Organizing, elections focus of Change to Win
CHICAGO — The Change to Win labor federation held its second annual national convention here Sept. 24-25, where it emphasized union organizing campaigns and a drive by its seven member unions to change the makeup of Congress and put a pro-worker person in the White House.
To cut smog, change truckers status, report says
OAKLAND, Calif. — The Port of Oakland, the country’s fourth largest port, drives much of the San Francisco Bay Area’s economy, and the port’s container trade is expected to double in the next 20 years. But a newly released report warns that this projected growth is threatened by the diesel pollution from trucks moving the containers, which causes soaring lung disease rates for nearby residents and port workers. At the same time, truck drivers endure dismal economic and working conditions.
Supporters rally for single-payer health care
CHICAGO — Imagine that every U.S. resident received a health insurance card that could be presented to any doctor or hospital for a full range of medical benefits. As a patient, you would pay nothing, and you would receive no medical bills.
Demand grows to drop charges on Jena 6
Pressure mounted on LaSalle Parish prosecutors to drop all charges against the “Jena Six” following the release on bail, Sept. 27, of Mychal Bell, the only one of the African American teenagers to be tried and convicted in the little central Louisiana town.
Black Caucus meets to unleash the power
WASHINGTON — With determined strides, warm hugs and the steely glint of struggling for justice in their eyes, over 20,000 African American leaders from all walks of life, from students to Ph.D.s, from business executives to workers, from elected officials to precinct captains, and from award-winning artists to a high school marching band, streamed into the 37th annual Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference here, Sept. 26-29.
