Health crisis brewing from 9/11
Public officials will meet at the site of the World Trade Center tragedy on May 30 in a ceremony that will mark the end of the rescue, recovery and clean-up period.
Mission Linen workers vote to unionize
In a major victory for working people, Mission Linen workers in three Arizona cities voted to join over 1,500 Mission workers represented by UNITE.
The added price of oil
Every year since 1990 an average of 30 million gallons of oil has been spilled from wells, pipelines, and storage facilities.
Pirates at the pump
Although the price of gasoline has not spiked as dramatically as in 2000 and 2001, pump prices have increased nearly 30 cents per gallon since February. Industry sources say we can expect another 10-cent increase before the Fourth of July holiday.
Movement grows to end U.S. blockade against Cuba
During a visit to Miami May 20, George W. Bush announced that his administration would not yield to the majority U.S. public opinion and end the blockade against Cuba. Bush raised $2 million dollars for the GOP during his tour.
International notes
East Timor the world’s newest nation/South Africa celebrates Sisulu’s 90th birthday/South Korean unions threaten strike/Tensions continue over massacre in Kashmir/Australian “anti-terror” legislation dealt setback
Labor, child advocates assail Jeb Bush
Florida labor and children’s advocates are opposing Florida Gov. Jeb Bush’s rush to privatize the state’s child protective services. Privatization is expected to hand over approximately $233 million in “community-based care” contracts to private groups.
Bush faces hard questions on 9/11 memos
Sen. Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) called for an independent commission May 21 to investigate what the Bush administration knew about terrorist threats before Sept. 11 and why stronger measures were not taken to avert a possible attack.
Solidarity key as lockout reaches 1,000 days
MANSFIELD, Ohio – May 4 saw the fifth steelworkers’ rally held here since AKSteel locked out the union workers in 1999. On May 24, the Mansfield lockout turned 1,000 days old.
House bill punishes poor
WASHINGTON – AFL-CIO President John Sweeney denounced the welfare bill approved by the House May 16 for sharply increasing workfare requirements while scrimping on support services like childcare for the working poor. “Ending poverty for families requires good-paying and secure jobs with benefits, not a faster proliferation of low-skill and low-pay jobs,” Sweeney said. For the entire article, click on the headline. To see the press release from the AFL-CIO on this topic, click here.
