Economic Report

Recession fears continue to drive down the value of the American dollar. On Tuesday, for the first time in history, the value of the Euro passed the $1.50 mark. Negative economic news coming out of the United States continues to make investors fearful of the dollar. Investors try to hold currencies that are tied to rising inflation rates, but the U.S. Federal Reserve has been cutting the US interest rates. The Euro broke a record previously set on November 23, 2007.

By Doug Cunningham

The Service Employees International Union is pouring resources into Democratic presidential primaries on behalf of Barack Obama in Texas and Ohio. SEIU has spent at least $1.4 million so far, and will spend more time and money reaching out to its members to vote for Obama. Meanwhile in Minnesota, the SEIU is endorsing Al Franken to be the Democratic Farmer Labor Party candidate for U.S. To win the Democratic nomination, Franken must be endorsed by DFL delegates at the party’s convention in June and then win a primary election in order to face incumbent Republican Senator, Norm Coleman in November.

By Doug Cunningham

The Service Employees International Union is pouring resources into Democratic presidential primaries on behalf of Barack Obama in Texas and Ohio. SEIU has spent at least $1.4 million so far, and will spend more time and money reaching out to its members to vote for Obama. Meanwhile in Minnesota, the SEIU is endorsing Al Franken to be the Democratic Farmer Labor Party candidate for U.S. To win the Democratic nomination, Franken must be endorsed by DFL delegates at the party’s convention in June and then win a primary election in order to face incumbent Republican Senator, Norm Coleman in November.

By Doug Cunningham

FMPR, a union representing 42,000 striking Puerto Rico teachers, is officially decertified. An appellate court upheld that decertification. The teachers went on strike after 30 months of bargaining proved fruitless. The Puerto Rican Secretary of Education says there will be no further contract talks under any circumstances. Puerto Rican teachers are paid more than $19,000 less than teachers in any U.S. state, despite the fact that the cost of living is generally higher in Puerto Rico than in the U.S.

By Doug Cunningham

FMPR, a union representing 42,000 striking Puerto Rico teachers, is officially decertified. An appellate court upheld that decertification. The teachers went on strike after 30 months of bargaining proved fruitless. The Puerto Rican Secretary of Education says there will be no further contract talks under any circumstances. Puerto Rican teachers are paid more than $19,000 less than teachers in any U.S. state, despite the fact that the cost of living is generally higher in Puerto Rico than in the U.S.

The United States is approaching a crisis point when it comes to public health workers. Jesse Russell reports:

A new report from the Association Schools of Pubic Health has some startling statistics about the future of the U.S. public health workforce: By the year 2020, the country will need an estimated 250,000 more public health workers. Over the ten years between 1980 and the year 2000, the workforce lost 50,000 workers, leaving fewer resources to deal with a growing population. According to the report, by the year 2012, 23 percent of the current workforce will be eligible to retire; that amounts to nearly 110,000 workers. This study by the Association lays out ways to avert a crisis in the public health sector. They suggest a increase in funding for professional education. In order to keep up, schools of public health will need to train three times as many students over 12 years as they are currently. Schools also need to encourage capacity growth to allow for a larger graduate-level student body. Also, it is suggested by the organization that the United States form a global health service that can coordinate U.S. efforts to assist in international areas of need.

The United States is approaching a crisis point when it comes to public health workers. Jesse Russell reports:

A new report from the Association Schools of Pubic Health has some startling statistics about the future of the U.S. public health workforce: By the year 2020, the country will need an estimated 250,000 more public health workers. Over the ten years between 1980 and the year 2000, the workforce lost 50,000 workers, leaving fewer resources to deal with a growing population. According to the report, by the year 2012, 23 percent of the current workforce will be eligible to retire; that amounts to nearly 110,000 workers. This study by the Association lays out ways to avert a crisis in the public health sector. They suggest a increase in funding for professional education. In order to keep up, schools of public health will need to train three times as many students over 12 years as they are currently. Schools also need to encourage capacity growth to allow for a larger graduate-level student body. Also, it is suggested by the organization that the United States form a global health service that can coordinate U.S. efforts to assist in international areas of need.

Workers won a big victory this week when the West Virginia House of Delegates passed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin one of top priorities of working families. The so-called “Worker Freedom Bill” prevents employers from forcing employees to attend meetings supporting the bosses’ political candidates or spouting anti-union rhetoric.

The bill (H.B. 4132), which passed the House with a 64–33 majority, now goes to the State Senate.

Sherry Breeden, political director for the West Virginia AFL-CIO, says: