Denial of Access in Wisconsin By Labor Reporters
March 10, 2011
By Frank Emspak, Executive Producer, WIN
Last week, while working with WIN, Mark Roughen and his team were denied press passes by the Capitol Correspondents Association. After some intense discussion an agreement was reached to provide daily press passes to Mark and his crew along with WIN staff correspondents and producers Doug Cunningham. We were assured that this was the procedure that all press were being asked to follow last week. While we accepted this as a temporary solution, we did ask for permanent press passes for our staff.
Response to War on Workers
March 10, 2011
By John Pietaro
Cleveland, OH: In the months before the embattled atmosphere over Wisconsin descended upon its working people, several veteran labor activists, Donna DeWitt, Jerry Gordon and Mark Dudzic among them, saw the urgency mounting. Reaching out to other established leaders, including Bill Fletcher (who, regrettably was instrumental in planning but unable to make the meeting itself) they began to conceptualize an “Emergency Labor Meeting”, a core gathering of union troublemakers.
Report from Albany
Report from Albany
March 9, 2011
By Liz Krueger, NYS Senator
This June, New York State’s rent regulation laws are once again up for renewal. I'm working closely with advocates to ensure that these laws are both renewed and strengthened. While not perfect, New York State's rent regulation system is by far our largest and most important affordable housing program. It enables more than 2.5 million people, the vast majority of whom are moderate or low-income to live in safe and affordable housing.
Devastating Cuts to Day Care Services
March 9, 2010
By Ernest A. Logan, President, CSA
CSA President Says City’s Budget Proposal to Eliminate More than 16,500 Day Care slots will nearly eradicate Early Childhood Education for the Poor Mayor Bloomberg’s proposed FY 2012 budget paints a grim picture for all of New York City, especially for poor working parents and their children.
Among many cuts proposed by the Mayor, the Administration for Children's Services (ACS) will eliminate 16,624 subsidized child care slots due to insufficient federal funding. Nearly 4,000 of those slots, or 197 classrooms, will be taken from community Day Care Centers where the Directors who run these programs are certified educators who provide high-quality early childhood education.Senate to Vote on Child Care and Head Start Funding
March 8, 2010
By Linda Gomez
On February 19, the House approved legislation (H.R. 1) to cut federal programs by over $60 billion for the current fiscal year. As part of that bill, funding for child care and Head Start would be cut. The bill must now be considered by the Senate.
Republicans Plan OSHA Budget Cut
March 7, 2011
By Brian Naylor
Congressional Republicans are promising to scrub the government for what they say are "job killing" regulations. One of their primary targets is the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA.
AFSCME Members Protest in Albany
AFSCME Members Protest in Albany
March 4, 2011
By Kismet Barksdale
Nearly 2,000 members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) from all over New York met in Albany March 1, 2011 to give a face to the public services that they provide and implored legislators to make policies which build a better New York for all.
Maintain Teacher Seniority
Maintain Teacher Seniority
March 4, 2011
By Stephanie Barlie & Kayty Himmelstein
Currently, New York State's seniority rule protects experienced teachers from layoffs, a policy sometimes known as "last in, first out." In recent budget negotiations, Mayor Bloomberg and Chancellor Black have pressured Governor Cuomo to overturn this rule.
Walmart Advertising is Deceptive
March 3, 2011
By Linda Gomez
Describing it as a “deception wrapped in a fraud,” Jack Ahern, president of the New York City Central Labor Council, is denouncing Wal-Mart tactics that seek to destroy the unity of organized labor in New York.
Collective Bargaining Rights Must be Preserved
Collective Bargaining Rights Must be Preserved
March 1, 2011
By Ed Koch
Revolution is apparently The Order of the Day, I’m back in the office after a 16-day cruise on the "Crystal Symphony." We sailed north from Buenos Ares, stopping in Rio de Janeiro, Devil’s Island, French Guiana, Bridgetown, Barbados, Grand Turk in the Turks & Caicos Islands, and departed the ship in Miami.
How to Guarantee Social Security's Future
How to Guarantee Social Security's Future
March 23, 2011
By Rekindling Reform
What is Social Security?
Social Security is social insurance managed by government to guarantee an income to the retired elderly, the disabled, and family members of a worker who has died or become permanently disabled.
Comptroller Liu Nails Cheaters
March 1, 2011
By Neal Tepel
New York City Comptroller John C. Liu announced a record-breaking settlement of $2.35 million on behalf of 24 workers who were cheated out of wages and benefits for work at City sites. The award is the largest on record at the New York City Comptroller’s Office, which monitors compliance with New York State’s labor laws.
“This goes to show that vendors who have the privilege of working on City contracts and do not honor their requirements will be held accountable,” Comptroller Liu said. “We will not tolerate contractors who seek to avoid the responsibility of paying their employees what they are rightfully owed.”
Construction Projects Increased in 2010 - Industry Continues to Fall Behind
Construction Projects Increased in 2010 - Industry Continues to Fall Behind
March 1, 2011
By Neal Tepel
A New York Building Congress analysis of Mc Graw-Hill Construction Dodge data found that $19.5 billion worth of construction projects were started in 2010, a 15 percent increase from 2009, when $16.9 billion in projects were commenced. The total value of last year’s construction starts remained 5 percent below 2008, when construction starts in New York City reached $20.6 billion.
From NYC to Wisconsin - Same Struggle
February 28, 2011 
By Kismet Barksdale
Over 700 union members and supporters thronged City Hall Park Thursday, February 24, 2011; delivering a message that they’re prepared to hang tough to push back against massive layoffs of city workers proposed by Mayor Mike Bloomberg. Speakers made the point that even after an extra $2 billion was found in the City’s budget, the Mayor is still pressing forward with plans to lay off up to 5,000 teachers.
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