Local Spotlight
Local 537 Pickets American Water President's Neighborhood Share
On Sunday, March 6, 2011, approximately 80 UWUA, Local 537 members arrived at a housing development where the President of Pennsylvania American Water Company lives at approximately 11:00 AM. Local 537 members set out to leaflet and picket the neighborhood, protesting the huge rate increases for customers, huge bonuses for top bosses, and at the same time, cuts for the workers. Read More

Northeast Utilities Shareholders Approve Merger with Power Company NSTAR Share
Northeast Utilities shareholders voted Friday to approve the merger between NU and NSTAR, a Boston-area power company. NU hopes to close the deal, which would create a $17.5 billion powerhouse and one of the nation's largest utilities, late this year. Read More

WFRN Live: The Union Edge Share
Rich Mata, UWUA's National Training Director, will be featured on The Union Edge on Wednesday, March 9th at 1:00pm EST. Listen live at WFRNLive.com or visit the web site later to listen on demand. Read More

Turning Points: An Address to the AFL-CIO Executive Council Share
In order to do that, I want to first touch on the importance of what is going on even as we speak out in Wisconsin. Over the past two weeks, we have all been stunned by the level of passion and resistance that has welled up in response to Governor Scott Walker’s attempt to strip public workers of their rights to collective bargaining. The passions unleashed by that battle have spread far beyond Wisconsin and have engaged the country, and public sympathy – as recent polls suggest – the way no labor battle in recent memory has done. Read More

Good Jobs Defined Share
While speaking to Hispanic organizations and Latino labor leaders on Wednesday, Secretary Solis highlighted her message that "Good Jobs for Everyone means we are committed to protecting workers by improving working conditions, advancing opportunities for employment, protecting retirement and healthcare benefits, helping employers find workers and strengthening collective bargaining." The roundtable is part of an ongoing and targeted effort to reach Latinos in the workforce and discuss current economic and social challenges facing the community. Additional topics included state and federal workplace policies and funding streams, their impact on Latino communities, and the critical role Hispanics have to play in American innovation. Read More

Not Privatization, Profitization Share
Time and time again, studies have shown that there is very little gain through privatization and, more often than not, the public suffers substantial losses.  If anything, the track record of past privatization efforts shows faulty budgeting, costs overruns, and unnecessary spending. Read More

Anti-Union Bills
Unions fighting back with direct action -- Madison style Share
The formula is straightforward. First, stand on principle. Second, mobilize in large numbers and be in the streets. Third, engage in peaceful, but direct actions that focus and dramatize the goals of the movement. Finally, communicate -- and encourage everyone to communicate. Read More

Majority in Poll Opposes Weakening Bargaining Rights for Public Workers Share
As labor battles erupt in state capitals around the nation, a majority of Americans say they oppose efforts to weaken the collective bargaining rights of public employee unions and are also against cutting the pay or benefits of public workers to reduce state budget deficits, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll. Read More

Hannity Falsely Claims Ohio Public Workers Earn More Than Private Sector Counterparts Share
Sean Hannity falsely claimed that public workers in Ohio earn more than private sector workers, parroting a discredited USA Today analysis. In fact, the Economic Policy Institute found that compensation for Ohio public employees is "slightly less than what they would receive in the private sector" after controlling for factors such as education and experience. Read More

"Fox News Lies" While Covering Pro-Labor Protests In Wisconsin Share
Fox News has pushed a litany of falsehoods while reporting on pro-labor protests in Wisconsin, thereby proving right the many Wisconsin protesters who have broken out into chants of "Fox News lies." Read More

Human Rights
Subcommittee Digs for Mine Safety Share
“I know that it is possible for a mine to be a safe place to work for miners and a profitable business for operators,” proclaimed Joseph A. Main, assistant secretary for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Workforce Protections. In prepared testimony, Main echoed earlier statements calling for legislation to address the enforcement needs of the agency charged with protecting the nation's miners. The hearing, chaired by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI), highlighted new training programs MSHA has implemented since 2010 to improve quality and consistency in their enforcement, reforming the pattern of violations system and the need for strengthened whistleblower protections in the mining industry. Read More