LaborGroups News 26Jan04

www.laborgroups.org/LaborGroupsNews26Jan04.pdf
www.laborgroups.org/LaborGroupsNews26Jan04.doc

Please VOTE !

Please vote for LaborGroups.org in the LaborStart
Website of the Year Contest !

Direct forwarding link to vote for LaborGroups.org:
vote.laborgroups.org

1) Featured Link: AFL-CIO's Working Families Community
2) New FreeMail: yourname (at) IllinoisDemocrats.org
3) World Social Forum Streaming Videos
4) Featured Link: Radio LabourStart
5) Campaign for Better Health Care Event Postponed
6) Building Bridges - Labor for the Bill of Rights
7) GOP Outrage: Senate staffers hack into Democrats' files
8) Changing The Agenda (IOSCA)
9) Chicago: Student Labor Action Project Job Announcement
10) Obama for Illinois presents - Ramsey Lewis in concert
11) Chicago: DL21C Events
12) Chicago Media Action Alert: CAN TV funding fight, and two events
13) New Filing on Comcast Public File Violations
14) SOA Watch Update & Job Opening
15) On the Move 1/20/04, Labor Intensifies Support of Grocery Strike
16) The Interfaith Alliance: National Grassroots Activist Gathering
17) Latest Issue of OPEIU Local 512's OnLine 'Zine
18) ACORN News January 23, 2004
19) January 24, People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo
20) 9 Articles About Job Destruction
21) CWA e-Politics: Presidential Battleground Meeting
22) Deprived Kids in Pakistan
23) L.A. RCYB Member Faces Unjust Charges
24) La Resistencia Denounces Bush's New Plan
25) Bush's Military Record Reveals Grounding and Absence for Two Full Years
26) The Tyranny of Copyright?
27) 2/6 Oakland Rally To Defend ILWU BA Heyman & Oakland 25
28) TruthOut
29) CLG News
30) LCV Makes Bold Move to Promote Environment in 2004
31) Carolyn Kay's "Make Them Accountable"
32) E-mail Matt and Gina Gallo and say "No!" to retaliatory firing of a key witness
33) Public Citizen Press Release
34) RN's at Pan Am Hospital vote 152-4 to unionize!
35) Smoke THIS !
36) Paid to Do NOTHING !

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1) Featured Link: AFL-CIO's Working Families Community


www.WorkingFamilies.com
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2) New FreeMail: yourname (at) IllinoisDemocrats.org

I will be activating another free web mail service available
to the general public by Tuesday, Jan 27, 2004:
yourname (at) IllinoisDemocrats.org
When activated, it will be posted to www.LaborGroups.org/freemail.htm
and the direct signup/login link will be webmail.IllinoisDemocrats.org

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3) World Social Forum Streaming Videos

www.disinfo.com/site/displayarticle1897.html

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4) Featured Link: Radio LabourStart

RADIO LABOURSTART

The second thing I'd like to ask for your help on is the Radio LabourStart project. On 1 February we will announce to the public this very exciting new initiative.

Our goal is to produce a daily broadcast of one hour, five days a week, including labour news, urgent action appeals, features (including interviews) and music -- lots of music. The music will consist of union songs, and other songs about working people, or songs promoting social justice and peace.

To hear the broadcasts you need to be connected to the Internet (ideally with a fast connection), you need a sound card and speakers for your computer, and you need software that plays MP3 music files. Chances are you already have all those. (I know you have Internet connections.)

It's important that you have a listen to what we're currently broadcasting -- I think you'll be impressed (once you've figured out how to get the sound to come out of your speakers). We need your feedback on the first shows.

For full details, including today's playlist, go here:

radio.labourstart.org

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5) Campaign for Better Health Care Event Postponed

Chili Jam Postponed until Leap Day

Because of the forecasted ice storm, we have decided to move
the Chili Jam to the "snow date", Sunday, Feb. 29 (Leap Day):
same time, same place. Tickets that have already been
purchased will be valid on the new date. Sorry for any
inconvenience this may cause you. We hope that you and your
family will be able to make our new date for Mike's all you can eat
chili, live entertainment, raffle, and silent auction!!

We appreciate your understanding,
The East Central Illinois Committee

For more information on the Chili Jam contact Bethany McNutt at
bmcnutt (at) cbhconline.org/(217)352-5600.

www.cbhconline.org

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6) Building Bridges - Labor for the Bill of Rights


WBAI Radio’s Building Bridges:


Community & Labor Report – National Edition


Produced & Hosted by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash


To listen or download*:

www.laborradio.org/audio/bbridges/patrntl.mp3

56 kbps for high speed connections 28:07

la.indymedia.org/uploads/patrntl.mp3

24 kbps for dial up connections 27:11

*note: to download keep as mail document

*****************************************************

Labor Forum at DC37, AFSCME for NYC Council

Bill of Rights Resolution

with

Juan Fernandez, President, Local 154, DC37, AFSCME
Udi Ofer, Project Director, New York Civil Liberties Union
Michael Ratner, President, Center for Constitutional Rights

Immediately after 911, with little public debate, the U.S. Congress enacted

the Patriot Act, and then the Homeland Security Act, followed by new federal

orders, rules and regulations infringing on civil liberties and civil rights. In

response, 3 states &over 200 cities have adopted resolutions in support of

individual Constitutional rights. On 12-15-2003 despite the urging of a coalition

called the NYC Bill of Rights Defense Campaign, the N.Y.C . Council failed to

join the list. But the resolution is coming up again for The N.Y.C. Council to

take a stand against secret detentions without charges or access to counsel;

spying on lawful political and religious speech; and ethnic and religious

profiling. The resolution calls upon federal, state and local officials and N.Y.C.

agencies and institutions to affirm and protect civil rights and civil liberties.

*******************************************************

Building Bridges is regularly broadcast over WBAI, 99.5 FM in the N.Y.C

Metropolitan area on Mondays from 7-8pm EST and streamed at www.2600.com/offthehook/hot2.ram

for more information email knash (at) igc.org knash (at) igc.org>


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7) GOP Outrage: Senate staffers hack into Democrats' files


Senate Republicans Hack Democratic Computer Files

Sometimes we come across a news story so shocking that it serves to remind us that Bush's Republicans will cross any line in their pursuit of full control over the government.

You have already heard how President Bush bypassed the Senate confirmation process and appointed Charles Pickering -- who authored the GOP anti-abortion plank and argued for lenience for a convicted cross-burner -- to a lifetime seat on the federal bench just hours after laying a wreath at the grave of Martin Luther King, Jr.

But they're not done.

This week, the Boston Globe reported that Republican staffers on the Senate Judiciary Committee repeatedly accessed computer files belonging to Democratic members over the course of the year, stealing strategic memos and leaking them to conservative media outlets.

Republicans immediately jumped on the defensive, blaming the computer glitch that allowed them to access the files. That's like a burglar blaming an unlocked door when he robs your house! You couldn't make up a better story to demonstrate the excesses and lengths that they'll go to in pursuit of their agenda. Their tactics illustrate their willful abuse of democratic rules as they attempt to pack our courts with right-wing extremists.

They will do anything to increase their power through President Bush's right-wing extremist judicial nominees -- even illegal and unethical computer hacking.


Take Action!

Click here to sign our petition calling for Republicans to stand up and take responsibility for their unethical hacking and judicial power-grabbing.

www.democrats.org/action/200401230001.html

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8) Changing The Agenda (IOSCA)

Changing ThE Agenda
The World Social Forum meet in Mumbai changes the emphasis of international political discourse from terrorism to human freedom and welfare
The World Social Forum (WSF) meet from January 16 to 21 in Mumbai has tried to shift the global political disourse from "terrorism" to more pressing social and economic issues. This is the beginning of a welcome change.
Four years ago the largest ever gathering of world leaders at the United Nations had pledged to reduce inequities and poverty, improve security of food, shelter, health and education and protect human rights (including the rights of women, children and minorities). Only a year after the Millennium Declaration at the UN came the attacks on WTC and Pentagon.
These attacks of September 11 suddenly changed the entire discourse from development, freedom and human rights to combating terrorism. Or, so it seemed, because later revelations by some of the best journalists in the world showed that the US had completed plans of attacking and destroying the Taliban much earlier than the September 11 incidents.
The United States was already prepared for the war against the Taliban because they had refused to oblige American oil interests. The September incidents came as a handy pretext for the aggression. The rest, as they say, is history. In the final analysis, the Afghan war was not primarily about terrorism, but about oil.
Despite all the fuss, it is by now clear that even the Iraq war was not about terrorism, nor about spread of militant Islam, nor about weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). All efforts by the CIA to establish some "terrorist link" of President Saddam Hussein failed miserably. Nor was President Hussein an "Islamist", either of the terrorist or pacifist variety. And, yes, nobody has found any WMD in Iraq. The only way of "finding" them there is by bringing in such WMDs from the US or the nearby Israel where such weapons are manufactured and stored.
The last two years have shown that the entire hype about "war on terrorism" was mischievously misplaced and had little to do with "terrorism" as such. All that it has done is that it has shifted the focus from national independence like in Palestine and Chechnya and allowed Ariel Sharon and Vladimir Putin to violate all norms of human rights with impurity under US license of "war against terrorism". Even Americans have admitted that people like Sharon and Putin have been taking advantage of the so-called war on terrorism to push their own agenda.
Former president of Ireland and UN Human Rights Commissioner Ms Mary Robinson has rightly pointed out that the so-called war on terrorism has shifted focus from important issues. Ms Robinson, who is today one of the most influential voices of global public opinion outside government, wrote at the time of the WSF meet that the attacks of September 11, howsoever reprehensible, did not affect too many people, while the events following that affected far larger number of people worldwide.
Ms Robinson, who is now the head of the Ethical Globalisation Initiative, has pointed out that the post-September 11 agenda of the US has led to neglect of programmes affecting the welfare of millions of people. After globalisation took hold in the 1990s, as many as 54 countries became poorer, child mortality grew in 14 countries and life expectancy shrank in 34, Ms Robinson wrote. Had the hype about "war on terror" not derailed the international efforts to address these issues, we would possibly had a less gloomy world.
The mischievous propaganda surrounding the invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq has shrunk the operational space for human rights and civil liberties even within the US and India. The Patriot Act in America was so vehemently opposed that the Patriot II became almost impossible. The Patriot Act's clone in India, the similar sounding POTA (Prevention of Terrorism Act) had such an inauspicious beginning that it began to hurt its supporters. Its two most ardent advocates, Raja Bhaiya, an MLA in UP, and Vaiko a member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu, are cooling their heels behind bars more because of falling foul of the powers that be than for their acts of terrorism.
The anti-minority BJP had not intended it to harm its own people. The Act was meant to brutalise Muslims, to the extent that even former US President Bill Clinton had to point it out. He said that in Gujarat Muslims were being detained and tried under POTA, while others were charged with milder offences under kinder laws. Mr. Clinton warned that such unfair practice by the Indian state would not serve the country's interests.
Ms Robinson wrote that countries which had signed the World Trade Organisation (WTO) accords had also signed one or more of the six human rights accords. That shows the WTO signatory countries have agreed not only to promote free trade but also work for protecting the rights of women, children and other weaker sections. As the gathering of 80 thousand delegates from all over the world showed, civil society organisations today are no less important than governments when it comes to implementing these agreements.
Even the World Bank President James Wolfohnson has admitted that the "war on terror" rhetoric has gone too far and distracted attention from other serious issues like AIDS/HIV, resurgence of malaria, and socio-economic disparities. Days before the Mumbai summit he wrote for the Inter Press Service that it was time to shift the focus of discourse. The World Bank was, in fact, the sponsor of the meet.
The World Bank as sponsor of a global civil society meet was somehow insuperable to many hardline leftists. The fact remains that no financial institution, nor the omnipotent market, can survive and grow if large sections of society remain poor. The industries in advanced contains would fail and people would become jobless if the buying power of people in less developed countries falters. Thus the World Bank has a stake in people's well-being worldwide.
An interesting spectacle was the presence of 20 thousand Dalit activists gathered from all over India. They were incensed over the Government of India's stance regarding casteism being discussed at Johannesberg meet in 2002. The Johannesberg meet discussed xenophobia, racism and discrimination, and wanted to include caste prejudices in the discourse. The Government of India largely stayed away from it. Dalit activists were exasperated over the government's attitude of letting the wounds fester.
The ultimate success of such initiatives depends on follow-up. As the African delegates pointed out, what was needed was more grassroots involvement. There are umpteen number of governments which are always looking for pretexts to outlaw non-governmental organisations. The African delegates wondered as to how somebody would work for human rights if such activity is delegitimised. The "war on terror" has emboldened certain governments to curb civil society initiatives.
****************************************************************************************

For other information please visit our website: www.iosworld.org
For more articles on current issues click the following link:

www.iosworld.org/caffairs.htm


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9) Chicago: Student Labor Action Project Job Announcement


Job Announcement!
Student Labor Action Project intern at Chicago Jobs with Justice


Get paid to do student organizing! Part time student organizer position open with the Chicago Student Labor Action Project!

Responsibilities
-Coordinate the Student Labor Action Project of Jobs with Justice
-organize regular meetings and events
-outreach to students and SLAP membership building (focussing on
underrepresented student constituencies)
-database and listserve management
-support local student groups throughout Chicago
-Work to build solidarity and coalitions among different types of student groups (ie. students of color, queer students, and student labor activists)
-Work to build relationships between organized labor, community groups, and students
-Develop resources for student activists
-Fundraising

Compensation
-20 hrs a week during the school year, $200 a week
-optional 40 hour a week summer internship, $400 a week
-You can work mostly from home during the school year

Qualifications
-At least one year of campus organizing experience
-Willingness to make a one year commitment to this job
-Must be at least a part time student in Chicago
-Must plan on being at least a part time student next school year

Applicants should send cover letters and resumes to Ella at slap_chicago (at) yahoo.com or Jobs with Justice, Attn: Ella Hereth, 333 S. Ashland Ave., Chicago, IL 60615. Applications are due by February 20th. Please include organizing experience.

Call 312-342-7564 with any questions.

Jobs with Justice is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer. Women, LGBTQ students, students of color, and non-traditional students are encouraged to apply.

What is SLAP?
The Student Labor Action Project is a Chicagoland area network of student activists who are working to challenge power locally on their campuses. SLAP activists are fighting to support local workers, to end University connections with sweatshops, to diversify faculty and students on our campuses, to end attacks on immigrant communities at home, and to make education affordable and accessible to all among other causes. SLAP activists work together to support and encourage each other and SLAP connects students to Labor, Community, and Religious leaders through Chicago Jobs with Justice.

SLAP was founded four years ago as a joint project of Jobs with Justice and the United States Student Association to support, advise, and solidify the student-labor work that is energizing campuses and communities across the country. SLAP has maximized the depth and breadth of this new student movement by facilitating networking, training, material development and technical assistance for student activists.

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10) Obama for Illinois presents - Ramsey Lewis in concert

Obama for Illinois proudly presents:

Ramsey Lewis
in concert

Wednesday January 28, 2004

VIP Reception

5:00pm-5:45pm

$1000

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Concert & Reception

6:00pm-7:00pm

$150
Doors Open at 5:45pm
Reception includes complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres

Chicago Symphony Center — Grainger Ballroom

220 S. Michigan Avenue

Chicago, Illinois

To RSVP or for more information, please call:
(312) 427-6400

Please make checks payable to:
Obama for Illinois
P.O. Box 802799
Chicago, IL 60680

Federal Law requires the reporting of name, address, occupation and employer of individuals whose aggregate contributions exceed $200. Contributions are not tax-deductible and may not exceed $12,000 for the Primary Election and $2000 for the General Election. Corporate contributions are prohibited. This material was authorized and paid for by Obama for Illinois.


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11) Chicago: DL21C Events

IL Wesleyan- TARI RENNER FOR CONGRESS

Dear Friends:

I am looking for alumni of Illinois Wesleyan University on behalf of Dr. Tari Renner, a candidate for Congress, who is on the faculty at the University. Tari is going to run against Congressman Jerry Weller - Weller has a 100% rating from George Bush and the Christian Coalition and a 0% rating from the AFL-CIO. It is the most likley swing district in Illinois. You will hear more about this race in the near future. For more information visit the website at www.rennerforcongress.com

There is an alumni meet-up with Tari Renner scheduled for Wednesday, January 28th, 7pm at Lou Malnati's, 439 N. Wells, Chicago. Details are on the attached flyer and below. I would appreciate your forwarding this to any alumni or other folks you think might be interested.

Thanks,

Nancy

Mike Alexander (class of , Jason Dennis (class of , Harold Gauthier (class of , Matt Glavin (class of , John Hennessy (class of , Sara Nelson (class of , Sarah Platt (class of , John Rapp (class of ,

Karen Sabaka (class of ,

Invite you to a IWU alumni

meet up with

Professor Tari Renner

(candidate for 11th Congressional District)

for beer and pizza and to hear how you can get involved in his exciting race for U.S. Congress

Please RSVP to Elizabeth Suffredin at 312.527.3667 or email at elizabeth (at) suffredin.org elizabeth (at) suffredin.org> by Tuesday, January 27.

For more information on Tari go to www.rennerforcongress.com

**************************************************************

Wes Clark N. H. Primary Celebration In Illinois on 1/27!!!

General Wesley Clark's New Hampshire Primary Celebration. Tuesday, January 27, 2004. 630PM.

Le Passage, 937 N. Rush St, Chicago

This party is for EVERYONE!! Comedian and radio legend Aaron Freeman will serve as master of ceremonies. Music provided by DJ Martin "Boogieman" Luna . Tickets: $35; or $100 to become a member of "C" Company.

'C' Company, a civic-minded group of professionals for Wes Clark, is putting the PARTY back in politics. Come out and meet local Clark delegate slates, supporters and local leaders as we watch the NH Primary results (live simulcast) and celebrate at Le Passage. Cash bar.

rsvp (at) illinoisforclark2004.com.

For information on becoming a member of the host committee:

Contact Jeff Binder at jbind74 (at) aol.com


*************************************************************************

JOHN KERRY ELECTION NIGHT PARTY- TUE, 1/27, MURPHY'S BLEACHERS!!!

JOIN THE JOHN KERRY FOR PRESIDENT CAMPAIGN!!
www.johnkerry.com


KERRY 2004 NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY ELECTION NIGHT PARTY!!

When: Tuesday, January 27, 2004

Time: 6-9PM

Where: Murphy's Bleachers, 3655 North Sheffield, Chicago, IL.
(One block north of Addison Red Line)

FREE ADMISSION (Cash Bar)

Come watch the New Hampshire Democratic primary election results with key Kerry for President volunteers, delegates and leaders! After a momentous victory in Iowa, John Kerry is surging at the top in New Hampshire and was endorsed today by U.S. Senator Fritz Hollings of South Carolina.
Learn how you can play a leadership role on the John Kerry for President campaign in Chicago and help Senator Kerry capture the Democratic nomination for President! The success of our campaign depends on having a strong and active group of supporters. Your active involvement will make the difference for John Kerry.

For more information about the event or to RSVP, please contact Rafi Jafri at rjafri98 (at) aol.com or (773) 793 8355.

*****************************************************************************************

John Edwards New Hampshire Watch Party - This Tuesday, January 27.

John Edwards shocked the world last week, riding the greatest 2 week surge in the history of the Iowa Caucuses to a thrilling 32% of the delegates chosen in the Hawkeye State!

What will happen in New Hampshire this week? Come to the watch party and see if John Edwards shocks the world again:

This Tuesday, January 27, 2004

Goodbar

2512 North Halsted

Beginning at 6 p.m.

Please RSVP to bill (at) strategygroup.com bill (at) strategygroup.com> or call 847-866-5500 ext. 207

All ages welcome at Goodbar. Proper ID required.

*******************************************************************************************************************************************************

Sincerely,

Rafi K. Jafri
Vice-President, DL21C

Check out DL21C's website at www.dl21c-chicago.org .
A copy of our report filed with the State Board of Elections and the County
Clerk is or will be available for purchase from the State Board of
Elections, Springfield, IL, or from the County Clerk, Cook County, IL
Contact DL21C: (312) 409-DL21C or info@dl21c-chicago.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD. PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO TWO FRIENDS.


**The content of this email is provided as a service to DL21C members.
DL21C provides notice on many political events and opportunities to its
members. Unless expressly stated, inclusion in a DL21C notice does not
represent an official endorsement of a candidate or issue.**


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12) Chicago Media Action Alert: CAN TV funding fight, and two events

CHICAGO MEDIA ACTION ALERT, January 23, 2004
www.chicagomediaaction.org

This alert includes a notice about a funding struggle with an ally of CMA's and how you can help--plus a reminder of two upcoming CMA-related events.

Our thanks to everyone who attended and participated in CMA's forum on Martin Luther King. The turnout was outstanding (it rivaled the record we set for our Sept. 11 forum), as was the enthusiasm.

Thanks are due especially to our gracious hosts, Salim Muwakkil and Cliff Kelley, along with the staff at the Chicago Temple, and CAN TV for recording the event.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Speaking of CAN TV...

For the second time in two years, the cable company RCN has defaulted
on a significant payment to Chicago Access Network Television (CAN TV),
Chicago's public access cable television network. The January 7 default amounted to $215,000, and poses a serious threat to CAN TV's future.

CAN TV is a precious resource for Chicago; many citizen organizations (including Chicago Media Action) rely on CAN TV as a crucial voice
to address the greater Chicago community.

To learn more about the default, please read:

www.cantv.org/rcn

www.chicagomediaaction.org/news.php

Here's a Chicago media action from Chicago Media Action: help protest
this default. Citizen protest helped win a similar funding fight once before, and we can win it again.

(1) If you live in the Chicago city limits, contact your alderman and ask
them to get involved. Contact information is available by calling 311
or visiting:

www.ci.chi.il.us/CityCouncil/index.html

(2) Contact Chicago Mayor Daley, urging him to act on this default. And also contact RCN CEO David McCourt, urging him to complete the due payment. Contact information and suggested letters may be found at:

www.cantv.org/rcn.htm

Be sure to copy CAN TV in your correspondence.
(3) Help spread the word about this default and what people can do.
Please forward this email, and speak about this issue with your family, friends, and neighbors.

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

Here's a reminder of two upcoming events:

(1) Come hear Robert McChesney, author of "Rich Media, Poor Democracy" and a leader in the media reform movement, speak on "The Emerging Struggle for Control of the Media in the U.S." Tuesday, January 27, 7:30-9:00pm, White Activity Center, North Central Colllege, Naperville, IL. The lecture is free and open to the public. For more information, please call 630-637-5369. To read more, please visit:

www.chicagomediaaction.org/news.php

(2) Chicago Media Action will be holding a workshop (with the Chicago Independent Media Center) in the 2004 Chicago Social Forum. The forum will be held on Saturday, January 31, 2003, at Jones High School, 606 S. State, Chicago, from 9am to 6pm. For more details, please visit:

www.chicagosocialforum.org

*** *** *** *** *** *** ***

This is an email from Chicago Media Action, a Chicago activist
group devoted to media issues.

Chicago Media Action, P.O. Box 14140, Chicago IL 60614-0140 Call toll-free: 1-866-260-7198 Web: www.chicagomediaaction.org
email: cma (at) chicagomediaaction.org


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13) New Filing on Comcast Public File Violations

On October 29, 2003 cable activists visited Comcast locations in
17 states and asked to view the Public Files. Given the
responses that they received it was clear that Comcast does not
take seriously its obligation to maintain public files as
required by law.

On November 26, 2003, the CWA and the IBEW filed a complaint
with the Federal Communications Commission charging Comcast with
extensive violations of their obligation to maintain files that
are available to the public. Comcast did not acknowledge their
violations, and filed its opposition to the complaint. On
January 20, 2004, CWA and the IBEW filed a reply to Comcast's
opposition. A complete record of that reply is available at
www.unionvoice.org/ct/C1aozBp1o7tg/.

We encourage to review the filing and we will keep you informed
of developments in this proceeding.

Patrick Hunt


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14) SOA Watch Update & Job Opening

SOA TRIAL - Activists Prepare for Monday Court Appearance
ACTION - Spring Mobilization in DC (March 27-30, 2004)
VENEZUELA - Father Roy Bourgeois meets with Hugo Chavez
ELECTIONS - Presidential Candidates on the SOA/WHISC
JOB OPENING - SOA Watch Communications Coordinator

_______________________
SOA TRIAL
On Monday, January 26th the federal trial for the 28 human rights activists
facing federal charges for civil disobedience begins in Columbus, Georgia.
The 28 were among 10,000 who gathered in November to call for a closure of
the SOA, renamed in 2001 the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security
Cooperation. The defendants peacefully crossed onto Fort Benning property,
site of the school. They are charged with trespass and face up to six months
in federal prison and $5,000 in fines.

Names of those arrested: www.soaw.org/new/article.php
Press Release: www.soaw.org/new/pressrelease.php
Support the Defendants: www.soaw.org/new/article.php

_______________________
ACTION
Make plans to come to Washington, DC from March 27-30, 2004 for the SOA
Watch Spring 2004 Mobilization. The convergence will include legislative
action, strategic action trainings, street theatre, social time and
educational events. Please write to your respective Members of Congress and
set up a meeting for March 30th (or March 29th) in DC. A vote on the School
of the Americas/ Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation is
coming up in the U.S. Congress in the summer of 2004! It is our job to make
sure that enough Representatives will be on board to vote against the
school. Hold your Representative accountable!

For more information visit: www.soaw.org/new/article.php

_______________________
VENEZUELA
President Hugo Chávez to Reconsider Training of Soldiers at the SOA/WHISC:
In a move that illustrates the growing divide between Latin American nations
and the US, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez announced on Monday that he is
going to reconsider sending Venezuelan soldiers to the School of the
Americas (SOA/WHISC). Chávez stated: “This school [the SOA/WHISC] deformed
the minds of many Latin American soldiers, who from there went on to become
dictators.”

Read the Press Release on Fr. Roy Bourgeois' meeting with President Chavez:
www.soaw.org/new/pressrelease.php

_______________________
ELECTIONS
The School of the Americas (SOA/WHISC) has become an election issue in the
Democratic primaries. At almost every campaign stop, Gen. Clark is facing
critical questions concerning his connection to the SOA and his continued
unpopular support of the school. Major news outlets like the Boston Globe,
New York Times, Chicago Tribune, The Village Voice, CNN and others are
picking up the story because of the questions that were raised during the
campaign events.
SOA Watch has requested statements on the SOA from every major presidential
candidate. Dennis Kucinich has repeatedly announced that, if elected, one of
his first actions as president would be to immediately close the school.
While we have not received statements from the senators running, the voting
record is as follows: Senator John Kerry was a co-sponsor of the Senate
bills to close the SOA, Senator Joe Lieberman has never co-sponsored
legislation, and since Senator John Edwards took office, there has not been
a Senate bill.

General Clark, the SOA, and U.S. Values:
www.soaw.org/new/article.php
Letter sent to candidates: www.soaw.org/new/article.php
Information on bird-dogging: www.soaw.org/new/article.php

_______________________
JOB OPENING
School of the Americas Watch seeks to hire a Communications Coordinator to
be based in Washington, DC for a minimum 2-year commitment. Bilingual
candidates a plus; women and people of color are strongly encouraged to
apply.

Read the full job description here:
www.soaw.org/new/article.php


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15) On the Move 1/20/04, Labor Intensifies Support of Grocery Strike

On the Move
January 20, 2004

Labor Intensifies Support of Grocery Strike
SEIU Retirees Turn Up Heat On Grocery Chains, Call for
Settlement

The Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association (LACERA)
Board of Investments voted unanimously Wednesday, Jan. 15 to
turn up the heat on Southern California's largest supermarket
chains, calling for a settlement to protect members' retirement
funds.
In his first board meeting, newly elected LACERA Board Trustee
Herman Santos put forth a motion to direct LACERA staff to write
letters to the CEOs of Safeway, Kroger, and Albertsons. The
intent of the letters is to express concern about the loss of
value to retiree investments in the grocery chains' stock as a
result of the confrontational strategy adopted by the
supermarkets during the strike. Elected to the LACERA Board of
Directors last summer, Santos currently works as a County Public
Defender and is an SEIU 660 member.
Because of its close relationship with Safeway, LACERA staff was
also directed to write similar letters to equity investment
management firm Kohlberg, Kravis and Roberts. The firm manages
LACERA investments and controls four seats on the nine member
Safeway Board of Directors.
During the meeting, LACERA beneficiaries and SEIU members
reported the concerns of 50,000 active and retired SEIU/LACERA
participants about LACERA investments in Safeway, Kroger and
Albertsons stock. Representatives from AFSCME 685 also
testified.
"A quick, fair resolution and clear commitment from management
to establish a cooperative relationship with its employees is
the best hope shareholders have to rebuild the company's
reputation and market," said Tony Bravo, President Los Angeles
Chapter SEIU 535.

Leaders Remember King Legacy, Blast Disgraceful Pavilions/Vons
Ad
Over 600 labor and community activists gathered at the County
Fed's Annual MLK Labor Breakfast Tribute in remembrance of Dr.
Martin Luther King Jr. and to honor outstanding African-American
labor warriors. The event was held Jan.16 at the Watts Labor
Community Action Center.

Honored were Los Angeles City Councilmember Martin Ludlow,
Inglewood City Councilmember Ralph Franklin and Compton City
Councilmember Barbara Calhoun.
Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn noted that all three honorees had
distinguished themselves as outstanding advocates for workers
rights during their careers as union reps. During their terms in
municipal government, Ludlow, Franklin and Calhoun have
significantly advanced public policy issues impacting working
people.
The County Fed also presented Legacy Awards to Mayor Hahn, LA
City Councilmembers Antonio Villaraigosa, Janice Hahn, Ludlow,
Assembly-member Jerome Horton and Karen Bass, Exec. Director of
the Community Coalition.
In a press conference that immediately followed the breakfast,
union leaders, elected officials, members of the clergy and
community activists condemned the Pavilions/Vons ad that
appeared in the Los Angeles Times Jan. 15. They expressed
outrage that the supermarket chain would cloak itself with Dr.
King's beliefs in equality for all at a time when it refuses to
negotiate affordable health care benefits for its employees.
Said Karen Bass, COPE candidate (AD-47), "I call upon members of
the community to send letters to Steve Burd, Safeway CEO,
expressing their contempt of his company's hypocrisy."
On the Move, brought to you by the Los Angeles County Federation
of Labor, AFL-CIO
Miguel Contreras, Executive Secretary-Treasurer; Rick Icaza,
President Organize : Mobilize : Energize


------------------------------------------------------------------------
16) The Interfaith Alliance: National Grassroots Activist Gathering

Please join us at
The Interfaith Alliance's 8th Annual National Leadership Gathering February 27-29, 2004, in Chicago, IL
You’ll receive expert training, the most current legislative information, networking opportunities with people throughout the country and more!

All for an AMAZINGLY low cost! -- a LOW conference fee of $150.00 and an AMAZING room rate of ONLY $104.00/night!
How do you sign up?
Please email field (at) interfaithalliance.org to request a registration form or for more information -- all registration forms must be received BY FEBRUARY 12, 2004


------------------------------------------------------------------------
17) Latest Issue of OPEIU Local 512's OnLine 'Zine

Volume III Issue # 2 of OPEIU Local 512's On-line 'Zine
January 23, 2004
____________________________________________________________________________
Click the link below to read entire issue or point you browser to:
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
-------------
In This Issue:
Editor's view
" Then they came for me—
and there was no one left to speak out.."
Read more......
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Scary Report
U.S.A. reneges on labor standards agreement.
Read more:
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
----------
From The Michigan AFL-CIO
Victory at Border's in Ann Arbor!
Find out more.
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
----------------------------------
Book Review
Negotiate This!: By Caring, But Not T-H-A-T Much
by Herb Cohen
Simply click the link below to find out how to purchase with the click of a mouse!
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
---------------------------------------
State Employees Attention!
Why an injunction is not feasible in the current dispute.
An opinion from the our Legal Council
Find out the details.....
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
-------------------------------------------
The Truth About Proposed OT Changes
Dept. of Labor coaches employers on how to get around paying o.t.!
This will really make you mad!
Find out more about it at:
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
-----------------------------------------
How To Protest The OT Rip-off
Send a free fax to your U.S. Senators and to our appointed leader.
Over one quarter million sent to date.
Read all about it:
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
-----------------------------------------------------
Win an OPEIU Lapel Button
Just take the quiz and be the 1st one to e-mail us the correct answer
Click here
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
--------------------------------------------------------
Huh?
Much like Nero fiddling as Rome burned, our appointed leader declares manufacturing crisis over
on the day that over 2,000 jobs are eliminated at Electrolux in West Michigan
Read all about it!
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
------------------------------------------------------------------
Yuk, Yuk, Yuk
Some topical humor
See what we mean.
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
----------
Much More
Tips for the cyberunionist, input and feedback, and all of the usual!
my.voyager.net/~opeiu/no20.htm
----------------------------------------------------
We publish twice monthly, every other Friday. Input is welcome and encouraged. To subscribe, or to unsubscribe, e-mail us at:
opeiu (at) voyager.net opeiu (at) voyager.net>
or visit: mail.laborgroups.org/mailman/listinfo/opeiu512_laborgroups.org

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal." I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slaveowners will be able to sit down together at a table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a desert state, sweltering with the heat of injustice and oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day the state of Alabama, whose governor's lips are presently dripping with the words of interposition and nullification, will be transformed into a situation where little black boys and black girls will be able to join hands with little white boys and white girls and walk together as sisters and brothers. I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together. This is our hope. This is the faith with which I return to the South. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood. With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to go to jail together, to stand up for freedom together, knowing that we will be free one day."

-Martin Luther King


------------------------------------------------------------------------
18) ACORN News January 23, 2004

Voter Registration Update: Over 100,000 Registered

1. ACORN Rips H&R Block “Refund Anticipation Loans”

2. ACORN Launches Free Tax Assistance Sites and EITC Outreach Campaigns

3. Message to Bush: “Invest in Public Schools”

4. St. Louis Religious and Community Leaders Demand Quality Education

5. Minnesota Shuts Down Mortgage Foreclosure Scams; Presents Minneapolis Mayor with “Grinch of the Year Award”

6. Denver Wins More Police Patrols

7. Cincinnati Secures New Street Light

8. Bronx Tenants Turn Water Back On

9. Allegheny County Protests Port Authority Transit’s Treatment of Disabled Riders

10. Houston ACORN New Year Celebration Draws Over 250

11. Hawaii ACORN Opens


Check out ACORN's website at www.acorn.org .

Camellia Phillips

ACORN - Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now
88 3rd Ave, Floor 3
Brooklyn, NY 11217

phone: 718-246-7900 x227
fax: 718-246-7939
acornnews (at) acorn.org acornnews (at) acorn.org>

www.acorn.org

------------------------------------------------------------------------
19) January 24, People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo

Americans respond to State of the Union: What about jobs?

by Terrie Albano, 01/22/04

George W. Bush delivered the 2004 State of the Union speech to Congress
and the American people on Jan. 20, and afterwards many people asked: What
Union and world was he talking about?

Read entire article at www.pww.org/article/articleview/4658/1/198/



World Social Forum challenges inequality

by Susan Webb, 01/22/04

MUMBAI, India – On the sidewalk of a busy Mumbai street, two tiny children
and their baby brother, clad only in a shirt, sit in a patch of dirt,
directly in front of a cell phone store.

Read entire article at www.pww.org/article/articleview/4659/1/198/



31 years after Roe v. Wade: New generation redefines ‘pro-choice’

by Terrie Albano, 01/22/04

With its Jan. 22, 1973, ruling that abortion could no longer be illegal,
the Supreme Court ushered in a new era for the rights of women, children
and families.

Read entire article at www.pww.org/article/articleview/4660/1/198/



Iowa caucuses show resolve to oust Bush

by Tim Wheeler, 01/22/04

DES MOINES, Iowa – A near record 122,000 Iowans braved bitter cold here
Jan. 19 to attend Democratic caucus meetings in a dramatic display of
their determination to defeat George W. Bush Nov. 2. On the eve of the
caucuses, four candidates were in a dead heat, spurring people to turn out
in droves, especially youth and other first-time caucus-goers.

Read entire article at www.pww.org/article/articleview/4661/1/198/



Labor’s Trumka takes Safeway picket nationwide

by Roberta Wood, 01/22/04

Launching a campaign to go nationwide and all-union with the Southern
California grocery strike, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka met
with representatives from 50 city and state labor councils in Washington
Jan. 20.

Read entire article at www.pww.org/article/articleview/4663/1/198/



Questions about 9/11 refuse to go away

by C.F. Niles, 01/22/04

It has been nearly two-and-a-half years since the terrorist attacks of
Sept. 11, 2001, killed 2,976 people on American soil. Yet there are still
many unanswered questions regarding the events leading up to those
attacks.

Read entire article at www.pww.org/article/articleview/4678/1/198/


Visit www.pww.org to read the entire edition, back editions and subscribe

The People’s Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo Fund Drive runs from Sept. 1 -
Jan. 31 Donate online at www.pww.org

-- People's Weekly World/Nuestro Mundo 235 west 23rd st New York, NY 10011 www.pww.org

------------------------------------------------------------------------
20) 9 Articles About Job Destruction

---------------<<<>>>---------------
JOB DESTRUCTION NEWSLETTER
by Rob Sanchez
www.ZaZona.com
---------------<<<>>>---------------

Article 1:
nationalreview.com/nr_comment/krikorian200401131130.asp
Immigration, Saudi Style
A radical disconnect.
President Vicente Fox of Mexico on Monday backed President Bush's
guestworker/amnesty proposal at the "Summit of the Americas" in
Monterrey, Mexico. Whether this helps or hurts its political prospects
on Capitol Hill is another matter, but one question has not been asked
during the week the Bush proposal has been debated: What would
America's labor market, and society and polity, look like if Bush's
plan were actually implemented?

Article 2:
zdnet.com.com/2100-1107-5140021.html
Offshoring--a hot 2004 campaign issue?
Union activists are planning to inject the controversial topic of
overseas outsourcing of technology jobs into the 2004 presidential
race. The Democratic presidential contenders already have been trading
barbs over the loss of U.S.-based manufacturing jobs. At debates last
week in Iowa and on National Public Radio, the Democratic hopefuls
sparred over who had the best solutions, with Dennis Kucinich painting
himself as the most radical opponent of free trade, which he believes
is "a disaster for our economy."
Article 3:
www.eluniversal.com.mx/pls/impreso/noticia.html
bla=miami
The announcement, one week after Bush unveiled a new guest worker plan,
comes in the aftermath of improved bilateral ties. Michoacan President Vicente Fox on Thursday said he was pushing his
U.S. counterpart, George W. Bush, for "a substantial increase" in the
annual number of temporary U.S. work visas offered to Mexicans.
Fox said he hoped the number of H2A and H2B visas issued for temporary
agricultural or non-agricultural work, respectively would rise "up to
two or three times the current amount," of 60,000 per year.

Article 4:
www.startribune.com/stories/535/4322056.html
On business: Outsourcing hits legal services
First it was the apparel workers -- the working class -- who saw their
$10-an-hour jobs go overseas.
More recently, the United States has started to export to India the
$35,000-a-year customer-service center jobs from the likes of American
Express Financial Advisors and $50,000 technical-support positions from
IBM and ADC Telecommunications to India and elsewhere where educated,
English-speaking workers are hired for a tenth of the cost to
communicate with U.S. customers by phone and over the Internet.
Now, six-figure lawyers and legal support staffs are starting to sweat.


Article 5:
www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm
1&dept_id=7546&rfi=6
Low-wage businesses praise immigration reform The tourists who fill the indoor wave pool at the Cape Codder Resort &
Spa each summer and vie for tables at the Hearth n’ Kettle
restaurants won’t arrive for months. But Bill Catania, whose family
owns the Massachusetts businesses, has already begun filling out forms
to secure 90 temporary workers from Jamaica and Nepal needed to wash
dishes and clean rooms once the weather warms. The situation is very
different but the dynamics are similar for executives at HCR Manor
Care, a Toledo, Ohio-based operator of nursing homes and assisted
living facilities that bolstered its nursing ranks by bringing in about
25 each quarter from overseas, mostly from the Philippines. The Hilton
Washington hotel depends heavily on immigrant labor to fill low-wage
positions in housekeeping and food service and entry level management
jobs running restaurants and lounges. The supply of unskilled workers
are most recently Serbs, Croats, Chinese and others.


Article 6:
www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/dec2003/nf20031215_8942_db04
6.htm
Corporate America's Silent Partner: India Businesses are off-shoring more and more white-collar jobs there,
though you won't hear them talk about it much in an election year The
shift of skilled work to India is becoming one of Corporate America's
worst-kept secrets.


Article 7:
www.startribune.com/stories/1519/4304622.html
We are concerned that the United States may be entering a new economic
era in which American workers will face direct global competition at
almost every job level -- from the machinist to the software engineer
to the Wall Street analyst. Likewise, we do not believe that offering
tax incentives to companies that keep American jobs at home can
compensate for the enormous wage differentials driving jobs offshore.


Article 8:
www.chroniclesmagazine.org/News/Roberts/NewsPCR121003.html
ON THE ROAD TO SQUANDERVILLE
Substituting ideology for thought, free market pundits pretend that the
massive U.S. trade deficit is caused by an inflow of foreign
investment. However, if these pundits were to examine the actual
figures, they would discover that this "foreign investment" actually
represents foreign acquisition of existing U.S. assets, not
construction of new businesses. As Warren Buffett recently made clear
in Fortune magazine, we are paying for our excess consumption by giving
our wealth to foreigners.


Article 9:
www.investors.com/
Internet & Technology
Demand For Engineers Rising Fast In U.S.
The National Science Board and a think tank of tech executives recently
warned that the economic vitality of America is threatened by a lack of
U.S. graduates in science and engineering. George McClure, chairman of
career and work force policy at the Institute of Electrical &
Electronics Engineers, says there are several reasons for the
disparity. For starters, the BLS was wrong the last time it projected
job demand for engineers. The BLS updates its job forecast every two
years. The last time it made projections, "it was way off," said
McClure. "Their crystal ball isn't much better than the rest of ours."


=============

Support this Newsletter and ZaZona.com by donating:
www.zazona.com/Donations.htm

To Subscribe send an email to
H1BNews (at) ZaZona.com


------------------------------------------------------------------------
21) CWA e-Politics: Presidential Battleground Meeting

West Va. CWA Leaders Participate in CWA Presidential
Battleground Meeting
CWA's state battleground leadership meeting moved to West
Virginia January 6, as local union leaders and officers met to
plan how to move the state back into the "blue" column.
More than 45 CWA local union officers and leaders gathered
Tuesday, January 6, for a day-long political action workshop
that focused on the 2004 presidential election. It was the tenth
state battleground meeting held since September for CWA local
union officers.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)

District 9 Conducts Political Workshop

District 9 conducted a one-day political workshop as part of its
district meeting. The workshop was held over two days, January
13-14. Participants reviewed the national political scene and
heard from top political leaders in the state.

CWA Staff Representative Jim Gordon coordinated the workshop
with assistance from CWA National COPE. Top speakers included
California Executive Secretary-Treasurer Art Pulaski and state
Democratic Party head Art Torres. During the conference, Senator
Barbara Box, who is running for reelection, also spoke to the
CWA leaders.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp .)
Telecom Executives Join Elite Donors to Bush Campaign

Three high profile telecom industry executives are among the
hundreds who have joined the top ranks of supporters of the
Bush/Cheney re-election campaign in recent months.

The campaign has three categories the 134 "rangers" who have
raised at least $200,000, the 217 "pioneers," who have raised
at least $100,000, and the "mavericks," responsible for
$50,000 in donations.
According to news media reports, Edward E. Whitacre Jr.,
chairman and chief executive officer of SBC Communications,
Inc., and a Texan, has joined the ranks of "rangers". Ivan
Seidenberg, CEO of Verizon Communications, Inc., is now in the
"pioneer" category. Stephen B. Burke, president of Comcast
Cable, is also a new "pioneer".
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)

Bush-Speak - Understanding the State-of-the-Union Language

President Bush's State of the Union address was a showcase of
examples on how language is used to sell political objectives.
(To see the full list of Bush-Speak go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)
Few Signs Of Recovery Greet Workers

By almost all measures, a U.S. economy that has treaded water
since the 2001 recession is finally getting into the swim. The
Dow Jones industrial average rose 25 percent in 2003. The
economy exploded at
an 8.2 percent annualized growth rate between July and
September. Statistics indicate manufacturing production is
expanding at rates
not seen in two decades.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)

Understanding the Meaning Behind the Statistics

By Eric Zakarin 1st Vice President UBS Financial Services
Financial Advisor to the CWA Savings and Retirement Trust

While President Bush and his team of economic cheerleaders are
pronouncing victory over one of the longest and deepest
employment contractions since the Great Depression, American
workers find little to cheer about.
Over the longer term, the past two years have been among the
worst on record for payroll employment growth, and the lack of
job creation is leading many to exit the labor market and
cutting into the hours of work of those who remain employed.
The persistence of these weak demand conditions have led to
stagnant hourly and weekly wage trends that are falling behind
inflation and thus eroding the living standards of working
families.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)
Chao Refuses To Delay New Overtime Rule
Labor Secretary Elaine L. Chao denied a public request by
Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) to delay until September the
department's business-backed plan to overhaul overtime rules.
"Enough time has been spent on delays and studies of all sorts,"
Chao told Specter at a hearing, adding that the department
intends to put the new regulations into effect by March 31. She
said employers are spending $2 billion a year on "needless
litigation" by workers seeking overtime pay. The lawsuits
diverted money from "job creation and better pay and benefits,"
Chao said.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)
AARP Bows Out of Bush Privatization Forums

Under pressure for serving as a support group for the Bush
Administration, AARP dropped their plan to participate in White
House town meetings on Social Security privatization, which are
co-sponsored by the National Association of Manufacturers.

The first of three town hall meetings organized by AARP, the
Social Security Administration and the National Association of
Manufacturers was scheduled for January 15 in Minneapolis.

According to news media reports, AARP said it was dropping out
on the ground that the forums would be too politically charged
in the aftermath of the Medicare flap. Social Security, like
Medicare, is always a hot button and a divisive issue in
elections.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)

Drug Companies Get $139 Billion Under Medicare Plan in Congress

The pharmaceutical industry will reap a whopping $139 billion
under the Medicare prescription drug legislation passed by
Congress, according to a new report.

The Health Reform Program at Boston University's School of
Public Health finds the Medicare bill does not contain
mechanisms to control prices and does not allow Medicare to
negotiate prices for prescription medication.

The report, "61 Percent of Medicare's New Prescription Drug
Subsidy Is Windfall Profit to Drug Makers," says that, "Given
the remarkably low real cost of producing the added volumes of
pills that Medicare patients need," the lack of price controls
in the Medicare bill will give enormous windfall profits to
prescription drug makers.

Democratic Senator to Campaign for Bush

U.S. Senator Zell Miller, a Georgia Democrat who frequently
brakes with his party to support Republican policies, has agreed
to campaign for President Bush's reelection, a campaign
spokesman said.
Observers say the move gives the campaign a major name for its
efforts to organize Democrats for Bush around the country, after
a similar push struggled in 2000.
It also represents a further step in the GOP's effort in the
South, where the retirement of several senior Democratic
senators could help Republicans widen their Senate majority.
Political Gender Gap Widens

Men and women increasingly view the political world in
dramatically different ways: Men are mostly Republicans, women
are predominantly Democrats.
The political divide between college-educated men and women has
been growing for a decade. And the trend has become more
important as the number of women getting undergraduate and
postgraduate degrees has surged.
"Highly educated women are a new Democratic base, almost to the
same extent as union voters and ethnic voters," says Democratic
pollster Geoff Garin. Meanwhile, Republicans have made gains
among all blue-collar workers, especially men.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)

IBM Documents Give Rare Look At 'Offshoring'
Internal documents from International Business Machines Corp.
reported by the news media show that it expects to save $168
million annually starting in 2006 by shifting several thousand
high paying programming jobs overseas.
Among other things, the documents indicate that for internal IBM
accounting purposes, a programmer in China with three to five
years experience would cost about $12.50 an hour, including
salary and benefits. A person familiar with IBM's internal
billing rates says that's less than one fourth of the $56 an
hour cost of a comparable U.S. employee, which also includes
salary and benefits.
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)

Right-Wing Groups Benefit from Education Dept. Grants

While there is a tradition of Republican and Democratic
administrations rewarding allies, critics argue that the amount
of money steered toward conservative educational groups by the
Bush administration far exceeds the practice of the past.
People for the American Way recently released a report detailing
"a network of right-wing foundations" that have received more
than $77 million in U.S. Department of Education funds to
promote their "school privatization" agenda.
One of the most powerful right-wing education groups is the
Education Leaders Council (ELC). ELC was founded in 1995 by a
group of predominantly conservative educators. Their goal was to
upset an educational establishment "long dominated by the
Democrats and left-leaning teachers unions."
(To read the full story go to
www.cwa-cope.org/e-politics/040121.asp.)
--------------------------------------------------

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.

www.cwa-cope.org


------------------------------------------------------------------------
22) Deprived Kids in Pakistan

www.laborgroups.org/Photographs-of-Sunday-School.doc

Greetings of Peace from Pakistan!

I would like to thank you for your special concern, regarding support towards poor, deserving kids in Pakistan. Please be informed that your little support would bring about a great change in the lives of deprived kids in Pakistan.

We will always remember you in our prayers for your generous continous support.

Looking forward for your response.

Yours in Christ,

Samina Naz

------------------------------------------------------------------------
23) L.A. RCYB Member Faces Unjust Charges

L.A. RCYB Member Faces Unjust Charges
Revolutionary Worker #1225, January 18, 2004, posted at rwor.org

The following is a correspondence from Los Angeles.

On January 20 of last year, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's birthday, over 50,000 people gathered in South Central L.A. to celebrate an