News & Public Affairs
Unions celebrate Labor Day in Tampa listen
09/02/08 Mitch E. PerryWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Labor Day, unions, 2008 election, Barack Obama
Yesterday was Labor Day, and in Tampa, thousands celebrated the holiday honoring the American worker by attending a barbecue at the Florida Fairgrounds.
The event was put on by a coalition of local labor groups. It drew the attention of a vast array of local public officials as well as a few candidates vying for office this November.
In addition to the hot dogs, chicken and pork 'n beans, there were carnival rides, games and a car and motorcycle show that drew lots of families to the ev...
Be the first to commentUnion activists discuss labor in Tampa Bay area
08/20/08 Robert LoreiRadioactivity: Live Call-In (Wednesday) Listen to this entire show:
Tags: unions, employee free choice act
Good Afternoon, welcome to Radioactivity. I'm Rob Lorei. Labor Day is coming up in less than two weeks and today we're joined by several labor activists: Robert Ray, president, West Central Florida Federation of Labor & member of IBEW Local 915; John Murphy, business agent, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), Local 108, which represents employees of TECO and Johnson Controls & others; Mike McCoy, president, Amalgamated Transit Union, Local 1593, which represents drivers a...
Be the first to commentSt Pete Police demand fair negotiations with city listen
06/10/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: unions, labor, St. Petersburg Police
On the steps of the St. Petersburg City Hall, the Pinellas County Police Benevolent Association (PBA), today protested what they said was the city’s lack of action on contract negotiations.
Jim Spearing, campaign coordinator for the state PBA in Tallahassee, said there was "frustration" that the St. Pete police have not had any offers on an employment agreement from the city since last October. Spearing said “the turnover rate in this city is appalling.”
With about 30 police officers ...
Be the first to commentColombian trade deal ratification sought listen
05/05/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: Colombia, Latin America, Mel Martinez, trade, Stetson, economy, labor, recession, unions
A “free-trade” deal has been negotiated between the United States and Colombia, but it awaits Congressional approval. Last month, Democrats in Congress said they would indefinitely delay a vote on ratification.
Today in Tampa, the Colombian Ambassador to the U.S. joined Florida’s junior Sen. Mel Martinez and some members of the business community to urge Congress to quickly vote to ratify the Colombia Free Trade Agreement.
Colombian Ambassador Carolina Barco said that under President A...
1 commentsIn Tampa, McCain addresses U.S. health care listen
04/29/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Tuesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: 2008 election, John McCain, Kathy Castor, USF, health care, labor, Moffitt Cancer Center, unions
Republican Presidential nominee John McCain addressed his plan for solving the country’s health care crisis this morning at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. McCain proposes shifting trillions of dollars in tax credits from businesses that provide health coverage to employees who buy their own.
Sen. McCain said the two fundamental problems troubling the American health care system are cost and access. He proposed replacing some employment-based health insurance coverage by giving indivi...
Be the first to commentHART deals with financial struggles listen
04/07/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Monday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: HART, transit, Dick Greco, labor, unions
The Board of Directors of the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit Authority (HART) met this morning in the County Center in downtown Tampa. The board is faced with how to deal with cuts to both local and federal transit budgets.
David Persaud, HART’s chief financial officer, assessed the current financial climate heading into the 2009 fiscal year.
Persaud said that the 2010 deficits might be made up through reduced services or opportunities for federal grants. Jeff Boothe, with the law f...
Be the first to commentTruckers strike in Tampa to protest fuel prices listen
04/02/08 Seán KinaneWMNF Drive-Time News Wednesday Listen to this entire show:
Tags: strike, labor, unions, economy, gas prices
For the second day in a row, independent truckers were on strike in Tampa today protesting high diesel fuel prices and stagnant incomes. About 50 truck owner-operators demonstrated on Causeway Boulevard in front of the Port of Tampa.
David Santiago is a truck owner-operator. Santiago is striking because he wants the companies who hire independent truckers to pay them more.
“We just came together, we sat down and said, hey enough is enough, we can’t make it any more. I’m sure McDonalds ...
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