Monthly Archives: June 2014
Supreme Court Could Kill Collective Bargaining Rights
Anti-worker forces are at it again. In 2011, they worked alongside right-wing governors to push through sneak attacks on our collective bargaining rights. In 2012, they passed destructive “right to work” bills. Now they’re poised to eradicate the rights of home care workers to band together for a voice on the job.
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation, a group with a political agenda to weaken the power of working people, is challenging the right of public home care providers to collectively bargain. This extremist right-wing group with ties to the ultra-conservative Koch Brothers and ALEC has brought the case (Harris v. Quinn) all the way up to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the Roberts court – which has ruled in favor of corporations time and time again – we’re hoping for the best, but we’re bracing for the worst.
The timing is urgent. The Supreme Court will issue a decision in the coming weeks – and possibly as early as this Monday! Sign our petition to stand with care workers now!
If the right wing has no shame about attacking teachers and firefighters, we shouldn’t be surprised they’re trying to strip hardworking care workers of their rights. Home care workers are truly everyday heroes. From administering medicine to preparing meals, they allow millions of seniors and people with disabilities to live independently at home with dignity and respect. If a bad ruling comes down, it will make it easier for home care workers to lose hard-won gains in hours, benefits, training opportunities and wages – and compromise their ability to provide the life-changing care that our loved ones deserve.
These frontline care providers, who are predominantly women, have been fighting to improve their insufficient job standards through years of campaigning. Hundreds of thousands of these caregivers have now earned collective bargaining rights, and nearly two million home care workers finally secured the right to earn a minimum wage and overtime just last year. Now is the moment to raise these workers up – not cut them down.
We all need the freedom to have a voice at work, to speak up for decent jobs and good services. We can’t afford to stay silent.
Everything is at stake. A bad decision could not only hurt care workers directly but will end up negatively impacting families and communities nationwide, compromising care standards at the moment our aging nation needs it most. And if our friends and neighbors can’t join together in strong unions, it will become harder for all workers to gain better wages and benefits, more job security and safer workplaces. This fight belongs to all of us now.
Make your voice heard: Stand with care workers – and against the right wing – today.
Thanks for fighting for what’s right,
Hilary and the entire Jobs With Justice team
the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 6/2 ~~ the House
The Senate will convene at 2:00pm on Monday, June 2, 2014.
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #633, the nomination of Keith M. Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council. There will be 2 minutes of debate prior a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the Harper nomination.
During Thursday’s session of the Senate, cloture was filed on the following items in the order listed:
– Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council (up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);
– Executive Calendar #755, Sharon Bowen, of New York, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (up to 8 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);
– Executive Calendar #691, Mark G. Mastroianni, of Massachusetts, to be United States District Judge for the District of Massachusetts (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);
– Executive Calendar #692,Bruce Howe Hendricks, of South Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of South Carolina (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided);
– Executive Calendar #733, Tanya S. Chutkan, of the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia (up to 2 hours of post-cloture debate equally divided); and
– Executive Calendar #798, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, of West Virginia, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services (up to 30 hours of post-cloture debate).
At 5:33pm, the Senate began a 15-minute roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council.
Invoked: 51-37
WRAP UP
Roll Call Vote
1) Motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #633, Keith Harper, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative to the UN Human Rights Council; Invoked: 51-37
No Legislative items
No Executive items
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Last Floor Action:5/30
12:02:05 P.M. – PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
| 12:00:16 P.M. | The House convened, starting a new legislative day. | |
| 12:00:35 P.M. | The Speaker designated the Honorable Mac Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. | |
| 12:00:54 P.M. | Today’s prayer was offered by Reverend Loren Lasch, St. Patricks Episcopal Church, Washington, DC. | |
| 12:01:55 P.M. | The Chair announced that pursuant to section 3(a) of H. Res. 604, the Journal of the last day’s proceedings was approved. | |
| 12:02:05 P.M. | PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – The Chair led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. |
| 12:03:06 P.M. | The House received a communication from Jim Renacci, Member of Congress. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Congressman Renacci notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena, issued by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, for both documents and testimony in a criminal case, and that after consultation with the Office of General Counsel, he will determine whether compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House. | |
| 12:04:20 P.M. | The Speaker announced that the House do now adjourn pursuant to section 3(b) of H. Res. 604.The next meeting is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on June 5, 2014. |
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