POLITICAL HOT ISSUES

July 14, 2008


AFL-CIO Endorses Obama WASHINGTON (PAI)— As expected--it just took time for emotions to cool and to round up the needed votes--the AFL-CIO on the afternoon of June 26 announced it endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) for the presidency.
Unions Help Form Large Coalition to Put Universal Affordable Health Care atop Campaign, 2009 Agenda WASHINGTON (PAI)— The nation’s unions, including the United Food and Commercial Workers, the Communications Workers, AFSCME, the AFL-CIO and SEIU, helped form a large coalition to put enactment of universal affordable health care atop the agenda of both this year’s election campaign and the first days of Congress in 2009.
Trumka to Workers: Look Past Obama’s Race To His Economics LAS VEGAS (PAI)— Taking on an electoral problem usually mentioned in whispers, or avoided completely, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka has challenged white voters who have doubts about Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) because of his race to look beyond that and focus on his economics.
Steel Workers Step Up Drive Vs. ‘Toxic Trade’ CHICAGO (PAI)— In May 2007, as the reports began about lead-lined toys and dangerous pet food imported from China, Marilyn Furer walked into a store--actually it was a Wal-Mart--in the Chicago suburbs to buy baby bibs for her grandson, Jensen.
AFL-CIO Launches New Union Veterans Group With Election, Lobbying Focus WASHINGTON (PAI)— Saying that unionists who are veterans should band together to protect their interests as veterans as well as their interests as workers, the AFL-CIO launched a new union veterans’ organization on July 10.
Building Trades: Crane Workers' Deaths Show Need for Emergency OSHA Measures, Better Enforcement WASHINGTON (PAI)— What happened to Harold “Rusty” Billingsley in Las Vegas last year was a crime, his brother-in-law says. And so was the federal government’s response.