Lawmakers Gear up for Fundraising

Sen. Al Lawson, right, talks with former Rep. Curtis Richardson, left, of Tallahassee, who is running for the Senate; state Sen.Charlie Justice, second from left, of St. Petersburg; and lobbyist Patrick Bell, second from right, at a Florida Democratic Party fundraiser in Tallahassee. (Bill Cotterell/Democrat)

Lobbyists and legislators munched hors d'oeuvres and sipped scotch in a rooftop ballroom with a nice view of the Capitol last week in an annual ritual as important to Florida politics as mass mailings and attack ads.

Forbidden to raise money when the Legislature is in session, members are passing the hat now for a hot summer campaign season costing millions. For all the money that will be spent, Republican control of the House or Senate is unlikely to change.

M Patricia Smith, NY State Commissioner of Labor

Commissioner M. Patricia Smith has been a dynamic and effective labor advocate for over 30 years. She has been a driving force in overhauling the New York State Labor Department to focus on vigorously protecting workers and on ensuring that employers compete on a level playing field.

Senate Confirms Smith as the Nation's 'Workers' Lawyer'

By a 60-37 vote, the U.S. Senate this afternoon confirmed M. Patricia Smith as the solicitor of labor. The solicitor of labor oversees enforcement of the nation’s most important labor laws and sets enforcement priorities that have a major impact on workers and their lives.

New Union Plus Book Club Announces First Selection

Our friends at Union Plus have just launched the Union Plus Book Club that will delve into the latest publications by leading experts on vital working family and workplace issues. The books will be available at the AFL-CIO’s The Union Shop OnlineTM and chosen every two months by union leaders based on their interest and expertise in a subject.

U.S. Jobless Rate Now 9.7%, but Millions Fear Losing Unemployment Insurance

The U.S. unemployment rate fell from 10 percent to 9.7 percent in January, with 14.8 million workers now without jobs. Employment continued to decrease in construction and transportation and increase in retail, health care and temp work, according to U.S. Department of Labor data out this morning. Unemployment among black workers continued to worsen.

Labor Radio On the Air Around the Nation and World

Looking for the latest in international labor news? Now it’s just a click away with the launch of RadioLabour.net and its Solidarity News program. The weekly podcast will focus on union and workers’ activities and issues from around the world with special emphasis on emerging market and developing countries.

Job Creation Key to Ending Economic Crisis

As Congress considers whether to renew unemployment insurance (UI) for long-term jobless workers and extend COBRA to help unemployed workers maintain health care, they should take time to find out about the experiences of workers beyond the Washington, D.C., beltway.

LL731 February Business Meeting

The February 2010 Business meeting of IAM Local Lodge 731 will be held on Tuesday, February 9 at 7:00 pm at the Union Hall, 277 Tallulah Ave, Jacksonville, FL 32208.

Everyone is welcome.

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