Two Years After Quake, Haitians Have Few Jobs or a Living Wage
Elizabeth Boomer of the AFL-CIO International Affairs Department sends us this report in conjunction with the Solidarity Center.
Two years after a massive earthquake destroyed much of Haiti’s capital and surrounding towns, the Haitian people are still struggling to recover from the disaster and the entrenched poverty that it has exacerbated.
The solution, say Haitian workers, is a Haitian-driven reconstruction effort that focuses on sustainable, equitable development aimed at improving the lives of all citizens—not just a few.
Pioneer Valley Sets Up Tornado Victim Fund
AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer sends this report from the Pioneer Valley (Mass.) Central Labor Council.
Last week, hundreds, if not thousands, of our friends and neighbors suffered life-changing setbacks as a result of the tornados that devastated our region. To help ease the financial burden on these unfortunate families, the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO‘s charitable organization, the Union Community Fund, is launching a special Tornado Disaster Relief effort.
We hope you and your union will consider a generous donation to our fund our efforts to help our neighbors in this time of need. We encourage you to also please encourage your members to pass the hat and take up a collection at work.
Checks should be made out to the “Union Community Fund” and sent to:
Union Community Fund
640 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Alabama Unions Continue Tornado Relief Efforts
|
|
Terry Davis, the AFL-CIO Community Service liaison from the Central Alabama Labor Federation in Birmingham, sends us this update on how unions are continuing their outreach to help the victims last month’s series of deadly tornadoes.
The accompanying video—from the Locust Fork News Journal—highlights the work of the Central Alabama Building Trades Council and United Steelworkers Local 2122.
We had another union work day Saturday (May 21), again with an overwhelming crowd. It was at least as big as the first one probably well over 150 union folks. We were able to do debris removal in Pleasant Grove and Pratt City.
AFT provided bags with sunscreen, lip balm, bug repellant, and wipes to the participants. Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 136 has continued cooking and provided lunch for the union workers as well as donating a large amount of chicken breast and BBQ sandwiches to the Pleasant Grove Masonic lodge, which is providing meals for the community. The Masonic lodge was very appreciative. Read the rest of this entry »
UAW Donates $500,000 to Haiti Relief as Unions Continue Strong Aid Efforts
 |
||||
|
||||
Despite the impact of one of the worse recessions in U.S. history, union members continue to generously support efforts to help survivors of the devastating earthquake in Haiti. You can take action now to help the Haitian survivors by clicking on the AFL-CIO Haitian Disaster Relief site here.
The UAW yesterday announced it is donating $500,000 to the William J. Clinton Foundation to help victims of the earthquake. Says UAW President Ron Gettelfinger:
The people of Haiti desperately need food, water, medical care and hope. The women and men of the UAW stand with thousands of other organizations and ordinary citizens in their desire to help the Haitian people meet their basic human needs.
Fire Fighters Take Action on Haitian Disaster
The death toll from yesterday’s devastating earthquake in Haiti reportedly is reaching into the hundreds of thousands, and union members continue to respond to the crisis as they did in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the recent tsunamis.
Search and rescue teams from Fairfax County, Va., and Los Angeles County, Calif., made up of members of Fire Fighters (IAFF) locals 2068 and 1014, are preparing to head to Haiti to aid in the rescue efforts. Other teams are likely to follow.
You can help workers in distress by donating to the Solidarity Center’s Earthquake Relief for Haitian Workers’ Campaign. Click here to make a donation and here to learn more about how the center is working to help Haitian workers.
Nurses Issue Urgent Call for Help in Haiti
National Nurses United (NNU) issued an urgent call last night through its nationwide disaster relief network to recruit nurse volunteers to assist residents of earthquake-devastated Haiti. Thousands are feared dead after the impoverished island nation was rocked by a 7.0 earthquake and severe aftershocks yesterday.
Details are still being worked out, but nurses can sign up at the NNU website, www.nationalnursesunited.org. NNU also will provide follow-up information at www.twitter.com/nationalnurses for details and plans.
Said NNU Executive Director Rose Ann DeMoro:
We are calling on nurses throughout the U.S. to join us in this critical effort. Nurses will be fundamental to the disaster relief process, to provide immediate healing and therapeutic support to the patients and families facing the devastation from this tragic earthquake.
