Pro-Labor, Pro-Union
If you don’t have a union in your workplace, you don’t have guaranteed wages, health benefits or a secure pension. You are an “at-will” employee. You check your rights at the door, and your employer can fire you or change your conditions of employment at any time and for almost any reason.
There are real advantages to having a union for you as an individual and for society in general. By forming a union with your co-workers, together you will have the strength to negotiate a legally binding contract with your employer that includes better wages, affordable health care, a secure retirement and a safer workplace. Consider:
- Better wages: Wages of union members are, on average, 27% higher than those of nonunion workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. In 2004, union workers were paid $781 a week, but nonunion workers only got paid $612 a week. While all unions workers are better off than nonunion workers, women and minorities are especially so:
- Women in unions earn an extra $170 a week – $9,000 more a year.
- African Americans in unions earn an extra $150 a week – $8,000 more a year.
- Latinos in unions earn an extra $225 a week – $11,650 more a year.
- Better health care: 81% of union workers have job-related health coverage, while only 50% of non-union workers do. Union families pay 43% less for family coverage than nonunion families – that’s a savings of $1,000 a year.
- Better pensions: 72% of union workers have a guaranteed, defined benefit pension, compared to only 15% of nonunion workers.
And the more union members there are in this country, the better off everyone is. Throughout our history, when unions are strong, wages go up, health care coverage improves and pensions are strengthened. When unions are under attack, as they are today, we are all in danger – our jobs, our communities and our families.
Help us win the fight to restore the American Dream for everyone. If you would like to form a union in your workplace, or you know someone who wants one in theirs, contact the organizing department of a Change to Win affiliated union today.
Learn more about how a union can help you:
EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT VOTE ON TUESDAY!!! (Petitions below...)
Okay, so if you have been a member of this group for a little while on LtL or if you generally support Labor then you most likely heard of the Employee Free Choice Act. If not the two largest Labor Organization federations, the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) and the Change To Win Coalition (CtW) have plenty to say about what the bill would do and why is important to all Americans, but especially those of us who work for a living.
Women In Black
On April 21st 2007 and every 3rd Sat. of every month, there is a Women In Black peace vigil where we (men welcome) stand on the corner of the plaza with Rite Aid in Atascadero. Wear all black, there will be signs, if you want to bring your own, check with Dee Caroll. Also feel free to contact her for more information. Her e-mail is bearspirit@tcsn.net
PLEASE WRITE PETA
http://www.petakillsanimals.com/index.cfm
Read the above informaiton. PETA is a wonderful resource, but it has some major hypocrisy going on. PETA kills animals, and has the money and resources to be a no-kill shelter. PLEASE WRITE PETA and ask them RESPECTFULLY to stop killing animals. We have to flood them with e-mails/calls/etc. Please pass it on, and show support!
Danielle
Old vs. New
It’s kind of sad to see people who are afraid to embrace something new, mainly because they are too scared to let go of everything they ever knew. They’re afraid of losing power, so they resist all new opportunities to grow that come along.
Critical Mass (bike ride) Against War! Everyone's invited! Saturday, March 17th
UCSB's doing it again:
Critical Mass (bike ride) Against War! Everyone's invited! Saturday, March 17th
Meet up at Pardall Tunnel in Isla Vista 9am sharp
Bring a bike, probably some water and a snack, sunscreen and a hat.
On March 17th we will rise up and take to the streets in a MASSIVE cross-town bicycle ride. CRITICAL MASS! A SUSTAINABLE PROTEST OF AN
UNSUSTAINABLE WAR!
No longer can we sit by and watch hundreds of thousands of people lose their life, while billions of dollars are stolen from worthy causes such as national health care, lowering tuition, expanding education,
rebuilding the Gulf Coast, or researching sustainable/renewable energy sources. We will take direct action to stop the war.
Fair trade
Ok, I've been involved with fair trade for years, I buy Christmas presents, coffee, food, and even many notebooks fair trade. It's a great cause, but in talking to people about it around Stonehill, I found out that alot of people are unaware of the movement.
Action Alert: Employee Free Choice Act - SMASH THE GOP FILIBUSTER!
As we all know (or should know) by now, the Employee Free Choice Act passed the House 241 to 185. That is roughly 56.6%. Translated into Senate terms, that percentage would be 57 votes at best, 3 short of breaking a filibuster. And make no mistake, Republicans are planning to filibuster to block Workers Rights. A closer look at the House votes, however, shows some of the most vulnerable Republicans for 2008.
The first two things you can do to help turn the tide in the Senate is to sign this petition and write a letter to the editor.
Action Alert: Employee Free Choice Act! SIGN THE PETITION!!!
The Democratic Party is circulating a petition calling for members of congress to vote for the Employee Free Choice Act tomorrow on the floor of the House.
If you sign it, you will do a great service to American working families. It will only take a second so please add your name to the list!
Below the fold is just the text of Gov./Dr./Chairman Dean's excellent summary of the EFCA, in case you are curious.