Laurel: To preserving natural beauty. Southwestern Pennsylvania is defined as much by its water as it traditionally has been by its industry. However, the area’s rivers have both accommodated the businesses that built up around them and been negatively impacted by that development over the years.
Reversing the pollution of these natural wonders have been a labor of love for volunteers. Allegheny CleanWays held its annual river cleanup last weekend, removing debris and trash piled up along the Allegheny River’s banks in Natrona and Tarentum.
“We usually go out on the river and have a good time. I just wanted to volunteer and help,” said Tim Negley, a first-time volunteer from Natrona.
Plastic is the dominant item collected, but there is much more. Gas tanks, tires and 55-gallon barrels also were retrieved. Volunteers report seeing toilets and even a bathtub in the river.
The rivers have been coming back into their glory in recent years, but it isn’t just about legislation and conservation. You can never underestimate the long-term impact of just grabbing a bag and picking up the trash.
Lance: To a tall cup of intimidation. Big businesses have opposed the idea of unions for years. They aren’t alone. Plenty of people have different opinions on whether unions are as beneficial for members as they should be. That’s fair and open for debate.
But people who want to unionize should not be prevented from availing themselves of that option. The National Labor Relations Board has issued an unfair labor practices complaint against Starbucks for treatment of workers who unionized at four of the chain’s Pittsburgh locations earlier this year.
Baristas in Market Square, Oakland, East Liberty and Bloomfield are represented by Workers United, an affiliate of the SEIU. The union claims management intimidated workers and engaged in union busting attempts. A separate claim of employees being fired for union activities is not part of this complaint.
Starbucks must respond by Sept. 22. A hearing has been set for Jan. 23.
