Good news, bad news for Calif. health care
The good news about health care in California is that last year, many of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s efforts to slash health coverage for the poor and disabled were defeated, while coming up this year are measures including the single-payer bill SB 840 to cover all Californians, which passed the Senate last year.
N.Y. teachers on track with transit workers
On Dec. 14, 2005, the Delegate Assembly of the United Federation of Teachers in New York City voted to support the strike of the Transit Workers Union “by any means necessary.” The motion came from the floor of the assembly and was passed by acclamation.
This week in labor
Cheney puts the ‘vice’ in VP; Washing Angelica’s dirty linen; HR 676 support snowballs in December; USAS winter conference; And in the next aisle ...; Ralph’s Grocery indicted; Service Employees add 26,000 workers in Washington state; Wal-Mart wins ‘Grinch of Year’ title
European Union adopts Big Brother directive
The European Parliament launched an unprecedented attack on civil liberties and the democratic rights of the citizens of the 25 European Union (EU) member countries last month by legalizing the surveillance of private citizens’ telephone conversations and e-mail in the name of “antiterrorism.”
World Notes
Czech Republic: Young communists under attack; Japan: New campaign against nukes; Uganda: Children victimized by war; Argentina: Worker takeover successful
Cuba waging fight against corruption
Cuban President Fidel Castro, speaking Nov. 17 at the University of Havana, asked, “Do you believe that this revolutionary socialist process can fall apart, or not?” His answer: “This revolution can destroy itself. … We can destroy ourselves, and it would be our fault.”
Ready for the coming crisis with Bolivia?
Evo Morales of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) won an absolute majority in the Bolivian presidential elections Dec. 18. He will be sworn in on Jan. 22.
National Clips
TARPON SPRINGS, Fla.: Vietnam refuser faces court martial; PITTSBURGH: Bridge collapses, no one killed — this time; BIRMINGHAM, Ala.: Latinos sue to stop police harassment; LOUISVILLE, Ky.: Hundreds honor Emancipation Day
Philadelphians fight high heating bills
PHILADELPHIA — About 7,600 households here have been without heat since November. Another 7,000 households are using alternative heating methods, such as kerosene or electric space heaters, to keep the winter cold at bay.
Power struggle continues in Iraq
Final results of Iraq’s Dec. 15 elections are not expected for at least two weeks, as investigations of vote fraud allegations continue. Meanwhile political deal-making is under way. Controversial preliminary results gave the Shiite Islamic coalition, which dominates the current government, a lopsided lead, but short of the two-thirds needed to form a new government.
