In recognition of the tragic and unimaginable devastation and loss of life that occurred on Tuesday, January 13 in Haiti, LIUNA is proud to donate $25,000 to the American Red Cross to assist with the massive relief effort currently underway in that nation.

"This donation is made on behalf of the many LIUNA members with family in Haiti, as well as all LIUNA members - the men and women who have always stepped forward when others are in a time of need," General President Terry O'Sullivan said. "Our prayers are with the people of Haiti as they struggle with this horrific disaster."


In addition to the International Union's contribution to relief efforts, numerous LIUNA affiliates, including LIUNA Local Union 1652 - whose membership includes many men and women of Haitian origin with family members in the island nation - have begun collecting donation items and appealing for financial help.

STOP THE GAG LAW

OUTSIDE MONEY BUYING ACCESS TO OUR BALLOT
It seems impossible but a New York millionaire has bought his way onto the primary ballot in Alaska by tricking us into signing an 'Anti Corruption' petition. But this has nothing to do with real corruption- it just silences regular Alaskans. Just ask the folks in South Dakota and Colorado where Howie Rich also abused the initiative process and forced them into a multi million dollar campaign to protect their rights.


SILENCING ALASKANS
This initiative will silence many hard working Alaskans such as our firefighters, police, teachers, public employees, business owners, certain non-profit board members and staff.

Prohibits elected officials from soliciting funds from any one who holds government contract larger than s500 and their immediate family.

Outlaws municipal-funded lobbying

Board members of non profits who receive city or state funds would be prohibited from advocating for their non-profit and making contributions to certain candidates for office.

It will silence the Alaska Municipal League, Association of School Boards and many other groups that advocate for Alaskans

Prohibits citizens who have collective bargaining agreements (CBA) from talking to legislators about their job and contributing to candidates


UNCONSTITUTIONAL
Even the Alaska Attorney General states in his opinion on the initiative that parts of it are likely unconstitutional. BUT THAT DOES NOT PREVENT IT FROM GOING TO THE VOTERS! It is up to us to stop this at the polls.

ANTI CORRUPTION?
The sponsors have cynically called this the 'Anti Corruption Act'. But in fact, none of the provisions outlined in this initiative would have stopped Bill Allen, This will just hurt honest Alaskans, and encourage more Bill Allen-type behavior.

Issue:
Representative Craig Johnson has introduced a tip credit bill which would allow tipped employees to earn less than the Alaska minimum wage.

How Tip Credit Works
Alaska is one of 7 states that do not have a tip credit. This provision to pay workers less than the state minimum wage is provided by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

If this bill passes, employees that make at least the Alaska minimum wage plus $7,25 an hour in tips average over a month could fall under a tip credit provision. This would allow the employer to take any future minimum wage increases. If the worker failed to make the Alaska minimum wage of $ 7.75, the employer would be obligated to make up the difference.


Effects:
Effects: It will essentially give all future minimum wage increases to the employer, not the worker.

What Our Opposition Says:
Last year in Juneau, dozens of restauranteurs filled the halls lobbying against the raise in the minimum wage that was passed by Senator Bill VVielechowski. Facing defeat, the same restaurant and bar owner persuaded Representative Johnson to introduce this bill.

The business owners were mainly representing nicer restaurants and claim that their workers make $30 an hour.

Our Position:
This bill freezes a portion of these workers wages and requires patrons to make up for inflation. Most restaurants are not linen table cloth establishments and in their desire to protect their bottom line, they are damaging the livelihood of workers who wait tables at coffee shops, work in hotels and in the tourism industry.

Bottom Line:

No American worker should make less than the minimum wage. Alaskans would be even more impacted as our cost of living is so much higher.

Join us in calling your Representatives and ask them to vote against this bill, and call Representative Johnson at (907) 269-0200 and thell him that NO Alaskan deserves less than Alaska's minimum wage!

The Helmets to Hardhats program is dedicated to helping National Guard, Reserve, retired and transitioning active-duty military members connect to quality career and training opportunities in the construction industry.

Nathan Griffing (now a member of Local 341) accessed a career in construction through the Helmets to Hardhats program. Nathan served in Afghanistan as a civil affairs specialist for the 407th Civil Affairs Battalion of the US Army Reserve.

Alaska Works Partnership, Inc. offered Nathan financial assistance during the initial classroom work after he had been accepted into the Alaska Laborers' Apprenticeship program.

Nathan and his unit had helped build schools, bridges and dig wells in the war torn regions of Afghanistan while in the Army Reserve, and now he is working on road construction projects while receiving on-the-job training for Quality Asphalt Paving.

With the end of the long construction season, many of our members may have moved or changed contact information. We all get wrapped up in our daily routines, but it is crucial that we maintain updated contact information for you. Please contact us if you have recently moved at (907) 272-4571.

Juneau is pressing two major House Bills that can be detrimental to the industry standards that we Alaskans have benefited from for may years. Laborers' Local 341 is requesting your help in combating these House Bills. Please call and/or email every member of the House Committee (contact information follows) and let them know how strongly you oppose House Bill 37 (HB 37 - Right to Work) and House Bill 185 (HB 185 - Labor Neutrality for State Contracts).

We have highlighted several talking points to assist you in contacting Juneau:

HB 37 - Right-to-work

• Right-to-work laws lower wages 5-10%

• Right-to-work would harm Alaska’s working families (union and non-union) during these trying economic times

• Right-to-work hurts Alaska’s businesses. People who earn less money, spend less money

HB 185 - Labor Neutrality for State Contracts (PLA)

• Project Labor Agreements ensure Alaskan hire

• Project Labor Agreements have a long record of success in Alaska; jobs are completed on time and under budget

• Project Labor Agreements provide for a highly skilled work force with no-strike clauses and uniform work rules

If you wish to learn more about these Bills, we have provided the links to them below:

House Bill 37 (HB37) - RIGHT TO WORK


House Bill 185 (HB185) - LABOR NEUTRALITY FOR STATE CONTRACTS

This is extremely important to the future of Alaska's construction industry. Please follow-through with contacting every member of the House Committee. We would also appreciate a phone call from you letting us know how the conversation went. This would help us with providing more thorough information to you in the future.

If we can unite together and voice our concerns, we can ensure a strong labor workforce.

Alaska State Legislature Member Contacts

Representative Mike Kelly - Sponsor of HB 185
(907) 465-4976

Representative Carl Gatto - Sponsor of HB 37
(907) 465-3743

Standing Committee

CHAIR:
Representative Olson
(907) 465-2693

VICE-CHAIR:
Representative Neuman
(907) 465-2679

MEMBERS: 
Representative Chenault (907) 465-3779
Representative Coghill (907) 465-3719
Representative Lynn (907) 465-4931
Representative Buch (907) 465-4968
Representative Holmes (907) 465-4919