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04/2010 Labor's Edge Blog Articles
4/30/10
Rants & Raves for the Week of April 26th
* Federal UI extensions run out * Arizona immigration law legalizes racial profiling *
* Anthem Blue Cross withdraws plan to raise rates 40% * Justice Dept. and SEC launch investigation into Goldman Sachs * Gender discrimination class action law suit goes to trial *
4/30/10
It’s Time for Meg “Wall Street” Whitman to Come Clean About Her Past (and Present) Ties to Goldman Sachs
by Steve Smith
Now that the Department of Justice has launched a criminal investigation into Goldman Sachs’ role in the subprime mortgage meltdown, it’s more important than ever that Meg "Wall Street" Whitman disclose exactly what she knew and did during her 14 months on the board at Goldman Sachs. That’s why we’re calling on Whitman to provide detailed answers to questions regarding her knowledge and involvement in the Goldman scandal during this Sunday’s GOP gubernatorial debate.
4/29/10
U.S. Congressmembers to Look Into Stalled Bargaining Between UC and Postdoctoral Researchers
by Matthew “Oki” O’Connor
In an unprecedented move, the U.S. House Committee on Education and Labor will hold a public field hearing tomorrow to examine why postdoctoral researchers in the University of California system are still without a first contract after months of bargaining with UC.
Committee Chairman George Miller will be joined by Reps. Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey, also California Democrats, to look into contract negotiations between UC and Postdoctoral Researchers Organize/UAW (PRO/UAW), the Postdocs’ Union.
4/28/10
Faith, Labor, and Community Allies March Together to Stop Wall Street’s Corporate Greed
by Becca Green
On Tuesday, an unprecedented coalition of labor, faith and community groups came together on the streets of San Francisco with one goal: to stop Wall Street’s corporate greed. Nearly 1,000 Californians marched to the Wells Fargo corporate shareholders meeting in order to hold the big bank accountable for its role in the loss of 5 million homes and 8 million jobs during the economic meltdown.
4/27/10
A Fitting Memorial for Workers Who Have Been Injured or Killed on the Job
by Dick Meister
April 28th is Workers Memorial Day - a day when organized labor and its allies honor the millions of men and women who've needlessly suffered and died because of workplace hazards and to demand that the government act to lessen the hazards.
An average of at least 16 workers killed and nearly 5,500 badly hurt on each and every day, plus 135 or more dying daily from job-related illness. It's certain that unless federal authorities do act to expand and adequately enforce the neglected job safety laws, the number of victims will remain at a terrible and unnecessarily high level.
4/26/10
Join California’s Workers in Exposing Meg Whitman’s Wall Street Agenda
by Steve Smith
Meg Whitman spent last week crisscrossing California with her Wall Street pal Mitt Romney, pumping up her already overflowing campaign coffers with even more corporate cash. Her campaign strategy is clear: write big checks and avoid a real conversation with voters about her background, her policies, and her plans for the state.
But California's workers aren't going to let Meg and her Wall Street agenda take the express jet to the Governor's office. Today, the California Labor Federation launched a massive grassroots campaign that will deploy an army of volunteers to expose the truth about Meg Whitman’s Wall Street agenda and her history on the board at Goldman Sachs.
4/23/10
Rants & Raves for the Week of April 19th
* Democratic state Senators vote to eliminate rights for school teachers * Republicans attack 8-hour day * Workers fight legislation to get rid of medical care in schools * Senator tries to give labor law violators a free pass * Massey Energy refuses to let workers mourn their lost colleagues *
* Bill to provide low-cost loans to create manufacturing jobs moves forward * Legislators say "no" to free trade with Colombia * March For California's Future paves way for lasting change * Wisconsin passes law to prevent union-busting * New federal bill would provide funding to avert layoffs * Study reveals CA's nurse-to-patient staffing law saves lives *
4/22/10
It’s Time to Hold Wells Fargo Accountable for the Economic Crisis They Caused
by Katie Gjertson
On Tuesday, April 27th, Wells Fargo is holding its annual shareholders meeting in downtown San Francisco. The California Labor Federation, Bay Area Labor Councils, the California Nurses Association, UNITE HERE Local 2, and SEIU along with religious, community, and tenant organizations and allies will be there to demand that Wells Fargo stop fighting financial reform and start paying their fair share to create the 11 million jobs they helped destroy.
4/22/10
March for California’s Future Strengthens Movement for Change
by Rachel Johnson
Yesterday marked the end of a long journey for hundreds of devoted teachers, union members and community activists marching for a better future for California. The March for California’s Future began in Bakersfield on March 5, highlighting the need for quality public education and services, an effective and efficient state government and the return of fair and equitable taxes to California.
4/20/10
Big Crowds in L.A. and San Francisco Back Locked Out Rio Tinto Miners
by Mike Hall
More than 1,000 union and community activists, joined by about 200 locked-out miners and their families, marched outside the British consulate in Los Angeles on Friday to protest British-owned Rio Tinto’s two and half-month lock out of 600 miners at its Boron, Calif., borax mine. The march and rally was one of several in the United States and Canada to support the members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 30, who have been locked out since Jan. 31.
4/19/10
California Service Workers Air the Dirty Truth about Service Company Giant Sodexo
by Rachele Huennekens
Sodexo -- the 22nd largest employer in the world -- made more than $1 billion in profit in 2009. Yet the company pays workers in the United States as little as $7.50 an hour, and two-thirds of Sodexo’s workers are not covered by the company's health insurance policies. Addiitonally, Sodexo workers in California commonly face health and safety problems, inadequate staffing levels, and lack of training and proper equipment. As a result of these appalling standards, over-burdened city and state budgets must bear the costs for healthcare and assistance for Sodexo workers.
4/16/10
President Obama and Labor Secretary Solis Launch Campaign to Stop Wage Theft
by Dick Meister
Hundreds of thousands of workers are being cheated by U.S. employers who blatantly violate the laws that are supposed to guarantee workers decent wages, hours and working conditions.
That's been going on for a long time, but rarely as extensively as it was during the administration of George W. Bush. Thankfully, Bush is gone. And thankfully, President Obama and his outstanding Secretary of Labor, Hilda Solis, have this month launched a major campaign to try to overcome the very serious damage of the past.
4/14/10
Jerry Brown for Governor: The Right Choice to Renew California’s Promise
by Art Pulaski
In this election, working people don’t have a choice. We have an imperative.
Jerry Brown has spent a lifetime fighting for working families. Meg Whitman, on the other hand, has spent her adult life as one of the corporate elite, advancing Wall Street’s disastrous agenda. Whitman’s plan to corporatize our economy would lead to more devastating cuts to education, health care and the safety net. She’d cut tens of thousands of jobs, making an already severe recession much worse. She’d strip workers of important protections like meal breaks and overtime pay.
4/13/10
Republican “Job Creation” Plan Looks More Like a Big Business Wish List
by Caitlin Vega
With our unemployment rate at the highest rate since the Great Depression, it’s no wonder that politicians are talking about jobs 24/7. But who is serious about putting Californians back to work, and who is just paying lip service? The Governor and legislative Republicans say jobs are the top priority, but a quick look at their policy proposals reveals just the opposite.