I attended the Rally for Workers' Rights today in Cincinnati! It wasn't quite as smashing as the protests against the fascist Pathway Family Center cult, but it wasn't bad either.
First thing I noticed was that the rally had been moved at the last minute. It was supposed to be at 4th & Broadway but it was relocated to 4th & Sycamore. I didn't know this until 15 minutes after it had begun. I have no idea why it was moved, but I'm suspecting it was because of high-handed harassment.
One of the main concerns of the event was the fact that the city of Cincinnati gave $77,000,000 in taxpayer funds to Western Southern Life to build its Queen City Tower - under the condition that the company would create good jobs. But Western Southern broke its promise by hiring a nonunion janitorial firm that provides no wage or benefit standards.
Why the city isn't suing Western Southern for breach of contract is beyond me.
The Rally for Workers' Rights received absolutely zero media coverage. The media is more interested in the 12 idiots who showed up at the national Tea Party this week.
Meanwhile, Ohio's totalitarian S.B. 5 was signed into law today by ol' Scissorhands. There's already talk of a lawsuit to have it thrown out for being unconstitutional.
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Tim, where did you get this figure of $77 million that you say Cincinnati gave to WSL to build Queen City Tower? According to news reports from 2008 prior to the skyscraper's construction, the city agreed to spend $3.75 million on improvements around the square where the tower now looms. The Port Authority built and owns the building.
ReplyDeleteWe were given some educational materials at the rally that said it was $77M, not $3.75M. I'd say $77M is more accurate, given the building's size and location.
ReplyDeleteEven if it was only $3.75M, it's still a very large sum, and Western Southern didn't keep its end of the bargain.
The People need to see this propaganda that was distributed at this rally. Unless the public record says otherwise, the $3.75M is more likely. There's no way it cost $77 million to improve some side walks and put in some landscaping. I doubt Western Southern would promise to hire only union janitors when it's pretty easy to find janitors. Besides, janitors aren't what the city had in mind by "good jobs." W&S recently announced it is increasing its Cincinnati payroll 5% (about 100 jobs).
ReplyDeleteTall buildings in large cities cost more than $3.75M.
ReplyDeleteTim.
ReplyDeleteThe city didn't pay to build the building. The Port Authority built it.
ReplyDeleteGuess who owns the Port Authority?
ReplyDeleteI don't need to. It's not "owned" by the city of Cincinnati, if that's what you're thinking.
ReplyDeleteActually part of it is.
ReplyDeleteNo, the city and county appoint board members. It is otherwise an independent regional governing body.
ReplyDeleteIn any case, taxpayers paid $3.75 million in sidewalk and other improvements -- not $77 million. Construction was paid for with bonds issued by the port authority repaid via the lease with W&S
Um, no. It was a $77M handout.
ReplyDeleteCitation? I haven't found any figures close to that.
ReplyDeleteIt was in the materials they handed out today.
ReplyDeleteWhere did the "materials" get this figure? Just because some types it up on a flier doesn't make it true, ya know?
ReplyDeleteIt was from the SEIU.
ReplyDeleteScan these "materials" in for the People so we can read it.
ReplyDeleteThe only thing on the Internets that I can find about a rift between janitors and W&S is a web site from a group calling for "Justice for Janitors" who complained about the company wanting the city to develop condos to attract "young professionals" to the area. But the web site hasn't been updated since 2007 it appears. Their complaint, I guess, was that W&S should pay unskilled workers more rather than hire college-educated professionals.
ReplyDeleteI see moron Tim has no response.
ReplyDeleteA copy of the article about the $77M:
ReplyDeletehttp://i51.tinypic.com/2n0j0jd.jpg
(I know Dominic won't understand it though, because he's illiterate.)
Illiterate in Tim land meaning not a failure in life.
ReplyDelete