12/2-3 LA Binational Conference To Cancel NAFTA and Unite Workers Of Mexico and the US (tags)
A binational conference of US and Mexican workers will be held on Dec 2&3 on the fight to cancel NAFTA and for unity between US and Mexican workers
Labor Needs to Recalibrate and Fight (tags)
While the U.S. media has been obsessed with the in-fighting between Democrats and Republicans, as well as the recent government shutdown and the global/domestic ramifications of a possible government default, little attention has been paid to a looming disaster confronting working people: Obama is again threatening to cut “entitlement” programs, meaning Social Security and Medicare.
AFL-CIO Convention in Los Angeles Blog at Indypendent (tags)
Reports from the convention, at Indypendent.org
Labor Leaders, Obamacare, and the Fate of the Unions (tags)
A funny thing happened a couple of months ago: labor leaders finally awoke from their coma and realized that Obamacare was not only bad for unions, but for working families in general.
At the AFL-CIO Convention, Leaders Ask: What Direction for Labor? (tags)
The acknowledgment of Labor’s existential crisis and the recognition that something must be done to resolve it is the key issue at the AFL-CIO’s four-day quadrennial convention in Los Angeles. The urgency of the situation has compelled Labor’s top officials to experiment in a search for solutions.
The AFL-CIO’s New Strategy: Inspiration or Hype? (tags)
After years of embarrassing denial, the AFL-CIO recently took its first baby step in addressing the crisis that has engulfed organized labor: it recognized there was a problem. In the run up to its national convention in early September in Los Angles, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka recently admitted that “what we’ve been doing isn’t working,” and consequently announced a new strategy that was, supposedly, a revolutionary break from the previously-failed strategy of organized labor.
Detroit’s Retired City Workers in the Crosshairs (tags)
With Detroit’s finances looking increasingly dire, the city’s creditors are beginning to face off with one another, each trying to minimize their losses. The city’s pension fund, which supports retired city workers, has found itself in direct conflict with a formidable opponent, the bondholders, individuals and institutions that gave the city money in order to enjoy the interest on the loan.
SF Labor: Calls on Labor Movement to Mobilize in Washington, D.C. August 24 (tags)
In Support of the SCLC and King Center call for a March and Rally in Washington, DC on August 24, 2013 and in Support of the July 2 Northern California Demonstration to Demand a Massive Federally Funded Jobs-Creation Program and No Cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid
AFL-CIO’s Own Oil Disaster (tags)
With less than transparency, the AFL-CIO just issued a statement endorsing “expanding the nation’s pipeline system.” Although it did not explicitly endorse the Keystone XL pipeline, the labor federation nevertheless managed to extend its blessing to the project while hiding behind vague generalities. However, the logic of its position is unambiguous: the federation is in favor of extending pipelines in general and without qualification; the Keystone XL is a pipeline. Therefore logic compels us to infer that the federation supports the extension of the Keystone XL pipeline.
AFL-CIO Declares Victory in Wisconsin in the Face of Defeat (tags)
In the wake of the Wisconsin elections and the failure to unseat Governor Walker, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka has issued a victory statement of sorts, resorting to the most tortured and convoluted logic.
Why Not Start by Unionizing the Major Banks? (tags)
Here's how to make Wall Street pay - organize bank workers.
The Two Roads Out of Recession (tags)
Recent events in Washington, D.C. should provoke fear and outrage in the average American worker. As the jobs recession staggers on, politicians and labor leaders alike seem bizarrely distanced from reality, unable to advance any ideas that remotely correspond to the basic demands of those tens of millions of unemployed, under-employed, or poorly paid workers. Instead, what we get is President Obama's recent groveling to the corporate-dominated Chamber of Commerce, pleading with them to hire workers. The President's recent speech to the Chamber implied many dangers, which neither labor federation-- AFL-CIO and Change to Win -- bothered to point out. In fact, the AFL-CIO applauded sections of the speech, rather than condemning its sinister motives. If labor unions align themselves with the President's and the Chamber's pro-corporate path out of the recession, a workers’ road to recovery will be bypassed.
The Real Significance of the One Nation Rally (tags)
How are we to interpret the massive One Nation demonstration in Washington D.C. on October 2nd? Was this a rally to elect Democrats? A progressive movement hijacked by the Democratic Party? Or something else?
Jerry Brown Widens the Chasm Between Labor and the Democratic Party (tags)
With the November elections rapidly approaching, most Americans are unimpressed and uninvolved, having concluded that elections have changed little in their struggling lives, despite all the promises of politicians.
Trumka and the Labor Press Bury Scandal About Removal of ‘Ethical Practices’ Clause (tags)
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka kept his determined silence, refusing to explain or investigate how an “ethical practices” clause, that had been in effect since the founding of the Labor Federation in the 1950s, had been removed in the 2005 edition of the Constitution.
Remarks by Richard L. Trumka, President, AFL-CIO, National Press Club, Washington, DC (tags)
Our economy does not work without good jobs, so we must take action now to restore workers' voices in America. The systematic silencing of American workers by denying our right to form unions is at the heart of the disappearance of good jobs in America. We must pass the Employee Free Choice Act so that workers can have the chance to turn bad jobs into good jobs, and so we can reduce the inequality which is undermining our prospects for stable economic growth. And we must do it now—not next year, not even this summer. Now.
A Surge in Demands on Government for Jobs (tags)
Thanks to the government bailout, bankers and brokers are now self-righteously pocketing their record bonuses, reassured by Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein that they are doing “God’s work” (The New York Times, November 17, 2009). There is no humility in these quarters. Yet working people continue to be battered by relentlessly rising unemployment, caused by an economic crisis they had no part in creating. Officially the rate stands at 10.2 percent with the unofficial rate hovering around 17.5 percent, since it also includes part-time workers wanting full-time work and those who are discouraged and no longer looking for work. Both statistics are on the verge of rising.
AFL-CIO’s Dull, Narrowly-Based Culture Has No Appeal to Young Working People (tags)
Harry's over 90 years old, but he's nailed one of the big problems of the AFL-CIO's labor movement - it has no appeal to young working people. It's a bunch of old people - grandparents and great-grandparents.
Betrayals Continue as Trumka Takes the Helm at the AFL-CIO (tags)
The partnership between the heads of organized Labor and the employers strengthens as Trumka dumps EFCA after spending millions of dollars of member's hard earned dues money getting our enemies elected in to office.
Labor Leaders Put All “Our” Eggs in the NLRB and EFCA Baskets (tags)
Worker’s relying on our own strength and not the courts will drive back the capitalist’s offensive.
Workers fear SEIU’s violent “shock and awe” tactics on Day One of union election (tags)
Workers fear SEIU’s violent “shock and awe” tactics on Day One of union election SEIU has been condemned by the AFL-CIO for using violence against other unions—SEIU Trustee with record of violence tells staff, "We gotta put them in the ground and bury them" Fresno, Calif.—Today is the first day of a highly contested union election for 10,000 homecare workers in Fresno County who are trying to leave the Washington, D.C.-based SEIU, a union that has been condemned by the AFL-CIO for using violence in inter-union conflicts. The stakes have never been higher for SEIU officials, who are desperately trying to stop a movement of nearly 100,000 healthcare workers in California who are organizing to quit SEIU and join the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW).
Carwash Campaign Highlights Success of Community-Labor Teamwork (tags)
by James Parks, copied from the AFL-CIO Blog.
The Fight Continues For The Employee Free Choice Act EFCA and The Truth! (tags)
Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) today repeated his intent on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” to block a Senate vote on the Employee Free Choice Act, despite his past support of the bill. The bill hasn’t changed—so why has Specter flipped?
Stewart Acuff, special assistant to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney touts EFCA (tags)
Employee Free Choice Act: Acuff told his Denver audience that he believes the legislation will come before Congress in seven to eight weeks and that he is hopeful Senate Democrats will be able to round up 60 votes.
Employee Free Choice Act Now - Union Civil Rights Activists Vow to Keep King’s Dream Alive (tags)
by James Parks, Jan 19, 2009 Union civil rights activists this weekend celebrated the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr., by commiting to hold the new administration and Congress accountable and carry on the work they did in the 2008 election to mobilize workers in support of a strong progressive agenda.
VERMONT AFL-CIO CALLS ON WORKERS TO SUPPORT WEST COAST SRIKE AGAINST WAR (tags)
The Executive Board of the Vermont AFL-CIO, representing thousands of workers in countless sectors across Vermont, have unanimously passed an historic resolution expressing their “unequivocal” support for the first US labor strike against the war in Iraq.
AFL-CIO’s John J. Sweeney Fears “an American Nightmare!” (tags)
On April 8, 2008, John J. Sweeney said in Baltimore, MD, that the country is going down the tubes and dragging working class people with it. He’s the head of the national AFL-CIO. He added that in November: “We have an opportunity to reverse these awful trends.” On May 1, 2008, West coast dockworkers are calling a work stoppage to protest the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Perhaps, Mr. Sweeney will join them on the picket line. Stay tuned.
Labor Union - Labor Department to act on employee safety equipment (tags)
WASHINGTON (AP)Labor Union — The Labor Department has agreed to issue rules outlining an employer’s responsibility for the cost of workers’ safety equipment — two months after a lawsuit by the AFL-CIO and the United Food and Commercial Workers seeking such regulations. www.LABORUNIONRESOURCES.ORG
Haiti: $100,000 NED Grant to Batay Ouvriye- Anti-Aristide "leftists" (tags)
Recently declassified National Endowment for Democracy (NED) documents reveal that a "leftist" workers' organization, Batay Ouvriye (BO), which promoted and called for the overthrow of the constitutionally elected government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was the targeted beneficiary of a US $99,965 NED grant routed through the AFL-CIO's American Center for International Solidarity (ACILS). Listed in NED's "Summary of Projects Approved in FY 2005" for Haiti, the grant states, "ACILS will work with the May 1st Union Federation- Batay Ouvriye [ESPM-BO] to train workers to organize and educate fellow workers."
Haiti: AFL-CIO and the Batay Ouvriye (tags)
For many activists, academics, and labor historians in the 1980’s the AFL-CIO became referred to as the AFL-CIA. Founded in 1961 the American Institute for Free Labor Development (AIFLD) was the AFL-CIO’s foreign organizing wing for Latin America and the Caribbean. Along with its counterparts in Africa, Asia, and Europe, AIFLD was used to undermine leftist trade movements, support dictators such as the Duvalier’s and back military coups in Chile and Brazil.
Rebuild Louisiana rally demands jobs, housing (tags)
BATON ROUGE, La. — Sporting union, NAACP and ACORN T-shirts, more than 1,000 rallied here Oct. 29 for jobs, living wages, affordable housing and public services for south Louisiana. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and the Rev. Al Sharpton were joined by rank-and-file workers and community activists in calling for a rebuilding program that puts victims of Katrina and Rita first. Speakers also called on the federal government to supply grants, not loans, to local governments for basic services.
Who's Behind the Minutemen? (tags)
Contrary to the official story, the USA is not one nation of many immigrants, but a prison of oppressed nations, including Latin@s. In the year 2004, another racist threat emerged against Latin@ and other immigrant workers: the Minutemen.
Labor and civil rights groups: We demand jobs, justice in Gulf (tags)
Oct. 29 rally in Baton Rouge to demand a ‘new direction’ for U.S. Gulf Coast union leaders hailed an action campaign launched by the AFL-CIO Sept. 30 to defend workers’ wages and rebuild their hurricane-torn states while turning the nation in a new direction that puts “people before profits.”
AFL-CIO in Solidarity with Locked Out Canadian Workers (tags)
On 09/12/05, a rally was held in Washington, D.C., in solidarity with the 5,500 Canadian Media Guild (CMG) members, who have been locked out of their jobs. Linda Foley, President of the TNG-CWA; Larry Cohen of the CWA; and John Sweeney, President of the AFL-CIO, all blasted the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) for their deplorable tactics. They then presented letters of support for the CMG to an Embassy of Canada official.
California Border Police or Police State? (tags)
Immigration Reform and AFL-CIO labor split discussed on live web cast from www.kuci.org Thursday, August 4, 2005 from 8-9 AM
Is Change to Win enough? (tags)
Changes are afoot in the mainstream labor movement. Are they enough?
J23-28: AFL-CIO Convention in Chicago - Rank and File Voices Call for Change (tags)
As the AFL-CIO 2005 National Convention convenes in Chicago, rank and file union democracy activists will be on hand to speak truth to power
J24: National Rank and File Labor Conference in Chicago: Take Back Our Unions! (tags)
A one day rank and file labor conference on Sunday, July, 24 - the day before the AFL-CIO National Convention opens in Chicago.
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists: Building labor-community unity for progress (tags)
The People's Weekly World interviewed William (Bill) Lucy, president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, at its 34th annual convention in Phoenix, May 29. Martin Frazier, contributing editor, conducted the interview.
Black trade unionists urge labor unity (tags)
PHOENIX — “There are no more common allies than the broad community and organized labor, and there are no more natural allies than organized labor and the African American community,” Coalition of Black Trade Unionists President Bill Lucy told the estimated 1,500 delegates at the 34th annual CBTU convention here May 26.
Labor can't win in a house divided (tags)
Like no other time in the last 50 years, a united labor movement is critical to defending the working class and the American people. It is decisive to any hope for a progressive agenda for the whole nation, not just for union members.
Open Letter to President Bush from IAEFF (tags)
IAEFF wants Bush to extend freedom medal to AFL-CIO leaders
Million Worker March in Washington defies AFL-CIO and calls for a fighting labor movement (tags)
The forward thrust of the March stood in stark contrast to the AFL-CIO’s failed strategy of support for John Kerry.
AFL-CIO Leadership are Responsible for Defeats (tags)
With no serious alternative to Schwarzenegger, and with their support of the Team Concept, California's labor leaders have nothing to say to their members as usual.
No jobs, endless war: ‘Bush has made a mess’ From labor to hip-hop, voters mobilize to def (tags)
CHICAGO — Eight thousand Pillowtex workers were thrown out of work a year ago when the textile giant shut its doors.
Building Bridges Radio -Trillin Rhymes Bush and the AFL-CIO Must Change (tags)
Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report presents this 29 minute radio show. TO LISTEN CLICK ON WEB LINK BELOW
Unions UNITE HERE for greater power (tags)
CHICAGO – Two of the nation’s most active unions formalized their merger here July 8-10.
Andy Stern and SEIU Offer the Same Worn-Out Policies (tags)
To Many young activists, SEIU is considered the progressive Union. But, in the last analysis, the policies of SEIU's leadership are no different from those of any other AFL-CIO Union. They fail to take on the employers in a serious way and refuse to break politically with the Democratic Party.
Grocery Strikers’ Heroic Fight for Healthcare (tags)
In the end, workers who had fought so hard for five months were forced to accept a raw deal. They were unable to prevail against a bold united front of employers when their own leaders were not willing to organize an equally bold united front of labor.
DENNIS MILLER SHUT DOWN (tags)
Dennis Miller was not seen on my CATV system or the local NBC affiliate broadcast in MY NEIGHBORHOOD and if you see him in YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD he is sitting on GROUND ZERO with Desmond Tutu unless both of them decided to advocate MIGRATORY LIVING like the POPE. CHEVROLET TURNS KEY. WWWIII
AFL-CIO Leadership Give the Employers Another Victory (tags)
Defeat in southern California confirms the need for regime change atop the AFL-CIO
Solidarity with Striking and Locked-Out Grocery Workers- For a Class Union (tags)
Solidarity with Striking and Locked-Out Grocery Workers- For a Class Union February 2004
Labor leads coalition to victory over corporate ‘drug lords’ (tags)
CLEVELAND – Back in the year 2000, few people in Ohio believed a prescription drug bill with real benefits could be passed, not with a right-wing controlled State Legislature.
BTL:U.S. Labor Movement Opposes Bush Plan to Create... (tags)
...Immigrant Guest Workers Program Interview with Anna Avendano, senior adviser on immigration issues for the AFL-CIO, conducted by Between the Lines' Scott Harris
Dec. 16th Mass March to support striking Grocery Workers (tags)
AFL-CIO Pres. Sweeney will Lead March of Thousands of Strikers March From Century City to Beverly Hills Slated Tuesday, December 16
To those on the left blaming anarchist for the police brutality in Miami (tags)
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‘Free trade’ scam:‘It’s bad for workers everywhere’ (tags)
“We’ll be marching with truck drivers and electrical workers, nurses and teachers, health care workers and Teamsters, all kinds of working people,” Fred Frost, president of the South Florida AFL-CIO, told the Miami Herald.
Report from Chicago FTAA Consulta (tags)
*** Report from the Chicago Consulta on the FTAA *** On October 11 and 12 over 75 people representing 18 geographic locations came together to help form a strategy to shut down the FTAA Ministerial meetings taking place this November in Miami.
A5: Rank and File to Challenge AFL-CIO Executive Committee in Chicago (tags)
Chicago – When the AFL-CIO Executive Committee meets at the Drake Hotel beginning on August 5, a group of rank-and-file union members will attempt to address the gathered labor leaders. The union members bring a list of questions and grievances that may cause the assembled union presidents considerable embarrassment.
The Bush Outrage(s) of the Month list (tags)
(see related story below) As part of its campaign to put a four-year limit on George W. Bush’s tenure at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the AFL-CIO has drawn up what might be called the “Outrage of the Month” list of attacks against working people by the Bush administration since taking office in January 2001.
Resolution Opposing the Bush Administration’s War on Iraq (tags)
Jan 27th '03 Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO passes anti patriot / anti war resolution.
AFL-CIO tells Bush and Congress: Get real on the economy (tags)
(see related story below) The AFL-CIO charged in a Jan. 27 report that, despite President Bush’s rosy claims, the economy is in worse shape than it was two years ago when measured by all the key indicators important to working families.
Job Posting: AFL-CIO Media Outreach Internship (tags)
AFL-CIO Media Outreach Internship
Working families say: We’ll fight Bush agenda (tags)
WASHINGTON – Despite setbacks in the Nov. 5 elections, the AFL-CIO, the National Organization for Women and other grassroots organizations vowed a determined fight to block the Bush administration from railroading its ultra-right agenda through Congress.
November 5 battle cry: Defeat the right wing (tags)
People's Weekly World Newspaper, Oct 19, 2002 Interviews with labor, civil rights, women’s and peace organizations reveal a concerted nationwide campaign to maximize voter turnout in the Nov. 5 elections in an effort to wrest control of the House of Representatives from the Republican right wing and increase the one-vote Democratic margin in the Senate. A net gain of seven seats will give the Democrats control of the House.
Bush rewards bosses, invokes Taft-Hartley (tags)
LOS ANGELES – The labor movement reacted with outrage to George W. Bush’s decision to invoke the unionbusting Taft-Hartley Act to end an employer lockout of the West Coast International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). It was the first use of the law against the union since Richard Nixon invoked it in 1971 to interrupt a strike.
Thousands rally in capital against war and greed (tags)
WASHINGTON – For four days last week, the capital echoed with marching feet and chants of “corporate greed has got to go” and “No war for oil!”
Relying on failed strategies Union leaders place ILWU victory in jeopardy (tags)
Relying on big business politicians and refusing to mobilize their members to confront the employers' attacks is a strategy that has led to defeat after defeat for organized labor despite great sacrifice and heroism from the rank and file union member. There is little indication in the ILWU/PMA struggle that change is on the way.
Union members run for Congress (tags)
Even a brief look at the make-up of the 107th Congress helps explain why workers are catching hell these days. Yes, it is true that there are “friends of labor” who have 100 percent AFL-CIO voting records, but they find themselves out-gunned in a Congress whose 535 members include 150 millionaire lawyers, bankers and other business people.
Iowa labor maps Election 2002 fight (tags)
WATERLOO, Iowa – The 46th convention of the Iowa Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, opened here Aug. 14 with a blistering attack on the policies of the Bush administration. It ended two days later with a plan of action aimed at electing worker-friendly candidates to Congress and the Iowa legislature, with a special emphasis on re-electing Sen. Tom Harkin.
Main St. goes to Wall St. (tags)
NEW YORK – Workers chanting, “Who’s city? Our city!” rallied here outside the New York Stock Exchange with laid-off workers from WorldCom, Enron and Arthur Andersen to tell Corporate America, “No more business as usual!”
AFL-CIO to Wall Street: No more business as usual (tags)
Call for Bush-Cheney probe George W. Bush and Vice President Richard Cheney faced sharp new questions about their role in Enron-style corporate fraud as the stock market continued to plummet and WorldCom went belly-up July 22, the largest corporate bankruptcy in history.
Rally Thursday noon in Wilmington, CA to show support for the ILWU longshore workers.
THE AFL-CIO'S ROLE IN THE VENEZUELAN COUP (tags)
The AFL-CIA HAD A HAND IN THE ANTI-VENEZUELAN COUP D'ETAT. THE SAME AFL-CIO THAT CLAIMS TO BE AGAINST ANTI-GLOBALIZATION AND NEOLIBERALISM SUPPORTS THESE POLICIES IN VENEZUELA! EXPOSE AND DISMANTLE THESE FRAUDS NOW!
After 6 Years Leading AFL-CIO, John Sweeney Has Achieved Mixed Results (tags)
Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with David Moberg, a senior editor at In These Times, who assesses John Sweeney's leadership and the institutional barriers hindering union organizing in the U.S.
Union Delegates Call on AFL-CIO to ‘Come Clean’ on International Activities (tags)
The Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) is now the second major labor organization on the West Coast to pass a resolution calling on the AFL-CIO to “come clean” about its foreign relations activities and to make amends for the “excesses of the Cold War era.”
AFL-CIO Immigrant Workers meeting June 10, 2000 (tags)
Following the historic AFL-CIO policy shift on immigration, more than 10,000 immigrant workers, religious, community, and union leaders attended the union movement's regional forum on Saturday, June 10 at the Sports Arena in downtown Los Angeles.