Please download these flyers to distribute to your friends and neighbors and family. It will help explain the Employee Free Choice Act to them.
With a clear understanding they will see how AT&T lowering wages and benefits can affect them in ways they could not know.
There are documents here that can help you better understand how the Employee Free Choice Act can bring middle class working salaries up to heights that will make contracting out work undesirable. This can add to job security AND level the field of competition between employers.
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Click on image to download and print Handouts, leave at stores, give to students.
ABOVE YOU WILL FIND THE FLYERS NEEDED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC. BELOW YOU WILL FIND THE PHONE NUMBER FOR SENATOR
DIANNE FEINSTEIN OFFICE. PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE TIME IS RUNNING OUT! THE VOTE IS SLATED FOR JULY 1ST!
EFCA (EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT)
-NEWSFLASH-
The vote for this Act has been postponed in order to settle healthcare reform issues
Workers need new laws that level the playing field and ensure the freedom to form unions and bargain for better wages and benefits.
With the free choice to form unions, working people can counterbalance corporate power and make our economy work for everyone again, not just the CEOs.
The choice to form unions is made by WORKERS!
Please CALL SENATOR
DIANNE FEINSTEIN’S OFFICE
(even you already called before)
AT
866-632-4160 (call can be made easily at any time or no waiting!)
Leave a voicemail: with your name, your state (CA), your union(CWA) and Local (9510), that you’re a voter and that she needs to support
EMPLOYEE FREE CHOICE ACT!
April 18th
MANAGER'S OPINION CORNER (That's right, everybody's got one! You know, a manager.)
This was a pro-AT&T post from a manager who is so misrable he can't see further than getting screwed by his own company...
"Hey union folks.. I know you are saying "We will never give in".. "The company is trying to take our life blood"... yada..yada..yada Get real.. Average US worker pays 34% of their health insurance costs... You.. 8%... You really think in this environment, given what everyone else pays... the downfall of GM partly over legacy costs.. That you are going to get your way on this.. I don't think so.. You had better get used to the thought that you are going to have higher costs.. We all are... I have been paying more and more every year.. Just like most Americans.. My wages were frozen this year.. That's 2009 baby!"
Wow! I bet this guy wishes he had a union. He is probably right with the numbers, but this is what he did not consider. Since Union Workers are only 13% of the American Workforce. There are very few American workers that can fight back against paying heathcare costs. Out of the millions of workers out there, only union workers have been able to push back! Remember, Verizon East's contract with CWA signed last year DID NOT include union members paying their healthcare! Plus, telecommunication companies are not the only industry paying for employee healthcare - big oil, pharmaceuticals, insurance companies and some banking firms do not make their employees pay healthcare!
Since AT&T are in the top 100 of the Fortune 500, here is a short list of other companies in the top 100 that pay 100% of their employee's healthcare. You may have heard of some of them:
Qualcomm; Boston Consulting Group; Nugget Markets; Umpqua Bank; Whole Foods Market; Shared Technologies; Stew Leonard's; SAS Institute; Rackspace Managed Hosting; Station Casinos; Kimley-Horn & Associates; FactSet Research Systems; Perkins Coie; EOG Resources; Russell Investments; Valero Energy; David Evans & Associates; Granite Construction; Stanley; Lehigh Valley Hospital & Health Network and Microsoft.
CWA NEWS
Watch the May 27 CWA AT&T Unity e-Meeting. Click here.
The Website of the Week belongs to IUE-CWA Local 84807 of Jeffersonville, IN. For information on creating or maintaining your local's site, click here.
THE FOLLOWING WAS A POST FOUND ON THE INTERNET. IT CLOSELY DESCRIBES WHAT A LOT OF US ARE FEELING AT THIS POINT-
The uninformed? Healthcare costs are just one issue. At&t wants cuts and give backs in just about every area. Reduced pay (by as much as 40%) trim 401k contributions, THEY want to schedule our vacation time, eliminate sick pay (for employees with less than 8yrs), just a few of the givebacks at&t seeks. As an at&t tech. for 16yrs I spent 5yrs working and training to get to top pay and it would take 5yrs to replace me! Most people could
not meet the standards our techs and reps meet every minute. At&t made $13B PROFIT because we have the BEST trained people in the industry and earn every bit of what we got!
This whole entitlement thinking comments thing is crazy. You're right we do feel something. We feel that the company should stand behind the promisses they make. We are not asking for more, more, more. We just don't want to give back what we have. If the company was in finacial trouble this would be another matter. Hell most of us would be ok with paying a little more for health care. Or taking smaller raise to keep it like it is. But the company is not budging on anything
To the person who said "You guys are not getting the big picture." Get real. Without union members, they have no shares. Who do you think does all the work? The Executives? The Shareholders? No! The union members do all the work. With out our hard work and dedication to this company there would be no company.
I'm sadden from the comments that I have read thus far. The idea that healthcare expense shouldn't be shared is far from what the union is upset with. I ask you to consider these things first before you post comments with biased thoughts. I am a union member and I agree that we should look at cost factors and ensure that monies will be allocated to make AT&T a profitable company. But, if the monies are taking away to spend on lavish concerts," The final four games", then what message is given. I take from my employees -managers and union worker to sell a well self known product. If any of you have children think about this; In todays society we educate our children that they need a college degree to even be consider for a corporate american career. We all know that there is a differances between a job and a career. A job is a means for income with little or no benefits. A career is benefits building families and trusting in a company name that you are proud to be a part of. What AT&T is offering now is higher paid jobs. NO benefits after retirement, can we or should we allow companies to set these standards for our youth
Verizon was able to give there guys a fair contract why cant att? Maybe they should let go of some off there 32 board members. If anyone knows economics, put money in the workers hand and he will use it to buy things. Take money away he wont. If you relay want to help the economy you want to put money in the hands off the people that spend it. We are not asking for the world here. I am just asking to stay in the standard off living that I am use to. Give backs by the union will end up more house foreclosed less spending and prolong this mess were in. What the att is offering will be equal to a 10k pay cut. How many off you can live with that. I don't want a raise. I don't want a bonus. I just want to keep what I have.
Below is a post by the wife of an AT&T mgr. This is an example of the ridiculous amount of money AT&T has used to attempt to prepare for a strike. With all of the money they are spending, you can call it AT&T's stupidity stimulus package. On a separate note, has anyone noticed that the market is up for the 4th week in a row? Just thought it should be mentioned:
at&tworker
duluth, ga
Posted 04:07 PM, 04/04/2009
"I'm angry that my husband, a non union white collar worker, is being forced to be a scab for the company. We were not given a choice. He was forced to do more than 100 hours of training ON TOP of his normal work duties, then they sent him to Dallas for "on the job" training where he learned to climb telephone poles, and go into man holes installing cable lines."
"His normal job is in an office in cubicle as business architecht (computer programming and development) and any day now could be sent to Oshkosh Wisconsin for an undetermined amount of time?!?!? I, for one, did not sign up to be a single mother while my husband is away being a low life scab."
"I'm very angry."
AT&T Mobility Contract Ratified
CWA members covered by the AT&T Mobility"Orange" contract ratified a new agreement that provides real gains for workers, including improvements in the retail store compensation plan and the creation of a new career path for customer service representatives.
CWA Executive Vice President Annie Hill said this contract broke new ground, especially in the areas of compensation for retail store workers and expanding career opportunity in customer service, two top priorities for Mobility members.
"For customer service workers, this first-ever career path shows that skill and experience will begin to be recognized and rewarded by AT&T Mobility. For retail sales workers, a new, minimum at-risk monthly commission payout provides a floor for earnings," Hill said. "Mobility workers will be building on these gains as we go forward," she added.
The proposed settlement provides for a compounded wage increase of 8.8 percent over the four-year contract term, along with a $500 bonus. More than 11,000 retail sales consultants now will earn a minimum monthly commission of $1,000 if targeted sales goals are met. In addition, some 500 consumer care workers will receive job upgrades and additional pay increases, as will 50-70 wireless technicians. Other important improvements addressed monitoring and quota relief.
Mobilization by Mobility workers throughout the "Orange" territory – Districts 1, 2, 4, 7, 9 and 13 – made a tremendous difference as did support from CWA Mobility members in the Southeast and Southwest covered by separate contracts and CWA members at the core AT&T company.
7548 Trade St. San Diego CA 92121 Toll Free: (800) 559-1509
Local Calls: (858) 695-1509
Fax: (858) 695-2074
UPCOMING....
Support our Union Brothers and Sisters in the East and Southeast who are still negotiating for a fair contract
Help Pass Health Care Reform
Employee Free Choice Act For All
"It's not over 'til it's over!"
AT&T: Union Workers In Southeast Fail To Ratify Contract
AT&T said about 29,500 union employees in its Southeast region failed to ratify a tentative contract announced last month. It was voted down 60/40.
The previous contract expired Aug. 8 and staffers have continued to work under its terms as a new agreement was negotiated.
"The company will continue to work to reach an agreement," the telecommunications company said.
The workers, represented by Communications Workers of America, are the only ones who haven't approved a tentative deal reached with the company.
AT&T still hasn't reached a deal with union employees in its East region, comprising Connecticut. The three-year proposed agreement included pay and pension band increases in each year, AT&T said.
Upcoming Merger Election
Ballots will be mailed February 11, 2010
The ballots will be mailed to your last known address of record on file at the Local. If you have recently moved or need to correct your address please contact Local 9509 and update your mailing address.
Date: January 29, 2010
To: Member of CWA Local 9509/9511
From: The Merger Committee
Re: Proposed merger between CWA Local 9509 and CWA Local 9511
Dear Member,
As you may know, representatives from both Locals have been meeting to discuss the feasibility of merging
the two Locals. The merger was initiated by CWA District 9, in part, because of the current status of
receivership at Local 9509 and also in hopes of building a stronger Union in the San Diego and Imperial
Counties.
Merger explanation meetings will be held at each Local and will be attended by committee members from
each of the Locals. The meetings are intended to provide an opportunity for you to address any questions or
concerns that you may have directly to the committee. Members in good standing from either Local may
attend any or all of the member meetings, regardless of location. Separate meetings will be held for stewards.
Details of the meetings are outlined below.
Members of the Merger Committee from Local 9509 include: Mike Heyenga, Bob Borunda, Malia Connacher,
Nathan Cowell, Elsa Rodriguez and Melinda Hawkins.
On the committee from Local 9511 are: Art Gonzalez,
Jesse Abril, Beau Gartiez, Gina Blea, Teri Landegent and Memo Leon.
CWA Local 9509
CWA Local 9511
7548 Trade Street, San Diego
1525 Simpson Way, Escondido
Tuesday February 9th
Thursday February 4th
8:00 am and 6:30 pm
5:30 pm
*Stewards Meeting *
*Stewards Meeting *
Thursday February 11th
Friday February 5th
6:30 pm
8:00 am and 6:00 pm
**Member Meeting **
**Member Meeting **
Tuesday February 16th
6:30 pm
**Member Meeting **
In Unity,
Your Merger Committee
Meetings with California State Legislators
On January 14, 2010, CWA District 9 representatives visited offices of State Assembly and State Senate elected officials to lobby for keeping jobs, specifically AT&T and Verizon jobs, in California. From Local 9509, I called upon the offices of San Diego area Assembly members Lori Saldana, Joel Anderson, Marty Block, Mary Salas as well as State Senator Denise Ducheny. State Legislators were unaware that between August 2008 and August 2009, more than 2,000 jobs moved out of California by the two companies. Their jaws dropped when informed of AT&T plans to eliminate or move another 1,140 jobs in the first quarter of 2010.
All agreed, both Democrats and Republicans, that jobs need to stay in this state for two compelling reasons: California is the flagship state for both since approximately 40% of their profits are derived from business in California; also, the Digital Infrastructure Act of 2006 gave AT&T and Verizon statewide franchises for broadband with the promise of creating “thousands of California jobs”. The relatively few jobs that have been created are low paying and term jobs, while the jobs leaving the state are the higher paying permanent jobs.
We stressed the importance of having legislative hearings holding the companies accountable for their actions. All Legislators visited agreed this would be appropriate. CWA Vice President, Jim Weitkamp, will be sending information to all California State Legislators with detailed information. Our most sympathetic State Legislators will be initiating hearings and bills to help us attain our goal of keeping jobs in our state.
Respectfully Submitted,
Dianne Rasmussen, Legislative Committee Member
CWA Local 9509
"Let's honor the sacrifice of Dr. King and the brave men and women who have made progress possible.
And let's rededicate ourselves to ensuring that every eligible American -- regardless of class, color, or creed -- can cast a ballot and have it counted."
Our hearts go out to the victims of yesterday's earthquake in Haiti. Here are two progressive ways you can make a difference today.
Doctors Without Borders — a group CREDO members support with their phone bills — operates one of the only free trauma centers in Port-au-Prince as well as an emergency hospital in the capital for pregnant women, new mothers, and newborn children. All three of its primary medical centers have collapsed, but DWB/MSF has already set up temporary shelters and is offering emergency care on the ground. For more info on their work in Haiti click here. To make a donation click here.
Tell Obama: Grant Temporary Protected Status to Haitians living in the U.S
President Obama has ordered his Department of Homeland Security to temporarily halt all forcible deportations to the disaster zone, but this falls far short of what human rights groups are asking for. He must immediately grant Temporary Protected Status to undocumented Haitian refugees in the U.S. Refugees from El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Somalia and Sudan are afforded this status. To refuse to do so for Haitians would be irresponsible and immoral. To take action, click here.
CWA Members -
Your immediate help is needed. If we can put aside our differences on healthcare and taxes for a moment, we can see that we have the ability to help those less fortunate than ourselves.
Please help now. Thousands are in desperate need of immediate medical attention.
The wake-up call sent by Tuesday’s special election in Massachusetts for the U.S. Senate couldn’t be clearer.
Working people are fed up with inaction in Washington and expect real results.
We can’t leave it to any political party to protect the interests of working families—it’s up to us to organize and mobilize harder, faster and smarter than ever before.
Please pledge to do your part. Recommit now to push harder to win jobs, health care and an economy that works for all of us. Click here:
CWA LOCAL 9509
What happened Tuesday in Massachusetts was a wake-up call to all of us.
It was a working class revolt—a signal that in this economic crisis, the American people demand jobs, health care and an economy that works for them now—not political business as usual.
It was a loud and clear message that our elected leaders—and our labor movement—must do more for working people, do it fast and do it smarter.
An AFL-CIO poll taken Tuesday night shows without doubt: Voters are fed up that elected leaders have done too little to help working families.
They said Democrats have NOT overreached on jobs, the economy and health care—they have underreached.
Voters have seen too much help for Wall Street and not nearly enough help for Main Street.
Unless Democrats demonstrate that fixing the economy is their overriding priority, and begin to create more jobs for working Americans NOW, we’re going to see more results this November like the Massachusetts election.
For the union movement and activists, the message was also clear: It’s not time to leave it to any political party to take care of us once we put them in office. It’s time to organize and mobilize as never before to make every elected or aspiring leader PROVE he or she will create the jobs we need in an economy we need with the health care we need.
I am not discouraged by Tuesday’s election results. Actually, I’m energized and I want you to be, too. Working America is demanding major change NOW—not timid, go-slow, partial solutions.
I know we are the people who can mobilize a massive army to force elected leaders to deliver.
Let’s do it—starting NOW.
P.S. I’m sending this same message in a YouTube video. Please take a look and share it with other fighters for working families.
In solidarity,
Richard L. Trumka
President, AFL-CIO
Communications Workers of America
Local Leaders
I would like to share a message from Larry Cohen, National President of CWA that is of the utmost importance to you and your families:
January 11, 2010
To: All Local Presidents
Subject: Urgent -- Health Care Fight is NOW!
Dear Sisters and Brothers:
It is urgent that you read this message and that you, your local officers and stewards, and your members act NOW or Congress and the White House may adopt legislation that will tax our health care benefits.
Across CWA we have supported and worked for health care reform for 20 years.
We have always aimed high, focused on universal, affordable and fairly funded supplements to employer-based care. We have always been clear that we have sacrificed for our negotiated plans and reform should assist us in maintaining and improving coverage for our families and retirees.
Unfortunately, I must report that the excise tax on good health care plans that was included in the Senate, but not the House, version continues to move toward adoption unless CWA and our allies act NOW!
The Speaker of the House and at least 189 members have made it clear that they oppose the tax and the House version is funded progressively by taxing those in the top 1 percent as well as including an employer mandate for employers that do not provide even minimal health care coverage. But the Senate leadership is saying some version of the excise tax, which could affect nearly all of our plans, must be included in order to get the 60 votes needed to move the conference bill forward.
The CWA Executive Board is asking every steward to mobilize her or his workplace Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week to call House members with a simple and clear message:
"No Taxes on our health care plans. If our plans are hit with a 40 percent excise tax, we will never keep the health care we have and when we voted for you that was your promise. We support the House version of reform, but compromise with the Senate and White House cannot include taxing our plans."
Follow the prompts and you will be directed to your House member's office.
This fight is NOW. The status seems to change by the hour and negotiations could be over as early as this weekend. CWAers like you have led this fight and we need to use every minute to make sure that we make a difference NOW in the final days of the House, Senate and White House negotiations.
In Solidarity,
Larry Cohen
President
We fought hard during the last contract to keep healthcare premiums as low as they are. This is the slippery slope we were talking about. Your healthcare will cost more and more money from YOUR POCKET. DO NOT ALLOW THIS EXCISE TAX!
CWA Local 9509 joined the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council and
AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka for a rally to hear about how we can put San
Diegans back to work! This RALLY for JOBS was held at San. Diego Convention Center
UPCOMING....
District 6 Has a Tentative Agreement
Districts 1 and 3 Still Out
Help Pass Health Care Reform
Employee Free Choice Act For All
"It's not over 'til it's over!"
November 3, 2009
"Sockville . . . A New
Pair of Socks” DVD –
It’s Here & Available Now!
The award-winning children's DVD, "Sockville . . . A New Pair of Socks," is now available for purchase at the special price of $9.99. Most important, three dollars from the purchase of every DVD goes to the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, CWA's Charity of Choice for almost 20 years.
This is an incredibly easy way to involve your members in raising money for this wonderful cause. You can purchase a copy of the DVD as a great gift for children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and more. You can use it for birthdays, the upcoming holidays, or just because.
You also can view a special preview of the video now by visiting the Sockville website at www.sockville.com and clicking on the "play promo" button. Then sit back, enjoy and laugh yourself silly.
The Sockville DVD is designed and produced by one of CWA's very own, Patrick Voss, a CWA member of Local 6300 in St. Louis. Patrick is one of two principals in Sockville. Sockville, LLC is the production company of the Sockville children's show. The Sockville team is dedicated to providing an entertaining, creative, and imaginative way of learning. They seek to inspire children to embrace good values and manners, follow their dreams, and to respect others. They believe that laughter and creativity promote learning ability.
The Sockville DVD may be ordered from a specially designed website for this fundraiser at www.sockshelpingkids.com. The website will be open for business from November 1 – December 15, 2009. For every DVD that is purchased, your local will be credited $3.00 toward your 2009 Pediatric AIDS quota as long as the member indicates their local number at the time of purchase.
Early next week a resource button will be added to the fundraising website. Included will be flyers
for posting on your union bulletin boards or passing out at work sites or meetings, banner ads, and other graphics for your websites, e-mails and newsletters, postings for Facebook pages, and more. We will let you know as soon as possible when the information is available. Please make sure your local number is included on all promotional materials so that your local gets credit for the sale.
We want to make this as easy as possible as you involve your members and support the Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Thanks in advance for all of your support.
In Unity,
Annie Hill
Executive Vice President
United Way Employee Giving Campaign 2009
Last year’s Employee Giving Campaign saw a 6% drop in San Diego/Imperial County pledging. This year’s solicitors hope to see a reversal of this trend. There were 12 solicitors that visited all AT&T locations for CWA Local 9509, from the beach areas, to the border and back east to El Centro. The Solicitors worked all hours of the early morning to late in the evening to meet the expectation of 100% coverage of over 2000 employees in 25 work days. The sacrifice of their families should be congratulated for supporting the efforts it took to meet this large task. Solicitors came from all backgrounds, from technicians to Service Reps, some are single parents, most new to soliciting, some are Union Stewards and everyone gave their all to arrange their life around the need to finish this great task. This year’s Solicitors were: Jorge Martin Del Campo, Heidi Edgerly, Kathie Laguna, Darion Williamson, Derek Sykes, Francisco Barrios, Elizabeth Salazar, Venessa Beltran, Trini Batt, Martha Webb, Karl Zeilik and Sumi Barton.
The experience had so many positive highlights. The team enjoyed working with the United Way representatives as well as representatives of agencies from all over San Diego County; Make A Wish Foundation, The Burn Institute, Teen Challenge of Southern California, Voices for Children and Urban Corps of San Diego, just to name a few. The team had the opportunity to tour several non-profit agencies that work together with United Way. One particularly moving experience was at the Women’s Resource Center. The Director, Jill Morgan, explained how their services lift both men and women out of the dangers resulting from domestic violence and gives them the safe haven and support needed to rebuild their lives. The center has been affected by over $200,000.00 in State budget cuts. To meet the challenge of cutting costs, the staff, including everyone from the CEO down, took a 10% cut in pay; they unplugged the refrigerator in the break room to save on electricity and took up gardening responsibilities to cut back on landscaping costs all so that no resources would have to be cut!! A food drive, benefitting the Women’s Resource Center and the San Diego Deaf Community Services, was hosted at the Sequence Drive location and the collected foods were delivered to the two agencies on Friday, October 16th. Fundraising activities ranged from hosting a taqueria on two separate occasions, as well as ceviche, all 12 pounds made fresh by Solicitor Venessa Beltran! Also, raffles for prizes ranging from baseball and football tickets to massage therapy certificates, gift cards and even a Wii were given away. All proceeds benefitted the United Way of San Diego County.
Solicitors (left to right):
Darion Williamson, Derek Sykes, Venessa Beltran, Elizabeth Salazar, Francisco Barrios and Martha Webb; Ceviche fundraiser, Sequence Drive.
Two Agency Fairs, one at Trade St and the other at the Sequence Drive call centers, took place to get employees involved in seeing where their pledges go and how monies donated benefits their community.
Solicitor Heidi Edgerly (left) and United Way Employees; Solicitor Trini Batt (far right); 10/12/09 Agency Fair Trade St.
10/12/09 Agency Fair
There were some challenges, this year’s solicitors got a later start than allowed by the company in years past. A third of the team still had to work their Saturday rotation as well as work Mondays. The unexpected frustration of working with managers who were non-compliant and not corporative, apathy and hostility from fellow employees were a surprise to most of the solicitors. People would refuse to attend meetings after guest speakers had been arraigned to be present to share information about their particular agency and how giving to the United Way benefits them and San Diego County. Feedback from both employees and management indicate that many see the campaign as a union sponsored event. The United Way/Employee Giving Campaign is an AT&T annually sponsored event to encourage management and non management to give back to their community through pledging to the United Way of San Diego County. The only connection to CWA is that AT&T looks to CWA members to complete the task of running the campaign from beginning to end. Every year CWA members meet the challenge and have to answer to the company for how the time was spent, meeting the company’s expectation of 100% coverage by the end of each year’s campaign.
That being said, the consensus of the 2009 Employee Giving Campaign Solicitors was that this was overall such a positive & powerful experience, that we were grateful for the opportunity, and we hope to participate again in years to come!!
Is your money protected??? Need a Financial Planner????
In an effort to provide an informational opportunity to our members we invited you to receive financial planing from the following:
Any views and opinions expressed are solely those of Coghlan Financial Group and do not necessarily represent those of CWA Local 9509
They We just finished going through the submissions to OFA's Health Reform Video Challenge, and they're great. There are personal stories that grab your heart, brilliant summaries of what reform would really mean, and plenty of biting satire that calls out the insurance lobbyists.
Out of nearly a thousand excellent videos submitted, we're down to the top 20. Now it's your turn to watch the finalists and vote for your favorites -- and then we'll air the winner on national television.
The top 20 ads will also be voted on by our panel of experts and artists, including Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am, animator and director Seth MacFarlane, actress Kate Walsh, Obama for America campaign manager David Plouffe, and Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine.
It couldn't be more urgent for us to get these funny, powerful, and eye-opening messages out to the public. As the full Congress begins its final debate on reform, airing the winning video as an ad on national television could help tip the balance toward enacting the changes they've been talking about for years in Washington.
Polls close at midnight on Friday, November 6th, so don't waste a minute: Watch the finalists and vote for your favorites right away:
In 1973, Crystal Lee Sutton couldn't take it anymore. She turned off her machine, climbed onto her work table, wrote the word "UNION" on a big piece of cardboard, and raised it for all to see.
Before the police could drag her away, she had brought her textile factory to a standstill – and helped give her coworkers the courage to form a union.
Her story became the basis for the Oscar-winning 1979 movie, "Norma Rae." Crystal Lee Sutton – the real "Norma Rae" – passed away just recently. In her memory, will you send an eCard to Congress asking them to pass the Employee Free Choice Act in 2009?
Ms. Sutton's struggle as a mother of three – earning $2.65 an hour and working in appalling conditions – led her to take a stand and help organize a union in her plant. Like countless workers who try to join a union today, she was met with threats, harassment, and was ultimately fired from her job.
The movie "Norma Rae" highlighted these issues 30 years ago. We've waited far too long for real reform. Tell Congress that America's workers can't wait another three decades for a solution to the injustices outlined in "Norma Rae."
On Tuesday, President Obama said a stronger labor movement is the key to a stronger middle class. "That's why I'm standing behind the Employee Free Choice Act," he said. "Because if a majority of workers want a union, they should get a union." Congress must join President Obama so we can create an economy that works for everyone again. Send your card to Congress right now – tell them to honor Ms. Sutton's memory by passing the Employee Free Choice Act this year.
Together, we can restore the middle class and honor the brave men and women like like Crystal Lee Sutton who have taken a stand for basic fairness and justice.
Thanks for all you do,
Liz, Manny, Jon, Elizabeth B. and the American Rights at Work team
P.S. We just came across a great video about "Norma Rae" and what the movie means for us today. Watch now >>
We have gone five years with this company saying we are not "good enough". Last year, their CEO Randall Stephenson told the nation that our children are not "good enough" to work for his company. Don't you think it is time to show Randall what we think of him? He insults us, he insults our families, and he believes he has the nation fooled into believing he is our benefactor.
Do not believe he is invulnerable. His weakness is money. If we strike, we stop his flow of money. All of us working together will affect his bottom line greatly. Show this guy that you are not only "good enough"... but what holds us together makes us better than he will ever be!
Would you give two 'clicks' to help us turn Senator Feinstein around on the Employee Free Choice Act?
First, click on this video and spend 5 minutes watching veterans testify at the L.A. Labor Fed's "Veterans and Jobs" Town Hall with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. It will break your heart - and make your blood boil - to watch these brave men and women tell their stories about not being able to find jobs that pay them what they made defending America.
Then 'click' to send the video to your friends, co-workers, neighbors, and relatives. Senator Feinstein needs to make a choice and we hope that by spreading this video around she will choose us by turning our economy around. Two 'clicks' can make a difference!
President Obama's Speech to a Joint Session of Congress - Full Video 2/24/09
.
Here is full video of President Barack Obama's Address to a Joint Session of Congress tonight, February 24, 2009. It is billed as a "State of the Union Address," although technically it is not since Obama just took office. Obama was interrupted 65 times for applause, and had some interesting back and forth with Republicans during the speech.
MERGER EXPLANATION MEETINGS
