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Lots to Say |
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Medicare, health coverage, the minimum wage, paycheck deception and the labor board’s massive blow to workers’ freedom to form unions—lots to say in recent days.
Last week’s decision by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that could bar up to 8 million workers from forming unions is a “disgrace” according to Communications Workers of America (CWA) President Larry Cohen, who called on CWA members to commit 10 hours of political action to oppose candidates who support such attacks on working families. The ruling expanded the definition of “supervisory employee.” Under U.S. labor law, supervisors are prohibited from forming unions.
In Chicago, Denis Drew has the following thoughts on the decision:
The part of U.S. labor law I object to under the First Amendment is restricting anyone (e.g., supervisors) from forming labor unions.
From Richmond, Va., Jerry Gorman addresses the issue of Medicare:
I support Medicare for ALL, regardless of age or disability.
Meanwhile, Gary Roller in St. Louis points to a Los Angeles Times article that highlights how insurance companies are being sued for retroactively dumping families with high health care costs. Writes Roller:
It is sad that Americans have so many insurance problems. Here is yet another horror story, a story that is becoming all too common.
Alas, are any of the political candidates running for office even addressing the increasing disaster we Americans call health care or are they all too busy with the lobbyists at lunch?
Recently, the Supreme Court indicated it will consider the constitutionality of anti-union “paycheck deception” measures aimed at silencing workers’ voice in politics. (Paycheck deception is complicated—read more here.) Last year, the California union movement led a successful effort to defeat a paycheck deception initiative (Prop. 75) in that state backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R).
From Barstow, Calif., Lacy Gillespie notes that by singling unions, these measures propose tight controls and burdensome regulations that wouldn’t apply to corporations. Notes Gillespie:
Our argument remains to be that if labor unions are going to be held to that standard, then so should corporations. They should have to get permission from each shareholder on an annual basis to spend any portion of the companies money, assets, profits, etc., on political action and/or political contributions.
Because members of Congress have not increased the federal minimum wage since 1996—while giving themselves nine raises totaling $30,000 per year in the same period—working families have taken their fight to raise the minimum wage to the states.
Alma Glover in Morris Plains, N.J., shares her thoughts on the reasons behind the refusal of the Republican-controlled Congress to give working people a pay raise.
Yes, they have the ability to raise the minimum wage; but, they are not going to. We the people have to put so much pressure on the Republicans to make them raise the minimum wage. The Republicans are not going to raise the minimum wage by us (the poor people asking them nicely). The Republicans do not understand nice, reasonable rhetoric. We, the proletariat and the middle class, are going to have to demand that the Republicans raise the minimum wage. If the Republicans refuse to raise the minimum wage, we will have to cease work—and, really mean it. Stop asking and demand.…Remember to keep God as your guide; and, make sure you are morally right, just, and fair in your endeavors and causes. God will prevail….
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