IBEW Local 96 News

It's the Height of Audacity to Claim a Skilled Worker "Shortage"

George — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 10:12:13 -0400

When 20% Percent of American Skilled Craft Workers Are Unemployed

Source: The Huffington Post (8/31/10)

America Is Strong When Our Unions Are Strong

George — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 09:51:08 -0400

America was formed as a government of, by and for We, the People. It says so right in the first words of our Constitution. To get that Constitution we rebelled against the King and England's aristocracy and their corporations, with their concentrated wealth and power. And we continued that fight and over time we extended our system of one-person-one-vote, adding women and minorities to that equation.

Source: The Campaign for America’s Future (8/30/10)

The Campaign for America’s Future is the strategy center for the progressive movement. Our goal is to forge the enduring progressive majority needed to realize the America of shared prosperity and equal opportunity that our country was meant to be.

Missing the labor movement

George — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 07:40:09 -0400

I miss the labor movement. Of course I know unions are around, but they’re not what they used to be.

Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (8/27/10)

Electrical Wire Recalled by Cerro Wire due to Fire Hazard

George — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:27:38 -0400

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Website (8/18/10)

Worcester Company and Owner Plead Guilty, Ordered to Pay $500,000 in Restitution for Wage Law Violations, Insurance & Tax Fraud

George — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 08:43:36 -0400

A Worcester man and his company both plead guilty in Worcester Superior Court on 65 counts of violating the Massachusetts wage and hour laws, and committing insurance and tax fraud. Tam Vuong, age 35, and his company, Labor Solutions, Inc., pled guilty to the charges and were ordered to pay $500,000 in restitution and to serve 5 years probation.

Source: Massachusetts Attorney General's Press Release (8/20/10)

Everett Construction Company Debarred for Three Months and Agrees to Pay Nearly $55,000 for Wage Violations

George — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 08:09:25 -0400

Teles Construction, Inc., and its president, Juliano Teles Fernandes, age 29, of Salisbury, have agreed to pay nearly $40,000 in restitution to 44 employees, and a $15,000 penalty to the Commonwealth.

Source: Massachusetts Attorney General's Press Release (8/17/2010)

Governor Patrick Signs Workers’ Compensation ‘Private Right of Action’ Bill Into Law

George — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 13:03:30 -0400

The enactment of the Private Right of Action bill is a significant victory for the Labor Movement and all honest employers in the commonwealth, as the new law will finally hold accountable employers who cheat on their workers’ compensation insurance premiums and level the playing field for honest employers who play by the rules.

Source: Massachusetts AFL-CIO (8/11/10)

Norwell alarm company faces ban from public projects

George — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 07:59:02 -0400

A Norwell company that supplies fire alarm systems to many local school districts faces a two-year ban from bidding on public projects in Massachusetts after an investigation of anti-competitive tactics.

Source: The Patriot Ledger (8/6/10)

OSHA sets $16M fine in Conn. power plant blast

George — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 16:51:43 -0400

The fines, the third-highest imposed for a single accident, stem from 371 alleged safety and workplace violations at the Kleen Energy Systems natural gas power plant in Middletown.

Source: Worcester Telegram & Gazette (8/5/10)

State Contractor Rigged Bids?

George — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 09:35:38 -0400

The I-Team has learned a well-known South Shore electronics company has now been suspended by the state. The Patrick administration believes thousands of taxpayer dollars could be at stake.

Source: I-Team Investigates (WBZ) (8/4/10)