will present its analysis of the ideas and a package of suggestions will be prepared for submission to the City. Stay posted for the location.

For those interested in learning more about the intricacies of the City budget, there will also be a City Budget Workshop at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 7 presented by Bob Brownstein, former City Budget Director and now Policy Director for Working Partnerships USA. The workshop will be held at Working Partnerships' offices at 2102 Almaden Road.

Upcoming Events: Rally For Laundry Workers, Holiday Party
- Make labor's voice heard by rallying at Intel headquarters at 4:45 p.m. today in support of Prudential's striking laundry workers. Intel's corporate code of conduct calls for all Intel contractors to obey local minimum wage laws and respect the right to organize. Yet the City of Oakland has found Prudential's Milpitas facility, which washes the "bunny suits" worn by Intel workers, in violation of living wage laws and Intel is refusing to enforce its own code.

- Union Community Resources and the South Bay AFL-CIO Labor Council invite everyone to join in making the the 21st Annual Holiday Party on Saturday, Dec. 22, a success for Silicon Valley's working families.

Steve Preminger of Union Community Resources anticipates 9,000 kids will find some holiday joy by getting a toy at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds' Pavilion Hall. Call us at 266-3790 to volunteer.