Society's Child

Workers win wage settlement against McDonald's franchise

teleSUR
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 14:18 UTC

© Lucy Nicholson / Reuters
Groups behind the campaign are hailing the settlement as an important victory for workers across the country.

Fast food giant McDonald's paid out US$3.75 million dollars to settle an industrial dispute with more than 800 franchise workers in California on Tuesday. The company said they reached the agreement to avoid further litigation.

McDonald's agreed to pay US$1.75 million in back pay and damages as well as US$2 million in legal fees to around 800 workers from five restaurants all owned by the Smith Family LP franchise.

In the case in the U.S. District Court in San Francisco, both the Smith franchisee and McDonald's were accused of breaking the law by "failing to pay overtime, keep accurate pay records, and reimburse workers for time spent cleaning uniforms," according to Reuters.

One of the main voices behind the legal campaign and workers rights struggles around the country is Fight for $15. The group has united fast food workers and other low paid industries to fight for what they call a "living wage" and establish more employee protections and bargaining power.

Fight for $15 say that McDonald's is practicing "cannibal capitalism" by not fairly compensating its workforce while attempting large-scale tax avoidance. The group has been protesting around the country calling on presidential candidates to adopt a US$15 minimum wage nationally.

Comment: The corporate elite will not stand for any move that cuts into their profits. They already have an answer ready:

Walter Scott's fatal shooting by white police officer unjustified

RT
Fri, 04 Nov 2016 12:28 UTC

The police shooting of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man killed by a white officer, was not justified even if the officer was provoked, a prosecutor said in the trial's opening arguments. The former cop fired at Scott's back as he tried to flee.

"If Walter Scott had not resisted arrest, he wouldn't have been shot. He paid the extreme consequence for his conduct. He lost his life for his foolishness," South Carolina prosecutor Scarlett Wilson said at the murder trial of former North Charleston officer Michael Slager, the Post and Courier reported. "But we're here... to bring accountability for [Slager's] choices, for his decision to go too far... for his decision to shoot an unarmed man in the back five times."

Students arrested & maced at protest against former KKK grand wizard David Duke at US Senate debate

RT
Fri, 04 Nov 2016 01:09 UTC

Six Dillard University students were arrested while others were maced during protests against David Duke's appearance at the historically black college. The former KKK grand wizard was one of six candidates in a debate for the US Senate in Louisiana.

Students clashed with police Wednesday night at Dillard University, just outside the auditorium hosting the US Senate debate. Barred from entering, the students conglomerated at the doors to protest the presence of former KKK leader David Duke, who is running as a Republican.

Before the debate began, 60 to 70 protesters gathered on the campus to march around the perimeter of the auditorium, chanting, "No Duke. No KKK, no fascist USA," the Times-Picayune reported.

Comment: A racist, convicted felon and tax dodger? He should fit right in in Washington.
See also: David Duke, former Grand Wizard of the KKK, plans to run for Senate

U.S. federal judge rejects NYPD settlement over Muslim surveillance (Update)

Nate Raymond
Reuters
Mon, 31 Oct 2016 00:00 UTC

A federal judge has rejected a settlement of lawsuits charging that the New York City police department illegally targeted Muslims for surveillance, saying the deal did not go far enough and provide sufficient protections.

U.S. District Judge Charles Haight in Manhattan in a ruling made public on Monday rejected a deal announced in January in which the New York Police Department would install a civilian representative to help monitor its counterterrorism efforts.

Haight said the civilian representative's proposed powers "do not furnish sufficient protection from potential violations of the constitutional rights for Muslims and believers in Islam who live, move and have their being in the City."

He cited an inspector general's report as indicating the department has a "systemic inclination" to disregard court-approved regulations, called the Handschu guidelines, that limit how it can monitor political and religious activity.

Comment: While it's nice to see a federal judge rule in this way we'd do well to remember that much larger more pervasive systems of surveillance continue to operate and have little to no chance of being shut down...

Update: NY judge rejects settlement in illegal police spying on Muslims

In the settlement that Haight rejected, a lawyer placed inside the police department would have to review intelligence files and report to the police commissioner.

He has additionally ruled that a new provision should be added, requiring the mayor of New York, who can appoint the civilian representative for a five-year period, to seek court approval before abolishing this position.

"I suggest that alteration because one cannot foretell what will happen over time in this sensitive and volatile part of life and it is questionable whether it is fair or reasonable to give the mayor this unfettered veto power," Haight wrote.

Haight, who has now essentially cracked down on the New York police, was also the judge who ruled in favor of expanding the NYPD's powers, allowing it to act with less oversight post-9/11.

The two lawsuits were filed in Manhattan and Brooklyn federal courts in 2013, stemming from 2011 revelations that the NYPD, with help from the CIA, was using undercover informants to surveil Muslims throughout New York and New Jersey in mosques, religious bookstores, halal delis and other places.

In his ruling, Haight wrote that it was a "historic fact" that different groups "came to be targeted by police surveillance activity" as decades passed.

More homeless children in the United Kingdom - due to housing shortage

Sputnik
Thu, 03 Nov 2016 13:16 UTC

Over 120,000 children in the United Kingdom are living in temporary accommodation due to a housing shortage in the country, a report by housing charity Shelter found on Thursday.

The charity's 'Desperate to Escape' report states that of these, at least 12,903 are in emergency accommodation, ranging from "homeless bed and breakfasts (B&Bs), to cheap hotels, to hostels, to large houses filled with a family in each bedroom."

The charity, which used government data to make the findings, said the estimated figure is the highest since 2007, when 133,000 children were in temporary accommodation. The figure is 12% higher than last year.

Comment: Austerity bites: UK experiencing devastating increase in homelessness

14 Dakota Access protesters arrested near state capitol building, lockdown order

RT
Thu, 03 Nov 2016 23:23 UTC

The North Dakota state capitol is reportedly under a lockdown order while more than a dozen people were arrested for protesting against the Dakota Access pipeline.

According to witness accounts shared on Twitter, dozens of people gathered on a lawn outside the state capitol building in solidarity with protesters against the $3.8 billion pipeline, which is being constructed by Energy Transfer Partners.

Mass protests in Morocco after fish salesman is killed by police

Alex Lantier
World Socialist Web Site
Thu, 03 Nov 2016 00:00 UTC

Protests continued yesterday in the Moroccan city of Al Hoceima, where fish salesman Mouhcine Fikri, 31, was crushed to death on Friday after a conflict with Moroccan police in the city.

Tens of thousands of people had marched in protests in Al Hoceima, but also in Morocco's major cities including Casablanca, the capital Rabat, Fes, Marrakech, and Agadir, for Fikri's funeral over the weekend. Many compared Fikri's death to the suicide of Mohamed Bouazizi, the young merchant whose self-immolation in protest at the police confiscation of his fruits and vegetables triggered mass protests that brought down Tunisian President Zine El Abedine Ben Ali in 2011.

Fikri died in a confrontation with police and regulatory officials who tried to confiscate a batch of swordfish that he had bought. While catching swordfish in autumn is banned, Fikri nonetheless bought the catch, reportedly worth approximately $11,000, with the knowledge of the port authorities, and was outraged when police and fisheries officials tried to confiscate the fish.

Fikri tried to negotiate with the authorities for several hours in order to avoid the destruction of the fish. Ultimately, however, they ordered his catch confiscated and destroyed, placing it in the trash compactor of a garbage truck. Fikri and several friends went into the compactor of the truck to retrieve his merchandise.

Native protesters have the last laugh, as North Dakota cops admit they can't afford to keep up police presence for much longer

Jeremiah Jones
Counter Current News
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 14:56 UTC

A legislative committee will be reviewing an emergency request to borrow MORE money from the Bank of North Dakota to cover the cost of law enforcement related to protecting of the Dakota Access oil pipeline, reports Kota Territory News.

The expenditure hemorrhage has grown since using the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), which was supposed to be for natural disasters, but is instead being used to protect the pipeline that is planned to go through 1851 treaty land.

Comment: Interesting, now there will be no money for a natural disaster. Time will tell if that was a good decision.

Officers from at least 6 states have been deployed to North Dakota to fight for the companies behind the DAPL. Under the EMAC, North Dakota is responsible for reimbursing out-of-state police agencies for various costs such as wages, overtime, officer benefits, meals while officers are on duty, a per diem while officers are off duty, lodging and mileage for the communities that sent vehicles.

3yo brings father's loaded semi-automatic pistol to school in Washington, DC

RT
Thu, 03 Nov 2016 03:33 UTC

A 3-year-old boy took a loaded semi-automatic pistol to his elementary school in Washington, DC, where it was fortunately found by a security guard. It later appeared the gun belonged to the boy's father, who had no license.

The father, 31-year-old Anthony Earl Chiles, was arrested Tuesday after bringing his son to Moten Elementary School on Morris Road SE in Southeast DC.

Despite the arrest, this story is still surrounded by mystery.

Chiles was bringing his 3-year-old son to school at around 9:30 a.m. Tuesday when they were stopped by a security guard. WTTG has cited a charging document, which said that surveillance cameras recorded Chiles and his son.

Priest who performs exorcisms reports demand is at an all time high

Mike Pelton
The Indy Channel
Wed, 02 Nov 2016 15:53 UTC

A Brownsburg priest says the number of people requesting exorcisms is at an all-time high.

Father Vincent Lampert is an exorcist priest based out of St. Malachy Parish. He was appointed to his role by bishops of the Catholic church. "I don't have any special powers or ability from a faith perspective. The power resides with the person of Christ," said Father Lampert.

The priest says more people are asking for help and he attributes that to the growing number of people turning away from the faith.

"Faith in God will lead us in one direction and lack of faith will lead us in another, so there does seem to be a correlation with people who believe they are experiencing evil in their life at the same time where faith in God is less relevant," said Lampert.

The ship's going down; all resistance is 'fewtile'. They sold the fairytale 911 story....still do....(that had holes big enough to drive a 737...

Fewtile

Dr. RC says no one's talking much about a vaccine caused MCI (myocardial infarction) or stroke etc. Remember the pilots dying? The concern was and...

Rowan Cocoan

Their HELL bent in injecting this SHIT in to everyone and will stop at nothing until their demented goal is achieved. If you lose your job for not...

Winternights3

Someone deport this monstrous POS back to hell, or wherever. Anywhere with a good stockade 😤and his kids too

slbeaudry

To prevent Corona spreading they're gonna make everyone be asymptomatic super spreaders. if you agree with this action as legitimate you're a dumb...

sbc

Society's Child

Workers win wage settlement against McDonald's franchise

Walter Scott's fatal shooting by white police officer unjustified

Students arrested & maced at protest against former KKK grand wizard David Duke at US Senate debate

U.S. federal judge rejects NYPD settlement over Muslim surveillance (Update)

More homeless children in the United Kingdom - due to housing shortage

14 Dakota Access protesters arrested near state capitol building, lockdown order

Mass protests in Morocco after fish salesman is killed by police

Native protesters have the last laugh, as North Dakota cops admit they can't afford to keep up police presence for much longer

3yo brings father's loaded semi-automatic pistol to school in Washington, DC

Priest who performs exorcisms reports demand is at an all time high

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