Missouri-Area Adopt-A-Family Accepting Applications
Judy Parkins, AFL-CIO director of Community Services, sends us this report.
Since 1983, more than 60,000 people in northwest Missouri and western Kansas have experienced the spirit of the holidays because of the kindness and generosity of union members and community donations through the AFL-CIO Community Services Adopt-A-Family program.
The St. Joseph, Mo.-based effort is part of the AFL-CIO Community Services’ nationwide Adopt-A-Family program. In cities across the country, union members and other workers adopt families for the holidays, during strikes, layoffs and lockouts and when disaster strikes.
Warning to Lawmakers: Don’t Ignore Missouri Working Families
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AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this report.
Missouri union members, senior citizens, faith leaders and community groups have been trying for weeks and months to meet with their congressman, Republican Rep. Todd Akin, and ask him why he opposes Social Security and Medicare and his failure to support legislation that would get Missourians back to work. (See video at left which highlights just a few of Akin’s questionable comments.)
So far, he hasn’t been willing to meet with voters in his district, even though he’s been traveling far and wide to tea party meetings and fundraisers hours outside of his district. When his constituents held a town hall meeting a block from his office, he wouldn’t even contact them to decline, although he did issue a press statement saying he wouldn’t go to a “Union Hall,” calling the town hall meeting a “Rally and Protest.”
Well, Missouri activists are all over Twitter spreading the word today, with the help of Progress Missouri, Missouri ProVote and the Missouri Alliance for Retired Americans. There’s a new website, www.AskToddAkin.com, that lists some of Todd Akin’s votes and public statements on Medicare and Social Security and lets folks ask their own questions on Twitter using the #AskToddAkin hashtag.
Take part in the Twitter action with these retweets.
‘Made in Missouri’ Jobs Package Moving Through Legislature
AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this report.
In too many of our state legislatures, the start of the legislative session means the start of another round of attacks on workers. That’s been true throughout the Midwest and across the country, but the Missouri special session has the potential to be a major exception. There’s a great opportunity for elected officials, Democrats and Republicans alike, to make an investment in the kind of good jobs that are so hard to find right now.
The Missouri Senate passed the “Made in Missouri” jobs package this month with strong bipartisan support. It would be a major step toward revitalizing manufacturing in the state, putting Missourians back to work: making things, and in the process making our economy stronger.
Here’s what the jobs package will do:
‘Wheel of Cuts’ Spins in Missouri for Anti-Worker Senate Candidate
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AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this report.
When Emerson Electric Co. CEO David Farr sent a letter to his employees urging them to donate their hard-earned money for the Missouri Senate campaign of Rep. Todd Akin (R), he dangled a pretty big carrot for those ponying up $5,000 or more: an intimate dinner with their boss and his wife. He probably didn’t expect the attention his offer would generate. But on the night of the big fundraiser in the tony St. Louis suburb of Ladue, a group of activists sent a tongue-in-cheek invitation to Farr, offering to lend a helping hand to the arm-twisting:
With 2010 earnings such as yours, it is understandable why you’re so committed to putting Todd Akin in the U.S. Senate. His positions have reliably favored CEOs over the interests of middle class workers and the poor. CEOs and Wall Street bankers can sleep a little easier knowing that Todd Akin is in their corner, even if it means the vast majority of his constituents get left behind.
Many of your employees are probably busy this week getting their kids ready for back to school and may have run short of time before tonight’s Ladue fundraiser. So to help ensure that as many Emerson workers as possible are able to chip in to Todd Akin’s election war-chest, a group of volunteers will come by at lunch time to help personally collect funds for the Senate race.
St. Louis Equity Members Collect $25,000 for Flood Relief
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This is a cross-post from the Actors’ Equity website.
Stages St. Louis opened its 25th season with the smash hit “A Chorus Line” and a check for $25,000 to the Red Cross benefiting the Missouri Tornado and Flood Relief Fund. The cast presented the check to Red Cross Executive Director Cindy Erickson at its June 29 performance.
Donations were accepted after each performance by members of the company and by the box office staff. Additionally a carwash was held and hosted by the cast at the Robert G. Reim Theatre. A big thank you goes out to the company for their time and efforts as well as to the Stages audiences who, once again, demonstrated their overwhelming generosity.
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.
Midwest Floods Still Rising, Union Members Still There to Help
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AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer reminds us that residents in the Midwest are still struggling with flood waters—and union members are there to assist them.
As the waters of the Missouri River continue to rise, union members are mobilizing to help and preserve labor landmarks along the river’s bank.
Union members have rushed in to help evacuate those in need from the rising waters, including three of our brothers and sisters from Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 7400 who live in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Following an e-mail appeal from Omaha Federation of Labor Community Service liaison Marie Smith, union members showed up en masse with dollies, trucks and moving equipment to help move these families to a safer area.
And as always, the labor movement is keeping a watchful eye throughout the community on the immediate and long-term needs in case the waters spill farther into the community.
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 »
Workers Come Out Strong At End of Missouri Legislative Session
Missouri AFL-CIO President Hugh McVey and Secretary-Treasurer Herb Johnson wrap up the outcome of the state’s legislative session.
The first session of the 95th General Assembly of Missouri ended at 6 p.m., May 13. The session began with the emotional fervor of the majority Republican party proclaiming great changes they would make in the state during the upcoming legislative session.
Among those issues were those that were political in nature, bills that would produce no employment and create no economic gains for our state. Those bills were simply meant to reduce the capacity of labor unions to advocate for our members and so reduce the participation of working people in the political process in our state. Read the rest of this entry »
Mo. Paycheck Deception Bill Is Latest Attack on Workers
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Missouri workers are mobilizing to stop the latest anti-union state legislation. Last week, the state Senate passed S.B. 202, which is an attack on the ability of teachers, firefighters, nurses and other public employees to have a voice on the job and in government and state politics.
This paycheck deception legislation is one of many attacks filed on workers this session. If you live in Missouri, call 1-888-907-9711 and tell your state representative that you strongly oppose S.B. 202 or click here to look up your elected officials and send her or him an e-mail.
“We are here to let these people know what is really going on,” Missouri State Workers’ Union-CWA Local 6355 President Bradley Harmon told workers at a rally late last month.
