March 31, 2014

'Right to work' vote in Missouri House could have narrow margin

JEFFERSON CITY • One business priority touted by Republican leadership has been slow to move out of the Missouri House this session.

“Right-to-work” legislation has stalled, partly because of divisions in the Republican Party and concerns the issue could endanger Republicans in swing districts.

But House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, remains committed to the effort. The issue, which has stalled in previous legislative sessions, could come up for debate as early as this week.

Right to work, as supporters call it, would bar employers from requiring employees to pay fees to a union as part of a contract agreement with a labor organization. Currently, workers at a “closed shop” employer can opt out of paying dues for union membership, but they must pay fees for the collective bargaining and other representation services provided by the union, according to a 1988 U.S. Supreme Court decision.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/political-fix/5ff77f96-c7a4-5e6b-9666-9c4f32f4232f.html

March 27, 2014

Mo. House adopts resolution supporting Keystone XL Pipeline

Jefferson City, MO – The House of Representatives voted 134-12 this month to adopt a resolution sponsored by state Rep. Keith English (D-Florissant) urging the Obama Administration to approve the TransCanada Keystone XL Pipeline.

The AFL-CIO Building Trades Department, the Operating Engineers, the Laborers and the Electrical Workers have joined a bipartisan coalition to push President Barack Obama to approve construction of the northern segment of the pipeline as quickly as possible.

http://labortribune.com/mo-house-adopts-resolution-supporting-keystone-xl-pipeline/

March 26, 2014

Current Anti-Worker Legislation in Missouri House & Senate

HB 1617: Payroll Protection
Last action 17 days ago.
This bill would require labor unions to get annual written consent from its members before they deduct dues from paychecks or use them for political purposes. In addition to House and Senate passage, it would also require voter approval before becoming law.

HB 1099: Right to Work
Last action a month ago.
Implements “right to work.” That means workers do not have to pay dues or a representation fee to unions, even when a majority of employees has voted to organize a union. This bill is similar to HB 1094 and HB 1095

HB 1093: Payroll deduction for union dues
Last action 3 months ago.
This bill would require labor unions to get consent from its members before they deduct dues from paychecks.

HB 1094: Right to Work
Last action 3 months ago.
Implements “right to work.” That means workers do not have to pay dues or a representation fee to unions, even when a majority of employees has voted to organize a union.

HB 1095: Right to Work
Last action 3 months ago.
Implements “right to work.” That means workers do not have to pay dues or a representation fee to unions, even when a majority of employees has voted to organize a union. This bill is similar to HB 1094, which is also sponsored by Lant.

http://mobilltracker.org/#/category/jobs

If You Are A Missouri Resident, contacting Your State Rep & Senator with Your thoughts on these bills, might be a good idea. They can be found through http://www.mo.gov

March 26, 2014

Current Anti-Worker Legislation in Missouri House & Senate

HB 1617: Payroll Protection
Last action 17 days ago.
This bill would require labor unions to get annual written consent from its members before they deduct dues from paychecks or use them for political purposes. In addition to House and Senate passage, it would also require voter approval before becoming law.

HB 1099: Right to Work
Last action a month ago.
Implements “right to work.” That means workers do not have to pay dues or a representation fee to unions, even when a majority of employees has voted to organize a union. This bill is similar to HB 1094 and HB 1095

HB 1093: Payroll deduction for union dues
Last action 3 months ago.
This bill would require labor unions to get consent from its members before they deduct dues from paychecks.

HB 1094: Right to Work
Last action 3 months ago.
Implements “right to work.” That means workers do not have to pay dues or a representation fee to unions, even when a majority of employees has voted to organize a union.

HB 1095: Right to Work
Last action 3 months ago.
Implements “right to work.” That means workers do not have to pay dues or a representation fee to unions, even when a majority of employees has voted to organize a union. This bill is similar to HB 1094, which is also sponsored by Lant.

http://mobilltracker.org/#/category/jobs

If You Are A Missouri Resident, contacting Your State Rep & Senator with Your thoughts on these bills, might be a good idea. They can be found through http://www.mo.gov

March 26, 2014

Walgreens to close 76 unprofitable stores, 14 in the West

Walgreen Co., the nation’s largest drugstore chain, said it will close 76 unprofitable stores around the country in the second half of the fiscal year.

The Deerfield, Ill., company has 8,210 stores nationwide, or 138 more than a year ago. Of those, 638 stores are in California.

In the chain’s western region, which includes a dozen states, 14 stores are set to be shuttered. But Walgreens declined to specify which stores would close, saying that it would notify affected stores in the coming months.

“We won’t be confirming those locations until we’ve notified employees at the stores first,” said spokesman Michael Polzin.


http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-walgreens-close-stores-20140325,0,1374092.story#ixzz2x452WEcs

Looks to be a minor realignment if they opened 138 and are closing 76. Hope everyone holds onto their jobs or is able to get something that works for them.

March 26, 2014

Hasbro seeks input on favorite Monopoly ‘house rules’

http://games.yahoo.com/blogs/plugged-in/hasbro-seeks-input-favorite-monopoly-house-rules-205439106.html

The game Monopoly can be described in many ways. Unless it happens to be your first time playing, "fresh" is not one of them.
Hasbro, publishers of the Parker Brothers ode to capitalism, is giving the game a modest update.
Purists need not fear -- the core rules aren't going anywhere. Instead, Hasbro has taken to social media to ask fans of the board game about their favorite "house rules." The
rule that gets the most votes will be included as an optional rule in a future edition of the game.

What's a house rule? Well, it depends on the house. For decades people have been conjuring up their own additional rules as a way to spice things up or (heaven forbid) make the game move a little quicker.

Common examples include awarding $400 (instead of $200) to players who land directly on the "Go" space and putting all fees into a pot that goes to the lucky player who lands on "Free Parking." But there are others, and Hasbro is giving them due consideration.

March 21, 2014

USA’s ‘White Collar’ To Get Six-Episode Final Season

One of USA Network‘s signature series, drama White Collar, is poised to wrap its run with a six-episode sixth and final season. There is no official word yet, but I hear the network and series producer Fox TV Studios are finalizing the deal. The size of the order looks like a compromise between a movie/mini-series conclusion USA had been considering and a full-length season, sought by producer FfvS. Season 5 ended with a cliffhanger involving the abduction of Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer). All of USA’s other established series — Monk, Burn Notice (also produced by FtvS), Psych and In Plain Sight — also had received a proper send-off. Moved to fall for the first time since its first season, White Collar got dinged up against in-season competition but rebounded in January when the conclusion of Season 5 averaged 2.8 million viewers in Live+Same Day, up 22% from fall, and 955,000 adults 18-49, up 32%.

http://tv.yahoo.com/news/usa-white-collar-six-episode-final-season-012558171.html

Sorry to see this one go, but I think it was ruined using the same overused plot devices seen on so many other shows of late. Repeated "overarching bad guy that is out to get the main character, unresolved father issues and too much focus on characters as opposed to story." Just my thoughts....

March 12, 2014

New Children's Book Illustrates The Influential Women Who Helped Found Our Nation

At the time of the American Revolution, married women in America were not even allowed to own property, let alone vote. Because women did not sign the Declaration of Independence, serve as generals in the war, or get elected to public office, they are not often mentioned in the history of the time.

But despite their lack of official roles, there were women who helped found our nation through their words and deeds, and through their association with the men who have become known as our Founding Fathers.

Ten years ago journalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts wrote “Founding Mothers” to highlight the instrumental roles of these women. As the daughter of politicians, she knew firsthand the influential role the wives and daughters of politicians could have.

“I spent my childhood growing up in Washington in the 40s and 50s seeing the incredible influence of the political women of that era, people like my mother Lindy Boggs and Betty Ford and Lady Bird Johnson. They were running everything. They ran the political conventions, they ran voter registration drives, they ran their husband’s campaigns,” Roberts said.


http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/new-childrens-book-illustrates-influential-women-who-helped-found-our-nation

March 12, 2014

Daylight Saving Time: More Trouble Than It's Worth?

If you’re feeling tired due to the daylight savings shift, you’re not alone. One researcher at Washington University says the time change may cause more problems than it solves.

Erik Herzog studies the biological clocks of mammals. He says several studies have shown that daylight saving is hard on us humans, especially the “spring ahead.” Effects like sleep deprivation result in increased traffic accidents for three days after the time change.

Herzog says the effect in the fall is the opposite – there are fewer traffic accidents – but that effect lasts only one day.

In addition, there’s an increase in the number of heart attacks for two days following the switch to daylight saving time.

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/daylight-saving-time-more-trouble-its-worth

March 11, 2014

Plastic bags ban broadening gaining steam in Chicago

March 8, 2014 (CHICAGO) -- Last year, opposition from Mayor Rahm Emanuel derailed a San Francisco-style environmental crackdown that would have prohibited Chicago retailers with more than 5,000 square feet of floor space from putting their merchandise in plastic bags.

Now, the sponsor of that ordinance is making it even tougher, by including small retailers, and claiming he has the votes to approve the ban-the-bag ordinance, no matter what the mayor says, the Chicago Sun-Times is reporting.

Ald. "Proco" Joe Moreno (1st) said the small-store exemption was dropped to attract more votes for the new version he introduced at Wednesday's City Council meeting.

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?id=9459339