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Labor Day Trivia
In 1916, the first federal law creating an eight-hour workday at private companies was passed. Why was this law passed?
1) President Woodrow Wilson was very pro-union
2) The states had already mandated eight-hour workdays
3) Businesses were already doing this voluntarily
4) Railroad workers organized and threatened a nationwide strike
Scroll down to see answer.
Pension reform deal reached today
State legislators hammered out a deal with Gov. Brown on pension reform today, Aug. 28. The reform package dropped the governor’s proposed “hybrid” plan of including a 401(k) style benefit for workers. Instead, it places a cap on defined benefits for new employees.
SEIU 521’s Executive Board Member Matt Nathanson spoke on behalf of all SEIU members in a release issued to the media today:
“Anti-union forces are mobilized across the country to erode the retirement security of working families. We believe the debate should not be focused on the hardworking public employees that have pensions, but on the retirement security crisis affecting millions of Americans.”
What’s in the pension package? https://www.seiu521.org/pension-reform-deal
CalPERS Board will discuss pension reform impact on members
WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 29 at 1 p.m. or Thursday, Aug. 30 at 9 a.m.
HOW: Live webcast
Stay tuned for more updates on pension reform: https://www.seiu521.org/category/retirement-security
Come to the next 521 Pension Committee meeting
Wednesday, Aug. 29, 6-8 p.m.
Location: SEIU 521 offices in Bakersfield, Fresno, Salinas, San Jose and Visalia via video conference
RSVP to Hoan.Pham@seiu521.org
No on Prop. 32
With Labor Day coming up, we want to know why you oppose Prop. 32.
Tell us in one sentence why you are opposing this deceptive scheme, and we will include some of the best responses in our Labor Day email. You can also make your own “No on 32” sign, take a picture with it, then send it to us at communications@seiu521.org.
You can also submit your story or your photo here: http://521.seiu.org/whynoprop32
Have you signed your online pledge yet? http://521.seiu.org/pledge
Healthcare leaders agree: Eligibility work to be done by counties
Our campaign this summer to shine the spotlight on the critical decision-making process of the California Health Benefit Exchange showed how effective SEIU members can be when we join with allies to advocate for our work and for the clients we serve.
Congratulate our eligibilty workers: https://www.seiu521.org/ew-local
Kern County fights to release “Segal the Seagull”
The Kern County Board of Supervisors is at it again. This time, supervisors are withholding information from an audit of Kern County Employee healthcare benefits.
The Segal Report is about (or so we’ve heard) how county employees’ dollars are being spent and the report may also identify conflict of interest issues uncovered by the auditors.
Read more and see media coverage: https://www.seiu521.org/kernco-segal
Stay informed!
Visit your chapter web page frequently: https://www.seiu521.org
Click on the first tab “Go to My Workplace,” click on your region, then your chapter.
Sign up for text messages: https://www.seiu521.org/text
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Follow us on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/seiu521
Forward this email to your co-workers and encourage them to sign up for email updates: http://521.seiu.org/signup
Labor Day Trivia
In 1916, the first federal law creating an eight-hour workday at private companies was passed. Why was this law passed?
1) President Woodrow Wilson was very pro-union
2) The states had already mandated eight-hour workdays
3) Businesses were already doing this voluntarily
4) Railroad workers organized and threatened a nationwide strike
The answer: 4) The first federal law implementing an eight-hour day at private companies was the Adamson Act. It only covered railroad workers and was passed to avoid a nationwide railroad strike.
