Unions

March 02, 2009 -- Pittsburgh – The United Steelworkers (USW) today heartily endorsed President Obama’s selection of Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to become the new Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS).    » read more »

February 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Change to Win chair Anna Burger, issued the following statement about the first meeting of the Middle Class Task Force today, chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.

“The world is facing a historic opportunity to rebuild our global economy through investments in sustainable projects that will create new jobs, reduce our dependence on oil and protect our planet after decades of mismanagement.    » read more »

February 26, 2009 -- President Obama said from day one that he’s going to tackle the tough issues quickly and decisively, yet people in Washington seem shocked that the president is doing exactly what he promised to do. His budget signals just how serious he is about addressing the profound imbalances in our country and repairing the economic damage.

President Obama’s proposed budget takes us in the right direction towards creating an economy that works for everyone. The budget sets out ambitious – but achievable – proposals for bold new reforms in energy, healthcare, education, and infrastructure, while also laying out a concrete plan to fund these programs over the next decade.    » read more »

February 26, 2009 --WASHINGTON, D.C. – Change to Win chair Anna Burger issued the following statement about President Barack Obama’s proposed budget.

“Budgets are more than series of numbers on a page, they represent our nation’s priorities and how we will tackle the challenges before us to rebuild the American Dream for our children and grandchildren.

“President Obama’s budget represents a new era for working families through a commitment to fiscal responsibility and a willingness to make necessary reforms and critical investments in education, energy, healthcare and infrastructure. It lays the groundwork for a thriving economy where everyone, not just Wall Street fat cats, campaign contributors or Washington insiders, share in our prosperity.    » read more »

February 25, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – CtW Investment Group Director of Value Strategies Michael Garland released the following statement today in response to Principal Financial Group’s claim that they haven’t taken a position on the Employee Free Choice Act.

“In a transparent attempt to rewrite history to qualify for $2 billion in TARP assistance, the Principal Financial Group (NYSE: PFG), issued a statement last night asserting that it has not taken a position on the Employee Free Choice Act. The public record indicates otherwise.    » read more »

February 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - SEIU President Andy Stern issued the following statement following today's bipartisan vote by the U.S. Senate to confirm Hilda Solis' as the next Secretary of Labor.

"As the daughter of two immigrant workers and union members who met in a citizenship class, today's vote to confirm Hilda Solis as Secretary of Labor proves the American Dream is still alive. Working men and women now have a Department of Labor they can count on to stand up and fight for them because Secretary Solis personally understands the challenges workers face in a global economy. For Secretary Solis this is not just another job, but the culmination of a lifetime of action serving as a voice for people who work.    » read more »

Change to Win Chair Anna Burger Statement on President Obama’s address to Congress

February 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Change to Win Chair Anna Burger issued the following statement after attending President Obama’s address to Congress this evening.

“Tonight, I was reminded of why working men and women all around this country cast their vote last November for Barack Obama. President Obama demonstrated vision, courage and the bold leadership America needs as he confronts the broken healthcare system that has become a tremendous burden on working families and a constant threat to an already fragile economy.    » read more »

February 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Change to Win chair Anna Burger issued the following statement regarding today’s confirmation of Rep. Hilda Solis, D-Cali., for the U.S. Secretary of Labor.

"In the midst of this economic crisis – when thousands of jobs are lost every day – it is crucial to make the economy work for working people again. Americans need a plan to help put families back to work, back in their homes, and back on the path of prosperity. In addition to bold economic recovery plan, America’s workers need a strong Department of Labor.    » read more »

Principal Financial Focus Of Call To End TARP-Subsidized Lobbying

February 24, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Change to Win has called on the Treasury Department to plug the hole that has allowed TARP recipients to lobby against the interests of the taxpayers who bear the burden of paying for the Wall Street bailout. Change to Win specifically registered its opposition to granting assistance to the Principal Financial Group (NYSE: PFG), which has applied for up to $2 billion in TARP funds.    » read more »

But BKC Statement of Support for Unions, Neutrality on Political Issues at Odds with Poor Employment Practices, Anti-Worker Lobbying Record

February 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Following the release of a report and video exposing poor business practices and efforts to defeat the Employee Free Choice Act by Burger King and Goldman Sachs--one of Burger King's largest shareholders--and after a week of protests at Burger King locations across the country, Burger King attempted to distance itself from its own record of working against the interests of working families.    » read more »

February 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - Change to Win Chair and SEIU International Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger issued the following statement after participating in today's White House Fiscal Responsibility Summit:

"Today under President Obama's leadership, representatives from government, civil society, academia, business and labor united as a country to get our economy back on track.

"One thing we know is that to meet this challenge, we must tackle one of the biggest causes of economic insecurity for families: our broken healthcare system.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. (Feb. 20, 2009) – Four U.S. stainless pipe producers, and the United Steelworkers (USW) today applauded a final order by the unanimous vote of the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) that found injury by dumped and subsidized Chinese imports of welded austenitic stainless steel pressure pipe.

Leo W. Gerard, USW President, said: “The determination by the commission against illegal stainless steel pipe imports from China was desperately needed to preserve American family supportive jobs.” He pledged that “the USW and the companies who employ our members will continue to vigorously battle these Chinese unfair trade practices.”    » read more »

February 18, 2009 -- The swift action by the Obama Administration today to address the housing crisis is a welcome and refreshing change.

For more than a year, the Bush Administration ignored calls from the AFL-CIO and others to address a coming foreclosure tsunami. Tragically, in the months that followed, the deepening housing debacle turned millions of families’ lives upside down and strengthened its chokehold on our economy.

The Obama plan is designed to help up to nine million homeowners. The strong plan from the Administration correctly includes changing the bankruptcy laws to allow judges to modify the mortgages of distressed homeowners, including reducing the principal of these loans to the property's current market value.    » read more »

Goldman paid nearly double the average bonus on Wall St; Burger King costs taxpayers estimated $273 million a year

February 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. -- As Congress and the Obama administration look to hold major banks that have received billions in federal bailout funds better accountable for their corporate practices, a report released today by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) on Goldman Sachs and its holdings in Burger King finds that the true total of taxpayer subsidies some of the banks are enjoying extends well beyond the monies they've taken through the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).    » read more »

(Pittsburgh) -- President Obama selected the perfect negotiator, expert and innovative thinker when he chose Ron Bloom, a special assistant to United Steelworkers (USW) International President, to serve as a senior advisor in the Treasury Department for U.S. auto industry restructuring, said a union official today.

“Solving the problems of the domestic auto industry is a monumental challenge, but Ron has tremendous ability,” said USW president Leo W. Gerard. “There’s not much you haven’t seen when you’ve restructured 50 companies in bankruptcy,” Gerard said, referring to firms Bloom worked to revive in his position as head of the USW’s corporate research, industry analysis and pattern bargaining department.    » read more »