AFL-CIO

June 12, 2008 -- Today’s vote in the House of Representatives to pass a vital extension of unemployment benefits marks an important step forward in getting desperately needed help to some of the most vulnerable in the rapidly failing economy – and giving the economy a needed boost. We commend Democratic leadership and all members who voted for this important legislation.    » read more »

Increase “long overdue,” according to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney

June 09, 2008 -- Today AFL-CIO President John Sweeney urged members of Congress to aid working people hit the hardest and boost the our floundering economy by extending unemployment benefits.    » read more »

Union Members to Rally in More Than 25 Cities This Week to Call on Bush and McCain to Denounce Tax Giveaways for Big Oil, Support Real Path to Energy Independence

June 09, 2008 -- AFL-CIO working families will rally at gas stations in more than 25 cities across the country this week to protest record-high gas prices, which reached a national average of $4 a gallon over the weekend. The first protest will be today in Indianapolis.    » read more »

June 03, 2008 -- John McCain has some nerve going to New Orleans, site of the Bush Administration’s do-nothing approach to Hurricane Katrina, to announce that he’s a “different kind of Republican.”

From health care and jobs to the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Sen. McCain’s record shows he’s in lockstep with President Bush and the Administration’s corporate allies.

A small and subdued collection of John McCain supporters during his New Orleans speech: Photo by dsb nola (CC)    » read more »

Members of Congress, Colombian And U.S. Unions Pledge Continued Opposition To Pending Trade Deal

May 14, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Seven leaders from the largest Colombian unions joined members of Congress and U.S. labor leaders for a news conference on Capitol Hill today to pledge their continued opposition to the pending U.S. – Colombian Free Trade Agreement, despite continued lobbying by the Bush administration and the Colombian government.

Colombia FTA protesters: Photo by b.wu (CC)    » read more »

May 09, 2008 -- "Working people applaud the bipartisan effort by the U.S. House of Representatives to help struggling homeowners retain their piece of the American dream. This bill is an important step toward keeping millions of struggling families from losing everything they have worked for all their lives.

President Bush’s threat to veto this legislation is both inhumane and dangerously short-sighted. The funds in this legislation are an investment in healthy communities, vibrant neighborhoods and a stable economy.    » read more »

May 09, 2008 -- "We applaud the introduction of the Energy Price Reduction Act of 2008, which is a common sense approach to skyrocketing gas prices.

In this era of record corporate profits and stagnant workers’ wages, when hard-working people are already struggling, outrageous gas prices are the final straw.

Gas prices at a Los Angeles, California gas station, May 11, 2008: Photo by maxually (CC)

We are getting to the point where Americans with full-time jobs can’t afford to feed their families and keep a roof over their head.    » read more »

"McCain Revealed" Grassroots Campaign Kicks Into High Gear with Nationwide Door-to-Door Canvass to 200,000 Union Members and Families Health Care Top Issue

May 08, 2008 -- The AFL-CIO today announced plans for a major new push to expose Sen. John McCain's economic record and disastrous health care proposals, which includes a massive door-to-door canvass to 200,000 union swing voters in 22 battleground states over the next two weekends.

John McCain: Photo by VictoryNH (CC)    » read more »

31 year member of the United Steelworkers, DNC Member John Patrick Backs Obama

May 01, 2008 -- Chicago, IL -- Today, a Texas superdelegate backed Barack Obama, citing his record of standing up for working families and opposing trade deals that fail to protect American workers.

Senator Barack Obama: Photo by Barack Obama campaign

The endorsement by Texas DNC Member John Patrick, who is also a 31 year member of the United Steelworkers (USW) as well as a Vice President of the Texas AFL/CIO, brings the total number of superdelegates to endorse Barack Obama to 249. Senator Obama is 283 delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination.    » read more »

April 15, 2008 -- Sen. John McCain’s economic proposals today badly missed the mark, offering little more than a repackaging of President Bush’s failed economic agenda. For months, Sen. McCain has ignored the economic crisis facing working families, opting instead to join President Bush in burying his head in the sand while hoping our economy magically improves.

John McCain: Photo by VictoryNH: Protect Our Primary (CC)

Today he finally offered some recognition that our economy is in trouble but instead of offering long-term solutions, he focused on shortsighted proposals that would do more to pad the profit margins of large corporations than help struggling working families.    » read more »

“Libraries are a Vital Resource During Economic Downturn”

April 15, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. — Gerald W. McEntee, President of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), AFL-CIO, today called for increased funding for the nation’s libraries, noting their importance to communities and workers coping with the downturn in the national economy.

New York Public Library: Photo by Andy Cross (CC)    » read more »

Website Includes Brand New CEO Pay Numbers

April 14, 2008 -- Compensation schemes for top executives at financial companies helped create the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the new Executive PayWatch website (www.paywatch.org) launched today by the AFL-CIO reveals. The 2008 PayWatch site also unveils a comprehensive database of brand new CEO pay figures.

Screenshot of the AFL-CIO Paywatch website    » read more »

Proposed Regulations Would Make it Harder for Workers to Take Time Off for Medical and Family Emergencies

April 11, 2008 -- The AFL-CIO today called on the Bush Administration to drop its proposed changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act that would make it more difficult for workers to get the time off they need to care for themselves or their loved ones in emergencies.

George W. Bush toilet paper: Sold in a small shop in Sydney, Australia. Photo by david (CC)    » read more »

April 07, 2008 -- "President Bush’s decision to send the U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement to Congress tomorrow over the strong objections of the leadership of both the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate shows an outrageous disregard for basic human and workers’ rights.

Colombia FTA protesters: Photo by b.wu (CC)

Workers in Colombia are terrorized every day for standing up for their economic freedom and union supporters are routinely murdered. Our government should not reward the Colombian government for such callous indifference to the rights and lives of Colombian workers.    » read more »

Prepared remarks provided below

April 02, 2008 -- Philadelphia, PA - Senator Barack Obama addressed the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO this morning in Philadelphia, emphasizing his commitment to fighting the corporate special interests and delivering an agenda that makes sense for working Americans. As President, Obama will renegotiate NAFTA - which Senator Clinton supported as First Lady - invest in a green economy to help keep good jobs here in America, and make sure that every American has quality health care.

Senator Barack Obama at AFL-CIO Convention in Philadelphia, PA, April 2, 2008: Photo by Barack Obama campaign    » read more »