“Workers on public projects deserve and are lawfully entitled to the same wages as those who labor in the private sector,” Thompson said. “Our prevailing wage laws are important to taxpayers who want high-quality construction work done safely and at a reasonable price. These laws are critical to workers who want to make a decent living and work in safe conditions, and important to honest contractors who want to compete fairly for jobs.”

Whether it be speaking against Housing Authority budget cuts that screw 500,000 New Yorkers, speaking in front of a packed union hall full of construction workers of how he will defend prevailing wage and punish those that choose to break those laws, or speaking in front of City Hall urging Mayor Bloomberg and the state to "Keep the Promises" on education funding, one thing is clear, that this son of a judge and a public school teacher and native Brooklyn resident, New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr., is continuing to fight tooth and nail for working class families and all who work in this city.


New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. joined the Keep the Promises Coalition at a City Hall rally on June 16, 2008 to protest proposed budget cuts to New York City public schools. Photo credit: Marla S. Maritzer

Thompson has had 2 press releases in the past 24 hours that show how he is fighting for construction workers, and fighting for us is not a new event. In fact since 2002, Comptroller Thompson has debarred 28 contractors from doing business with the City and State and assessed $5,832,416 in back wages and benefits and $833,282 in penalties.

Yesterday, Donna from Teamsters Local 237 pointed out a press release by Mr. Thompson which shows his strong support for 3 recent Bill's, such as NYS Assembly #11676, which according to the press release, would close loopholes in the labor laws that allow contractors and subcontractors who fail to comply with prevailing wage settlements and final orders to continue to bid on, and be awarded, public contracts. Similarly, the bill would allow the State Commissioner of Labor or the New York City Comptroller to seek to debar contractors who willfully obstruct a labor law investigation.

Check out the press release entitled "THOMPSON PUSHES FOR STRONGER LABOR LAWS (6/23/08)"

The second which I just stumbled upon today, is the comptrollers audit of the NY Dept. Of Buildings, in which Thompson states "“It is simply unacceptable that DOB has permitted buildings with multiple open hazardous violations to go un-inspected for years, even by DOB’s own admission these are the worst cases, yet it has stood by and let the violations go unchecked and put New Yorkers at risk.”

Check out the press release entitled "THOMPSON AUDIT: BUILDINGS DEPARTMENT FAILING TO ENSURE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS CORRECTED ACROSS THE CITY (6/23/08)" and the Letter to Mayor Bloomberg (PDF)

He's a guy I have met at my own union meetings and along with Suffolk District Attorney Thomas Spota, I was proud to say thank you and was glad I had a chance to shake their hand.

I leave you with his statements from March 20th. of this year at a UNITE HERE ceremony commemorating the 1911 fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory that killed 146 garment workers

"As we commemorate the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, we need to keep in mind that while much has been accomplished in the ninety-seven years since, more can and needs to be done to defend the rights and safety of our laborers.

As the guardian our City’s pension funds, I am inspired by organizations like UNITE HERE to work towards ensuring that the companies we invest in abide by fair labor practices.

I extend my deepest sympathies to the families of those brave victims. Your relatives did not die in vain. The tragedy that took place here led to increased fire safety awareness and new standards in building codes that to this day have saved tens of thousands of lives over the years."

From the Village Voice (4/10/08) :

Dressed in red amid the blues and grays of Wall Street, union leaders pounded drums and shouted over loudspeakers yesterday to add a voice of dissent among the limos and police protection that lined Front Street in the financial district during Goldman Sachs’ annual shareholders meeting. The Service Employees International Union organized the event to ask Sachs to pressure food service provider Aramark, in which the bank holds a 20% stake. As the rally went on outside the meeting, representatives from the union addressed shareholders to demand improved labor conditions at the food services giant. Current and former employees claim that Aramark provides unfair wages and fires workers who attempt to organize for better pay and benefits.

“I was trying to organize my co-workers so that we could get the things we need” said Antonio Gomez, a former worker at Houston’s Convention Center, where Aramark provides cleaning services. Gomez said he organized partly to remedy a lack of health care coverage and was subsequently fired by the company.

“When people would get sick or injured, [Aramark] would basically say ‘That’s your problem,’ and ‘If you can’t come to work, don’t bother coming back at all’” he said.

A press representative from Aramark declined to comment on these specific allegations, citing company policy on privacy, but disputed the union's claims more generally, saying that the company provides competitive wages and benefits. The company also said it has a 50-year relationship with unions nationwide, including SEIU.

“As a services business we rely on the quality of services provided by our employees, for that reason we make an effort to provide competitive wages” said Christine Grow, a press representative for Aramark. “A vast majority of our employees have access to health care benefits.”

The workers came to the Goldman Sachs meeting after a nationwide fact-finding tour of sites run by Aramark and say that they want to put a human face on the decisions Sachs makes as a primary stakeholder in Aramark. The union said many of these problems began when Aramark went private. Their list of concerns extends from the company shortchanging school districts in Detroit on bulk-order food to 33 major health-code violations at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, CA.
(continued)Read Full Story

From CNN Money (4/10/08) *Abridged

Late Wednesday afternoon, workers also went to the offices of Warburg Pincus and CCMP Capital, two of Aramark's other private-equity buyers, where they spoke to representatives of the firms. "They were polite enough to listen to us, but they said the big bosses were in a meeting," says Mark Williams, who works for Aramark at the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia.

"Since the private equity deal, the company has become more arrogant," he says. "They seem tougher in union negotiations. They want us to work more to earn health-care benefits."

Some unionized Aramark workers in New York are also striking as part of a contract dispute, attracting attention from passersby with an eight-foot-tall inflatable skunk on 52nd Street. They work in three cafeterias, at the CBS Building in Midtown and two offices of the Bank of New York in lower Manhattan. At all three cafeterias the workers are employed by Aramark, not the tenants.

CBS (CBS, Fortune 500) and Bank of New York (BK, Fortune 500) spokespeople said their companies have no plans to get involved in the dispute. "Over the years, many CBS employees have gotten to know and appreciate the men and women employed in our cafeteria," says CBS spokesperson Shannon Jacobs. The cafeterias have stayed open during the protests.
(continued)Read Full Story

Meanwhile in New Haven, Connecticut, there is a rally to oust Aramark from the local school district

Mobilization Alert: Rally Against Aramark April 14 in New Haven

The campaign to expel the private company Aramark from New Haven’s public schools continues with an April 14 rally in front of New Haven City Hall on 165 Church St. Join New Haven public service workers and AFSCME International President Gerald McEntee on the steps of City Hall as we renew our call to stop corrupt privatization and incompetent outsourcing.

• Click here for the April 14 Rally Flyer.
• Click here for directions to New Haven City Hall.

Parents, students, and school employees are urging members of the New Haven Board of Alderman to cut all ties with the private contractor Aramark because of the company’s mismanagement of food services and facilities maintenance.

Aramark is under fire because of the poor quality of food services and facility management in the New Haven school system. New Haven has contracted with Aramark for the last 12 years — at a cost of millions to the taxpayers.

Community members are telling elected officials to return the New Haven school system to a self-management model that would save taxpayers millions and provide better services to the kids.

News stories on Aramark in New Haven:

• Click here to read “Chicken — and Company” — Blasted in the New Haven Independent.
• Click here to read “Aramark Excoriated at Aldermen’s Public Hearing” in the New Haven Register.
• Click here to watch ”Clean Schools” on Fox 61 News.
• Click here for a press release on Council 4’s billboard campaign pointing to the waste caused by bear proof dumpsters.
• Click here to read “Union billboards slam Aramark on trash bins” in the Feb. 12 New Haven Register.
• Click here to read “Trash Talkin” in the Feb. 13 New Haven Advocate.
• Click here to read “School board to seek new food, facilities pacts as unions rally against Aramark” in the Feb. 2 New Haven Register.
• Click here to read the editorial “City should end dealings with Aramark” co-authored by Council 4 Executive Director Sal Luciano and New Haven Central Labor Council President Bob Proto.
• Click here to read “Custodians Want Break with Aramark” in the Jan. 14 New Haven Register.
• Click here to read “School Custodians: Fire Aramark” in the Jan. 15 New Haven Independent.
• Click here to read “School Workers Petition to Cut Ties with Aramark” in the Jan. 15 New Haven Register.

Learn more about the perils of privatization and contracting out:

• Click here for AFSCME’s Privatization Website Resources.
• Click here for the daily AFSCME Privatization Update.
• Click here to read “Schools for Sale,” which examines the privatization of non-instructional school services.
• Click here for Council 4’s “Privatization Equals Corruption” site

SEIU and UNITE-HERE have united to hist a website called Facts On Aramark

Update to->Montreal, Ca : Men's Waerhouse closing factory for higher profits and turning it's back on 600 workers, tell the CEO how you feel (3/17/08)

From the link above:

Continuing the displacement of good jobs here in North America to countries of lower labor standards, Men's Wearhouse, who also owns Canadian retail chain Moores and had a reported revenue of $1.9 billion last year, is closing it's factory in Montreal in order to "remain competitive” in the words of CEO George Zimmer. You can tell Mr. Zimmer how disgusted you are thanks to a E-Action campaign sponsored by UNITE-HERE, which can be found at Tell George Zimmer: Our Jobs Matter!

Now the union representing these worker has created a new blog site, which among other things, lets you 'get to know' the workers who will be displaced, this is another in a long line of travesties which have occured since the inception of "Free Trade" and "Global" economy.

The North American industry that has helped workers to have a career is not only going South, it's going to the lowest possible labor standard nations. When does this madness end? We are now bowing down to conditions of third world nations. Heres some clippings from the new Blog site Our Job's Matter

This March, Men’s Wearhouse announced that it is shutting down a factory with highly-skilled, productive workers to move its production overseas - even though the company has seen its profits rise each year. By moving its clothing production to countries where low pay is the norm, we suspect that Men’s Wearhouse executives think that they can cut their costs and pocket larger profits at the cost of the jobs and futures of the 600 employees who make the suits here in North America.

Golden Brand factory was founded in 1961 in Montreal. Since then, workers at the factory have been making quality suits, helping to build the reputation of Moores Clothing for Men and its parent company, Men’s Wearhouse. Among these workers you will find 21 different nationalities, single mothers, and generations of family members working together. For many of these workers, Golden Brand is like a second home. To meet some of these workers and hear their stories, check out our Worker Stories below.

Vicky Marashlian

Vicky has been working at Golden Brand for 24 years and has been a union delegate for even longer - 30 years - since she worked at other shops before starting at Golden Brand in 1984.

Vicky immigrated to Montreal from Romania and has sponsored many of her family members to come to Canada. She makes the pockets you see on the suits you wear.

The announcement of the closure is very painful for her.
“I would give anything to support the people here. We came here as immigrants looking to make a better living and we gave so much to this company – now look what’s happening.”

Vicky wants to keep this factory open and is willing to fight with her brothers and sisters at Golden Brand. “If one door is closed, there is an open window elsewhere. When there is a will, there is a way!”

Manuel Fontes

Manuel has been working at Golden Brand for the last 6 years, but he has worked in the Montreal garment manufacturing industry for over 30 years.

His Portuguese roots represent one of the 21 nationalities working in this factory and he himself can carry on a conversation in at least 4 languages. Manuel is not interested in finding a job in another industry. “This industry is my background. I love the work I do.”

Since the announcement of the planned closure, Manuel is motivating his brothers and sisters at Golden Brand to stay strong. “Our lives and our work should never be sacrificed for imports and greater profit. It is through our work that we gain our dignity and create our path as active citizens. I will do whatever it legally takes to keep Golden Brand Open!”

Claudia Martinez

Claudia is 39 years old and has worked at Golden Brand for 20 years – more than half of her life. Born in El Salvador, Claudia came to Montreal to escape civil war in her homeland and to seek better opportunities for herself and her family. She has two children whom she supports with her job.

“It hurts to hear this news,” says Claudia. “To be kicked out after giving twenty years to this company – it’s very hard. An American company has come in and is doing whatever it wants to make money. Without good jobs like these, how will we take care of our children and give them the opportunities and education that we didn’t have? We will do whatever we can to keep this place open.”

Check out the site and and don't forget to Tell George Zimmer: Our Jobs Matter!

“I don’t know what I’ll do without this job,” she explains. “The company is forgetting about the workers who have given years of their lives to make the company strong.”

Continuing the displacement of good jobs here in North America to countries of lower labor standards, Men's Wearhouse, who also owns Canadian retail chain Moores and had a reported revenue of $1.9 billion last year, is closing it's factory in Montreal in order to "remain competitive” in the words of CEO George Zimmer. You can tell Mr. Zimmer how disgusted you are thanks to a E-Action campaign sponsored by UNITE-HERE, which can be found at Tell George Zimmer: Our Jobs Matter!

This February, Texas-based men’s apparel giant Men’s Wearhouse – which owns Canadian retail chain Moores as well as MW Tux – announced it will close its Montréal factory where suits for the company are made, leaving 600 workers out in the cold.

Men’s Wearhouse CEO George Zimmer claims they have no choice but to close the factory in order to “remain competitive” – this from a company that reported revenue of $1.9 billion last year. From the same company that has seen its net income more than double between 2005 and 2007 – something doesn’t add up!

Tell me more

Talking Points

By moving its clothing production to countries where low pay is the norm, we suspect that Men’s Wearhouse executives think they can cut costs and pocket larger profits.

Since 1961, workers at Golden Brand factory in Montreal have been making quality suits, helping to build the reputation of Moores and later its parent company, Men’s Wearhouse – and this is how they’re repaid.

You can help workers like Nelia Tavares, who has worked at Golden Brand as a machine operator for 16 years, and her husband who is also employed there.

“I don’t know what I’ll do without this job,” she explains. “The company is forgetting about the workers who have given years of their lives to make the company strong.”

So get E-Active, support your brothers and sisters in Montreal, it's an easy thing to do, send the E-Mail. Click the image below.

Got this from my E-Mail

KEEP THE PROMISES! -TO BUILD MORE SCHOOLS -TO FUND FULL-DAY KINDERGARTEN -TO LOWER CLASS SIZE -TO IMPROVE MIDDLE SCHOOLS -TO EXPAND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS PROGRAMS -TO KEEP AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND TUTORING SERVICES We may face uncertain economic times ahead, but this much is certain: We must keep the promises to our kids. Show your support for the KEEP THE PROMISES COALITION BRING YOUR UNION'S BANNER! What: "Keep the Promises Coaliton Rally" Where: City Hall Park When: Wednesday,March 19th Time: 4:00PM

Click the picture below for leaflet, had to convert from PDF to JPG so it isn't very clear

Heres more info from New York Teacher from 2-14-08

‘Keep the Promises’ coalition forms to reverse city, state ed funding cuts

A diverse coalition of education advocacy groups, community organizations, clergy, labor unions and dozens of elected officials has launched a major campaign to fight state and city budget proposals that could cost New York City public schools $700 million.

Members of more than 60 community groups, parent organizations and unions, as well as some 40 state and city elected officials, gathered on the steps of City Hall on Feb. 10 to announce the formation of the “Keep the Promises” coalition in response to budget reductions and proposed cuts in education for city schools. The list of cuts includes the following:

• The city has imposed an immediate 1.75 percent cut to schools — a $100 million, midyear cut that will disrupt schools’ programs, schedules and staffing.
• The mayor’s 2009 budget proposal cuts New York City education by $324 million.
• The state budget proposes to give city schools nearly $200 million less than was expected in the Contract for Excellence, stalling progress in class size reduction, full-day pre-kindergarten expansion, improving middle schools and other programs and services.

The state is also proposing to cap building aid, which will slow school construction.  

“When government promises to safeguard the quality education of our children, parents and the public have a right to expect those promises to be honored,” UFT President Randi Weingarten said to reporters as she stood on the City Hall steps flanked by dozens of her coalition colleagues.

She said that “in the absence of an independent Board of Education and an independent schools chancellor, public school children need champions to intervene and protect them. That’s why we are part of this coalition launching this campaign.” Weingarten said the coalition would fight to have the funds restored because the city’s children deserve the quality education they’ve been promised.

“Make no mistake,” Weingarten added. “School-based educators would never dream of saying, ‘Now that we have less we will do less.’ Instead we will fight the school cuts.”

Geri D. Palast — executive director of the Campaign for Fiscal Equity, which took the state to court to win increased funding for New York City schools — noted that after 13 years of litigation, New York State “legislated a promise” to add $2.35 billion in classroom operating aid for New York City over four years. At the same time, Mayor Bloomberg said the city would add $2.2 billion. The state also said it would provide $11.2 billion to subsidize the city’s $13.1 billion school construction plan to “finally fund the constitutional right to a sound, basic education,” Palast said.

However, she added, both the state and the city are proposing $700 million in cuts in these commitments. “Long overdue funding of these promises tied to accountability for this catch-up plan must be immunized from short-term economic fluctuations,” Palast said. “A generation of kids has already paid the price for delayed funding with their futures.” (Click for: Full Story)

Stand in solidarity with Aramark cafeteria worker's in the Campaign for Quality Services.

Note:Picture is from earlier Detroit campaign

Who: UNITE-HERE Local 100 members
Aramark Cafeteria Workers
SEIU 32BJ members

What: RALLY & MARCH

When: Wednesday, March 5th
3:30-4:30pm

Where: 80 Broadway, corner of Wall St. and Broadway

**This event is a joint project between SEIU and UNITE-HERE in the Campaign for Quality Services

‘NO to ARAMARK’s green eggs and ham!’

Detroit joins national protest against Aramark. / DIANE BUKOWSKI PHOTO By Diane Bukowski Special to The Michigan Citizen DETROIT — Dozens of demonstrators braved chilling winds outside the Detroit Public Schools Welcome Center Jan. 18 to kick off a national campaign aimed at dumping Aramark contracts at school districts, universities and hospitals. Members of the community, including DPS parents and state legislators, along with the unions UNITE/HERE, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Operating Engineers Local 547, Teamsters Council 43, and the Detroit Federation of Teachers, among others, called on the new school board and DPS Superintendent Connie Calloway to cut ties with Aramark.[more] You can read more at Facts On Aramark