McMillion & Hirtensteiner, LLP - Labor News
McMillion & Hirtensteiner, LLP's Labor News charts the latest developments in labor and legal issues with regular updates published as they are released to the media.
Monday, December 10, 2007
Dolores Huerta to Join Workers at Candlelight Vigil
Dolores Huerta to Join Workers at Candlelight Vigil Labor Leader Calls on St. Joseph Health System to Treat Pro-Union Workers Fairly ORANGE, Calif., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Labor leader and activist Dolores Huerta will stand with workers from the St. Joseph Health System at a candlelight vigil on Thursday, where she will join their call for a set of fair ground rules protecting the rights of those who are seeking to form a union at the health system's hospitals. For months, caregivers in Orange County have been working toward organizing a union in order to address critical patient-care issues at their hospitals, such as understaffing. However, their efforts have been met with harassment, pressure and threats from hospital managers bent on stopping unionization at all costs. As a result, workers seek a "fair election agreement" with the health system, which would allow them and their colleagues to discuss the issue freely while protecting their right to a secret-ballot union election. Numerous other hospital systems, such as Catholic Healthcare West and Kaiser Permanente, have similar agreements with workers. WHAT: Procession and candlelight vigil by community supporters
urging the Sisters of St. Joseph to negotiate a Free and
Fair Election Agreement for a union election at their
hospitals WHO: Dolores Huerta, United Farmworkers co-founder
Jose Moreno, Anaheim City School District board member
Rev. Sarah Halverson, Fairview Community Church
St. Joseph Health System hospital workers WHEN: Thursday, December 13, 6:30 p.m. WHERE: St. Joseph Health System
Outside the Mother House
480 S. Batavia
Orange The 150,000-member SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West is the largest hospital and healthcare union in the western United States and represents every type of healthcare worker, including nurses, professional, technical and service classifications. Our mission is to achieve high-quality healthcare for all. First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
Source: SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West
CONTACT: Mason Stockstill of SEIU United Healthcare Workers-West,
+1-510-206-8247 Web Site: http://www.seiu-uhw.org/
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Profile: labor-news
posted by McMillion & Hirtensteiner LLP Labor News # 2:56 PM
CVS Pharmacy Inc. Agrees to Pay More Than $226,000 in Penalties and More Than $38,000 in Back Wages Following Investigation by U.S. Labor Department
CVS Pharmacy Inc. Agrees to Pay More Than $226,000 in Penalties and More Than $38,000 in Back Wages Following Investigation by U.S. Labor Department WOONSOCKET, R.I., Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Woonsocket-based CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay the U.S. Department of Labor civil money penalties totaling $226,598 and to pay 51 employees back wages totaling $38,151 following an investigation by the department that revealed violations of the wage and youth employment provisions of the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). Previous investigations by the department's Wage and Hour Division had disclosed violations at some of the company's retail pharmacies, according to Corlis Sellers, the division's regional administrator for the Northeast. As a result, the division took a more comprehensive look at CVS locations throughout the Northeast this year. A total of 63 CVS stores, located in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia, were checked for compliance with the FLSA. The FLSA requires that covered workers be paid at least the federal minimum wage and one and one-half times their regular rates of pay for all hours worked over 40 in a single workweek. The law also requires employers to maintain adequate and accurate records of employees' wages, hours and other conditions of employment. Finally, the law strictly regulates the employment of young workers. Among the findings of the investigation: 78 minors were found to have been exposed to the hazards of loading/unloading/operation of cardboard compactors/balers at various CVS locations; seven minors were found to have been employed in violation of the law's time standards; and 51 employees were found to be due a total of $38,151 in back wages, mostly because of the improper editing of their timecards by store managers. Of the 63 sites investigated, 43 stores had FLSA wage and/or youth employment violations. For the youth employment violations, the Wage and Hour Division has assessed CVS a total of $215,378 and, for the wage violations, a total of $11,220 in civil penalties. As a result of this investigation, CVS Pharmacy Inc. has agreed to pay the back wages and penalties, and to make efforts to achieve full compliance with the FLSA at its more than 6,000 stores nationwide. The Wage and Hour Division concluded 31,987 compliance actions and recovered more than $171 million in back wages for more than 246,000 employees in fiscal year 2006. For more information about the FLSA, call the Department of Labor's toll-free helpline at (866) 4US-WAGE (487-9243). Information is also available on the Internet at www.wagehour.dol.gov, and an interactive "e-laws advisor" providing detailed information about FLSA compliance is available at www.dol.gov/elaws/flsa.htm. U.S. Department of Labor releases are accessible on the Internet at www.dol.gov. The information in this news release will be made available in alternate format (large print, Braille, audio tape or disc) from the COAST office upon request. Please specify which news release when placing your request at (202) 693-7828 or TTY (202) 693-7755. The Labor Department is committed to providing America's employers and employees with easy access to understandable information on how to comply with its laws and regulations. For more information, please visit www.dol.gov/compliance.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
CONTACT: John M. Chavez of the U.S. Department of Labor,
+1-617-565-2075 Web Site: http://www.dol.gov/elaws/flsa.htm
http://www.wagehour.dol.gov/
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Profile: labor-news
posted by McMillion & Hirtensteiner LLP Labor News # 9:59 AM
Carlyle Group Embrace of Abu Dhabi Undermining Respect for Human Rights
Carlyle Group Embrace of Abu Dhabi Undermining Respect for Human Rights Details of United Arab Emirates' human rights abuses at CarlyleExposed.org - a new website about the Carlyle Group WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As nations around the world recognize human rights day today, the big money partnership of the Government of Abu Dhabi and global buyout firm the Carlyle Group is undermining respect for human rights. "As Carlyle profits and political connections grow Abu Dhabi's wealth and influence, pressure diminishes to improve human rights practices in the UAE," said Stephen Lerner, Director, SEIU Private Equity Project. In its 2006 UAE Country Report, the U.S. State Department said the government's "respect for human rights remained problematic." "Carlyle's 'see-no-evil' approach to its business dealings with Abu Dhabi undermine efforts to improve respect for human rights there. Human rights is yet another area where Carlyle refuses to take responsibility for its actions," Lerner added. Ironically Carlyle co-founder David Rubenstein is scheduled to spend Human Rights Day in the UAE, where he is a scheduled speaker at the SuperReturn Middle East conference in Dubai. In September, Carlyle announced the Mubadala Development fund of the Government of Abu Dhabi paid $1.35 billion for a 7.5% ownership stake in Carlyle. Driven by rising oil prices, the falling dollar, and political opportunism, huge sovereign wealth funds, such as the UAE's $650 billion Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, are making an increasing number of big deals, buying stakes in leading American companies. Multiple governmental and non-governmental bodies have reported numerous human rights problems in the UAE including: -- The UAE takes advantage of immigrant workers, paying them low wages and maintaining authority through threats of deportation. According to the U.S. State Department's country report, workers who strike can be deported, and the UAE's Ministry of Labor issued a directive to ban employment of workers who instigate strikes. -- As of 2006, the UAE was failing to comply with minimum standards for the elimination of human trafficking. -- A 2005 study by UAE University reported that as many as 66% of all women permanently residing in the UAE have been subjected to domestic abuse and courts have found that men have the positive legal right to beat their wives as a form of discipline. Read the full release and see details of UAE's human rights record at CarlyleExposed.org, a new website launched today. First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
Source: Service Employees International Union
CONTACT: Andrew McDonald of Service Employees International Union,
+1-202-730-7338, Andrew.mcdonald@seiu.org Web Site: http://www.carlyleexposed.org/
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Profile: labor-news
posted by McMillion & Hirtensteiner LLP Labor News # 9:25 AM
U.S. Department of Labor Earns 11th Consecutive 'Clean' Audit Opinion on Annual Financial Statements
U.S. Department of Labor Earns 11th Consecutive 'Clean' Audit Opinion on Annual Financial Statements WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced that the U.S. Department of Labor has received an unqualified, or "clean," audit opinion, on its fiscal year 2007 financial statements, marking the department's 11th consecutive annual clean audit opinion. "This department has demonstrated a commitment to responsible stewardship of taxpayers' dollars and adherence to the fundamentals of sound financial management," said Secretary Chao. "This 11th consecutive clean audit and the department's continued leadership in meeting and exceeding the goals of the President's Management Agenda are a legacy which everyone at the Department of Labor can be proud of." A clean audit opinion provides independent confirmation that the department's financial statements are presented fairly and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Accurate and timely financial information improves the Labor Department's accountability to Americans and allows the department to make informed operational, budget and policy decisions. The 24 major federal government agencies had a Nov. 15 deadline to file their fiscal 2007 financial statements with the Office of Management and Budget. "The clean audit opinion ensures that we have the timely, accurate and reliable information needed to manage our programs efficiently and effectively," said Lisa D. Fiely, the Labor Department's acting chief financial officer. The Office of the Chief Financial Officer leads the department's financial management and fiscal integrity effort. For more information, visit the office's Web site at www.dol.gov/ocfo.
First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:
Source: U.S. Department of Labor
CONTACT: Suzy Bohnert, +1-202-693-4665, or Otto Heck, +1-202-693-4676,
both of the U.S. Department of Labor Web Site: http://www.dol.gov/ocfo
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Profile: labor-news
posted by McMillion & Hirtensteiner LLP Labor News # 8:55 AM
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