After striking a deal with the White House and congressional Democrats regarding a reduced excise tax in the health care bill, labor leaders held a conference call to express their support. AFL-CIO Richard Trumka ran the call and he said the union mothership would be willing to put its weight behind the health care bill, but he acknowledged the fight isn’t over:

[Trumka:] A long fight, not over yet, but we’ll continue to encourage Democrats in the House and Senate to support a bill that makes quality healthcare more affordable and more accessible for all working people.

By Doug Cunningham

The AFL-CIO says the watered-down Senate healthcare reform bill is inadequate and substantial changes have to be made in it. AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says the bill has been hijacked by defenders of the insurance industry. He says the AFL-CIO will fight for genuine healthcare reform that includes a public option to break the stranglehold insurance companies have over consumers. Trumka says the House bill is the model for genuine reform and working people cannot accept anything less than genuine reform.

Lede: Financial regulation reform has begun to wind its way through Congress. Doug Cunningham has more.

By Doug Cunningham

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says the Employee Free Choice Act labor law reform making it easier for workers to join unions free of employer intimidation remains a top labor priority. He says it’s essential to a true economic recovery for workers because it would give them the power to bargain for higher wages.

[Trumka]: “And so, this is all about making any job a good job through collective bargaining.”

By Doug Cunningham

AFL-CIO President Rich Trumka says before the economy can truly recover for workers, new, stronger financial regulations are needed so we don’t rebuild the same failed economic system. Trumka says we need a real economy.

[Trumka]: “So it’s up to us to actually re-connect the productivity and wages back together – they were ruptured in the seventies. And then re-create an economy that isn’t driven by debt-financed consumer spending.”

According to reports the AFL-CIO will consider cutting contributions to politicians who aren’t supporting issues workers care about. According to the report on Politico.com the labor organization will discuss options during an executive council meeting on Monday. Earlier this year the Sheet Metal Workers vowed to cut all contributions to political candidates and use that money instead to fight for health care reform.

Even as hundreds of teabaggers descended on Capitol Hill yesterday to protest health care reform, working families delivered 15,000 handwritten letters in support of health care reform. The AFL-CIO says corporate-bused in “protesters” spread misinformation and tried to to outshout the legislative process in Congress. But health care reform got a strong boost from two major organizations. News that the AARP, representing millions of senior citizens, would endorse the plan had leaked to the press late Wednesday.

By Doug Cunningham

By Doug Cunningham

The AFL-CIO is kicking off a Week of Action to support health care reform today. With health care reform votes imminent in Congress the labor federation is asking a million workers to participate in rallies, phone banks and other events to persuade Congress to pass health care reform.

Lede: Labor is coming together for the American Banker's Association’s party in Chicago Tuesday. Doug Cunningham explains.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says the rally is expected to draw thousands of people to protest bank greed and the irresponsibility that nearly collapsed the financial system. Trumka says after being bailed out by taxpayers to the tune of $700 billion, banks still aren’t using their capital to fuel economic recovery for working people. SEIU President Andy Stern says bankers will get this message from labor at the Showdown In Chicago on Tuesday.

By Doug Cunningham

By Doug Cunningham

As the pace of Senate action quickens on health care reform more than a hundred AFL-CIO leaders from 27 states are coming to Capitol Hill this week to support health care reform. Thousands of letters are being delivered this week in support of reform that lowers costs, holds insurance companies accountable and includes a public option health insurance alternative.

By Doug Cunningham

At its political conference today and tomorrow, the Minnesota AFL-CIO is stepping up efforts to elect a pro-worker governor.
Communications Director Diane O’Brien says the Minnesota AFL-CIO has grown more politically effective over the past decade.