By Doug Cunningham
The United Mine Workers of America has endorsed Barack Obama for president. The UMWA had originally supported John Edwards in the Democratic presidential primary.
In a statement announcing the endorsement UMWA President Cecil Roberts said, “We are extremely proud to make this endorsement today. Sen. Obama shares the values of UMWA members and our families. He understands and will fight for the needs our members have today and the hopes our members have for a secure future for themselves and their families.”
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Last week, Indian hunger strikers and supporters protested outside the Indian Embassy in Washington, D.C. |
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This morning, Christopher Glory, in the eighth day of a water-only hunger strike to demand the U.S. government put an end to the abuses in a visa program that workers’ rights advocates liken to human trafficking, was rushed to a Washington, D.C., hospital for strike-related health problems.
A spokesman for the New Orleans Workers’ Center for Racial Justice (NOWCRJ) says that Glory’s condition was improving and he could be released soon.
Several hours later, his four fellow hunger strikers and about 100 other Indian welders and pipe fitters who were lured to the United States with promises of good-paying jobs in Gulf Coast shipyards and permanent residence status, went to Capitol Hill to urge Congress to halt moves to expand the H-2B guest worker program.
John McCain showed up in Miami yesterday for a speech, and southern Florida workers came out to challenge him to address the issues that matter to working families.
The McCain event attracted 35 union members, who asked the Republican presidential candidate for answers on health care, Social Security and trade.
Unfortunately, just like the last time McCain had a chance to talk to Florida union members, he ignored them—and their real concerns. McCain claimed people think the country is on the wrong track because the Colombia Free Trade Agreement didn’t pass.
Economic Report:
Generation Y” may soon be wondering “why us?” as a new study shows that their generation will likely be the first to not surpass the living standards of their parents. According to the Center for American Progress growing debt, costs of education, declining real wages, lack of health care and expensive home ownership are all leaving recent college grads with a feeling of uncertainty. The study found that the top fie areas for job growth are retail, customer service, food prep, office clerks, and registered nurses.
Pilots for US Airways are voicing concerns about a planned merger with United Airlines. Jesse Russell reports:
US Airline Pilots Association President Stephen Bradford issued a statement last week expressing concern over a propsed merger between US Airways and United Airlines. In the statement Bradford said “With mounting losses, and a simal balance sheet, United Airlines may not be the best dance partner for US Airways.” The pilots on the US Airways side aren’t alone in their disagreement over the merger plan. The unions representing flight attendants, mechanics, and service workers have all expressed that their memberships are concerned. For example, the International Association of Machinists have suggested that airline regulation and not consolidation would be a better course to chart.
By Doug Cunningham
UAW workers in Detroit are voting today (Thursday) on whether to accept a tentative agreement that slashes wages and end the nearly three-month old American Axle strike. It’s the largest UAW American Axle local with 2,000 members. Three New York American Axle plants and a Three Rivers, Michigan palnt have voted to accept the deal. The agreement includes buy-outs, early retirement incentives and “buy-downs” all designed to compensate workers for accepting big pay cuts.
By Doug Cunningham
Hundreds of janitors are on strike in California’s Silicon Valley for decent wages and good health care. Gina Bowers, with SEIU United Service Workers West, says the strike is spreading today as the workers march to gather more community support.
[Bowers]: “This strike is about decent wages that we can raise our families on and about access to health care for ourselves and the entire community.”
On Wednesday, a striker was hit by a car on the Yahoo picket line.
[Bowers 2]: “A janitor was struck by a car that was entering into Yahoo, in the corporate headquarters. Somebody drove aggressively directly at the picket line. One of the janitors was taken to the Stanford Hospital, and we’re having an outpouring of support right now from elected leaders and community leaders calling on Yahoo to end the strike and to do the right thing for these janitors.”
By Doug Cunningham
Hundreds of janitors are on strike in California’s silicon valley for decent wages and good health care. Gina Bowers with SEIU United Service Workers West says the strike is spreading today as the workers march to gather more community support.
[Bowers]: “This strike is about decent wages that we can raise our families on and about access to health care for ourselves and the entire community.”
On Wednesday a striker was hit by a car on the Yahoo picket line.
[Bowers 2]: “A janitor was struck by a car that was entering into Yahoo, in the corporate headquarters. Somebody drove aggressively directly at the picket line. One of the janitors was taken to the Stanford hospital, and we’re having an outpouring of support right now from elected leaders and community leaders calling on Yahoo to end the strike and to do the right thing for these janitors.”
The Mine Workers (UMWA) union has endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for president.
The National Council of the Coal Miners’ Political Action Committee of the 105,000-member union voted unanimously today to back Obama and mobilize its members in support of his campaign.
UMWA President Cecil Roberts said Obama will fight for issues important to miners and all working families, such as health care, Social Security and safety on the job.
We are extremely proud to make this endorsement today. Sen. Obama shares the values of UMWA members and our families. He understands and will fight for the needs our members have today and the hopes our members have for a secure future for themselves and their families. Most of all, Sen. Obama will implement the clear change in direction UMWA members—indeed, all American working people—must have if they are to once again move forward and have a true opportunity to realize the American dream. After eight years of being pushed aside by an administration, which neither respects nor values the contributions American working families make to our society, we are looking forward with great anticipation to a new era in our nation starting with the inauguration of President Barack Obama on January 20, 2009.
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