Labor leaders call
for action on climate change, green jobs
by John Wojcik
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The myth that labor is some type
of dinosaur
wedded to an extinct rust-belt economy was shattered here March 5 when
the AFL-CIO executive council unanimously passed a resolution urging
greening of the economy and creation of a climate change and jobs
strategy that works for all Americans.

The resolution says it is time for bold steps to meet 21st century
challenges related to climate change and cites scientific evidence
confirming that use of fossil fuels is “undisputedly” causing global
warming, rising sea levels, changes in climate patterns and threats to
coastal areas.

“Climate change is the most pervasive form of globalization,”
federation President John Sweeney declared, “because the atmosphere
recognizes no borders. The accumulated greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions
move freely across the planet.”

The resolution puts labor on record as part of a global movement that
has already become a driving force behind proposed climate change
legislation in the U.S. Congress.

“The AFL-CIO supports a new industrial policy, an environmental
economic development policy, which places manufacturing and trade at
the center of a green economy program. New investment in a sustainable
energy infrastructure must be structured to create good jobs and ensure
stable energy prices,” Sweeney said.

Article can be read in its entirety here.

Papers were filed with the Ontario Ministry of Labour this afternoon in
Toronto. The Ministry will conduct a certification vote in Cambridge on
Thursday March 20, 2008.

“We welcome the opportunity to act as the representatives for the
Toyota Canada assembly plant workers, in order to ensure that fairness
and equity will always be a part of their daily lives in the work
place,” said IAM Canadian General Vice President Dave Ritchie. “The IAM
is proud to have been asked to represent these workers,” said IAM
District 140 Organizer Ian Morland. “These workers have faced a wage
reduction, mandatory overtime on weekends, promotion favouritism and
vacation blackout periods. The Machinists have been in Canada for more
than 100 years with a reputation for providing the best representation
and service to its members. We think we can help the Toyota workers in
Cambridge.” Added Morland, “Since we began this organizing drive in
late October 2007, the response from the workers here has been
overwhelming.”

The IAM represents thousands of members in the Canadian automotive
transportation sector at assembly and parts manufacturing facilities in
Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia. The IAM represents
more than 700,000 active and retired members in North America and
administers more than 5,000 contracts in transportation, woodworking,
aerospace, manufacturing and defense-related industries.

Unfortunately it was “gutted by a last-minute amendment requiring that
workers complete a full 12 months of employment before accessing paid
sick and safe time,” said Metro Washington Council President Jos
Williams.  Also exempted were health care workers and restaurant wait
staff. While the passing of the bill was a step in the right direction,
the last-minute amendments mean that many DC workers may now never meet
the one-year full-time minimum to access the paid sick and safe time. 

Paid sick and family leave time is catching on in other places, too;
New Jersey may soon be the third state, following California and
Washington state, to guarantee workers paid time off to take care of an
ill family member of newborn child.

American Axle workers
stand strong
By John Rummel
Detroit – Workers at American Axle in Detroit are
doing their
best to stand up to the wage and benefit cuts that have swept auto.
From the snowy picket lines to the local hall across the street from
the plant, the mood is upbeat. Going to the union hall last Friday we
took a couple dozen donuts and copies of the PWW. From coffee to
donuts to cut wood for barrel fires (local police gave up trying to
have the fires put out) strikers are appreciative of anything brought
to them.

The local is a beehive of activity. Picketers do four-hour shifts and
have to cover almost a dozen gates. On the picket line they talk about
how they’re fighting for a decent standard of living for all working
people – and they are. Come on out, they will welcome your company and
support.

Health Care and Labor
A total of 97 central labor councils and area labor federations have
now endorsed HR 676, along with 11 International unions. HR 676 would
institute a single payer health care system in the U.S. by expanding a
greatly improved Medicare system to every resident.

HR 676 has been endorsed by 389 union organizations in 48 states
including 97 Central Labor Councils and Area Labor Federations and 33
state AFL-CIO’s (KY, PA, CT, OH, DE, ND, WA, SC, WY, VT, FL, WI, WV,
SD, NC, MO, MN, ME, AR, MD-DC, TX, IA, AZ, TN, OR, GA, OK, KS, CO, IN,
AL, CA & AK). International unions that have endorsed HR 676 are: 
UAW, NEA, ILWU, NALC, IAM, Plumbers & Pipefitters (UA), Musicians
(AFM), UE, CNA/NNOC & SMWIA.

The AFL-CIO officially launched on March 12 a campaign to expose the
senator’s economic record and his plans to continue the failed economic
program of the Bush administration. The “McCain Revealed”
campaign, as it is called, will reach more than 13 million voters in 23
battleground states, the federation’s political director Karen Ackerman
said.  Read more here.

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
Dallas: Jobs at IBT and UAW represented facilities

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. 

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