Labor // Current

Students Win in Anti-Sweatshop Movement!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/18/business/18labor.html?_r=1 Labor Fight Ends in... more

genuinerevolt
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5 days ago
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America's Christmas present: Jobs

Now that the House has passed its version of the healthcare bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is shifting her focus to jobs. With unemployment in the double digits and not showing any signs of getting any better, Democrats want to show some sort of progress on getting Americans back into the workplace. The hope is to have either a big bill or a package of smaller bills passed in December. How will they create new jobs? Well the House is looking at getting a big highway construction bill moving - but no one seems to know how they would pay for it - which would mean adding to the deficit.

President Obama has called for a summit in December between lawmakers, administration officials, small businesses, chief executives and union representatives to talk about how to get a handle on unemployment. The AFL-CIO has already given a preview of its ideas it'll bring to the summit. For example: Using TARP money to give commercial loans to small businesses and providing healthcare and food assistance for the unemployed.

How successful has the government been at job creation thus far? Recovery .gov, the Administration's site to let citizens track the effects of the stimulus money, has a big number labeled "Jobs Created/Saved as Reported by Recipients": 640,329 (as of 10/30). That's great and all, but by the same home page of the same site about $215B have been spent so far out of the recovery money. Which comes out roughly to $335,000 per job. (That's just me and a calculator and a few rounded-off numbers - I'm sure better estimates exist out there.)

Another side of the math is that if we replicated those 640K jobs that were created over the course of this year there would still be about 10 million Americans unemployed.

Expensive and difficult!

All right, how do you think we could drive unemployment down? Give us your best ideas.

FROM THE BLOG: http://blogs.current.com/news/2009/11/17/americas-christmas-present-jobs/

SOURCES: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/68045-pelosi-switches-to-jobs
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125803687743645333.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN1651501820091117
http://recovery.govNow that the House has passed its version of the healthcare bill, Speaker Nancy Pelosi... more

afitzgerald
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6 days ago
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immirgration problem or a non free dream...?

Some people seem to think illegal immigration isn't a problem, not to sound like a bitch but you wouldn't if you or your parents were illegals and if they weren't your grandparents. And what's with everyone saying that this country was built on the backs of immigrates, i didn't know slaves migrated to this country it was built on slavery and free labor that's the truth. Wanting a better life is great but it's hard to say i want better life and can't get to where i come from and then claim you deserve to be a citizen because all you want to do is work and have a life for your family and kids. What about the guy who's family knows nothing else besides America and also wants a better life but can't achieve that because someone says i'll do the work cheaper and longer with no health coverage and no benefits, cash only.
In no other country can illegal immigrates demand anything, only in the great USA, so i say give them their citizenship, you want to claim to be true American citizen then pay taxes, you believe you have a right to the same health care and rights then you should pay for it. If we registered every illegal immigrate and then taxed them out the ass, set in place laws that had harsher penalties like actual jail time instead of a free trip home, i bet you people would think twice about running across the border or coming to America for vacation and staying. I'm just wondering why people feel if you say "you don't deserve shit and the fact you get taken advantage of is your own fault", their a racist and that America and should be open for any and everyone.
But it is your fault you get paid low wages and have no health care and get taken advantage of, since when is anything in this world for free..? why do you think that what you go through in your country gives you a right to come to another and make it hard on another man. Mexico's president even stated to the world "that illegals take the jobs that not even blacks want"
and he's damn right we've worked them since 1506 for FREE and the little bit of minimum wage blacks fought and died for won't go up cause someone with no papers will work for anything. Rules are set in place for a reason, they might suck but you can't make a change if your willing to be happy eating shit all you do is make it stink for the rest of us.
Not only would it help us out with our hugh debt, create jobs and force us to over haul the entire system cause you know someones gonna get mad and swear a great injustice but wheres the justice for us actual tax paying, social security card carrying citizens...?
i love George Lopez but he's an idiot to think that illegal immigration only upsets white people as if AMERICANS don't need a job. He represents his country to the fullest yet we as Americans don't have the same right?. If we flooded his country and under cut his fellow men,push them out of jobs then tell them you really don't want to work this job let me do it as well as stressed the medical system and basically did what we wanted in Mexico they claim the capitalist Americanos were destroying his homeland and we'd just continue to be the big mean super power.

i think any time people think it's OK for any group of people to break the law to better your self, at the expense of others.....your the true capitalist, liar, cheat and thiefSome people seem to think illegal immigration isn't a problem, not to sound like a... more

Nicole_Ruffin
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1 month ago
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5 comments

Girl Buglarizes Home, Goes into Labor

A Vallejo teen gave birth Friday after she allegedly burglarized a North Vallejo home.

jasonb619
added this
13 days ago
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2 comments

Vilma Serralta: An SF Worker’s Victory Fuels Domestic Labor Movement

SAN FRANCISCO -- Vilma Serralta, a 71-year-old U.S. citizen born in El Salvador,... more

YouthOutlookMultimedia
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1 month ago
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"Astronaut Goes From Migrant Fields To Outer Space"

Once a child laborer who trekked with his family each year from Mexico to the fields... more

DavidMoolten
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1 month ago
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General Strike in Puerto Rico Supporters Hold Solidarity Rally in New York City

On Thursday, October 15, 2009, Puerto Rico's social justice movement and organized... more

peoplesmovement
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1 month ago
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Worker’s Victory Fuels Domestic Labor Movement

SAN FRANCISCO -- Vilma Serralta, a 71-year-old U.S. citizen born in El Salvador,... more

YouthOutlookMultimedia
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1 month ago
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0 comments

Support Builds for Tax Credit to Help Hiring

The idea of a tax credit for companies that create new jobs, something the federal... more

remanns
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1 month ago
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0 comments

Sneaking across border turning deadlier

PHOENIX - The number of immigrants who died while sneaking across Mexico's border with... more

tcmfan08
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1 month ago
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18 comments

Immigration Crackdown With Firings, Not Raids

LOS ANGELES — A clothing maker with a vast garment factory in downtown Los Angeles... more

remanns
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1 month ago
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5 comments

Great Recession Transforms the Workplace

The Great Recession has reshaped the American workplace and work force in ways that... more

jmsrmy
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1 month ago
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0 comments

Better world: Take Friday off… forever

The four-day week could boost employment, save energy and make us happier. FANCY a... more

ajrmy
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3 months ago
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Bruce Raynor: Where Does Labor Stand?

This is labor's moment. Or so many thought when Obama entered office and the Employee... more

GRITtv
added this
3 months ago
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2 comments

KitchenAid Mixers Still Proudly Made In America

A $200 (plus) investment, KitchenAid mixers have been manufactured in Greenville, OH... more

jmsrmy
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3 months ago
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HAWAI`I FAKE STATE WEBSITE UPDATED WITH PROTEST PHOTOS & VIDEOS

See The New Photos Here -... more

FreeHawaiiTV
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3 months ago
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0 comments

Obama to Deliver Labor Day Speech to Unions

U.S. President Barack Obama will mark the Labor Day holiday Monday with a speech to... more

remanns
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3 months ago
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0 comments

This isn't about Labor Day, It's About Cute and Nasty Starlings.

I have to admit, I love birds. Especially since moving to a rural area where you can go outside your home and see and hear these wild creatures going about their daily tasks of survival. And they are quite fastidious as well as genius at endurance (we humans should possess such astuteness at survival). So when I see an article about birds I can't help but open it to a read. Thus, the reason for today's blog.

As much as I enjoy these small darlings who share the Earth with us, there are people who have quite opposite feelings. As a matter of fact they hate the little buggers. How can this be? Well it all boils down to money again... So much of this world's tribulations can be directly traced back to the almighty buck. It seems these supercilious, masters of survival, can do damage to industry. Yikes, are these poor tiny beasts, in for it now.

The capitalist motto: You don't mess with business; business messes with you. So little starling you've been targeted. But this is one infinitesimal enemy of the Private Enterprise System that won't go down too easily. Because no matter the weapon devised by the Capitalists these birdies regroup and come back stronger.

Now I know there will be those who will retort my adoration for these animals by telling me I'm nuts, because they’re vermin and cause disease... I have only one comeback for those naysayers on THEY CAUSE DISEASE... SO DO WE BUB! thinkingblue

Read the "Shock and caw: Pesky starlings still overwhelm" article at this link:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090906/ap_on_re_us/us_most_hated_bird

PS: It's Labor Day and I have a little story to tell about this day, long ago, in my life. It was 1959, I was forced to quit school (because I was one of 5 kids in a low income family) and work in a factory. It was a textile factory and most of the minimum wage employees there were older woman. I was the youngest at age 16. I remember one Labor Day when everyone was eager for the day to end, so they could look forward to their holiday. I thought about this so called "holiday" and how my paycheck would be short a day's pay because the owners of this factory did not pay employees for holidays. They also were vigilant at keeping Unions from forming by firing anyone who attempted to start one. As we were cleaning up, getting ready for the loud buzzer that would signify our workday was over. I thought out-loud unhappily, "This isn't Labor Day for us it's Layoff Day." Others heard my disgruntled mutterings and as we left they all said to one another as they bid goodbye, "HAPPY LAYOFF DAY." Hmmm, I wonder if the bosses ever knew who started that?
HAPPY LABOR DAY ALL! thinkingblueI have to admit, I love birds. Especially since moving to a rural area where you can... more

thinkingblue
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3 months ago
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American Apparel Sets Layoffs Tied to Probe

Hip clothing maker American Apparel Inc. will lay off more than a quarter of its factory work force in Los Angeles amid a probe by U.S. immigration authorities -- an early indication of how the Obama administration crackdown on employers of illegal immigrants could play out.

In early July, the company announced that it had been notified by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, that 1,600 of it is 5,600 factory employees, who are largely Hispanic immigrants, might be in the U.S. illegally. An American Apparel spokeswoman said that about 1,500 workers would be terminated in coming weeks.

In a letter to employees in English and Spanish, Chief Executive Dov Charney said he was "deeply saddened" that the company has to shed workers who have been at the company for several years.

Mr. Charney, a champion of immigration reform, promised to give the workers priority for jobs when "you are able to get your immigration papers in order."

Virginia Kice, an ICE spokeswoman, declined to comment on the American Apparel dismissals. She said that whenever the agency conducts an audit, "we get back to the company with specific documents about individuals working without employment authorization. It is incumbent upon the employer to determine the appropriate next steps."

On July 1, Department of Homeland Security chief Janet Napolitano announced that ICE, a unit of her agency, had begun audits of 652 companies as part of a new strategy to focus immigration enforcement on employers. That number has since grown, according to ICE officials. By specifically targeting employers, the agency is reversing its tactics during the Bush administration, when it relied on high-profile raids at factories. The raids rounded up hundreds of workers but rarely resulted in penalties for the companies.

American Apparel is likely to face thousands of dollars in penalties for hiring workers who weren't eligible to be employed. The government has said fines may exceed $800 per employee.

Companies that employ low-skilled workers in agriculture, manufacturing and hospitality have been bracing for the crackdown, saying they have no way to ascertain whether the identification presented by workers to secure jobs is authentic.

As of Sept. 8, all federal contractors will need to use an electronic system known as E-verify to determine the employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. Critics say the system is imperfect and encourages racial profiling.Hip clothing maker American Apparel Inc. will lay off more than a quarter of its... more

remanns
added this
3 months ago
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0 comments

LABOR DAY PARADE & MARCH- NYC

The New York City Central Labor Council proudly announces the 2009 Labor Day Parade &... more

amaness
added this
3 months ago
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0 comments

tagged w/ Labor

Students Win in Anti-Sweatshop Movement!

America's Christmas present: Jobs

immirgration problem or a non free dream...?

Girl Buglarizes Home, Goes into Labor

Vilma Serralta: An SF Worker’s Victory Fuels Domestic Labor Movement

"Astronaut Goes From Migrant Fields To Outer Space"

General Strike in Puerto Rico Supporters Hold Solidarity Rally in New York City

Worker’s Victory Fuels Domestic Labor Movement

Support Builds for Tax Credit to Help Hiring

Sneaking across border turning deadlier

Immigration Crackdown With Firings, Not Raids

Great Recession Transforms the Workplace

Better world: Take Friday off… forever

Bruce Raynor: Where Does Labor Stand?

KitchenAid Mixers Still Proudly Made In America

HAWAI`I FAKE STATE WEBSITE UPDATED WITH PROTEST PHOTOS & VIDEOS

Obama to Deliver Labor Day Speech to Unions

This isn't about Labor Day, It's About Cute and Nasty Starlings.

American Apparel Sets Layoffs Tied to Probe

LABOR DAY PARADE & MARCH- NYC

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