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NALC member and Aurora letter carrier Suzie Murray (left) and a volunteer unload donated food during Saturday’s Stamp Out Hunger event at the USPS processing facility on Broadway Avenue in Aurora.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Aurora area letter carriers collected about 26,000 pounds of food May 12 during the 20th annual Stamp Out Hunger event.
It was the 19th year Aurora has participated, and the food collected for those in need totalled about 31,000 pounds, including surrounding communities. The Stamp Out Hunger food drive is the nation’s largest single day food drive, having collected more than one billion pounds of food since its inception in 1993.
In 2011, generous Americans donated 70.2 million pounds of food, which marked the eighth consecutive year that at least 70 million pounds were collected.
Head organizer, Aurora letter carrier and National Association of Letter Carriers Local 219 Trustee Mary Kluber said donations were down about 6,000 pounds since last year, but she’s not discouraged.
“I really think it just means people don’t have the extra food to give. Everyone’s struggling,” she said. “The way I look at it, this is 31,000 more pounds of food than what people had to eat before. So I’m glad we did it, and I’m happy with the totals.”
Aurora letter carrier Suzie Murray was busy May 12, unloading postal service boxes full of food from her van at the Aurora processing facility on Broadway Avenue. She’s been a letter carrier in Aurora nearly 10 years and participated in the Stamp Out Hunger drive every year.
She said her favorite part of the job is being independent, out in the neighborhood talking to the people on her route on the west side of the city, but she’s noticed more housing foreclosures in the last few years.
“It’s a good feeling to collect food for those in need. The last few years, yeah, we haven’t collected as much food. I just think money’s tight,” she said.
A recent survey conducted by Feeding America, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief organization, found that nearly half (46 percent) of households served reported having to choose between paying a utility bill or purchasing food. This is a decision that hits close to home for many letter carriers as postal facilities are shut down throughout the country, and hours are cut back.
Murray said she is opposed to the Postal Service moving to a proposed five day delivery schedule. She’s happy to walk her five mile per day route even on Saturday, during the winter.
“Things will be delayed if we go five days. Not a lot of people realize they need things delivered on Saturday. Medications, paychecks, bills,” she said.
Kluber looks forward to organizing the Aurora food drive for years to come, and thanks all those who help out.
“All the volunteers are a Godsend. By the end of the day I’m glad it’s over, it’s a lot of work for us,” she said. “But we’re so happy when this food goes to people. Our hearts go out to them, I really hope we’re helping people. And of course, I’m already coming up with ideas on what to do next year to make the food drive even better.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

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IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger told the crowd of union members and their families that they should never give up the fight for a fair contract.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
JOLIET — An estimated 500 union workers arrived by bus, car, foot, motorcycle and bicycle May 11 to rally in solidarity with the striking machinists outside the Caterpillar plant in Joliet.
While Caterpillar’s history of union busting policies weighed heavily on everyone’s mind, several speakers took to the portable stage in front of the plant to remind the 780 workers that they do not stand alone.
“Brothers and sisters. Look around you. You are not alone. Do you see red?” asked Steve Jones, directing business representative of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 851. Jones repeated the question after taking the stage in between speakers, referencing the red T-shirts that everyone wore in solidarity.
“For America to be strong, the middle class must be strong,” said Congressional candidate Bill Foster as he took the stage. “Let’s not forget that the middle class needs a champion, and labor is that champion.”
Foster said he believed Caterpillar should share its 2011 profit of more than $4 billion.
“There used to be an understanding that if companies were doing well, they would share their wealth in good times,” he said. “Not any more.”
Back at the main Caterpillar gate, everyone was on their best behavior as they picketed while at least six security guards and two police officers stood watch. Gone were the over the top taunts to every car earlier that week that dared enter the Caterpillar grounds.
“We just don’t want to give them a reason to shut us down, so we toned it down,” said a man on the picket line.
Dozens of others lined Channahon Road, holding signs and getting honks of encouragement from passing motorists.
Back at the stage, Congressional candidate Tammy Duckworth used the opportunity to voice her disdain for Caterpillar the company.
She explained how she and her husband had invested in Caterpillar stock years ago when she received a payment from the government over her military injuries.
“I’m a stockholder. We believed in the company back then and what it stood for. Now, this is not OK. I don’t like this,” she said.
Local Lodge 851 President Tim O’Brien said he was proud of his membership for showing up in strong numbers.
“I’m proud of the membership standing tall at the picket lines and coming out today,” he said. “We’re showing this company that we mean business.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

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Aurora police officer Pedro Rodriguez is emotional as Aurora Police Chief Gregory Thomas presents him with the Aurora Exchange Club’s Officer of the Year award.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Officer Pedro Rodriguez of the Aurora Police Department said he re-lives the actions that he took everyday during the fateful drive home of Jan. 7, 2011.
Rodriguez, a 12 year veteran of the force, was awarded the Aurora Exchange Club’s Police Officer of the Year award May 15 for his actions that day.
Rodriguez had just finished his shift and picked up his 13-year-old daughter from school. At about 3:30 p.m., as he was driving his personal vehicle northbound on Fifth Street at South Avenue, he saw a subject shooting a revolver at a group of other teenagers.
Officer Rodriguez, who was in full uniform, stopped and exited his vehicle after telling his daughter to “get down.” He confronted the gunman as the offender chased one of the other teens across Fifth Avenue with the gun still in his hand.
Rodriguez identified himself as an Aurora Police officer and ordered the subject to drop the gun. The offender refused, continued to run toward the other teen, turned toward Rodriguez and pointed the gun at him.
Fearing for both his life and that of his daughter, Officer Rodriguez fired, fatally wounding the suspect. When the assailant fell to the ground, Rodriguez immediately radioed for medical assistance for the offender who was a 15 year old Aurora juvenile.
Rodriguez said he was overwhelmed with emotion when it was announced he won the award.
“When the event is talked about, you tend to re-live it in your mind. I re-live it everyday,” he said.
Rodriguez said he credits his training for ensuring a positive outcome that day.
“You have to make quick decisions and not second guess yourself,” he said. “People say I didn’t decide that person’s fate that day, they did.”
This year’s keynote speaker at the event was Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon, who credited Rodriguez with protecting lives.
“We don’t celebrate death, we celebrate life here today, which Officer Rodriguez served to protect. I thank all the officers here for their dedication. With that, Aurora will continue to be a great place to work, live and raise a family.”
Four other officers were nominated for displaying outstanding efforts during 2011. Special Operations Group Investigators Nick Gartner, Chris Converse, and Abel Villanueva, whose actions resulted in attempted murder and other felony charges against four men in connection with a July 20 shooting.
Also, Investigator Robert Myint was nominated for establishing the needed resources to investigate the possession and trafficking of child pornography in Aurora. He also networked with child pornography investigators from other law enforcement agencies to gain knowledge and experience and eventually enlisted their assistance on cases being worked by Aurora Police.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
ELGIN — The audience of educators at the meeting in Elgin May 12 feared the only way for people to take action is during a crisis. In terms of teacher’s pensions and solving the state budget woes, Illinois may be in that crisis already.
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has proposed solving Illinois’ budget crisis by dramatically changing the public school teachers retirement system. As of last year, the pension system was $43.8 billion under-funded.
Quinn has been supported by the Illinois Policy Institute in looking to reduce state payouts to Illinois schools to cover teacher pensions, and proposing initiatives that would pass retirement costs along to schools.
Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice hosted a panel of education experts that spoke about the current issues teachers are dealing with today, and how to possibly solve them.
“Illinois doesn’t have a pension problem, it has a serious revenue problem,” said Maria Owens, a career educator with more than 30 years in education. “The future doesn’t look good under these proposed cuts. We’ll have teacher shortages, an increased burden to homeowners, inequality of education across the state, negative economic effects, poorly producing schools, and an under-educated work force.”
Dan Kenney, a fourth grade teacher in the DeKalb School District, agreed. He said teachers that usually received excellent ratings from state review boards are now receiving satisfactory scores merely because a mandate was handed down that too many excellent scores were being given.
He also said the reality is that many students come from poverty.
“It’s about poverty. We don’t want to face the facts that 22 percent of our students are living in poverty and what that means for learning,” he said.
According to the Illinois Policy Institute report findings, the pension system in Illinois asks public school teachers to pay almost 9.5 percent of their paychecks into the Teachers Retirement System. Yet teachers pay less in two-thirds of all districts in the state, and some don’t contribute at all.
Under Quinn’s proposal, teachers would experience a 3 percentage point increase in the member contribution, from 9.4 percent to 12.4 percent. The retirement age will be gradually increased over several years to age 67.
Upon retirement, the cost of living adjustment (COLA) will be changed from 3 percent compounded to a COLA that is capped at 3 percent or one-half of the consumer price index, whichever is less. The new COLA is not compounded. Also, a member’s COLA will not begin until 5 years of retirement, or age 67, whichever comes first.
“The future of our country depends on what is going on in our schools. We are abandoning public education. We can’t let this happen,” said Kenney.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

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Machinists from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 851 picket in front of the Joliet Caterpillar plant May 8.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
JOLIET — The men striking in front of the Caterpillar plan in Joliet May 8 were thankful for the sunny weather.
“It felt like a monsoon here yesterday, it seems it’s been raining almost every day since we started out here,” said machinist Dan Frey, who has been working at Caterpillar for 34 years. He joined about 20 other men from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 851 on the picket line, raising signs, waving at passing supporters, and jeering at others who turned into the plant.
The strike began May 1 at 12:01 a.m., with about 800 workers walking off the job. They strike in different shifts in front of the plant, 24 hours a day, and they plan to be there awhile, with shade tents and plenty of water.
“We’re standing strong. All we are asking for is a fair contract,” said Local 851 President Timothy O’Brien, who was busy fixing picket signs that had grown tired from the constant wind.
O’Brien said the outreach from other unions has been great, with unions from as far away as Pennsylvania and Missouri showing their support.
“This is a union county. The outpouring of support is wonderful,” he said.
Many workers on the line have worked at Caterpillar for decades, and said they have seen many jobs outsourced to other countries, with a decrease in quality of the product, with no decrease in price to the consumer.
At stake for the workers is a proposed doubling or tripling of how much the machinists pay for health insurance. Pay cuts of up to $8 an hour are also on the table, as well as decreased overtime pay and pensions for senior members, all while Caterpillar recorded record breaking sales in 2011 and revenues of $60 billion.
“There’s only so much you can take, enough is enough,” said Frey.
A statement from Caterpillar spokesman Rusty Dunn said it’s business at usual at the plant, which manufactures hydraulic components for tractors.
“There are no significant new developments to report. The Joliet facility contingency plan is working effectively. While a work stoppage is not the desired outcome in a labor negotiation, the company was well-prepared for such a possibility,” wrote Dunn in an email. “The Joliet facility will remain open and we continue to run the business as normal to provide uninterrupted service to our customers. While no new talks are scheduled, the company has a fair, reasonable and comprehensive offer on the table. In the meantime, the Joliet facility will continue to work safely, meet production levels and conduct business as usual.”
As for the machinists, they will continue to picket until an agreement is reached.
“Caterpillar has deep pockets. They’ll make people suffer for awhile. Our members are standing strong,” said O’Brien.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
Instead of just carrying mail, letter carriers will carry food this May 12 to try and “Stamp Out Hunger.”
The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive is the world’s largest one-day food drive, and this Saturday marks the 20th anniversary.
Last year, Chicago letter carriers collected more than 167,000 pounds of food for Chicago families, and more than one billion pounds have been collected nationwide throughout the history of the program.
“We’re incredibly excited for the 20th anniversary of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive,” said Fredric V. Rolando, NALC president. “We’re asking people across the country for their support to make this year’s drive the most successful in its 20 year history. It’s so easy to make a donation: Simply leave a bag of non-perishable food by your mailbox to help neighbors in need. That’s all it takes.”
The need for food assistance continues to exist in every community in America, no matter how rich or poor.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s annual study measuring food security in the United States, the number of Americans living in food insecure homes reached nearly 49 million in 2011 (the most recent year that such data is available.)
More than 16 million children in America — more than 1 in 5 — are faced with the prospect of hunger.
To participate in the 20th annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, Americans are encouraged to leave a sturdy bag containing non-perishable foods, such as canned soup, canned vegetables, pasta, rice or cereal next to their mailbox prior to the time of regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 12.
The nation’s 210,000 letter carriers, representing nearly 1,500 NALC branches, will collect these food donations as they deliver the mail and take them to a local Feeding America food bank or hunger-relief organization in more than 10,000 communities.
Feeding America provides food assistance to 37 million Americans every year. According to Feeding America, one in eight Americans relies on the organization for food and groceries, and the organization distributes 3 billion pounds of donated food and grocery products annually.
For more information about the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com or www.facebook.com/StampOutHunger, and follow the drive at www.twitter.com/StampOutHunger.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
CHICAGO — Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced last week that the City of Chicago has reached an agreement with Laborers’ Local 1001 to create a new position type, which is projected to save more than $30 million in taxpayer savings over the next six years.
The new position, which utilizes a work rule change, will be a hybrid position that is trained for work in all manner of jobs under the City’s Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS), including tree trimming, graffiti removal, sanitation removal, and hand labor work. DSS will be able to move employees freely through the work types, based on workload.
“This is a perfect example of the City and labor working together to craft an innovative solution that protects jobs, saves taxpayer money, and allows us to provide services more efficiently,” said Mayor Emanuel. “These employees will be ready for success with this new position and training, and we are pleased to have crafted a deal that is a win for all involved.”
The hourly rate for the new employees will be $20, which is less than two-thirds of the current entry rate of $33 per hour. Additionally, going forward these employees will receive rate increases based on hours worked, not pre-negotiated rate increases.
A three-tiered rate system will be put in place, with premium pay for certain assignments, and the employees will be paid in accordance with the assignments on which they are actually working.
On an annual basis, the City hires about 50 employees for DSS, based on retirement and attrition. Over six years, the employees hired in the first year would save the city nearly $8 million. If the City continues to hire 50 new employees annually, the cumulative savings will be $30.4 million by 2017.
The deal was negotiated by representatives of Laborers Local 1001 and the City. DSS had significant input on the creation and makeup of the position, in order to ensure the position accurately meets the current daily needs the department faces.
In addition to the aforementioned features regarding rate of pay, the new positions will be probationary for four years instead of the current six months, have a veterans’ preference for hiring, and feature a training program that will help the new employees learn the skills to service all of these positions.
Additionally, the new agreement allows a Fitness for Duty exam, if a supervisor observes an inability to perform job duties.
“This agreement is proof positive of the results that can be achieved through the cooperation and partnership between Laborers’ Local 1001 and the City of Chicago,” said Lou Phillips, business manager for Laborers Local 1001. “This is a win-win, not only for our members but for every resident of the City of Chicago.”
The agreement was signed April 30, 2012 and is effective immediately.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

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Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean Claude Brizard speaks to the press May 4 at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences. Brizard announced a new five-year contract between UNITE Here Local 1 lunch workers and Chicago Public Schools.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
CHICAGO — Chicago’s lunchroom workers have struck a win-win deal with Chicago Public Schools, a move that will give them job security in the years to come, and will also give schoolchildren freshly prepared meals.
In addition to important improvements in wages, protecting health care and job security, the contract begins to change the food model in Chicago’s schools by halting any expansion of “frozen food” schools.
UNITE Here Local 1 President Henry Tamarin and Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean Claude Brizard met May 4 at the Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences to announce the new contract.
“We’re proud that the lunchroom workers brought the issue of palatable, freshly prepared food to the table,” said Tamarin. “It’s a fair settlement but we still have some work to do with the Board of Education. There are still some students in the system subjected to pre-packaged, frozen food every day from the time they start kindergarten to the time they leave 8th grade. All students deserve freshly prepared food.”
Included in the new 5-year union contract: Workers will receive a minimum 2 percent raise for at least two years and see a five-year freeze on converting “cooking” kitchens to “warming kitchens,” ensuring their jobs security. CPS will also actively solicit and incorporate input from lunchroom workers.
A “Good Food Committee,” with representatives from both the Board of Education and front line workers, will meet monthly to identify best practices regarding healthy food. A bi-annual survey of lunchroom workers will also be conducted to ensure worker input on menu or program changes in schools.
The agreement covers more than 3,200 lunchroom workers who prepare and serve more than 77,000 breakfasts and 280,000 lunches every day in more than 600 schools.
UNITE HERE Local 1 is the first of seven currently negotiating unions to reach a collective bargaining agreement with CPS and will also reap the rewards if the Chicago Teachers Union smartly negotiates a deal in the future. If teachers negotiate an additional raise throughout the five-year lunchroom workers contract, then the lunchroom workers are also entitled to that raise, per the terms of their new agreement.
“This is a great victory because our voice was heard. We have not only stopped the expansion of frozen food in our schools but also maintained our benefits and our jobs,” said Constance Hatchett, a 12-year CPS lunchroom cook from Hope Academy.
Nationally, UNITE HERE is working to transform the traditionally low-wage food service industry to an industry that provides affordable family health care, retirement security and respect on the job. Its Real Food Real Jobs program aims to involve front line workers in the movement to create sustainable food service models in schools, college cafeterias and beyond.

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

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Members of IBEW Local 701 picket April 30 in front of the interior renovation of the new PGA Tour Superstore in Downers Grove. The union members say the company is using out-of-state, non-union labor for the project.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
DOWNERS GROVE — A Warrenville union wants to spread the word that if a Downers Grove business won’t use local labor, then they don’t deserve local money from local shoppers.
“I just wanted to get the word out — why spend your hard earned money on them if they don’t support local labor?” said Bill Habel, the business agent for IBEW Local 701 in Warrenville.
Habel and four other members picketed outside the PGA Tour Superstore on Butterfield Road April 30, and they brought their inflatable rat. The 45,000 square foot former Rossi furniture store is currently being renovated, and plans to open this summer.
This will be the second PGA Tour Superstore in the Chicago area, after one opens in Schaumburg. There are 14 throughout the country.
Habel did talk to the foreman of the project, who acknowledged the union men were on public property. The Downers Grove police, called to the scene, agreed.
“We’re on a public easement, it’s small, but it’s here,” said Habel, who said he plans to picket sporadically this week.
The store is owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., whose chairman is Arthur Blank, owner of the Atlanta Falcons and retired Home Depot co-founder.
“I see a lot of labor coming from Georgia,” said Habel, who was observing license plates of the workers. “It’s not like they don’t have the resources. I’m not sure why they aren’t using unions, I know in most Home Depot projects, they used local union labor.”
Habel said unemployment sits at 25 percent in his union now.
“It’s at a plateau right now. We certainly would like the opportunity to work in there,” he said. “I’ve made several inquiries, if they were paying area standards, they would have told me. I assume they are not.”
Renovation on the store began in December 2011, with no definite opening announced.
“I know the unaware public is going to spend a ton of money in there without thought as to how it was built,” said Habel. “That’s not right. They should use local labor.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.

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Doug Widener, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council, Illinois chapter, said that green jobs will be the next boom. Carpenters, HVAC technicians, electricians and plumbers all should look into more training now, to take advantage of green jobs offered in the coming years.

By Pat Barcas
Staff Writer
OAK BROOK — Demand for green jobs will rise in the coming years, leaving business opportunities for contractors seeking to find jobs for unemployed members.
Green jobs are defined as those that stress the importance of energy and resource conservation, and according to the U.S. Green Building Council, they are a fast growing segment of the construction industry.
Doug Widener, executive director of the U.S. Green Building Council, Illinois chapter, spoke April 27 at CISCO’s 24th annual luncheon. He said Illinois is a stronghold for green building jobs.
According to Widener, Illinois ranks second per capita in the number of LEED certified buildings in the United States. Chicago is the number one city in the world for green buildings, containing more than 40 city buildings that are LEED certified.
“We are lucky to be in Illinois,” he said. “In the near future, Mayor Rahm Emanuel wants to double that figure.”
Creating jobs isn’t the only benefit of green construction. There are many benefits for tenants and owners as well.
“Buildings use a lot of energy. When you build green, there are economic benefits. Bills go down, the return on investment increases,” said Widener. “The occupancy rate increases. The reduced operating costs directly benefit the bottom line.”
It’s not just new construction either, Widener said retrofitting is becoming very popular as businesses try to save more money.
“The down economy gets people thinking about retrofitting,” he said. “In the upcoming years, we’ll be focusing on retrofits, which have opportunities for economic development and jobs.”
So where are the jobs?
Widener said they are coming. Major professions such as carpenters, HVAC technicians, electricians, and plumbers will see the biggest jump in the coming years, according to a McGraw-Hill study.
Another benefit is wages have been found to be 13 percent higher than average in the green field.
“The time is now. Start training. It’s time to prepare your workers to respond to these trends,” said Widener. “We want our union members to be well equipped to deal with this influx.”

Pat Barcas’ e-mail address is pat@foxvalleylabornews.com.