RTW Circus Continues in New Hampshire
AFL-CIO communications staffer Nora Frederickson sends us this cross-post from Blue Hampshire.
Full of tea party zeal after voting to repeal lunch hours for all employees, the House Labor Committee took up a new so-called right to work “RTW” bill today over the loud objections of union members, business owners and faith leaders.
As state House Speaker William O’Brien (R) did last fall, Labor Committee Chairman Gary Daniels invited political candidates to stump on the floor of the House in return for their endorsement of RTW. Gubernatorial candidates Ovid Lamontagne and Kevin Smith did the honors.
Never mind that business owners and labor leaders think it’s time to move on from the contentious battle over RTW that shook the Legislature last year.
As Mark MacKenzie, president of the New Hampshire AFL-CIO, testified:
We have lower poverty levels, higher graduation rates, and higher wages than any right-to-work state. We have negotiated thousands of successful collective bargaining agreements. This law is not broken. There is no need for right-to-work.
Report Details ALEC’s Influence in Ohio Lawmaking
Mike Gillis, Ohio AFL-CIO communications director, sends us this.
A new report released today by People For the American Way Foundation, Common Cause, the Center for Media and Democracy and Progress Ohio reveals the deep ties between the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and Ohio state lawmakers.
ALEC in Ohio: The Corporate Special Interests that Help Write Ohio’s Laws, demonstrates ALEC’s policymaking influence with an in-depth analysis of the organization’s ties to key Ohio lawmakers, as well as a side-by-side comparison of nine ALEC “model” bills and actual Ohio legislation, including:
- Attacks on workers by severely limiting collective bargaining, eliminating public employment through outsourcing and privatizing government functions;
- Diminishing public education through private school voucher programs and private scholarship tax credits;
- Encouraging the privatization of state prisons to benefit the private prison industry;
- Voter suppression bills designed to disenfranchise thousands of eligible Americans;
- Draconian anti-immigrant measures that criminalize undocumented workers and penalize their employers;
- Creation of barriers for consumers and injured parties in seeking justice from corporations in a court of law;
- Measures to prevent implementation of health care reform. Read the rest of this entry »
Indiana Working Families Ready to Take Back the State
 |
AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this from the Indiana statehouse.
Far from conceding defeat after the passage of a so-called right to work (RTW) bill, tens of thousands of Hoosier workers came together in solidarity to march from the statehouse to Super Bowl village in Indianapolis. From the steps of the statehouse, Indiana AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott said today would mark a new start to taking back the state, starting with “the biggest march Indiana has ever seen!”
Construction workers and teachers, grocery clerks and truck drivers cheered on the workers and elected officials with chants of “Remember November,” vowing to take back the state door by door, neighborhood by neighborhood. WISH-TV has some great aerial footage here.
The overreach and extreme politics that led to today’s vote—including actions by RTW supporters that included shutting the doors to the statehouse, cutting off debate and an ad campaign bankrolled by secret special interests have given the voting public a window into the Indiana Capitol. In poll after poll, Hoosier voters say they don’t approve of these strong-arm tactics by GOP leaders. Read the rest of this entry »
Thanks, Rep. Lewis, for Backing Indiana Working People
Many thanks and kudos to Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) for calling the Indiana Democratic Caucus today to encourage lawmakers to stay strong and firm in their efforts to stop the state’s Republican leadership from doing an end-run around the democratic process.
In encouraging the caucus to keep fighting against Republican moves to pass so-called right to work legislation, Lewis told Democratic lawmakers they are taking action not only for Indiana but for the entire nation–and the entire nation is depending on them.
“Make no mistake–the Republicans are out to destroy unions and our democracy.”
Lewis’ participation is especially meaningful because of his relationship with Indiana. He was campaigning for Bobby Kennedy in Indianapolis on April 4, 1968, the day that Dr. King was assassinated.
State Rep. John Bartlett (D), who took part in the call, said ”it is an honor to hear from anyone who has been in the struggle for as long as Congressman Lewis has been.”
His words were a major boost for our morale and he strengthened our resolve.
Lewis, who spoke about the long and constant struggle for economic justice, offered the caucus his assistance whenever needed.
Indiana Senate Passes RTW Despite Broad Public Opposition
AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this from the Indiana statehouse.
Despite overwhelming opposition throughout Indiana to the so-called right to work (RTW) bill, the state Senate yesterday passed its version of the bill by 28-22, while House Speaker Brian Bosma continued to use strong-arm tactics to force RTW down Hoosiers’ throats. The Senate chose to vote even as 10,000 Hoosier workers packed the statehouse—and even though working families have been holding town hall meetings, making thousands of phone calls and signing postcards.
Throughout the day, Democratic amendments to the House version of RTW (House Bill 1001) were rejected on party lines. Even the hugely popular amendment calling for a public referendum that would allow voters to decide on RTW went down to defeat. Then Bosma shut down the discussion on amendments, cutting off further debate. In protest, House Democrats left the chamber and went to caucus.
In Online Townhall, Mich. Gov. Snyder Opposes RTW
AFL-CIO Field Communications staffer Cathy Sherwin sends us this report.
Following the State of the State address last week, Michigan’s Gov. Rick
Snyder held an online town hall meeting. Participating on Twitter using the
hashtag #AskGovSnyder, union workers, the Michigan State AFL-CIO and progressive allies kept the questions coming – on jobs, needed infrastructure investments and education.
Many of the #AskGovSnyder tweets reflected priorities outlined in the Michigan 2012 Jobs Plan, introduced by Michigan State AFL-CIO President Karla Swift. The Jobs Plan has the support of a broad coalition of affiliate unions of the Michigan AFL-CIO and allies, including the Michigan League for Human Services, Progress Michigan and We Are the People. Many of the same organizations – and individual union members – joined in the Twitter Town Hall. The diverse voices asking tough questions were noted by Michigan Public Radio.
The Town Hall was also a great opportunity to educate the community on “right to work” for less. When Snyder answered a question by opposing “right to work,” workers and community groups spread the news far and wide. With extremist politicians in Michigan, as well as Indiana, New Hampshire and across the country pushing so-called “right to work,” educating the public about these unnecessary and divisive anti-worker laws couldn’t be more timely. Check out some of the #AskGovSnyder Tweets … and look for opportunities to #AskYourElectedOfficials about the issues that matter. Read the rest of this entry »
Daniels Protects Secret Donors Behind RTW Ads
Indiana’s airwaves are being saturated with ads featuring Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) promoting his “right to work” for less legislation that Republican lawmakers are trying to ram through the legislature. But Daniels continues to refuse to reveal who is bankrolling the media barrage.
The ads are funded by a shadowy group that calls itself the Indiana Opportunity Fund. Public records show the group has spent $600,000 on the “right to work” for less propaganda. But, the group—founded by Republican party activist Jim Bopp—is not required to divulge the source of the cash and Daniels has ignored requests from Hoosier working families, the media and others to disclose whose deep pockets he is dipping into for the advertisements.
He also claims in those commercials that a third of all companies that consider locating in the state decide not to because of the lack of a so-called “right to work” law. But Daniels refuses to back up that claim with any names and administration officials have not been able to substantiate lost-jobs claim.
Texas AFL-CIO Honors Volunteer Firefighters in Summer’s Blazes
 |
||||
|
||||
Texas AFL-CIO communications director Ed Sills sends us this report.
The Texas AFL-CIO donated $150 gift cards to nine Central Texas volunteer fire departments that battled the rash of summer blazes.
Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller and Director of Human Relations Lee Forbes praised the departments for their bravery during the long struggle to protect life and property in blazing summer heat. Bastrop and many other Texas counties were declared federal disaster areas following the fires.
At a meeting of volunteer departments in Cedar Creek where the cards were presented, Moeller said:
The generosity of union members and friends in setting up the Wildfire Relief Fund made a difference to many working families who received gift cards to buy work tools and other necessities that might otherwise have fallen through the cracks in the aftermath of losing homes and, in some cases, livelihoods. As always, the labor movement makes disaster response a high priority in our operations. We hope the wait for such activity is very, very long, but we must always be prepared. Read the rest of this entry »
Indiana Workers Call for Public Hearings on Right to Work for Less
 |
Indiana workers are gathering again at the statehouse today to make sure their voices are heard as the Republican-controlled legislature attempts to ram through a so-called right to work (RTW) bill that Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) says is at the top of the state’s agenda.
Yesterday, more than 7,000 working people traveled to Indianapolis and rallied outside and then jammed the statehouse after Gov. Mitch Daniels’ (R) administration rescinded its order restricting citizens’ access to the proceedings.
While Republican state House and Senate leaders are trying to quick-march the RTW bill through the legislature, Democrats are calling for a series of statewide hearings where citizens’ voices can be heard. The Indiana State AFL-CIO is urging Hoosiers to call House Speaker Brian Bosma (317-232-9567) and Senate President David Long (317-232-9416) and urge them to hold the public hearings.
Workers Offer Indiana Right to Work Scrooge a Holiday Song
|
|
Indiana House Speaker Brian Bosma (R) may be trying to deliver lumps of coal to Hoosier workers with so-called right to work legislation, but that didn’t discourage a chorus of worker carolers from offering Bosma a gift, along with a song of holiday cheer.
Last week, a group of Central Indiana Jobs with Justice (JWJ) members gathered outside Bosma’s Indianapolis home to serenade the right-wing lawmaker with their version of the 12 Days of Christmas.
On the first day of Christmas Brian Bosma gave to me, a right to work bill under the tree…
On some of the other days of Christmas, Bosma gave “Eight managers firing…10 lobbyists schmoozing…12 billionaires toasting.”
On Wednesday, again in the holiday spirit, the group will offer up another round of caroling at Bosma’s office when they present in him with the Central Indiana JWJ Scrooge of the Year award.
Last week, Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) officially last week threw his support behind the right to work for less legislation—not that there was any real doubt he stand with his extremist allies in the legislature and corporate friends.
He claimed that because the state has no right to work law, it has lost hundreds of new businesses that chose not to locate in Indiana. But as the Fort Wayne News Sentinel reported last week:
The top state economic-development agency can’t provide documentation or statistics to back up Gov. Mitch Daniels’ assertion that a fourth to half of companies don’t give Indiana a shot at new business because it lacks a right-to-work law. Read the rest of this entry »
