March 10, 2008 - Volume 1, Issue 50
**CORRECTION: Spotlight erroneously reported last week that six chapters of the California Teachers Association had joined the California Labor Federation. In fact, the CTA chapters have affiliated with central labor councils, not the state federation. The corrected story appears below. We regret any confusion this may have caused.
California Teachers Association Chapters Join AFL-CIO
Thanks to a new agreement between the AFL-CIO and the National Education Association (NEA), six chapters of the California Teachers Association (the state association of the national NEA) this week affiliated with the National AFL-CIO and regional central labor councils.
“Education programs throughout the state are facing drastic budget cuts, and nearly every school district will be affected,” said Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer of the California Labor Federation. “These affiliations are a fundamental step towards defending quality public education for our children.”
The six affiliated chapters represent 6,000 teachers from Fremont Unified District Teachers Association, Hartnell College Faculty Association in Salinas, Hayward Education Association, Oakland Education Association, San Leandro Teachers Association, and Eastside Teachers Association in Los Angeles. More chapters are expected to affiliate in the coming months.
Support Union Jobs at Southern California Rite Aid Stores
Historically, workers at Rite Aid stores throughout California have never had trouble forming and joining unions. However, Rite Aid has recently begun operating several non-union stores in southern California.
On Tuesday, San Diego area Rite Aid workers, UFCW members and allies will be holding a noontime rally at the area’s first non-union Rite Aid, 4455 Manchester Ave. in Encinitas. Everyone is welcome to attend, and lunch will be provided.
Contact Claudia Gonzalez at (619) 298-7772 ex. 169 for more information.
On Thursday, Rite Aid workers and supporters in the LA area will be forming a human billboard to support an ILWU union contract for more than 600 workers. Rite Aid has launched an aggressive anti-union campaign to keep the distribution center workers from forming the union. The rally will take place from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. outside of Rite Aid’s customer support center, 2801 West Ave. H, in Lancaster. All are encouraged to attend with union banners and colors.
To learn more, contact Marcy Rein at (510) 847-4443 or marcy.rein@ilwu.org
Judge Awards $5M to Chinese Daily News Workers
A federal judge has awarded more than $5 million to workers at the Chinese Daily News. The lawsuit was brought by 200 employees and involved violations dating back to 2000.
The court case, filed in 2004, was based specifically on the company's wage and hour law violations, in some cases forcing employees to work 12 hours or more, six days a week, without breaks.
In 2001, employees at the newspaper voted to unionize, but the company contested the election and refused to recognize the union. In the years afterwards, the company fired two union leaders and routinely harassed, shamed and threatened supporters.
A jury awarded damages of $2.5 million last year, which trial Judge Consuelo Marshall last week combined with nearly $2.7 million in penalties and interest. All of the $5.19 million awarded will go the workers.