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Click To Listen: Streaming Headlines May 9, 2008

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:54:40 -0700

Headlines:

SEIU Rallies Boston Workers In Hospitals Organizing Drive

Congress Finds Mine Manager Withheld Information In Crandall Mine Deaths

Hundreds Rallying In North Carolina To Support UAW Freightliner Five

Economic Report: Toll On 9/11 Workers Continues

Economic Report: Toll On 9/11 Workers Continues - 05/09/08

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:53:45 -0700

Economic Report:

September 11, 2001 is still taking tolls on the workers and emergency responders who participated in the rescue or clean up. An investigation by the World Trade Center Responder Fatality Investigation Program has revealed that 360 of the laborers or emergency professionals have died since that date. 80 perished from deaths related to cancer. The majority of those who died were between the ages of 20 and 50.

Hundreds Rallying In North Carolina To Support UAW Freightliner Five - 05/09/08

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:52:12 -0700

By Doug Cunningham

Hundreds of workers are expected in Cleveland, North Carolina today at a rally demanding reinstatement of five UAW local bargaining committee members fired by Freightliner. Allen Bradley is one of the workers fired over a year ago after staging a strike against concessions.

[Bradley]: “The workers are tired of being ran over. And we're tired of corporate unionism."

Freightliner is shutting down it’s operation today. Bradley says he's not sure if it's connected to the rally.

Congress Finds Mine Manager Withheld Information In Crandall Mine Deaths - 05/09/08

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:51:09 -0700

As the Democratic Presidential race slogs on into the mining state of West Virginia, a new report suggests that the 2007 mining disaster in Utah could have been prevented. Jesse Russell reports:

The New York Times reported on Thursday that according to details of a Congressional investigation into the Crandall Mine disaster in August of 2007 the mine’s general manager, Laine Adair hid information from federal mining officials and issued false statements. The report says that Adair possibly withheld the information in conspiracy with other senior staff at the mining company. Adair failed to report a previous mine collapse five months prior to the collapse which took nine lives.

SEIU Rallies Workers In Boston In Hospitals' Organizing Drive - 05/09/08

Thu, 08 May 2008 16:49:46 -0700

By Doug Cunningham

SEIU is fighting for thousands of Boston hospital workers who want a union to improve their working conditions, advocate for patients and secure good health care and retirement benefits. Mike Fadel is a Vice-President with 1199SEIU in Boston.

[Fadel]: “They're coming together to change that, to make life better for themselves, for their families, for their patients, and ultimately for the entire city. There's just a growing civic consensus among elected officials and community leaders that there's no reason for the hospitals to interfere with these caregivers' right to freely exercise their choice to form a union."

Click To Listen: Streaming Headlines May 8, 2008

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:01:23 -0700

Headlines:

FBI Raids Office Responsible For Protecting Federal Workers Civil Rights

Hollywood Could Soon See Another Strike

Economic Report: Airlines Continue To Struggle With Bad Flights

Economic Report: Airlines Continue To Struggle With Bad Flights - 05/08/08

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:00:29 -0700

Economic Report:

Chances are fairly high that you had a flight cancelled in March. More than 28 percent of domestic commercial flights were canceled, diverted or late according to the Transportation Department. If that number sounds bad consider that in February more than 31 percent of flights had those same problems. On the other hand, an average of 6.7 passengers per every 1,000 complained of mishandled baggage in March compared with 7.7 per 1,000 last year.

Hollywood Could Soon See Another Strike - 05/08/08

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:59:43 -0700

A June 30 actor’s strike in Hollywood could be in the script now that talks have collapsed between the union and the organization representing major studios. Jesse Russell reports:

The talks lasted 18 days before the Screen Actor’s Guild and the organization representing Hollywood studios pulled the plug on negotiations. Sag will use the break in contract talks to gauge the feelings of the membership. Those feelings may lead to a strike vote as early as next week. The primary issues causing friction are the same that sent Hollywood writers to the picket lines earlier this year – residuals from new media. Meanwhile, the studios took the opportunity to start negotiations with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The studios think they can reach a deal with the smaller AFTRA within two weeks, but SAG representatives have said they expect the union will get caught up in the same issues that ended SAG contract negotiations. The studios have already reached agreements concerning new media with the Writer’s and Director’s Guilds.

FBI Raids Office Responsible For Protecting Federal Workers Civil Rights - 05/08/08

Wed, 07 May 2008 15:58:42 -0700

By Doug Cunningham

The FBI is pouring over computer records and documents seized in raids Tuesday on the Office of Special Counsel and at the home of Special Counsel Scott Bloch. That office is supposed to enforce civil rights and whistleblower protections for federal workers. But Hans Johnson, President of Washington D.C.’s Pride At Work chapter, says Bloch instead tried to dismantle sexual orientation discrimination protections and attacked union and civil rights of federal workers. Johnson says it’s part fo a Bush administration pattern.

[Johnson]: “To name people to public service positions exercising a great deal of public trust who have a fundamental disbelief or antagonism toward the very mission of the agency they re named to head.”

Click To Listen: Streaming Headlines May 7, 2008

Tue, 06 May 2008 20:58:20 -0700

Headlines:

Big Win For Obama In NC, Clinton Keeps Fighting

IUE To Move Its HQ Out Of Washington, D.C.

Letter Carriers Ready To Replenish The Nation's Food Pantries

Economic Report: Want To Cap Your Gas Costs For Three Years?

Economic Report: Want To Cap Your Gas Costs For Three Years? - 05/07/08

Tue, 06 May 2008 20:57:10 -0700

Economic Report:

If you buy a Chrysler you could receive a gas subsidy. The automaker is offering to cap the price of gasoline at $2.99 per gallon for three years for individuals who purchase a Chrylser, Dodge, or Jeep between today and June 2. Customers receive a special card that when used will bill the charge as $2.99 per gallon. Will other carmakers follow suit? Not GM or Ford. Spokespeople for those two companies said they plan to focus on developing fuel efficient vehicles.

Letter Carriers Ready To Replenish The Nation's Food Pantries - 05/07/08

Tue, 06 May 2008 20:56:25 -0700

Letter carriers are once again helping to fill the nation's food banks, pantries and shelters. May 10 has been proclaimed National Association of Letter Carriers Food Drive Day and postal carriers and volunteers will be collecting nonperishable food items left by mailboxes in all 50 states. In New York City, where mailbox pickups of nonperishable food items is logistically difficult, residents are invited to drop off donations all this week at local post offices or through online donations to a local food bank.

IUE To Move Its HQ Out Of Washington, D.C. - 05/07/08

Tue, 06 May 2008 20:55:35 -0700

A union representing 60,000 workers is planning a big move. Jesse Russell reports:

The International Union of Electronic Workers has been based out of Washington, DC for more than half a decade. On Tuesday, the union representing 60,000 workers at companies like General Electric and Delphi announced it would be moving it's base to somewhere in or around Dayton, Ohio so it can be closer to the majority of its membership. The IUE is part of the Communications Workers of America and the CWA will continue to be headquartered in DC.

Big Win For Obama In NC, Clinton Keeps Fighting - 05/07/08

Tue, 06 May 2008 20:54:35 -0700

By Doug Cunningham

Barack Obama maintained his delegate and popular vote lead in the Democratic presidential primaries with a resounding victory in North Carolina Tuesday night. As he told of his grandparents and parents’ hard work in an America that once offered real opportunity and hope for working people, he offered his vision of America's future.

[Obama]: "It was an America that didn't just reward wealth, but it rewarded work and the workers who created it. That's the America I love. That’s the America you love. That's the America we're fighting for in this election!"

Speaking to her supporters as she led Obama in the Indiana Democratic primary voting, Hillary Clinton said she's seen first hand in this campaign the struggles that working Americans face.

Click To Listen: Streaming Headlines May 6, 2008

Mon, 05 May 2008 16:00:09 -0700

Headlines:

CAW Reaches No-Two Tier Deal With Ford, UAW Strikes Kansas GM Plant

ACORN Reaches Out To 2.8 Million Low Income Voters

Immigrant Coalition Reaches Money Transfers Deal As It Boycotts Western Union

Chilean Copper Workers End Strike, Hail "Big Victory"

Economic Report: Service Industry Ticks Up