<html>
<head>
<style><!--
.hmmessage P
{
margin:0px;
padding:0px
}
body.hmmessage
{
font-size: 10pt;
font-family:Tahoma
}
--></style>
</head>
<body class='hmmessage'><div dir='ltr'>
<OL>
<LI>
<H2 class=ReadMsgSubject><FONT size=3>Occupy Movement Inspires Unions to Embrace Bold Tactics</FONT></H2></LI>
<LI>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><STRONG><FONT size=3><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></FONT></STRONG></P></LI>
<LI><STRONG><FONT size=3>A monumental victory.(AFSCME)</FONT></STRONG></LI>
<LI><STRONG><FONT size=3>Mañana en Caracas: Marcha de los trabajadores por una LOT revolucionaria y contra burocracia y capital</FONT></STRONG></LI>
<LI>
<DIV><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12846?akid=7835.16102.Zi78XR&t=8" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf size=3><STRONG>Unions Getting More Confrontational Thanks to Occupy Movements</STRONG></FONT></A></DIV></LI>
<LI>
<DIV><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12859?akid=7835.16102.Zi78XR&t=18" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf size=3><STRONG>Decatur Utilities Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants From Obtaining Utilities For Their Homes</STRONG></FONT></A></DIV></LI>
<LI>
<H2 class=ReadMsgSubject><FONT size=3>Victory in Ohio</FONT></H2></LI>
<LI>
<P class=ecxheadline3 style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><SPAN><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12829?akid=7832.16102.2l56S_&t=12" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf><STRONG>Extreme Poverty Is Now at Record Levels -- 19 Statistics About the Poor That Will Absolutely Astound You</STRONG></FONT></A></SPAN></P></LI></OL>
<BR>
<BR>
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<DIV class="SandboxScopeClass ExternalClass PlainTextMessageBody" id=mpf0_MsgContainer><PRE><FONT face=Tahoma><STRONG><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt" size=4>Occupy Movement Inspires Unions to Embrace Bold Tactics<BR>By STEVEN GREENHOUSE<BR></FONT></STRONG>Published: November 8, 2011<BR></FONT><A href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/business/occupy-movement-inspires-unions-to-embrace-bold-tactics.html?scp=6&sq=steven%20greenhouse%20&st=cse" target=_blank><FONT face=Tahoma color=#0068cf>http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/business/occupy-movement-inspires-unions-to-embrace-bold-tactics.html?scp=6&sq=steven%20greenhouse%20&st=cse</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Tahoma> <BR>Organized labor's early flirtation with Occupy Wall<BR>Street is starting to get serious.<BR> <BR>Last month, Verizon workers marched past Zuccotti Park<BR>in solidarity with Occupy protesters.<BR>Union leaders, who were initially cautious in embracing<BR>the Occupy movement, have in recent weeks showered the<BR>protesters with help -- tents, air mattresses, propane<BR>heaters and tons of food. The protesters, for their<BR>part, have joined in union marches and picket lines<BR>across the nation. About 100 protesters from Occupy Wall<BR>Street are expected to join a Teamsters picket line at<BR>the Sotheby's auction house in Manhattan on Wednesday<BR>night to back the union in a bitter contract fight.<BR> <BR>Labor unions, marveling at how the protesters have fired<BR>up the public on traditional labor issues like income<BR>inequality, are also starting to embrace some of the<BR>bold tactics and social media skills of the Occupy<BR>movement.<BR> <BR>Last Wednesday, a union transit worker and a retired<BR>Teamster were arrested for civil disobedience inside<BR>Sotheby's after sneaking through the entrance to<BR>harangue those attending an auction -- echoing the<BR>lunchtime ruckus that Occupy Wall Street protesters<BR>caused weeks earlier at two well-known Manhattan<BR>restaurants owned by Danny Meyer, a Sotheby's board<BR>member.<BR> <BR>Organized labor's public relations staff is also using<BR>Twitter, Tumblr and other social media much more<BR>aggressively after seeing how the Occupy protesters have<BR>used those services to mobilize support by immediately<BR>transmitting photos and videos of marches, tear-gassing<BR>and arrests. The Teamsters, for example, have beefed up<BR>their daily blog and posted many more photos of their<BR>battles with BMW, US Foods and Sotheby's on Facebook and<BR>Twitter.<BR> <BR>"The Occupy movement has changed unions," said Stuart<BR>Appelbaum, the president of the Retail, Wholesale and<BR>Department Store Union. "You're seeing a lot more unions<BR>wanting to be aggressive in their messaging and their<BR>activity. You'll see more unions on the street, wanting<BR>to tap into the energy of Occupy Wall Street."<BR> <BR>Unions have long stuck to traditional tactics like<BR>picketing. But inspired by the Occupy protests, labor<BR>leaders are talking increasingly of mobilizing the rank<BR>and file and trying to flex their muscles through large,<BR>boisterous marches, including nationwide marches planned<BR>for Nov. 17.<BR> <BR>Organized labor is also seizing on the simplicity of the<BR>Occupy movement's message, which criticizes the great<BR>wealth of the top 1 percent of Americans compared with<BR>the economic struggles of much of the bottom 99 percent.<BR> <BR>A memo that the A.F.L.-C.I.O. sent out last week<BR>recommended that unions use the Occupy message about<BR>inequality and the 99 percent far more in their<BR>communications with members, employers and voters.<BR> <BR>Indeed, as part of its contract battle with Verizon, the<BR>communications workers' union has began asserting in its<BR>picket signs that Verizon and its highly paid chief<BR>executive are part of the 1 percent, while the Verizon<BR>workers who face demands for concessions are part of the<BR>99 percent. A dozen Verizon workers plan to begin<BR>walking from Albany to Manhattan on Thursday in a "March<BR>for the 99 percent."<BR> <BR>"We think the Occupy movement has given voice to<BR>something very basic about what's going on in our<BR>country right now," said Damon Silvers, the<BR>A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s policy director. "The fact that they've<BR>figured out certain concepts and language for doing<BR>that, we think is really important and positive."<BR> <BR>Over the last month, unions have provided extensive<BR>support to Occupy protesters around the country, from<BR>rain ponchos to cash donations. National Nurses United<BR>is providing staff members for first-aid tables at many<BR>encampments, while the A.F.L.-C.I.O.'s headquarters two<BR>blocks from the White House is providing shower<BR>facilities for the protesters occupying McPherson<BR>Square, 300 yards to the east.<BR> <BR>Unions have also intervened with politicians on behalf<BR>of the protesters. In Los Angeles, labor leaders have<BR>repeatedly lobbied Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa not to<BR>evict the protesters. When New York City officials were<BR>threatening to evict the Occupy Wall Street protesters<BR>from Zuccotti Park, hundreds of union members showed up<BR>before daybreak to discourage any eviction, and the city<BR>backed down.<BR> <BR>Like any relationship, however, the one between the<BR>Occupy movement and labor is complicated.<BR> <BR>Dozens of Occupy protesters have joined union members to<BR>picket the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles and Verizon<BR>offices in Washington, Buffalo and Boston. (A Verizon<BR>spokesman said the Occupy protesters "do not have the<BR>benefit of any information about the Verizon issues<BR>except what they've been told by the union, which is<BR>obviously one-sided and most likely inaccurate.")<BR> <BR>In New York, the Occupy protesters have joined the<BR>Teamsters in their attacks on Sotheby's. The art auction<BR>house locked out 43 Teamster art handlers on July 29,<BR>after the union balked at its demands for sizable<BR>concessions.<BR> <BR>In addition to the lunchtime protest at the Danny Meyer<BR>restaurants, Occupy protesters also joined recent<BR>picketing against Sotheby's outside the Museum of Modern<BR>Art in New York.<BR> <BR>Diana Phillips, a Sotheby's spokeswoman, said the<BR>company had offered a fair contract and "is unwilling to<BR>accept demands that virtually double the cost of their<BR>contract."<BR> <BR>Arthur Brown, a mental health worker who is one of the<BR>founders of Occupy Buffalo, where 50 people camp out<BR>each night, said the Occupy movement badly needed<BR>labor's backing if it is to change the nation's policies<BR>and politics.<BR> <BR>"Young people started this movement, but they can't<BR>finish it," Mr. Brown said. "They don't have the<BR>capacity or the experience to finish it. We really need<BR>the working class and union folks, the older folks, the<BR>activists from the '60s. '70s and '80s, to help make<BR>this a full-fledged movement that will change the<BR>political landscape of America."<BR> <BR>But some Occupy protesters worry that organized labor<BR>might seek to co-opt them.<BR> <BR>Jake Lowry, a 21-year-old college student and an Occupy<BR>participant, said: "We're glad to have unions endorse<BR>us, but we can't formally endorse them. We're an<BR>autonomous group and it's important to keep our<BR>autonomy."<BR> <BR>George Gresham, president of 1199 S.E.I.U., a union that<BR>represents more than 300,000 health care workers in the<BR>Northeast, said his union wanted to help the Occupy<BR>movement amplify its voice.<BR> <BR>"This is a dream come true for us to have these young<BR>people speaking out about what's been happening to<BR>working people," Mr. Gresham said. His union has offered<BR>to provide 500 flu shots and a week's worth of meals for<BR>the Occupy Wall Street protesters.<BR> <BR>Maria Elena Durazo, executive secretary-treasurer of the<BR>Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, said it remained<BR>to be seen whether the unions and the protesters could,<BR>by working together, achieve concrete change.<BR> <BR>"Workers are with the Occupy movement on the broader<BR>issues; they're with them on the issue of inequality,"<BR>she said. "The question is, can the labor movement or<BR>the Occupy movement move that message down to the<BR>workplace, where workers confront low wages, low<BR>benefits and little power? Can we use it to organize<BR>workers where it really matters, in the workplace, to<BR>help their everyday life?"<BR> <BR>____________________________________________<BR> <BR>PortsideLabor aims to provide material of interest to<BR>people on the left that will help them to interpret the<BR>world and to change it.<BR> <BR>Submit via email: labor@portside.org<BR> <BR>Submit via the Web: </FONT><A href="http://portside.org/submittous3" target=_blank><FONT face=Tahoma color=#0068cf>http://portside.org/submittous3</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Tahoma> <BR>Frequently asked questions: </FONT><A href="http://portside.org/faq" target=_blank><FONT face=Tahoma color=#0068cf>http://portside.org/faq</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Tahoma> <BR>Sub/Unsub: </FONT><A href="http://portside.org/subscribe-and-unsubscribe" target=_blank><FONT face=Tahoma color=#0068cf>http://portside.org/subscribe-and-unsubscribe</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Tahoma> <BR>PS Labor Archives: </FONT><A href="http://portside.org/archive" target=_blank><FONT face=Tahoma color=#0068cf>http://portside.org/archive</FONT></A><BR><FONT face=Tahoma> <BR>Contribute to Portside: </FONT><A href="https://portside.org/donate" target=_blank><FONT face=Tahoma color=#0068cf>https://portside.org/donate</FONT></A><BR></PRE></DIV>
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<BR>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><STRONG><FONT size=4><SPAN style="COLOR: black">Christmas 2011 -- Birth of a New Tradition</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></FONT></STRONG></P>
<P class=ecxMsoNormal style="BACKGROUND: white"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10pt; COLOR: black"><BR>As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high<BR>gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods --<BR>merchandise that has been produced at the expense of American labor. This<BR>year will be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine<BR>concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that, at gift<BR>giving time, nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes<BR>there is!<BR><BR>It's time to think outside the box, people. Who says a gift needs to fit in<BR>a shirt box, wrapped in Chinese produced wrapping paper? <BR>Everyone -- yes EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates<BR>from your local American hair salon or barber?<BR><BR>Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who are thinking about some<BR>health improvement.<BR><BR>Who wouldn't appreciate getting their car detailed? Small, American owned<BR>detail shops and car washes would love to sell you a gift certificate or a<BR>book of gift certificates.<BR><BR>Are you one of those extravagant givers who think nothing of plunking down<BR>the Benjamines on a Chinese made flat-screen? Perhaps that grateful gift<BR>receiver would like his driveway sealed, or lawn mowed for the summer, or<BR>driveway plowed all winter, or games at the local golf course.<BR><BR>There are a bazillion owner-run restaurants -- all offering gift<BR>certificates. And, if your intended isn't the fancy eatery sort, what about<BR>a half dozen breakfasts at the local breakfast joint. Remember, folks this<BR>isn't about big National chains -- this is about supporting your home town<BR>Americans with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open.<BR><BR>How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or<BR>motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy?<BR><BR>Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would LOVE the services of a<BR>local cleaning lady for a day.<BR><BR>My computer could use a tune-up, and I KNOW I can find some young guy who is<BR>struggling to get his repair business up and running.<BR><BR>OK, you were looking for something more personal. Local crafts people spin<BR>their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery<BR>and beautiful wooden boxes.<BR><BR>Plan your holiday outings at local, owner operated restaurants and leave<BR>your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at<BR>your hometown theatre.<BR><BR>Musicians need love too, so find a venue showcasing local bands.<BR><BR>Honestly, people, do you REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese<BR>lights for the house? When you buy a five dollar string of light, about<BR>fifty cents stays in the community. If you have those kinds of bucks to<BR>burn, leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip.<BR><BR>You see, Christmas is no longer about draining American pockets so that<BR>China can build another glittering city. Christmas is now about caring about<BR>US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow<BR>their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our<BR>communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we couldn't imagine.<BR>THIS is the new American Christmas tradition. <BR>Forward this to everyone on your mailing list -- post it to discussion<BR>groups -- throw up a post on Craigslist in the Rants and Raves section in<BR>your city -- send it to the editor of your local paper and radio stations,<BR>and TV news departments. This is a revolution of caring about each other,<BR>and isn't that what Christmas is about?</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: black"><U></U><U></U></SPAN></P>
<BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<BR>
<H3 style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 14px"><A style="TEXT-DECORATION: none" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/us/politics/ohio-turns-back-a-law-limiting-unions-rights.html?nl=us&emc=politicsemailema3" target=_blank>Ohio Turns Back a Law Limiting Unions' Rights </A></H3>
<H6 class=ecxbyline style="FONT: 10px Arial,sans-serif; COLOR: #999">By SABRINA TAVERNISE </H6>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12px">
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #000">Voters in Ohio delivered their verdict on a centerpiece of the conservative legislative agenda.</P></DIV>
<DIV class=articleSpanImage><IMG style="FILTER: progId:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2011/11/09/us/09ohio3_span/09ohio3_span-articleLarge.jpg', sizingMethod='scale' )" height=350 alt="" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/backgrounds/transparentBG.gif" width=600 border=0>
<DIV class=credit>Andrew Spear for The New York Times</DIV>
<P class=caption>Firefighters and family members cheered during a rally in Columbus Tuesday evening. </P></DIV>
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>
if($$('div.articleSpanImage') != null) {
var articleSpanImage = $$('div.articleSpanImage')[0].getElementsByTagName("img")[0];
var articleSpanImageSrc = articleSpanImage.getAttribute('src');
articleSpanImage.setAttribute('src',"http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/backgrounds/transparentBG.gif");
var filter = "progId:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='"+articleSpanImageSrc+"', sizingMethod='scale' )";
articleSpanImage.style.filter = filter;
}
</SCRIPT>
<NYT_BYLINE>
<H6 class=byline>By <A class=meta-per title="More Articles by Sabrina Tavernise" href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/t/sabrina_tavernise/index.html?inline=nyt-per" rel=author><FONT color=#004276>SABRINA TAVERNISE</FONT></A></H6></NYT_BYLINE>
<H6 class=dateline>Published: November 8, 2011 </H6>
<STRONG><FONT size=3>Ohio Labor Movement Defeats Anti-Union Bill and Its Wealthy Supporters<BR></FONT></STRONG>Mike Ludwig, Truthout: "Ohio's labor movement is celebrating today after voters dealt a hefty blow to Republican Gov. John Kasich on Tuesday by overwhelmingly voting to repeal an anti-collective bargaining law he championed during the past year. Ohioans voted to repeal Senate Bill 5 (SB 5) by a margin of 61 to 38 percent. SB 5 would have limited collective bargaining rights for more than 350,000 public workers in Ohio and increased health care and pension costs for some workers." <BR><A href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=J%2BwYnCer8FagD9Wen3Qg3iKPqMtzD9al" target=_blank><FONT color=#cc0000>Read the Article</FONT></A> <BR>
<BR>
<DIV class=ecxheadline3 style="FONT-SIZE: 18px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #eaeaea 1px dotted; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">
<DIV><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12834?akid=7835.16102.Zi78XR&t=1" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Ohio: Koch-Backed Anti-Worker Bill Resoundingly Defeated By Voters</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #de4900; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif">By Adele M. Stan | AlterNet</SPAN></DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxheadline3 style="FONT-SIZE: 18px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #eaeaea 1px dotted; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">
<DIV><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12848?akid=7835.16102.Zi78XR&t=3" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Amazing Video of Ohio State Senator Dressing Down Governor After Union-Busting Bill Defeated</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #de4900; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif">By Sarah Seltzer | AlterNet</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #de4900; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif"> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #de4900; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif">
<DIV class=ecxheadline3 style="FONT-SIZE: 18px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #eaeaea 1px dotted; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">
<DIV><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12853?akid=7835.16102.Zi78XR&t=10" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown: "Last Night Ohio Made History"</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #de4900; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif">By Sarah Jaffe | AlterNet</SPAN></DIV></DIV></SPAN></DIV></DIV>
<BR><BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<A href="http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=jAvQoj//ikb/fFDalDAkfHeGI1xvlX9C&url=http://www.afscme.org/" target=_blank><IMG height=100 alt=AFSCME src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/c/51/images/banner-officers-basic.gif" width=626 border=0></A><BR><BR>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,sans-serif">
<DIV><FONT face=Verdana,Arial,sans-serif color=#000000 size=2>Dear AFSCME Sisters and Brothers,<BR><BR>Yesterday, we made history.<BR><BR><B>The voters of Ohio rejected Gov. John Kasich’s extreme anti-worker bill – SB 5 – when they voted down Issue 2.</B><BR><BR>In a word, this victory is monumental. It’s an affirmation of our right to bargain collectively. Never before has the public had the opportunity to weigh in on this basic right. Voters said NO to Issue 2 and YES to the right of public service workers to negotiate on issues such as health care, outsourcing, and staffing levels on nursing shifts, firefighting crews and in squad cars.<BR><BR><A href="http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=Q4ciQn7tnfzfio6qMsKgKXeGI1xvlX9C&url=http://www.afscme.org/victory-in-ohio" target=_blank><B><FONT color=#0068cf>See how we won by watching our new video and share it with your friends and co-workers</FONT></B></A>.<BR><BR>Working together, Democrats and Republicans, union and non-union workers, as well as teachers, bus drivers, firefighters, corrections officers, police officers, social service workers, nurses and public employees of all stripes sent a resounding message to the powerful forces on the far right who want to eliminate public services, reduce corporate taxes, and take away the rights of hard-working Americans: <B>There’s a price to pay when you turn your back on the middle class</B>.<BR><BR>
<CENTER><A href="http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=1GGSV41BprNW11vFnULzF3eGI1xvlX9C&url=http://www.afscme.org/victory-in-ohio" target=_blank><IMG height=170 alt="Watch our election-night video." src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/c/51/images/201111-natlissue2-callout-3.jpg" width=540 border=0></A></CENTER><BR>We would not be celebrating this win if it weren’t for the tireless efforts of your AFSCME sisters and brothers in Ohio. What they accomplished is simply incredible.<BR><BR>The Main Street movement that started in Madison, landed in Ohio, and is now sweeping the country should send shivers down the spines of anti-worker politicians in cities and towns and statehouses across America. The people who work on Main Street — who plow our roads, tend to the sick and protect our communities — will not allow themselves to be scapegoats for the economic crisis created by Wall Street greed.<BR><BR>This victory confirms what we have always known: Working families will rise up, organize, and make our voices heard when lawmakers trample our rights in order to cushion millionaires and corporations. In fact, we want to tell you more about yesterday’s win in Ohio:<BR>
<UL>
<LI><A href="http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=6oDjfvBFM3UCgLFAGY365HeGI1xvlX9C&url=http://www.afscme.org/victory-in-ohio" target=_blank><B><FONT color=#0068cf>First, watch our video</FONT></B></A> to see just how much hard work and dedication everyday AFSCME members in Ohio poured into this campaign.</LI>
<LI><A href="http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5GDGJWnMkC0j6x5ZzeUYHneGI1xvlX9C&url=http://action.afscme.org/c/51/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY%3D6532" target=_blank><B><FONT color=#0068cf>Then, sign-up for a special Tele-Town Hall meeting</FONT></B></A> with both of us and the leaders in Ohio so that you can learn how they fought back, and how you can too. <A href="http://afl.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=XmLc4aP12krM86hdab0M%2BXeGI1xvlX9C&url=http://action.afscme.org/c/51/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY%3D6532" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Click here to register for the special event on Monday, Nov. 14 at 8:00 p.m. ET</FONT></A>.</LI></UL>Make no mistake: Our victory in Ohio is sweet, but the fight to protect the public services and middle class that make our country so great is far from over. So today, we celebrate. But tomorrow we go right back to work — and we hope that we can count on you to continue standing up for the middle class. <BR><BR>In solidarity,</FONT></DIV>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=center width="45%"><IMG height=41 alt="Gerald W. McEntee" hspace=0 src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/c/51/images/McEnteeSignature.gif" width=200 border=0></TD>
<TD width="10%"> </TD>
<TD vAlign=center width="45%"><IMG height=56 alt="Lee A. Saunders" hspace=0 src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4002/c/51/images/SaundersSignature.gif" width=140 border=0></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,sans-serif" vAlign=top width="45%"><FONT face=Verdana,Arial,sans-serif color=#000000 size=2>GERALD W. McENTEE <BR>President</FONT></TD>
<TD width="10%"> </TD>
<TD style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-FAMILY: Verdana,Arial,sans-serif" vAlign=top width="45%"><FONT face=Verdana,Arial,sans-serif color=#000000 size=2>LEE A. SAUNDERS <BR>Secretary-Treasurer</FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<BR></DIV>
<BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<BR>
<A href="http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/venezuela-leftmenu-161/7133-marcha-unete-10-nov" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/venezuela-leftmenu-161/7133-marcha-unete-10-nov</FONT></A><BR clear=all><BR>
<TABLE class=ecxcontentpaneopen>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD class=ecxcontentheading width="100%"><A class=ecxcontentpagetitle href="http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/venezuela-leftmenu-161/7133-marcha-unete-10-nov" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf><STRONG>Mañana en Caracas: Marcha de los trabajadores por una LOT revolucionaria y contra burocracia y capital</STRONG> </FONT></A></TD>
<TD class=ecxbuttonheading align=right width="100%"><A title=Imprimir href="http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/venezuela-leftmenu-161/7133-marcha-unete-10-nov?tmpl=component&print=1&layout=default&page=" target=_blank rel=nofollow><FONT color=#0068cf><IMG alt=Imprimir src="http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/templates/rt_versatility4_j15/images/printButton.png"></FONT></A> </TD>
<TD class=ecxbuttonheading align=right width="100%"><A title="Correo electrónico" href="http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/component/mailto/?tmpl=component&link=bfe6024a9a0d129eb5ea556949b56353854b2361" target=_blank><IMG alt="Correo electrónico" src="http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/templates/rt_versatility4_j15/images/emailButton.png"></A> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<TABLE class=ecxcontentpaneopen>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top><SPAN class=small><FONT color=#666666>Escrito por Unión Nacional de Trabajadores (UNETE) </FONT></SPAN> </TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD class=ecxcreatedate vAlign=top>
<DIV>Miércoles 09 de Noviembre de 2011 </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top>
<DIV class=ecxcuerpo3 style="TEXT-ALIGN: justify"><IMG height=81 alt=unete src="http://www.luchadeclases.org.ve/images/stories/unete.jpg" width=222><STRONG>Mañana jueves 10 de noviembre se llevará a cabo en la ciudad capital de Caracas la gran marcha de los trabajadores de las Federaciones y Sindicatos de la Unión Nacional de Trabajadores – UNETE y del Movimiento Nacional por el Control Obrero, por la radicalización de la revolución. Presentamos a continuación la carta abierta de los trabajadores al Presidente Chávez que explica las reivindicaciones de la marcha mañana que comienza a las 9AM en Plaza Catia. </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxcuerpo3><STRONG> </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxcuerpo3><STRONG> </STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxcuerpo3><STRONG>Carta de las trabajadoras y los trabajadores al Presidente Hugo Chávez</STRONG></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxcuerpo3></DIV>
<DIV class=ecxcuerpo3>Camarada Presidente:<BR><BR><STRONG>Los trabajadores y trabajadoras que nos organizamos en Federaciones y Sindicatos de la Unión Nacional de Trabajadores – UNETE; en el Movimiento Nacional por el Control Obrero; en las plataformas y equipos de trabajo de los Consejos de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores; los delegados de prevención que luchamos por la salud y la vida de los trabajadores de los sectores público y privado, los movimientos sociales del campo y la ciudad, que estaremos presentes en la Marcha Nacional del Pueblo Trabajador el próximo jueves 10 de Noviembre desde la Plaza Catia hasta la Plaza Caracas, bajo la consigna NI BUROCRACIA NI CAPITAL, SOCIALISMO Y REVOLUCION! CLAVES DE LA VICTORIA DEL 2012!, nos dirigimos a usted para reafirmarle nuestro compromiso de lucha por la defensa, consolidación y profundización del proceso revolucionario, convicción esta que acompañamos con nuestra incorporación masiva al Gran Polo Patriótico convocado por usted.<BR></STRONG><BR>El momento político por el que atraviesa la Humanidad está determinada por la crisis capitalista global, convertida hoy en un proceso de recolonización mundial, por parte de las potencias capitalistas y transnacionales hacia los pueblos del mundo, desmontando las conquistas acumuladas por la clase trabajadora internacional; agrediendo de manera criminal a los pueblos poseedores de recursos energéticos como ha ocurrido con Irak y con la casi destrucción de Libia.<BR><BR>El cinismo Internacional ha llegado al punto de justificar y celebrar el horrendo crimen del líder libio Moammar Al Ghadafi, llegándose al extremo de proclamar ante el mundo que las conquistas imperiales, logradas en base al genocidio y la agresión, ponen a los EEUU a la cabeza de un nuevo “liderazgo” a nivel mundial, como declarara el cancerbero imperialista Barak Obama, lo que constituye una abierta declaración de guerra contra los pueblos poseedores de energía o aquellos que osen desafiar el nuevo orden mundial neocolonial, al cual aspiran las transnacionales.<BR><BR>Este momento exige de los pueblos y los gobiernos que se reclaman populares, antiimperialistas y progresistas, independientes y/o soberanos, cerrar filas a nivel internacional contra la pretensión imperialista,<BR><BR>Ante esa contraofensiva con la que los capitales transnacionales recorren al mundo, desmontando derechos sociales, imponiendo recetas neoliberales que pongan sobre los trabajadores y los pueblos del mundo todo el peso de una crisis que ellos no provocaron, asesinando y saqueando pueblos enteros, bajo el silencio cómplice de las Naciones Unidas, traficando con la mentira a través de los medios de comunicación masivos, resulta para los trabajadores venezolanos una tarea estratégica, de primer orden, su reelección compañero Presidente, cerrándole el paso a la apátrida oligarquía, que con sus dólares y sus medios de comunicación pretenden cancelar nuestra decisión de ser por siempre libres, soberanos e independientes.<BR><BR>Por tales razones, es importante hacer de su conocimiento señalamientos que consideramos claves para garantizar el fortalecimiento del proceso de cambios, en la dirección de avanzar hacia el desmontaje del Estado burgués y la superación del sistema capitalista aún vigente en nuestro país.<BR><BR>Es necesario profundizar la revolución bolivariana, lograr que ésta se acerque más a los trabajadores, que se defina con claridad y transparencia el papel protagónico de los trabajadores en la revolución; que se establezcan canales directos de comunicación entre la clase obrera y usted, compañero Presidente, sin intermediarios.<BR><BR>Es urgente, necesario, y así lo exigimos, que algunos funcionarios y funcionarias de nuestro gobierno abandonen las medidas hostiles que tienen hacia los trabajadores, negando incluso derechos y principios y reproduciendo la explotación de unos hombres por otros; los trabajadores tenemos muy claro que luchamos por el socialismo de los trabajadores y no por un capitalismo de estado de la mano de una tecnoburocracia neoliberal, ineficiente y en muchos casos con peor trato que los operadores capitalistas de la oligarquía.<BR><BR>Urge que en las empresas del Estado, las recuperadas, nacionalizadas, los sectores de servicios, se desarrollen experiencias productivas que rompan con la lógica del capital, que superen los modelos taylorianos que reproducen la ideología del capital. El nuevo modelo de gestión debe eliminar la explotación y la división social jerárquica del trabajo, para ello debe permitir el acceso a la información y la toma de decisiones de las organizaciones de trabajadores y populares hasta sus bases, sólo de este modo será viable y cierta la garantía de soberanía, fortalecimiento del aparato productivo nacional y redistribución de la riqueza. Estos sectores deben ser puestos bajo control obrero real, experiencia inédita, única capaz de garantizar el tránsito de la economía capitalista a la economía socialista. Esta tarea es imperativa y la burocracia del Estado es una muralla que se opone a que los trabajadores tengan ese rol.<BR><BR>Consideramos como tarea fundamental la reestructuración y depuración del Ministerio del Poder Popular para el Trabajo y la Seguridad Social, institución que está de espaldas a la realidad que vive la clase trabajadora, que está en mora con la justicia, con los contratos colectivos, la solvencia laboral, las inspecciones, las desmejoras, los registros de sindicatos, los pliegos petitorios y las órdenes de reenganche de los miles de trabajadores que han sido despedidos. Esta Institución al igual que el INPSASEL mantiene una actitud pasiva encerrada en cuatro paredes, ante la violación de los derechos laborales por parte de los patronos, que le permite tener la excusa para no hacer nada, sino se gestiona al más alto nivel, a pesar de que el problema de la explotación laboral está a la vista y es tan grande, que trasciende el orden público de la sociedad.<BR><BR>Necesario es que se le ordene a los funcionarios del Estado que se dediquen a gobernar con eficiencia y transparencia y que dejen de meterse en los asuntos internos de los trabajadores, que hoy lo que debemos hacer es propiciar la unidad desde las bases y con políticas desde la Revolución y no dividir a los trabajadores con intereses mezquinos que tanto daño le han hecho a nuestra revolución. Reivindicamos el principio de autonomía e independencia de clase de las organizaciones sindicales y en general del movimiento obrero, para que este pueda jugar su papel histórico en el marco de la lucha de clases hacia la derrota del sistema de explotación capitalista.<BR><BR>Por último y no menos importante consideramos que es hora de que por fin nuestros diputados asuman la impostergable tarea de discutir una Nueva y Revolucionaria Ley Orgánica del Trabajo, cuyo debate debe hacerse mediante el asambleismo permanente, no sólo para garantizar su contenido revolucionario, sino para acorralar a los agentes del capital y del Estado burgués aun existente, que desde la Asamblea Nacional pretenden desviar la atención sobre el fondo de la ley y boicotearla. De igual modo, nos pronunciamos por la aprobación de la Ley Especial de los Consejos Socialistas de Trabajadores y Trabajadoras, impulsada por iniciativa popular legislativa con base a la norma constitucional.<BR><BR>Planteamos la necesidad estratégica de que el Gran Polo Patriótico sea, no sólo un referente electoral, sino un instrumento de lucha revolucionaria, que con el pueblo movilizado y en la calle conduzca la difícil transición al socialismo.<BR><BR>Esperamos compañero Presidente verlo en la calle, junto a su pueblo nuevamente, recuperado de sus dolencias y cabalgando el potro de la esperanza y los excluidos de la tierra, en esta batalla crucial que no es una simple elección presidencial, es una batalla mundial en la guerra a muerte al capital que libramos desde la patria de Bolívar.<BR><BR><STRONG>El próximo día del trabajador esperamos caminar juntos en la más grande marcha de los trabajadores venezolanos, donde sellemos definitivamente la victoria del socialismo sobre la oligarquía.<BR><BR>¡Nuestra marcha no se detiene, avanza arrolladoramente hasta nuestra segunda y definitiva independencia!<BR><BR>¡NO VAMOS POR MIGAJAS, VAMOS POR EL SOCIALISMO!<BR><BR>POR ESO MARCHAMOS EL JUEVES 10 DE NOVIEMBRE DESDE LA PLAZA CATIA HASTA LA PLAZA CARACAS A PARTIR DE LAS 09 AM. CONTRA LA BUROCRACIA Y EL CAPITAL, SOCIALISMO Y REVOLUCION, CLAVES DEL ÉXITO PARA EL 2012. UNETE!!!!</STRONG></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>
<BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<BR>
<DIV class=ecxheadline3 style="FONT-SIZE: 18px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; LINE-HEIGHT: 18px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #eaeaea 1px dotted; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">
<DIV><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12846?akid=7835.16102.Zi78XR&t=8" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Unions Getting More Confrontational Thanks to Occupy Movements</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #de4900; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif">By Sarah Seltzer | AlterNet</SPAN></DIV></DIV>
<BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<BR>
<DIV class=ecxheadline3 style="FONT-SIZE: 14px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 5px; LINE-HEIGHT: 16px; BORDER-BOTTOM: #eaeaea 1px dotted; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif">
<DIV><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12859?akid=7835.16102.Zi78XR&t=18" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Decatur Utilities Prohibiting Undocumented Immigrants From Obtaining Utilities For Their Homes</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #de4900; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia,'Times New Roman',Times,serif">By The Huffington Post News Editors | Huffington Post</SPAN></DIV></DIV>
<BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<BR>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=uWo0eX9W7qMaN1XqIpNEnUlpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><IMG height=71 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/banner_afl-cio_now_blog_626.jpg" width=626 border=0></A></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE cellPadding=13 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><B>Nov. 9, 2011</B></SPAN></SPAN><BR>
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 22px; HEIGHT: 38px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 align=right border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=qyAk/zCkIm8anWJAjq7D90lpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><IMG title="GOTV with Trumka" alt="GOTV with Trumka" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/1_rlt_at_door.jpg" border=0></A><BR><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 10px"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=EFm8f2VmDjbrg8Lmc3P7KUlpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka joined thousands of union volunteers in the final get-out-the-vote effort in Ohio to defeat Issue 2 and restore collective bargaining rights for public employees</FONT></A>.</SPAN></SPAN></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Working families scored a huge victory in Ohio last night when they overwhelmingly—61 percent to 39 percent—voted “No” on Issue 2. The measure’s defeat repeals Gov. John Kasich’s S.B. 5 that eliminated the collective bargaining rights of some 350,000 public employees, including teachers, nurses and firefighters.</SPAN></SPAN><BR>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=bottom height=24><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=uicmpRL8w3yW3tgGUi51vUlpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><IMG alt="Read More" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/read_more.gif" border=0></A></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>
<SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">Got comments? Post them at </SPAN></SPAN><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=bWSmdAQ3kPo12eQFSL0g8ElpeHG53VaG" target=_blank></A><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=vp7KCGQ39NXdBhjQA%2BtsTklpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><B><FONT color=#0068cf>blog.aflcio.org</FONT></B></SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana">.</SPAN></SPAN><BR>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=cLFgCa1IuGAmhhJ7SN/UgklpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>Trumka Joins Working Ohioans to Get Out the Vote Against Issue 2</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=3EKYXyWujUFzDPvae6s6Q0lpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>Privatizing Services Can Be Costly to Workers and Government </STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=BfWtqGpnKuxI/YBrk7NrKElpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>More Older Americans Slipping Into Poverty</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=vbi/19DED4nbuNHmnIf8XElpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>NALC Volunteers Help Rebuild New Orleans</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=en15DTAIhh3%2BTenNeQaMoklpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>Ohio Dirty Tricks: Robo-Calls Give Wrong Day For Vote</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=DIemUSJqiFxK%2Bc3N73NsYUlpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>Tell Attorney General Holder to Fight Koch Brothers’ Voter Suppression</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=tBPpo8Zp/9gvEk43aETug0lpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>Harkin/DeFazio Robin Hood Tax Would Generate $350 Billion</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P>
<P align=left><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><IMG height=12 alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" width=16 border=0> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=fmCP6i8SJwkua8H/0nId/0lpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy><STRONG>Pomona Students Can’t Speak with Food Workers—They Might Join a Union</STRONG></FONT></A></FONT></P><FONT style="FONT-SIZE: 13px" face=Arial color=navy>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=EFm8f2VmDjYbXrnejaHK60lpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><STRONG><FONT color=#0068cf>Read more important news</FONT></STRONG></SPAN></A><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"> of the day on the issues working families care about. </SPAN></SPAN></P>
<BR>
<TABLE borderColor=#cccccc cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=7 align=center border=1>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=center border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=center align=middle>
<NOBR><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><STRONG>Follow the AFL-CIO:</STRONG></SPAN></SPAN><STRONG><BR></STRONG><A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=X%2BLbZYutM1LB%2BLAs/LllfklpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><IMG title=Facebook height=24 alt=Facebook src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_facebook.jpg" width=24 border=0></A> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=cRBAKjWwLYBHhPS03tMYaUlpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><IMG title=Twitter height=24 alt=Twitter src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_twitter.jpg" width=24 border=0></A> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Ee4hmCp8HeD34rjOCcpIqElpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><IMG title=YouTube height=24 alt=YouTube src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_youtube2.jpg" width=24 border=0></A> <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=GCAsMi4fzeeoN3mGPPmYEklpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><IMG title=RSS height=24 alt=RSS src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_rss.jpg" width=24 border=0></A></NOBR><BR></TD></TR>
<TR>
<TD>
<P align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px"><EM><NOBR>Take the next step. Become a mobile activist</NOBR><BR><NOBR>by joining the AFL-CIO Rapid Action Text Team.</NOBR><BR><NOBR>Text <STRONG>NEWS</STRONG> to <STRONG>AFLCIO (235246)</STRONG> to receive action alerts and more.</NOBR><BR>(Message and data rates may apply.)<BR></EM></SPAN></SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
<P align=center><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Verdana"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 13px">To find out more about the AFL-CIO, please visit our website at <A href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Z9IZ0SWf5aBrstiXqN0oN0lpeHG53VaG" target=_blank><B><FONT color=#0068cf>www.aflcio.org</FONT></B></A>.</SPAN></SPAN></P></FONT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></P>
<BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR>
<BR>
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 415px" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD vAlign=top><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12829?akid=7832.16102.2l56S_&t=11" target=_blank><IMG height=81 alt="" src="http://images.alternet.org/images/managed/blogteaser_money_1259360615.jpg_95x68" width=112 align=left border=0></A></TD>
<TD><SPAN style="COLOR: white">-</SPAN></TD>
<TD vAlign=top>
<P class=ecxheadline3 style="FONT-SIZE: 16px; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><SPAN><A href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12829?akid=7832.16102.2l56S_&t=12" target=_blank><FONT color=#0068cf>Extreme Poverty Is Now at Record Levels -- 19 Statistics About the Poor That Will Absolutely Astound You</FONT></A></SPAN><BR>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 12px; COLOR: #666; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><SPAN>In 2010, we were told that the economy was recovering, but the truth is that the number of the "very poor" soared to heights never seen previously. <A class=ecxreadmore style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold; FONT-SIZE: 9px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: 0.1em" href="http://act.alternet.org/go/12829?akid=7832.16102.2l56S_&t=13" target=_blank><STRONG><FONT color=#0068cf>READ MORE</FONT></STRONG></A> </SPAN></P>
<P style="FONT-SIZE: 11px; COLOR: #4d4d4d; FONT-STYLE: italic; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif"><SPAN>By Michael Snyder / The Economic Collapse</SPAN></P></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><BR>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@<BR> <BR><BR></P>
<DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3><FONT size=2>Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monitory gain to those who have expressed an interest in receiving the material for research and educational purposes. This is in accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. section 107..<BR></FONT><A href="http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html" target=_blank><FONT color=#0066cc size=2>http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html</FONT></A></FONT></DIV><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3></FONT> <BR><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Listen to Native Voice One <A href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/nv1/ppr/index.shtml" target=_blank>http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/nv1/ppr/index.shtml</A><BR>
<DIV><BR></DIV></FONT>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR> </DIV>
<H2><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR><BR> </H2> </div></body>
</html>