Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Johnson Works, O'Connell Heads Home Early

Last night, while Craig Johnson was rallying supporters and the WFP canvass was knocking on doors and talking to people, Maureen O'Connell was sitting at home.

From Spin Cycle:
"One of Nassau Legis. Craig Johnson's canvassers in the state Senate race ran into Johnson's opponent, Republican County Clerk Maureen O'Connell, after the campaign worker got a little lost Monday evening.

O'Connell had just pulled into a driveway in the East Williston neighborhood when the canvasser, needing directions, approached her. As they talked, the canvasser recognized O'Connell and she realized she was talking to one of her opponent's foot soldiers. They exchanged pleasantries and wished each other luck."
Since the WFP is running the canvass, I can give you the inside story straight from the canvasser who talked to her:
"A little after 5:30, I was trying to find an address on my turf and was looking from the sidewalk at a number on one of the houses from the street to determine if it was on my walk list. A woman saw me looking at her house and came out to ask if she could help me.

I recognized her as Maureen O'Connell as soon as she came out because she had an O'Connell lawn sign and I'm friends with one of her former Assembly opponents. I decided to exchange pleasantries, and we each did some campaigning and talked about the situation in Albany. Then she realized I was part of the WFP canvass campaigning for Craig Johnson, and we wished each other good luck and parted ways. I kept canvassing for the rest of the night and she went back inside."
Gonna have to work harder than that to win this race.

21 more days until Election Day!

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Greyhound Outsources Jobs

Greyhound management wants to outsource jobs from America to other countries so it can cut worker's wages.

In 2004, Greyhound management subcontracted most of it's bus lines between Los Angeles, San Diego and Tijuana to a newly-formed company called Crucero that was also owned by Greyhound. What's the difference between Greyhound and the Greyhound subsidiary? The Greyhound subsidiary outsourced most of its jobs to Mexico so it could cut workers wages by two-thirds.

In 2006, the average Greyhound driver made less than $35,000, with many full time drivers making less than $30,000, and Greyhound admits that one-third of all drivers' work time is unpaid. (It looks like Greyhound drivers are exempt from overtime law.)

In return, Greyhound drivers are on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and work more than 16 hours per day. Since 1983, Greyhound drivers have lost more than 60% of their buying power through wage cuts and sub-inflation wage increases. And only 51% of Greyhound drivers and mechanics get health care benefits.

So why outsource? Drivers for Greyhound's subsidiary have none of these benefits and are paid barely more than minimum wage.

Now the Amalgamated Transit Union is bargaining a new nationwide contract with Greyhound and wants Greyhound to agree not to subcontract any of its current miles. For it's part, Greyhound has hired a union-busting law firm, Crowell & Morning.

Please sign a petition of support for Greyhound workers and send a message to Greyhound management not to outsource jobs.

Take action at http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/Greyhound/

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Monday, January 15, 2007

Craig Johnson for State Senate TV Commercial

Here it is, the first Craig Johnson for State Senate TV commercial, done by Spitzer's ad man Jimmy Siegel. It features Governor Eliot Spitzer talking to voters about why they should elect Craig.



This is going to be a close - and expensive - race, but we have a real shot of winning. In 2005, Maureen O'Connell (R) ran in this district for a different office and lost, 31,331 votes to 31,260, while Gov. Spitzer won the district with 66% of the vote in 2006.

If you agree with Eliot Spitzer and want to see Craig Johnson elected to the State Senate then make a donation to elect Craig Johnson now.

Here's the official campaign press release:
JOHNSON CAMPAIGN RELEASES TV AD

Gov. Spitzer Urges Long Islanders to Vote for Craig Johnson in "Special Election"


First Spot Tells Voters: "Finish the Job."

Eliot Spitzer appears in the first TV ad for Democratic State Senate candidate Craig Johnson, telling Long Islanders: "On Jan 1st we offered a new vision of reform outside the state capital. Now we need the votes in the state capital."

Johnson is running in the February 6th special election (the title of the ad) in the 7th State Senate District in Nassau County to fill the seat held by Michael Balboni, who resigned to accept an appointment in the Spitzer administration.

Brian Stedge-Stroud, Johnson's campaign manager, said, "In many ways, this election is the concluding chapter in the campaign for change that so energized New Yorkers in 2006." Appropriately, the ad concludes with the message: "Finish the Job. Vote for Craig Johnson."

The ad was created by Jimmy Siegel, who worked on the victorious 2006 campaigns of Gov. Eliot Spitzer, Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand and State Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins.

Stedge-Stroud said the ad would start airing on Tuesday and described the ad's buy as "robust," noting that it would appear on both broadcast and cable stations. The ad may be viewed here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIVstBtgZ4k

The script for "Special Election" follows below.

ELIOT SPITZER: It's called a special election. And this one is.

Because those of you who helped bring about a new day in Albany have one more job to do.

There's an open seat in New York's State Senate. And Feb 6th you need to fill it with someone who'll lower your property taxes and raise your expectations. Craig Johnson has been an exemplary County Legislator. He'll be an even better State Senator.

On Jan 1st we offered a new vision of reform outside the state capital. Now we need the votes in the state capital.

SUPER:
Finish the Job
Vote for Craig Johnson
Special Election, February 6th

Share your thoughts in the comments.

23 more days until the election!

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Brian Keeler Endorses Craig Johnson for State Senate

State Senate candidate Brian Keeler, who is now part of The Albany Project, has endorsed Craig Johnson in the February 6th special election for an open seat in the Seventh Senate District. Here's what Brian has to say:

"First of all, I have met Craig and find him to be engaging, energetic and passionate about his job (serving the people of his county legislative district), and, quite frankly, I think he would make a good State Senator for the people in the 7th District. But, what sold me is the fact that he is passionate about reforming the absolute mess in Albany."

Read the rest of Brian's endorsement at The Albany Project.

23 more days until the election!

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Friday, January 12, 2007

Gov Spitzer Formally Endorses Craig Johnson for State Senate

It's official. Today Democratic State Senate candidate Craig Johnson accepted Gov. Eliot Spitzer's endorsement, with Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi and Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli looking on.


Here's the press release:
GOV. SPITZER FORMALLY ENDORSES
STATE SENATE CANDIDATE CRAIG JOHNSON
Pushes Agenda for Lower Property Taxes, Health Care Reform and Responsive Government

NORTH HEMPSTEAD -- Gov. Eliot Spitzer formally endorsed Democratic State Senate candidate Craig Johnson in North Hempstead today, saying that electing Johnson will help advance his agenda for lower property taxes, health care reform and responsive government.

Governor Eliot Spitzer said: "I am endorsing Craig Johnson for State Senate because he is the right partner for the great tasks as hand. Together we will help change the culture of Albany, provide property tax relief to the families of Nassau County, reform health care and make government more responsive for all New Yorkers. Craig is a voice for the common-sense changes we need. He will be a great State Senator."

Johnson, a Nassau County legislator, said, "For too long Albany has been operating under a set of rules that favored lobbyists and the well-connected few," Johnson said. "We need to make government work for all of New York and all of Long Island. I will be Governor Spitzer's partner in lowering property taxes, bringing health care costs under control and making government responsive for every New Yorker."

Johnson strongly supports Gov. Spitzer's reform agenda, which includes:
  • A three-year, $6 billion property tax reduction focused on those middle class homeowners whose taxes are rising too fast for their incomes to catch up.
  • Reducing health care costs by using the state's bargaining power to drive down the price of prescription drugs, aggressively fighting Medicaid fraud and restructuring excess capacity.
  • Save millions of dollar each year by eliminating duplicative services and consolidating New York's multiple layers of local government.
  • A series of lobbying and campaign finance reforms to reduce the power of special interests.
Spitzer and Johnson were joined by other Nassau officials, including County Executive Thomas Suozzi, Assemblyman Thomas DiNapoli and North Hempstead Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman.

Johnson is a candidate for the 7th Senate District seat vacated by Michael Balboni, the incumbent State Senator. Balboni resigned from his seat to serve as Director of Homeland Security under Governor Spitzer. The district, located in the northwest corner of Nassau County on Long Island, encompasses the entire town of North Hempstead. It also includes the communities of Elmont, Floral Park, South Floral Park, Stewart Manor, Bellerose, Franklin Square, and part of Hicksville.

Johnson is Of Counsel at Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP in Garden City. Prior to his association with Jaspan Schlesinger, Craig was an associate at Reisman Peirez & Reisman, LLP and at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher prior to that.

Craig was raised in Port Washington and attended public schools in the neighborhood. He earned his BA, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from St. John's University School of Law. He lives in Port Washington with his wife Liz, also an attorney, and sons Benjamin and Samuel.

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26 more days until the election!

Update: More coverage at Capitol Confidential and in an AP story.

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Thursday, January 11, 2007

Community Alliance Endorses Craig Johnson for State Senate

"List this one under 'change is good.' Let's keep Maureen O'Connell as Nassau County Clerk, where it is unlikely that she can cause much more damage than has already been done by her GOP predecessors, and elect Craig Johnson to the New York State Senate.

The Community Alliance endorses Craig Johnson for Senate in the 7th SD, and encourages all eligible registered voters to go to the polls on Tuesday, February 6th."
Read the rest and find out more about The Community Alliance.

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First Look at Johnson for State Senate Flyer

Here's a first look at the hot-off-the-presses Craig Johnson for State Senate flyer our field operation started handing out last night.





This election is a sprint from start to finish. Election Day is February 6th, and we need to raise $10,000 online to fund our Get-Out-The-Vote operation.

Make a donation to elect Craig Johnson to the State Senate!

27 days until Election Day!

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Clinton Calls for Clean Minimum Wage Bill

Senator Clinton issued a clear statement yesterday calling for the Senate to pass a clean minimum wage bill:
"The House sent a strong message of support for working families today by approving the minimum wage increase as a clean, stand-alone bill. The Senate should do the same so that we can speed this critically needed pay increase to working families."
Working Families hopes Sen. Schumer will do the same.

Send a message to both New York's Senators here.

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

House Passes Minimum Wage Increase

The U.S. House of Representatives has just passed a clean bill to raise the minimum wage! No strings attached, no new tax breaks for business and no favors to powerful interests - just a fair shake for working families.

The vote was 315 for the bill to 116 against - click the link to see a roll call vote listing how each Rep voted. We're proud that the members of Congress the WFP helped elect in November - including new members Kirsten Gillibrand, Mike Arcuri and John Hall - all did the right thing.

It's been 1997 since the last increase in the minimum wage. This increase will take the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 over 26 months. Working families are entitled to a real living wage, and this minimum wage increase is a very good start in that direction.

Now it's the U.S. Senate's turn to pass the same bill as the House. Raising the minimum wage nationwide will help bring working families closer to making ends meet and put more money into the economy. But some Senators are getting distracted and talking about putting budget-busting tax cuts together with a minimum wage increase. That's not the kind of change Americans voted for last November.

Senator Clinton and Senator Schumer are both important leaders in the U.S. Senate. They can make sure the U.S. Senate passes a bill to raise the minimum wage, and make sure that bill is clean and doesn't get loaded down with tax breaks and favors for powerful interests.

Tell Senator Clinton and Senator Schumer to hold the line and pass a clean bill to raise the minimum wage now - with no strings attached - at:
http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/takeaction
All eyes are on the Senate - let's win this one!

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Working Families Endorses Craig Johnson for State Senate

The Working Families Party is proud to endorse Nassau County Legislator Craig Johnson for State Senate in the 7th Senate District special election on February 6th.

After interviewing both Craig Johnson and Maureen O'Connell, Nassau WFP Chapter members voted overwhelmingly to endorse Craig Johnson. Larry DeAngelis, co-chair of the Working Families Nassau Chapter, had this to say:
"Working families in Nassau County need Craig Johnson in the State Senate to reform Albany, reduce property taxes for working and middle-class families and address pressing needs like better schools and affordable housing. In every election, we interview the candidates and evaluate their positions on the issues that matter most to working families. In this race, we're convinced that Craig Johnson is the best candidate for working families on Long Island."
The Working Families Party will send over 50 organizers into the field to knock on the doors of likely voters every night from now until February 6. Lisa Tyson, another leader of the Working Families Nassau County chapter, lays down the challenge:
"We’re going all out for Craig Johnson in the field, where this campaign will be won."
You can help!
Craig Johnson was raised in Port Washington and attended public schools in the neighborhood. He earned his BA, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from St. John's University School of Law. He lives in Port Washington with his wife Liz, also an attorney, and sons Benjamin and Samuel and is Of Counsel at Jaspan Schlesinger Hoffman LLP in Garden City. Prior to his association with Jaspan Schlesinger, Craig was an associate at Reisman Peirez & Reisman, LLP and at the law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher prior to that.

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2006 Hottest Year on Record

It's official: 2006 was the hottest year on record in the U.S. and the sixth warmest year on record worldwide, with temperatures 2.2 degrees warmer than average. December 2006 also set a record here in New York as the warmest December on record.

It's time to do something about global warming.

More on this soon, but it's important to make the point that global warming is happening and it is solvable.

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Tuesday, January 09, 2007

"The Fair Trade Sweep"

That's the title of a provocative article by Chris Slevin and Todd Tucker, just published in The Democratic Strategist, an online magazine co-edited by William Galston of the Brookings Institution, Stan Greenberg of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, Ruy Teixeira of Center for American Progress and The Century Foundation, and Scott Winship.

As Chris puts it: "The piece highlights how the degree of fair trade/economic progressive messaging played a major role in determining whether individual candidates won or lost and offers several detailed case studies including of top tier, high profile Democratic candidates who distanced themselves from a fair trade message and lost, as well as lower tier candidates who ran more aggressively on trade and won."

Countdown to House Minimum Wage Increase

The U.S. House of Representatives has started the clock on their first 100 hours. The House vote to raise the minimum wage is scheduled for tomorrow the 10th.

After one day, over 650 New Yorkers have taken action to support a clean bill to raise the minimum wage without special favors or budget-busting tax cuts slipped in.

Here are some facts on who a minimum wage increase would help:
  • Most of the people working for minimum wage are the main breadwinners for their familes.
  • 79% of the people helped by a minimum wage increase are adults
  • 56% of the people helped by a minimum wage increase work full time
  • 83% of the people helped by a minimum wage increase work over 20 hours a week
  • 61% of the people helped by a minimum wage increase are women
There's still time to show your support for a clean minimum wage increase at http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/takeaction/

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WFP 2007 Priorities Survey December results

It's been a month since we started the Working Families Party 2007 Priorities Survey, and here are the latest results. There's still time to take the survey, but we'll be wrapping it up and publicizing the final survey results soon. The percentages don't add up to 100% because only votes for specific issues are listed.

Question 1: Here are six issues where we could win real victories for working families in 2007. Which of these issues do you think the WFP should work on in 2007?

Fair Funding for Education12.71%
Protecting Health Care in New York18.59%
Paid Sick Leave1.71%
Reforming Corporate Subsidies8.23%
Affordable Housing13.57%
Environmentally-Smart Building Codes2.88%

Question 2: Here are five important long-term issues that may not be finished in 2007. Which of these issues do you think the WFP should work on in 2007?

Universal Health Care39.10%
Progressive Taxation8.44%
Strengthening Unions7.05%
Family Friendly Workplaces3.31%
Energy Independence9.62%

Question 3: The WFP was formed both to deliver real victories for working families and to change the terms of the public debate over the long term. In 2007, do you think it's more important for the WFP to focus on the fights we can win this year (the first set of issues) or the long term fights (the second set of issues)?

Win real victories in 200755.45%
Push long-term issues34.40%

Question 4: The WFP helped Democrats win key elections in New York, but in the year to come we may have disagreements on specific issues. When there's disagreement on specific issues, do you think the WFP should push the progressive position or support Democratic politicians?

Push the progressive position80.66%
Support Democratic politicians9.29%

For more details on the issues in the WFP 2007 Priorities Survey, read WFP Policy Director Josh Mason's blog post on possible WFP issues in 2007.

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Monday, January 08, 2007

Topless Democrats: A Trend?


First Spitzer. Now Obama. Maybe it's just a coincidence ... or maybe it's a movement.

To the immediate right, Eliot in Puerto Rico posing in the Daily News. To the extreme right, Barack in Hawaii in this week's People (via the Hotline blog).

Who's next?

America is watching closely.

Give America a Raise With No Strings Attached

Three years ago, Working Families succeeded in raising the minimum wage here in New York state. Because of our work then, today New York's minimum wage is $7.15 an hour, while the federal minimum wage is stalled at $5.15 an hour.

We won't forget our brothers and sisters across the country. Raising the minimum wage nationwide will help 13 million working families come closer to making ends meet and put more money into the economy.

Working Families supported Democrats for Congress in 2006 because, in each case, they were the better candidates. Our votes give us the opportunity to hold them accountable for their promises. The "First 100 Hours" of the new Congress is not too soon for us to start using our power.

With Democrats now running Congress, the U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this Wednesday to increase the minimum wage and give working families across America a raise. But some politicians are trying to hijack the bill and slip in budget-busting tax cuts.

Across the board, New York's Democratic House members said they would support increasing the minimum wage. Now we need to hold them to their campaign promise and let them know how we want them to vote. The House needs to pass a clean bill to raise the minimum wage with no strings attached – no favors for powerful interests or budget-busting tax cuts.

Tell your U.S. Representative that you want the House to pass a clean bill to raise the minimum wage on Wednesday at
http://www.workingfamiliesparty.org/takeaction
Together, we can give America a raise!

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Back in Action

WFP Blog is back. Look for posts on increasing the minimum wage and updates on the WFP 2007 Priorities Survey. And does anyone else smell the gas smell covering NYC?

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Sunday, January 07, 2007

Subway Hero Is Local 79 Shop Steward

The inspiring story of Wesley Autrey, the construction worker who leaped onto subway tracks to save a young man's life has captivated the attention of New Yorkers.

We learn from Laborers' Local 79, that Mr. Autrey is a union member and shop steward:

"Giving a brother or sister a hand up is what our union is all about," said Laborers' General President Terence M. O'Sullivan. "Laborers do that every day on construction sites and in public service, but what Brother Autrey did is simply beyond heroic. His courage fills the hearts of each of the Laborers' Union 700,000 members with pride."

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Working Families Response to Spitzer's State of the State

Working Families Responds to State-of-the-State:

Proposed Property Tax Cut a Good First Step But . . .

Pressing Needs Demand Restoring Revenue from Wealthiest NY-ers

New York, NY – The reduction in property taxes paid by working families proposed by Gov. Eliot Spitzer in his State of the State address today is a good first step, but the measures don’t go nearly far enough in restoring progressivity to the overall state and local tax scheme, according to Working Families, an independent political party in New York.

In his State of the State address today, Gov. Spitzer proposed measures to reduce property taxes paid by low-income, working and middle-class families in New York. "Reducing property taxes paid by working families is a good first step towards a much-needed re-allocation of tax distribution in New York," said Dan Cantor, executive director of Working Families.

"The next and most important step is to make sure the wealthiest New Yorkers are really paying their fair share of taxes," Cantor continued. "The State should repeal the upper-income tax cuts passed in the 'Rip Van Winkle' era of Gov. Pataki."

"Gov. Spitzer often claims to take inspiration from Teddy Roosevelt. We also want him to aspire to the ideal of cousin Franklin," said Cantor, referring to the progressive income tax structure that prevalent during the New Deal.

"The 'One New York' reform plan proposed by the Fiscal Policy Institute is an excellent model for comprehensive reform that restores real progressivity to New York's revenue model. Without this kind of reform, it will be extremely difficult to meet the educational needs of low-income school districts, the economic development needs of Upstate and the health care needs of every New Yorker," said Cantor.

Working Families also commented on other aspects of Spitzer's agenda:
  • Gov. Spitzer's campaign commitment to meeting the funding needs of New York's public schools "by dramatically increase[ing] investment" is essential to the future economic and social health of the state.
  • We share Gov. Spitzer's objective of achieving universal health care in New York and urge the Governor not to compromise that goal with "restructuring" and cuts that actually impair the delivery of health care to those who can least afford it.
  • Reform of the workers compensation system that punches holes in the safety net for disabled workers would be a disastrously backward step in social policy.

Working Families is a grassroots, community and labor based political party with chapters throughout New York State. The goal of Working Families is to more forcefully inject the issues of working-class, middle-class, and poor people - like jobs, health care, education, and housing - into the public debate, and hold candidates and elected officials accountable on those issues. Working Families received more than 155,000 votes for Eliot Spitzer for Governor in 2006.

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Friday, December 29, 2006

Goodyear Strike Settled

Good news: The Steelworkers union voted to approve a new contract at Goodyear. Goodyear workers will be back at work on January 2nd. More than 10,000 members voted and the contract was approved by more than two-to-one. Both a majority of the locals and a majority of the overall membership voted to approve the new contract.

Congratulations!

Solidarity at Goodyear has more. Here's the USW press release:
USW Members at Goodyear Ratify New Three-Year Contract as 86-day Strike Ends

All striking Steelworker to return beginning on January 2

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that a new contract at Goodyear Tire and Rubber was approved at all Locals and overall by membership by more than a two-to-one margin. More than 10,000 USW-represented members voted at the 12 locations where 14,000 Steelworkers struck on October 5. A majority of the majority principle applied meaning that a majority of the locals as well as a majority of the overall membership voted to accept the Tentative Agreement as the new contract.

"The credit really belongs to our members and their families, whose solidarity prevented the company from short-changing them, despite all of its attempts," said USW International president Leo W. Gerard. "Special thanks go out again to all of our AFL-CIO union affiliates, activist groups, community organizations, businesses and public officials who not only understood our struggle, but stood shoulder-to-shoulder with us."

"It took a strike, but we achieved a fair and equitable contract that protects quality health care for active and retired members," said USWA executive vice president Ron Hoover. "And by winning major capital investment expenditures, it secures our jobs for the future."

The new contract establishes a company-financed trust of more than $1 billion that will secure medical and prescription drug benefits for current and future retirees. Future contributions will include diverted COLA (cost of living allowances) payments and profit-sharing funds. Affordable, high quality medical and prescription drug coverage for its active and retired membership was also maintained.

"To secure jobs, we had to obtain enough money to keep our plants globally competitive," said USW International vice president Tom Conway. "The $550 million in new capital expenditure commitments is the result of our objective of enhancing the ability of USW-represented plants to meet the challenges of the international marketplace."

The new contract that requires Goodyear to rescind its demand for immediate closure of its Tyler, Texas plant, and provides for a one-year period of transition during which workers will have the opportunity to take advantage of sizeable retirement buyouts.

"It's a bittersweet outcome," said Kevin Johnsen, USW-Goodyear Contract Coordinator. "We wanted to win Tyler protected status like the other plants, but we only got it for 2007. Still the company has committed to building the Tyler ticket in USW-plants as long as the company stays in those markets." That commitment will prevent the company from outsourcing that work or servicing this market segment with imports.

The Tentative Agreement was endorsed by the USW's Goodyear Policy Committee, composed of local union leaders from the 12 facilities involved in the contract talks on December 22. Members were presented with a Summary of the Tentative Agreement at informational meetings held on December 27 and 28. The ratification votes also took place on Wednesday and Thursday.

The new contract covers tire and engineered product plants in: Akron, St. Marys and Marysville, Ohio; Gadsden, Ala.; Buffalo, New York; Lincoln, Nebraska; Topeka, Kansas; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Danville, Virginia; Tyler, Texas; Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; and, Union City, Tennessee.

Negotiations between the USW and Goodyear began in June of this year. With a contract expiration date of July 22, 2006 approaching, a day-to-day extension agreement was reached that gave both parties the option of terminating the agreement upon delivering 72-hour notice. Lack of progress in bargaining talks forced the USW to delivered notice on October 2 and 15,000 USW members in 16 plants throughout North America struck on October 5.

The USW represents more than 850,000 members in the U.S. and Canada. Some 70,000 are employed in the tire, rubber and plastics industry.
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