Obama Speaks at CWA Convention

Added April 8th, 2008, at 4:48 pm Eastern

This morning, Barack Obama spoke at a gathering of the Communications Workers of America in Washington, D.C.

Video of the speech:

Posted by: pbump. Category: Worker's Rights. Link to this article

Another AFSCME Local Endorses

Added April 3rd, 2008, at 8:10 am Eastern

Barack Obama yesterday earned the support of another AFSCME local, this time in Pennsylvania - in defiance of the national organization that committed to Clinton when she still claimed to be "inevitable".

Chapter President Henry Nichols stated that, "justice told [him] it was the right position to take."

Posted by: pbump. Category: Labor Support. Link to this article

Obama Addresses Pennsylvania AFL-CIO Convention

Added April 2nd, 2008, at 4:50 pm Eastern

As part of his tour of Pennsylvania, Barack Obama this morning attended the annual convention of delegates from the Pennsylvania AFL-CIO.

In his statement, he said:

..It's time to take on the special interests so that our economy works for working Americans. You've got to have somebody in Washington who thinks about our workers.

...I’ve been fighting for working families ever since I moved to Chicago more than two decades ago to work as a community organizer, giving job training to the jobless and hope to the hopeless when the local steel plants closed. And the reason I’m standing here today is because I don’t want to wake up one morning many years from now and see that nothing has changed because the system is still being rigged against America’s families.

...In this country, of all countries, healthcare should be available to everyone. We're ready to play some offense for organized labor. It's time we had a President who didn't choke saying the word union. It's time we had a Democratic nominee who didn't just talk about unions during the primary. A president who strengthens our unions by letting them do what they do best, organize our workers. It's time we passed the Employee Free Choice Act.

Here's the full speech.

Posted by: pbump. Category: Worker's Rights. Link to this article

Indiana Ad Addresses Obama's Working Class Credentials

Added March 28th, 2008, at 3:12 pm Eastern

A new ad, airing in Indiana, addresses Barack Obama's strong history of grass-roots advocacy for working people.

Posted by: pbump. Category: Worker's Rights. Link to this article

Oregon AFSCME Endorses Obama

Added March 17th, 2008, at 10:49 am Eastern

In a break from the national organization which committed to Clinton during the "inevitable" phase of her campaign, Oregon's AFSCME (American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees) Council 75 has endorsed Barack Obama "overwhelmingly".

From the announcement:

He is a candidate organized labor can proudly stand behind and support....

With the Obama endorsement, Oregon AFSCME joins the other biggest unions in Oregon supporting Obama in the Oregon primary, including the Oregon Education Association, the Teamsters, Service Employees International Union, the United Food and Commercial Workers and others. Allen said AFSCME plans to mail to its members and participate in other get-out-the-vote activities...

Posted by: pbump. Category: Labor Support. Link to this article

New Obama Ad Addresses His Organizing Background

Added March 1st, 2008, at 11:05 pm Eastern

A great new ad, currently running in Rhode Island, articulates Obama's choice to forsake a lucrative career in law in order to help communities in South Chicago.

Posted by: pbump. Category: Inspiration. Link to this article

Clinton Donor Sexual Harassment Case "Worst Ever Experienced"

Added February 29th, 2008, at 10:15 pm Eastern

An article at MSNBC reinforces concerns about Clinton's commitment to worker employment conditions.

In a case that an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission attorney referred to as the "worst case I've ever experienced," International Profit Associates, an Illinois consulting firm has been accused of "a brazen pattern of sexual harassment including "sexual assaults,” “degrading anti-female language" and "obscene suggestions." "

From the article:

"Every woman there experienced sex harassment, they were part of a hostile work environment of sex harassment. And this occurred from the top down."

Sen. Clinton’s spokesman, Howard Wolfson, told NBC News in a statement that the senator decided to keep the funds because the lawsuit is "ongoing" and because none of the sexual harassment allegations has been proven in court.

Posted by: pbump. Category: Worker's Rights. Link to this article

Utility Workers Support Obama

Added February 25th, 2008, at 11:41 am Eastern

The Utility Workers Union of America today announced their endorsement of Barack Obama.

From their statement:

In addition to Senator Obama’s longstanding support of issues important to workers such as the Employee Free Choice Act, Senator Obama has shown leadership on the critical issues facing utility workers and consumers. Senator Obama has pledged to rebuild our nation’s crumbling infrastructure and is the candidate most likely to lead our country to true energy independence.

Posted by: pbump. Category: Labor Support. Link to this article

Obama's New Texas Ad Focuses On Workers

Added February 21st, 2008, at 7:08 pm Eastern

View the ad below:

Posted by: pbump. Category: Worker's Rights. Link to this article

Change To Win Coalition, Representing 6 Million Working People, Backs Obama

Added February 21st, 2008, at 1:21 pm Eastern

The Change to Win coalition, comprised of over six million working people across the country, today announced its support for Barack Obama.

From their statement:

Our members and the 40 million workers in our industries are real people who work hard picking the crops, stocking the shelves, preparing and serving our food, building, cleaning and guarding the skyscrapers of our big cities. They drive our buses and trucks.

They care for the sick and elderly and help us raise our children. They are the infrastructure of our society. For them, this election is about changing America to win a better future for our children.

We want a president who shares our vision and is committed to a practical program to translate that vision into action....

Most importantly, we want a president who shares our dream and unites Americans in building a movement for change. ….a movement with the power to turn that dream into reality.

Today, Change to Win is proud to endorse Senator Barack Obama.

Change to Win also posted highlights of Obama's speech to their convention last September.

Posted by: pbump. Category: Labor Support. Link to this article