The words "Extra Judicial Procedures","Extraordinary Rendition," the loss of our Habeas Corpus and Magna Carta expectations were enabled by multiple passages of The American Patriot Act.
The alledged victims of the alledged sexual harrassment are adults who can figure out on their own that The Ohio Civil Rights Commission is the agency available - should THEY wish to avail themselves of the legal system without a lynchmob mentality.
On April 3, 2008 several news stories broke centering on a serious fine imposed by The Ohio Elections Commission on David Brennan, a Charter school corporate heavy, known as The White Hat Managment. The fine imposed was to the tune of $5.2 million dollars. Jennifer Brunner AND Mark Dann AND The Ohio Election Commission have been credited with identifying the sleazy money problem in August of 2007. Mark Dann has taken on other well - heeled Charter schools that have devasted our public monies and our children. The above heavy, David Brennan can be found on the list of G.W. Bush campaign contributors at one of the following levels: "Bush Pioneers" or "Bush Rangers." Sorry I can't recall which category Brennan falls under. Please remember that fine can be appealed by David Brenner and his army of attorneys.
Parasitic subprime lenders that plunge our college kids into wallet crushing debt. Mark Dann was on them like a pit bull. I'm positive they wouldn't miss his fangs.
Pathological subprime lenders that are "partying hardily" in spirit in the rubble of our foreclosed homes. They also desire Mark Dann to be gone.
Payday Lenders as shown by their pathetic protests with their hapless victims supporting their antics - I guarantee there will be vile celebrations of the worst kind, should Mark Dann leave office or be put out of office.
The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati would probably want a national holiday in celebration of the day should Mark Dann leaving office or being put out of office. Mark Dann put in many hours of grueling work negotiating and legitimizing the departure of The Christ Hospital from the clutches of The Health Alliance of Greater Cincinnati.
Casinos - Mark Dann has had a critical role to play in nailing the criminals who lead "Coingate." Do we really think that the Native American casino owners who were burned financially by compadres of Bob Ney, one of the creators of The Help America Vote Act want to rehire Jack Abramhoff or his associates? What about the victims of Coingate who were devastated by the pillaging of The Bureau Of The Workers' Compensation Fund? If Mark Dann leaves for any reason - I'm fairly certain it's "open season" on us little people.
How many dedicated public servants are we prepared to give up and write off like Don Siegelman and Elliot Spitzer?
Just remember - Big Business doesn't put food on the table, doesn't provide basic innoculations and other medical care nor provides quality education for those of us struggling to find daily busfare. Big Business doesn't provide hand - counted Election Ballots.
Neither do Superdelegates, Delegates, The Green Party, The Democratic Party, The Republicans nor Independent Candidates.
Big Business guarantees that our Vice - President and President and others won't be spending their twilight years as residents of The Hague. Only Impeachment Proceedings for our Vice - President and our President will create an atmosphere of hope and TRUST that our global trading partners and others need so we can all prosper.
Not only do we need to retain Mark Dann, but we need to STEP BACK AND LET LADY JUSTICE DO WHAT SHE DOES BEST.
Mark Dann requires our appreciation and gratitude in order to assist us, the citizens of Ohio in our fight against hopelessness. Mark Dann, if you read this - please stay right where you are and continue your activism.
Jane Schiff,
May 8, 2008
Mercy For Animals' latest video investigation is really heating up after being featured in the LA Times and all over Columbus TV.
Things are getting even hotter for those directly responsible for this shocking cruelty; at today's press conference Mercy For Animals will unveil a formal complaint filed with the DA's office seeking prosecution.
What can you do to turn up the heat? We are delivering a petition to Governor Strickland calling for a stop to new factory farms in Ohio. In the first 24 hours we have hundreds of people sign up, it only takes a second so do it!
The other way you can help is to reduce your consumption of meat and animal products. Momentarily putting aside the substantial health and cruelty issues, beef requires up to 16 times more fossil fuels than eating the equivalent amount of rice and vegetables. Check out ChooseVeg.com for some ideas on how you can save the environment, prevent cruelty to animals and live a healthier life, just by reducing your reliance on animals.
For release May 1, 2008
Five years after "Mission Accomplished":
Major National Anti-war Assembly to be Held in Cleveland in June
Plans were announced today for a major national anti-war assembly in Cleveland, Ohio in June. The National Assembly to End the Iraq War and Occupation is set for the weekend of June 28-29, 2008 in Cleveland and is open to all those opposed to the U.S. war and occupation of Iraq.
"May 1st marks five years since the 'mission accomplished' speech by President Bush on the deck of a U.S. aircraft carrier," said Greg Coleridge, spokesperson for the National Assembly organizing committee and Director of the Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee. "In the past five years, the U.S. war and occupation in Iraq has resulted in the deaths of more than 4,000 U.S. soldiers and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis. More than 4 million Iraqis have been injured or displaced. More than $500 billion US tax dollars have been wasted. The US-led war and occupation has been a military, human, and economic disaster."
The purpose of the June National Assembly "is to place on the agenda of the entire U.S. antiwar movement a proposal for the largest possible united mass mobilization(s) in the future to stop the Iraq war and end the occupation," a statement issued by organizers says.
"Everyone -- every organization, every coalition, everywhere in the U.S., all who oppose the war and the occupation -- is warmly and enthusiastically invited to attend this open democratic U.S. national antiwar conference and to join with us in advancing and promoting the coming together of an antiwar movement in this country with the power to make a mighty contribution toward ending the war and occupation of Iraq now," the organizers statement asserts.
"The mission that attendees at the National Assembly in Cleveland will be seeking to accomplish is nothing short of ending the Iraq war and occupation now, bringing all troops and contractors home now, and letting Iraq's future be decided by Iraqis. We seek to accomplish this through the encouragement of mass education and mobilization of people at the grassroots from coast to coast," said Mary Nichols-Rhodes, National Assembly coordinating committee member and Progressive Democrats of America, Ohio organizer. "If the politicians and military won't end the war and occupation, then the people of this country must exert massive unified pressure to bring change."
More than 400 organizations and individuals have already endorsed the National Assembly, including U.S. Labor Against the War, Veterans for Peace, Progressive Democrats of America, Iraq Moratorium, A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, North Shore AFL-CIO Federation of Labor (formerly Cleveland AFL-CIO), United Teachers Los Angeles, National Education Association Peace and Justice Caucus, and California Federation of Teachers.
Among the speakers at the June program in Cleveland will be Donna Dewitt, President, South Carolina AFL-CIO; Fred Mason, President of the Maryland AFL-CIO and President of the Metro Washington D.C. Central Labor Council; Cindy Sheehan; Greg Coleridge, Program Director Northeast Ohio American Friends Service Committee; and Jonathan Hutto, Navy Petty Officer, author, Anti-War Soldier and co-founder of Appeal for Redress.
The June 28-29 national assembly will be held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in downtown Cleveland. More information on the Assembly, including speakers, workshops and how to register, is at www.natassembly.org. For more information, call 216-736-4704.
-- 30 --
For more information, news organizations, groups, individuals may contact:
Michael Carano, Progressive Democrats of America Ohio Coordinator, 330-715-2066, michael_carano@hotmail.com
Three weeks ago it was dead.
Two weeks ago on the heels of a lobbying scandal PayDay was likely up for a vote with a 36% cap.
Last week, it was gutted by Committee Chair Chris Widener to eliminate any PayDay loan caps.
But with a fresh breath of Ted Strickland's coat-tails after he called for a 36% loan cap -- the GOP did them better.
Today, in an agile maneuver that places a 28%...that's correct...28% cap on small loans, cuts the maximum loan from $800 to $500, caps the number of loans to 4 in a 12 month period, mandates counseling and a data base, bans internet lending and allows for only 2 loans at one time that must amount to $500.
The House FIRES committee is expected to vote on this bill Wed at 9:00 am in Rm 121. It could be voted out of the House by tomorrow.
It won't have Bill Batchelder or Bobby Hagan's name on it -- but it is the Batchelder/Hagan bill with an even stronger interest rate cap.
Kudo's to Batchelder, Hagan, Governor Strickland and some deft recovery by House Democrats in forcing the Speaker's hand on PayDay Lending.
Consumers win. Now that's something to go home and campaign about.
On Friday hear the keynote address by Jim Merkel, author of Read More »
April 25, 2008
Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending
175 S. Third St. Suite 250
Columbus, Ohio 43215
Dear Ohio Coalition for Responsible Lending:
Members of your coalition have asked where my administration stands on the issues surrounding payday lending, and in particular on a potential interest rate cap. As the debate heightens and the state presses forward with legislative action, I want to be clear with you and your members on my position.
As I travel throughout the state and meet with Ohioans, I am struck by the significant problems that have resulted because of the unfortunate practices of some payday lenders in Ohio. Because of the lending practices of this industry, many Ohioans, often those with the fewest resources, are becoming trapped in a cycle of debt with no end in sight.
The State of Ohio must ensure that payday loans are structured in a way that does not exploit those who are in need. Instead, the state must support lending practices that allow those borrowing to build a future for themselves and their families.
While there is much debate regarding the various ways to address the payday lending problem in Ohio, I believe there is one critical feature of any set of proposals aimed at breaking the cycle of debt-an all inclusive 36% APR rate cap. It is my hope that a bill with such a rate cap is moved through the legislative process, and I would have the opportunity to sign this policy change into law in the near future.
Thank you for your leadership on this issue, and I look forward to working with you and the General Assembly as payday lending legislation continues to be considered.
Sincerely,
Ted Strickland
Governor
Stumbled across themiddleclass.org today, a nicely done site today that grades your Congressmen's record on a bucketful of issues loosely related to the economic interest of the non-super wealthy.
The biggest surprise in Ohio is Steve LaTourette (R), who after scoring back to back F's in '04 & '05 is now on pace for his second B. Coincidence or is his feeling a little heat back home?
They also have a widget maker, if that's your thing.
McCain yesterday on Bloomberg News: “You could make an argument that there's been great progress economically over that period of time [the last seven years]."
The last seven years, a recap:
Gas prices
2001 $1.37
2008 $3.45
U.S. Trade Deficit
2001 $380 Billion
2008 $759 Billion
Workers Covered By Employer-Based Health Insurance
2001 64.2 %
2008 59.7 %
Strength Of U.S. Dollar
2001 1.07 Euros per dollar
2008 0.68 Euros per dollar
Crude Oil Prices Per Barrel
2001 $29.59
2008 $116
Median Household Income
2001 $49,163
2008 $48,201
Budget: Deficit/Surplus
2001 $431 Billion Surplus Over The Previous 3 Budget Years
2008 $734 Billion Deficit Over The Previous 3 Budget Years
National Debt
2001 $5.7 Trillion
2008 $9.2 Trillion
Consumer Credit Debt
2001 $7.65 Trillion
2008 $12.8 Trillion
Real GDP Growth
2001 4.09% Over Prior 8 Years
2008 2.65% Over Prior 7 Years
Americans in Poverty
2001 31.6 Million
2008 36.5 Million
Annual Total Health Insurance Premium Cost
2001 $6,230 Per Family
2008 $12,106 Per Family
Unemployment Rates
2001 4.2 %
2008 4.8 %
Uninsured Under 65
2001 39 Million
2008 47 Million
Average Cost Of A Prescription Drug
$47.54
$68.26
Electricity
2001 $914 Per Year
2008 $1,108 Per Year
Home Heating Oil Prices
2001 $1.40
2008 $3.69
Groceries
2001 $3,021 Per Year
2008 $3,417 Per Year
Average Tuition At Private College
2001 $16,211
2008 $23,712
Personal Savings Rate
2001 +2.3%
2008 -0.5%
Dramatically Among Full-Time Workers
High-quality jobs not immune to unraveling of employer-based system
April 18, 2008
Why do we need the Health Care For All Ohioans Act? Employer-provided health insurance is eroding!
Tighten your grip, because holding on to health care is getting much harder, even if you have a good job, and a good education, and especially if you are a full-time worker of prime working age.
"No one is immune to the slow unraveling of the employer-based health insurance system," said Heidi Shierholz, EPI economist and co-author of the report A Decade of Decline: The Erosion of Employer-Provided Health Care in the United States and California, 1995-2006, released yesterday by the Economic Policy Institute.
Overall, about 6.4 million fewer workers had employer-provided health insurance in 2006 than in 2000. This trend contrasts with the time period between 1995 and 2000, when the share of workers covered by their employers increased nationally, from 49.6
percent to 51.1 percent.
This dramatic loss of employer provided health insurance since 2000 is not simply driven by the loss of high-quality jobs, such as those in the manufacturing sector. Rather, it is caused by the significant decline in employers providing coverage within existing jobs across the board. The burden of these employer cuts is not carried by part-time or
marginal workers. Rather, the most dramatic loss is among workers with the strongest connection to the labor force.
"The kind of declines our research uncovered can't be fixed with a band-aid approach,"said EPI senior economist Jared Bernstein, and the report's co-author. "The solution must involve a broadly shared, national approach where employers, employees, and
government all play a part."
Among the main findings of the report are:
· The dramatic drop in employer-provided coverage is caused by employers cutting coverage within existing jobs, rather than the shifting of jobs from high-coverage industries like manufacturing to lower-coverage industries.
· Coverage declined for workers across the entire age and education spectrum.
The national trends were mirrored in developments in California, even though California differs significantly from the national profile in its racial, ethnic and immigration makeup. Despite these differences, virtually all California groups made gains in employer coverage in the late 1990s, gains that were more than wiped out in the 2000s.
As the Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative for the 60th District, this is the exact reason why I support the Health Care for All Ohioans Act.
Ohio Economy Needs Small Business and Small Business Needs Single-Payer Health Coverage!
Small business and the self-employed are driving Ohio's growing service economy to everyone's advantage, providing jobs for their communities, paying wages to their neighbors, and creating income and tax revenues that stay in the local area. Our economy needs these small businesses to help generate the recovery from the continued disastrous loss of our manufacturing base. The single largest obstacle to the success of small business operators is the prohibitive cost of providing health care coverage for themselves and their employees, and the inability to gauge future costs. Competitive wages, safe and reasonable working conditions and health care coverage are central to mutually beneficial relationships between employers and employees. These relationships were typical of collective bargaining between unions and companies, and are once again possible on a broader scale thanks to the Health Care for All Ohioans Act.
At the root of successful employer/employee cooperation is the elimination of adversarial conditions that pit workers against owners, as is the situation with rising, unaffordable health care costs, currently the main point of contention in every bargaining situation. For the self-employed, who are providing health care coverage for themselves and their families without the benefit of real collectives, The Health Care for All Ohioans Act provides immediate relief by creating access to comprehensive, affordable healthcare with a fixed, fair, progressive gross receipts tax. For businesses that primarily generate their receipts through service labor provided, the savings are dramatic. For many the resulting savings can then be reinvested in the business, increasing revenue and creating jobs with no increase in costs over that of privately provided for-profit coverage. For small businesses with payrolls, in addition to the gross receipts tax, the funding formula of the Health Care for All Ohioans Act provides for an affordable, fixed, progressive employer-paid payroll tax that increases only as payrolls increase. Successful businessmen and women know that increased revenues and increased payrolls can result in increased profits.
We have dug the healthcare hole very deep, the solution will be expensive and no one wants cheap healthcare anyway, only accessible, affordable healthcare coverage. It is time for bold, innovative steps to solve this problem that will affect every one of us eventually. For the first time businesses will have the opportunity to determine their future healthcare costs due to the fixed rates of the funding formula. Ask a business person if they would support a plan that would allow them to project their healthcare costs for the next five years, even taking into account possible increased initial cost. The answer you will get is a resounding, YES! Businesses prefer steady financial forecasts, workers prefer job security and job creation to day-to-day employment, and all parties prefer a mutually beneficial, respectful relationship. Predictable healthcare costs encourage business to grow, workers to thrive and collective bargaining to be successful. The Health Care for All Ohioans Act is a winner for us all.
The Formula to Remember :
Healthcare Savings=Job Creation=Increased Revenues=Increased Wages=Increased Production=Increased Profits=increased tax revenues. Add Them All Together = Increased Wellness….Health Care for All Ohioans!
Bob Hagan takes money from insurance lobbyists and PACS so he will do nothing when your employer health coverage collapses. It's time to elect a state representative who will say no to health care lobbyists and PAC donations and will support the Health Care for all Ohioans Act to safe guard all Ohioans when it come to health care coverage.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th district
Campaign web site: Http://votespisak.tripod.com
Visit our link to health care and progressive job programs.
Payday lending industry leaders clashed with advocates for borrowers in a Thursday House hearing that featured pointed exchanges, and, at times, threats that the room would be cleared.
Stark lines of division in the overflowing House Finance Hearing Room were clear from the beginning: Advocates for borrowers sported stickers or buttons declaring "Usury is not freedom," while industry representatives countered with their own stickers declaring: "I choose payday advance."
At issue are three proposals (HB 333*, HB 358* & HB 337*) that take varying approaches on how the business should operate, with advocates saying an interest rate cap of 36% should be imposed and lenders saying that change would put the needed industry out of business.
Just as occurred at the hearing Attorney General Dann held on payday lending last week the payday industry filled the room with mostly paid employees who demonstrated a "lack of decorum" with their shoutouts, cheers and catcalls.
Payday Lenders Use Industry Employees To Disrupt Dann Hearing
Chairman Chris Widener (R-Springfield), having already scolded some attendees for applauding at an earlier time, threatened to have the room cleared at the next disturbance.
At this point it's very clear that something is going to happen with the Payday lending predators in Ohio.
Governor Strickland has said an interest rate cap is "appropriate".
STRICKLAND SAYS PAYDAY LENDING INTEREST CAP "APPROPRIATE"
The Democratic Caucua supports industry reform.
Batchelder Welcomes Democratic Caucus Support of Payday Lending Reform
Eveybody's clear that House Minority Leader Joyce Beatty Supports reform now.
Will Payday Lending Bill Move Forward Now That Potential Beatty Conflict Has Been Exposed?
Ohio's Big City Mayor's are all on board.
Payday Lending Storefronts Swell to 1,638; Ohio's Big-City Mayors Seek Industry Reform
246 organizations from around the state have endorsed The Coalition For Responsible Lending
Thousands of individuals from across the state have signed The Online Pledge!
Sign the Online Faithful Pledge!
Your voice will help Ohioans entrapped by usurious predatory payday lenders!
Click here to sign the online pledge> >
Still Jon Husted, The Tom Delay of the Ohio House and his allies might try to slip increased fees in the final bill so as to lower the interest rate but keep the profits up in the industry.
You know free enterprise and all that (along with lots of campaign donations from the industry).
...revealing the icky, gooey details beneath:
McCain's Plan for Working Class Offers Plenty for Corporate World
Sen. John McCain yesterday offered sweeping rhetoric about the economic plight of working-class America, even as he spelled out a tax and spending agenda whose benefits are aimed squarely at spurring business and corporate growth.
McCain Reverses Position to Support Bush Tax Cuts New Plan Includes Billions in Breaks
John McCain famously opposed President Bush's tax cuts a few years ago, saying they would irresponsibly swell the budget deficit. Now the Arizona senator not only supports extending those cuts indefinitely, he is backing more than $200 billion a year in new breaks.
Johnny-Come-Lately
There's no way John McCain will succeed in selling his atrociously conceived, wildly irresponsible tax plan to the American people. So he'll probably change course--again.
I had the pleasure and honor to facilitate and be on the panel of two workshops, both of which dealt with health care issues and the single payer solution (in this case both our Ohio state initiative being pushed by SPAN Ohio, And, of course, we must not forget H.R. 676, the national single payer plan, or as I like to put it our doctor/patient run health care plan that is publically financed and privately run. For those interested, check out SPAN's website to see about our annual conference being held in Columbus next Saturday, April 19, 2008.
Canadian doctor Susan Rosenthal co-chaired one workshop with me, while I had the pleasure of teaming with Michigan PNHP head Dr. John Mitchner, John Horgan of IBEW Local 2222, and Malinda Markowitz of California Nurses Association for another. National single payer is growing as the choice by labor in the nation, it being the only real solution to solving the health care dilemma facing our nation.
Even with the minor distraction by the anti-democratic Andy Stern faction of SEIU (see article below this post) the conference was a great success having over 1100 attendees. I met with the more progressive members of SEIU, those who support democratic principles so it is important to not paint all SEIU members with the same color. Most the rank and file are on board not allowing their union leadership take it down the path of top-down, undemocratic functioning. Met with many of the CNA activists. This group has been on the forefront of making unions a powerful force who unbashedly stand up for the rights of working people over the corporate interests. They do not see climbing in bed with management to foment sweetheart deals, and for this their members should be commended.
Here is one take on the violence perpetrated by the busloads of SEIU members who stormed the grand foyer area, they never making the large hall where peaceful union brothers and sisters were enjoying good talks and a Saturday evening meal. It should be said, by some of the comments heard from attendees, it appears many of the SEIU members brought into disrupt the conference may have been unwitting participants to what was planned for them. More news will be forthcoming, I am sure. If so, one must wonder at what level this trickery desends through the ranks to use their members in such a way.
Here is the article about the debacle:
For Immediate Release
April 12, 2008
Contact Chris Kutalik 313-378-2588 or Mischa Gaus 773-627-3205
SERVICE EMPLOYEES UNION ATTACKS LABOR GATHERING
CONFERENCE-GOERS ASSAULTED
Dearborn, MI--The Service Employees International Union turned their dispute with the California Nurses Association violent by attacking a
labor conference April 12, injuring several and sending an American Axle striker to the hospital.
A recently retired member of United Auto Workers Local 235, Dianne Feeley, suffered a head wound after being knocked to the ground by SEIU
International staff and local members. Other conference-goers--members of the Teamsters, UAW, UNITE HERE, International Longshoremen's Association,
and SEIU itself--were punched, kicked, shoved, and pushed to the floor. Dearborn police responded and evicted the three bus loads of SEIU
International staff and members of local and regional health care unions.
No arrests were made.
The assault took place at the Labor Notes conference, a biennial gathering of 1,100 union members and leaders who met to discuss strategies to
rebuild the labor movement.
David Cohen, an international representative of the United Electrical Workers, asked protesters why they came. He said one responded, "they told
us just to get on the bus." The protesters included several members with young children, who had to be
ushered away when SEIU tried to force their way into the conference banquet hall. Protesters were targeting Rose Ann DeMoro, executive director of the AFL-CIO-affiliated CNA. DeMoro was scheduled to speak but declined to appear after threats were made against her union's leadership.
Despite being welcomed to the conference earlier in the day--and given space to debate supporters of the CNA and the National Nurses Organizing
Committee about neutrality organizing agreements--SEIU international and regional staff shouted down speakers at workshops and panels throughout
the event.
"Labor Notes has always been a space for open debate, but when a union decides to engage in violence against their brothers and sisters, we draw
a line," said Mark Brenner, director of Labor Notes. "Violence within the labor movement is unacceptable and we call on the national leadership of SEIU, including President Andy Stern, to repudiate it."
"In 2006, Bob was elected to serve the citizens of the 60th State House district. This district, situated in Mahoning County, covers the Youngstown area. He currently sits on five standing committees: Economic Development and Environment; Finance and Appropriations; Health; Ways and Means and the Transportation and Justice Subcommittee, where he is the Ranking Minority Member."
Since Bob sits on 5 standing committees, what has Bob accomplished for the 60th district for the past two years other than collecting over 100 political contributions from lobbyists and PACS in 2007?
That is why I am running for state representative because I believe we must sent a representative to Columbus who will address the issues facing regular citizens.
My campaign will focus on the issues that Ohioans care about: affordable health care, economic fairness, quality public education, and bringing renewable energy manufacturing jobs to the valley. I am not afraid to call for Health Care for All Ohioans, economic justice, and nothing less than a renewal of America's sense of community and promise of equal opportunity for all citizens.
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th District
campaign site: [ Http://votespisak.tripod.com]
It's a sad and confusing story. One union fighting over another union's members? But it's also a critical story to understand so that we can put an end to it and start building the kind of worker-friendly union movement that we all really need in America right now.
In an effort to move beyond the rhetoric that is flying around the blogosphere, I wanted to pass along this testimonial written by Susan Horne, RN. Susan is a nurse at Mt. Airy Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio who was on the ER ward when CNA organizers stormed the place with anti-union, anti-SEIU flyers days before the entire hospital staff was scheduled to vote to join with SEIU and establish the first-ever union there. This Ohio CNA incident---also well documented in the news--happened about a month ago. Here is Susan Horne's account.
CNA Doesn't Speak for Us; Stay Out of Our Hospitals
After more than three years of struggle to stand up for ourselves and have a chance to form a union at Mercy Mt. Airy hospital in Cincinnati, my colleagues and I were robbed. Days before a vote for union representation with the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), a group of aggressive out-of-state organizers with the California Nurses Association (CNA) swarmed our ER hallways making the environment so toxic that we had to call the vote off.
Some of us were already planning the negotiations around retirement, staffing, and overtime when the CNA organizers showed up and started harassing us. They called the work phone numbers of the nurses on the floor. They blanketed the place with union-busting flyers and even tried bribing our staff with pizza just to urge us to vote against SEIU. It was disgusting.
I suppose I would understand if the union-busting came from management or even if it had come from union dissenters within our own staff. But for an outside group that doesn't know anything about our struggle, it just doesn't make sense.
CNA hasn't been here for the past three years while we've been organizing for our rights. We talked with our colleagues, spoke in churches, and met with community leaders and priests who could help us hospital workers take a stand and set up a union for all Mt Airy staff. We were excited about joining with SEIU and uniting all the hospital workers (not just registered nurses) for a chance to improve patient care, hospital efficiency, and the overall quality of life for caregivers and our patients. If the union vote succeeded, it wasn't just going to be the nurses or the maintenance workers divided into their own union factions. In our experiences, it's only when all the hospital staff has equal protections and rights that we can deliver high quality care as a unified team.
Even if CNA has a different strategy for organizing, they had no right to storm our facilities and intervene in our affairs. Those out-of-state organizers don't know anything about my life, about my struggle or about the progress that we've been making here. They just came out of nowhere--for no clear reason--to take away our chance for a voice.
I can't begin to express my disappointment and my confusion over such a cruel and misplaced attack, and I hope and pray that we will get another chance to vote for union representation.
In the meantime, my conscience will not allow me to remain on the sidelines while I stand witness to injustice. And that's why I'm speaking out. I speak for my closest colleagues when I say to CNA and their team of bullies, shame on you. Shame on you for pretending to speak for us and pretending to represent our needs. And shame on you for tarnishing our honest hard work with your petty political games.
- Susan Horne, RN
For more information on CNA's actions, you can check out www.ShameonCNA.com. I also hope to post another account later today from an Ohio nurse who has been in California trying to speak with CNA Excecutive Offers and staff about what CNA did to her and her colleagues in Ohio. Since coming to California and having first hand experience of similar CNA tactics in LA County hospitals, Sue is demoralized and wants to share her thoughts. Stay tuned.
- Ali Jost, SEIU Staff
For each day Phal Savin worked sewing garments in a Cambodian factory, she made $1.08.
The 13-hour days she spent making clothing amounted to a frugal pay, she said, that was supposed to be enough to feed her five children and pay her rent and utilities.
And until recently, that’s how the single mother supported herself and her family. After growing tired of the long days and small earnings, Savin said, she decided to form her own union – a step she thought would help bring higher wages to Cambodians working in the factory.
She was wrong. Shortly after she began organizing activities for co-workers, she was fired from the company.
Now, as vice president of the Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union, Savin, 39, is sharing her story with others, hoping it will persuade people to think before making pur-chases.
On Wednesday, Savin, along with representatives of SweatFree Communities – an organization against sweatshops – shared her story with area residents during the 2008 Wal-Mart Sweatshop Workers Speaking Tour held in the family center of St. Joseph Catholic Church at Dover.
More than 50 people attended the event, which was held to encourage Americans to urge officials of the retail giant to enforce their code of conduct.
In addition to Savin, those in attendance heard from a 41-year-old Costa Rican, Didier Leiton, who spent 17 years working as a produce farmer on pineapple and banana plantations.
Like Savin, he, too, received a small wage – $1.09 an hour – from his company, which like the business Savin worked for supplied its goods to Wal-Mart.
“The company doesn’t give minimum wage,” he said. “It makes life of a farm worker more difficult; it’s not enough to buy food and there’s poor nutrition. There’s not enough (money) for education and less and less kids get to go to school. It’s even harder (to afford) college.”Read the Full Story and the provocative discussion in the comments thread
SweatFree Communities, Sweatshop Watch, and International Labor Rights Forum are excited to bring you the 2007-08 Shop with a Conscience Consumer Guide filled with excellent products made in good working conditions. We believe that one of the most important criteria for meaningful and dignified work is that workers themselves have an effective, collective voice in determining their wages and working conditions. Therefore all the products in this shopping guide are made by workers organized into democratic unions or worker-owned cooperatives. To learn more about our criteria, go here.
All retailers and wholesalers listed have undergone a rigorous application process to give us and you the confidence that their products truly meet our sweatfree criteria. Yet, conditions may change, and we do not have the capacity to monitor any factories in person. We encourage you to help us by lending us your eyes and ears, letting us know if you hear of any concerns about human rights or worker rights violations in the workplaces. We will immediately bring such concerns to the attention of their business customers listed in the shopping guide, knowing that they will work in partnership with us and the workers to ensure that conditions improve.
Go shopping now to support good working conditions.
Vicki Kaplan from Sweatfree Communities reports that the first stops on the International Wal-Mart Sweatshop Workers tour have been an overwhelming success.
If you live in Cleveland, try and make it out tonight for this unique opportunity to hear directly from the Cambodian and Costa Rican workers on the front lines.
April 9, 2008
Over 2 million workers in Ohio cannot earn a single paid sick day and more than 3.5 million working Ohioans cannot take a paid sick day to care for a sick child. Moreover, 670,000 food and public accommodation workers are denied even one single paid sick day. This means that workers are often forced to work sick, or to lose pay--or even to lose their jobs.
Right now the Ohio legislature is considering a bill, The Ohio Healthy Families Act, which will allow employees in businesses with 25 or more employees to earn paid sick days. The legislature received the bill after over 270,000 Ohioans petitioned for the proposed law's consideration. Today the legislature is exactly one month away from their 4-month deadline to consider the bill. At present, they have done nothing even though they themselves have paid sick days at taxpayers' expense. Now is the time to send your legislators a message!
While Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted has promised a hearing and fair consideration, the bill has been stalled. Our current "progressive liberal" State Representative Bob Hagan who claims he stands and fights for working families has remained silent on this issue. Why hasn't Bob Hagan spoke out about this bill being stalled in the house? Is it because one or more of Bob Hagan's 100 lobbyists or PACS who have contributed to his campaign have asked him to remain silent on this bill?
The lack of paid sick days is a liability for public health, for people, and for businesses. That's because when workers are forced to come to work sick, they risk spreading contagions to colleagues and consumers--and have slower recovery time themselves. It shouldn't be that way.
Millions of Ohio workers today are forced to choose between working sick, or losing pay--and even possibly losing their jobs when they get sick. Ohio has family values and we need laws that value families!
As the Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative for the 60th district, I believe we need to send real progressive representatives to Columbus who will vote to ensure that when you work hard in Ohio you will earn the right to take care of yourself and your family when you are sick.
To learn more about the Ohio Healthy Families Act, visit my campaign site at [votespisak.tripod.com] .
Dennis Spisak-Independent Green Party Candidate for State Representative-60th district
What's really behind Wal-Mart's low prices and why is the State of Ohio sending millions of our tax dollars to sweatshops abroad?
This week, sweatshop workers from Cambodia and Costa Rica are touring Ohio will share their stories of what it's like to work in the fields and factories that fill the shelves of Wal-Mart.
With your help we will educate our communities about the high cost behind Wal-Mart's much publicized low prices, and we will inspire action to improve working conditions at home and abroad.
Throughout the tour, we will call on Ohio Governor Ted Strickland to join the emerging State and Local Government Sweatfree Consortium, which would stop tax dollar support for sweatshops.
Please join us for an event in your community.
Click for more details.
CINCINNATI Monday, April 7, 6:30 PM
COLUMBUS Tuesday, Apr 8, 6:30 PM
NEW PHILADELPHIA Wednesday, April 9, 7:00 PM
CLEVELAND Thursday, April 10, 07:00 PM
TOLEDO: Friday, April 11.
Contact Vicki@sweatfree.org or 574-975-6207 for details.
The Speakers:
From Cambodia, Phal Savin spent many years sewing clothing for Wal-Mart. A mother of five, she was recently fired for trying to form a union, and is now vice president of the Coalition of Cambodia Apparel Workers Democratic Union.
Didier Leiton, from Costa Rica, worked for 17 years on pineapple and banana plantations and is now an organizer with the Union of Agricultural and Plantation Workers.
Many thanks to these Ohio sponsors for making the events possible: AFL-CIO Columbus Central Labor Council, Greater Columbus Jobs with Justice, InterReligious Task Force on Central America, John Carroll University, Campus Ministry, Ohio Conference on Fair Trade, Toledo Central Labor Council, UFCW Local 1059, UFCW Local 1099, UFCW Local 911, UNITE HERE Ohio State Council, U.S. Labor Education in the Americas Project (USLEAP), USW District 1, USW Local 2737, Xavier Students Against Sweatshops
"Even though we have a union, the factory won't negotiate a contract which prevents us from trying to get a raise and making the factory safer. My salary is about half of what I need. On occasions I have been forced to work as many as 24 hours straight. My factory produces Wal-Mart shirts including the Wal-Mart brand No Boundaries.
--Florie Arevalo, Filipina Worker
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