Market Populists Go to the 6th Circle of Hell

Mar-ket Pop-u-list: noun

One who embraces the economic philosophy of the free market, globalisation, and free trade with a religious furvor. Market populists must show absolute loyalty to the whims of the almighty deity that is the free market at all times. Customs of the faith include: daily devotion and reflection on the sacred texts of the New York Times and the Wall Street Jounal, kneeling in prayer twice a day in the general direction of the NYSE at 9:30 AM EST, and at 4:30 PM EST, and denouncing heretics who do not share the faith whenever they are met.

 

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Before we became obsessed with the idea that markets dictate the success of nations and people, we had a decent thing going. During the post World War 2 boom, the American people experienced an unprecedented success, and the middle class was created. This was not a natural phenomenon. Rather, the creation of the middle class was the result of progressive tax policies, strong labor unions, and heavy regulation from a state still wary from the Depression.

more:  http://urlet.com/remember.circled

Big Victories for Partnership for Working Families and Affiliates

Our friends at the Partnership for Working Families (PWF) and its affiliate organizations do amazing work. So it’s not surprising they are winning big victories – most recently in Pittsburgh and San Francisco, and hopefully another in San Jose this fall.

PWF affiliates work to ensure that low and middle income workers and communities share in the benefit of economic growth and development. Often, they campaign for community benefits agreements (CBAs) – legally binding contracts signed by developers and community coalitions that spell out a set of community benefits that the developer must provide as part of a development project.

http://urlet.com/virg.unable

http://clawback.org

After 75 Years, the Working Poor Still Struggle for a Fair Wage NYTIMES OPINION

After 75 Years, the Working Poor Still Struggle for a Fair Wage

By ADAM COHEN
Published: June 17, 2008

NY TIMES

At the height of the Great Depression, industry convinced President Franklin Roosevelt and Congress to enact a law allowing companies to collude to drive up prices. To balance out this giveaway to big business, the law gave workers something that they had long been  fighting for: the first federal minimum wage.

This week marks the 75th anniversary of the National Industrial Recovery Act — which Roosevelt signed June 16, 1933, at the end of his famous first 100 days — and of the federal minimum wage.

 

….{snip}….
 ensuring that people who work hard can achieve a reasonable standard of living.

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The minimum wage continues to have powerful enemies. Businesses that pay low wages lobby strongly against increases, arguing that they cause jobs to disappear. The Bush administration has been hostile.  When Elaine Chao was nominated to be the next labor secretary, she called for states to be able to opt out of the federal minimum wage — which would destroy the whole idea of a national minimum wage.

….{snip}….

 the minimum wage — which reaches $7.25 an hour in 2009 — is still far below where it was in the 1960s, in real dollars.
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The minimum wage can play a vital role in lifting hard-working families above the poverty line. But as Roosevelt understood, it is also about something larger: what kind of country America wants to be.
“A self-supporting and self-respecting democracy,” he said in the Congressional message that accompanied the Fair Labor Standards Act, can plead “no economic reason for chiseling workers’ wages.”

–
Help for Eureka’s Working Poor:

http://eurekaworkers.org
http://highboldtage.com

Local Living Wage Ordinance Not Local - CASELAW

Local Living Wage Ordinance Not Local

Hayward, California has a “living wage” ordinance. This is a local law that requires employers to pay employees more than state or federal minimum wage. Such ordinances typically apply only to employers with city contracts, but San Francisco applies its local minimum wage ordinance to all employers.

….{snip}….

Hayward could require city contractors to pay employees under the Living Wage Ordinance, even though the work was performed outside of Hayward.

….{snip}….

http://urlet.com/spinoff.showed

http://shawvalenza.blogspot.com

Clarke Plaza, Saturday June 14th, Signature Gather, Free Concert, Living Wage

UPDATE this event cancelled. Sorry.

Clarke Plaza, Saturday June 14th, Signature Gather, Free Concert, Living Wage  

 
Hello Friends,

I will be out gathering signatures in the area of Clarke Plaza at 3rd and E Streets in Eureka tomorrow, saturday June 14th form noon til 2 pm.  There will be live music there.

I will be gathering signatures for both the Eureka Fair Compensation Act ( a $10.00 an hour minimum wage that is desperately needed by our working people) and for the Eureka Youth Protection Act (to end themilitary recruitment of our children under 18 in Eureka.)  Our
brothers and sisters in Arcata have already validated their initiative and we need to do the same.

Please come join me if you wish to become involved.  We need unpaid volunteers that can spend 2 to 3 hours per week gathering signatures in public spaces.  You must be a registered voter within the Eureka city limits to gather signatures, though others may help us in other
ways.

thank you and have a peaceful day,
Bill

PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND COMRADES IN EUREKA

Below is a story of interest to the living wage movement:
http://highboldtage.wordpress.com/2008/06/13/court-cintas-corp-ignored-hayward-living-wage-laws/

Court: Cintas Corp. ignored Hayward work laws
Tyche Hendricks, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, June 13, 2008

In a precedent-setting ruling for cities across California, a state appeals court this week upheld Hayward’s living wage ordinance as constitutional and ordered Cintas Corp., a laundry business that had contracted with the East Bay city, to pay $1.4 million in back wages, interest and penalties to 219 workers.

–
Help for Eureka’s Working Poor:

http://eurekaworkers.org
http://highboldtage.com

Court: Cintas Corp. ignored Hayward living wage laws

Court: Cintas Corp. ignored Hayward work laws

Tyche Hendricks, Chronicle Staff Writer

Friday, June 13, 2008

In a precedent-setting ruling for cities across California, a state appeals court this week upheld Hayward’s living wage ordinance as constitutional and ordered Cintas Corp., a laundry business that had contracted with the East Bay city, to pay $1.4 million in back wages, interest and penalties to 219 workers.

 http://urlet.com/unfortunately.consisting

 

Eureka Living Wage Yahoo Group Email Discussion

 

You are invited to join the Eureka Living Wage Discussion at Yahoogroups!

You may join by visiting the groups web address at:

 

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LivingWageEureka

 

and click the “join” link or you can subscribe via email by sending a blank email to :

livingwageeureka-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

 

and then reply to the confirmation email.  Anonymous email subscriptions are fine. 

Group Email Addresses

Post message:	LivingWageEureka@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe:	LivingWageEureka-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe:	LivingWageEureka-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
List owner:	LivingWageEureka-owner@yahoogroups.com

Do You Own A Business In Eureka?

Do you own a business in Eureka and do you already pay your employees $10.00 an hour or more?  We know that many local businesses already pay their employees a decent wage.  If you do, please let us know and we will happily plug your business on one of our websites for free. 
WE THE PEOPLE  behind the drive to raise the minimum wage in Eureka SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES. 
Although this ordinance is obviously designed to help our low paid brothers and sisters we believe that it will benefit local businesses as well because it will put more money in the hands of YOUR CUSTOMERS.  Wages paid locally STAY LOCAL. It will discourage big box retailers from coming here.  It will force large national chains to pay wages competitive to what you are paying now.  It will raise sales tax revenue for the city.  Your employees will be happier.

In addition to featuring your business on our website we also have window placards available for you to display.

You can find more information on the Eureka Fair Compensation Act and
the Living Wage Movement at the following sites:

http://fairchance.us
http://eurekaworkers.org
http://highboldtage.com

You can contact us at fairchance@fairchance.us or bill@eurekaworkers.org

Please feel free to forward this email  to your contacts in Eureka who may find it of interest.

Have a peaceful day,
Bill

bill@hippiemail.com

INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS

The City Attorney of Eureka has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:

AN INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH A MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE CITY OF EUREKA

If approved by the voters, this initiative would enact an ordinance requiring most employers to pay a special higher minimum wage for employees working within the geographical boundaries of the City of Eureka. Beginning on January 1, 2009, that wage would be not less than $10.00-per-hour. Beginning January 1, 2010, that wage would be tied to go up with any increases in the California state minimum wage (currently $8.00-per-hour), plus $2.00-per-hour. Non-profit corporations and businesses that employ fewer than ten persons during a given week would be required to pay employees $9.00-per-hour beginning January 1, 2009; $9.50-per-hour beginning January 1, 2010; and $10.00-per-hour beginning January 11, 2011. The ordinance, if approved, would be implemented and enforced by the City of Eureka’s Community Development Department, which would have the ability to levy administrative citations against employers found to be in violation of the ordinance. Additionally, the ordinance would be subject to civil enforcement by the City Attorney or any qualified members of the public. All or any portion of the ordinance would not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement with differing terms. The ordinance would require all employers to post, in a conspicuous place, the current minimum wage rate and the employees’ rights under the ordinance, with a translation in any other language spoken by at least five percent of the employees at the workplace or job site. The ordinance would also require employers to retain payroll records for a period of four years and provide for inspections of those records. The ordinance would also prohibit retaliation by any employer against any employee for exercising his or her rights under the ordinance.

Do you work in Eureka? Are your LOW WAGES getting you down?

Do you work in Eureka?  Are your LOW WAGES getting you down?  There is a petition you can sign that will raise the minimum wage in Eureka to $10.00 per hour if it reaches the ballot and if it is passed by the voters.

If you want to sign look for us in OLD  TOWN Eureka during Arts Alive this Saturday.  You can also sign at Hasbeans on Friday and Saturday from 4 to 6 pm.

You can find more information on the Eureka Fair Compensation Act and the Living Wage Movement at the following sites:

http://fairchance.us
http://eurekaworkers.org
http://highboldtage.com

You can contact us at fairchance@fairchance.us or bill@eurekaworkers.org

WE NEED VOLUNTEERS TO CIRCULATE PETITIONS!  You must be a registered voter in Eureka City limits and prepared to work 2 to 4 hours per week gathering signatures.  Thank you.  The success of this action depends upon YOU.

INITIATIVE MEASURE TO BE SUBMITTED DIRECTLY TO THE VOTERS

The City Attorney of Eureka has prepared the following title and summary of the chief purpose and points of the proposed measure:

AN INITIATIVE TO ESTABLISH A MINIMUM WAGE FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WORKING IN THE CITY OF EUREKA

   If approved by the voters, this initiative would enact an ordinance requiring most employers to pay a special higher minimum wage for employees working within the geographical boundaries of the City of Eureka. Beginning on January 1, 2009, that wage would be not less than $10.00-per-hour. Beginning January 1, 2010, that wage would be tied to go up with any increases in the California state minimum wage (currently $8.00-per-hour), plus $2.00-per-hour. Non-profit corporations and businesses that employ fewer than ten persons during
a given week would be required to pay employees $9.00-per-hour beginning January 1, 2009; $9.50-per-hour beginning January 1, 2010; and $10.00-per-hour beginning January 11, 2011.
   The ordinance, if approved, would be implemented and enforced by the City of Eureka’s Community Development Department, which would have the ability to levy administrative citations against employers
found to be in violation of the ordinance. Additionally, the ordinance would be subject to civil enforcement by the City Attorney or any
qualified members of the public.
   All or any portion of the ordinance would not apply to employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement with differing terms.
   The ordinance would require all employers to post, in a conspicuous place, the current minimum wage rate and the employees’ rights under the ordinance, with a translation in any other language spoken by at least five percent of the employees at the workplace or job site. The ordinance would also require employers to retain payroll records for a period of four years and provide for inspections of those records. The ordinance would also prohibit retaliation by any employer against any employee for exercising his or her rights under
the ordinance.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO A FRIEND IN EUREKA.

HAVE A PEACEFUL DAY,

BILL

 

City of Vallejo’s $100K-plus Earners

During the calendar year 2007, there were 292 City of Vallejo employees who had total gross wages of $100,000 or more. Find out who they were, what departments they worked for and how much they made by searching that database below.

To perform a search, you can leave the fields blank or on “select” if you want broad results. For more narrow results, you can enter a person’s name or select from the drop-down menus. (The data was provided by the City of Vallejo’s Finance Department)

http://www.sfgate.com/webdb/vallejo/

Recent Chronicle coverage of the Vallejo budget crisis:

Vallejo’s fire union partied on city’s dime March 12, 2008

A closer look at Vallejo’s woes March 10, 2008

Vallejo City Council OKs short-term budget fix March 4, 2008

Vallejo budget agreement to avoid bankruptcy March 2, 2008

Vallejo, unions set cost-cutting deal February 29, 2008

Vallejo in danger of declaring bankruptcy February 21, 2008