National News

New Hampshire Labor Committee Passes Slew of Union-Busting Bills

Wed, 02/22/2012 - 11:22am

At a time when the tea party-driven Republican agenda in New Hampshire’s state capitol is more unpopular than ever with voters on both sides of the aisle, Republican House Labor Committee Chairman Gary Daniels and his allies have ramped up their attacks on working people. In a work session yesterday, the House Labor Committee took another step towards dismantling New Hampshire’s collective bargaining rights law by voting no fewer than five anti-worker bills ‘ought to pass.’

AFL-CIO chief goes on the offensive

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 8:53pm

Richard Trumka hopes to take advantage of the growing frustration with Wall Street and concerns about income inequality to reverse organized labor's long decline.

Risking union ire, Romney slams Santorum’s labor votes

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 5:05pm

Mitt Romney is taking an antiunion stance in Michigan, attacking Rick Santorum for his “unapologetic defense of big labor’’ as part of a new attempt to paint his rival as beholden to a powerful Democratic ally.

UI Benefits Extension Doesn’t Share Sacrifice

Tue, 02/21/2012 - 5:00pm

n letter to lawmakers this morning, the AFL-CIO said that not extending UI and the payroll tax cut would compound the hardship of jobless families and jeopardize the recent signs of job growth.

But the bill not only reduces the number of weeks of benefits for the unemployed, it unfairly penalizes federal workers. “Shared sacrifice should start at the top, with a surtax on millionaires, not with unemployed workers or middle-class working families. The AFL-CIO does not support the bill.”

Romney targets labor unions, which could be risky come fall

Mon, 02/20/2012 - 7:51am

The former governor of Massachusetts also vows a robust anti-union agenda if elected president, including:

-Supporting states pursuing right-to-work laws;

-Amending the National Labor Relations Act to guarantee secret ballots in union elections, which unions oppose;

-Prohibiting unions from using dues automatically deducted from paychecks for politics;

-Reversing an executive order from President Barack Obama requiring government agencies to use union labor on some projects.

Alabama Law Dictates ‘Who to Be Friends With’

Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:17pm

Manufacturing is back, but it's not the problem

Sun, 02/19/2012 - 1:08pm

Suddenly, manufacturing is back – at least in the election. But don’t be fooled. The real issue isn’t whether and how we get manufacturing back. It’s how we get good jobs and good wages back. And they aren’t at all the same thing.

The fundamental problem isn’t the decline of American manufacturing, and reviving manufacturing won’t solve it. The problem is the declining power of American workers to get a portion of the gains. That’s why we need strong unions.

Hollywood director steps into row over Alabama's tough immigration law

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 3:24pm

Arizona Legislature Wants to Pay Young Workers Less than Minimum Wage

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 11:03am

“What happened to equal pay for equal work?” asked Wyatt Manoil, a college student who works part-time to help pay his living expenses at school.

I’m barely making it as it is. I don’t even think I could afford to work if that’s all I was making.

All Politics Aren’t Local: Florida GOP Wants to Block Local Govt. From Enforcing Wage and Hour Laws

Fri, 02/17/2012 - 10:52am

Editor - Here in Massachusetts Attorney general Martha Coakleys office vigorously both wage wage and misclassification. These are two of the most often calls I get at the office.

In a break from conservatives' typical interest in devolving power to local governments, Florida State Republicans are pushing a bill that would forbid local municipalities from enforcing wage and hour laws

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