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<div dir="ltr"><div><ol><li><h2 class="ecxReadMsgSubject" style="line-height:24px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font size="3">LCLAA supports FLOC Action Alertþþ </font></h2></li><li><font size="3"><b><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);line-height:17px">Federal Pay: Another Battle in the War on the Middle Class</span> </b></font></li><li><h2 class="ecxReadMsgSubject" style="line-height:24px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font size="3">Fighting Back Across the Globeþ</font></h2></li><li><h2 class="ecxReadMsgSubject" style="line-height:24px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font size="3">CWA Newsletter: Minnesota TakeAction Takes on the 1 Percent on Voter Suppressionþ</font></h2></li><li><h2 class="ecxReadMsgSubject" style="line-height:24px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font size="3">PUBLIC HEARING: Swedish Corporation Violates Workers' Rights in the U.S </font></h2></li><li><font size="3"><b><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/15965?akid=8266.16102.3V7tJj&t=8" style="line-height:23px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Deal Reached on Payroll Tax Cut Extension, Federal Workers Take a Hit</a> </b></font></li><li><font size="3"><b><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/15966?akid=8266.16102.3V7tJj&t=9" style="line-height:23px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Will American Anti-Labor Policies Infect Europe?</a> </b></font></li><li><font size="3"><b><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/15968?akid=8266.16102.3V7tJj&t=11" style="line-height:23px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Boycott McD's, Burger King for Participating in UK 'Workfare' Program Requiring Free Work to Get Gov't Assistance</a> </b></font></li><li><h2 class="ecxReadMsgSubject" style="line-height:24px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font size="3">Trader Joe's Signs Tomato Pickers' Fairness Pactþ</font></h2></li><li><h2 class="ecxReadMsgSubject" style="line-height:24px;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><font size="3">Can locked-out workers count on you?þ</font></h2> </li></ol></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><h2 class="ecxReadMsgSubject" style="line-height:24px;font-size:19px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">LCLAA supports FLOC Action Alertþþ<span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:10pt"> </span></h2></div><div><span style="font-family:Tahoma;font-size:10pt"><br></span></div><div><div class="ecxClearBoth" style="line-height:15px;clear:both;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><div id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl" class="ecxHMLV" style="margin-bottom:8px;width:auto"><div class="Header" style="padding-right:8px;border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(239, 239, 239);overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden"><div class="ecxTitleContainer" style="white-space:nowrap;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;padding-left:8px;padding-top:5px;padding-bottom:5px"><div class="Title ecxTitleWithUpper" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_title" style="line-height:17px;font-size:13px;cursor:pointer;margin-left:0px;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:10px">1 attachment (214.8 KB)</div></div></div><div class="ecxClearBoth ecxEmpty" style="clear:both;height:0px"></div><div class="ecxIconBar" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_lib" style="padding-left:7px"></div><div class="ecxClearBoth ecxBorder ecxEmpty" style="clear:both;height:0px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(239, 239, 239)"></div><div class="ecxContent ecxBorder" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_c" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(239, 239, 239);background-position:50% 100%;background-repeat:repeat no-repeat"><div class="ecxTabSelected" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_02"><div id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_media"><div class="ecxMediaStripOuterContainer" style="padding-top:12px;padding-bottom:4px;padding-left:10px"><div class="ecxPhotoStripContainer" style="overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden;height:76px"><div id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_media_ms" class="ecxPhotoStrip" style="width:220px"><div class="ecxMediaItemContainer" style="float:left;margin-right:10px"><div class="ecxMediaItem ecxFile" style="margin-right:1px;margin-bottom:1px;margin-left:1px;width:206px"><img class="ecxThumb ecxFloatLeft" src="https://gfx6.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/at48/pdf.png" alt="Download final coalition letter to CEO Holman.pdf (209.0 KB)" title="Download final coalition letter to CEO Holman.pdf (209.0 KB)" style="float:left;cursor:pointer;padding-top:8px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:8px;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"><div class="ecxFilename" style="padding-top:8px">final coa...pdf</div><div class="ecxFileSize"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#" title="Download final coalition letter to CEO Holman.pdf (209.0 KB)" style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0, 102, 204);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Download</a><span style="padding-left:5px">(209.0 KB)</span></div><div class="ecxClearBoth" 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class="ecxSandboxScopeClass ecxExternalClass" id="ecxmpf0_MsgContainer" style="line-height:normal;font-size:10pt;display:inline-block"><div class="ecxWordSection1" style="line-height:17px;page:WordSection1"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif">As you know LCLAA has been supporting FLOC on the Reynolds Campaign. We wanted to share with all of you some updates in the Reynolds Campaign and an upcoming action alert. In December, LCLAA signed on to a letter (attached) to Ed Holman, to the CEO of the Pantry, Inc., which is a customer of McLane, Reynolds American's largest distributor. McLane distributes Reynolds products to Kangaroo convenience stores, which are owned by the Pantry. The letter requested that Holman meet with the organizations that signed about their concern for farmworkers' human rights, and to discuss ways that Pantry could help push McLane to arrange a meeting between Reynolds and FLOC.<br><br>Beloved Community Center (BCC) has been leading this coalition and has called Mr. Holman several times over the past two months to follow up on the letter. First, Holman's office denied receiving the letter. Later, they were told that Mr. Holman was very busy but would respond when he had time. After two months, BCC has received no response to the letter. <br><br>All the organizations are ready to move on a public action that will let Holman know we are serious about our request for a meeting and that we expect him to respond. Next week we will be launching an e-fax action, asking supporters and Kangaroo customers to send an e-fax to Holman telling him to respond to the letter and meet with the signing organizations. During the week of February 15-22, we are hoping to send over 300 faxes to Holman's office.<br><br>We are asking for your help in circulating this fax action to your supporters beginning Feb. 15. It would be great if you could send it over your listserve, post the action info and link on your website, and help us share it via Facebook, twitter, and other social media outlets. We will be sending you the link to the action page early next week</p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><br>Thanks again for your continued support of this campaign.<br><br></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"> </p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><b style="font-weight:bold"><span style="line-height:24px;font-size:14pt;font-family:'Teen Light';color:rgb(255, 102, 153)">Guadalupe “Lupita” Hernandez</span></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><i><span style="line-height:24px;font-size:14pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif">Programs Associate</span></i><i><span style="line-height:24px;font-size:14pt"></span></i></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif;color:rgb(0, 112, 192)">Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA)</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif">Direct: (202)508-6917 Main: (202)508-6919 Fax: (202)508-6922</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif">Email: </span><a href="mailto:ghernandez@lclaa.org" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer"><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif;color:rgb(255, 102, 153)">ghernandez@lclaa.org</span></a><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif"></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.lclaa.org/" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif;color:windowtext">www.lclaa.org</span></a><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif"></span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><span style="line-height:20px;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Goudy Old Style', serif"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:19px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:11pt;font-family:Calibri, sans-serif"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Labor-Council-for-Latin-American-Advancement-LCLAA/107297026677" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(64, 64, 64);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="28" height="28" id="ecxPicture_x0020_4" src="" alt="Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image001.png@01CC8F29.E7F7CE70" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></span></a><a href="http://twitter.com/#%21/LCLAA" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(64, 64, 64);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="28" height="28" id="ecxPicture_x0020_2" src="" alt="Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image003.png@01CC8F29.E7F7CE70" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></span></a><span style="color:rgb(64, 64, 64)"> </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/LCLAAvideos" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><b style="font-weight:bold"><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:9.5pt;font-family:'Franklin Gothic Book', sans-serif;color:rgb(79, 129, 189);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="30" height="27" id="ecxPicture_x0020_12" src="" alt="Description: Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image008.png@01CC901E.8B1E2910" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></span></b></a><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:9.5pt;color:rgb(64, 64, 64)"> </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Labor-Council-for-Latin-American-Advancement-LCLAA/107297026677?sk=app_141428856257" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:9.5pt;color:rgb(64, 64, 64);text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="66" height="28" id="ecxPicture_x0020_1" src="" alt="Description: Description: Description: Description: cid:image013.jpg@01CC94D7.B97DF160" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></span></a></p></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. Edwin J. Holman December 7, 2011</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Interim CEO and Chairman of the Board</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">The Pantry, Inc.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">305 Gregson Dr.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Cary, NC 27511</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Dear Mr. Holman,</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">We are representatives of religious, civil rights, student, Latino, community, and labor groups in North Carolina who are writing you because so many of our members are Kangaroo Express convenience store customers. Since The Pantry’s mission is to become an indispensable part of your customers’ daily lives, then it is important that you understand that we expect you to be a socially responsible Company. With that in mind, we want to share with you how troubled we are about the conditions of tobacco farm workers in North Carolina. We are very confident you will want to do something to address our concern because your Company is committed to meeting the expectations of your customers. We assure you we are not looking for a donation or some charitable promotion but merely for your help.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">The Pantry, Inc. is an important customer of McLane Co. Inc.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">McLane Co. Inc. is the largest customer of Reynolds American Inc. In 2010, McLane comprised 27% of RAI’s consolidated revenue, over two billion dollars. RAI reports that no other customer accounted for 10% or more of RAI’s consolidated revenue during these periods.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Reynolds profits from the labor of farm workers who harvest tobacco on contract farms in North Carolina and the South. Although Reynolds does not directly employ these farm workers, by contracting with tobacco growers, it establishes standards which directly affect the living and working conditions of tobacco farm workers, both within its supply chain and even beyond.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">A report by Oxfam America and the Farm Labor Organizing Committee released on September 18, 2011, “A state of fear: Human rights abuses in North Carolina’s tobacco industry,” assessed the tobacco industry’s impact on the human rights of farm workers in the tobacco fields of North Carolina.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">The report examines the industry as a whole and how tobacco farm workers are impacted, relying on detailed interviews with stakeholder representatives including tobacco farm workers. The report focuses its investigation industry-wide and does not identify any particular growers or any specific purchasers. Because it is the leading tobacco company in North Carolina, we believe Reynolds American can be hugely influential in raising the living and working conditions of tobacco farm workers across the South, whether they are employed by RAI contract growers or not.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">The report found that there is a strong sense of fear that dominates the lives of the tobacco farmworkers; fear of arrest and deportation; fear of losing their jobs; fear of being unable to repay the thousands of dollars demanded by recruiters and “coyotes” who brought them across the border to these jobs. Much of this fear stems from the fact that nine out of ten farmworkers in North Carolina are undocumented. The report also found that these workers experience sub-poverty wages, degrading treatment, and inhumane conditions.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mailing: Post Office Box 875, Greensboro, NC 27402</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Office: 417 Arlington Street, Greensboro, NC 27406</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Homeless Hospitality House: 437 Arlington Street (336) 230-0001 – Office (336) 230-2428 – Fax (336) 370-4330 – Hospitality House info@belovedcommunitycenter.org</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Board Members</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mrs. Patricia Priest</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Chairperson</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. Dale Tonkins</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Vice-Chairperson</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. John Parker</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Secretary</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Atty. Lisa Tonkins</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Asst. Secretary</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mrs. Deborah Underwood</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Treasurer</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Rev. Z. N. Holler</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Chairperson Emeritus</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Ms. Juanita Brown Atty. Dayna Cunningham Dr. Kathleen Casey</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Rev. Lou East Ms. Daisy Holland Mrs. Deborah Kelly Dr. Kay Lovelace</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Rev. J. Herbert Nelson Marsha Paludan Rev. Alma Purvis</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. Steve Sumerford Mr. Edward Whitfield Staff</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Rev. Nelson N. Johnson</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Executive Director</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mrs. Joyce H. Johnson</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Jubilee Institute Director</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Ms. Demetria Ledbetter</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Administrative Officer</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. Lewis A. Brandon, III</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Grassroots Hall of Fame Coordinator</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. Wesley Morris</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Youth Coordinator</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Ms. Terry Speed</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Homeless Hospitality Coordinator</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Rev. Joseph Frierson</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Truth and Community Reconciliation Process Coordinator</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. Timothy L. Gwyn</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Technology and Special Project Coordinator</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Ms. Elena Conley</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Administrative Assistant</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Mr. Wray Norwood</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Facilities</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">The BCC is committed to fostering and modeling a spirit of community based on Dr. Martin Luther King’s vision of a “Beloved Community.”</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">In this spirit, we envision and work toward social and economic relations that affirm and realize the equality, dignity, worth and potential of every person.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">A majority of the workers interviewed reported that they regularly suffered from symptoms of green tobacco sickness (GTS), a form of acute nicotine poisoning caused by absorption of excessive amounts of nicotine through their skin. The workers interviewed said the growers fail to provide them with protective clothing. Several participants reported working in a field while pesticides were being sprayed, and more than one-third reported pesticide related illnesses.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Nearly all of the workers living in employer-provided housing described problems such as inadequate or non-functional showers and toilets, over-crowding, leaky roofs, lack of ventilation, beds with worn-out mattresses or none at all, infestations of insects and rodents, lack of laundry facilities, and inadequate cooking facilities.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">For your information, we have enclosed a copy of the report.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">FLOC has been trying to meet with RAI since 2007 to discuss ways that Reynolds can work towards ensuring safe and healthy conditions for tobacco farm workers but to no avail. We are confident that McLane, RAI’s largest customer, can help FLOC gain a hearing from RAI. That being said, on July 4 and August 18, 2011, FLOC President Baldemar Velasquez wrote directly to Mr. Grady Rosier, McLane CEO, and called him but Mr. Rosier or his representative has yet to respond to FLOC’s request for a hearing.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Now organizations with many members who are Kangaroo Express customers are writing you to ask your help in arranging a meeting between FLOC and McLane. Our request is not only based on The Pantry Inc.’s business relationship with McLane but also on the value your company places on engaging its customers. By its very nature this engagement must be a two way street that goes beyond our members buying products offered in your stores.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">We would like to request a meeting with you or your representative to discuss how you can make a difference in the lives of thousands of tobacco farmworkers who work in the tobacco fields. We look forward to meeting with you or your representative as soon as possible and hope to hear from you in the next two weeks. You can contact Reverend Nelson Johnson at (336) 230-0001 with any questions you may have or to arrange a meeting.</div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Thank you for your consideration.</div></div><div style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><br></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><font style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold">Federal Pay: Another Battle in the War on the Middle Class</strong></font><br style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;line-height:17px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)">Charles M. Smith, Truthout: "In January, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report entitled 'Comparing the Compensation of Federal and Private-Sector Employees.' The report found that federal pay and benefits, are, on average, 16 percent higher than comparable private sector compensation. This report has now become the basis of a concerted attack on the compensation of federal employees, mainly by the Republican Party. The first question we may ask is shall we accept the 16 percent number proposed by the CBO? The quick answer is: no." </span><br style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><a href="http://org2.democracyinaction.org/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=sqHR7wg3DeLsCyFvPde8m%2BSxF9z3h1Ix" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer;font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)" target="_blank"><font color="#cc0000" style="line-height:normal">Read the Article</font></a><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;line-height:17px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"> </span>
</div><div><span style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;line-height:17px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><br></span></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div id="ecxmpf0_bodyHdr" style="line-height:15px"><div id="ecxmpf0_details" class="ecxDetailToggle ecxFB ecxClearBoth" title="Show details" style="clear:both;height:11px;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-color:initial;padding-top:7px;top:0px;cursor:pointer;background-position:0px 7px;background-repeat:repeat no-repeat"><br class="ecxApple-interchange-newline"><div class="ecxFBR" style="height:11px;width:80px;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-color:initial;float:right;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"></div><div class="ecxFBA" style="right:80px;width:13px;height:7px;background-attachment:scroll;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden;background-position:-23px -1px;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"></div></div><div class="ecxClearBoth" style="clear:both"><div id="ecxmpf0_wideMsgBarPlaceholder" class="ecxWideMessageBarContainer"></div></div></div><div class="ecxClearBoth" style="line-height:15px;clear:both"></div><div id="ecxmpf0_readMsgBodyContainer" class="ecxReadMsgBody" style="line-height:15px;padding-top:8px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:0px;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;overflow-x:hidden"><div class="ecxSandboxScopeClass ecxExternalClass" id="ecxmpf0_MsgContainer" style="line-height:normal;font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:10pt;display:inline-block"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#e4e4e4" width="100%" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#e4e4e4" width="100%"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" align="center" width="760" class="table" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td width="760" class="ecxcell"><a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=2VHlR3nQXj1f9XXlGp4DGt4AKCpiAUjL" style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(60, 167, 221);cursor:pointer;font-size:13px" target="_blank"><img height="135" border="0" width="760" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4004/c/11/images/e-activist-email-header.jpg" alt="Take Action | Communications Workers of America" id="ecxheaderimage" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a><br style="color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-size:13px"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="25" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="760" class="ecxcontenttable" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-size:13px"><tbody><tr><td bgcolor="#ffffff" width="760" class="ecxcontentcell" style="line-height:21px;font-size:14px;font-family:'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Dear Friend,</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=r11qUUx5bxtfIsZqtP77qN4AKCpiAUjL" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img align="right" width="200" border="0" hspace="6" height="271" src="http://action.cwa-union.org/c/11/images/btn-20120215-Dutch-Workers.png" alt="" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Global companies and a global economy mean workers from around the world must act as one. We have put that principle to work for us at CWA -- German members of ver.di and U.S. allies like SEIU are standing with T-Mobile workers as they fight for their bargaining rights.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Now striking workers in the Netherlands need our help. <a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=0894kayGSlD179uAyemrAd4AKCpiAUjL" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Click here to add your name to their solidarity petition</a>.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Employers in the cleaning sector have gone global and we must respond globally. SEIU President Mary Kay Henry's letter, below, details the importance of global support for the striking cleaners in the Netherlands.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The outcome of this strike will determine the pay and working conditions for 150,000 Dutch workers. I've added my name in support of the striking workers. Please click on the link below to add yours.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=U7N0td2gIwOu3ya86Hpih94AKCpiAUjL" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1254&src=cwa</a></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">In Unity,</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><img alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4004/c/803/images/cohen_sig.jpg"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Larry Cohen<br>President</p><table align="center" width="80%" cellpadding="6" border="1" bgcolor="#e8e8e8" style="line-height:18px"><tbody><tr><td><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Dear Sisters and Brothers,</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Whether it is maintaining our nation's telecommunications networks or cleaning high-rise office buildings, millions of US workers today are employed by a multi-national corporation. These companies operate across the globe and care little about the conditions of workers in any country. Because of their sheer size and worldwide reach, organizing and representing workers at these giant companies requires unions across the globe to unite and work together.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Commercial cleaners are now in the sixth week of a national strike in the Netherlands. The outcome of the strike will determine the pay and working conditions for 150,000 Dutch workers. The key decision makers include many of the same global companies SEIU and CWA organize here in the US.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">SEIU is proud to stand with the CWA, UNIGlobalUnion and our global partners in support of the workers of these worldwide employers. We support the efforts of workers T-mobile and Verizon. We urge all workers to also support the Dutch cleaners and their union, Bondgenoten, in their heroic struggle to win decent working conditions.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">You can show your support by clicking on the link below and signing the online petition. This simple act will add your voice to those of thousands of workers worldwide who are calling for respect and fair treatment for cleaners in the Netherlands.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=5KKyDQ%2BZDqBSuM75Rogu094AKCpiAUjL" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">http://www.labourstart.org/cgi-bin/solidarityforever/show_campaign.cgi?c=1254&src=cwa</a></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Companies can win huge profits when they go global. Workers can win against global employers when workers also act globally.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Please sign the online global petition today.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Thank you.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><img width="200" height="68" alt="" src="http://action.cwa-union.org/c/11/images/sig-mary-kay-henry-seiu-greybg.png"></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Mary Kay Henry<br>President<br>Service Employees International Union</p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="10" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="760" class="ecxcontenttable" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-size:13px"><tbody><tr></tr></tbody></table><br></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div class="ecxClearBoth" style="line-height:15px;clear:both;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><div id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl" class="ecxHMLV" style="margin-bottom:8px;width:auto"><div class="Header" style="padding-right:8px;border-top-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(239, 239, 239);overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden"><div class="ecxTitleContainer" style="white-space:nowrap;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden;text-overflow:ellipsis;padding-left:8px;padding-top:5px;padding-bottom:5px"><div class="Title ecxTitleWithUpper" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_title" style="line-height:17px;font-size:13px;cursor:pointer;margin-left:0px;border-left-width:1px;border-left-style:solid;border-left-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-left:10px">CWA 1108 Wireless Valentines Action</div></div></div><div class="ecxClearBoth ecxEmpty" style="clear:both;height:0px"></div><div class="ecxIconBar" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_lib" style="padding-left:7px"></div><div class="ecxClearBoth ecxBorder ecxEmpty" style="clear:both;height:0px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(239, 239, 239)"></div><div class="ecxContent ecxBorder" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_c" style="border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(239, 239, 239);background-position:50% 100%;background-repeat:repeat no-repeat"><div class="ecxTabSelected" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_034"><div id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_034_video" class="ecxVideoControl"><div class="ecxClearBoth" style="clear:both"><table style="line-height:15px"><tbody><tr><td class="ecxVAlignTop" style="vertical-align:top"><div class="ecxVideoContainer" style="margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:12px;margin-left:12px;width:220px;height:165px;border-top-width:1px;border-right-width:1px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-left-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-top-color:rgb(51, 51, 51);border-right-color:rgb(51, 51, 51);border-bottom-color:rgb(51, 51, 51);border-left-color:rgb(51, 51, 51);background-color:white"><a id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_034_video_thumb" title="Click to play video" href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/default.aspx?id=64855%2c2&mkt=EN-US&lc=1033" style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0, 102, 204);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img class="Video" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_034_video_video" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/H1LSRUuaAbk/0.jpg" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial;height:165px;width:220px;padding-left:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-top:0px;padding-bottom:0px;background-color:black;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"><div class="ecxPlayOverlay" id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_034_video_play" style="width:220px;height:165px;left:0px;top:0px;opacity:0.3;background-position:50% 50%;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"></div></a></div></td><td class="ecxVAlignTop ecxVideoPropertiesContainer" style="vertical-align:top;width:840px"><div class="ecxVideoProperties" style="padding-top:20px"><div><a id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_034_video_playLink" href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#" class="ecxDisplayNone" style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0, 102, 204);cursor:pointer;display:block" target="_blank">Play video</a></div><div id="ecxmpf0_hmlvControl_034_video_desc">Recorded 2.13.12: CWA Local 1108 handing out Valentines Day flowers on a cold night at a Verizon Wireless Store at the Smithhaven Mall on Long Island, NY. Learn more at cwa1108.org</div><div>00:02:03</div><div>Added on 2/14/12</div></div></td><td class="ecxVAlignBottom" style="vertical-align:bottom"><div class="ecxThirdPartyLogoContainer" style="padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:30px"><a class="ecxThirdPartyLogo" href="http://www.youtube.com/" style="text-decoration:none;color:rgb(0, 102, 204);cursor:pointer;margin-right:0px;margin-left:0px;margin-bottom:0px" target="_blank"><img src="https://gfx6.hotmail.com/mail/w4/pr04/ltr/liveviews/youtube_logo.png" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="ecxClearBoth ecxEmpty" style="clear:both;height:0px"></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div id="ecxmpf0_readMsgBodyContainer" class="ecxReadMsgBody" style="line-height:15px;padding-top:8px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:0px;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;overflow-x:hidden;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><div class="ecxSandboxScopeClass ecxExternalClass" id="ecxmpf0_MsgContainer" style="line-height:normal;font-size:10pt;display:inline-block"><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#e6e6e6" align="center"><table width="760" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="line-height:17px;font-family:Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;text-align:left"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><img width="760" height="155" border="0" alt="Communications Workers of America | E-Activist Newsletter" src="http://cwa.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/e-activist-newsletter/header.jpg" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="line-height:20px;font-size:14px;padding-top:30px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:30px;padding-left:30px"><div class="ecxtop" style="line-height:18px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:rgb(204, 204, 204);padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:0px"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em;font-style:italic">February 16, 2012</p><ul style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:20px;margin-left:20px;padding-right:0px;padding-left:0px;color:rgb(94, 94, 94)"><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story1" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Minnesota TakeAction Takes on the 1 Percent on Voter Suppression</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story2" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">AT&T Premise Tech Saves Life of 4-Month Old Baby</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story3" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Campaign to End Corporate Money in Politics Heats Up</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story4" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">American Airlines/Eagle Workers Protest Unfair Cuts</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story5" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Offshoring Bill Becomes Big Focus of Rep. Hanna Town Hall</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story6" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">CWA/NETT Administrator Honored for Effective Training Program in Ohio</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story7" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">CWAers Deliver Valentine Message to Verizon, Verizon Wireless</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story8" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">CWA Ad Wins Top Newspaper Ad Award</a></li><li style="margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:3px;margin-left:0px"><a href="https://blu155.mail.live.com/mail/#story9" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Next CWA Town Hall Meeting</a></li></ul></div><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15)"><a name="story1" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Minnesota TakeAction Takes on the 1 Percent on Voter Suppression</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><i></i></p><div style="line-height:12px;width:320px;float:left;font-size:10px;margin-right:10px"><i style="line-height:13px"><img height="129" width="320" alt="MN Voter ID Action" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7061/6886824359_b2d74cb023.jpg" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">More than 400 activists demonstrate at the Minnesota state capitol against a strict voter ID ballot initiative.</p></i></div><i style="line-height:18px"></i><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">More than 400 activists, including CWAers, rallied at the Minnesota state capitol to protest efforts to adopt a strict voter ID law in the state.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The demonstration was organized by TakeAction Minnesota, a coalition of labor, environmental and disability groups, who stress that business and financial organizations are bankrolling Republican legislators as part of an effort to require all voters to show photo ID at the polls.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Activists walked around the legislative chambers wearing hundred-dollar-bill stickers across their mouths, to symbolize how the 1 percent wants to silence the voices of ordinary Americans.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">CWA President Larry Cohen addressed TakeAction Minnesota activists during the week of actions that ended at the state capitol.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The Republican-controlled legislature has introduced a state-issued photo ID requirement as a proposed amendment to the state's constitution that would be placed on the ballot in November.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Dan McGrath, executive director of TakeAction Minnesota, said "the proposed photo ID amendment will make it harder if not impossible for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans who are eligible to vote, to cast their ballot.'' The ID requirement, by making it harder for elderly, poor and disabled people to vote, is part of an effort to keep power and wealth concentrated within the 1 percent and make public institutions less accountable to voters.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">In another event, more than a dozen religious leaders delivered a letter signed by hundreds of clergy members to legislators, in opposition to the voter ID requirement.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">"We believe that democracy at its best engages participation from the most diverse and gifted gathering of God's whole people," the letter reads. "The proposed voter ID referendum in Minnesota seeks to reduce the number of people who participate in our democracy."</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=9%2BqSo0RjB25CfUD64O/FDn6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Read TakeAction Minnesota's report here.</a>http://www.takeactionminnesota.org/_assets/document/1vsDemocracy.pdf</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story2" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">AT&T Premise Tech Saves Life of 4-Month Old Baby</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><i></i></p><div style="line-height:12px;width:240px;float:right;font-size:10px;margin-left:10px"><i style="line-height:13px"><img height="213" width="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7209/6886823047_172c4d928d.jpg" alt="Andrel Reid with baby" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">On a house call, AT&T Premise Tech Andrel Reid saved the life of this 4-month old baby girl.</p></i></div><i style="line-height:18px"></i><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">AT&T Premise Technician Andrel Reid has been on the job for just six months, but he will always remember his Feb. 1 visit to the Lansing, Mich., home of customer Christine Duffy. The Local 4034 member was dispatched to fix Duffy's U-verse service, but he ended up saving the life of Duffy's four-month old baby girl.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Minutes after Reid arrived on the job, baby Sara was in serious trouble. "She was coughing. It just started blocking up her system and she just started choking on the congestion. Around her eyes it was getting all red and she started turning different colors," Duffy told local NBC affiliate WILX.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Reid stepped in to help. "I put the baby in a position that I was taught in training, put the baby in my palm, flipped her over and gave her a light thrust to her back. That's when everything came up, and the baby actually started laughing and smiling at me," he told a local TV news reporter.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Reid, who gets CPR-certified as part of his training, was happy he could help, but probably doesn't consider himself to be a hero. "We're in people's homes all day. . . Stuff happens and we're the only ones there," he said. <a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=RMkR/jkMrBhszxQ2LIoje36gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Click here to view the news report.</a> http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=46310208</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">CWA District 4 Vice President Seth Rosen said "what makes this act of heroism even more amazing is the pressure our prem techs are under to meet arbitrary performance standards. Especially now, as we are about to begin contract negotiations in a few weeks, we hope AT&T realizes the importance of its front line employees."</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story3" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Campaign to End Corporate Money in Politics Heats Up</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><i></i></p><div style="line-height:12px;width:320px;float:left;font-size:10px;margin-right:10px"><i style="line-height:13px"><img height="316" width="320" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6886824043_0358a94e5d.jpg" alt="Citizens United Protest_US Supreme Court" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Condemning corporate money in politics, CWAers and allies call to overturn the Supreme Court's decision that "corporations are people."</p></i></div><i style="line-height:18px"></i><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">There's been lots of action in the effort by CWA and allies to end the destructive expansion of corporate money in politics resulting from the 2010 U.S. Supreme Court "Citizens United" decision.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">New Mexico is now the second state, following Hawaii's lead, where lawmakers in the Senate are on record strongly opposing Citizens United and corporate money in politics.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">In a memorial statement, the New Mexico Senate pointed out that the Supreme Court's decision "unleashes a torrent of corporate money into the political process unmatched by any campaign expenditure totals in U.S. history" and that the ruling "invalidates state laws and even state constitutional provisions separating corporate money from elections."</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Separately, CWA, People for the American Way, and 48 other organizations sent a letter to the chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, calling for hearings to explore constitutional remedies to overturn the Citizens United decision.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">"In Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruled that corporations are guaranteed the same free speech rights as real people to influence elections, thereby ruling that governmental restrictions on corporate spending to influence elections are invalid and unconstitutional. Only amending the Constitution can fully secure the American people's authority to regulate corporate influence in our elections and restore our democracy," they wrote.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Activists held more than 350 events in 49 states marking the two-year anniversary of Citizens United; town hall and public meetings are being planned for next month.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story4" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">American Airlines/Eagle Workers Protest Unfair Cuts</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><i></i></p><div style="line-height:12px;width:320px;float:right;font-size:10px;margin-left:10px"><i style="line-height:13px"><img height="394" width="320" alt="American Airlines Picket_DFW" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7044/6886822977_716d66825a.jpg" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">This American Airlines passenger service agent was one of hundreds of workers protesting unfair cutbacks at a demonstration at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport.</p></i></div><i style="line-height:18px"></i><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">At the Dallas-Fort Worth airport this week, hundreds of American Airlines and American Eagle workers protested the huge pay and benefit cuts that parent AMR Corporation is demanding from front-line employees in its bankruptcy reorganization.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Members of the Transport Workers Union of America and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, were joined by AFA-CWA Flight Attendants from American Eagle and passenger service agents at American Airlines who want CWA representation. The agents have formed the Association of Professional Service Agents and have filed for a union election.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">AMR filed for bankruptcy protection with more than $4 billion in the bank.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">AFA-CWA International President Veda Shook slammed AMR for using bankruptcy as an excuse to slash workers' pay, benefits, and retirement security. "Airline bankruptcies have become nothing less than a management tool to over-reach with impunity: job cuts, wage cuts, retirements slashed and outsourced maintenance. Executives, reaping the rewards of bonuses rubber-stamped by the bankruptcy court, expect workers to pay for their poor performance. We call it what it is, and we are protesting today to shed a light and demand justice."</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=6aZFiqE8hY6wXAhn37HzNX6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Click here to sign a petition</a> organized by TWU to generate support for American jobs at American Airlines and American Eagle.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">http://isupportamericanjobs.com/</p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story5" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Offshoring Bill Becomes Big Focus of Rep. Hanna Town Hall</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><i></i></p><div style="line-height:12px;width:320px;float:left;font-size:10px;margin-right:10px"><i style="line-height:13px"><img height="240" width="320" alt="Hanna Town Hall_CWAers" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7054/6886823233_30ea0368fc.jpg" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Members of CWA Local 1126 took over a town hall meeting of Rep. Richard Hanna in Utica, N.Y. to press for his support of legislation to stop offshoring of call center jobs.</p></i></div><i style="line-height:18px"></i><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">About 45 members of CWA Local 1126 just about took over the Utica, N.Y., town hall meeting of Rep. Richard Hanna (R-N.Y.)</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The activists, members of CWA's Legislative-Political Action Team, pressed Hanna on his refusal so far to support the offshoring bill, which would stop federal grants and loan guarantees to companies that move call center jobs overseas.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The bill, H.R. 3596, introduced by Reps. Tim Bishop (D-NY) and Dave McKinley (R-W.Va), also requires that consumers are told of the call center agent's location and transferred to a U.S.-based agent on request.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">CWA activists have generated more than 100 calls to Hanna's office, urging him to co-sponsor the bill. Verizon, a major employer in Hanna's district, is a big opponent of the bill because it, along with other profitable companies, is shifting good jobs overseas.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">If Hanna refuses to co-sponsor the bill, CWA members will follow him around his district to remind voters that the congressman apparently supports sending good jobs overseas.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story6" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">CWA/NETT Administrator Honored for Effective Training Program in Ohio</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Kevin Celata, administrator of CWA's successful CWA/NETT program was presented the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board's top award last week for his leadership in helping to provide quality training for workers that resulted in good-paying jobs.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Over the past two years, CWA/NETT, with a $4 million grant from the Department of Labor, has trained more than 1,500 workers in Ohio who were hit hard by the economic downturn; many found good-paying jobs because of the specialized skill manufacturing training. Members of IUE-CWA, the Steelworkers, Food and Commercial Workers, and other unions were among those in the training program.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The award presented to Celata names the Communications Workers of America as a "super partner" in the effort to provide workers with the skills they need for job placement throughout the state.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Read about more CWA/NETT opportunities at <a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=3CArNmotDIvkQdiUVsq71X6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">http://www.cwanett.org/</a>. Courses are available in the latest in telecommunications and IT, digital media and criminal justice. CWA's partnerships with manufacturers and distributors of telecommunications and IT equipment enable us to provide up-to-the-minute training on the newest technologies.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story7" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">CWAers Deliver Valentine Message to Verizon, Verizon Wireless</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><i></i></p><div style="line-height:12px;width:240px;float:right;font-size:10px;margin-left:10px"><i style="line-height:13px"><img height="180" width="240" alt="Local 1103_Verizon Rally" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7196/6886824153_7df9290f29_m.jpg" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Members of Locals 1103 and 1105 gather outside the house of Verizon board member Hugh Price with a Valentine’s Day message.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">Below: In other actions this week, CWAers distributed a leaflet condemning Verizon’s attacks on workers’' and retirees' retirement security.</p><img height="280" width="240" alt="Verizon Retiree Flyer" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7195/6886825327_f81209ed91.jpg" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"></i></div><i style="line-height:18px"></i><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">CWAers and retirees across Districts 1 and 2-13 spent Valentine's Day delivering a "not so sweet" message to Verizon and Verizon Wireless.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">In District 2-13, CWAers leafleted more than 50 Verizon Wireless retail stores with the message: "We've given you so much, but now you're breaking our hearts. If you want to 'be ours,' focus more on good jobs and less on corporate greed."</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Some 200 members of CWA Local 1108 passed out Sweet Tarts and flowers to shoppers in Lake Grove, N.Y., where CWAers also delivered their Valentine to the Verizon Wireless store. "We had strong support from our community," said Michael Gendron, local executive vice president. "Joining us were activists from Jobs with Justice, as well as students and teachers' union members from Stony Brook University.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=BuOMJhN6Kt0zwoq4OLlLKX6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Check out Local 1108's Valentine's Day video.</a>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1LSRUuaAbk&feature=email</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">And on Feb. 16, CWAers will be carrying a "So Much for Retirement" message that takes on Verizon for attacking workers' retirement security. The leaflet says: "We work hard to be able to retire with dignity. For Verizon to take that away is wrong, plain and simple."</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">And check out this <a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=o5NWkecvgkWTkT15q9uCln6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">new video about Verizon's demands for health care and pension cuts for current and retired workers.</a></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLFD0unXsfI</p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story8" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">CWA Ad Wins Top Newspaper Ad Award</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><i></i></p><div style="line-height:12px;width:146px;float:left;font-size:10px;margin-right:10px"><i style="line-height:13px"><img height="240" width="146" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6886822741_c658e84781_m.jpg" alt="Local 1102_9-11 Anti-Verizon Ad" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"></i></div><i style="line-height:18px"></i><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">This ad produced by CWA was named best newspaper ad of 2011 at this year's Reed Awards.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The Reed Awards recognize outstanding achievement in newspaper, radio, political advertising and other communications.</p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">The ad features Local 1102 member Joe Hanley, and was designed to remind Verizon that our members stepped up in the aftermath of 9-11, and everyday after that, to keep people connected.<br></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><h2 style="line-height:24px;font-size:20px;font-weight:normal;margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:5px;margin-left:0px;color:rgb(109, 14, 15);clear:both"><a name="story9" style="line-height:26px;text-decoration:none;cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Next CWA Town Hall Meeting</a></h2><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Make sure to join the next CWA telephone town hall, set for Thursday, Feb. 23 at 7:30 pm EST. <a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=0I13kHdySJ%2BGzz49i4Aqqn6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Click here</a> to register. </p><p style="line-height:18px;margin-bottom:1.35em"></p></td></tr><tr><td style="padding-top:10px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:10px;padding-left:20px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4004/c/11/images/email-divider.jpg" style="border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"></td></tr><tr><td style="line-height:13px;padding-top:0pt;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:20px;font-size:10px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em">You have received this message through your subscription to a Communications Workers of America e-mail list. If you did not subscribe or would like to unsubscribe <a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=jBREum%2BbLIZ/i6WzcqZn7n6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</p></td></tr><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#d7d5d5" align="left" id="ecxemail_content2" style="line-height:16px;font-size:12px;color:rgb(119, 119, 119);padding-top:20px;padding-right:30px;padding-bottom:20px;padding-left:30px"><p style="line-height:15px;margin-bottom:1.35em">Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO, CLC. All Rights Reserved.<br>501 Third Street, NW Washington, DC 20001<a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=X4nsPb%2B9MH9JMGkNUMFBjn6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img width="71" height="15" border="0" align="bottom" alt="Facebook" src="http://cwa.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/e-activist-newsletter/facebook.gif" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-width:initial;border-color:initial;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"></a> <a href="http://action.cwa-union.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=xEvlFdaXOoGu4q/ybzgiMn6gIYk53i0y" style="color:rgb(109, 14, 15);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img width="64" height="16" border="0" align="bottom" alt="Twitter" src="http://cwa.bluestatedigital.com/page/-/e-activist-newsletter/twitter.gif" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-width:initial;border-color:initial;border-style:initial;border-color:initial"></a></p><p style="line-height:15px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><br></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><table class="ecxMsoNormalTable" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr><td width="232" colspan="2" style="width:174.3pt;padding-top:0in;padding-right:5.4pt;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:5.4pt"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" align="center" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;text-align:center"><a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"><img border="0" width="215" height="161" id="ecxPicture_x0020_1" src="" alt="image001.jpg@01CB0626.285E6570" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></span></a><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif"></span></p></td><td width="563" colspan="4" valign="top" style="width:422.5pt;padding-top:0in;padding-right:5.4pt;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:5.4pt"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-right:-27pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif"><img border="0" width="535" height="180" id="ecxPicture_x0020_14" src="" alt="image002.jpg@01CB0626.285E6570"></span></p></td></tr><tr><td width="796" colspan="6" valign="top" style="width:596.8pt;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial;border-bottom-style:solid;border-bottom-color:gray;border-bottom-width:1pt;padding-top:0in;padding-right:5.4pt;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:5.4pt"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" align="center" style="line-height:20px;margin-right:-27pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;text-align:center"><span style="line-height:9px;font-size:5pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:gray;letter-spacing:3.5pt"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" align="center" style="line-height:20px;margin-right:0.05in;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;text-align:center"><b style="font-weight:bold"><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:gray;letter-spacing:3.5pt"><a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/leadershipschools/" style="font-weight:inherit;color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="color:gray;text-decoration:none">Leadership Schools</span></a> · <a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/workshops/" style="font-weight:inherit;color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="color:gray;text-decoration:none">Workshops</span></a> · <a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/research/" style="font-weight:inherit;color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="color:gray;text-decoration:none">Research Reports</span></a> · <a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/publications/index.shtml" style="font-weight:inherit;color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="color:gray;text-decoration:none">Publications</span></a></span></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" align="center" style="line-height:20px;margin-right:-27pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;text-align:center"><span style="line-height:9px;font-size:5pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;letter-spacing:3.5pt"> </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height:96.65pt"><td width="475" colspan="4" valign="top" style="width:356.05pt;padding-top:0in;padding-right:5.4pt;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:5.4pt;height:96.65pt"><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:35px;font-size:20pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(33, 88, 104)"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:35px;font-size:20pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(33, 88, 104)">PUBLIC HEARING: Swedish Corporation Violates Workers’ Rights in the U.S.</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(31, 73, 125)"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)">Please join us for a public hearing to investigate workers’ rights violations by the Swedish armored car company, Loomis.</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)">Loomis is being accused of making changes and cutbacks that threaten worker safety – many armored guards get shot in the U.S. each year – and that violate U.S. and international labor law.</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)">The hearing will include Loomis workers from both the U.S. and Sweden, representatives from the Swedish Transport Union and the global labor federation UNI, and the former director of the Swedish Social Democratic Party.</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)">This should be a fascinating presentation for anyone interested in the labor practices and standards of multinational corporations as they operate in different countries. What Loomis is doing in the U.S. they would never be allowed to get away with in Sweden. We hope you’ll join us!</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><i><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)">For more information, please visit us </span></i><i><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 51, 153)"><a href="http://laborcenter.berkeley.edu/events/" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(0, 51, 153)">online</span></a></span></i><i><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)"> or send an email to</span></i><i><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(0, 51, 153)"><a href="mailto:rebecca.graham@berkeley.edu" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer"><span style="color:rgb(0, 51, 153)">rebecca.graham@berkeley.edu</span></a></span></i><i><span style="line-height:17px;font-size:10pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)">.</span></i></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="line-height:19px;font-size:11pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(34, 30, 31)"> </span></p></td><td width="321" colspan="2" valign="top" style="width:240.75pt;padding-top:0in;padding-right:0in;padding-bottom:0in;padding-left:0in;height:96.65pt"><p class="ecxPa3" align="right" style="line-height:16.05pt;margin-right:26.5pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Optima;text-align:right"><b style="line-height:20px;font-weight:bold"><span style="line-height:35px;font-size:20pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(194, 51, 38)"> </span></b></p><p class="ecxPa3" align="right" style="line-height:16.05pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Optima;text-align:right"><span style="line-height:35px;font-size:20pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(194, 51, 38)"><img border="0" width="313" height="250" id="ecxPicture_x0020_15" src=""></span></p><p class="ecxPa3" align="right" style="line-height:16.05pt;margin-right:20.25pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Optima;text-align:right"><b style="line-height:20px;font-weight:bold"><span style="line-height:35px;font-size:20pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(33, 88, 104)">Tuesday, February 21</span></b></p><p class="ecxPa3" align="right" style="line-height:16.05pt;margin-right:20.25pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:Optima;text-align:right"><b style="line-height:20px;font-weight:bold"><span style="line-height:35px;font-size:20pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(33, 88, 104)">7:30 p.m.</span></b></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-right:20.25pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><span style="color:rgb(33, 88, 104)"> </span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" align="right" style="line-height:20px;margin-right:20.25pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;text-align:right"><span style="line-height:24px;font-size:14pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(33, 88, 104)">UC Berkeley Labor Center</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" align="right" style="line-height:20px;margin-right:20.25pt;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif;text-align:right"><span style="line-height:24px;font-size:14pt;font-family:'Arial Narrow', sans-serif;color:rgb(33, 88, 104)">2521 Channing Way (at Telegraph)</span></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" 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href="mailto:clre_unsubscribe@berkeley.edu" title="mailto:clre_unsubscribe@berkeley.edu" style="color:purple;cursor:pointer"><i><span style="line-height:14px;font-size:8pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(51, 51, 51)">clre_unsubscribe@berkeley.edu</span></i></a><i><span style="line-height:14px;font-size:8pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(51, 51, 51)"> and place UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.</span></i></p><p class="ecxMsoNormal" style="line-height:20px;margin-bottom:0.0001pt;font-size:12pt;font-family:'Times New Roman', serif"><i><span style="line-height:14px;font-size:8pt;font-family:Arial, sans-serif;color:rgb(51, 51, 51)"><br></span></i></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div class="ecxheadline3" style="line-height:18px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:18px;padding-bottom:5px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(234, 234, 234);margin-bottom:10px"><div style="line-height:23px"><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/15965?akid=8266.16102.3V7tJj&t=8" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Deal Reached on Payroll Tax Cut Extension, Federal Workers Take a Hit</a></div><div style="line-height:14px;font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:rgb(222, 73, 0)">By Joan McCarter | Daily Kos</div></div></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:23px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:18px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/15966?akid=8266.16102.3V7tJj&t=9" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Will American Anti-Labor Policies Infect Europe?</a></div><div style="line-height:14px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:rgb(222, 73, 0)">By Dave Johnson | Campaign for America's Future</div></div><div style="line-height:14px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:rgb(222, 73, 0)"><br></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:23px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:18px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><a href="http://act.alternet.org/go/15968?akid=8266.16102.3V7tJj&t=11" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Boycott McD's, Burger King for Participating in UK 'Workfare' Program Requiring Free Work to Get Gov't Assistance</a></div><div style="line-height:14px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:rgb(222, 73, 0)">By Lauren Kelley | AlterNet</div></div><div style="line-height:14px;font-family:Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255);font-size:11px;font-style:italic;color:rgb(222, 73, 0)"><br></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:13px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=0TH1OprbyYhbTF4Ka1GLG%2BMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img width="626" border="0" height="71" alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/banner_afl-cio_now_blog_626.jpg" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></td></tr><tr><td><table width="100%" cellpadding="13" border="0" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><span style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><b style="font-weight:bold">Feb. 16, 2012</b></span></span></p><table align="right" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="7" border="0" style="line-height:17px;width:22px;height:38px"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:center"><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=iTI%2BFAf3wcP1HZzMY4lR1%2BMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Scott Walker protest" title="Scott Walker protest" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/pink-slip-bt.jpg" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a><br><span style="line-height:13px;font-size:10px"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=lJbhZvJgXdRrOQo0eZR/2%2BMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">A new report outlines Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s abysmal record of massive job loss and attacks on workers’ and voters’ rights</a>.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><span style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:Verdana">After a year and a half battle, the Trader Joe’s chain signed a landmark agreement to protect tomato workers and join the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) Fair Food program. The program aims to improve the lot of tomato pickers by calling for better wages, a “penny-per-pound premium” on tomatoes and, most important, a thorough and strict code for fair working conditions.</span></span><br></p><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td valign="bottom" height="24px"><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Us1hKge6CAFLzpkwZ85OIOMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Read More" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/read_more.gif" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><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=iQssjPC%2B8D1G4M3PFnXndeMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"></a><span style="font-size:13px"><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=zvE2jlmNljKdbu1rVUmy%2BeMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><b style="font-weight:bold">blog.aflcio.org</b></span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana">.</span></span></p><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal;font-size:13px"><img width="16" border="0" height="12" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" alt="" style="line-height:17px"> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Bok7%2BeV/Qgw0r26/GsVWZuMUfvtPjSNg" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold">Tentative Deal Reached on Jobless Aid/Payroll Tax Cut</strong></font></a></font></p><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal;font-size:13px"><img width="16" border="0" height="12" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" alt="" style="line-height:17px"> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=KSxe7vmNu/w23jiEQ8sMqcwYrnjOKu2z" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold">Wisconsin’s Walker Piles Up Record of Massive Job Loss, Attacks on Civil, Workers’ Rights</strong></font></a></font></p><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal;font-size:13px"><img width="16" border="0" height="12" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" alt="" style="line-height:17px"> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=5yHbLdxo9CFv1%2BgHiO5nyOMUfvtPjSNg" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold">Oil Workers Rally for Jobs</strong></font></a></font></p><p align="left" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal;font-size:13px"><img width="16" border="0" height="12" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/blog_arrow-blt.gif" alt="" style="line-height:17px"> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=ZF5/VwdXjfrbIaXRFP/VkuMUfvtPjSNg" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><font face="Arial" color="navy" style="line-height:normal"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold">Watch Teach-In to Take Back American Dream</strong></font></a></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em;text-align:left"><span style="font-size:13px"><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=LeT/DVXzuWr32WXRIElOB%2BMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:Verdana"><strong style="font-weight:bold">Read more important news</strong></span></a><span style="font-family:Verdana"> of the day on the issues working families care about.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"></p><table align="center" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="7" bordercolor="#cccccc" border="1" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td><table align="center" width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td align="center" valign="middle"><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><nobr><span style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-family:Arial"><strong style="font-weight:bold">Follow the AFL-CIO:</strong></span></span><strong style="font-weight:bold"><br></strong><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=Rr52jCHIXG303vCWjyT3mOMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_facebook.jpg" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=4CtiDYnMrY2Zy3OkyFwMsuMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_twitter.jpg" alt="Twitter" title="Twitter" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=lAA1Xet7%2Brcb1CbziNy55OMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/c/18/images/icon_24x24_googleplus.jpg" alt="Google+" title="Google+" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=oScrLLCu8SzMrA0DV7TyY%2BMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_youtube2.jpg" alt="YouTube" title="YouTube" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a> <a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=xgiHHH1Jn6TJDOm108MTN%2BMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4001/images/icon_24x24_rss.jpg" alt="RSS" title="RSS" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></nobr></p></td></tr><tr><td><p align="center" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><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 style="font-weight:bold">NEWS</strong> to <strong style="font-weight:bold">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" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><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=ifOMNSzglKfO1LWdH2UCy%2BMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><b style="font-weight:bold">www.aflcio.org</b></a>.</span></span></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em;text-align:right"><a href="http://act.aflcio.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=/YtTPfBbgtQUxmNL2CSPPuMUfvtPjSNg" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><span style="line-height:13px;font-size:10px"><span style="font-family:Verdana">Click here to unsubscribe</span></span></a>.</p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em;text-align:right"><br></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><div><br></div><div><div id="ecxmpf0_bodyHdr" style="line-height:15px;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><div id="ecxmpf0_details" class="ecxDetailToggle ecxFB ecxClearBoth" title="Hide details" style="clear:both;height:11px;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-color:initial;padding-top:7px;top:0px;cursor:pointer;background-position:0px 7px;background-repeat:repeat no-repeat"><br class="ecxApple-interchange-newline"><div class="ecxFBR" style="height:11px;width:80px;background-attachment:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial;background-color:initial;float:right;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"></div><div class="ecxFBA" style="right:80px;width:13px;height:7px;background-color:transparent;background-attachment:scroll;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:hidden;background-position:-53px -1px;background-repeat:no-repeat no-repeat"></div></div><div class="ecxClearBoth" style="clear:both"><div id="ecxmpf0_wideMsgBarPlaceholder" class="ecxWideMessageBarContainer"></div></div></div><div class="ecxClearBoth" style="line-height:15px;clear:both;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"></div><div id="ecxmpf0_readMsgBodyContainer" class="ecxReadMsgBody" style="line-height:15px;padding-top:8px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:0px;margin-right:12px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:12px;overflow-x:hidden;color:rgb(42, 42, 42);font-family:'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif;font-size:12px;background-color:rgb(255, 255, 255)"><div class="ecxSandboxScopeClass ecxExternalClass" id="ecxmpf0_MsgContainer" style="line-height:normal;font-size:10pt;display:inline-block"><table align="center" width="627" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" border="0" bgcolor="#999999" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="0" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td align="center"><a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=yCN7Yg39SoIkrAwN49IuisCgGFZdY1E%2B" style="color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4022/images/takeActionBannerFINAL.jpg" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><table width="625" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="8" border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff" style="line-height:17px"><tbody><tr><td valign="top"><table align="right" style="line-height:17px;width:230px"><tbody><tr><td width="10%"></td><td><table style="line-height:17px;border-top-width:1px;border-right-width:1px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-left-width:1px;border-top-style:solid;border-right-style:solid;border-bottom-style:solid;border-left-style:solid;border-top-color:black;border-right-color:black;border-bottom-color:black;border-left-color:black;width:210px;height:130px"><tbody><tr><td style="width:202px"><p align="center" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold"><em>American Crystal Sugar workers will deliver your petitions next week.</em></strong></font></p><p align="center" style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=5fzTPGPv5%2Bd/w4MVnhf%2BE8CgGFZdY1E%2B" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><img width="162" height="122" border="0" alt="Sugar Workers" src="https://afl.salsalabs.com/o/4022/images/Honk4SugarWorkers1.jpg" style="border-style:initial;border-color:initial;border-top-style:none;border-right-style:none;border-bottom-style:none;border-left-style:none;border-width:initial;border-color:initial"></a></font></p><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><p align="center" style="line-height:17px;margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=LOQHnHiqgNcolf6WOYgw9sCgGFZdY1E%2B" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><strong style="font-weight:bold">Help them end the lockout with this final push – sign the petition TODAY!</strong></a></font></p></font></td></tr></tbody></table></td><td width="10%"></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">Dear Carlos,</font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">Last August, American Crystal Sugar locked out 1,300 workers in Iowa, Minnesota, and North Dakota. Then in November, Cooper Tire locked out 1,050 workers in Ohio. These companies have taken extreme measures to maximize profits – no matter the cost to their workers – and we've had enough. <strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold">No more sweetening profits for the top, while sacrificing good American jobs.</strong></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">So this month, we're making sure Cooper Tire and American Crystal Sugar get the message: consumers aren't buying your excuses, and the outrage over these lockouts is mounting.</font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">Next week, locked-out American Crystal Sugar workers are holding a major rally. Afterward, they're marching to American Crystal's headquarters in Moorhead, North Dakota, to hand-deliver our petitions demanding an end to the lockout. So far, 13,000 activists like you have joined the fight.</font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold">But if we're serious about ending the lockout, we need as many people as possible to sign our petition before this delivery event. <a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=TqhU16RtxCeiLHXRPvnyS8CgGFZdY1E%2B" style="font-weight:inherit;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Add your name TODAY!</a></strong></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><em style="line-height:17px">Already signed the petition? Then please forward this email to everyone you know!</em></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">Executives from both companies are sitting on millions in profits, while brave employees have been sacrificing their livelihoods. <em style="line-height:17px">And they're counting on us to mobilize everyone we know to back them up in their struggle against corporate greed.</em></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=KhG00vOnh2/3zwg42PvcGMCgGFZdY1E%2B" style="line-height:17px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank"><strong style="font-weight:bold">Join American Crystal Sugar workers in solidarity – sign the petition now.</strong></a></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">Thanks for all that you do for workers across the country.</font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">Hilary, Liz, Kim, Zoe, Michael, Susan, and the American Rights at Work team</font><br><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal"><strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold"><a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=t/1nz32slB1R1GR2eVT5/cCgGFZdY1E%2B" style="font-weight:inherit;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">www.AmericanRightsatWork.org</a></strong></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="2" face="Arial" color="#000000" style="line-height:normal">P.S. Workers are also gearing up to deliver your messages to Cooper Tire executives at the end of the month. <strong style="line-height:17px;font-weight:bold"><a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=F9914n97JFmRis8BzzcxYMCgGFZdY1E%2B" style="font-weight:inherit;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">Check out the latest press coverage about your support for the locked-out workers.</a></strong></font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="1" face="Arial" style="line-height:normal">This message was sent to cgpelayo@hotmail.com. To unsubscribe from American Rights at Work action alerts, <a href="http://act.americanrightsatwork.org/salsa/track.jsp?v=2&c=QWtNmusdMHrcSjSpJGK4jsCgGFZdY1E%2B" style="line-height:13px;color:rgb(0, 104, 207);cursor:pointer" target="_blank">click here</a>.</font></p><p style="margin-bottom:1.35em"><font size="1" face="Arial" style="line-height:normal"><br></font></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div></div><div>@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@</div><br><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>
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