AFL-CIO Executive Council Renews Solidarity Charters Through 2008
Charters Called 'Critical' for Working Families' Victory in This Nov. Election
November 14, 2006
 

The AFL-CIO Executive Council renewed the Solidarity Charter program today, allowing locals of the disaffiliated unions to continue to participate in local, state and regional AFL-CIO labor bodies.  The Council extended the Solidarity Charter program through the end of 2008. 

 

"We need to ensure that the labor movement stays unified at the state and local level by extending the Solidarity Charter program," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney today to the Executive Council, the 46-member leadership body of the AFL-CIO. 

 

The AFL-CIO has issued more than 2500 charters to more than 1300 local unions, who often affiliate at both the state and local level.  The program was launched in August, 2005 and was set to expire at the end of this year.

 

"During this past year, maintaining unity at the grassroots level has enabled our local central bodies and state federations to remain strong voices for the union movement - - in our communities and in our state governments," reads the statement on Solidarity Charters released by the Executive Council today.

 

"The value of a united movement was seen clearly in the recent elections," continues the statement, " local unions that would not have been able to participate in labor's mobilization instead were key partners in a stunning set of labor-led victories."

 

The statement points out that the program has had some problems, such as the fact that the AFL-CIO and the disaffiliated unions have still not reached a "fair share" agreement on the disaffiliated national unions helping to fund the local bodies.  There has also been some raiding among unions, which is prohibited under the Solidarity Charters.

 

"The charters allow us to continue to work together.  Most of the disaffiliated unions' locals have affiliated with us.  They've been active in our political programs and our issue work, said Shar Knutson, chairwoman of the St. Paul Regional Labor Federation. 

 

"Solidarity charters are essential for us," said Charlie Flemming, President of the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council.  "We're in a 'right- to-work' state.  We can't do what we need to do without all the unions.  We have to have the community, the religious groups, everybody."
 

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Statement by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and AFGE President John Gage
On the ILO's Recommendation to Give TSA Workers the Right to Organize
November 14, 2006
 

Today's decision by the International Labor Organization (ILO) sends a powerful message to the Bush Administration that the international community rejects its attempts to limit the collective bargaining rights of government employees entrusted with protecting our nation's security.  In response to a complaint filed by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the ILO's Committee on Freedom of Association ruled that the Bush-created Transportation Security Administration (TSA) violated the fundamental rights of 56,000 airport screeners by denying them the right to organize and
bargain collectively.
 
The Bush Administration tried to justify its 2002 decision to deny representation and collective bargaining rights to airport screeners at TSA on the basis of national security.  The AFL-CIO and AFGE join the international community in its recognition that national security and worker rights are not mutually exclusive.  At a time when airport screeners need a voice on the job to highlight where improvements can be made in our national security, the Bush Administration continues to stifle dialogue.  Today's decision further calls into question the Administration's policy of using national security to justify the denial of basic worker rights. 
 
The decision by the ILO amplifies the growing voices heard around the country and the world that are calling on the Bush Administration to recognize internationally accepted workers' rights standards.  We implore the Bush Administration to follow the ILO's recommendations and immediately grant collective bargaining and all other labor rights to TSA workers.

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  AFGE is the only union that has actively fought on behalf of employment rights for Transportation Security Officers.  Although transportation security officers remain deprived of a collective bargaining agreement, AFGE represents these employees before the Disciplinary Review Board, EEOC, courts, in Congress and in the media.

 

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On Thursday, November 16, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney will join Sen. Edward Kennedy, Sen. Hillary Clinton, Sen. Tom Harkin, other elected officials and minimum wage advocates for a rally to call on Congress to support working families by passing a "clean" $2.10 increase to the federal minimum wage - from $5.15 to $7.25.  Speakers will call on Congressional leaders to increase the federal minimum wage for the first time in ten years.   

 

"For too long, leaders in control of Congress neglected the needs of working Americans," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney.  "Last Tuesday, working people said no to business as usual.  Our new leaders have a mandate for change and they should start by giving a raise to the people who need it most-America's lowest paid workers."

 

The AFL-CIO's "America Needs a Raise" campaign helped lead the effort to pass minimum wage ballot initiatives in Missouri, Ohio, Nevada, Colorado, Arizona and Montana, and worked to push minimum wage legislation in 13 others. 

 

In the ten years since Congress last voted to raise the federal minimum wage, the real value of the minimum wage has dropped to its lowest level in 51 years.  Meanwhile, the Republican controlled Congress gave itself nine pay raises since 1997- totaling $35,000-all while blocking attempts to raise the federal minimum wage for low-wage workers.

VOL III, Issue 288  --  November 9, 2006
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    Veterans are people who served in the military (U.S. Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard) in times of war or peace.