Unions

September 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President Andy Stern released the following statement on the Senate Finance Committee's introduction of the America's Healthy Future Act.

"We are closer than ever before in making health insurance reform a reality. Four out of five Congressional committees have drafted, debated, voted on and passed legislation to fix healthcare with strong affordability provisions, shared responsibility -- for individuals and employers -- and the choice of a public option. Now, the Senate Finance Committee is on the verge of taking us one step closer. We believe the Committee should use this process as an opportunity to amend the draft bill, so that it meets this same high standard.    » read more »

September 14, 2009 -- Washington, DC--Today, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) released the statement of Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger on the anniversary of the Lehman Brothers collapse. Said Burger:

"When Lehman Brothers fell, they took not just the rest of Wall Street, but all of Main Street, down with them. Yet, one year later, the greedy CEOs who caused the collapse are unremorseful, unrepentant, and virtually unchanged.

"You'd think that the collapse of over 90 banks in one year alone would be a powerful 'lesson learned' for the titans at big financial houses, but on Wall Street, it's back to 'business as usual.'    » read more »

Sept. 15, 2009 -- PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) today said President Obama’s decision to impose tariffs on Chinese consumer tires was simply a matter of enforcing existing trade laws.

“It’s our union’s responsibility to defend our members and to do it in a way that is within the law and that’s what we have done,” USW International President Leo W. Gerard said. “We’re not against trade. We want a level playing field.

"President Obama rightly rejected groundless retaliation threats and imposed relief based on the merits of this case." The President correctly explained today that "enforcing trade agreements is part and parcel of maintaining an open and free trading system," said Gerard.    » read more »

Now seeks President Obama’s support to save U.S. jobs & plants

Washington, D.C. (Jun. 29) – The United Steelworkers (USW) applauded today’s vote by the International Trade Commission (ITC) for a tariff remedy in the union’s Section 421 petition against a surge of low-priced and market disrupting consumer tires from China.

Leo W. Gerard, USW international president, declared: “Today’s remedy vote by the ITC is a great victory for the USW, its members and for all U.S. tire workers. The tariffs voted by the commissioners should remedy the market disruptive surge in Chinese tire imports that have caused harm to the domestic industry.”    » read more »

UAW, state & local government support, and GM’s efficient, flexible manufacturing operations make competitive, profitable small car in U.S. possible

2009-06-26 -- DETROIT -- General Motors selected its assembly plant in Orion Township, Mich. and stamping facility in Pontiac, Mich., to build its future small car, which will add to the automaker’s growing portfolio of U.S.-built, highly fuel-efficient cars, including the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt. Today’s announcement will restore approximately 1,400 jobs in total -- 1,200 at Orion Assembly and 200 at Pontiac Metal Center, Building # 14.

This decision is dependent on the successful outcome of ongoing economic incentive negotiations between GM and state and local government officials.    » read more »

More than half in huge survey say they cannot get the health care they need at a price they can afford

June 23, 2009 -- (Washington, DC) –Over half of the 23,460 people who responded online to a health care survey sponsored by the AFL-CIO and Working America say they cannot get the health care they need at a price they can afford, and the problem is even more acute among people who buy their own insurance, Hispanics and young adults. A third of respondents report that they forgo basic medical care because of costs, including skipping doctor recommended tests and treatments and not visiting a doctor when they are sick.    » read more »

Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on the current crisis in iran

June 23, 2009 -- The AFL-CIO, representing over 11 million working women and men in the United States, expresses its deep concern over the immediate situation in Iran, following the contested election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Several people have been killed and many more wounded and injured by Iranian government forces attempting to repress massive demonstrations demanding either an annulment of the elections or a vote recount.    » read more »

Passage of the DREAM Act will allow next generation of leaders to achieve their own American dream

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC --Today, with the U.S. Capitol's Statue of Freedom reaching to the sky behind them, more than 500 students from across the country took part in a symbolic graduation ceremony to urge Congress to support our nation's future leaders by passing the DREAM Act. The National DREAM Graduation ceremony was hosted by labor organizations like SEIU, education, faith, business, immigrant and civil rights groups through the United We Dream Coalition.    » read more »

Small Biz Owner: On Healthcare, U.S. Chamber Leaves Struggling Main Street Businesses Behind

June 19, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- The U.S. Chamber of Commerce's attacks on healthcare reform are hurting small businesses at a time when they're already struggling, say small business owners. On Tuesday, the Chamber announced its opposition to early versions of the healthcare bill, with their harshest words reserved for the public health insurance option and employer responsibility.

Yet at a time when small businesses are crumbling under the weight of rising healthcare costs, the last thing they need is more attacks on legislation that will guarantee small businesses and their employees' access to quality, affordable healthcare.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- PITTSBURGH – The United Steelworkers (USW) International Executive Board has unanimously endorsed Richard Trumka as the next president of the AFL-CIO.

Trumka, the federation’s current secretary-treasurer, is looking to succeed retiring AFL-CIO President John Sweeney at its convention in Pittsburgh this September. Trumka was first elected AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer in 1995.

“Not only does Richard have the experience and the intellectual capacity to do the job, he brings great heart and passion to the fight for issues that matter to America’s working families,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.    » read more »

June 16, 2009 -- The International Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) today unanimously endorsed Richard L. Trumka for President of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

The International Executive Board of the United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) today unanimously endorsed Richard L. Trumka for President of the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

"We are extremely proud to make this endorsement," UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said. "And not just because Rich is a former president of our union, but more importantly, because he is the right leader for America's workers at this critical time in our nation's history.    » read more »

Stern Statement regarding HELP Committee's Affordable Health Choices Act

June 9, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Andy Stern, President of the Service Employees International Union, provided the following statement upon release of the Senate HELP Committee draft of Healthcare Reform legislation:

"To realize the fundamental change that is needed to fix our broken healthcare system, our elected leaders must have courage, passion, and vision. Senator Kennedy, Senator Dodd and HELP Committee members from both sides of the aisle have channeled their courage and passion into a vision of reform that provides Americans with more choices and more affordable healthcare options; including one guaranteed by the government that puts the good of the American people ahead of profits.    » read more »

Unions Will Support Most Significant Reform of the State and Local Pension System in 25 Years to Provide Long-term Savings to Taxpayers

June 5, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson today announced that he has reached an agreement with the Civil Service Employee Association (CSEA) and the Public Employees Federation (PEF) that will provide long-term savings to New York taxpayers and achieve immediate workforce savings while avoiding large scale layoffs in a difficult economic climate.

In addition, these unions have announced that they will support the Governor’s efforts to implement the most significant reform of the state’s pension system in more than a quarter century.    » read more »

Program Includes 'Just Culture' Provisions to Enhance Analysis of Root Causes of Events and Possible Mishaps Rather than Only Reported Incidents

FORT WORTH, Texas, June 4 -- American Airlines, in conjunction with the Transport Workers Union of America (TWU), today announced the renewal by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), of the Aviation Safety Action Program (ASAP) for American's mechanics.

American and TWU have had a program in place for 11 years and with the FAA approved renewal of the program, ASAP will be extended for two more years. The TWU/American Airlines ASAP maintenance program is the longest running in U.S. commercial aviation.    » read more »

June 4, 2009 -- Washington, DC – In recent days, opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act have turned their fire toward a voting method that has been used successfully in Oregon for over a decade: vote-by-mail. Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley today laid out the facts for these new opponents of vote-by-mail.

“Unfortunately, opponents of the Employee Free Choice Act have chosen to target vote-by-mail as part of their misguided attempts to make it harder for workers to choose whether or not they want to form unions. This simply shows that they are grasping at straws to derail this important legislation without regard to the facts or the proven history of vote-by-mail.    » read more »