MONTHLY JOURNAL OF UNION NEWS & INFORMATION Union Times The labor movement helped elect a wave of union members and pro-worker allies across the country on April 2 nd , proving that if you support working people, we’ll have your back. And we sent a resounding message to every candidate and elected official that if you seek to divide and destroy us, we’ll fight back with everything we have. The labor movement fought for our issues, union candidates and proven allies, and we filled the halls of power with our own. We’re still tracking races and results, but here are the main takeaways: Sikorsky Teamsters Win the Ergo Cup Members of Teamsters Local 1150 won a competition at the Ergo Cup in New Orleans. The workers are responsible for manufacturing helicopters for Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Corporation. The Ergo Cup takes place at the Applied Ergonomics Conference, a national convention geared towards showcasing the latest developments in the field of optimizing workplace efficiency. The competition took place on March 28 of this year, with the Sikorsky members winning the “Team-Driven Workplace Solution for Teams with Internal Competition” category for their Sikorsky CH-53K Harness Hooks and Spook Installation. The installation is a series of magnetic hooks on the inside of a CH-53K helicopter that allows the workers to hold a wire harness in place. Previously, the workers had to carry the harnesses on their shoulders, a process that had a greater risk for on-the-job injuries. Not only do the hooks for the wire harness make the process safer, they also make what used to be a nine-person job a two- person job, thus increasing workplace efficiency. Watch a video of the installation here. “We would have to walk in [to the helicopter] with nine guys, we would have to hold the equipment over our heads, and then we would have to wait for another guy to come and zip-tie it in,” Local 1150 Member Leonard Duffus said. “You’re holding your hands over your head for longer than two, three minutes and the temperature is over 90 degrees, it could be painful after a while of doing that. The hooks eliminated the guy having to come through with a zip tie, and it also made it so we don’t have to hold the harness up over our heads.” In addition to Leonard Duffus, Anthony Alfonso Jr., Charlie Pitsch, and John Mencucci were Sikorsky workers also who represented the company at the competition. Congratulations to all of the Local 1150 members who won at this year’s Ergo Cup! --- this issue Latest Headlines 1-2 Shame on Them 3-4 Featured Providers 5 Provider Spotlights 6-16 New Providers by State 17-19 VOL 2019 ISSUE MAY 2019 5 The Center of Victory (Cont on page 2) (Cont on page 2)
Transcript
MONTHLY
JOURNAL OF
UNION NEWS &
INFORMATION
Union Times
The labor movement helped elect a wave of union members and pro-worker allies across the country on April 2nd, proving that if you support working people, we’ll have your back. And we sent a resounding message to every candidate and elected official that if you seek to divide and destroy us, we’ll fight back with everything we have.
The labor movement fought for our issues, union candidates and proven allies, and we filled the halls of power with our own.
We’re still tracking races and results, but here are the main takeaways:
Sikorsky Teamsters Win the Ergo Cup
Members of Teamsters Local 1150 won a competition at the Ergo Cup in New Orleans. The workers are responsible for manufacturing helicopters for Sikorsky Aircraft, a subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Corporation.
The Ergo Cup takes place at the Applied Ergonomics Conference, a national convention geared towards showcasing the latest developments in the field of optimizing workplace efficiency. The competition took place on March 28 of this year, with the Sikorsky members winning the “Team-Driven Workplace Solution for Teams with Internal Competition” category for their Sikorsky CH-53K Harness Hooks and Spook Installation.
The installation is a series of magnetic hooks on the inside of a CH-53K helicopter that allows the workers to hold a wire harness in place. Previously, the workers had to carry the harnesses on their shoulders, a process that had a greater risk for on-the-job injuries. Not only do the hooks for the wire harness make the process safer, they also make what used to be a nine-person job a two-
person job, thus increasing workplace efficiency. Watch a video of the installation here.
“We would have to walk in [to the helicopter] with nine guys, we would have to hold the equipment over our heads, and then we would have to wait for another guy to come and zip-tie it in,” Local 1150 Member Leonard Duffus said. “You’re holding your hands over your head for longer than two, three minutes and the temperature is over 90 degrees, it could be painful after a while of doing that. The hooks eliminated the guy having to come through with a zip tie, and it also made it so we don’t have to hold the harness up over our heads.”
In addition to Leonard Duffus, Anthony Alfonso Jr., Charlie Pitsch, and John Mencucci were Sikorsky workers also who represented the company at the competition. Congratulations to all of the Local 1150 members who won at this year’s Ergo Cup!
flipped Pennsylvania’s 37th state Senate District.
Union members Eric Genrich (AFSCME) and Satya Rhodes-Conway (AFT) were elected as the mayors of Green Bay and Madison, Wisconsin, respectively.
A slate of union members (from the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association and AFSCME) and allies swept the Milwaukee School Board elections, and Danielle Shelton (AFT) won the election for a seat on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court.
In Missouri, Tommie Pierson Sr. (UAW) and Mike Corcoran (UA) won mayoral elections in Bellefontaine Neighbors and St. Ann, respectively. Meanwhile, Nick Trupiano (UFCW) was elected alderman in St. Peters and Orlando Smith (UA) won election as the Fire Protection District director for the city of Black Jack.
Working people win when working people run. In 2017, the AFL-CIO passed a powerful national resolution promising to train and campaign for union members to win public office through the Path to Power program.
2
(Cont from page 1)
Meet the First Woman President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO
Elected the first woman president of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, Stephanie Bloomingdale has more than two decades of experience in labor as an organizer, negotiator, trainer and activist. She served as secretary-treasurer of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO for eight years before her election as president in September 2018. Previously, she was director of public policy for the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals, working on behalf of nurses and health care workers throughout the state. Bloomingdale has a statewide reputation as a tenacious fighter and tough negotiator, skills she says she had to develop to survive 20 years of arbitrations, grievance hearings and battles in the legislature.
What is the state AFL-CIO? What is its role?
The Wisconsin AFL-CIO is a federation of many different labor unions from many different sectors, public and private, service workers, manufacturing, building trades, retail, health care, transportation...people doing all types of
work come together in the AFL-CIO to maximize our collective power.
You have the honor of being the first woman elected president of the state AFL-CIO, so can you talk to us about that?
My hope is that we’ll soon reach a time when this is no longer notable, a time when it’s simply accepted that the president, man or woman, was elected based on the qualities and skills that he or she brings to the job. I do believe that my election is a step in that direction.
As I travel around the state, so many of the women union members I meet are very excited, not only for me but also for themselves and their daughters. They see that they also can raise their hands and say, “why not me?” as they move into leadership roles. That’s why I think this is significant for all of us in the state of Wisconsin. Some people have said, “Well, Stephanie, isn’t this a good ol’ boys club?” and I can honestly say that has not been my experience. The men and women I work with value effective leadership and dedication. I think what’s important to them is that they can trust my commitment to building our collective power through the union movement.
---
In the full interview, President Bloomingdale discusses the governors of Wisconsin, prospects for millenials, her family involvement in the Wisconsin labor movement, and much more!
You can find the full interview at: https://aflcio.org/2019/4/11/meet-first-woman-president-wisconsin-afl-cio
The condition of many bridges in this country is not good. And a new study shows little is being done to improve it going forward.
The American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA) last week released its annual report on the state of America’s bridges. It shows that slightly more than 47,000 of the nation’s 616,000 spans were rated structurally deficient and are in need of urgent repairs. It also showed that the pace of repairs fell last year, resulting in only a 1 percent reduction of deficient bridges.
It’s a continuation of trend that began five years ago, when the pace of bridge improvements began to slow down. Incredibly, at this point, it would take more than 80 years to make the significant repairs that are needed to these structures.
Motorists’ safety is at risk. Drivers are crossing these deficient bridges 178 million times a day. The average age of the country’s most ailing spans is 62, compared to 40 for those not deemed deficient. Such aging
(PORT OF LOS ANGELES / LONG BEACH, Calif.) – Ten California port truck drivers who haul cargo for Best Buy, Puma and Lowe’s have been awarded more than $1.2 million by the California Labor Commissioner for wage theft due to misclassification as independent contractors.
The decision orders K&R Transportation, which was purchased by NFI Industries in 2017, to pay the drivers for unpaid wages, unpaid meal and rest breaks and illegal paycheck deductions based on claims filed in 2017. The company has until April 25, 2019, to either appeal or pay the drivers the amounts owed; if they do neither, then the decisions will become final judgments. If final judgments go unpaid, K&R’s customers could be held liable for future claims under California’s new joint liability law, Senate Bill 1402.
“We’re happy that the California Labor Commissioner has recognized the injustices we’ve experienced at the hands of K&R Transportation,” Zelaya said. “They’ve taken advantage of us for far too long and it will not
percent) and Pennsylvania (16.5 percent).
There is a huge need for this nation to invest in improving not just bridges, but all its transportation networks. The Teamsters for years have urged Congress to take a bipartisan approach to increasing infrastructure investment. These numbers brought to light by ARTBA underscore why there is no time to waste.
There was a time when this wasn’t a partisan issue. But government is broken. Partisan bickering has replaced finding solutions. That’s why it’s essential for the Teamsters and like-minded allies to join together and push this message with lawmakers, colleagues, friends and family. Let’s make it happen!
infrastructure not only jeopardizes lives, but threatens the efficient transport of commerce.
In all, there are 235,000 bridges in this country that are in need of at least some repairs, which is 38 percent of all spans in the U.S.A., third of interstate highway bridges fall under that category. ARTBA puts the repair price tag at $171 billion.
Some the nation’s most iconic bridges are among those rated as structurally deficient, including the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City; the Memorial Bridge connecting Washington, D.C. to Arlington, Va. near the Lincoln Memorial; the San Mateo-Hayward bridge crossing the San Francisco Bay; and the Robert S. Maestri Bridge over Lake Pontchartrain in Louisiana, among others.
The states with the most structurally deficient bridges, as a percentage of total bridges in the state, are Rhode Island (23 percent), West Virginia (19.8 percent), Iowa (19.3 percent), South Dakota (16.7
Shame on Them
3
California Port Truck Drivers Awarded Over
$1.2 Million for Wage Theft
(Cont on page 4)
235,000 US bridges, almost 2 out of every 5, are in need of at least some repair.
Study: Low Wages
Lead to More Suicides
America has a significant income inequality problem. And tragically, for some, it is too much to take.
A new report published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that a contributing factor for the increase of death by suicide in this country over the last two decades is the increasingly widening gap in wages that is leaving far too many struggling to support themselves and their families.
The study, conducted by the University of North Carolina, noted that financial stress is a known contributing factor in suicide attempts. But there was little previous research on the effect of economic policies that could alleviate financial stress on suicide rates.
Looking at the relationship between state minimum wages and suicide rates in all 50 states between 2006 and 2016, the UNC researchers found that a one-dollar increase in the real minimum wage was associated on average with a 1.9 percent decrease in the annual state suicide rate in
Wage growth for those earning a salary at the 10th percentile in a state with at least one minimum wage increase between 2013 and 2018 happened 50 percent faster than in states without such a hike. Women were the most positively affected by these changes.
But while some states and cities have gone as far as to implement a $15 an hour minimum wage, too many workers are still forced to try and get by on the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Increasing the federal standard, according to EPI, would disproportionately benefit African American workers because they are more likely to be low-wage workers living in states or jurisdictions that earn the federal rate. A minimum raise increase to $15 by 2024 would result in a pay hike for 38.1 percent of all black workers.
Government has a responsibility to protect the safety and well-being of its constituents. It starts with paying a fair wage for a day’s pay.
adjusted analyses. That would have resulted in almost 8,000 fewer suicides nationally during that period.
“Increases in real minimum wages have been associated with slower growth in state suicide rates in recent years. Increasing the minimum wage could represent a strategy for addressing increases in suicide rates,” the report states.
“Minimum wage laws in the U.S. may be particularly important for providing financial security given the fewer labor protections and higher volatility U.S. workers experience compared with workers in other high-income countries,” it added.
It should come as no surprise that wage growth for low-wage workers has been the strongest in states that have hiked the minimum wage. As the Economic Policy Institute noted, 13 states and the District of Columbia raised their wage floors last year, and the rate increased in eight others that have indexed it to inflation.
Shame on Them
stand. This decision is a great step, but justice will not truly be served until companies like K&R completely end their law-breaking practices, stop the wage theft and the abuse we endure on the job every day, and classify us as the employees we truly are. My co-workers and I will continue to stand with each other and fight for what is rightfully ours.”
“We are sick and tired of these companies taking advantage of hard-working drivers like those at K&R Transportation,” said Eric Tate, Secretary-Treasurer of Teamsters Local 848, which now represents more than 500 port truck drivers who have successfully secured their employee rights. “The Labor Commissioner’s award will provide temporary relief to these 10 families who have suffered from wage theft; however, K&R Transportation – like NFI’s other port truck companies – continues to illegally classify its drivers as ‘independent contractors’ and we are doing everything in our power to let retailers like Puma, Lowe’s, and Best Buy know that they’ll be held liable unless they move their business to companies that are following US tax and labor laws.”
4
(Cont from page 3)
Featured Providers
Union Reporters is pleased to announce a new member and provider
benefit. All members and providers now have exclusive access to the
Working Advantage discount network which allows you to save up to
60% on ticketed events and online shopping.
Through Working Advantage you can save on:
Movie Tickets Theme Parks
Broadway Shows Sporting Events
Hotels Ski Tickets
Health and Fitness Museums
City Passes Travel
Online Shopping Merchant Gift Certificates
..and much more!
These discounts are open to all union rank and file, military personnel
and the Union and Military friendly businesses on our Preferred
Provider Network. To subscribe, you may access the Working
Advantage website by opening the flyer to the right, or by clicking here:
www.workingadvantage.com. When opening an individual account you
will need Union Reporters ID# 233389733.
Working Advantage offers 24-hour online shopping and customer
support Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 6:30 PM Eastern
time. If you have specific questions regarding the site, please contact
Realtors vs Real Estate Agents, In-person vs Online Transactions
By Kay Rowe
In this day and age of online selling and purchasing, there is concern over the safety and security of conducting real transactions via Amazon, Zillow, Self-Directed IRA Real Estate Investment Companies and other online sources.
More often than not, an individual seeking to purchase or sell real estate is not educated on the process and is “flying blind” so to speak.
In my professional experience, nearly one-for-one, any upset over a real estate transaction can be traced back to the client/customer not knowing and/or not understanding the procedure.
By survey the two most important qualities that clients look for in Agent representation are trust and good communication. These go hand in hand, i.e. if the Agent is not communicating when he/she should be, clients tend to get anxious as they want to be kept informed. They need reassurance that they are in good hands and that their Agent has their back.
That said, it is far better to go with a Realtor (R) than a Real Estate Agent and do the transaction in-person rather than on-line. Note: I have included a link below to a very informative article on inman.com that explains the difference between a Realtor (R) and a Real Estate Agent. Please note, any on-line transactions would not be performed by a Realtor(R).
Next… What about on-line vs in-person? Honestly, I think its a no-brainer. Even if I wasn’t a licensed Realtor (R), I would never, ever purchase or sell a propery on-line. But, it all depends on the person and their needs and wants as well as the risks they are willing to take.
Ask yourself, “If something goes awry, am I protected?” “And if so, what is the process and is it simple or complicated?” Please note, in an in-person transaction you have near immediate access to resolution either with the Realtor (R), the Broker, Real Estate Commission, Mediation (if you didn’t waive your right to mediate) and last but not least, litigation.
As for on-line, you have never met the person and are usually clueless as to where they are located, let alone who their
supervisor is or how to contact him/her. Further, the on-line “agents” are not Realtors (R) , so are not bound by any codes.
All too likely they will require that you sign waivers and non-disclosure agreements, which could wind you up in a mess with no recourse.
Personally, I pride myself in being a “relational” as opposed to a “transactional” Realtor (R). Its not about the money for me, its about truly helping people. The photo at the top of this article is one of a family I helped and bonded with. I have many more photos of them and their children. Its the relationships in my profession that bring joy to my life. The transaction simply made the introduction.
In ending, whatever route you decide to take, I strongly advise you seek legal counsel as needed and meanwhile do not sign anything that you don’t understand, let alone anything that would waive your rights to recourse or free speech.
Tax-Freeze Portability is something I was not aware of until my neighbor shared this important, money saving benefit for someone 65 years and older or someone that is disabled and claims their residence as their Homestead.
Who Benefits?
Someone 65 years and older or someone who is disabled who had frozen their school tax amount and is moving to an area that has higher school taxes than from where they are moving from.
What Is It and How Does It Work?
Tax-Freeze Portability is a proportional school-tax-freeze rate transfer benefit from one’s homestead to their new homestead. This transfer is designed to keep senior citizens from experiencing huge increases in school taxes upon moving.
The tax freeze for school taxes on a new homestead following such transfer is determined by calculating the percentage of school taxes that are frozen on the current homestead and applying that percentage to the school taxes of the new home. For instance, if the homeowner pays $1000 (Tax Ceiling) in school taxes for the current homestead but would have to pay $4000 without the tax freeze, the percentage of school taxes paid is 25%. If the school taxes on the new home would normally be $5000 in the first year, tax-freeze portability results in school taxes of $1,250 (or 25% of $5,000) on that home. $1,250 being the New Tax Ceiling, which is an annual savings of $3,750. The difference in paid taxes is a great benefit anyone especially those on a fixed income.
The property owner will get a Tax Ceiling Certificate from the Appraisal District from where they are moving showing that they were paying 25% of their school taxes on their old homestead and that this percentage will be applied to their property school taxes on their new Homestead.
• Your Tax Ceiling is set when you first qualify for either the over 65 exemption or the disability homestead exemption.
• Generally, your school taxes can never go above the tax ceiling as long as you live in your home. The only exception would be if you significantly improve your house; for example, adding a new room or a 2nd story then a new tax ceiling including the improvements would be calculated.
Our goal is to always provide information that is of value and a cost savings. If you or anyone you know has questions, please call us, we are here to assist you with all your Real Estate needs.
Call or text
RISING STAR REALTY SERVICES "Your Personal Real Estate Consultant For Life"
Did You Know That You Can Defer or Postpone Your Property Taxes?
By Jim Mosner
If you are a homeowner who qualifies for the Age 65 or Older or the Disability exemption, you may also defer or postpone paying any property taxes on your home for as long as you own and live in it. It is important to note that this deferral only postpones your taxes and does not cancel them.
• For those that are applying as of January 1st, 2018 and after, the amount deferred accrues at a (5) percent interest annually until the deferral is removed.
• Those that applied prior to January 1st, 2018, the amount is accruing at a (8) percent interest annually until the deferral is removed.
When the property is sold or the ownership is transferred to the estate/heirs, the taxes and accrued interest become payable.
Note:
• A tax deferral does not cancel penalties, interest or attorney fees that were already due.
• Taxes will become due when the homeowner or surviving spouse no longer owns and resides in the home. If the tax debt remains unpaid, after 180 days from the change in residency, full penalties and interest will be imposed and taxing units may take legal action to collect the past due amount.
• The law extends the tax deferral to the surviving spouse of the person who deferred taxes on the homestead if the surviving spouse is at least 55 years old when the deceased spouse passes away.
Who and Why would someone choose to defer their property taxes?
A Senior on a fixed income that needs to reduce their monthly expenses in order to stay in their home.
Williamson County: The Tax Deferral Affidavit form is available on this site or you may contact Public Services, Williamson County at 512.930.3787.
Travis County: The Tax Deferral Affidavit form is available on this site or you may contact Public Services, Travis County at 512.834.9138.
For more information or questions call or text me at 512.658.2292.
Call or text
RISING STAR REALTY SERVICES "Your Personal Real Estate Consultant For Life"
Nature is a powerful healer, and when we learn the laws of nature, and follow them, we can create optimal health, maintain optimal health, and we can reverse disease.Whether we are wanting to lose weight, eliminate pain, overcome fatigue, balance hormones or blood sugar, heal our digestive issues, get off of our medications, or avoid surgery, the two most important factors to focus on are eliminating poisons from our bodies (detoxification), and eliminating nutritional deficiencies.
When a farmer wants seeds or crops to grow, he/she must really take care of the land; water it, remove weeds and rocks, make sure there is enough sunlight, and make sure there are enough minerals in the earth. In the same way, when we want optimal health, we need to pay attention to our internal "biological terrain". The way we "cultivate our earth" is to make sure we get enough minerals and trace minerals, that our blood chemistry is slightly alkaline, that we have an abundance of essential fats and oils, enzymes, anti-oxidants, vitamins, and the right amount and balance of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats. We must ensure that our "gut", our digestive tract, known as the second brain, is strong, intact, heavily populated with good bacteria, and that we have efficient eliminations. Otherwise, we are living with a backed up "sewage system", and our whole body will suffer. We will become hosts to a variety of conditions, from auto-immune diseases to depression, from arthritis to cancer, from diabetes to heart disease, from fibromyalgia to obesity.
We live in a culture that is focused on diagnosis, and putting a name on a disease. The problem is, after all of that, the only tools in the Western medical toolbox are drugs and surgery. When we use those, we are temporarily eliminating the symptom, but we never address it's cause. By choosing nature to heal the body, we are choosing to not wage war against viruses, bacteria, mold, fungus, yeast, cancer cells, or any other pathogenic organism. We are instead changing the environment that they are in... the environment in our bodies. We are creating in internal environment in our blood, in our gut, and in our cells, tissues, and organs that is unfriendly to those organisms, so that they cannot grow, thrive, and flourish. By using whole foods, nutrient-dense superfoods, and supplements, and by detoxifying the body with specific nutritional protocols and colon hydrotherapy, which is an internal use of water gently introduced into the colon (large
intestine) to dissolve and eliminate old waste, the body's health is restored.
We have an internal blueprint for perfect health. Allow nature to restore you. I'd be honored to help you through the process. My signature program below can help you get there...
Extreme Health In 90 Days
Health is a process, a lifestyle, and a mindset. I invite you to take a journey with me...a journey towards optimal health. We never just arrive and stay there. It takes mindfulness and knowledge, which lead to consistent right actions and choices. Homeostasis means balance, especially as it pertains to the body. We are always in a state of change, and there are factors that can influence how we feel and function.
My goal is to empower you, to give you a solid foundation upon which you can stand and feel confident when it comes to your self-care: nourishing your body, detoxifying it, and using food as medicine. With the right tools, information, and resources, you can be confident as you grow older, knowing that you are your own best doctor, and you can live your life with vibrancy and energy. There is an alternative to drugs and surgery; I invite you to explore it with me...
1) The Journey Begins - The First 40 Days
2) The Essential Process of Detoxification
3) A Guided Tour Through The Health Food Store (virtual or hands on)
4) Setting Up A Healthy Kitchen (virtual or hands on)
5) Adding Food As Your Program Evolves
Provider Spotlight
10
6) Preparing For The Next 40 Days
7) Therapeutic Program Vs. Optimal Daily Health Program
8) Meal Planning & Recipes
9) Move That Body!
10) After 80 Days - Maintaining It
11) Putting It All Together - A Lifestyle You Can Live With
12) The Extreme Health Community - Supporting Mind, Body, & Spirit
What you get:
- 5 hours of consultation time per month - 15 total
- Superfoods & supplements
- Optional (highly recommended for local clients) - 3 colon hydrotherapy sessions
- Optional and highly recommended - Extreme Health ongoing support group and community
Investment:
- $2,250 consultation time - initial deposit
- Approximately $700 - $800 for superfoods & supplements over the course of three months
- 3 colon hydrotherapy sessions - highly recommended if local - $375
- Ongoing Extreme Health support group and community - $47 per month
Estimated total cost:
$3,000 without colon hydrotherapy
$3,375 with colon hydrotherapy
THIS PROGRAM WILL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE!
Get started today! Contact Joyce to learn more about the program, or to enroll.
About Joyce Gerber Joyce Gerber is passionate about helping people get well and stay well naturally, empowering them to work with nature, instead of resorting to drugs or surgery. She teaches people how to use food as medicine, and how to eat healthfully. The results are spectacular: increased energy, reduced weight, pain diminished or eliminated, cramping, bloating, and dis-ease gone!
She works with the highest quality of nutritional supplementation, including superfoods, whole food vitamins and minerals, herbs, enzymes, and essential oils. She works with cutting edge modalities for cleansing and detoxification, weight release, anti-aging, nutritional replenishment, and enhancing energy and performance.
Joyce Gerber is certified as a nutritional consultant, a colon hydrotherapist, an herbologist, an iridologist, and an NLP practitioner. She is licensed as a massage therapist, trained in Swedish massage, shiatsu, reflexology, and deep tissue work. She has been in private practice since 1982.
Switch OFF Your Stress and Switch ON Your Brain – In Minutes
By Gwenn Bonnell
Have you ever been so stressed that just when you need to make a decision it feels as if you’ve lost your marbles and can’t think straight?
That’s because one of the first things that happens when you’re stressed it the blood leaves your forebrain and goes into your torso (so you can fight) or into your legs (so you can flee).
One of the most extreme examples of this was when my husband came home shaking and shivering uncontrollably, I was scared. Even though it was a warm evening, he was very cold. He put on fleece gloves and thick socks and buried himself under layers of blankets and comforters. Plus he was panting like a dog…
I was ready to call 911 or visit the emergency room it almost seemed like he was having convulsions.
Then I remembered a simple technique that quickly re-programs the body's nervous system and reduces the body’s stress response. I laid next to my husband and placed the palm of my hand on his forehead. And just kept it there.
Within a minute or two, his shivering and shaking became less intense. His breathing pattern slowed and began to deepen. Within five minutes, he had stopped shivering completely and his breathing returned to normal. He was calmed and relaxed, and so was I!
Millenniums ago this “fight-or-flight” response was extremely important for the survival of our race. If you could run away from a lion faster than your companion, he was meat and you were safe.
Today, however, this response is often overkill a driver cutting us off on the expressway or feeling pressured to meet a deadline is not the same as a dinosaur stalking our family.
Even worse, as daily stress accumulates, every system in our body is affected and we end up feeling more fearful or anxious or angry or aggressive than the situation warrants.
Learning to recondition the body's response to these everyday stresses that are NOT life threatening can be one of the most important steps you can take to maintain - and improve - your health and the health of your loved ones.
REPROGRAM THE BODY'S RESPONSE TO STRESS
The next time you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or highly emotional, try the following exercise:
1) Lightly place the fingertips of each hand or the palm of one hand on the bumps on your forehead directly above your eyes. If you can't find these slight lumps simply place the palm of one hand across your forehead.
2) Take a deep breath and "drop into your stress." No need to try to be positive. It's better to sink into the negative or unpleasant feeling while holding the points. Keep breathing deeply and stay focused for two to five minutes.
3) As the blood returns to the forebrain you will feel pulsing under your fingertips or your palm. As the blood returns to your brain, you are lifting out of the stress, and you are thinking more clearly so you can make better decisions.
NOTE: Depending on the level of stress hormones in your body, when you first use this technique you may have to hold the pose for more than just a few minutes. I’ve used this with Veterans who had PTSD and it’s taken up to 20 minutes until I felt the energy come back into their forehead.
HAVE YOU EVER DOEN THIS INTUITIVELY?
How often has your child or loved one complained of feeling ill or being upset and you put your palm on their forehead? Or when hearing shocking news, have you ever automatically slap your palm on your own forehead?
Now that you know what’s happening, instead of holding your hand on the forehead for a few seconds, keep it there for a few minutes and watch the magic happen!
THREE WAYS TO USE THE FOREHEAD HOLD
1) Especially at night, when you have those “shoulda woulda coulda” thoughts stopping you from going to sleep, you’ll find the forehead hold really helpful. Remember, you don’t have to try to think positive thoughts while doing this. You’ll know it’s helping when your thoughts change automatically and/or when you drop off to sleep.
2) This is especially useful when a child wakes up from a nightmare.
3) I use this a lot when the answer is on the tip of my tongue. It’s very handy during exams, too. How often have you
About Gwenn
Gwenn Bonnell was searching for relief from her chronic, burning leg pain when she discovered the magical power of EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques). The tapping worked – it gave her a life without pain, and it revolutionized her career! Since then, she has taught thousands of people how to tap into the natural healing powers of the body’s own energy system to eliminate pain, reduce anxiety and stress, and connect with the joy and bliss we are meant to experience.
A pioneer in the field, Gwenn was one of the first practitioners to combine Energy Psychology and Energy Medicine, establishing a new and remarkable approach to holistic healing.
Based in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, she has led over 200 workshops and training classes since 1998. Gwenn continues to share her personal expertise, giving people cutting edge information and workable solutions to everyday problems via personal consultations, through print, and on the internet.
Gwenn invites you to enter the fascinating world of EFT and Energy Medicine. Fasten your seat belt! Catch the excitement and use tapping as a stepping stone to becoming all you can be, having a happier and healthier life and enjoying a more loving experience here on this planet. Visit www.tapintoheaven.com and www.tapawaypain.com for tons of free tips and tactics to boost your success with EFT, Energy Medicine, and more…
She is available for private coaching via phone, Zoom or Skype. You can contact Gwenn by phone at 954.370.1552 or email [email protected]
rested your elbow on the desk and placed your head in the palm of your hand when filling out a form or taking a test? Teach it to your children and students!
The more often this technique is practiced, the quicker the body reconditions its response to stress, creating a healthier and more tranquil life.
You are welcome to email at [email protected] to let me know what’s causing you the most stress and I’ll address that in next month’s column.
---
Provider Spotlight
12
Provider Spotlight
13
3 Key Elements to Early Retirement Success
By David Dietz
With the long financial nightmare of the recession and financial crises shrinking in the memories of those who endured it, Americans are, once again, setting their sights on a shorter retirement time horizon. What didn’t seem possible following the steep market decline and ensuing economic turmoil, is becoming more than just a pipe dream for those intent on fleeing the rat race early. Although it’s a much steeper hill to climb these days, with the right planning it’s not out of the realm of possibility. However, for most people, it will require extreme focus, discipline and some creativity.
For the best chance of success, an early retirement strategy will need to include these three-dimensional elements:
• Dialing back your lifestyle needs
• Defining your spending needs
• And Cultivating your unique ability
If your vision of an early retirement is to be able to maintain your current lifestyle for the rest of your life, you may want to consider dialing back your lifestyle needs today. If an early retirement truly is your priority, then it needs to take precedence over lifestyle needs today. Most people find themselves having to downsize drastically in retirement in order to ensure lifetime income sufficiency. Learning to live with less today can not only increase your savings towards retirement, it will also enable you to transition more smoothly into a life of relative austerity. It’s important to note that lifestyle does not have to equate to quality of life, which is shaped by your own, non-materialistic sense of fulfillment.
With a new attitude and outlook on your current lifestyle needs, you can put in a more realistic perspective your actual spending needs in retirement. While there are some guidelines you could follow (for example, saving enough to replace 70 percent of your earnings in retirement), setting your sights on an early retirement requires realistic spending assumptions. If you know what your spending budget is, you can create a spending budget for the future based on current lifestyle. As a caveat, it is vitally important that you build and maintain a substantial emergency fund or cash reserve of at least two years of living expenses that can be tapped for unexpected expenses.
Learn what you do exceptionally well (outside of your trained skills) and drives your passion. Then cultivate it, work on it, and improve it. Ideally, it is something that you can exercise in a second career or a business that can generate an income into retirement. Even if you can’t monetize it later in life, being able to exercise your unique ability each day is what will lead to a high quality of life and true self- fulfillment.
Of course, there are several other factors crucial to early retirement success, such as executing a well-conceived investment strategy, staying healthy to keep costs down, and avoiding big financial mistakes that can lead to setbacks. A serious early retirement goal requires the same number crunching planning as any long-term goal; however, for most people, it requires a mindset that emphasizes quality of life over lifestyle for any chance of lifetime income sufficiency and happiness.
Questions? Comments? Give us a call or book a meeting. We'd love to hear from you.
Get Your Hearing Checked during Better Hearing and Speech Month
By Your Hearing Network
Every May the hearing care community gets the word out that it’s important to focus on hearing wellness. It means the difference between hearing the most important parts of the conversation - whether it’s work-related details, dinner conversations, the words of your favorite song, a loved one communicating across the room and missing vital information.
This year professionals at Your Hearing Network advocate for youto get your annual hearing assessment and remind your friends and family to get their hearing checked too.
What you don’t know might hurt you
Did you know untreated hearing loss can contribute to social isolation, depression and mental fatigue? It has also been correlated with an increase of cognitive decline.1 That’s why it’s important to find out if you have hearing loss. Hearing well makes communication easier, allows you to communicate with confidence and help stay mentally sharp.
Hearing Aids can help
According to research, more than 90% of hearing aid wearers in the U.S.2 are happy with the care they receive from their hearing care provider. From the same survey, researchers found that 88% of hearing aid wearers in the U.S. found an improved quality of life.
Hearing Aids Improve Hearing –and A LOT More
We also know improved hearing means:
Better quality of life Better relationships Better sense of safety and independence Better memory Better mental health
Source: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders
Why Wait? There are plenty of good reasons to choose the path to better hearing. Get your hearing checked today and find out what you might be missing. Call 1-888-249-8131 for a free evaluation or click here to schedule your appointment today. 1The Americans for Better Hearing Foundation.
2Hougaard S, Ruf S, Egger C, Abrams H. Hearing Aids Improve
Hearing–and A LOT More. Hearing Review. 2016;23(6):14.
The Union Times is a monthly publication from Union Reporters. You can visit our website at:
https://unionreporters.com/
The Union Reporters website is a great resource for union members, military members, government workers, and anyone else interested in labor issues.
The Union Reporters website also serves as a resource for finding deals on all kinds of products and services for union and military members. Need a realtor, attorney, medical services, or other service? The Union Reporters search engine makes it easy to locate the best deals in your area for just about anything!
Our site contains thousands of union-friendly providers, many of whom offer special discounts for our readers and their families!
Relocation Specialists
Relocation Specialists are Real Estate Professionals with a background and experience in helping both Union and Military Personnel relocate throughout the United States and Canada.
Our Relocation Specialist listings are organized by state, and then by counties.
If you’re a real estate professional who is willing to help both union and military personnel, you can become part of our relocation program by calling our offices at the following number:
888-436-4355 You can access our relocation services map at:
