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.