Volume 1., Issue 238

Stop Exemptions for Corporate CEOs and Billionaires- Vote NO on Prop 32

Prop 32 is a deceptive and destructive measure that threatens our jobs, wages and retirement– while giving corporate special interests even more power and influence.

While the measure pretends to be about “reform,” the corporate special interests and anti-worker billionaires behind it secretly wrote in a whole mess of exemptions for themselves and their Wall Street cronies, as well as the Chamber of Commerce, insurance companies, Wall Street hedge funds, billionaires and SuperPACs. Their ultimate goal is to take away our ability to fight for a stronger middle class.

If Prop 32 passes and the 1% succeeds in silencing workers, they’ll immediately go after all the things we value -- like workplace health and safety rules, fair wages, overtime, health care and retirement security. Join the fight to stop Prop 32 today!

Learn more and sign up to stop Prop 32 at http://www.CaliforniaLabor.org/NoOn32 .
 

Legislature Approves Funding for Job-Creating High Speed Rail Project

Late last week, the State Senate joined the Assembly in voting in favor of releasing the voter-approved bond funds for high-speed rail, a crucial step towards breaking ground on this important project that will lead to hundreds of thousands of quality jobs, less traffic congestion and a cleaner environment.

California Labor Federation’s Art Pulaski called the vote “a boost of confidence in the spirit of California, a spirit that built everything from the Golden Gate Bridge to the dams and aqueducts that bring our cities water. For California to be a world leader again, we must invest in our future. With this vote, we’re on the right track.”

Learn more.
 

Take Action: Tell Congress to Bring Jobs Home!

As CEO at Bain Capital, Mitt Romney got rich by closing U.S. factories, laying off workers, sending jobs overseas and stashing money in offshore tax havens. The Washington Post called Romney’s company “pioneers in the practice of shipping work from the United States to overseas.” And when policies have been proposed to give taxpayers’ money to companies that offshore good American jobs, Mitt Romney has supported them.

Romney isn’t the only example of outsourcing practices our politicians can and must fix. We have lost 6 million manufacturing jobs while our trade deficits have ballooned and the largest nonfinancial companies in the United States sat on record amounts of cash.

In the coming weeks, the Senate is expected to take up the Bring Jobs Home Act, which would stop corporations from deducting their moving expenses when they export U.S. jobs to other countries. It’s a good start toward the comprehensive plan we need to keep and create good jobs at home. Take action to support on-shoring by calling your Senators today and urging them to support the Bring Jobs Home Act.

Call your senators toll-free at 888-659-9401.  
 

On 10th Anniversary of Paid Family Leave, Help Spread the Word

In 2002, California passed the first-in-the-nation Paid Family Leave law, which allows workers to take time off to bond with a new child or care for a sick loved one without losing their pay or their jobs. Ten years later, more than a million Californians have taken advantage of the program, but that’s just a fraction of the number of eligible families, many of whom simply don’t know about it.

To mark the 10th anniversary of Paid Family Leave in California, the coalition of labor and community groups that helped pass the law are launching a massive education campaign to get the word out to more families who may not be aware of this life-changing program. Do your part to spread the word by sharing these resources with your friends, family and co-workers.

Learn more and spread the word at http://www.paidfamilyleave.org  .;
 

This Week on “Labor’s Edge”

AFL-CIO’s Jackie Tortora shared a new video detailing IBEW 11’s unique mentoring program for aspiring apprentices.

Brian Leubitz of Calitics exposed why Tea Partiers love Prop 32.

The KPFA worker coalition announced the recall election of one anti-union board member.

Jackie Tortora urged action on the Bring Jobs Home Act.

LA County Federation of Labor's Maria Elena Durazo detailed the importance of spreading the word about Paid Family Leave.

Lorena Gonzalez of the San Diego-Imperial Central Labor Council shared highlights from the "Thank a Superhero Worker" action at San Diego Comic-Con.

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