Unions

Expected to Spur Campaign for Employee Free Choice Act, Spark Major Drive for Healthcare Union Organizing, and Boost RN Standards and Power for Healthcare Workers

March 19, 2009 -- OAKLAND, CA/WASHINGTON, DC--In a dramatic agreement likely to accelerate the drive to pass the Employee Free Choice Act and rapidly promote unionization in the healthcare sector, the Service Employees International Union and the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee today announced the signing of a transformative cooperation agreement.    » read more »

First National Protests Since Bailouts Began Will Call on Congress to Take Action on Employee Free Choice, Health Care, Banking Reform to Build An Economy That Works for Everyone

March 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC- With almost daily revelations of abuses by Wall Street giants, some 10,000 Americans will participate in over 100 actions in over 30 states on Thursday, March 19 to push the solutions needed to rebuild the economy on sound, strong footing. The demonstrations will take place at the offices of major banks whose behavior both before and since the government bailout epitomize an era of CEO and corporate excess ¾ at the expense of broader prosperity ¾ that has weakened the economy.    » read more »

2009-03-12 -- Statement of Ray G. Young, GM executive vice president and chief financial officer:

As GM Canada announced last night, the members of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union have ratified a new competitive agreement with GM Canada (GMCL), which is vital to the continued transformation of the Canadian operations. The agreement between GMCL and the CAW will quickly reduce costs in Canada by significantly closing the competitive gap with U.S. transplant automakers on active employee labor costs and substantially reducing GMCL's legacy costs by introducing cash contributions for health benefits, increasing employee health care cost sharing, freezing pension benefits and removing hourly pension cost of living adjustments.    » read more »

NEA President Van Roekel applauds introduction of Employee Free Choice Act

WASHINGTON - March 10, 2009 - America's labor unions have led the fight for working families, winning protections such as the 8-hour day and the 40-hour week, overtime rights, and access to health care and retirement security. NEA President Dennis Van Roekel urged all members of Congress to support the Employee Free Choice Act and continue that tradition.

The following can be attributed to NEA President Dennis Van Roekel:    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- "Today is a banner day for working Americans, a milestone on the road to rebuilding our nation’s middle class – and it couldn’t come at a more crucial time. We thank the House of Representatives and the Senate for introducing the Employee Free Choice Act, which will restore workers’ freedom to bargain for fair wages, job security, better health care and secure pensions. Special thanks also goes to Congressman Miller, Sen. Kennedy and Sen. Harkin for being the lead sponsors and champions for America’s working families.

We are confident the Employee Free Choice Act is going to become the law of the land.    » read more »

Rep. Miller, Sen. Harkin introduce bill to make it easier for workers to bargain with employers for better wages and healthcare

March 10, 2009 -- Washington-- On Tuesday, Congressman George Miller (D-CA), chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee, and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill to make it easier for workers to bargain with their employers for better wages and healthcare. At the same time, hundreds of workers from across the country descended on Washington to lobby their own Members of Congress on the importance of the bill.    » read more »

March 10, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Change to Win chair Anna Burger issued the following statement in response to Rep. George Miller’s, D-Calif., and Sen. Tom Harkin’s, D-Iowa, introduction of the Employee Free Choice Act today in the United States Congress.    » read more »

Workers Also Came to D.C. to Tell Their Stories Directly to Their Representatives and to Testify Before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee

March 09, 2009 -- Starting today, and continuing throughout the week, America’s workers will hold over 100 grassroots events across the country urging congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which will restore workers’ freedom to join a union and bargain for a better life.

Workers also are coming to D.C. to tell their stories directly to their Representatives and to testify before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee.    » read more »

Teamsters, Safety Advocates Petition Court to Review Hours-of-Service Rule

March 9, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Teamsters, Public Citizen, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, and the Truck Safety Coalition asked an appeals court today to review a dangerous Bush-era regulation that increased the amount of time truck drivers can spend behind the wheel.

The groups also sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood asking him to begin work on a new regulation that would reduce truck crashes caused by fatigue.

“We have taken this action with the conviction, based on research and scientific data, that longer driving and working hours are unsafe and promote driver fatigue,” the letter said.    » read more »

March 06, 2009 -- America’s steepest drop in employment in over 30 years shows just how long the road to economic recovery will be. The pain of February’s widespread job losses was felt across virtually every employment sector -- with manufacturing and construction especially hard hit. Unemployment among African American men hit 14.9 percent last month – almost double the level a year ago.

The economy has spiraled into a vicious downward cycle: Workers are losing their jobs and can't maintain their mortgage payments. Housing foreclosures are exacerbating the downward slide in housing prices and tightening credit. Frozen credit markets are forcing firms to lay off more workers.    » read more »

March 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - SEIU Healthcare Chair Dennis Rivera released the following statement after participating in today's White House Forum on Health Reform:    » read more »

March 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a letter to Bank of America (NYSE:BAC) Lead Director O. Temple Sloan, the CtW Investment Group called on BAC's board to remove Ken Lewis as Chairman and CEO in light of his disastrous missteps. Since the September 15, 2008 announcement of the merger with Merrill Lynch, BAC has:

* Suffered a 90% drop in share price
* Allowed Merrill to pay out $3.6 billion in bonuses, even as the firm was hemorrhaging money
* Denied any active role in determining the size of Merrill bonuses, a claim subsequently contradicted by documents that have emerged in the NY Attorney General’s investigation
* Failed to timely disclose over $20 billion in pre-tax losses at Merrill    » read more »

March 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Change to Win chair Anna Burger issued the following statement about today’s White House Forum on Health Reform, which was attended by various Change to Win leaders.

“There are few challenges we face as a nation that are as complex and consequential as fixing our health care system. With 14,000 more Americans losing their health coverage every day, we can no longer turn a blind eye to solving a difficult problem. Instead, we must work together to make the big reforms necessary to bring about real solutions and deliver quality, affordable health care for every man, woman and child in America.    » read more »

March 02, 2009 -- We congratulate President Obama on his choice of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius as our next Secretary of Health and Human Services. The nomination of Gov. Sebelius will provide a great boost to the effort to enact sweeping health care reform.

Her experience as Kansas insurance commissioner and her outstanding record as governor uniquely qualify Gov. Sebelius for this demanding position. Time's selection of her in 2005 as one of the country's five best governors speaks to the critically important leadership and managerial abilities needed for this job.

Gov. Sebelius brings a track record of bipartisanship and the ability to work well with all the players in health care. We look forward to working with her to enact affordable, comprehensive health care for all.    » read more »

March 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – “President Obama’s appointment of Governor Kathleen Sebelius confirms his commitment to health care reform. This is yet another clear signal that this is the year to make quality, affordable health care for everyone a reality.

Health care reform is crucial to fixing the economy, and with Kathleen Sebelius at the helm of Health and Human Services, we can be sure it gets the attention and sound management it deserves,” said Change to Win chair and SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger today.    » read more »