Labor Union Blog

Economic Report

Declining incomes are one of the biggest reasons 25-34 year old males aren’t surpassing the living standards of older generations. Earnings for young men with only high school diplomas fell by 29 percent. With wages falling credit debt is rising. Twenty five cents of every dollar for the younger age group goes to pay debt, double what baby boomers spent in 1989.

Connecticut casinos may be getting bigger, but that doesn’t mean jobs are on the rise. Jesse Russell reports.

The Foxwoods Resort Casino lifted the veil on the brand new 30-story MGM Grand casino last week while the nearby Mohegan Sun broke ground on a 39-story hotel and music hall. The massive expansions come as Americans are tightening their wallets in the face of a souring economy and as the two tribal run casinos make plans to cut jobs. Mohegan Sun recently announced plans to cut 600 jobs while the Pequots are seeking voluntary lay offs within the tribal government. Foxwoods is also currently embroiled in a labor battle with the United Auto Workers. Six months ago the union was approved to represent Foxwoods dealers in contract negotiations. During the MGM Grand opening ceremonies hundreds of workers and supporters rallied outside demanding the tribe recognize the union.

By Doug Cunningham

Hunger striking Indian workers victimized by human labor trafficking allegedly committed by Signal International on the Gulf Coast took their quest to bring Signal to justice to Capitol Hill Wednesday. Several of the hunger striking workers have been hospitalized. Before escaping and reporting the abuse, the workers they say they were enslaved at Signal labor camps under the H2B worker visa program, which Congress is considering expanding. Stephen Boykewich is with the New Orleans Workers Center For Racial Justice.

[Boykewich]: “What we need and what their main message is, is a just, fair immigration system and set of labor standards that give American workers the jobs they deserve. And when immigrant labor is necessary, it ought to happen justly, humanely, with fair wages.”

The more than 200,000 workers a month who run out of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits before finding new jobs may get a helping hand. Today, the U.S. Senate, by a surprising 75-22 veto-proof vote, approved a measure to extend UI benefits for the long-term jobless.

The vote was on an amendment to a supplemental spending bill to fund the war in Iraq. President Bush has repeatedly said he would veto the bill if it includes a UI extension.

Said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney before the vote:

Extending unemployment benefits is the right thing and the responsible thing to do, and now is the time. Working families are footing the bill for the war. The least Congress can do is give them the help they need in these tough times.

Faced with a “filibuster-by-amendment” from a group of anti-worker Republicans, Senate Democratic leaders have delayed a final vote on legislation that would protect the collective bargaining rights of tens of thousands of firefighters, police officers, emergency medical technicians and other public safety officers.

More than 20 states do not fully protect the bargaining rights of firefighters and other first responders. Two states—Virginia and North Carolina—prohibit public safety employees from collectively bargaining.

Employees at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) are seeking a voice on the job through a historic coordinated effort by two unions—AFSCME and UAW.

Kelly Hinton, an eight-year financial support specialist, says:

This is great news for all UNH employees. We feel that the two unions working together will be a good fit for the University alongside of the faculty union. Working together with AFSCME and the UAW means we are united and stronger.