NC State A.F.L. – C.I.O.

Our members at PASS (Professional Airways Systems Specialists) of NC need our help to secure passage in the Senate of FAA Reauthorization (S. 1300).

The House has passed its version of FAA Reauthorization back in September 2007. It is time for the Senate to stop dragging its feet and pass the Senate version before several important provisions of FAA reauthorization can become law.

We encourage our members to take action to support PASS. You can fire off a letter to your Senators here.

The Colombia Free Trade Agreement (FTA) represents a continuation of the Bush administration’s failed trade policies, an agenda that has contributed to the loss of more than 3 million manufacturing jobs since 2000, skyrocketing trade deficits and shrinking paychecks.

The Columbia deal was drafted and signed by the Bush administration before the expiration last summer of its “fast-track” trade authority - authority that required the House and Senate to vote up or down without amendments on trade agreements within 90 days of their being introduced to the Congress, which the President did last week.

Unable to amend the language of the Columbia FTA, the Democratic controlled House voted to change House rules and eliminated the deadline, without which this dangerous “free trade” agreement hopefully will just die in the Congress.

How did your Congressman / Congresswoman vote on the rule change?

Colombia remains the most dangerous country in the world for union members–39 trade unionists were murdered in 2007 and another 17 to date in 2008. Of the more than 2,500 murders of trade unionists since 1986, only some 70 cases–about 3 percent–have resulted in convictions.

Balanced trade agreements must guarantee the right to organize, lift the lives of workers in both countries and prevent exploitation. But this can’t happen in a country where workers who try to organize are killed.

Sen. John McCain has a long history of supporting the kind of trade deals like the Columbia FTA that have devastated our economy and sent our jobs overseas. He continues to proclaim his support for new trade agreements despite evidence of how harmful agreements like NAFTA and CAFTA have been. He supported allowing China to enter the WTO despite its horrible worker safety and product safety record, exposing our children to toxic toys and our families to contaminated food. McCain has added insult to injury by voting against measures intended to help stem the flow of jobs lost due to these agreements.

Sen. McCain has not protected workers from the ill-effects of these trade agreements:

McCain Supported President Bush’s Outsourcing Efforts. McCain voted to allow overseas outsourcing of government contracts after President Bush’s economic advisers released a report saying America should outsource its jobs. [S.1637, Vote #32, 3/4/04]

McCain Voted Against Limiting Tax Breaks to Companies That Re-Import Foreign Manufactured Goods. He voted against a bill to tax multinational companies on income from foreign factories when goods are shipped back to the United States and to require companies to notify employees and give a reason before they move their jobs overseas. [S.1637, Vote #83, 5/5/04]

McCain Supported Waiving and Weakening Buy American Laws. McCain voted to allow the Secretary of Defense to waive Buy American laws for defense systems and place our defense manufacturing industry in jeopardy. He also voted to exempt defense goods from six European countries from Buy American requirements that traditionally have required most military equipment and defense systems to be manufactured in the United States. [S. 2400, Vote #135, 6/22/04; S. 1050, Vote #191, 5/21/03]

McCain Voted to Allow Unsafe Foreign Trucks on U.S. Roads. McCain voted against an amendment to prohibit Mexican trucks from operating beyond a limited border zone because they are not held to the same safety standards as U.S. trucks. [H.R. 2299, Vote #252, 7/26/01]

McCain Abstained from Voting to Protect Steel Jobs. McCain abstained from a vote to filibuster a bill to protect steelworker jobs from illegal dumping after 10,000 steelworkers lost their jobs. [H.R. 975, Vote #178, 6/22/99]

McCain Voted Against Providing Health Insurance for Employees and Retirees of Bankrupt Steel Companies. McCain voted against a measure that provided temporary health insurance assistance to retirees of bankrupt steel companies. [S.Amdt. 3433, Vote #117, 5/21/02]

The state federation has developed a strategic plan that includes hands-on support for central labor councils, APRI and the Alliance for Retired Americans.

We have conducted two very successful trainings for Labor 2008 political coordinators. At the meetings in Charlotte and in Fayetteville, President Andrews and Secretary-Treasurer McMillan facilitated the discussion and got commitments from local leaders on a number of action points.

Special thanks to Southern Piedmont CLC president Will Cashion, Greater Sandhills CLC president Tony McKinnon and area labor leaders.

In addition to the regional political coordinator trainings, the North Carolina State AFL-CIO is sponsoring a one day training session on the national AFL-CIO economic education effort called “An Economy that Works for All.” This training is intended for political coordinators, legislative chairs and union staff who, after going through the training, will be able and willing to deliver the presentation to their local union and other unions in the area. This training session will take place at our state office on Thursday, Feb.28, 2008.

Also, to support Labor 2008 and other important programs, we are working to re-build central labor councils around the state. This work includes some financial assistance to staff some of the program work in each area.

Already we can report the Southeastern CLC in Wilmington is now re-building its membership base with the help of the North Carolina State AFL-CIO and has just elected new officers.

AFA-CWA needs your help to make it happen

North Carolina Senator Elizabeth Dole has yet to support extending Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) benefits to all flight attendants. We need your help to contact and urge them to support the Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act.

The Family and Medical Leave Act was intended to provide all Flight Attendants with the ability to take time off from work to take care of family members facing serious illness. Unfortunately, corporate executives and their allies in Congress have short-changed many of our flying partners, denying them the protections of FMLA. The law, signed by President Clinton has been a lifeline for working families, protecting their jobs while they attend to family priorities.

The Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act - a bi-partisan bill, attracting support from both Democrats and Republicans - would ensure that all Flight Attendants are covered by FMLA.

Calling Senator Dole, identifying yourself as a constituent and asking that she co-sponsor the Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act is the most effective way to earn her support.

Call NC Senator Elizabeth Dole
202-224-6342

Every North Carolinian is a constituent of Senator Elizabeth Dole, and she needs to hear from all of us that Senate Bill 2059 is a priority for working families.

Here’s a sample phone script you can use when making your call to Senator Dole:

My name is ___________ and I am calling as a voter in your state [and a flight attendant]. I am asking that the Senator co-sponsor S. 2059, The Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act.

Senate Bill 2059 is important pro-family legislation. This bill is a priority for all flight crewmembers, and it’s a priority for me. I would really appreciate the Senator’s support.

Again, tell the Senator to please cosponsor S. 2059.

After you call Senator Dole, you can further help by contacting your Member of Congress. Urge him or her to be a co-sponsor the Airline Flight Crew Family and Medical Leave Act in the House, HR 2744.

So far, only Congressmen Price (D-4th NC), Congressman Shuler (D-11th NC), and Congressman Watt (D-12th NC) have signed on as co-sponsors.

The North Carolina State AFL-CIO stands in strong support of the Flight Attendants of AFA-CWA Local 89 in their bid to gain the same protections under FMLA that other working families depend on in times of crisis. Please show your support for them by calling the Congress, today!

On the heels of a yet another anti-worker ruling by the National Labor Relations Board, the AFL-CIO announced October 25 that it’s filing charges with the International Labor Organization (ILO). The ILO is a UN agency created in 1919 to improve the conditions of workers and advance the cause of social justice throughout the world.

“Under Bush, America’s labor board has so failed our nation’s workers that we must now turn to the world’s international watchdogs to monitor and intervene. The Bush Labor Board is kryptonite for America’s workers. There is no historic precedent for such aggressive efforts by the Board to curtail workers’ rights of freedom of association and collective bargaining.” -AFL-CIO President John Sweeney

The ILO complaint, filed with the organization’s Committee on Freedom of Association, says the NLRB responded to a “rise in unlawful employer conduct” by shrinking coverage of the National Labor Relations Act, limiting the rights protected by the statute and strengthening management’s ability to discriminate, harass and intimidate workers. It also charges the NLRB with steadfastly refusing to apply the few meaningful remedies available under the law.

In related news, the AFL-CIO is planning a major rally on Thursday, November 15 to protest the anti-worker decisions of the Board.

Thanks to the DC Metro Council which contributed to this report.

Last week we told you about the veto by President Bush of the bill that would reauthorize the State Children’s Health Insurance Program and expand its coverage to include 4 million more children of families that make too little to buy their own insurance.

This week we’ve launched a letter writing campaign through our web site so our members can join in the discussion of the Bush veto, which has sparked heated debate in local newspapers across our state and around the country.

The NC State AFL-CIO lobbied against funding the expansion of SCHIP on the backs of tobacco workers and their jobs through an increase in the federal tobacco excise tax. We lost that debate.

Even so, we believe that the reauthorization of SCHIP for the over 110,000 kids in NC who depend on it for their basic health care needs is too important not to support the legislation now before the Congress. Their health and the health of tens of thousands of other children still without coverage in our state depend on an override of Bush’s callous veto.

We urge those of you reading this e-mail to go to http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/schip_veto_letters/ and use the form to send your own letter to the editor in support of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

At the letter writing campaign web site, we’ve provided a list of talking points you can use to help get you started. Letters only have to be 250 words or less. When you provide your zip code, our system will pull up a list of local newspapers in circulation in your area. You can choose to send your letter to one or to all of them.

The veto of SCHIP renewal means 6.6 million children of low-income families will lose their health care when funding expires on November 16 unless the Congress acts quickly to override. An additional 4 million children from low-middle income families that would have gained coverage will continue to go without any health insurance.

It takes a two-thirds majority to override a veto, but the 265 to 159 House vote falls about 25 votes short of what is needed.

An override will almost certainly count on two North Carolina Democrats who voted against SCHIP renewal - Rep. Bob Etheridge of the 2nd Congressional District and Rep. Mike McIntyre of the 7th CD.

President George W. Bush wielded his veto power Wednesday - only the 4th time during his presidency - to deny renewal of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

The veto of SCHIP renewal means 6.6 million children of low-income families will lose their health care when funding expires on November 16 unless the Congress acts quickly to override. An additional 4 million children from low-middle income families that would have gained coverage will continue to go without any health insurance.

It takes a two-thirds majority to override a veto, and the 67 to 29 Senate vote to approve children health bill is expected to hold up. But the 265 to 159 House vote fails about 25 votes short of what is needed to override the veto.

An override will almost certainly count on two North Carolina Democrats who voted against SCHIP renewal - Rep. Bob Etheridge of the 2nd Congressional District and Rep. Mike McIntyre of the 7th CD. The North Carolina State AFL-CIO calls on our members, friends, families, and allies to contact Etheridge and McIntyre and urge them to override Bush’s callous veto.

SCHIP renewal would have allocated an additional $7 billion a year over five years to cover children from families with gross incomes too high to qualify for medicaid but too low to afford private health insurance. Bush, Etheridge and McIntyre think that’s just too much cost to bare for 4 million more kids to have health care.

In related news, the Bush Administration has requested an additional $189 billion this year for the war in Iraq.

Call Bob Etheridge and Mike McIntyre and tell them get their priorities straight and to vote to override the President’s callous veto of SCHIP renewal. You can download this flyer with a toll-free number and talking points to use during your call.

Please Call:
1-866-544-7573
Ask to be connected to Etheridge and McIntyre’s offices

When: October 19-20, 2007

Where: Durham Marriott at the Civic Center, Durham, NC

Who Should Attend: Anyone (students, scholars, lawyers, activists) who is interested in promoting and protecting equal justice and equal opportunity

Program Costs and Benefits: The registration fee of $25.00 includes continental breakfast, lunch and all conference materials. A limited number of fee waivers and participant scholarships are available.

For more information and to register for the conference, visit www.ReclaimCivilRights.org.

The City’s Human Relations Department and the Southern Anti-Racism Network will host a Human Relations Conference on African American and Latino cooperation. The conference will bring attention to the need for better understanding of immigration and its impact on people seeking jobs and affordable housing.

When: Saturday, August 11, 2007, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Where: Hayti Heritage Center, 804 Old Fayetteville Street, Durham

"Since I lost my home in New Orleans, I think I know how immigrants feel trying to start over in a new community," says Phillip Blatcher who moved to Durham after hurricane Katrina.

Workshops will be offered on Labor Rights, Fair Housing, Environmental Justice, Immigration, and Gulf Coast Reconstruction. Children of the Sun Theatre Productions will provide a dramatic presentation on building unity. Richard G. Womack, Assistant to the President of the AFL-CIO, will travel from Washington, DC to participate in the conference.

For more information, contact Theresa El-Amin, (919) 824-0659 / theresaelamin@aol.com or Diane Ward, (919) 560-4107 x242 / diane.ward@durhamnc.gov.