Labor Union Blog

Life expectancy in the United States has dropped for in the United States for women. For 12 percent of the women in the US life expectancy is now shorter than then 1980s with the majority of the drop coming in the Deep South and the Lower Midwest. The drop is most prevalent in low-income and rural areas and the main culprits, suggested by the study, are poor diets, lack of exercise and smoking.

Robert Pearlman, CEO of the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation, says AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades unions provide millions of dollars in critical support for diabetes research.

[Pearlman]: “They've donated over $40 million through the years."

Pearlman recently met with union political lobbyists to try to deal with cuts in government funding for diabetes research.

[Pearlman 2]: "To see if we could help forestall the cuts of some of that funding."

Security guards for MGM Mirage in Las Vegas are seeking union representation and the company is fighting back. Jesse Russell reports:

The last time security guards at Nevada’s largest casino company sought union representation was 13 years ago. That attempt was defeated when the company offered guards many of the items they would have sought when organized. Now the guards are seeking representation from the International union of Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America alleging unsafe staffing levels, low pay, and inadequate training. The union has filed unfair labor practice charges against MGM Mirage saying that the company is offering benefits and promotions to guards that vote against the union.

By Doug Cunningham

The AFL-CIO and six Guatemalan unions are filing a first of its kind complaint alleging violations of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Filed with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Trade and Labor Affairs, the complaint details five specific cases were the Guatemalan government has failed to protect workers labor rights. The AFL-CIO says violence against union activists, including murder and rape, have actually escalated since the Central American Free Trade Agreement was implemented.

By Doug Cunningham

American Axle’s corporate annual meeting is underway today as UAW strikers threatened with plant closures continue to walk the picket lines. GM is curtailing production at two more plants because it can’t get parts from American Axle. Roughly 48,000 GM workers have been affected by the strike. American Axle is trying to slash wages in half and abolish future retiree pensions and health care benefits. UAW Striker Chris Workman says this is a fight for good American jobs

[Workman]: "We are losing jobs at a fast rate and if we don't stop this country is going to go into a recession - and a continued recession - because the jobs are not going to be here to keep buying the products anymore.

One day after Equal Pay Day, a minority of primarily Republican senators once again made it harder for women workers to overcome pay discrimination.

The Senate failed to cut off debate on the Fair Pay Restoration Act (S. 1843) and bring the bill to the floor for a vote. The 56-42 margin fell four votes short of the 60 needed to end debate and vote on the bill. The House passed the legislation in July 2007. President Bush has threatened to veto the bill if passed by the Senate.