Mark Gruenberg —
May 11, 2012— Press Associates Union News Service
Progressive groups and individuals, including labor, Latinos, African-Americans, women and students must unite in a years-long campaign to restore and reclaim workers rights and democracy itself, CWA President Larry Cohen told the Women’s National Democratic Club in a wide-ranging speech May 10. Photo: Cohen at a May 1 event.
CWA and other major labor unions are standing with President Obama to support marriage equality, "a great development," Quinnell writes. "One, it's a clear statement from unions that they recognize that LGBT families are working families, too. Two, it gives Obama strong public support on an issue that he is certain to be attacked on. Third, it is a good way to attract new people to the labor movement who might have otherwise not paid much attention to unions because they had other issues that were more important to them. If it is clear that unions support LGBT families -- which it is -- there is more reason for people to move out of issue silos, recognizing that they have allies they can work together with to improve everybody's situation."
Saying he admired the AFL-CIO building as one of the most beautiful in D.C., Fox Business correspondent John Stossel showed up there unexpectedly last week, and has turned up at other union offices allegedly to film their "beautiful buildings." "We weren't buying it," the AFL-CIO says, well aware of Stossel's union-bashing reports.
Hundreds of CWA members and allies descended on Verizon's annual shareholders meeting on Thursday, protesting the company's excessive corporate greed and war against the middle class. In cities nationwide, members rallied in support.
Photos: Top, the Guild's Jay West marches with members and allies in Washington; marching in Huntsville.
The AFL-CIO's annual "Death on the Job" report shows that 13 workers died each day, on average, in 2010, the latest statistics available. The total number 4,690 workers is higher than in 2009 (4,551 workers), making it the first year in a decade that the workplace death toll has gone up. The report includes state-by-state profiles of worker safety and health data, and information on workplace inspections, penalties, funding and other OSHA stats.
In a fight that CWA President Larry Cohen says is "taking on monumental proportions," CWA members and allies will rally across the country Thursday in support of a fair contract at Verizon. The demonstrations coincide with Verizon's annual shareholder meeting, being held in Huntsville, Ala. Hundreds of activists, including students and retirees, are taking buses overnight from Florida to lend their voice to the fight. Photo: New York CIty rally, 2012.
A new publication by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research and the Berger-Marks Foundation provides hands-on advice and concrete tools for unions and other organizations to develop and implement mentoring programs for members and staff.
A federal appeals court on Tuesday temporarily blocked the National Labor Relations Board from making millions of businesses put up posters informing workers of their right to form a union.
In a "War on Workers" segment on Ed Schultz's MSNBC show Monday night, CWA President Larry Cohen responded to Rep. Darrell Issa's outrageous new website demonizing unions and attempting to eliminate the voice of workers in politics. Cohen said workers are fed up with the destruction of their rights, and are taking action: This week, 100,000 workers are taking part in "The 99 Percent Spring Training" to learn how to make their voices heard and their votes count through progressive, collective action. Read more about it, and find activities in your area, here.
On March 22, CWA and IBEW workers and thousands of others will be rallying around the country to support good jobs and the U.S. Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act. Use the link to find events in your area.
