The Master Recovery Act Transportation Map

Posted by Jesse Lee on March 11, 2010 at 02:57 PM EST

Sometimes it's good to look up close at how a single Recovery Act project is changing a community for the better and putting people to work. Other times it's instructuve to take a few steps back and look at the big picture. As an example of the latter, the web team at the Federal Highway Administration created an online map of the U.S. that shows over 12,000 Recovery Act road projects. Each of the dots represented on the map represents a project. The full, interactive version on the map allows you to click the dots in order to learn more about these projects.

When Health Insurance Companies Attack

Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on March 11, 2010 at 01:22 PM EST

In recent weeks, you’ve probably heard a lot about WellPoint, the big insurance company that reported earning $2.7 billion in one quarter, and then promptly raised rates on some customers in California by up to 39 percent. Those aren’t the only big increases WellPoint has attempted to implement. In 2009, the company sought a 24 percent increase for its customers in Connecticut, and it’s asked to raise rates by 23 percent in Maine this year.

Middle Class Bailout: Celebrating Henry Hopkins' 120th Birthday with 4 Million Jobs by August 17th

Thu. March 11, 2010

The middle class needs a bailout for the same reason the banks needed a bailout--long-term systemic risk. If the (much smaller) government during the Great Depression could hire 4 million people in 4 months, why can we not do that today, now, immediately during the Great Recession?

Like the as-yet to be incurred, but already embedded, long-term costs of the Iraq War, the psychological and career trauma inflicted by prolonged unemployment are yet to be felt. But, they are real, they are profound, and they are increasing every day.

FAA Invites Recipes for Recovery

Thu. March 11, 2010

“Without a serious commitment to protecting jobs, without new limits on unrestrained outsourcing and without a second stimulus program that is equal to the crisis this nation is facing, the airline and aerospace industries will continue to struggle, even if the rest of the economy recovers,” said International President Tom Buffenbarger, who spoke as the sole labor representative at the FAA 35th Annual Aviation Forecast Conference in Washington, D.C.

The two-day conference, titled “Looking Ahead in Aviation: Rational Rebound or Irrational Instability,” was hosted by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt and included panel discussion with experts in aviation, aerospace and business aviation.

House Introduces Public Jobs Bill

Thu. March 11, 2010

After more than a year since the launch of the IAM’s JOBS Now! campaign, legislation to quickly reverse high unemployment by hiring the unemployed to work in the public sector has finally been introduced.

Rep. George Miller, Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, released details of the “Local Jobs for America Act” Wednesday. The legislation aims to invest $75 billion for local communities to hire vital staff immediately. Miller estimates the bill will create a million full-time public and private jobs this year.

Charlie Cooke Prdicts Mid-term Shakeup

Among the speakers at this year's MNPL Planning Committee Meeting in Savannah, GA, was well-known political analyst Charlie Cook, who blamed sustained high unemployment for incumbents' dismal prospects in the 2010 mid-term elections.
Thu. March 11, 2010

Members of the 2010 MNPL National Planning Committee meeting in Savannah, GA, welcomed the opportunity this week to ask questions and share insights with Charlie Cook, one of the nation’s most highly regarded political analysts and odds makers.

Cook, who edits the Cook Political Report and is regularly featured on national news programs, was characteristically blunt about the prospects for incumbents in the upcoming mid-term elections. “I don’t think the Democrats will lose their majority in the Senate,” opined Cook, who also said it was very hard to come up with a scenario where the Democrats do not lose control of the House of Representatives.

IAM, Alaska Airlines Open Negotiations

The District 143 negotiating committee prepares for a bargaining session. (L-R) Sandy Field, Bea Knott, Jeff Tobius, Joe Shultz and Kiana Peacock

Thu. March 11, 2010

District 143 announced it has opened collective bargaining for an amended contract covering 2,800 Alaska Airlines employees in the clerical, office and passenger service (COPS) group. The current agreement becomes amendable on July 19, 2010.

We Remain United: In Zimbabwe's Labor Movement, A Voice for Human Rights and Democracy

Bernard Pollack, who is taking a leave of absence from the AFL-CIO to travel through Africa, and Danielle Nierenberg describe their visit with Wellington Chibebe, the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU).

In Harare, on the way to our meeting with Wellington Chibebe, the secretary general of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), even our driver was excited for us.

Health Insurance Premiums Soar as New Polls Show Americans Want Reform

by James Parks, Mar 11, 2010

Recent polls show a majority of Americans want Congress to pass comprehensive health care reform now. And for good reason: There’s more news out this week about the enormous increases in health insurance premiums, according to a new report.

More Jobs but Workers Spend More Time Jobless

by Tula Connell, Mar 11, 2010

Here are a few items worth noting today.

* Kudos to union members in West Virginia who successfully pushed the state’s legislature to adopt a resolution creating Labor History week following Labor Day. Just last month, Wisconsin union activists succeeded in their years-long effort to get the state legislature to make labor history part of the state’s public education standards.

Court Strikes Down Policy Requiring Workers' Uniforms to Bear Union Insignia

The Associated Press

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A federal appeals court has ruled against a BellSouth Corp. policy that required workers to wear a uniform bearing a union insignia.

A three-judge panel on Tuesday overturned a 2001 National Labor Relations Board decision upholding the policy, which required workers to wear uniforms with both the BellSouth logo and the insignia of the Communications Workers of America.

Anti-Union Rep Admits His Group Opposes Majority Rule

NRTW - National Right To Work Defense Fund

by Tula Connell, Mar 11, 2010

The vice president for one of the nation’s most anti-union, anti-worker organizations showed what we knew all along: Those fighting workers and their unions oppose the democratic process.

During a hearing yesterday on a House bill to expand bargaining rights for the police and firefighters, Rep. Phil Hare (D-Ill.) exposed the myths and lies spun by the Big Brother-named National Right to Work Committee.

Get Set for March Actions to Make Wall Street Pay

by James Parks, Mar 11, 2010

The union movement and our allies are taking our fight for good jobs now to the biggest Wall Street banks whose reckless greed has gone a long way to wreck the U.S. economy and kill American jobs.

From March 15-26, working people will hold rallies and demonstrations at branches of the Big Six Wall Street banks—Bank of America, Chase, Citigroup, Wachovia-Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley—across the country. They will tell the banks “We Are Not Your ATMs” and “Make Wall Street Pay for Creating New Jobs.”

New Legislation Would Create 1 Million Jobs

by James Parks, Mar 10, 2010

Members of Congress and a bipartisan group of mayors today announced new legislation they say will create or save up to 1 million public- and private-sector jobs. Jobs saved would include those such as firefighters, police and teachers and others whose jobs are in jeopardy because of local government budget cuts.

The nation’s economic crisis is forcing states and municipalities to cut jobs that are critically important to local communities. State and local governments and school districts face $178 billion in budget deficits this year alone. Last month, AFSCME members across the country rallied in state capitals to urge legislators to raise revenue to save needed public services.

Insurance Victims Tell Congress: Pass Health Reform Now

by James Parks, Mar 10, 2010

A panel of 24 victims of insurance industry abuse and their families told their heart-rending stories directly to members of Congress this morning and asked the lawmakers to listen to the American people and pass health care reform that works for us, not Big Insurance.

Central Falls Superintendent Stalling on Talks with Teachers

by James Parks, Mar 10, 2010

Less than a week after agreeing to negotiate with fired teachers at Central Falls (R.I.) High School and their union, the school superintendent is delaying the talks.

In a statement, Jane Sessums, president of the Central Falls Teachers Union, an AFT affiliate, urged Superintendent Frances Gallo to “resume negotiations with the teachers union and to accept (Rhode Island Education) Commissioner Deborah Gist’s offer to provide impartial mediation.”

Sweeney: 'Working People Want Action on Creating New Jobs'

by James Parks, Mar 10, 2010

The nation’s political leaders have a choice: They can strike out on a new economic course for America that will turn around the nation’s economy or they can give in to political paralysis and yield to the demands of the financial and corporate elites.

Speaking Friday before a Harvard University study group on “Working Class Revolt,” AFL-CIO President Emeritus and Harvard Fellow John Sweeney and AFL-CIO Policy Director Damon Silvers said policymakers failed to heed the union movement’s warnings against a campaign of radical federal deregulation and corporate empowerment—one that celebrated private greed over public service.

Stimulus $$ Is Out There - 300 Pennsylvania Union Leaders Find Out to Get It

Yael Foa, AFL-CIO senior field representative for the Northeast Region, sends us this report on union efforts in Pennsylvania to tap into federal economic recovery funds to create jobs across the state.