Reclaiming Our Middle Class, State by State
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I’m at a Netroots Nation panel with some folks who have been on the front lines of state battles in Wisconsin and Missouri, along with Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). In the panel, they’re discussing their on-the-ground experiences, and how their strategies can be used by other states facing similar challenges (and, ultimately, used to build a national movement to take back the American Dream).
At the state legislative level, we’re facing one of the worst environments for workers in a generation because there are more anti-worker politicians in state offices than at any time since 1928.
According to today’s panelists, the reason for the successes we’ve had is a combination of unprecedented coalition-building on the ground and new organizing techniques, utilizing social media and other technologies. Republican overreach is a big part of the reason unions and progressives have been successful, too. As Schakowsky said, Americans are realizing they have been sold “snake oil” by Republican politicians and are suffering buyers’ remorse.
Union and Progressive Activists Join Forces at Netroots Nation
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Netroots Nation, the annual conference for online activists, is on next week, June 16-19, in Minneapolis. The union movement has a big presence there, as we seek to work more closely with our progressive allies in the netroots community. Here are some highlights:
• AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler is taking part in a June 17 lunch panel to talk about breaking down economic barriers that keep many Americans from moving ahead, especially young people, women and communities of color. She is joined by communications consultant Anat Shenker-Osorio and hip-hop artist Rha Goddess.
• Minnesota local labor and progressive activists will showcase how they created strong coalitions to elect a Democratic governor in 2010 and move key progressive priorities, including Tax the Rich legislation. ”Working Together: How Coalition Campaigns Saved the Day in Minnesota,” The panel offers a spot of sun in this ugly state legislation session and an opportunity to meet local activists.
• A group of stellar bloggers are joining on a panel, “Countering Hate Speak that Villainizes Workers and Unions,” and offer suggestions for proactive strategies to build a new understanding of unions and collective power. Panelists are Read the rest of this entry »
AFL-CIO on Colombian Labor and Human Rights
The AFL-CIO issued this statement today on the congressional benchmark document on Colombian labor and human rights.
The Colombian Labor and Human Rights document released by Reps. Jim McGovern, George Miller, Rosa DeLauro, Mike Michaud, Jan Schakowsky and Linda Sanchez is a detailed, thoughtful, and powerful document.
We thank these representatives for their tireless efforts to outline the numerous essential steps that must be taken, on the ground in Colombia, before the U.S.-Colombia trade deal should be considered by Congress. We hope that the Obama administration will insist that the Colombian government comply with all the recommendations contained in the letter, especially those that focus on ending violence and impunity and undertaking comprehensive labor law reform prior to sending the agreement to Congress.
Bill Would Ensure Very Wealthy Pay Fair Share of Taxes
Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) introduced legislation today that would add fairness to the nation’s tax system by ensuring that millionaires and billionaires pay their fair share.
Schakowsky says the Fairness in Taxation Act, with more than a dozen co-sponsors, is:
about fairness. It’s about avoiding budget cuts that harm middle-class families and those who aspire to it. We can choose to cut education, job creation and health care, or we can choose to ask those who can contribute more to do so.
Earlier this month and NBC/Wall Street Journal poll found that the most popular way to reduce the deficit, according to 81 percent of Americans, was to put a surtax on federal income taxes for those who make more than $1 million per year. Says Schakowsky:
Retirees Lobby Congress on Health Care Reform
For Betty Smith, today is the day she gets to teach a new group of students: lawmakers from her home state of Pennsylvania. A retired teacher and AFT member from Elkins Park, Pa., near Philadelphia, Smith is one of the nearly 550 retirees at the Alliance for Retired Americans‘ annual legislative conference, who traveled to Capitol Hill today to lobby their home state elected officials in advance of key votes on health care reform.
While she has retirement security because of her union contract, Smith says she knows there are millions of seniors who must choose between paying for prescription medications and buying food.
It’s not fair in this country, which is so rich, that something like this exists. It’s just wrong.
Retirees Set to Tell Lawmakers: Health Care Reform Now
For three hours before the formal opening of their annual legislative conference today, members of the Alliance for Retired Americans got down to business by taking part in workshops on health care reform and Social Security. They will be joined by speakers such as Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.).
Throughout the June 15-18 conference in Washington, D.C., delegates and many high-level officials and union leaders will discuss the best solutions to the nation’s health care crisis and develop strategies to protect and strengthen Social Security.
In her opening address, Alliance President Barbara Easterling said seniors are in a unique position to influence the debate on health care. It is important for seniors to define the health care issue for Congress and the American people, Easterling said.
