NJ coronavirus cases continue to soar. “At least 15 new coronavirus deaths and 3,968 new cases were reported in New Jersey on Nov. 22. Over the past week, there has been an average of 3,821 cases per day, an increase of 79 percent from the average two weeks earlier, “ The NY Times reported.
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thanksgiving. Show all posts
Monday, November 23, 2020
Saturday, November 30, 2013
Black Friday dawns and so does violence in the workplace
Violence in the workplace, despite OSHA warnings, occurred as "Black Friday" store sales began. Today's post is shared from the washingtonpost.com
Shoppers look at televisions at a Best Buy store late in the evening on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2013, in Dunwoody, Ga. Instead of waiting for Black Friday, which is typically the year's biggest shopping day, more than a dozen major retailers opened on Thanksgiving this year. (AP Photo/David Tulis)
The incident began shortly past 10 p.m. on Thursday, when security officers with one Kohl's department store in Romeoville, outside Chicago, called police to report two men who were suspected of shoplifting. Police arrived on scene and tried to apprehend the men in the parking lot, Fox News reported. But the suspects ran to their car and tried to drive off — and one officer followed on foot, grabbing hold of the vehicle. Fox News reported that the officer and the driver were recovering in a nearby hospital on Friday. Meanwhile, both of those suspected shoplifters — as well as a third suspect who was apprehended in the store — were arrested.The driver continued to accelerate, dragging the officer, Fox News reported. Police then fired into the vehicle’s... |
How foodies can become champions for workers' rights
The FCWA estimates that almost 8 million workers throughout the food system would benefit from a national minimum wage boost, and that 29 million workers over all industries would get a raise. In a Thanksgiving-themed "menu" of ways to help improve the lives of food workers, the FCWA asks foodies to sign its petition to raise the wage to $10.10, to spread the word via social media, and to write their members of Congress to urge passage of the raise.
Food workers are also mobilizing to win on three more fronts: they want nationally guaranteed paid sick days, so that they are not forced to show up to work while sick, thus contributing to the spread of infectious disease. They are demanding the right to safe workplaces: Many agricultural employers could easily provide better protections from harmful pesticides for harvest workers. Finally, the workers are demanding their right to a voice on the job, protesting against the abuse and intimidation that frequently occur in the restaurant industry when workers try to unionize. To push for these rights, the FCWA's member groups are reaching out to consumers with messages about specific bad-actor employers in each of these areas. These employers include Wal-Mart, which has allegedly stolen wages from workers and routinely quashed unionization drives at its stores; and the Darden restaurant group, which owns Red Lobster, Olive Garden and other family-style chains. Workers at Darden establishments are still denied any paid... |
Wednesday, November 27, 2013
Living with Safety this Thanksgiving
Motor vehicle accidents are among the highest causes of injuries to workers. The suggestions issued by the NJ State Police provide a helpful guidance for a safe Thanksgiving Day Weekend.Today's post is shared from njsp.org.
The weather is getting nasty just in time for the busiest travel holiday of the year. With a little planning and a focus on safety, you can make your Thanksgiving travels the most uneventful of your holiday activities. When gearing up for your trip, prepare for winter even though the calendar still says fall. That means filling your tank, checking your tire pressure and wiper blades, and packing a blanket, snacks & water in case of a breakdown. And to keep your blood pressure in check, just leave early because your trip will take much longer than usual because of traffic and road conditions.
In relation to roadway safety, the 2012 Thanksgiving holiday was no reason to celebrate in New Jersey with eight fatal accidents and 10 deaths over the holiday period. Alcohol or drugs was a factor in six of those fatalities. Four of those killed were pedestrians. These are sobering statistics that we do not want to repeat this year.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re driving five minutes up the road or through several states, the basics of safety remain the same,” said Colonel Rick Fuentes, Superintendent of the New Jersey State Police. “Troopers and other law enforcement officers will have zero tolerance for those who create dangers on the roads.”
Distracted driving and aggressive driving are at the top of the list for causing motor vehicle crashes. Troopers will be using a variety of marked and unmarked vehicles to look for texting drivers, unbelted occupants (especially children), speeders, and of course, intoxicated drivers.
New Jersey’s “Move Over” law is still unheeded by many drivers. This law helps protect roadside emergency workers and vehicles including police, fire, medical services, highway maintenance, tow trucks, and official motorist aid vehicles displaying amber, red, or blue emergency lights. Where possible, drivers are required to move over to create an empty lane next to the emergency vehicle. When safely changing lanes is not possible, drivers must slow down below the posted speed limit prior to passing emergency vehicles. Drivers should also be prepared to stop, if necessary.
Increase your travel safety by using these common sense tips:
- Make sure your cell phone is fully charged
- Carry a flashlight with new batteries.
- Bring bottles of water and snacks such as protein bars.
- Insist that all vehicle occupants use seatbelts.
- Don’t drive drowsy. The symptoms of driving tired are similar to those of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Make sure you get enough rest. Use service areas to pull over, stretch your legs, or grab a cup of coffee.
- Steer clear of “road ragers.” Challenging an aggressive driver for a position is a dangerous way to get to your destination a few seconds sooner.
- Use a designated driver. If alcohol figures into your Thanksgiving plans, plan to have one driver stay sober.
- Prepare before you drive. Map your route; fill your tank; check your tire pressure, lights and wiper blades. These simple steps may save you more than just time on the highways.
More than 100 additional state troopers will be supplementing the usual patrols. These troopers are looking for specific violations that lead to crashes, including driving while intoxicated, aggressive driving, and using handheld phones/tablets.
The official Thanksgiving driving period begins at 6:00 p.m. on November 27, and runs through 6:00 a.m. on December 2.
Monday, November 25, 2013
Macy’s Joining Wal-Mart on Thanksgiving Energizes Labor
| Macy’s Inc. (M), whose annual Manhattan Parade is a cherished Thanksgiving tradition for millions, is starting a new holiday ritual: It’s asking its employees to show up for work. Pressured by competition, a shorter shopping season and lackluster consumer spending, at least a dozen U.S. mega-retailers are opening for the first time on Thanksgiving Day,such as Macy’s, or opening earlier that day than in previous years. They are following Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT), the largest U.S.employer, which has been open for business on Thanksgiving for more than 25 years. “Another holiday bites the dust in favor of retailers,”Candace Corlett, president of New York consulting firm WSL Strategic Retail, said in a Nov. 12 phone interview. “Our Culture now is to shop, and to get the best deals. Thanksgiving As a day of rest was another culture, another time, not today.” The expansion of hours will take more than a million employees away from their families during the holiday. Organized Labor has been encouraging low-wage employees to join unions foryears to stem membership losses, and now wants to use the Thanksgiving hours to encourage workers to band together to improve working conditions. “It plays into the larger themes that we’ve been pushing around low-wage workers who don’t have a lot of job security,”Amaya Smith, a spokeswoman for the AFL-CIO, said in an interview. “Thanksgiving, Black Friday is one example of one holiday... |
Friday, November 22, 2013
Stephen Colbert Chides Walmart For Employee Food Drive
| Earlier this week, news broke that at least one Walmart store was holding a Thanksgiving food drive -- for its own employees. Many saw this as evidence that the world's largest employer would rather rely on charity than pay a reasonable living wage. On last night's "Colbert Report," Stephen Colbert sarcastically praised the corporate giant for sticking to its guns in offering low wages to maximize profits, although not for the food drive itself. "Some critics out there say Walmart isn't doing enough, but they're wrong, because Walmart isn't doing anything," he said. "These bins are for Walmart employees to donate to other employees. |
Monday, October 14, 2013
Lawsuit claims chemical spill at Armstrong caused worker's neurological disorder
Today's post is sahred from inpews.com
Sandra Cooper remembers the exact date her life started to turn upside down: Sept. 25, 2003. She'd gotten home from her job as an art teacher at Garden Spot High School around 4 p.m. that day. Her husband, Gene, who was on shift work at Armstrong World Industries floor plant, arrived home a short time later. She heard him coming. "I could hear the coughing even before he came up the sidewalk," Sandra Cooper said. "I've never heard anybody cough like that."  His eyes were watering, he had a blinding headache and he was screaming in between hacks. There'd been a spill at work, he told his wife. Chemicals. He had to help clean it up. |
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