When G-20 government leaders met in London last April, thousands of trade unionists marched in protest. Labor organizations from over 100 countries – including the AFL-CIO – issued a “London Declaration” that criticized the G-20’s policies for favoring multinational corporations and banks, and demanded new economic priorities that “put people first.”
Unions are the strongest and most consistent voices for working people. Pittsburgh union members need to take a prominent place in the peaceful protests and educational events planned when the G-20 Summit comes to Pittsburgh. Continue reading Week of Actions for Jobs, Peace and Prosperity→
Seats are available on the SOAR (Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees) bus to the Labor Day Parade in Pittsburgh. There is no charge.
The bus will leave from Maratta Road and Washington Rd. (behind the Fez) at 7:30 am on Monday September 7. Parking is available. The bus will drop people off at the staging area.
After the parade, the USW will provide a snack at the USW building and the bus will leave from the USW building around 2:30pm.
The Pittsburgh Labor Day parade is one of the largest in the USA. Join us to demonstrate for jobs, healthcare, and the rights of workers to organize.
Reno, Nevada. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the twenty-second international union to endorse HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).
On August 27th the 38th AFGE National Convention passed Resolution #4003, “Endorsing Universal Health Care H.R. 676.” The resolution was submitted by Local 2157 which represents workers at the Portland, Oregon, Veterans Administration Medical Center. AFGE represents 600,000 federal and District of Columbia workers in a wide variety of agencies, including Social Security, the Veterans Administration, and the Bureau of Prisons.
Betsy Zucker, RN, FNP, and a convention delegate from Local 2157, said after the vote: “AFGE members from around the country overwhelmingly endorsed H.R. 676, Single Payer Health Care, on August 27. Federal workers understand that Medicare-for-All will save money, provide health care to all, and start addressing health care as a human right, not a commodity to be bought and sold to the highest bidder. AFGE supports health care for people, not for profits!”
Elder Vogel is a farmer on the plateau above the valley of the Beaver and Ohio Rivers . He is also the freshman Republican State Senator representing the 47th Senatorial district encompassing much of Beaver and Lawrence Counties, including the cities of Ambridge, Aliquippa, Beaver Falls, and New Castle.
As his website says: “A citizen-legislator, Senator Vogel is a fourth-generation dairy farmer, operating the family farm in New Sewickley Township which was established in the late 1800s. For many years, Senator Vogel served as president of the Beaver-Lawrence Farm Bureau, and until his election served as a New Sewickley Township Supervisor.”
Vogel defeated Jason Petrella, a Democratic Party newcomer with no political experience. Petrella was also running with the overhang of scandal. Local Democratic leader Mike Veon and other Democrats were previously ousted for stubbornly supporting a midnight pay raise despite widespread protest and criticism.
submitted by IBEW retiree and PDA member Bob Schmetzer
Worker of Nestle Foods la Rosa and Member of SINALTRAINAL in Colombia Assasinated
With deep pain, we inform that on August 21st, 2009 at approximately 6:30pm, strangers arrived to the house and knocked on the door of Gustavo Gomez worker of Nestle Foods la Rosa SA and affiliate of Sinaltrainal in the Municipality of Dosquebras. When Gustavo Gomez opened the door, they shot him 10 times with a fire arm. He was immediately transported to the Comfamiliar clinic where hours later he passed away.
Our brother Gustavo Gomez was member of the Sinaltrainal Board of Directors of the Dosquebradas sector from 1997 until 2000. He was first cousin to Jose de Jesus Marin Vargas, worker of Nestle Foods La Rosa SA and member of Sinaltrainal who was also assasinated on November 22, 2007 in the Dosquebradas municipality.
Sadly, this crime came about in moments when Sinaltrainal has presented a sheet of petitions to the business Nestle Purina Petcare of Colombia and there are already 12 assasinations of Nestle workers, members of Sinaltrainal in Colombia.
AFL-CIO convention may feature showdown over health care
By Mark Gruenberg
16 August 2009
WASHINGTON – With one month to go before September’s national AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh, the biggest floor fight there may be over health care. And that floor fight, in turn, could affect the whole health care battle on Capitol Hill and nationally.
That’s because while the federation has supported and actively campaigned for legislation based on the principles of universality, cost controls, choosing your own doctor and a government-run alternative to the insurance companies, 552 labor bodies — from international unions down to local councils — want to go in a different direction: A government-run single-payer Medicare-like system.So if the AFL-CIO yanks its support for legislation being considered in Congress, and backed by Democratic President Barack Obama, that legislation could sink.
Many HR 676 Resolutions submitted to AFL-CIO Convention
From South Carolina to Alaska and California to Vermont over 40 labor organizations have sent in resolutions calling on the AFL-CIO Convention to endorse HR 676, single payer healthcare legislation introduced by Congressman John Conyers (D-MI).
The AFL-CIO convention will meet in Pittsburgh September 13-17th. The deadline for resolutions to be received is August 14.
On a warm breezy August Sunday afternoon over seventy-five retired steelworkers and their families enjoyed their annual picnic in Hopewell Community Park near Aliquippa, PA. The menu included corn-on-the-cob, kielbasa and kraut, roasted chicken with potatoes, salad, desert, and beverages. The event was sponsored by the Aliquippa chapter of SOAR, the Steelworkers Organization of Active Retirees.
As the empty plates were cleaned away and the buzz died down, Marion Prasjner, Chapter 20-20 Chairman, welcomed the crowd and introduced the guests. Prasjner is also a leader of the PA 4th CD Chapter of Progressive Democrats of America. He introduced Marie Malagreca, the first national chairperson of SOAR, Jean Friday National Board member of SOAR, and Mickey Bolt PA coordinator for AAM.
Jim Centner, the National SOAR director reminded people to sign up for the bus to the upcoming Labor Day parade in Pittsburgh. Denise Edwards a SOAR board member thanked the members for the enthusiastic turnout.
Tony Rainaldi, an Aliquippa Chapter SOAR member, and former District 20 Director of the USWA spoke to the gathering. In a strong 85 year old voice he lambasted the Beaver County Times for its recent attack on local union leaders. He excoriated the television media for lying about the Democratic Party, President Obama, and the fight for healthcare.
He shouted: “Don’t listen to this bullshit you hear about socialism on TV. Unionization, pension protection, healthcare – if that’s socialism then we need as much socialism as we can get. I’m a socialist. The day I graduated from high school my Dad handed me a union card to sign and took me down to the mill.” This statement drew long and loud applause.
Beaver County Blue: Voice of the 17th CD of Progressive Democrats of America 