Labor

WASHINGTON (PAI)--Saying it would help consumers, help stop predatory lenders and “ensure workers’ hard-earned wages go to supporting their families and communities,” seven leading consumer organizations demanded the new Democratic-run 111th Congress pass the Employee Free Choice Act.

WASHINGTON (PAI)--With the new Democratic-run 111th Congress convening on Jan. 6, and with larger pro-worker majorities, labor has assembled a legislative agenda that starts with the Employee Free Choice Act and a massive stimulus bill, but doesn’t stop there.

Talk about a sea change. A President-elect who actually walks on picketlines rather than busts unions. Unprecedented independent labor political action that arguably made the difference in changing the direction of our country.

TAR HEEL, N.C. (PAI)--After 15 years, three elections and rampant company labor law-breaking during the campaigns before the first two, the United Food and Commercial Workers finally won recognition at Smithfield company’s giant pork processing and packing plant in Tar Heel, N.C.

WASHINGTON (PAI)--The election, the election, the election…and the economy.

In today’s New York Times, the editorial board makes a strong, clearly argued and unambiguous case that President-elect Obama needs to strengthen working families by pushing for a quick passage of the Employee Free Choice Act and giving his Labor Secretary-designate, Rep. Hilda Solis, the power she needs to protect workers.

The Obama Transition Team announced the formation of an historic task force this week – the White House Task Force on Working Families. According to the transition team's announcement, Vice President-elect Joe Biden will head the task force.

CLEVELAND — Teamsters and supporters from Jobs with Justice and Working America picketed the corporate headquarters of KeyBank here Dec. 19, accusing the bank of funding a union-busting drive by Oak Harbor Freight Lines.

At a luncheon for union leaders, I asked what people hoped to see in new government appointments. "Nobody from Texas," was the sharpest and most agreed-on response. Neoconservative Republicans have dominated all state offices since Bush first ran for governor in the mid 1990s. Even before that, under Democratic Gov. Ann Richards and President Clinton, state leaders set up a big "Yee-haw" for NAFTA.

Imagine you sell your home, even borrow money, to move to another community where you are promised a good job. But when you get there, you're forced to live in near-slavery conditions.