Friday afternoon treat to perk you up. This. Video. Is. Awesome.
Just watch it.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Franken Co-Sponsor's Employee Free Choice Act
After a long, hard fight, Al Franken has finally been sworn in as Senator of Minnesota, and his first act shows his support for working people.
Franken has always been a strong supporter of workers’ freedom to form unions—after all, he has membership in 5 of them--and has signed on to co-sponsor the Employee Free Choice Act. His vote should help to boost Democratic efforts on health care and judicial nominations as well--but his voice is strongest when it comes to labor.
Congratulations to Sen. Franken in his new role on Capitol Hill, as the second senator from Minnesota. It’s a role that’s been waiting for him a very long time.
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
"Let me get all up in your health care plan"
Turns out, more than brains or brawn, women just want a man with health care benefits. H/t to Ezra Klein.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Workers Deserve the Freedom to Choose a Union at PriceRite
This Fourth of July, as communities and families celebrate America's independence, the former PriceRite workers said they hoped the company would live up to its claim to be "an American company" and respect workers' freedom.
As the Connecticut Post reported, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Mayor Bill Finch spoke in support of workers and good jobs at the PriceRite rally. Also there to support workers : state Rep. Christopher Caruso, D-Bridgeport, State Rep. Ezequiel Santiago, D-Bridgeport, and City Councilman Carlos Silva, D-136.
Finch, Silva and Caruso spoke about good jobs in the community, and said that worker should be able to make a living wage at PriceRite. Finch:
I'm not here to tell Price Rite how to run their business, but I support the right to vote a union in.And Silva on PriceRite stores in his community:
"I love them being here," said Silva of the more than 100 jobs Price Rite has created and the taxes it pays. "But people who are working here are giving a lot for a little . . . I'm just looking to have them pay a living wage."
Health Care Industry Spends $1.4 Million a Day on Lobbying
$9,236.11. That's the amount of money that the health care industry spent on lobbying in the time it took me to listen to a Bruce Springsteen song this morning.*
In the time it took for me to write this blog post, the for-profit health care industry spent $43,750. That's about 15 minutes, and the amount is more than the average person, the kind of person that health care reform might really benefit, makes in a year.
Reading the Washington Post on the bus on the way to work this morning, I was shocked to see how much money the health care industry is spending on lobbyists: $1.4 million a day.**
For those of you keeping track: 12 minute bus ride = $35,000 spent by the health care industry on lobbying.
Most of this money is going to Capitol Hill insiders: persons with legislative or administrative experience working for members of Congress or former members of Congress themselves. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) spent $7 million in the first quarter of 2009. Pfizer spent $6 million in the same time period.
In Washington, people are used to industries throwing money around. It is a fact of daily life. But this amount is beyond anything that anyone has ever seen before. The oil industry, for example, spent record amounts in the first quarter of this year: an average of $49,444 a day.
That's right. The health care industry is spending almost a million dollars a day more than the oil industry.
These folks gave money during the campaign cycle too. And when the health care industry gave a lot of money to a Senator, they became less likely to be supportive of a public option. This isn't an accusation, either. This is statistically verified.
The people who are throwing massive amounts of cash around Washington are not the same people who would benefit from there being a public option for health insurance. According to the Post article:
"The aim of the lobbying blitz is simple: to minimize the damage to insurers, hospitals and other major sectors while maximizing the potential of up to 46 million uninsured Americans as new customers."
The aim is not in keeping with the desires of the American people. 72 percent of Americans want a public option for health care. And the desire of the people and the desires of the big pockets are not in line.
So what's more important, people's health or insurance company profits? If the money going to lobbyists has anything to do with it, profits are going to take priority.
*Used Cars off of 1982's Nebraska, which clocks at three minutes and ten seconds. The opinion that this is the best of Springsteen's albums is my own.
**Calculations in this blog post are based on an 8 hour day.
In the time it took for me to write this blog post, the for-profit health care industry spent $43,750. That's about 15 minutes, and the amount is more than the average person, the kind of person that health care reform might really benefit, makes in a year.
Reading the Washington Post on the bus on the way to work this morning, I was shocked to see how much money the health care industry is spending on lobbyists: $1.4 million a day.**
For those of you keeping track: 12 minute bus ride = $35,000 spent by the health care industry on lobbying.
Most of this money is going to Capitol Hill insiders: persons with legislative or administrative experience working for members of Congress or former members of Congress themselves. The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) spent $7 million in the first quarter of 2009. Pfizer spent $6 million in the same time period.
In Washington, people are used to industries throwing money around. It is a fact of daily life. But this amount is beyond anything that anyone has ever seen before. The oil industry, for example, spent record amounts in the first quarter of this year: an average of $49,444 a day.
That's right. The health care industry is spending almost a million dollars a day more than the oil industry.
These folks gave money during the campaign cycle too. And when the health care industry gave a lot of money to a Senator, they became less likely to be supportive of a public option. This isn't an accusation, either. This is statistically verified.
The people who are throwing massive amounts of cash around Washington are not the same people who would benefit from there being a public option for health insurance. According to the Post article:
"The aim of the lobbying blitz is simple: to minimize the damage to insurers, hospitals and other major sectors while maximizing the potential of up to 46 million uninsured Americans as new customers."
The aim is not in keeping with the desires of the American people. 72 percent of Americans want a public option for health care. And the desire of the people and the desires of the big pockets are not in line.
So what's more important, people's health or insurance company profits? If the money going to lobbyists has anything to do with it, profits are going to take priority.
*Used Cars off of 1982's Nebraska, which clocks at three minutes and ten seconds. The opinion that this is the best of Springsteen's albums is my own.
**Calculations in this blog post are based on an 8 hour day.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
UFCW Members Speak Out On Health Care Reform
UFCW members were on Capitol Hill last week to lobby their elected officials and speak out about the importance of health care reform.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Workers at world's largest pork plant ratify first-ever union contract!
Great news from down south! Workers at the Smithfield plant in Tar Heel, NC have just ratified their first contract:
Five Thousand workers at the world’s largest pork processing plant have their first-ever union contract, after a majority of workers ratified the agreement over a two-day vote. Members of UFCW Local 1208 will join more than 10,000 other Smithfield workers, and more than 240,000 others who work in the meat packing and food processing industry who have a UFCW union contract.
The new contract includes:
* Wage increases of $1.50/hour over the next four years.
* Continued company-provided affordable family health care coverage.
* Improved paid sick leave and vacation benefits.
* Retirement security through protection of the existing pension plan.
* Continued joint worker/management safety committee, including company funded safety training for workers.
* Guaranteed weekly hours that protect full-time, family supporting jobs in the community
* A system to resolve workplace issues.
* Three working days of paid funeral leave following the death of immediate family members.
Congratulations to all the Smithfield workers in Tar Heel and welcome to the family!
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