|
Spotlight NewsletterApril 13, 2012 |
Volume 1., Issue 227
California Labor Announces Endorsements for June Primary
Hundreds of representatives from unions across the state gathered in Los Angeles this week to vote on California Labor’s endorsements for California state Senate and Assembly, U.S. Congress and statewide ballot measures.
“In a time of unprecedented challenges facing working people, this year’s elections are pivotal to the direction of our state,” said California Labor Federation Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski. “The core of our election program is the dedication and commitment of thousands of volunteers reaching millions of voters with vital information about candidates’ positions and measures impacting workers. In an era of Citizens United, labor’s grassroots program is more critical than ever to counterbalance the unlimited political spending and power of well-heeled corporate interests.”
View the complete list of endorsements.
Learn more about Labor’s endorsement process.
Tell Your Legislators: Stand Up for High-Speed Rail
The California high-speed rail project will transform the way Californian's travel and connect to their cities, while enhancing the economic competitiveness of the state, But opponents of high-speed rail in California are trying to get the state legislature to cancel or postpone the project.
Take action by sending a message to your representatives, letting them know you support high-speed rail in California for the sake of the state's future economic competitiveness and growing travel needs.
Port Drivers Claim Victory in Historic Union Vote
It’s been a year since a brave group of port drivers decided to form a union to defend themselves from the rampant exploitation, poverty wages and third-world working conditions imposed on them by their employer, Toll Group. Despite enduring a year of harassment, vitriol and retaliatory firings from the billion-dollar company, the workers voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters this week.
The victory is being hailed by local and international supply chain workers, labor and community allies as a trailblazing private sector win in an industry notorious for treating workers as disposable. This ground-breaking achievement is inspiring truck drivers across the country that they too can band together to combat exploitation through union representation.
Learn more and send a congratulatory message to the workers.
Saturday: Rally with Golden Gate Bridge Workers at Giants Game
The hard-working men and women who dedicate their lives to operating and maintaining the Golden Gate Bridge and its buses & ferries are under attack. The Bridge District is pushing for major cuts to healthcare and retirement security, punishing union workers while rewarding non-union workers.
This weekend is the San Francisco Giants season opener, and thousands will be flooding AT&T Park via the Golden Gate Bridge and its buses and ferries. On Saturday, join the Golden Gate Labor Coalition for march and rally at the Giants game- meet at 4pm at Henry Bridges Plaza (across from the Ferry Building); the march to AT&T Park will begin at 430pm.
Tell The 1% to Pair Their Fair Share on Tax Day
Tax Day is right around the corner, and while the rest of us are paying our fair share, the super-rich and big corporations are paying little to no taxes at all – and many are actually getting refunds!
Next week, thousands of progressives from coast to coast will be calling for tax fairness through hundreds of rallies, marches and actions around the country.
Sign the Petition: No Back Room Deals for the 1% in Trans-Pacific Trade Negotiations
The Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement is likely to impact jobs, wages, agriculture, migration, the environment, access to medicine, consumer safety, banking regulations, indigenous rights, Internet freedom, government procurement and more. A pact this far-reaching should be negotiated in the most transparent and participatory manner possible.
But the vast majority of Americans have been barred by the U.S. Trade Representative from reviewing its proposals for the massive new Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement. Meanwhile, approximately 600 corporate lobbyists have regular access to the negotiating texts as so-called "cleared advisors." Help put an end to this type of back room dealmaking by sending a message today, demanding that negotiators release the texts.
This Week on “Labor’s Edge”
AFL-CIO’s Mike Hall publicized the 99% Spring trainings and actions.
David Cameron of the Teamsters Rail Conference announced the new “Stand Up for Trains” website and campaign.
Randy Commack of Teamsters Joint Council 42 celebrated the big organizing victory at Toll Group.
We detailed the democratic process unions and workers engage in when determining labor’s election endorsements.