Epileptic, restrained by police, dies
BLOOMFIELD, N.J. – Bodily pressure that impaired his breathing caused the death of a New York man who died in police custody here April 16, apparently while he was suffering an epileptic seizure, authorities said.
School bus drivers vote for union representation
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – School bus drivers at First Student voted overwhelmingly for union representation in a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election April 12. Choosing union by a margin of 119-36, the workers, Latina and mostly African-American women, excitedly declared victory.
Illinois AFL-CIO: One million strong, together as one
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – With their placards bobbing like white caps on a sea of brightly colored T-shirts, 10,000 trade unionists flooded the street in front of the state capitol here in a “Solidarity Day” show of togetherness April 24.
The rich get richer and
“Pulling Apart: A State-by-State Analysis of Income Trends,” released jointly by the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) April 23, documents the growing gap between those in the top fifth of the income pyramid and those at the bottom.
Stop increased health costs
The figures are staggering. According to projections by the federal government, the cost of health care will increase by 7.3 percent per year and will, by 2012, amount to 17 percent of gross domestic product, up from 13.3 percent in 2000 when the total cost of health care was $1.3 trillion. (That’s $1,300,000,000,000.)
FDA reverses plan to abandon pediatric rule
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson announced April 19 that the Federal Drug Administration had reversed its decision to abandon the Pediatric Rule, an essential protection that ensures drugs are properly labeled for pediatric use based on scientific studies.
Janitors protest at Bank of America
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – More than 300 people protested outside of the Bank of America building here on April 26. The action was in support of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 50 Justice for Janitors Campaign.
Over 10,000 transit workers rally for health benefits
NEW YORK – On April 24, over 10,000 transit workers rallied here to defend and improve their negotiated health benefits. The rally took place during the evening rush hour on 44th Street and Madison Avenue. The workers then marched to Gov. George Pataki’s office on 40th Street and 3rd Avenue.
Jacksonville faculty votes for union
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When the ballots were counted April 4, professors, counselors and librarians at Florida Community College at Jacksonville (FCCJ) won recognition with the American Federation of Teachers Local 2397. This victory was the culmination of three decades of perseverance by a group of dedicated unionists at the college.
International Notes
Anti-Le Pen protests continue in France/Turkish police arrest 248 Communists/Timor president wins landslide victory/Anti-privatization victory in Canada/German workers call general strike
