Workers Independent News

AFL-CIO President Trumka Says Struggling Working Families See No Bottom In Sight – 12/04/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:10:00 -0500

By Doug Cunningham

In the wake of the White House jobs summit, AFL-CIO President Rich Trumnka says there’s no bottom in sight for working families struggling to keep their jobs, their health care and homes. Trumka is calling on political leaders to take immediate action to do everything possible to create jobs. Trumka says the jobs forum is important but can’t substitute for action. Trumka is pledging that the AFL-CIO will be very active in coming weeks and months to push for concrete action on jobs.

Labor News Headlines December 4, 2009

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:10:00 -0500

MP3: winhead120409.mp3 Headlines: New Report: Workers Will Lose $1 Trillion In Wages To Great Recession – 12/04/09 AFL-CIO President Trumka Says Struggling Working Families See No Bottom In Sight – 12/04/09 Wal-Mart Must Pay Workers $40 Million For Forcing Them To Skip Breaks, Work Overtime With No O.T. Pay – 12/04/09 U.S. Labor Against The War’s 195 Affiliated Labor Organizations Convene Third National Assembly – 12/04/09 Teamsters In Philly Go On Strike At The Red Cross – 12/04/09

New Report: Workers Will Lose $1 Trillion In Wages To Great Recession – 12/04/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:10:00 -0500

By Doug Cunningham

The Center for Economic and Policy Research says workers will lose an estimated total of $1 trillion as a result of the Great Recession. In its new report called The Trillion Dollar Wage Deficit, he center says that African American and Latino workers are being especially hard hit. Economist John Schmitt says unemployment in 2010 and 2011 will cost workers more in lost wages and salaries than we’ve lost this year. The Center for Economic and Policy Research says from the standpoint of jobs, we’re not even one third of the way through this recession.

Teamsters In Philly Go On Strike At The Red Cross – 12/04/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:10:00 -0500

Teamsters in Philadelphia went on strike Thursday to protest standards at Red Cross facilities. Jesse Russell reports:

U.S. Labor Against The War’s 195 Affiliated Labor Organizations Convene Third National Assembly – 12/04/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:10:00 -0500

By Doug Cunningham

U.S. Labor Against The War is convening its third national assembly over the weekend in Chicago. USLAW’s Michael Eisenscher.

[Eisenscher]: “We have about 195 affiliated labor organizations. Everything from the largest local union in the country – SEIU 1199 in New York with 250,00 members – to national unions like CWA, probably 25 labor councils, half a dozen state labor federations.”

U.S. Labor Against The War will adopt a formal policy on the Afghan war at its assembly this weekend in Chicago. It’s already on record opposing an escalation of the war.

Wal-Mart Must Pay Workers $40 Million For Forcing Them To Skip Breaks, Work Overtime With No O.T. Pay – 12/04/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 22:10:00 -0500

The world’s largest retailer has been hit with the largest class action lawsuit settlement in Massachusetts history. Wal-Mart is agreeing to pay $40 million to nearly 87,500 current and former workers. The settlement will go to workers who were active between August 1995 and the settlement date. The settlement alleges the company y required workers to skip breaks and work overtime without overtime pay.

Economic Report: November Job Cuts Down 72 Percent From Last Year – 12/03/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:09:00 -0500

Economic Report:

According to job placement firm Challenger, Gray, and Christmas job cuts by employers were down 72 percent in November when compared to the same time last year and job cuts were down 9.6 percent when compared to October of this year. November saw the lowest number of job cuts since the start of the recession.

Gannet To Furlough Workers As Newspaper Revenue Continues Decline – 12/03/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:09:00 -0500

The largest newspaper publisher in the country will furlough workers in an attempt to deal with declining ad revenue. Jesse Russell reports:

Harley-Davidson Workers In York, PA Approve Contract – 12/03/09

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:09:00 -0500

Workers at a Harley-Davidson plant in York, Pennsylvania have approved a contract. The seven-year contract is intended to assure that the plant will remain open in city and not move to Kentucky. Instead the company has suggested it will slash nearly half of the 1900 employee workforce. Additionally, workers who keep their jobs will have their wages and benefits frozen. The company also pledged to invest millions of dollars upgrading the plant.

Labor News Headlines December 3, 2009

superuser — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 02:09:00 -0500

MP3: winhead120309.mp3 Headlines: Workers Organize Jobs Roundtables As White House Jobs Summit Is Held – 12/03/09 NYC Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lit, But NBC Strike By NABET Is Possible – 12/03/09 Gannet To Furlough Workers As Newspaper Revenue Continues Decline – 12/03/09 Harley-Davidson Workers In York, PA Approve Contract – 12/03/09 Economic Report: November Job Cuts Down 72 Percent From Last Year – 12/03/09