The Union in the UK is running the show

British Navy's response to Iran delayed since repair yard only works 9-to-5

The Royal Navy's mission to intercept Iranian drone threats has stalled in port because the Portsmouth repair yard now operates on a "nine-to-five" schedule.

The high-stakes mission to protect a British airbase from Iranian drone strikes remains on hold while maintenance crews finish welding and system overhauls during standard business hours, according to union officials, The Telegraph reported.

The deployment of HMS Dragon, a Type 45 air-defense destroyer designed to intercept high-speed missile and drone threats to Cyprus has been delayed because the Ministry of Defence and private contractor Serco reportedly introduced these restricted shifts as a "cost-cutting" measure that sacrifices military readiness for budget targets.

As the HMS Dragon sits in dry dock, the U.K. finds itself lagging behind international allies who have already moved assets into the region. Military analysts point out that the air-defense destroyer is now expected to arrive in Cyprus a full two weeks after French and Spanish warships have already reached the theater of operations.

The sources told The Telegraph that the new £1 billion (approx. $1.34 billion) contract reduced essential cover and forced the Navy to rely on staff volunteering for weekends to get the ship combat ready, which it didn't.

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Walz's Own Employees Expose him for his Corruption

Tim Walz thought he dodged a bullet when he lost the 2024 election

The Vice Presidential candidate returned to Minnesota hoping voters would forget his scandals.

But Tim Walz just got buried by 400+ state workers who exposed what he's been hiding. More than 400 employees at the Minnesota Department of Human Services just dropped a bomb on their boss that has Democrats scrambling for cover.

These aren't political opponents or Republican operatives.These are the people who work inside Walz's own administration, and they just accused him of orchestrating a massive cover-up of fraud that's stolen over $1 billion from Minnesota taxpayers.

The Minnesota Department of Human Service Employees account posted a blistering statement on X declaring that "Tim Walz is 100% responsible for massive fraud in Minnesota."

But it gets worse.

The employees claim they tried to warn Walz about the fraud early on, hoping for help stopping it. Instead, Walz "systematically retaliated against whistleblowers using monitoring, threats, repression, and did his best to discredit fraud reports."

Read more about it...

In a nutshell: Walz neutered the watchdog agencies that were supposed to catch fraud, then looked the other way while billions disappeared.

Democrats want expensive ObamaCare continued

Federal Workers Union Calls on Democrats to Support GOP Bill and End Shutdown

The union is the first major Democratic-aligned group to demand that Democrats support the GOP’s proposal of a ‘clean continuing resolution.’

A labor union representing U.S. government employees has called on Democrats in Congress to support a GOP-backed funding bill that would end the government shutdown.

The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), a union representing 820,000 employees, published a demand from its president, Everett Kelley, on its website on Oct. 27.

Kelley called on leaders of Congress to “reopen the government immediately under a clean continuing resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues.”

“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” Kelley wrote of the shutdown, which appears to be based on a disagreement between Democrats and Republicans on reauthorizing Affordable Care Act (commonly known as Obamacare) health insurance subsidies.

Read more about it...

Labor Department halts enforcement of "burdensome 2024 farmworker rule"

Rule giving union rights to foreign farm workers while denying them to Americans is scrapped

Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. Department of Labor proposed a rule last year which gave collective bargaining rights to foreign farmer workers admitted under H-2A visas despite American farmworkers not enjoying those same rights.

Yet in a move that is sure to leave Biden seething, President Donald Trump's administration has just deleted that provision.

According to Breitbart, the change was announced late last month in a statement which was put up on the Labor Department's website.

"The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division today announced it is suspending enforcement of the Biden Administration’s burdensome 2024 farmworker rule," the statement explained.

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Jack Ciattarelli gets the NJ Governor's endorsement from Local 825

Top Union Sticks Dagger In Democratic Party’s Back As New Jersey Gov Race Heats Up

One of New Jersey’s most influential unions broke ranks Thursday, endorsing Republican Jack Ciattarelli for governor over Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill.

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825, which represents some 8,000 heavy equipment operators, endorsed Ciattarelli as an antidote to the “crisis of common sense” gripping New Jersey under Democratic leadership, citing high energy costs and what it views as an increasingly unworkable green agenda.

“New Jersey is at a crossroads,” Greg Lalevee, the union’s business manager, told the New Jersey Globe. “We face an energy crisis, an affordability crisis and a crisis of common sense … We need a governor who will tackle our challenges and not cave to the fringe political voices. Jack Ciattarelli understands New Jersey and what needs to be done to fix our great state.”

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Let's turn this once great state back to RED.

Problems at the Democrat National Committee

Union leaders exit DNC amid ongoing party tensions

Turmoil is brewing within the Democratic National Committee (DNC) as two heavyweight union leaders jump ship, exposing deep cracks in the party’s foundation.

The latest drama centers on Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, and Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, both of whom have declined to remain as at-large members of the DNC.

As reported by Fox News, their departure signals growing discontent with the direction under Chair Ken Martin.

Weingarten didn’t hold back in her farewell letter to Martin, stating, "I appear to be out of step with the leadership you are forging, and I do not want to be the one who keeps questioning why we are not enlarging our tent."

Well, isn’t that a polite way to say the party’s vision feels more like a cramped pup tent than a big-top circus? Her words suggest frustration with leadership that seems more focused on control than inclusivity, a concern many on the right have long echoed about progressive gatekeepers.

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Head of ILA said, “I’ll cripple you. I will cripple you.”

Dockworkers Strike for First Time Since Jimmy Carter

36 Ports Shut Down with 45,000 Employees Off the Job

At least 36 major ports around the United States effectively shut down at midnight as a major labor union went on strike.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) union, which represents around 45,000 port workers, says it will order a work stoppage as contract negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group have completely broken down over demands for a pay increase and guarantees against job automation.

The strike, if it drags out for several weeks, could cripple U.S. markets and cause shortages of a myriad of goods just before the 2024 presidential election.

Some estimates indicate the strike—which would halt container ship traffic across the entire eastern seaboard—could cost the U.S. economy upwards of $5 billion per day.

Harold Daggett, who leads the ILA, says he will "cripple" the country...not an American First guy, that's for sure.

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Biden visits the Border today--About Time

Gets Blistering 3-Word Bombshell from Border Union

Joe Biden has long bragged about his support among labor unions. But in recent weeks, we’ve seen more than a few slip through his fingers. An international police union has endorsed Donald Trump. And the Teamsters—arguably the biggest union in America—is donating big bucks to the GOP.

Perhaps that is why Biden is scrambling to meet with one particular union. This union has been on the front lines of one of the worst crises to happen on Biden’s watch.

• After ignoring the border crisis, Biden is traveling to Texas to meet with Border officials.

• The National Border Patrol Council blasted Biden’s trip as self-serving.

• The union claimed Biden will revert to his open border policies if he is reelected.

His administration has repeatedly claimed there is no border crisis—despite data from DHS saying that over 7 million illegal aliens have entered the country. Now, with his reelection in the balance, he is going to Texas to meet with border officials.

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Fistfight Nearly Breaks Out During Congressional Hearing

Senator Mullin calls out Teamster President

A Senate hearing escalated into a near brawl on Tuesday when Oklahoma's Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin asked Sean O’Brien, the president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters who swants to bring a mob mentality back to the Teamsters," if he wanted to fight “right now.”

The move came after O’Brien, testifying before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions about unions, challenged Mullin, who fought as an MMA fighter prior to coming to Congress where he won with 61.8%, to a fight in June on X, formerly known as Twitter.

O’Brien’s social media post called Mullin a “clown” and “fraud” and ended with, “You know where to find me. Anyplace, Anytime cowboy.” The thrust of O'Brien's post challenged Mullin's "self-made" characterizations of his business background.

Mullin used his time during questioning to confront O’Brien over the comments. “Sir, this is a time. This is a place. You want to run your mouth? We can be two consenting adults — we can finish it here,” Mullin said.

“OK, that’s fine. Perfect,” O’Brien responded to the challenge.

"Well, stand your butt up then,” Mullin taunted, with O’Brien telling Mullin to do the same.

Committee chairman Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who was running the hearing, began pleading for them to stop.

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Biden being cute again

Biden Caught on Hot Mic with Snarky Remark

"Joe Biden was caught making a snarky comment about the ongoing auto union strike. This incident took place during a bilateral meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, held in New York on Wednesday.

As American autoworkers fight for their rights and livelihoods, Biden’s dismissive remark adds insult to injury. After a brief meeting, Biden was overheard on a hot mic, saying, “Surprised they haven’t asked me about the auto strike. They usually ask about things that have nothing to do with what we’re talking about.” His comment reveals a startling lack of concern for the plight of the autoworkers involved in the strike, suggesting his primary focus is elsewhere.

Trump chose to skip the upcoming Republican primary debate at the Reagan Library in California, opting instead to speak to a crowd of more than 500 current and former union members in Detroit. This move has left Democrats scrambling, as Trump’s actions highlight the party’s failure to address the historic strike effectively.

The strike, involving members of the United Auto Workers Union against the “Big 3” manufacturers – Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis – is unprecedented in the history of the 150,000-member union. The strike commenced at midnight on Thursday night after no deal was reached, marking a significant moment in labor history." [freedomheadlines]

The Bribe? Money to the Mob

Biden Caught Funneling Money to the Mob

There arguably has never been a presidential administration as corrupt as the Biden regime. I used to think that the Obama administration had problems, but my word, the Biden regime beats all I’ve ever seen.

We’ve never seen the level of crime involvement, gaslighting, and misappropriation of taxpayer dollars than we’ve seen from the Big Guy. And now matters just got worse because we now see that he’s been funneling money to the mob.

In recent months, the US government has handed out billions of dollars in taxpayer money with seemingly no end. One particular instance came in December 2020, when a $36 billion bailout package was given to the Teamsters Union for their mismanaged pension fund.

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Biden bowing to China, once again! And Justice Dept goes Woke!!

After Biden Plans To Dump Successful Trump Policy He Gets A Stern Rebuke From An Unlikely Place

After a rousing delusional speech before the AFL-CIO in Philadelphia, union bosses rebuked President Joe Biden.

Biden is considering relaxing some of the successful tariffs former President Trump imposed on China. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said, “We think it’s the wrong time to relax tariffs on China – we think it would have a marginal impact at best on inflation.”

On the same day before Biden spoke with reporters, the Department of Justice announced that they will be terminating a China-focused anti-espionage program because “of perceptions that it unfairly painted Chinese Americans and US residents of Chinese origins as disloyal.”

Fear and Blood

Nursing Home workers Protest in Lake Worth

Lake Worth Beach nursing home workers protest for higher wages

"The workers' union says higher pay will lead to better patient care, though many nursing home workers are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Each year, tens of thousands of nursing home residents are seriously injured or die in facilities that promise to care for them. Our mission is to stop the abuse and end the cycle driven by negligence and greed. Anyone who abuses a senior citizen in a nursing home or assisted living facility needs to be held accountable for their sinister actions."

Higher wages might help eradicate the abuse but nothing is guaranteed. "Staff members that are frustrated, exhausted, or manipulative may harm the residents they’re supposed to care for. A 2020 study from the WHO found that over 64% of nursing home staff members admitted to committing some form of abuse or neglect." [NursingHomeabuse.org]

If you need to have a loved one admitted to a nursing home, be sure you live nearby so that you can monitor their care. I will never forget when my grandfather was in a Lake Worth Nursing Home on 6th Avenue South and I found him on the cold floor, no cover under or over him. I was told they were planning on making his bed.

Read about it... and see who showed up to spout off his opinion.

Border Patrol Union leader invites Pelosi & Schumer to Border

“And you know what? Nancy Pelosi and Schumer, they can come down here and help us patrol the border and I’ll show them how difficult and how dangerous it really is, and how that wall makes a difference.”

President of United Steelworkers approves Trump's Trade Deficit Policy

Puerto Rican Teamsters standing down?

Only 20% of truck drivers showing up as essential aid backed up for miles

(Infowars) – Democrats and Puerto Rican teamsters have orchestrated a stand-down of essential supply distribution throughout Puerto Rico in an effort to make President Trump appear ineffective at responding to the humanitarian crisis.

Read about it...

Union President releases statement regarding security detail for Miami Dolphins

To Everyone,

    Today [9-16-16], I contacted the executive board of the Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association Local 6020 in reference to the actions of a few Miami Dolphin players. As a law enforcement union, we certainly encourage people to exercise their constitutional right of freedom of speech. However, in certain professions, an individual’s freedom of speech must take a back seat to the organization or government entity that they choose to represent. Even the NFL’s governing body and the ownership of individual teams set strict policies in order to make sure players represent the league in the most professional way.

    With this said, I can not fathom why the Miami Dolphin organization and the NFL would allow the blatant disrespect of the American Flag and what it stands for during the national anthem. It is a privilege to play in the NFL, not a given constitutional right. The Miami Dolphin players, staff and family members enjoy full police escorts from the Broward Sheriff’s Office on a regular basis. These escorts often involve putting the men and women of law enforcement agencies at risk as they block intersections during peak traffic times in order to expedite the travel time between facilities.

    We have buried coworkers who have unnecessarily lost their lives protecting the lives of individuals. Some law enforcement officers even lost their lives while protecting the lives of the very same individuals who were protesting against law enforcement. The Broward Sheriff’s Office Deputies Association Local 6020 is seeking the immediate termination of all Miami Dolphin escorts until such time the Miami Dolphins and the National Football League set forth a policy that will not tolerate the disrespect of the American Flag and National Anthem during any sanctioned games or events.

    We no longer support an organization that values financial profit over a minimum conduct standard. What good is it to ask singers to sing the national anthem, honor guards to preform services or ask the United States Air Force to conduct fly overs during the National Anthem if the same organization will not even set a minimum code of conduct for its players?


    Until further notice, I respectfully ask all members of law enforcement not to work any detail associated with the Miami Dolphins unless ordered to do so. Again, I would also respectfully ask the Broward Sheriff’s Office to refuse any security details associated with the Miami Dolphins until such time the Miami Dolphin organization mandates a code of conduct for their players during all sanctioned events.

    Jeff Bell
    President
    Local 6020

Hillary sends powerful message to Police Union - Blow Smoke

Comment Up

Protected by the secret service for decades now, Hillary all of a sudden showed no regard to the Police Union...she wouldn't even fill out the form to get their endorsement. Many of these secret service agents are former military and police officers and they are the highest ranking uniformed division in the nation with police powers. The only other candidate in recent times who also snubbed the police union was John Kerry. Coincidentally, both were/are Secretary of State...it's a toss up as to whom is worse in that position but we know who is the worst presidential candidate ever.

At the Democratic Convention she honored the mothers of those felled by police during a crime but not the police families who were murdered by criminals protecting our streets and neighborhoods.

“Crooked Hillary wants to get rid of all guns and yet she is surrounded by bodyguards who are fully armed,” Trump tweeted Saturday morning. “No more guns to protect Hillary!”

Trump, who is running on law and order, is enthusiastically seeking the International Union of Police Association's endorsement.

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Employee Raises - Lake Worth

Comment Up

We get it.  Lake Worth employees are angry.  They haven't received a raise in eight years.  Even the raise that this commission voted in for them will cost this city almost $1 million, nearly twice what we received in added ad-valorem taxes for this year's operating budget.

At 1:43 one morning, someone came on this blog and tried to post totally false assumptions on the employee retirement matter.  One question he/she asked was why didn't our former city manager give them raises in 2010. The writer was placing the blame on all the wrong people and was irate. It's easy to blame the "other guy."

If you check, we are not the only city that has not given raises in 8 years.  It is all across the country.  The State of Florida employees have not had a raise in eight years either. We had a major recession/depression not too many years ago and it has been a slow climb. The City of Lake Worth can't afford these unfunded liabilities and that's a fact.

The General Employees Retirement System (GERS) was established in 1996 and is a Defined Benefit Plan. From what I can ascertain, another Plan came into effect in 2010 and all new hires were to be under the new plan going forward. But my understanding, and it is confusing as I am not directly involved and know nothing about union contracts, is that the city now wants to eliminate the original plan of 1996 altogether which affects many employees and promises made by the City.

As a conservative, I believe that it is imperative that any business or municipality work within its budget, not spending more money than it receives in revenues and not paying our bills from savings.  Simple premise. But, how do we not stand by a promise. Let's figure it all out, Lake Worth, but be fair.

The above graph's figures have changed slightly to 33.60% Controllable or $10.4 million and 66.40% Non-Controllable or $20.6 million. It's a "living document" we have been told.

The next time the city and union reps meet is April 19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at City Hall.

Palm Beach Post article of today. 

Lake Worth Employee Writes to City officials on his Pension

Comment Up

Letter to the City Officials from a Stand-Up Guy:

Nicholas M. Petrino  
11:41 AM      

Ms. Triolo,
Mr. Bornstein,
City of Lake Worth Commissioners,
City of Lake Worth Union,
Associated Parties of Interest:

I am an employee of the City of Lake Worth and have been since 2006. As an employee, I signed up for the pension plan that was in place at the time. This was a condition of my employment and it allowed me to collect for retirement after 20 years of service. I have always taken great personal and professional pride in completing any task assigned to me to the best of my abilities. As a lifeguard from 2006-2014 I protected the patrons who attended Lake Worth Beach and was proud to create a safe environment for all to enjoy. In 2014 I became a Code Compliance Officer, for which I am truly grateful to be able work further for the residents of my City in an effort to help create a pleasant community atmosphere. Overall I have devoted a decade of my life to this City, working through the trials the employees have faced with a positive attitude, hoping that the circumstances might change; that they had to change.

I have enjoyed helping this City both as an employee and volunteer for various community activities. I now have to ask, where has my devotion gotten me? I feel my future is at stake. 

This City made promises to me, as well as to others, prior to 2010 with regards to pay and retirement. Many of us have worked diligently since then without any form of incremental pay raise, for that “promise” of a long-term benefit. Now, after investing so much of my life and my family’s financial wellbeing to stay with this City, I believe that the rug is being pulled out from under me. I want what I signed up for, nothing more and nothing less.  I believe forcing me to change my contract to lose the retirement benefit I signed up for to be a violation of my rights as an employee, and quite frankly, personally offensive. We hear the City is in serious financial trouble. If so, how can they afford “for some, tens of thousands of dollars per person” yearly raises for the City Manager, Department Heads, IBEW, City Magistrate and Attorneys & etc., as well as allocating money for “special” projects? At best, the optics are terrible.

Spectacular parades, community involvement, crime walks, artisanal districts and a mixture of highly motivated citizens make this City special. Why can’t some of the same effort be used to find funds for the employees who work so hard for the City of Lake Worth? We feel that we have no importance. Aren’t our efforts worth something? Its disconcerting when the topic of employees arise it falls on deaf ears and is met with cold hearts, half-truths and blatant lies. History as has shown us over and over again that knowledge is key. Treating the employees fairly would directly result in a higher retention rating thus expanding the job knowledge within this City. Which would benefit both the City and the community. Over the years the City has proven a blatant disregard of employees from speculation into factual evidence which has not only left scars on the City but has drastically affected the morale of the workers. Traditionally, government workers have dealt with low pay, with an understanding that the benefits and pension plan are favorable. However, we are now expected to accept both low pay and a bad pension.

During discussion on 3/18/16, I hoped that the employees hired prior to 2010 would be given a onetime choice of an option to either continue in their agreed 20 year & collect contract, or perhaps a 5-5-5 pension, a yearly vesting to collect at 62 or another option.  I myself would choose what I was promised, but others might choose a different option depending on their overall goals and status in life. My fellow employees are all genuine, good hearted people and deserve a positive work environment backed by job security and faith in their employer to do the right thing. Sadly, as every year passes I am increasingly more worried about my future as the City appears to display bad faith and a growing disregard for its employees.

In conclusion: I’m pleading with the City.  Please stop holding up the only raise/cost of living increase we have seen in almost a decade so that our pensions can be stripped from us. Please stop keeping us in the dark. The Union wants to negotiate. They want a fair resolution for both sides. We hope you would want the same. But, forcing people out of their contracts is wrong. It’s just fundamentally wrong. We are not just another position to be filled. We are people who have individual lives and we should be valued, not thrown aside. Let us keep our contracts and finish our terms of employment in peace. Bring morale back to this city. You have a unique opportunity to do the right thing, both privately and publicly. There comes a time where you as must ask yourself, as I did. Would you allow your future to be negotiated away?

Nicholas Petrino
City of Lake Worth