| California Labor Federation Spotlight November 7 |
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President-Elect Obama Vows to Help Working Families On Tuesday, the nation elected a champion of working families to be the next president of the United States. President-Elect Barack Obama has been entirely focused on working families throughout his campaign, and is dedicated to tax relief for the middle class, affordable health care for all, energy independence and a new economy that works for workers. Obama is also a sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act, an important bill that would level the playing field for workers forming and joining unions. Learn where Obama stands on the issues at www.aflcio.org/issues/politics/obama.cfm Working Californians Win Big at the Polls Thanks to more than 20,000 union volunteers across the state, Tuesday’s election resulted in big victories for pro- worker candidates in California. Labor’s united efforts resulted in tens of thousands of door knocks and well over a million phone calls. Thanks to these volunteers, labor-endorsed candidates Joan Buchanan (AD 15), Marty Block (AD 78) and Manuel Perez (AD 80) will be replacing anti-worker legislators in the Assembly. Ballots are still being counted in key races -- SD 19 (Hannah Beth Jackson), AD 10 (Alyson Huber), and CD 4 (Charlie Brown). Keep an eye on our website for updates on these races. Visit http://vote.sos.ca.gov/ for local election results. Governor’s New Budget Plan Brings More Worker Takeaways In his latest economic proposal released this week, Governor Schwarzenegger is once again aiming to balance the budget by taking away workers’ rights. His new plan would roll back meal breaks and daily overtime, along with unemployment insurance benefits. The proposal would also take away two paid holidays and force workers to take an unpaid furlough every month. “A real economic stimulus plan would bolster, not shrink, benefits for the unemployed. It would create jobs, not weaken the protections for those already in them,” said California Labor Federation’s Art Pulaski. “Schwarzenegger’s ill-conceived and ill-advised worker takeaway proposals would undercut the rights and economic security of working families.” For more information, visit http://www.calaborfed.org/newsroom/2008%20press%20releases/RealEconomicPlanspressstatement11-6-08.pdf Workers Fight For Union Recognition at Santa Clara Hyatt More than 60 hotel workers and community supporters marched in the rain last week at the Santa Clara Hyatt in their effort to gain union recognition with UNITE HERE Local 19. In addition to the Hyatt, the local is also negotiating contracts with six other hotels in the county affecting 1,000 workers and their families. Visit http://www.atwork.org/?show=104 to learn more.
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