State Contract Negotations

Yesterday, the Commonwealth gave its initial contract proposals. The "highlights" are stated in the SEIU668 website.

On Tuesday, May 17, 2011 the SEIU 668 Negotiating Team had an initial contract negotiation meeting with the commonwealth. The meeting was preceded by an in depth prep meeting of the Negotiating Team.

The commonwealth and SEIU 668 presented their initial proposals to each other. Both sides were given the opportunity to seek clarification of the proposals and present their initial stance on particular proposals.

Key highlights of the commonwealth’s proposal include:

·         Require a give back of the 4% general pay increase from 2010

·         Limit healthcare  employer contribution to $400 bi-weekly

·         Forces employees to take rolling furloughs

·         Eliminate two holiday days

·         Severely limit sick and vacation leave

·         Delete preservation of bargaining unit work language, severely crippling the union’s ability to prevent privatization

The Commonwealth will not allow employees to accumulate sick time. Ok now what would be the incentive to save sick time?
The Commonwealth is NOW reporting a 500 million dollar SURPLUS!
This means they are just using the economic situation as a golden opportunity to slash wages and benefits.
They want to be able to privatize at will without discussion with the union. I have seen that privatizing in the long  run does not save money but looses money due to less accountability.

Levoy Reconstruction Restarts!

Crew at work.

The Levoy started construction this past week. This is quite the good news. crews were on scene working on the building that partially collapsed during a restoration project in January. According to the Levoy Theater Preservation Society Board, the set back forced project leaders to conduct more inspections and sort through new plans. Here is a TV report from News 40 about the start.
I will share updates as they come.

May 11

/tune to catch the bus

Samosa Yumm.

Good morning today is Wednesday morning around quarter of five in the morning another nice spring day arrives.In today's news the Singer Bobby Rydell will be performing at the Landis theater on July 9. I see we get some top-flight entertainment out here in Cumberland County. The dude was a has-been when my brother was in elementary school and he sat there and sang Christmas rocking horse I mean let's get real. Hope the Levoy does better than him and Bernadette Peters.
Speaking of the Levoy, I hear that construction may resume as early as this week. That is a welcome sign for sure.
The new admin is going to change alot of my welfare job effective July 1st. Also the State will be meeting with my union SEIU668 Tuesday May 17. Lets see what happens
Well, no other news to report but the baby shower is Sat May 21st in Wynnewood.

The First Week in May is Ok.

Good morning this early Monday morning. I have not written in my blog in in about a week so here is summation. but we just passed first off I went to see Jean Wheatland with John and Pat in New York City. It was a nice sunny spring day in Manhattan where we saw lots of different things and then went to the concert and Tom was enjoyable Steve Miller came and showed up as a surprise. Jane sang Our Lips are Sealed from her GoGo's days of the early 80's. We took the train then Jon drove me home in Millville. I got to sleep for an hour then got up to catch the 4:15am crack of dawn 408 bus so,

Jane with Les Paul Trio

Midtown

Pat and I last Monday in NYC

In Harrisburg for Rally

Over 3,000 Strong on May 3rd

I could catch the bus to Harrisburg for a huge labor rally being held in response to Gov. Corbett's plan 2012 budget which would cut education funding 50% in the next year.Also his budget will mean in a 4% pay cut and more co-pays for medical. Over 3000 people attended the rally it was very hot I got a good sunburn. I got some really pretty cool pictures of the day
after that I then went to work for the rest of the week which was mainly uneventful but very very busy of course. Weds night, I stayed over in Philly and we saw the Perfect Storm. This movie was very entertaining. Friday after work, the 5:55 bus had a breakdown and never showed up. I go the next bus at 7pm.

New Hotel Near Pat's House

7pm Friday

Mother's Day at Wildflower

Enjoying Mother's Day at Wildflower

after that I then went to work for the rest of the week which was mainly uneventful but very very busy of course. Weds night, I stayed over in Philly and we saw the Perfect Storm. This movie was very entertaining. Friday after work, the 5:55 bus had a breakdown and never showed up. I go the next bus at 7pm.  Saturday we got some stuff done with the garden since  it was  nice outside. Sunday Jone and Densie paid us a visit for Mother's day. Jon fixed the flushing mechanism by using spare parts we had in our house. He sure is good at figuring stuff like that out. We next went to Wildflower., the vegan food spot at the Village on High. Boy is the food good. Next Sunday Carolyne will have an Ostara Yoga class next to Wildflower. The weather is supposed to be nice. In fact next week there is no rain in the forecast if you can believe that!  we saw a president Obama in the 60 min. episode and they are people on websites saying that Osama Bin Laden has been dead for years. I have seen the website called infowars which I must say is very paranoid. I bet this Alex Jones dude is making a pretty confortable living off these paranoid stories.
Well, got to catch the bus now...

Fun with My iPhone

Last Days in April

Waiting for the Bus 4-27

SEIU668 Breakout 4-26

This Hurt to get rid of!

Well, this week has moved along fast. Tuesday our union SEIU Local 668 had a breakout. This was in response to the Governor not starting contract negations for a new contract. The old contract ends June 30th of THIS year. Next Tuesday is Lobby Day in Harrisburg. I plan on going.
I had infected hangnail that I got taken care of by the Dr and boy it hurt. There is the Photo before I went to the Dr.

Osama bin Laden Killed in Pakistan!!!

Image via Wikipedia

HE IS IN HELL!!!!!!

OSAMA BIN LADEN IS DEAD!!!!
It took almost 10 years but the bastard is dead!
Here is President Obama announcing the news.!

Let’s just be happy that Osama Bin Laden has already found out that there aren’t going to be any virgins!!
The latest is that this man is in Davy Jones Locker..

WASHINGTON – A U.S. official says Osama bin Laden has been buried at sea.
After bin Laden was killed in a raid by U.S. forces in Pakistan, senior administration officials said the body would be handled according to Islamic practice and tradition. That practice calls for the body to be buried within 24 hours, the official said. Finding a country willing to accept the remains of the world's most wanted terrorist would have been difficult, the official said. So the U.S. decided to bury him at sea.
The official, who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters, did not immediately say where that occurred.

Related articles

• Obama To Announce That Bin Laden is Dead (macleans.ca)