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Vol. 1,
Issue 11
The
goal of Labor UpFront is to provide members and friends with news,
information, and general ways to stay connected with the on-going
struggles of workers. You can also visit our
blog, http://laborupfront.blogspot.com/,
for further information on the stories in this newsletter and much more! Please
feel free to forward this to anyone
you feel may benefit, and if you received this from a friend, e-mail cp-labor-join@cpusa.org to
join the list.Scott Marshall, Labor Commission Chair Melissa O’Rourke, Labor Commission Coordinator, Labor UpFront editor In This Newsletter: Unions Begin Big Election Effort Action Alert: Neglected Priorities CAW Needs Solidarity Indian Workers Suspend Hunger Strike Congress Hotel Strike Marks 5th Anniversary TRADE Act introduced; Action Alert Election 2008: Labor says "NO" to Big Oil Union Jobs (still more needed!) Unions begin big election effort By John Wojcik, People's Weekly World With the primary season over, labor is wasting no time jumping into the fall campaign. The 10-million-member AFL-CIO is expected to endorse Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, shortly. The Change to Win federation has already endorsed him. Once the AFL-CIO officially endorses Obama, it is expected to deploy large numbers of ground troops for the election. It has already budgeted $54.3 million for its own get-out-the vote drive and may, according to its political committee chairman, AFSCME President Gerald McEntee, spend as much as $60 million on the effort. The Steelworkers have already begun what they say will be 30,000 or more worksite visits by union activists, talking directly to workers about Obama’s positions. They’re emphasizing his proposals for fair trade policies and for creation of millions of good paying “green” manufacturing jobs. The jobs they are talking about include production of solar cells, industrial-sized windmills to power electric turbines, and hybrid automobile engines. The Service Employees (SEIU), the largest union in the Change to Win federation, voted at their June 2–4 convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to spend $85 million for the fall campaign to elect Obama and a bigger Democratic majority in Congress. An additional $55 million will be spent for a legislative campaign to push for creation of a “universal, comprehensive and affordable national health care plan,” according to a union statement issued after the convention. In a unique move, SEIU voted to spend $10 million to mount campaigns against legislators on any level who go back on promises they have made to the labor movement. Continue reading about several other unions and their election plans here. return to top Action Alerts AFSCME: Stop Neglecting our Priorities Every American laid off during the tanking Bush economy needs to be protected from financial catastrophe. Every child in America deserves quality child care. And every taxpayer needs to know that their communities are ready to handle any public health and safety threats. This Thursday, the U.S. House of Representatives will begin deciding how much money these priorities receive. For seven long years, the Bush administration has threatened the economic security and public health of all Americans. Now it's time to reinvest in these priorities. We're asking key members of the House Appropriations Committee to support increases for several economic security and public health programs. * Increase in the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the primary source of federal dollars to help low-income families receive the child care they need. * Reject President Bush's call to end the Employment Service and instead support a $781 million increase to help jobless Americans find work. * Support a $350 million allocation for emergency preparedness in the event of a pandemic flu outbreak. Please take action now. Go to: http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/neglected_priorities International Labor News CAW Needs Solidarity for Action at Oshawa By Sam Hammond, Chair of the Central Trade Union Commission, Communist Party of Canada What does 435 million dollars buy in Ontario? It could build over 3000 affordable homes, requiring at least 15,000 appliances, untold building materials and lots of light trucks. Or it could purchase a litany of false promises, deceits, outright lies and subterfuge. What would you choose? This is exactly the situation in the most arrogant sneer yet delivered to the working class of this country, who provided $435 million out of hard won wages (confiscated as taxes), given to General Motors by the federal and Ontario corporate providers charading as representatives of the people. The total includes $175 million from the Ontario government as a forgivable loan to GM if certain job guarantees and new product investments are made in its Oshawa operation; $60 million to universities to research what the automotive manufacturers might need in the near future; and $200 million by the federal government to stimulate the industry. This was done as late as 2005, after years of subsidies from the public purse to try and maintain an auto industry after NAFTA and the giveaway of the Auto Pact. Speaking biblically, this form of government "taketh away" from us and "giveth" to the corporations. So what is the corporate response to this benevolence? Take the money and run to the low wage anti-union areas of the United States or to Mexico. Run with the loot and abandon the most efficient plants in the Americas, or perhaps the world, because the corporate agenda for Canada does not necessarily include producing here. The Canadian Auto Workers made an historic move with the big three negotiations by opening agreements early (September was the expiry date), and pre-empting their negotiating conference, which traditionally allowed massive input into bargaining priorities and strategies. They started talks with Ford and then Chrysler, without the strike weapon, taking concessions to stave off the effects of a massive meltdown of the UAW in the United States. Article continues here. return to top Indian Workers Suspend Hunger Strike From Union City, D.C. Metro Council: Indian trafficking survivors suspended their 29-day hunger strike at a rally outside the Department of Justice Wednesday following a wave of support over the past month from US Congress-members, labor and religious leaders, and thousands of labor and civil rights activists across the country. "We have confidence to suspend our hunger strike today because we have faith in these allies to fight alongside us until the traffickers are brought to justice," said Indian Workers' Congress Organizer Sabulal Vijayan. "With our hunger strike, we have won concrete actions that will help protect future workers from the nightmare of forced labor we suffered." At the rally, US Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) called the treatment the workers faced at the hands of Indian recruiters and their employer, Signal International, "wrong, inhumane, and immoral." Kucinich and 17 other US Congress-members sent a letter to US Attorney General Michael Mukasey last week demanding he "take the steps necessary to ensure the workers' continued presence so that DOJ can continue this important investigation of modern-day slavery, human trafficking, and forced labor and bring these traffickers to justice." Kucinich has also promised to hold a Congressional hearing on abuses of guest workers by Signal and other companies. "I think we as Americans and working people around the world owe you an enormous debt for standing up," said Nickeled and Dimed author Barbara Ehrenreich. "You helped bring to light a scandal of slavery in the US." Quoting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s recent statement that a “robust law enforcement response is essential” in stopping “petty tyrants who exploit their laborers,” AFL-CIO General Counsel Jon Hiatt called on the Bush Administration to “apply those principles right here at home” and prosecute Signal. The rally - attended by over one hundred supporters - was part of a National Day of Action for the workers that included congressional visits and rallies outside DOJ offices in 10 other cities. - report by Andy Richa return to top U.S. Labor News Congress Hotel Strike Marks 5th Anniversary  Bus, trolley and cab drivers, tourists atop double-decker sight-seeing buses, and workers stuck in rush-hour traffic all honked and cheered in support of the Congress Hotel striking workers and the thousands who joined their picket line last Thursday to mark the 5th Anniversary of the longest active strike in the United States. Six giant rats lined Michigan Avenue and picket lines circled the building, symbols of the fight against the poverty wages the hotel refuses to increase. Members of over a dozen unions and community organizations mobilized to march in solidarity on this unfortunate anniversary. Most hotel workers in downtown Chicago are members of UNITE HERE Local 1 and are covered by a contract that provides wages of over $13 an hour and affordable health care for the workers and their families. The workers at the Congress Hotel make $8 an hour, in unsanitary and dangerous conditions; their health benefits slashed with premiums unaffordable.  After five years of freezing
winters and scorching summers on the picket line, the weary strikers
were heartened by the thousands of supporters who joined them
Thursday. Maria Contreras has been on the line through the long five
years, and, wiping away a few tears, said, “This makes it all worth
it. We will do this. We will win this.”return to top TRADE Act Introduced WASHINGTON – United States Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today was joined by Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Congressman Mike Michaud (D-ME), Congresswoman Linda Sanchez (D-Lakewood), and other members of Congress at a Capitol Hill news conference to introduce the Trade Reform, Accountability, Development, and Employment (TRADE) Act. Endorsed by more than a dozen fair trade groups, the TRADE ACT is a first of its kind pro-trade bill that would revamp U.S. trade policy. The bill would mandate trade pact reviews, establish standards, protect workers in developing nations, and would help restore Congressional oversight of future trade agreements. “The TRADE ACT will help Congress and the White House craft a trade agreement that benefits workers, business owners, and our country,” said Brown. “We want trade, and we want more of it. The TRADE Act is a critical first step on a new path for trade.” Continue reading press release here and read complete bill text here. Take Action: Tell your Members of Congress to Co-Sponsor the TRADE Act return to top Election '08 Labor says "NO" to Big Oil For the past week union members and labor activists across the country have been saying a resounding “NO!” to Big Oil. Protests have been happening in dozens of cities as the price for a gallon of gas surpassed $4 and working Americans are struggling to make ends meet, all the while Big Oil continues making record profits. Also highlighted at these protests is John McCain’s record of supporting the same Big Oil interests as President Bush and his cronies. Since President Bush took office, gas prices have risen from $1.47 a gallon to more than $4. Bush's administration has done all it can to protect Big Oil's profits—in fact, the top five oil companies have made $525 billion in profits under Bush. John McCain is right in lockstep with Bush: • McCain’s tax plan would give $3.8 billion in tax cuts to the five largest American oil companies. • Like Bush, McCain protects Big Oil’s profits. Last year, McCain was the only senator to miss a vote on the energy bill repealing tax subsidies for oil companies. In 2005, he voted against a temporary windfall profits tax on oil companies to fund tax credits for working families. Previously, he opposed ending tax breaks for oil and natural gas companies related to depletion and drilling costs. • McCain has received $723,777 in campaign contributions from oil and gas industry PACs and employees—almost twice as much as Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. While all this is going on, working families are struggling with stagnant wages, soaring health care costs, home foreclosures and disappearing jobs as well as impossible gas prices. Download a flier and a fact sheet about how the Bush-McCain love affair with Big Oil is harming working families. Share it with the people you know. return to top Union Jobs (We need more listings!) We've gotten an increasing number of responses in the call for union job listings, more than we can list anymore. For the sake of space and ease, we'll list cities and industries, and for further information please contact me, morourke@cpusa.org. Chicago: IBEW: further info is available at www.ejatt.com Chicago Education-to-Careers: http://www.cisco.org/etc/apprec.htm There is also a website, http://www.unionjobs.com/ that lists union jobs, including staff, trades and apprenticeships, by state. Keep them coming!!!! In an effort to assist young workers in finding decent-paying union jobs, I’m requesting that anyone who knows of job openings or apprenticeships, in all fields and across the country, please forward that information to laborupfront@cpusa.org. To remove your name from our mailing list, please e-mail cp-labor-leave@cpusa.org We welcome questions, comments and stories for our next newsletter. Send them to us at laborupfront@cpusa.org or call (773) 446-9920, ext. 212. |
