All posts by George

Political

Fox News too “liberal” for Tea Party

Try to read this without laughing……….

7NEWS
The Tea Party boycotted Fox News for the second time this month, saying the cable network is too liberal.


Tea Party members organized the second boycott of Fox News from Thursday, March 21 at 6 a.m. through Sunday, March 24 at 6 a.m. because they say the channel “turned Left,” according to the blog Benghazi Truth.


The blog alleges that the Obama administration organized a media-supported “cover-up” of the events surrounding the 2012 attacks on an American diplomatic mission at Benghazi in Libya.


Fox News has a reputation of representing a conservative perspective on political issues.


Written primarily by Frank M. Davis, Jr., a Tea Party supporter, the blog helped to organize and promote both boycotts. Kathy Amidon, a Tea Party activist from Nashville, Tenn., is also a driving force behind the boycotts.


The first boycott began Friday, March 8 and lasted through March 9.


A post on Benghazi Truth on Saturday says that the group “will rally over 1 million people to boycott FOX until it TURNS RIGHT, or until… everyone just walks away from the smoldering ash-heap that was once ‘Fair and Balanced.'”


The group’s boycott is focused solely on Fox News.


“FOX needs the Tea Party/conservatives more than the conservatives need FOX after FOX turned left, basically selling out the people who made FOX successful in an attempt to earn an extra buck,” a post on the blog reads. “FOX is extremely vulnerable to these boycotts while the rest of the (mainstream media) doesn’t need us at all, to speak of.”


Stan Hjerleid of Fort Collins, Colo. posted a “Guest Daily Memo” on Benghazi Truth on Mar. 13 explaining why Tea Party supporters like himself are boycotting Fox News.


Hjerleid’s blog post alleges that media outlets are using techniques “used by Hitler” in order to “indoctrinate the masses.”


The post specifically criticizes Sean Hannity for his TV special “Benghazi: 6 Months Of Deceit,” saying that the program included “absolutely nothing new on Benghazi.”


Hjerleid writes that “we need to be careful what we see and hear” on the news.


“If we keep silent about (Fox News’) shortcomings, then they can get away with shading their coverage further Left,” Hjerleid writes. “I for one oppose that. They can make adjustments or I will get my news elsewhere.”


Union, UPS

Contract Negotiations





















UPS Talks Get Hazy on Healthcare


Ken Hall says the Union is working on “creative solutions” on healthcare as contract negotiations resume in Florida.


The International Union held rallies nationwide to draw a firm line against Teamsters paying toward our healthcare.


Ken Hall even threatened to walk away from the bargaining table if UPS didn’t withdraw its proposals that Teamsters pay for our healthcare.


The Company’s proposals are still on the table, however, as bargaining continues. And Hall has reported that the Teamster National Negotiating committee is “working hard to come up with creative solutions.”


Hall didn’t elaborate on what kind of “creative solutions” in his report to local unions.


Teamsters members are not expected to pay a cent toward their health insurance premiums in the new contract. But Hall could be negotiating coverage changes for active and retired UPSers in company Health Plans.


Increases in the cost for retiree healthcare in these plans are also expected.


Harassment


Hall reports that the Committee told UPS that they will not be able to move forward on negotiations without movement from the company on harassment issues.


But the Union did move forward and put economic proposals on the table for the first time. The International Union still has not told the members what harassment proposals are on the table or what the Union is fighting for to:
     protect drivers from harassment and discipline from UPS technology
             strengthen 9.5 rights so drivers’ loads are adjusted
                    require UPS to hire additional drivers in centers where more drivers are needed to reduce excessive loads and unwanted, excessive overtime
                             other harassment issues

Economic Proposals


The International Union has put its initial economic proposals on the table, including substantial increases in benefit contributions.


Also on the table is an increase in starting pay for part-time workers. There is still no word on wage increases for current part-timers.


The last time the starting wage went up for part-timers in 1997, existing part-timers got an extra $1 wage increase to narrow the gap between part-time and full-time wages. That gap is bigger today than ever.


Bargaining Timeline


Negotiations will be held in St. Petersburg Florida through Thursday and are scheduled to continue through the end of the month.


Tentative agreements have been reached on many supplements, including some of the larger ones, but many remain unsettled.


The information Brownout on what’s in these deals continues—even where supplemental negotiations are completed.


Click here to read the negotiations update Ken Hall sent to UPS and UPS Freight locals.