By Doug CunninghamThe AFL-CIO says as Congress debates this week how to protect the U.S. financial system from risks associated with too big to fail banks the JP Morgan Chase $2 billion loss is further evidence these banks are too huge to properly manage. The labor federation says this incident demonstrates the need for independent regulatory oversight of banks like Chase. The AFL-CIO is urging Congress to resist efforts to water down regulations and instead urges Congress to pass stronger regulation of big banks, including a new Glass-Steagall Act to separate high-risk investment banking form more traditional banking. homearchives

By Doug CunninghamAs the Wisconsin Uprising fights to recall Governor Scott Walker the nation is watching. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten says the Wisconsin recall battle is a critical national battle for working people.[Randi Weingarten]: “This battle is crucial in terms of the national picture because what Scott Walker has done is he’s taken a budget crisis that was not of workers’ making, that was of the making of people who support him. The Wall Street icons, the bankers. And he’s tried to use it against working people. And people said this last February, March, April in the steps of the capitol. And Walker would say no it’s really just a budget crisis. But now we know from the new video, he is who we said he was.”Wisconsin Education Association Council President Mary Bell.[Mary Bell]: “People here in Wisconsin, regular everyday citizens as well as union members, all understand the importance of this election across the country. Every time I talk with someone from another state they say please, you’ve got to get out and do this because if it can happen in Wisconsin it can happen in my state.” homearchives

Entergy Corp insists that the Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station workers they sent home on Wednesday haven’t been locked out. Jesse Russell reports. However, the Boston Globe reports that workers who attempted to go to work weren’t let into the station. The company says those workers were sent home on a “paid day-off.” Contract discussions with the company have stalled over safety, staffing, and health care concerns. A federal mediator was brought in on Tuesday to try and find common ground between the company and Utility Workers Union of America Local 369 which represents most of the stations employees. The union has already been given the authority to strike in the event a compromise can’t be reached. Entergy and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission both have contingency plans in the event of a strike taking place to assure that the safety of the population is preserved. Strikes at nuclear power plants aren’t unheard of. In 2003, a plant in New Jersey operated for 11 weeks while workers walked picket lines outside. The company is currently in the process of seeking a 20-year license renewal with the commission. homearchives

Seniors are having a difficult time finding employment according to a new report released by the Government Accountability Office. The report finds that 55 percent of jobless seniors have been unemployed for more than six months. That’s a significant increase of 23 percent since 2007. During a hearing on Tuesday Senator Herb Kohl of Wisconsin said lawmakers need to find new ways to address the issue of age discrimination. Losing a job and having difficulty of finding new work before hitting the age of 62 sees a significant decrease in retirement income. Those who are forced to retire at the age of 55 on average receive 39 percent less than those who retire just seven years later. homearchives

By Doug Cunningham An “Occupy G8 People’s Summit” will be held by the Occupy movement in Frederick, Maryland May 18th as the G8 economic summit unfolds at Camp David. The “Occupy G8 People’s Summit” will provide a vision for sustainable democratic economic development. Speakers will lead discussions on the impact of concentrated wealth on global public policy, the effects of wealth inequality on peoples’ well-being, and alternative structures that would close the wealth divide and create a more democratic, sustainable economy. homearchives

By Doug Cunningham New labor rule that would have made union representation elections more fair for workers have been blocked by a federal judge. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ruled that the National Labor Relations Board technically did not have a quorom when the board adopted the new rules last year.The Republican representative on the NLRB blocked a quorom by taking no action on the rules. Had he voted against or even abstained a legal quorom would have existed. The court said its ruling was on a procedural technicality and not the substance of the new rules. The challenge to the rules was brought by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. homearchives

By Doug Cunningham U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain has denied Hostess Brand’s motion to reject all Teamsters labor contracts at the company. The Teamsters have said all along that they want to help save Hostess, but would vigorously oppose the company throwing out the contracts and imposing working conditions on Teamster workers. Teamsters Secretary Treasurer Ken Hall says it’s a rare day when a bankruptcy judge denies a company request to destroy union contracts. Hall attributes that to the resolve of Teamster members. The Teamsters say they remain committed to finding solutions to labor agreements that will help Hostess survive bankruptcy. homearchives

California’s two-thirds vote restriction for raising taxes forces Governor to propose drastic austerity budget. Jesse Russell reports: A budget proposal released on Monday by California Gov. Jerry Brown sees cuts to state payrolls by five percent. In addition to the payroll cuts Brown has also proposed to stop construction of new courthouses and drastically slash health and welfare programs. In a YouTube address the Governor revealed that California’s deficit grew by twice as much as he had originally projected, $16 billion. Brown’s plan to cut the state’s payroll could see a shorter work week for public sector employees or a request for wage concessions. Other cuts include seven percent from In-Home Supportive Services, less funding for hospital and nursing homes, and barring access to the Cal Grant program for universities unable to achieve minimum performance standards. The one thing preventing Brown from cutting deeper is the potential of a ballot measure in November that would allow the state to raise taxes temporarily. In 1978 California became one of the first states to pass legislation requiring a two-thirds vote in the legislature to raise taxes. California’s Republican minority has taken advantage of this rule to essentially turn California into a state ... homearchives

The big protest demanding a Wall Street tax is still on for May 18th in Chicago during the G8 and NATO conferences. National Nurses United Director Rose Ann DeMoro says after pulling a permit for the rally Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel Friday reinstated it. [Rose Ann DeMoro]: “We’ve been working very hard to assess a tax on Wall Street on trades. A minimum tax – 50 cents on a hundred dollars – that would actually put money back into the economy. And it would be used to jump-start a jobs program, for health care, for education, for social services – for all the things that make us a society. We’re going to have this enormous rally. We have allies fro macros the nation who are coming in on buses. We have community groups, we have nurses, we have 99% solidarity of the occupy movement that are going to be joining us on the Robin Hood movement.” Musician Tom Morello will perform at the May 18th rally in Chicago’s Daley Plaza. He says it wasn’t the city he loves that caved in on the protest permit and the rally is no threat to Chicago. [Tom Morello]: “Chicago did not cave in ... homearchives

By Doug Cunningham  [Which Side Are You On Song]:  With music, food and speeches Wisconsin’s South Central Federation of Labor’s Solidarity Kick-Off launched a door-to-door get out the vote push to recall Governor Scott Walker June 5th. It was a spirited affirmation of the Wisconsin Uprising’s determination to defeat Walker’s attacks on workers, on education, health care and on women. It came two days after a January 2011 video of Walker talking to Wisconsin billionaire Diane Hendricks surfaced. Hendricks asked Walker if he could make Wisconsin a ‘right to work” state by attacking unions. Walker’s reply was an enthusiastic ‘Oh yeah!”. Walker said the “first step” was to attack public worker collective bargaining to “divide and conquer”. Hendricks went on to give Walker more than $500,000. American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.  [Randi Weingarten]: “This is a moment in tine where people in Wisconsin get to decide whether they want to take back their state or do they want someone who wants to divide and conquer.”  Wisconsin State Representative Chris Taylor vowed that on June 5th Walker will hear the roar of Wisconsin mothers intent on protecting education and workers.  [Rep. Chris Taylor]: “We will never stand for ... homearchives

By Doug Cunningham  AFL-CIO Political Director Mike Podhorzer says the labor movement is using a super PAC called Workers’ Voice to directly empower labor and progressive activists. The law calls it a super PAC, but Podhorzer says it’s very different from the corporate super PACS funded by people like the Koch brothers. And it’s an antidote to the misleading TV ads that corporate cash will flood our airwaves with during the presidential campaign.  [Mike Podhorzer]: “The labor movement believes that the only antidote is going to be the truth that people speak to each other one on one. And so we’ve set up Workers’ Voice not to compete with Rove dollar for dollar, but to recruit and connect and empower progressive activists all over the country to fight for candidates who are gonna be for progressive issues and to fight the lies that are gonna be on TV.”  Workers’ Voice lets people who contribute to the fund decide how it’s used. The AFL-CIO is implementing a more independent political effort on behalf of working people. And Podhorzer says Workers’ Voice reflects that.  [Podhorzer 2]: “Many people were asking well what does that exactly look like? And this is part of ... homearchives

Does the U.S. need a national paid maternity leave policy for workers as most other nations have? Jesse Russell takes a look.   The United States of America is one of the few countries on the planet that doesn’t have a paid maternity leave policy. Former Vermont Governor Madeleine Kunin argues in her new book “The New Feminist Agenda” that such legislation would be a benefit to society and the country as a whole. Kunin goes farther and references Scandinavian countries that have extended family leave to fathers. She explains why such a policy is important:  [Kunin]: “Otherwise a woman may find that she’s at a disadvantage in applying for a job if it’s only a leave granted to women. But if it’s granted to both men and women, they’re on a level playing field. Plus many dads today would like to be home with a new baby.”  Kunin said having a strong maternity policy on the government level isn’t only important to mothers, but also to the next generation of children:  [Kunin2]: “But in reality, to all of our children. You know these are the children who are going to grow up to be the workforce of tomorrow, to ... homearchives

Layoff notices have been sent out to more than 18,000 Hostess workers. Jesse Russell reports. While the company still has sights on emerging from bankruptcy it had to send out the notices due to the WARN Act. That act requires company’s to notify employees of possible mass layoffs at the least 60 days in advance. Hostess said in a statement they aren’t planning to sell or “wind down” the company and the notices are simply procedural. However, in a letter sent to the Texas Workforce Commission the company said that “certain events” during bankruptcy reorganization could “require Hostess to sell all or portions of it’s business and/or wind down its operations and liquidate.” Seven-thousand five hundred Hostess employees are represented by the Teamsters and the union has threatened strike action if the company wins approval to throw out labor contracts. The Teamsters have expressed a willingness to reopen contracts and negotiate changes. On Friday, Hostess received permission to throw out 35 agreements with the company’s second largest union the Grain Millers International Union. The company says it hasn’t moved forward with throwing out any agreements and is still working with the union representatives. homearchives

By Doug Cunningham Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will face Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker in the historic recall election set for June 5th. Walker’s elimination of public worker collective bargaining rights sparked his recall, but the recall is also driven by issues like jobs, education, health care and the environment. Barrett won a recall primary Tuesday. Wednesday he and the other Democratic candidates gathered to express their unity in the drive to oust Walker. The Wisconsin Uprising is in high gear and working at full speed to make Walker the third U.S. governor to ever be recalled. homearchives

By Doug Cunningham National Nurses United will march and rally in Chicago May 18th to call for a “Robin Hood” tax on Wall Street – a half cent on the dollar tax on stock and speculative financial transactions. It’s the weekend of the NATO summit. They had a permit from Chicago, but now Mayor Rahm Emanuel has yanked the permit just days before the rally and march.The nurses’ union is deciding what to do and has consulted with the American Civil Liberties Union for a possible challenge to the permit revocation. Donna Smith is an organizer with National Nurses United. [Donna Smith]: “Our nurses feel like they’re being marginalized. The call for a financial transaction tax is something that’s probably not popular with Mayor Emanuel and perhaps a lot of his friends who operate in a realm of financial activity that nurses and working people often do not. We got the permit, we did it well in advance. We did not do anything we should not have done. And this is a ridiculous stomping down of the things we would like to speak out about.” homearchives

UAW President questions Republican Candidate Mitt Romney’s claims on the US auto industry. Doug Cunningham reports: By Doug Cunningham United Auto Workers President Bob King says had Mitt Romney been president the domestic auto industry would have been allowed to collapse. That collapse would have caused massive jobs loss. King says Romney is dead wrong when Romney claims he was for government assistance in a managed auto industry bankruptcy. King notes that Romney opposed federal loans to GM and Chrysler in a 2009 New York Times op-ed piece. And in February of this year wrote that he believed the auto industry would be better without the Obama administration’s help. The UAW president says the domestic auto industry was a victim of the credit collapse which was caused by Wall Street fraud. King says Obama and Democrats made sure that the auto industry got emergency bridge loans that enabled the industry to survive. King says the comeback of the U.S. auto industry is a great national success story. He says because Obama made sure the auto industry was saved 200,000 auto jobs were added in the last few years. homearchives

According to New York Times Motherloade blog a new bill being proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives would require employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant employees. Currently the Pregnancy Discrimination Act protects pregnant women from discrimination, but it doesn’t say employers need to make it easier for those women. In addition to asking employers to make reasonable accommodations for pregnant workers it also prevents employers from using a pregnancy as an excuse to deny job opportunities. homearchives

May 12 is the National Association of Letter Carriers 20th annual “Stamp Out Hunger” day. The annual event is the largest food drive in the United States having collected more than one billion pounds of food since 1992. Anyone with a postal address can take part by simply leaving a bag or box of non-perishable foods by their mailbox with a postcard attached designating it for the food drive. 2011 saw more than 70 million pounds of food collected. homearchives

By Doug Cunningham A U.S. Senate vote is expected soon on a bill that would stop a big student loan interest rate hike. The current rate is 3.4 percent. Unless this bill passes that rate would go to 6.8 percent. Six hundred thousand petition signatures have been gathered in an effort to persuade the senators to vote to keep student loan interest rates where they are.The petition signatures were gathered by Rebuild The Dream, CREDO Action and USAction. President Obama and soon-to-be GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney both support the bill. homearchives

By Doug Cunningham French workers and their unions are hoping that the election of Socialist President Francois Hollande will mean a new day for workers on a variety of issues. Paul Fourier is with the French union CGT. He says Hollande’s election is a rejection of austerity policies across Europe. [Paul Fourier]: “It’s a rejection of austerity program in all of Europe, you know, because we said that the austerity plans in Europe in every country in Europe is not the solution for people. For citizens or the workers of course. And we have to find something to promote growth in Europe, to promote wages, to promote jobs creation.” Fourier says President Hollande will bring new policies as well as a new way of governing when it comes to workers’ issues. [Paul Fourier 2]: “A new way of speaking with unions, of speaking to workers and to citizens, you know. It’s 30 years we’ve been waiting for this new Socialist president - this new left president. I think there’s good hope in France.” homearchives