Southwest Philly May Day Attendees Call for Revival of Labor Politics
Charlie McCollester speaks at Philly May Day A pro-labor Americana band played on while Jim Moran, former director of the Philadelphia Area Project on Occupational Safety and Health, talked May Day. “I found out about May Day and its history back in the early 70s while in labor school for the auto workers in Black Lake, Michigan,” said Moran. “I was in...
Continue ReadingUnion Protesters Drown Out Mayor Nutter’s Budget Speech
As expected, Mayor Michael Nutter gave a speech to a packed hall of union protesters, angry at the administration for having worked several years without a new negotiated contract. Things had been a little nutty throughout the morning, as the City Council debated earned sick leave and a couple other issues. Protesters had shown up early with signs portraying...
Continue Reading
DAILY GRINDER: Prepare for a Philly Media Paywall
Interstate General Media (the company that now owns Philly.com, the Inquirer and Daily News) have a new idea for their customers: They’re going to make the Inquirer and Daily News paywall sites, while leaving Philly.com as an open access hub. There’s no “precise launch date,” according to spokesman Mark Block, but they’re thinking early 2013....
Continue Reading
DAILY GRINDER: DN, Inky Owners Demand Union Concessions
The new owners of the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com have demanded immediate concessions from the union that represents the publications’ employees. According to Poynter, “In a letter to employees last month, IGM CEO Bob Hall told employees revenue at the company was down $16 million from the year before. It told the Guild the same day it would seek...
Continue Reading
What You Should Know About This Week’s Potential Liquor Vote
Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Mike Turzai has taken it upon himself to make the privatization of the state’s liquor industry his pet project. And on Friday, he promised a vote on a bill which would do just that. The vote is set to come up this week—possibly today. But like the history of this issue, from prohibition’s demise to the present, it’s...
Continue Reading
DAILY GRINDER: Closing Arguments in Priest Abuse Case Today
Today will begin the closing arguments in the Philadelphia priest abuse case. If convicted, Monsignor William Lynn would become the first Catholic church member to be found guilty for allowing abuse to happen in the church—even though he never took part in that abuse. Many priests who were called to testify admitted to abusing children in the church and are...
Continue Reading
Citizens Bank Park Workers Call on Occupy Philly as Contract Fight Intensifies
By Eric Augenbraun A month ago, Citizens Bank Park’s Aramark food and beverage workers rallied outside the ballpark while, inside, the Phillies played their first playoff game. Philadelphia Weekly reported that the workers had united to protest the company and make demands which concerned pay, benefits, and the opportunity to work. After working the entire...
Continue Reading![District Council 33, Still Without Contract, Threatens Strike [VIDEO]](http://blogs.philadelphiaweekly.com/phillynow/files/2011/05/may-3-028-Medium-150x150.jpg)
District Council 33, Still Without Contract, Threatens Strike [VIDEO]
The workers are getting restless. Hundreds of members of District Council 33, the city’s blue-collar municipal union, descended on City Hall today to protest their lack of contract– and threatened to strike if progress isn’t made soon. “We want what’s fair,” DC 33 President Pete Matthews told City Council members during a public...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: School Vouchers Soon a Reality?
A school vouchers program passed the State Senate Appropriations Committee and is headed toward a full Senate vote. The plan apparently works on a year-by-year basis. First year, only poor students in failing schools apply. Year two: those in underperforming districts. Year three: Any family making “130 percent of the poverty level or less” is eligible. [Newsworks] Unions...
Continue ReadingDAILY GRINDER: Bring On The Puppet Regime
Try to keep up: We’re one of the seven best beer cities in the country (whatever in God’s name that means), the fourth most romantic city and the second worst city in general for the half of the species that produces sperm. And we’re really ugly. [Esquire] Philadelphia-based U.S. Attorney Laurie Magid should be “disciplined” for fundraisers held...
Continue Reading
