Workers Memorial Day: Honoring those who lost their lives from workplace injuries or illnesses
Workers Memorial Day is an international day of remembrance, held on April 28, the day the Occupational Safety and Health Act was passed in 1970. That day, people gather in hundreds of communities across the U.S. and more than 29 countries worldwide to honor those who have lost their lives as a result of work-related injuries or illnesses.
Asbestos bill fatally flawed
WASHINGTON (PAI) — Despite some improvements in the latest legislation, the AFL-CIO has dropped its support of a comprehensive asbestos victims compensation bill.
Rumsfeld encouraged as Iraqis chant, You go, America!
Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld said today that he was encouraged by massive demonstrations in Baghdad marking the second anniversary of the fall of Saddam Hussein, telling reporters that he was particularly heartened by the Iraqis’ chant of “You go, America!”
Labor begins new push for Employee Free Choice Act
WASHINGTON (PAI) — Flanked by workers harassed or fired for trying to form unions, labor leaders and key lawmakers reintroduced the Employee Free Choice Act on April 19.
World Notes
Canada: Set Wal-Mart protest for May 7; Czech Republic: Defend democratic rights; Kuwait: Women to vote; Nicaragua: ‘Week of action’ vs. CAFTA; Southern Africa: AIDS devastates farm workers; Indonesia: Sailors protest U.S. security rules
New peace initiatives under way in Sudan
The gravity of the present Sudan crisis is perhaps best depicted by a 1994 Pulitzer-prize winning photo of a vulture intently awaiting the death of a famine-stricken, emaciated child seen crawling towards a distant UN food camp. It is not clear what happened to the child, but there are indications that Sudan is mustering the will to survive.
Indian communists call for uprooting inequality
NEW DELHI — The 18th congress of Communist Party of India (Marxist) concluded April 11 with a rally of 100,000 people at Talkatora Stadium here. The extreme heat and sun couldn’t keep the overflow crowd away.
Labor pushes minimum wage hikes
To counter the anti-people program being put forward by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his corporate backers, the California Labor Federation is putting forward its own program for economic recovery.
Calif. hotel boycott grows: Korean, Mexican unionists pledge support
San Francisco and Los Angeles hotel workers’ long-running contract battles to save quality health coverage and win decent wages and reasonable workloads are intensifying, with “street heat,” boycott successes and growing international solidarity.
National Clips
LOUISVILLE, Ky.: Protest ‘Justice Sunday’; SANTA CRUZ, Calif.: Police attack tent city; ST. PAUL, Minn.: Stop CAFTA; CHAPEL HILL, N.C.: Protect public health, marchers say
