Tag Archives: United States

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a message from … Christian Sweeney AFL-CIO


I wanted to make sure you got this time-sensitive message from Beth at CWA.

Right now, 9,000 American Airlines Passenger Service Agents are trying to form a union. American Airlines is working to block their election by refusing to provide a list of eligible voters to the National Mediation Board (NMB). Please read Beth’s message and take action.

The NMB can move ahead but it needs to hear how the public feels about American Airlines’ actions.

Thanks for everything you do to win fairness.

In solidarity,

Christian Sweeney
AFL-CIO

Is American Airlines above the law?

The National Mediation Board (NMB) set May 17 as the date for a union representation election for over 9,600 ticket, gate and reservation agents at American Airlines. But in a reckless disregard for the rule of law, American Airlines has simply decided to refuse to provide employees addresses so voting instructions for the election can be mailed by the NMB.

Click here to make sure that the NMB stands up to American Airlines and ensures the election moves forward.

American Airlines is in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings. The company has announced massive layoffs, outsourcing and office closures, as well as dramatic increases in health costs and pay cuts for many of its workers.

American Airlines CEO Tom Horton hopes that by breaking the law, he will be able to postpone the election while laying off hundreds of eligible employees and forcing others to make an immediate and irrevocable decision about early retirement.

Even in this anti-worker climate, American Airline’s disdain for the rule of law and the NMB is stunning. They will be spending thousands of dollars in legal fees to silence workers while telling their employees and creditors in bankruptcy court that they will not be able meet their obligations to them.

Breaking the law to interfere with an election is simply not acceptable in a democracy. Click here to tell the NMB that you stand with the workers at American Airlines and for democracy.

In Unity,

Beth Allen
Online Communications Director

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ICE agents beat 17-year-ol​ds …Gabriela Garcia, Change.org


Change.org
                          Stop the deportation of Julio and Adolfo, cousins who were beaten at age 17 by immigration agents, before Sunday.                       
      Sign Romy’s Petition

C –

Julio Diaz Sales and Adolfo Garcia Diaz were 17 years old when immigration agents busted down the door of their Miami-area home. Julio and Adolfo say they were handcuffed, thrown on the floor, and beaten in the face and chest.

Only it was all a mistake — Julio and Adolfo had not committed any crimes. Immigration agents later admitted they broke into the wrong house as part of a sting operation.

Despite all this, immigration officials are set to deport Julio and Adolfo out of the U.S. on Sunday. Their attorney, Romy Lerner, knows that Change.org members have helped stop dozens of other last-minute deportations, and she thinks the only chance the boys have is to rally public support.

Romy started a petition on Change.org asking ICE Director John Morton to intervene and let Julio and Adolfo stay in the U.S.

Click here to sign Romy’s petition before Julio and Adolfo are deported on Sunday.

Their injuries were so bad that the immigration center’s director immediately started an investigation into what happened. But Romy says immigration agents apparently showed little concern for the boys’ injuries.

“No agent was hurt,” wrote one immigration agent in an email obtained by Univision. “I’m not sure what happened with the bad guys, but who cares what happened to them anyways?”

The “bad guys” were Julio and Adolfo — two 17-year-old boys mistakenly caught up in a botched raid.

Julio and Adolfo came to the U.S. from Guatemala as children. While they entered the country without documentation, they’ve worked hard in America and don’t have any criminal record.

Despite ICE’s initial mistake in targeting the boys, their subsequent beatings, and their otherwise clean backgrounds, Julio and Adolfo have until only Sunday before they’re deported back to Guatemala.

Romy Lerner, the boys’ attorney, has represented many people facing deportation. When she sees what Julio and Adolfo have been through, she fears that the immigration system will continue to fail her clients. She’s hoping to rally support for the cousins in their final days before they’ll be forced to leave the U.S.

Click here to sign Romy’s petition to stop Julio and Adolfo’s deportation scheduled for Sunday.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

– Gabriela and the Change.org team
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Kendra Obom, a young worker, asks Candidate Rob Mckenna about his stance on the Reproductive Parity Act … he says, “Get a Job”


“Why don’t you go get a job?”

That’s what Republican Rob McKenna said to Kendra Obom when she asked him for his position on the Reproductive Parity Act. Not only was McKenna’s reaction callous and insulting, his stereotype was wrong.

Kendra Obom works with youth at the YMCA.

Right now, more than 288,000 Washingtonians are unemployed. They are construction workers, educators, and manufacturers. They are friends, family, and neighbors. They are women and men.

Our new video, “288,000” asks the question McKenna created with his response: if McKenna will ignore people he thinks are unemployed, will he answer questions from those who have jobs?

Watch “288,000,” then send in your questions for Rob McKenna.

With more than 288,000 Washingtonians out of work, we are looking to our elected official and candidates to present a real plan to create jobs in Washington. McKenna’s response won’t put anyone back to work.

Thankfully, Jay Inslee has a plan to build a working Washington – through innovation and clean energy – that will help rebuild the middle class. We need our next governor to listen to the unemployed, and focus on their priorities, if they are going to have a chance to “go get a job.”

When given the opportunity to show remorse for his treatment of Kendra Obom, McKenna doubled down on his attack, calling her “demeaning.” The only person who was demeaning was Rob McKenna; his comments were demeaning to women and the unemployed workers of Washington.

Help keep Rob McKenna honest by sending in your questions and telling him to stand up for middle class families:

http://www.wa-democrats.org/askrob

Sincerely,

Benton Strong
Communications Director
Washington State Democrats

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President Obama Speaks


May  8, 2012 by    

President Obama delivers remarks at the 18th Annual Gala of the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. May 8, 2012.

Apr 20, 2012 by    

The President is deeply committed to seeing Sudan and South Sudan become two economically prosperous states living side-by-side in peace.

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House Votes Thursday on Deep Cuts to Health Care, Food Stamps, Child Care and More


National Women's Law Center - Don't Discount Women: Demand Fair Change Not Spare Change
Take Action: Tell Your Representative to Vote NO
                Protect millions of women and families from the harsh spending cuts the House is voting on this week.
Take Action

They just never stop.
Earlier this year, the House of Representatives passed the budget blueprint introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). The Ryan budget calls for drastic cuts in programs that low-income women and their families depend on to meet their basic needs — and trillions of dollars in additional tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans and corporations.
This week, the House will vote on a bill to implement the Ryan budget by slashing Medicaid, Food Stamps (SNAP), child care, and more, and dismantling the Affordable Care Act.
Please contact your Representative TODAY and tell him or her to vote against these devastating cuts!
The bill the House is scheduled to vote on this Thursday, H.R. 4966, would:

  • Let states reduce eligibility standards for Medicaid, which women disproportionately rely on for health care coverage, and for the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
  • Dismantle the Affordable Care Act, by eliminating funding for state health exchanges and community-level preventive and public health initiatives, and by reducing access to affordable health insurance coverage by discouraging the use of premium tax credits.
  • Terminate the Social Services Block Grant, which gives billions of dollars to states to support seniors and children, including critical funding for child care assistance.
  • Cut Food Stamp (SNAP) benefits, reducing monthly benefits almost immediately for about 44 million people and denying benefits altogether for as many as 2 million more.
  • Eliminate eligibility for the refundable Child Tax Credit for many immigrant families.

These cuts are serious, and they’re dangerous. The well-being of millions of American women and their families is at risk, and we need your help today.
Tell your Representative to vote against these unfair and irresponsible measures!
Our Representatives have to hear that we won’t stand for balancing the budget on the backs of women and their families — and that millionaires and corporations have to start paying their fair share of taxes.
Sincerely,
Joan Entmacher Joan Entmacher Vice President, Family Economic Security National Women’s Law Center    Judy Waxman Judy Waxman Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights National Women’s Law Center   

P.S. Your generous donation allows us to continue to do our work on behalf of women and their families. Please support our work on the budget and other critical issues today.