April 2015 - California Labor Federation

Fast Track for Trade Deals Threatens Good Jobs & Environment

by Art Pulaski
April 30, 2015

and Sarah Rose

They’re calling it “NAFTA on steroids.” The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) would be the largest international trade deal in history – with major economic and environmental consequences here in California – but the details have been veiled in total secrecy.

Addressing the Increasing Rate of Deaths on the Job for Latino Workers in CA

April 29, 2015

According to a report released today the AFL-CIO, Latino workers are 19 percent more likely to be killed on the job than the national average, leading to nearly 800 deaths on the job in 2013. In California, Latinos made up almost 50 percent of all worker fatalities. 194 Latino workers died while on the job in California, an alarming increase of 42 percent from the previous year.

Kids’ Chance embodies #ForwardFriday on Workers Memorial Day

by Rachel Warino
April 24, 2015

by Rachel Johnson

Worker’s Memorial Day is more than just an observance and a day to honor our friends and family who have suffered and died on the job, it’s also a call to action. Yesterday in our ThrowbackThursday post we highlighted life for workers before Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act more than forty years ago.

#TBT to the days before OSHA

by Rachel Warino
April 23, 2015

by Rachel Johnson

Can you imagine a time when you could go to work, get injured, and have no recourse whatsoever?! Until workers started to organize in the 20th century and push for safe standards on the job, this was the case for generations of men, women, and children. For decades workers across industries fought to have employers voluntarily adopt regulations to keep their workers safe and provide benefits in the event a worker got injured while working.

Coalition to Stop Fast Track Announces Ad Campaign in Bay Area

by Rachel Warino
April 22, 2015

by Rachel Johnson

The Coalition to Stop Fast Track began airing television ads in Sacramento, Bay Area, and Fresno media markets to encourage voters to urge their Representatives to oppose Trade Promotion Authority, aka “Fast Track”, which Congress is expected to vote on within the next two weeks. These “Bad Deal” ads are part of a seven figure campaign running across the country and specifically target Congresswoman Doris Matsui (D-CA 6th District), and Congressmen Ami Bera (D-CA 7th District), Mike Thompson (D-CA 5th District) and Jim Costa (D-CA 16th District) who have been non-committal about their position on Fast Track legislation.

SF Board of Supes Joins Call to Stop Fast Track of TPP Trade Agreement

by Steve Smith
April 22, 2015

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors last night joined the growing chorus to stop fast track for the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) by unanimously passing a resolution opposing Trade Promotion Authority for the TPP. San Francisco joins another major West Coast port city – Seattle — in opposing a fast-tracked TPP that would have broad and potentially devastating consequences to California’s economy, environment and public health.

What Color is the Sky in Joel Fox’s Fantasy World?

by Steve Smith
April 17, 2015

There’s been a lot of attention lately on California’s turnaround. As it turns out, that nonsense about all our jobs moving to Texas was a just Texas-sized whopper. Last year California created about 500,000 jobs to lead the nation in job growth, outpacing the conservative darling Texas.

Thousands unite with #Fightfor15 underpaid workers across CA for April 15th day of Action

by Rachel Warino
April 16, 2015

By Rachel Johnson

Thousands took part in strikes and protests Wednesday in one of the largest mobilizations of underpaid working people in history. Actions across California from Los Angeles to Sacramento gave working people the opportunity to stand with low wage workers who bravely went on strike and walked out mid-shift to send the message: we will not stop until $15 and a union.

Labor’s 2015 Legislative Conference Highlights how Unions Change Lives

by Rachel Warino
April 14, 2015

Rachel Johnson

Yesterday, Labor’s annual Joint Legislative Conference, sponsored by the California Labor Federation and State Building and Construction Trades Council, brought together more than 500 union leaders, representatives, and activists from all over the state to plan and execute a shared agenda for the good of all working families. While there were many phenomenal speakers throughout the day during plenary, lunch and dinner, conference attendees agreed: the workers who were able to tell their story stole the show.

Labor’s Joint Legislative Conference 2015: Working People Standing Together Changing Lives

by Rachel Warino
April 13, 2015

By Rachel Johnson

Today more than 500 leaders and activists from hundreds of California unions will come together in Sacramento for Labor’s 2015 Joint Legislative Conference, hosted by the California Labor Federation and the State Building and Construction Trades Council. The theme of the conference this year is “Working People Standing Together Changing Lives”.