E-News: April 4, 2024
A new addition was made to our Smith St. office. Thank you @RIlegoartist for the fantastic replica of our building!
(Painting in background by James Riley, retiree of UFCW, Local 328)
Common Wealth Beacon: Unions key in ramp up to the next industrial revolution
We are pushing wind farm developers for strong labor standards
by CHRISSY LYNCH, ED HAWTHORNE and PATRICK CROWLEY
In Ports and Towns across the northeast, hundreds of workers wake up every morning and get to work building our future – literally. These hard-working union members are working on offshore wind projects currently under construction tens of miles off our coastlines.
Offshore wind energy is an essential tool in our fight against climate change. It’s a renewable energy source that is central to achieving our climate goals – strengthening the nation’s energy security, reducing carbon emissions, and creating high-quality union jobs in one fell swoop. The United States has set a national goal to install enough offshore wind energy to power 10 million homes by 2030.
But in order for us to meet this goal, we must work together. We are building a new industry from scratch and ramping it up in real time – and because of that, the offshore wind industry finds itself navigating some growing pains. There are challenges that need to be addressed to ensure that new projects are developed in an equitable and worker-centered way. But these challenges have solutions.
Cooperation and coordination are key to ensuring that offshore wind developers and suppliers work with states, the federal government, and unions to support the responsible buildout of a robust offshore wind industry. Offshore wind needs to be built at the scale that science demands to reach our climate goals with the support of state and local governments.
Fortunately, there are collaborative efforts underway to find solutions for the current crisis in offshore wind. A tri-state joint procurement process launched this week by Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, and Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee is one such effort to produce clean energy at a fair price for their constituents. This regional offshore wind solicitation could produce more than 6,000 megawatts of clean energy and jumpstart our transition away from fossil fuels. Read more here.
The Providence Journal: RI unions throw support behind new public housing. Could a ‘house flipper’ tax also be coming?
Union leaders are backing a proposal to build new public housing in Rhode Island and create a new tax to discourage real estate speculators from flipping homes.
“It wasn’t that long ago when people in this state and this country said that the one role government has in public housing is to do nothing and get out of the way,” Patrick Crowley, secretary-treasurer of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, said at a news conference Thursday. “How’s that worked out for us? It hasn’t. Working people are starving for housing.”
Joining him to express support for the legislative package being pushed by progressive group Reclaim Rhode Island were representatives of SEIU 1199 New England, the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council, and International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 11.
“The housing system is broken,” said Justin Kelley of IUPAT and the trades council. “If it was going to be fixed by now, with the tools that we have, it would have been done.”
The goal: Housing that workers can afford to live in
For several years now, Reclaim has been campaigning to make Rhode Island the first state to fully embrace the “public developer” model used in Montgomery County, Maryland. Under that approach, public housing authorities build new, mixed-income developments where market-rate rentals subsidize affordable units. Read more here.
LIUNA: New OSHA Rule Codifies Worker Representation and Improves Safety
Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2024) – Brent Booker, General President of LIUNA – the Laborers’ International Union of North America – made the following statement today:
The new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Worker Walkaround Representative Designation Process final rule is a welcome improvement that will empower workers and improve safety. The rule codifies the right of worker representatives – unions and union members – to participate in the OSHA inspection process and raise concerns about workplace hazards without fear of employer retaliation.
Through the Laborers’ Health and Safety Fund of North America, we are proud to have partnered with OSHA and fellow unions on the development of this final rule and we look forward to continue working with OSHA to improve job site safety.
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Worker’s Memorial Day Rally for Safety
GST Michael F. Sabitoni Twitter:
Check out this story on Local Union 271 member, Nicholas Russo. Proud to be part of
@LIUNALocal271! @LIUNANewEngland #LIUNA #TeamRhodeIsland #OffshoreWind
Governor Dan McKee Twitter:
Renewable energy sources create “a future for the next generations,” says Nicholas Russo, a laborer with Local 271. #TeamRhodeIsland means joining forces to improve our lives, our communities and our state.
RI Building Trades Spring Charity Golf Tournament
This article from @ProvBusNews features comments from @99_ibew member Joe Manzi and
@OPEIU local 25 member Bob Dumais.
Providence Business News: READY AND ABLE: Older workers filling R.I. employment gaps
After 35 years in insurance marketing, the last 20 with Rhode Island-based Amica Mutual Insurance Co. managing multimillion-dollar campaigns, Eduardo Naya tried to retire.
It didn’t last.
“There are only so many trips you can afford to take. Even in retirement,” he said about his year-and-a half reprieve.
Though his kids were now adults out of the house, and he had built up an adequate nest egg over a successful career, Naya had an itch to get back to work.
“I upped my ante,” he said. “My life was in order, and I thought it was a good time to retire. But I still felt like there was a hole. I wasn’t taking advantage of everything I’d learned in the marketing world, and I was in a position to give back more than I would take.”
When Naya, 59, got the opportunity last year to join the nonprofit Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, he jumped at the chance, intrigued by its mission of providing employment services to job seekers.
“I loved what they did here. It’s changing lives,” he said. “I felt it was a loss for myself and for someone else if I didn’t take advantage of the years of knowledge I have. It was right up my alley.”
Nina Pande, executive director of Skills for Rhode Island’s Future, hired Naya and says local employers can’t afford to overlook the state’s older workforce. She says older employees are often more open than their younger counterparts to new job experiences and challenges
“He wanted that purposeful career,” she said of Naya. “And I told him he’s going to work harder than he’s ever had.” Read more here.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Basic/Advanced Steward Training Workshop – In-person
The Institute for Labor Studies & Research Is offering a
Saturday – April 20, 2024
9:00am – 3:30pm
**Being present for the entire workshop is necessary for completion**
Location:
Institute for Labor Studies & Research
1540 Pontiac Ave, Suite A
Cranston, RI 02920
Cost $20 pp
(No charge for RI AFL-CIO affiliated members)
Registration Deadline: April 13, 2024
Contact Denise Cesino – dcesino@riilsr.org
Basic/Advanced Steward Training
This six-hour program delivered by the Institute for Labor Studies & Research is designed to refresh and/or familiarize union officers and stewards with the legal rights and responsibilities in representing bargaining unit members. Upon completion of the workshop, participants will leave with a working knowledge of their collective bargaining agreement.
The workshop covers topics such as the Duty of Fair Representation, Weingarten rights and grievance handling. Program participants will be exposed to effective contract administration of the Agreement from the investigation, development, and processing of the grievance to the elements necessary in the possible case preparation and presentation of the case before an arbitrator.
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United Way of RI: 2024 Children’s Book Drive
Providence, R.I. (March 1, 2024) United Way of Rhode Island’s Children’s Book Drive is returning for its twelfth year. In April and May, United Way is once again partnering with Books Are Wings to help Rhode Island children build their own libraries at home.
Rhode Islanders are invited to buy and ship books, drop off new and gently used books at a community collection site, or host a drive with their family, friends, or coworkers.
Are you following us on Social Media? Click on the links below.
Visit our website for more information, news and events.
If you want a voice on the job or to build a better workplace, click the here to start organizing and taking action.
NEW EPISODE: RI AFL-CIO LUNCH & LEARN “ALL ABOUT ILSR”
This Labor Vision episode covers the RI AFL-CIO Lunch & Learn on the Institute for Labor Studies & Research. Autumn Guillotte, RI AFL-CIO Field Director, is joined by Robert Delaney, ILSR Executive Director, Haley De La Rosa, Labor Liaison, Fatima Martin, Director of Pathways to Education Professions, and Kevin McElroy, Occupational Health & Safety Program Coordinator to share about ILSR’s history, trainings, classes, and programs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBQLSWSAmdQ
Visit the ILSR website to learn more: www.riilsr.org
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