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.
Immigrant legalization campaign launched
LOS ANGELES – In Los Angeles and 30 other cities, a broad national coalition of labor, community and religious organizations announced on May 15 an unprecedented grassroots campaign to urge President Bush and Congress to pass legislation that would make it possible for undocumented workers to achieve “legal status.”
Gujarat: An eyewitness report of state-sponsored terror
”We the people of India, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic and to secure to all its citizens ….” – Preamble of the Indian constitution For the entire article click on the headline. To visit a webpage with the entire Indian Constitution, click here.
AFL-CIO maps big 2002 election drive
NEW YORK – AFL-CIO President John Sweeney told reporters that the May 22 decision of the federation’s General Board to increase financial support for the federation’s Labor 2002 election campaign is propelled by the issues facing working families. “Real life examples of the last year – the Enron scandal, the squandering of the federal budget on a tax cut for the rich, the President’s plan to privatize Social Security, his drive to expand trade negotiating authority and historic unemployment – are proof that working people need a strong voice in politics to shift the balance of power in Washington away from business and back to workers,” said Sweeney. To hear a four-minute audio interview of PWW reporter Fred Gaboury about the AFL-CIO decision to increase funding of their election 2002 campaign, click here.
Church group calls for education reform
HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Executive Board of the U.S. National Council of Churches (NCC) met here May 14 to stand in solidarity with Good Schools PA advocates for public education reform. Together they are calling on the Pennsylvania legislature to pass comprehensive public education reform legislation that would provide funding equity for the state's schools.
Paul Robeson concert to be commemorated
Will Parry, now head of the Seattle chapter of the Alliance for Retired Americans, attended the concert by Paul Robeson when he sang at the Peace Arch Park on the U.S.-Canadian border near Blaine, Wash., on May 18, 1952.
