elections

USW Signs Agreement with Chinese Companies

Leave a comment

USW Signs Landmark Agreements with Leading Power Generation Companies in China August 06, 2010 | UNITED STEELWORKERS

To Advance Development of America’s Clean Energy Manufacturing Supply Chain

(Pittsburgh) — The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today it has signed agreements with A-Power Energy Generation Systems Ltd, (NASDAQ: APWR) and Shenyang Power Group (“SPG”), two of China’s leading power generation companies.  This agreement provides a strong foundation for a win-win relationship between Chinese renewable energy equipment manufacturers and U.S. workers as the USW will guide and work collaboratively on all aspects of the companies’ U.S. market strategies including manufacturing, assembly, component sourcing, distribution and wind energy project development.

“We will work with A-Power and SPG to create long-term, good-paying, green American jobs,”   said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “The USW is committed to building a strong domestic supply chain that will be key to the future of America’s global renewable energy leadership.” A-Power and SPG  anticipate purchasing over time approximately 50,000 tons of steel to be manufactured in unionized American steel mills to supply the towers for a 615MW wind farm in Texas.

“It is an honor to team up with the Steelworkers for this historic partnership that will result in hundreds of American jobs and help create a clean energy future for the U.S.” said Cappy McGarr, US-REG Managing Partner. “We look forward to working closely with the USW on further projects to help expand wind power and renewable energy in the U.S.”

Continue reading USW Signs Agreement with Chinese Companies →

elections

Altmire Blows Smoke to Hide His Plan to Steal Social Security

2 Comments
Dr. King in Birmingham Jail

Hands Off Social Security

by Randy Shannon
 
Treasurer, PA 4th CD Chapter, PDA

Cong. Jason Altmire’s office on 2110 McLean St. in Aliquippa has been the site of two vigils demanding HANDS OFF SOCIAL SECURITY. The vigils were sponsored Progressive Democrats and SOAR. The gatherings were the third Wednesday in June and  July. 

The next vigil to protest Altmire’s plan to cut social security will be held on August 18th at noon at his McLean Street office. 

In response to the June vigil Altmire sent a letter to each of us that said he “shared our concern about Social Security.” Of course our concern is Altmire’s plan to vote for the Deficit Commission’s recommendations to steal our social security taxes that are invested in US Treasury bonds. If Altmire is “concerned” with Social Security, we should be worried since  Altmire falsely implies that there is some problem with Social Security . 

There is no problem with Social Security. Social Security is solvent and has a large surplus to support the baby boomers as they retire. 

The Social Security is invested in US Treasury bonds. These bonds are the only debt of the US government that is not owed to the banks or to foreign governments. It is owed to the working people.  It is money created by work that adds value to the economy. So the banks plan to steal this money by raising premiums and raising the retirement age. 

Continue reading Altmire Blows Smoke to Hide His Plan to Steal Social Security →

elections

What Should We Do About Altmire in November?

1 Comment

YOU ARE

CORDIALLY INVITED

TO ATTEND A

Progressive Democrat’s

Breakfast Meeting

 

SATURDAY, AUGUST 7th

 9:00 AM

 

AT THE

CANDLE-LITE LOUNGE

 

CONWAY-WALLROSE ROAD

near intersection with Route 989

ECONOMY BOROUGH

 

$6.00 ADMISSION

 

———

 

TOPIC FOR DISCUSSION

 

HOW SHOULD WE HANDLE THE UPCOMING ELECTION

FOR THE 4TH CD CONGRESSIONAL SEAT?

 

SHOULD WE VOTE FOR JASON ALTMIRE?

 

JOIN US FOR AN INTERESTING POLITICAL DISCUSSION

AND A STIMULATING SOCIAL EVENT

RSVP REQUIRED

Tina Shannon 724 843 0545

antiwar, Economy, labor

April 28 to Labor Day: Jobs, Peace & Justice Caravan from Detroit Through Pittsburgh To Charleston, W VA

Leave a comment

Let’s Give Congress

Our Marching Orders

 

By JESSE JACKSON

Rainbow / PUSH

July 21, 2010 – Will the U.S. once more sacrifice economic justice at home for war abroad? Dr. King used to say that the bombs dropped over Vietnam exploded in America’s cities. The war on poverty was lost in those jungles.

And now? The war in Afghanistan is now in its eighth year. Vice President Joe Biden told “This Week” that our policy is “going to work,” but “all of this is just beginning. And we knew it was going to be a tough slog,” so “it’s much too premature to make a judgment” about how we are faring.

Just the beginning after eight years? We are spending $100 billion a year on Afghanistan, with U.S. casualties rising, and with no noticeable progress on the ground. The government that we support is noted for its corruption and ineffectiveness. Our military is trying to do nation-building in a country whose warring tribes unite only to expel outsiders.

Continue reading April 28 to Labor Day: Jobs, Peace & Justice Caravan from Detroit Through Pittsburgh To Charleston, W VA →

Economy, labor

Getting the Change We Voted For: March on DC Oct. 2 for Jobs and Justice

Leave a comment

Unions, Civil Rights Groups

Starting Big Political Push

By Mark Gruenberg

Press Associates, Inc.
The Newspaper Guild

July 16, 2010 – Traditionally, people don’t start paying attention to politics until Labor Day, but that isn’t stopping unions from starting their big political push now.

The push is taking two forms.  One is that unions are sending members out to worksites, with flyers about labor’s positions on key economic issues, such an unemployment benefits and the stimulus law, along with lawmakers’ voting records. That drive will last for at least the next two weeks and continue afterwards.

The other part of the push has been led by the Service Employees, building on a grand coalition that helped win health care reform — and again emphasizing grass-roots efforts.  They’ve been joined by the Teachers, the AFL-CIO and approximately 170 other progressive groups in a grand coalition, “One Nation Working Together,” to push a progressive agenda this fall — even when the Obama administration doesn’t.

Continue reading Getting the Change We Voted For: March on DC Oct. 2 for Jobs and Justice →

elections

Hearings Today on Marcellus Shale Drilling

Leave a comment
Hearings to spotlight safety issues at gas wells
Monday, July 26, 2010
By Don Hopey, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

As multiple investigations continue into the fatal explosion and fire that killed two workers on a shallow oil and gas well in Indiana Township last week, state and federal regulators are also considering new, stricter regulations for burgeoning Marcellus Shale deep gas drilling operations.

Two hearings are planned today, one to review emergency response procedures and another on proposed state regulations.

The state Department of Environmental Protection, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Allegheny County fire marshal and Huntley & Huntley Inc., the Monroeville company that employed the workers, are investigating the cause of the Friday morning blast and blaze at the 2-year-old well in a wooded area off Rich Hill Road.

“It’s a tragic accident, but we have to know why it happened,” said Helen Humphreys, a DEP spokeswoman. “With these different entities looking at it from different directions, perhaps such a situation can be prevented or avoided in the future.”

The powerful explosion, which occurred as subcontractor workers were performing routine maintenance, blew a 12-by-8-foot storage tank about 70 yards from the site of the well.

Continue reading Hearings Today on Marcellus Shale Drilling →

Community, labor

History of Safety Issues Preceded Deadly Explosion: Beaver County Times, Post Gazette Coverage

Leave a comment

Two Workers Killed in Explosion

at Monaca’s Horsehead Zinc Plant

Photo: Bill Wade/Post-Gazette

Tina Smith, of Monaca, places a cross outside the Horsehead Corp. plant on Thursday evening.

By Moriah Balingit

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

July 23, 2010 – An industrial accident at the Horsehead Corp. zinc plant in Beaver County Thursday afternoon claimed the lives of two men and injured at least two other workers.

Neither the company nor the Beaver County coroner’s office would release the names of the two men who died. The coroner’s office said results from autopsies would be released today.

The workers were killed in the plant’s zinc oxide refinery, a part of the plant where molten zinc is turned into zinc oxide. The incident occurred in the zinc distillation columns, three-story-high smokestack-like structures constructed of brick.

One worker who would not give his name reported hearing a large boom followed by what sounded like several small explosions.

But company spokesman Ali Alavi refused to characterize the incident as an explosion, saying the company was still in the fact-finding mode.

Workers gather at Horsehead’s Fence on Route 18

Wesley Hill, director of Beaver County Emergency Services, said two of the workers suffered minor injuries.

Continue reading History of Safety Issues Preceded Deadly Explosion: Beaver County Times, Post Gazette Coverage →