A huge construction crane on an Upper East Side high-rise condominium tower in New York City collapsed this morning, killing the crane operator and a worker on the ground, and seriously injuring another worker.
The collapse is the third deadly crane incident in recent months. On March 15, a 300-foot construction crane collapsed—also in Manhattan—and killed six construction workers and an out-of-town visitor. On March 25 in Miami, a 20-foot section of a construction crane tumbled 30 stories to the ground, killing two workers and injuring five others.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that between 64 and 82 construction workers are killed and 263 are injured working around cranes and derricks each year. But OSHA has failed to issue a crane and derrick safety standard, despite the urging of both industry and unions.
Frank Snyder, state director of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, reports on the Pennsylvania union movement’s restructuring efforts.
Just more than two years ago, over the course of nine months, the Pennsylvania labor movement restructured and created organizations called area labor federations to better mobilize, strengthen and organize union members. Through the labor councils, the area labor federations were designed to support affiliate organizing and contract, legislative and electoral campaigns. This week, the Pennsylvania New Alliance Coordinating Committee met to discuss the progress of the relatively new structure and to plan strategies to ensure that the area labor federations can become even more effective tools of mobilization.
Frank Snyder, state director of the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, reports on the Pennsylvania union movement’s restructuring efforts.
Just more than two years ago, over the course of nine months, the Pennsylvania labor movement restructured and created organizations called area labor federations to better mobilize, strengthen and organize union members. Through the labor councils, the area labor federations were designed to support affiliate organizing and contract, legislative and electoral campaigns. This week, the Pennsylvania New Alliance Coordinating Committee met to discuss the progress of the relatively new structure and to plan strategies to ensure that the area labor federations can become even more effective tools of mobilization.
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While the real John McCain was holding a fundraiser with wealthy supporters, this ‘John McCain’ joined union members at a rally. |
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Sen. John McCain came to Milwaukee yesterday, and Wisconsin union members were there to greet him and get out the message about McCain’s record and his plans for our country.
Despite pouring rain, more than 100 people attended the rally, including some in costume, dressed as McCain, Bush and their millionaire allies.
McCain himself didn’t come out to meet the workers—he was attending a $10,000-a-person fundraiser, instead.
Union members held “Turn Around America” signs and kept the focus on the core economic issues that will be critical in this battleground state.
Greg Hinds, a member of the United Steelworkers (USW), said McCain needed to pay attention to the effects of trade agreements on jobs.
Through the years, the costs of our plant have not been able to stay competitive with international firms. We talk about free trade and fair trade, but what we need is something like a balanced trade.
Sen. John McCain has worked to craft a media image as an unconventional, straight-talking maverick as he runs for the presidency. But where does he really stand on the issues that matter to working families?
You can find out at our updated McCain Revealed site. We’ve researched McCain’s record and his plans for the country to find out what a McCain presidency would mean for working families. The new and improved online briefing book includes the latest information on McCain’s stances on the important issues in 2008: the economy, health care, trade, jobs, retirement security, workers’ rights and the Bush agenda.
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| If you’re in Washington, D.C., stop by to meet Cliff Schecter, who’ll discuss his new book at the AFL-CIO from 6-8 p.m. Free beer and wine reception follows. |
When John McCain showed up to campaign recently in Seattle and Bellevue, Wash., union members were there to ask him about his role in awarding a major military contract to a foreign company. Word has it, he encouraged the U.S. Department of Defense in February to give a $40 billion-to-$100 billion contract for the construction of Air Force refueling tankers to Northrop Grumman and to the European firm EADS, which makes the Airbus, rather than U.S.-based Boeing.
In Cleveland, as McCain met with wealthy corporate donors at a high-priced reception at the Intercontinental hotel, workers and their families gathered outside to ask for real solutions to the problems they face. They carried hundreds of giant, signed “band-aids” from their fellow workers, a symbol of the need for real solutions to America’s health care crisis.
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