United Taxi Workers joins San Diego Labor Council

 

United Taxi Workers is Labor Council's first non-union affiliate

 

SAN DIEGO - The San Diego Labor Council is excited to announce the affiliation of United Taxi Workers of San Diego as the council's first non-union affiliate.

Under current California law, taxi drivers are termed “independent contractors,” which means they are technically not employees and don’t have the right to collectively bargain. As a result, drivers do not benefit from labor laws protecting mandatory lunch periods, breaks, minimum wage and limited shifts. They often face 12 hour shifts and uncapped lease fees, lack health insurance, and face retaliation in their efforts to improve safety conditions.

But today, for the first time in San Diego, taxi workers have formed a Worker Center and successfully affiliated with the AFL-CIO and San Diego Labor Council. It provides taxi workers with needed support as they work with elected officials on policies that support drivers and helps continue to shine a light on the many industry and owner-specific abuses afflicting the San Diego taxi industry.

"As the economy evolves, labor will continue to adapt to meet the needs of all workers," said Lorena Gonzalez, Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego Labor Council. "We're excited to welcome taxi workers as the Labor Council’s first non-union workers and the latest advocates for more jobs, better jobs, and better lives for all workers, both union and non-union."

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San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council

The San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO represents more than 192,000 union workers in the region and advocates for an economy with more jobs, better jobs and better lives for all workers in the region - union and non-union.

www.unionyes.org

Donna Frye Endorses Scott Peters for Congress

 

San Diego – The Scott Peters for Congress campaign today announced that former San Diego City Councilmember Donna Frye has endorsed Peters in his bid for the new 52nd Congressional District. Peters is running to unseat 12-year- incumbent Rep. Brian Bilbray in the November General Election.

“Compare Scott Peters’ record to Brian Bilbray’s and there is no question Scott is by far the better candidate to send to Washington,” Frye said. “Scott will fight for equality, to protect our environment, and will work across party lines to get things done for us. That’s his record, and it is clearly not Brian’s,” she added.

Frye and Peters served together on the City Council from 2000-2008 where they worked together on many shared priorities, including reducing sewer spills on San Diego’s beaches, forming the City’s first Ethics Commission, and water recycling to help ensure a more reliable water supply.

"I first started working with Scott in the late ‘90s. We were working to get clean water legislation passed statewide, while Brian was in Congress voting against almost every piece of environmental legislation we supported,” said Frye. “Plus, you get to know a person pretty well working together on the 10ththfloor at City Hall, which is why I am endorsing him. I consider Scott a friend and I’m glad he’s willing to take on this tough fight ”

Peters said he is pleased and proud to have Frye’s support, and that her endorsement will mean a lot in this campaign.

“The voters know Donna is fiercely independent, will always speak her mind and give it to them straight,” he said. “The voters trust her so her endorsement is a tremendous help.”

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June 5th election certified

 

Secretary of State Debra Bowen has announced certifying results from the June 5 primary.


She reports 5,328,296 registered voters, or 31.1% of those eligible, cast ballots. That turnout came close to the 28.2% record low for a statewide election set in June of 2008. Ballots cast by mail, however, set a record high at 65% of the total vote.

The previous vote-by-mail highwater mark of 62% came in the special election of May 2009. Sierra, Alpine and Amador Counties had the highest voter turnouts with 59.2%, 58.6% and 57.1% respectively. Bowen notes that Sierra and Alpine are the only counties in the state conducting elections entirely by mail.

The lowest turnout counties were Los Angeles (21.8%), San Bernardino (23.7%) and Orange (26.5%).

Bowen says more county-by-county data and the entire collection of certified results may be found on her website here.