POLITICAL HOT ISSUES

January 5, 2009


Labor’s Legislative Agenda: Stimulus, Employee Free Choice Act, and More WASHINGTON (PAI)—With the new Democratic-run 111th Congress convening on Jan. 6, and with larger pro-worker majorities, labor has assembled a legislative agenda that starts with the Employee Free Choice Act and a massive stimulus bill, but doesn’t stop there.
Leading Consumer Groups Demand New Congress Pass Employee Free Choice Act WASHINGTON (PAI)— Saying it would help consumers, help stop predatory lenders and “ensure workers’ hard-earned wages go to supporting their families and communities,” seven leading consumer organizations demanded the new Democratic-run 111th Congress pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
Obama Names Biden to Chair Working Families Task Force CHICAGO (PAI)—Signaling he meant what he said during the presidential campaign, President-elect Barack Obama (D) created a new White House Task Force on Working Families and named Vice President-elect Joseph Biden to chair it. Biden promptly got a head start on task force business with late-December meetings with top Obama economic advisors, discussing the problems workers face.
Wal-Mart Rushes to Settle Wage Cases WASHINGTON (PAI)--— Acting fast before a new administration, which it tried to strong-arm its workers into opposing, takes office, monster anti-worker retailer Wal-Mart on Dec. 24 settled 63 wage-and-hour class action cases nationwide for a total ranging between $352 million and $640 million, depending on future claims.
Gettelfinger Welcomes Auto Loans but Vows Fight to Preserve Workers’ Wages DETROIT (PAI)—UAW President Ron Gettelfinger welcomed GOP President George W. Bush’s decision to tap $17.4 billion of the bank bailout money for bridge loans to General Motors and Chrysler, thus keeping those two firms alive and their workers on the job, at least for now. The first $4 billion went to GM on New Year’s Eve.