By Scott Marshall
Dan Kovalik, United Steelworkers union (USW) senior associate general counsel, just returned Friday from a four day trip to Honduras. He went with a delegation of seven people to get a firsthand look at the situation facing the country after the military coup that ousted democratically elected President Manuel Zelaya. The Steelworkers union and the global union that it helped organize, Workers Uniting, and the AFL-CIO, all have condemned the military coup. All have called for the restoration of democracy and the immediate return of Manuel Zelaya to the presidency.
Kovalik went with a delegation that included Fr. Roy Bourgeois, founder of the School of the Americas Watch (SOA Watch) and several other SOA Watch activists. The Watch group has been fighting to close the School of the Americas, a combat training school for Latin American soldiers, located at Fort Benning, Georgia. Two of the leaders of the military coup in Honduras were trained at the SOA.
The delegation held extensive meeting with unions, workers, farmers, and many other grassroots organizations and social movements. They also met with organizations representing people “disappeared” and tortured under the previous military dictatorship. Their intensive schedule included participation in a peaceful mass mobilization to block the Pan-American highway outside the capital of Tegucigalpa to protest the coup. They were part of a large, united trade union meeting held at the beverage workers union hall in Tegucigalpa and took part in a demonstration outside of the US Embassy demanding stronger measures including recalling the Ambassador as the European Union countries have done.
Kovalik told the People’s Weekly World that President Obama is very popular with the Honduran social movements and grassroots and is hated by the elites and the coup supporters. But, Kovalik said, the social groups do want to see more pressure out of Washington to help restore democracy.
Kovalik said that the delegation also got a chance to talk to a US soldier stationed at a Honduran military base outside the capital. When asked about relations with the Honduran military on the base in light of the US government’s claim that they have broken off contact with the Honduran military, the soldier said that was for the media’s consumption and contact was normal on the ground.
When asked what the delegation’s conclusions were in terms of what additional pressure is needed from the US government to restore Zelaya, Kovalik said that time is short and critical. He pointed out that if the coup stays in place for six months until the scheduled elections in Honduras, it will be a terrible blow against the Honduran people and democracy. Kovalik stresses building pressure in the US to cut more military aid to Honduras on top of the $16 million already cut, (current estimates are that there is $180 million more that could be cut); withdraw all US troops from Honduras, and close the School of the Americas (SOA).
End
Monday, July 13, 2009
Saturday, July 11, 2009
On the March for EFCA in Arkansas
NEWS RELEASE
On Saturday July 11th, national labor leaders joined over 1,500 Arkansas workers in Little Rock for a rally in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, which will restore workers’ freedom to join a union and bargain for a better life.
AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker, the first African-American executive officer of the AFL-CIO and widely known civil rights leader, joined other national labor, civil rights, and faith leaders in an historic march and rally. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka, Arkansas AFL-CIO President Alan Hughes, Communications Workers of America Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Rechenbach, and Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard led hundreds of union and faith and civil rights activists in the first of its kind demonstration in Little Rock.
Early Saturday morning, workers traveled from all over Arkansas to meet at Central High School. There, they remembered the sacrifices and contribution of the Little Rock 9 to freedom for all people in America. Led by Arkansas ministers, the assembled marched to another rally on the steps of the State Capitol featuring local faith leaders and local elected leaders in an even louder call for Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act. The marchers concluded with an old-fashioned Arkansas catfish fry at the adjacent Arkansas Education Association building.
Workers across America have launched the largest grassroots mobilization effort since the November election to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill will provide workers with a greater voice on the job and will allow them to bargain collectively for higher wages, benefits, and job security. It would additionally allow for workers to join a union through majority sign up and take away the right of corporations to demand a ballot election, giving the choice of majority sign-up or an election to the workers.
On Saturday July 11th, national labor leaders joined over 1,500 Arkansas workers in Little Rock for a rally in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, which will restore workers’ freedom to join a union and bargain for a better life.
AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker, the first African-American executive officer of the AFL-CIO and widely known civil rights leader, joined other national labor, civil rights, and faith leaders in an historic march and rally. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Rich Trumka, Arkansas AFL-CIO President Alan Hughes, Communications Workers of America Secretary-Treasurer Jeff Rechenbach, and Steelworkers International President Leo Gerard led hundreds of union and faith and civil rights activists in the first of its kind demonstration in Little Rock.
Early Saturday morning, workers traveled from all over Arkansas to meet at Central High School. There, they remembered the sacrifices and contribution of the Little Rock 9 to freedom for all people in America. Led by Arkansas ministers, the assembled marched to another rally on the steps of the State Capitol featuring local faith leaders and local elected leaders in an even louder call for Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act. The marchers concluded with an old-fashioned Arkansas catfish fry at the adjacent Arkansas Education Association building.
Workers across America have launched the largest grassroots mobilization effort since the November election to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill will provide workers with a greater voice on the job and will allow them to bargain collectively for higher wages, benefits, and job security. It would additionally allow for workers to join a union through majority sign up and take away the right of corporations to demand a ballot election, giving the choice of majority sign-up or an election to the workers.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Franken Signs On As EFCA Co-Sponsor
Sam Stein
Huffington Post
Hours after he was seated, Sen. Al Franken, D-MN, let it be known that he would be sign on as a co-sponsor to the Employee Free Choice Act, the labor-backed provision that would allow unions to more easily organize, as his first legislative activity.
"I just became a cosponsor of my first bill in the Senate, the Employee Free Choice Act," the Minnesota Democrat declared at a gathering at the AFL-CIO on Tuesday evening.
Despite taking a backseat in terms of media attention, EFCA remains very much a hotly-debated measure within the halls of Congress. And while Franken's vote will likely boost Democratic efforts on health care and judicial nominations (he is poised to sit on the HELP and Judiciary Committees) it could be on labor matters where his voice is most felt. Certainly the union community, which is pushing for a vote on EFCA sometime this year, feels relieved that it is one senator closer to preventing a Republican filibuster on the measure.
Franken, who was officially sworn into office on Tuesday after an eight-month recount, told the AFL-CIO crowd that he shared common interests with them. According to Eddie Vale, a spokesman for the union group, Franken described the long tradition that exist in Minnesota of "having two Senators who are very pro workers and working families."
"He said it was an honor to be sworn in today and walk through the aisles with Mondale and to be sworn in on Paul Wellstone's Bible," Vale recounted. "He stressed that both men were champions of the labor movement."
Huffington Post
Hours after he was seated, Sen. Al Franken, D-MN, let it be known that he would be sign on as a co-sponsor to the Employee Free Choice Act, the labor-backed provision that would allow unions to more easily organize, as his first legislative activity.
"I just became a cosponsor of my first bill in the Senate, the Employee Free Choice Act," the Minnesota Democrat declared at a gathering at the AFL-CIO on Tuesday evening.
Despite taking a backseat in terms of media attention, EFCA remains very much a hotly-debated measure within the halls of Congress. And while Franken's vote will likely boost Democratic efforts on health care and judicial nominations (he is poised to sit on the HELP and Judiciary Committees) it could be on labor matters where his voice is most felt. Certainly the union community, which is pushing for a vote on EFCA sometime this year, feels relieved that it is one senator closer to preventing a Republican filibuster on the measure.
Franken, who was officially sworn into office on Tuesday after an eight-month recount, told the AFL-CIO crowd that he shared common interests with them. According to Eddie Vale, a spokesman for the union group, Franken described the long tradition that exist in Minnesota of "having two Senators who are very pro workers and working families."
"He said it was an honor to be sworn in today and walk through the aisles with Mondale and to be sworn in on Paul Wellstone's Bible," Vale recounted. "He stressed that both men were champions of the labor movement."
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Push begins for new stimulus bill
People's Weekly World
by John Wojcik
As the reality of a recession far worse than anyone believed it was earlier this year takes hold, labor and its allies are laying the groundwork for another stimulus battle this fall. They are making their plans even as the Obama administration and Democratic leaders say it’s still too early to consider another recovery package.
The AFL-CIO and Change to Win, the nation’s two labor federations, say they will begin lobbying lawmakers for another jobs bill. Their position is that the $787 billion economic stimulus bill approved earlier this year was a good start but wasn’t big enough.
Heidi Shierholz, a top economist with the labor-backed Economic Policy Institute said yesterday that the first stimulus bill is working as planned and will create or save some 3 million jobs but that the recession is worse than anyone had predicted and there is now a jobs deficit of 8 million that has to be closed.
AFL-CIO policy director, Thea Lee, also said yesterday, “We have more information now. All that information points in the direction that additional stimulus is needed.”
The Department of Labor reported unemployment hit 9.5 percent in June, the highest level in 26 years. It is now almost certain to reach double digits and could pass the benchmark of 10.8 percent, which would make it higher than at any time since the Great Depression.
When the stimulus bill was passed in January administration officials had predicted that the package would keep unemployment from peaking above 8 percent.
While progressive groups gear up for the fight for a second stimulus bill, Republicans are gearing up for a campaign to use the issue to further their political aims, chief among which are more tax cuts for the rich.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said the first stimulus isn’t working. “We stand ready and willing to work with the president to produce a bill that will actually yield results,” Cantor said in a telephone press conference yesterday. He said Republicans could work on a new stimulus bill with Democrats as long as it is “heavy on tax cuts.”
Forty percent of the $787 billion bill passed earlier this year actually included tax cuts, but not enough of the kinds of tax cuts the GOP wanted. Sixty percent of the first stimulus package funded job-creating government programs.
The package that was passed was almost $100 billion smaller than what most liberals in Congress really wanted. With only 3 Republicans voting for the measure, many progressives felt that they were making too big a compromise in the name of “bipartisanship.”
Robert Borosage, co-director of the progressive Campaign for America’s Future, said today that the campaign for a second stimulus package will begin in September, when Congress returns from the August recess.
When Vice President Biden spoke about the economy last Sunday he said the administration underestimated how bad an economy it had inherited from George Bush.
He said the current stimulus package needs more time to work but did not rule out eventual administration support for a new package.
Republicans, meanwhile, are flooding the districts of congressional Democrats who are facing challenges next year with e-mails. The e-mails say the individual House members bear responsibility for the “failed stimulus package” and that Vice President Biden “admitted” that the “Obama administration misjudged the economy.”
Cantor is saying that Democrats “miswrote the stimulus bill and got the prescription wrong.” He called for “redirecting” money in the first stimulus out of government programs and into private businesses.
Labor leaders say the Republicans are playing cynical political games and that the only problems with the first stimulus is that it wasn’t large enough to really jump start the economy and that it included too many tax cuts, as opposed to job-creating measures.
The AFL-CIO is saying that the new stimulus package should include more infrastructure spending, unemployment insurance and relief for state and local governments, which are suffering budget crunches.
by John Wojcik
As the reality of a recession far worse than anyone believed it was earlier this year takes hold, labor and its allies are laying the groundwork for another stimulus battle this fall. They are making their plans even as the Obama administration and Democratic leaders say it’s still too early to consider another recovery package.
The AFL-CIO and Change to Win, the nation’s two labor federations, say they will begin lobbying lawmakers for another jobs bill. Their position is that the $787 billion economic stimulus bill approved earlier this year was a good start but wasn’t big enough.
Heidi Shierholz, a top economist with the labor-backed Economic Policy Institute said yesterday that the first stimulus bill is working as planned and will create or save some 3 million jobs but that the recession is worse than anyone had predicted and there is now a jobs deficit of 8 million that has to be closed.
AFL-CIO policy director, Thea Lee, also said yesterday, “We have more information now. All that information points in the direction that additional stimulus is needed.”
The Department of Labor reported unemployment hit 9.5 percent in June, the highest level in 26 years. It is now almost certain to reach double digits and could pass the benchmark of 10.8 percent, which would make it higher than at any time since the Great Depression.
When the stimulus bill was passed in January administration officials had predicted that the package would keep unemployment from peaking above 8 percent.
While progressive groups gear up for the fight for a second stimulus bill, Republicans are gearing up for a campaign to use the issue to further their political aims, chief among which are more tax cuts for the rich.
House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said the first stimulus isn’t working. “We stand ready and willing to work with the president to produce a bill that will actually yield results,” Cantor said in a telephone press conference yesterday. He said Republicans could work on a new stimulus bill with Democrats as long as it is “heavy on tax cuts.”
Forty percent of the $787 billion bill passed earlier this year actually included tax cuts, but not enough of the kinds of tax cuts the GOP wanted. Sixty percent of the first stimulus package funded job-creating government programs.
The package that was passed was almost $100 billion smaller than what most liberals in Congress really wanted. With only 3 Republicans voting for the measure, many progressives felt that they were making too big a compromise in the name of “bipartisanship.”
Robert Borosage, co-director of the progressive Campaign for America’s Future, said today that the campaign for a second stimulus package will begin in September, when Congress returns from the August recess.
When Vice President Biden spoke about the economy last Sunday he said the administration underestimated how bad an economy it had inherited from George Bush.
He said the current stimulus package needs more time to work but did not rule out eventual administration support for a new package.
Republicans, meanwhile, are flooding the districts of congressional Democrats who are facing challenges next year with e-mails. The e-mails say the individual House members bear responsibility for the “failed stimulus package” and that Vice President Biden “admitted” that the “Obama administration misjudged the economy.”
Cantor is saying that Democrats “miswrote the stimulus bill and got the prescription wrong.” He called for “redirecting” money in the first stimulus out of government programs and into private businesses.
Labor leaders say the Republicans are playing cynical political games and that the only problems with the first stimulus is that it wasn’t large enough to really jump start the economy and that it included too many tax cuts, as opposed to job-creating measures.
The AFL-CIO is saying that the new stimulus package should include more infrastructure spending, unemployment insurance and relief for state and local governments, which are suffering budget crunches.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Chicago Rally Against Illinois Budget Cuts
June 30, 2009
Hundreds of community and labor activists, including direct victims of drastic proposed budget cuts by the State of Illinois, rallied to demand "No Cuts." They demanded that the legislature take steps to pass a budget to preserve vital social services. Several times the crowd spontaneously burst into chants of "Tax the Rich."
Hundreds of community and labor activists, including direct victims of drastic proposed budget cuts by the State of Illinois, rallied to demand "No Cuts." They demanded that the legislature take steps to pass a budget to preserve vital social services. Several times the crowd spontaneously burst into chants of "Tax the Rich."
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Congress Hotel Strikers - Still Strong after Six Years
Chicago Congress Hotel workers have been fighting for 6 years for a decent contract. Faced with wage cuts and other unfair demands the workers walked out 6 long years ago - still they fight on with ever growing labor and community support. This week the battle also shifts to City Hall when the Chicago City Council will consider denying the Hotel permits it needs for expansion. This year a host of labor leaders and elected officials spoke out in support at this years 6th Anniversary demonstration including Illinois Gov Pat Quinn.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
L.A. Free Choice Rally \
At a rally on June 3 at Senator Dianne Feinstein's L.A. office, Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor calls on Senator Feinstein to "Let President Obama Sign The Employee Free Choice Act!"
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