Health care racism kills 83,000 yearly
A report in the March/April issue of the journal Health Affairs estimates that 83,570 excess African American deaths occur each year as a direct result of health care disparities between Blacks and whites. The report, whose lead author is former Surgeon General David Satcher, points to “pervasive inequalities in America’s social, economic and health care systems.” It indicts the for-profit health system for failing to provide basic services to a huge segment of the U.S. population.
Student-labor victory at Georgetown U: Unity wins living wage for campus
WASHINGTON — Georgetown University workers won a tremendous living wage victory last week. After months of organizing and a nine-day hunger strike, a student-labor alliance at Georgetown won a $14-an-hour wage for 452 fulltime contract campus workers, who had been making as little as $8.50 an hour. Workers will receive a minimum of $13 per hour by July 1 this year and $14 per hour by July 1, 2007.
Wal-Mart freeloads off Georgia kids
Thousands of Georgia kids are going without health care as a result of Wal-Mart’s freeloading on the state’s health care program for poor children, according to a state legislator in Georgia, where a $5 million health care budget deficit was filled by “locking out” 45,000 low-income kids this year.
Cuba fends off U.S. attacks on human rights
WASHINGTON — A crowd at the Cuban Interest Section here applauded warmly March 29 as Ambassador Dagoberto Rodriguez Berrera assailed Bush administration hypocrisy on “human rights” in Cuba. Cuba, he said, will never bow to U.S. diktat.
Puerto Ricans fight against death penalty
A U.S. federal court in Puerto Rico may sentence two men to death this week, contrary to the wishes of most Puerto Ricans and in violation of the island nation’s Constitution. The situation highlights the issue of colonialism in the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico.
Labor cant win in a house divided
Like no other time in the last 50 years, a united labor movement is critical to defending the working class and the American people. It is decisive to any hope for a progressive agenda for the whole nation, not just for union members.
Miguel Contreras, 52, warrior for working families
Miguel Contreras, secretary-treasurer of the 800,000-member Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, died of a heart attack May 6 at the age of 52.
I Just Want To Do My Job
A poem
Awards go to filmmakers of color
NEW YORK — The Tribeca All Access (TAA) Connects program, which fosters relationships between U.S.-based filmmakers of color and the film industry, announced April 29 the winners of the second Tribeca All Access Creative Promise Awards.
U.S. band plays to 50,000 in Cuba
HAVANA — With an inspired 26-song set, Audioslave made history May 6, playing by far the biggest show for an American band in Cuba.
