Category Archives: Economy
County Residents Give Congressman Altmire and Transport Officials An Earful
Photo: Jason Altmire, (D-4th-PA) at labor meeting
Residents Speak Up
at ‘Town Hall’ Forum
on Transportation
and Job Issues
By Carl Davidson
Beaver County Blue
Congressman Jason Altmire got an earful at the Feb. 17 “Town Meeting’ on transportation issues held at Beaver County Community College, with some voices straying beyond the official agenda. But then, that’s what the representative from PA’s 4th CD called for when he launched sessions around the district inviting public participation.
The topic was Pennsylvania’s roads, bridges and traffic patterns, and how to keep the state, district and county from being shortchanged on all fronts. But it widened to include environmental protection, youth unemployment, racism in hiring, high-speed rail, rebuilding lock and dams, and general praise for President Barack Obama’s stimulus package. Continue reading County Residents Give Congressman Altmire and Transport Officials An Earful
5000 Steelworkers Deliver a Message to GOP Stimulus Blockers and Cutters
Steelworkers Jobs
March Draws Thousands
in Granite City, IL
By Scott Cousins
St Louis Suburban Journals
Feb. 10, 2009 – A line of more than 5,500 laid-off steelworkers from Granite City, auto workers from Decatur and Fenton, Mo., and their supporters stretched out for more than eight blocks along a mile-long route as part of a “Put America Back To Work” march Tuesday morning in Granite City.
The march, sponsored by local and state labor unions and several community groups, was held to support passage of a federal stimulus bill, including a “buy American” provision.
Both city and union officials said slightly more than 5,500 people participated. Continue reading 5000 Steelworkers Deliver a Message to GOP Stimulus Blockers and Cutters
Green Jobs 2009: Steelworkers Meet Hip-Hoppers and Tree-Huggers
Photo: AFLCIO’s Richard Trumka at Green Jobs 2009
Blue-Green Insurgency
Gets Fired Up at the
DC Green Jobs Conference
By Carl Davidson
Beaver County Blue
When you walk into a large and stately Washington, DC hotel lobby and find it teeming with thousands of smiling, buzzing people-half in labor union jackets and ball caps, the other half dressed in 30-something hip-hop causal-you know some special is happening.
This was the lively, energized scene for three cold wintry days this Feb 4-6 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel, as nearly 3000 activists and organizers gathered for the “Good Jobs, Green Jobs” National Conference. The gathering was convened by more than 100 organizations, representing every major trade union and every major environmental group in the country, among others. Continue reading Green Jobs 2009: Steelworkers Meet Hip-Hoppers and Tree-Huggers
Beaver County’s Recovery in the 1930s
Photo: Lodge at Raccoon Creek State Park Today. The park was built in the 1930s by CCC teams of unemployed young workers, like the Western PA CCC camp above.
Impact of 1930s
WPA and CCC
Still Seen Locally
By Bob Bauder
Beaver County Times
Feb.1, 2009 – President Barack Obama’s plan for putting Americans to work by rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure is an old idea, dating back to the Great Depression and President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s New Deal.
Among the alphabet soup of agencies created during the New Deal, the Works Progress Administration stands out as one of the most successful.
From 1935 to 1943, the WPA spent about $10.5 billion (about $159 billion in 2008 dollars) and employed about 8.5 million Americans who would have otherwise been on relief rolls. Continue reading Beaver County’s Recovery in the 1930s
First Victory for Aliquippa Hospital Workers!
Photo: Protest at CMC in Aliquippa During Sit-In
Bridge Finance
Backs Down,
Agree To Pay
SEIU Press Release
Jan 27, 2008
In a victory for laid-off employees of Commonwealth Medical Center (formerly Aliquippa Hospital) who have been fighting for unpaid wages, the Medical Center and its chief lender, Bridge Finance Group, agreed to pay part of the wages owed immediately and to work toward full payment within three weeks.
The agreement reached on Tuesday provides that the former employees will receive a portion of the wages owed by 12:00 Noon on Wednesday, January 28, with a commitment to ensuring full compensation in the next few weeks.
“This is a tremendous first step, and we are going to keep fighting to make sure everyone is paid in full for our work on behalf of patients and our community,” said Kathie Marino, RN and former Commonwealth employee. “Amidst this economic crisis, working people need to stick together so our voices are heard.”
Continue reading First Victory for Aliquippa Hospital Workers!
ABC News Video From Chicago Occupied Factory
Photo: Carl Rosen, UE Leader in Chicago, at Support Rally
Obama, Jesse Jackson, local Members of Congress back Chicago UE Workers
Click here to watch:
http://tinyurl.com/57bdpq
“Change comes from the bottom up.” Barack Obama
We Are Responsible for Br
inging Change
by Randy Shannon
PA 4th CD Chapter, Progressive Democrats of America
While the media speculates on President-Elect Obama’s cabinet picks, much of the electorate that put him in office is anticipating decisive action from the government to address the nation’s woes. Progressive Democrats need to focus on how to help bring about the change that the Obama campaign promised. Progressive Democrats of America should adopt a program of concrete steps needed in the first hundred days of the Obama administration to lay the basis for an economic recovery.
Now is the time for mass petitions for single payer healthcare, employee free choice, a peaceful foreign policy, rebuilding the infrastructure, and full funding for college education. It’s important to correlate the tactics of mass action to the stance of the ruling political coalition. It is now time, not to call for mass protest, but mass petition of our newly elected government. Not criticism, but appeals.
500,000 people in Washington DC this coming spring break petitioning Congress for single payer healthcare, employee free choice, full funding for college education, and rebuilding, for example, the crumbling locks and dams on the Ohio River will get the nation moving in the right direction.
Continue reading “Change comes from the bottom up.” Barack Obama
Bailout America with Medicare for All
Single Payer Health Care
and the Auto Industry
By Bruce Dixon
Black Agenda Report Managing Editor
November 22, 2008 – No presidential administration keeps its promises without relentless pressure from below. It’s never happened before, and there’s no reason to expect any different. The popular demand for jobs, peace and justice are the concrete “change” Democratic voters believe in, and what swept Obama and his party to power. The self-made crisis of the US auto industry is the perfect opportunity to make good on two of those promises. It’s not just the first test of whether an Obama administration intends to serve its voters or its wealthy corporate campaign contributors. It’s the first test of whether Obama’s popular base can or will hold the new president and his party accountable for producing the “change” they promised.
Continue reading Bailout America with Medicare for All
4th CD Task: Get Congressman Altmire to Cosponsor HR 676
Win-Win Plan:
Single-Payer
Health Care is
Better and Cheaper
This coming year, our 4th C.D. Chapter of PDA plans to participate in the national Win-Win campaign sponsored by Healthcare NOW, the national coalition backing HR676.
Join us in this new campaign to win endorsements of HR 676 – Medicare for All by local governments – counties, boroughs, townships, and school boards. In a time of fiscal crisis for local governments, saving over 50% of healthcare outlays and getting more healthcare in return is a win-win outcome for taxpayers, employees, and employers.
The employer payroll tax for health coverage under HR676 is considerably less than current local government outlays for health insurance. This is due to the $30 billion savings from eliminating private insurance companies from healthcare. HR 676 means big savings for taxpayers. Also, private and public employees will see an end to co-pays, premiums, and deductibles. And it means expanded healthcare coverage for everyone. See the Charts below:
Continue reading 4th CD Task: Get Congressman Altmire to Cosponsor HR 676
Beaver County Blue: Voice of the 17th CD of Progressive Democrats of America 