Workday Magazine (https://workdaymagazine.org/category/policy/page/38/)
Hoping to put the brakes on an economy spiraling downhill and out of control, the U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday passed an $825 billion economic recovery package that could create or save as many as 4 million jobs.
The Minnesota AFL-CIO, representing 400,000 working people across the state, announced its goals for the 2009 session of the Minnesota Legislature. They include investing in good jobs, schools and infrastructure.
Gathering ideas from unions, analyses and experts, the AFL-CIO sent a 16-page "to do list" memo to the new Obama administration. The list submitted before the Democrat\’s inauguration, outlined a wide range of legislative and administrative moves the federation contended would help workers.
All over this country, activists, union leaders and members are full of hope that the Obama administration will not only fix the broken economy and health care systems, but will also pass much-needed reforms to rebuild the American dream for the working class.
Union leaders generally backed the $825 billion economic stimulus bill that House Democrats unveiled Jan. 15. Indeed, the sole complaint — if you could call it that — was from those who believed it was too small, especially on infrastructure projects.
Some 265 unionists, wearing shirts and blazers and carrying signs proudly proclaiming their affiliation are scheduled to march and man a union-made union-driven float in Democratic President Barack Obama\’s inaugural parade on Tuesday.
Prodded by transition team officials for President-Elect Barack Obama (D), 12 union presidents held a "unity" meeting Jan. 7 In Washington to try to figure out how the labor movement can speak with one voice, not three. They emerged pledging "broad participation" in the effort, but no specifics.
Lilly Ledbetter, the longtime Goodyear tire supervisor whose pay discrimination case against her firm went all the way to the Supreme Court, lost $223,776 in lifetime earnings due to 19 years of discrimination at the tire firm\’s Gadsden, Ala., plant, a new report says.
With large corporations and small businesses slashing jobs at record rates, the country can\’t afford to wait for an economic recovery plan, a coalition of Minnesota organizations said Thursday. The group announced a "Jobs and Economic Recovery Now!" campaign to have a plan on President Barack Obama\’s desk soon after he takes office.
When the day finally comes that Raul Flores loses his job, he will face a bitter search for another one. "I\’ve got a family to support, so I\’ve got to do whatever it takes," he says. "It\’s going to be hard. The economic situation is not good, but I can\’t just wait for something to happen to me."