Archive for November 10th, 2008
Elections Give Big Boost to Trade Reform
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Working people delivered a clear and decisive message in the Nov. 4 election: We want our political leaders to overhaul the nation’s failed trade policies and put creating good jobs at the center of a new coherent global economic strategy.
Not only did voters elect a new president who favors trade reform, but workers across the country sent dozens of new members to Congress who vowed to replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) model of free trade.
Says United Steelworkers (USW) President Leo Gerard:
An overwhelming majority of the public understands that unregulated global trade, combined with unregulated financial and employment markets, has created an economic catastrophe for workers. Our members are committed to working with fair trade leaders in the House and Senate to fight to put workers first in a new trade regime.
Working Families Cast Votes for Health Care Reform
A post-election poll by Lake Research partners found that 74 percent of voters said health care was extremely or very important in deciding for whom to cast their vote as president. Reducing the cost of health care beat out other issues such as gas and food prices, jobs, retirement security and other financial concerns.
By a margin of 24 points—55 percent to 31 percent—voters said President-elect Barack Obama is better able to handle the nation’s health crisis than Sen. John McCain. When they cast their ballots, 60 percent of voters who said they were worried about health care chose Obama, with 38 percent going for McCain.
Voters Reject Corporate Lies About Employee Free Choice
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Voters last Tuesday soundly rejected the misleading anti-union corporate campaign opposing the Employee Free Choice Act and overwhelmingly backed candidates who support working families.
A poll by Peter D. Hart Research Associates commissioned by the workers’ rights advocacy group American Rights at Work shows that anti-union advertising was among the least important factors in determining voters’ choices for U.S. Senate and that they continue to support making it easier for workers to join unions.
Says American Rights at Work Chair David Bonior:
No matter how hard corporate interests tried to mislead voters, it just didn’t work. State by state, millions were spent, but the fact remains, the Employee Free Choice Act never became the wedge issue corporate interests sought.
New Congress: A Mandate for Economic Change
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Last Tuesday, it wasn’t just President-elect Barack Obama who won a historic victory. The 111th Congress that will take office in January will have a stronger pro-worker majority and a mandate to make the economy work again for everyone.
Working families added U.S. House and Senate seats in every region of the nation, from Florida to Oregon and from New Hampshire to New Mexico. As of the latest totals, it looks like working families have added more than 20 new House members and six new senators. A party hasn’t picked up so many new seats in the House and Senate for two consecutive election cycles since the 1950s, so Tuesday’s results, together with the change of power in Congress in 2006, are a striking sign that voters are looking for new policies and new ideas.
100,000 New York AFSCME Members Win 8 Percent Raise and More Bargaining News
Some 100,000 city employees and AFSCME members settle a contract that includes an 8 percent raise over two years—and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
SETTLEMENTS
AFSCME, New York City: New York City workers, represented by AFSCME District Council 37, have reached a deal that provides 100,000 workers a raise of more than 8 percent over two years.
