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AFT Identifies Companies that Profit from Family Separation Policies AFT Identifies Companies that Profit from Family Separation Policies AFT One of the most heartbreaking news stories of 2018 is the Trump administration's decision to separate undocumented immigrant families that enter the United States.The AFL-CIO, the AFT and other advocates for working people have condemned this policy and called for families to be reunited. As part of this effort, the AFT has issued a new report to inform pension trustees and the working people they represent about companies that are profiting off of family separation and mass incarceration. First, there are the companies that directly profit from the family separation policy. They build and operate the facilities used to detain immigrants or provide support services to those facilities. These companies include:
- CoreCivic: Formerly known as Corrections Corporation of America, the nation's largest private prison company owns and operates eight immigration detention centers.
- GEO Group: A company that operates private prisons and operates family detention centers.
- General Dynamics: A top defense contractor, the company provides case management services at youth detention centers.
- BlackRock
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Wells Fargo
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Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Andy Levin Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Andy Levin Andy Levin for Congress This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are going to take a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Michigan congressional candidate Andy Levin. Here are some of the key reasons why Levin is one of the best candidates for working people in 2018:
- Levin wants to make increasing living standards a part of all trade deals.
- He favors raising the minimum wage.
- Levin said he wants to focus on restoring the freedom of working people to organize and bargain collectively.
- He wants to expand paid family leave.
- Levin will fight for equal pay and benefits for all women, particularly women of color.
- In Michigan, he became the state's first chief workforce officer and created a program, "No Worker Left Behind," which helped more than 162,000 Michiganders get workforce training and another 120,000 get new jobs.
- He will fight Republican attempts to undermine and privatize Social Security.
- Levin advocates for universal public education under local control with well-compensated teachers.
- He wants to create a comprehensive, long-term program to invest in roads, bridges, sewers, mass transit and other infrastructure.
- In Congress, he will stand up for trade policies that protect the rights of working people and raise the standard of living for workers in all countries that are involved.
- He said he wants to change tax policies to stop incentivizing outsourcing.
- Levin will vote to increase investment in job training and apprenticeships.
- He wants Congress to pass legislation barring discrimination against LGBTQ-plus people in employment, housing and other aspects of American life.
- Levin said he wants the United States to move away from the prison industrial complex and favors other criminal justice reforms that diminish the oppression of people of color.
- He wants comprehensive immigration reform with a clear pathway to citizenship and wants to end family separations at the border.
- Levin will work to protect the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau so it can continue to protect families that are treated poorly by banks, payday lenders, check cashing stores and others.
- He wants to ensure access to affordable health care for all Americans by passing Medicare for All and taking on the high cost of prescription drugs.
- Levin wants to embrace postal banking as a way to give Americans easy access to banking services from a trustworthy source.
- He supports a constitutional amendment to reverse Citizens United in order to bring full disclosure of all money donated to influence elections.
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A Huge Win: The Working People Weekly List A Huge Win: The Working People Weekly List AFL-CIO Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s this week’s Working People Weekly List. A Huge Win for Organized Labor in Missouri: "'The defeat of this poisonous anti-worker legislation is a victory for all workers across the country,' declared AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka as the results came in Tuesday night. 'The message sent by every single person who worked to defeat Prop. A is clear: When we see an opportunity to use our political voice to give workers a more level playing field, we will seize it with overwhelming passion and determination. Tonight is the latest act of working people changing a rigged system that for decades has been favoring corporations, the mega wealthy and the privileged few.'" Unions Triumph at the Ballot Box: "Something is happening in America. Missouri, riding a nationwide wave of victories for working people, on Tuesday became the first state in history to overturn a so-called right-to-work law by popular vote. It was an incredible display of the labor movement’s capacity to win change." Giving 'Hope to Workers Across the Nation,' Missouri Votes to Repeal GOP Attack on Unions: "'Brothers and sisters, tonight we celebrate, but tomorrow we must get back to work,' declared Missouri AFL-CIO President Mike Louis in a speech following Tuesday's victory. 'Tomorrow we must continue to organize. Together, we made history. Together, we must continue to fight for working families.'" Ethical Camping Essentials: "Ah, the great outdoors. The fresh air, the sounds of nature, the s’mores! That’s right. When you’re planning an outdoor vacation during the final weeks of summer, you’ll need a bunch of supplies, both fun and practical. Whether you’re protecting against the elements or putting together a decadent fireside treat, Labor 411 reminds you to shop for ethical American-made brands manufactured by companies that treat their workers fairly. Enjoy the outdoors, and together we’ll camp our way to a stronger America." Hard Work Pays Off in Missouri: In the States Roundup: "It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states." Support Locked-Out Boilermakers in Montana: "On Aug. 2, Imerys locked out members of the Boilermakers (IBB) and brought in replacements at its talc plant in Three Forks, Montana. The lockout comes after Imerys consistently has refused to back down from its anti-worker contract proposal. The proposed contract would eliminate retiree health insurance, seniority, overtime over eight hours, double-time pay for overtime and the current defined contribution 401(k) plan, and would freeze the defined pension plan." Missouri's Working People Overwhelmingly Reject Right to Work: "Last night was historic for working people in Missouri. Wealthy corporate interests tried to use their money to rig the system in favor of the 1%. But Missourians rejected the cynical power grab by an overwhelming 2-1 majority. Something big is happening with America’s working people—something that will bring change—and last night was just the latest evidence of this groundswell." Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/13/2018 - 11:14 — Aug 13
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Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Stacey Abrams Best Candidates for Working People, 2018: Stacey Abrams Stacey Abrams for Governor This November's elections are shaping up to be among the most consequential in recent U.S. history. Throughout the summer and fall, we are going to take a look at the best candidates for working people. Today, we feature Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. Here are some of the key reasons why Abrams is one of the best candidates for working people in 2018:
- She is the only gubernatorial candidate to propose a detailed jobs plan.
- Abrams has introduced Georgia's Advanced Energy Jobs Plan to deliver tens of thousands of high-wage jobs.
- In a visit to Ironworkers Local 709, she has noted that her jobs program would increase registered apprenticeships in the state from 8,000 to 22,000 by 2022.
- As co-founder of financial services firm NOW Account and other small businesses, she has helped create and retain jobs in the state.
- Abrams wants to use old buildings to turn the city of Macon into a hub for renewable energy such as hydro, biomass, wind and solar.
- She has received the Friend of Labor award for her support of working families.
- While minority leader, she has led the charge to stop the practice of employee misclassification.
- She said she wants to be the public education governor and has fought an undemocratic takeover of schools that would've shifted power to unelected officials only answerable to the governor.
- Abrams would help small businesses access capital, skilled labor and critical infrastructure.
- She would prioritize economic mobility to make sure hardworking families have a chance to succeed.
- To do this, Abrams would establish a state earned income tax credit, focus on tax breaks for working families rather than the richest individuals and corporations and expand access to child care tax credits and subsidies.
- In her agenda, she demands workplaces never discriminate based on a person’s race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, disability or immigration status.
- Abrams would promote policies to ensure pay equity.
- She wants to expand paid sick leave.
- Abrams favors the state requiring a living wage in every county.
- As a legislator, she has co-sponsored legislation to prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation.
- She supports a Georgia civil rights bill to protect the LGBTQ-plus community, immigrants, people of color, and people of faith from discrimination in housing, public accommodation, and the workplace.
- Abrams wants to end abusive on-call scheduling, so that families can have predictable workweeks and paychecks.
- She has called for investment in infrastructure, including roads, bridges, transit, water and sewer systems, ports, broadband, and clean energy.
- Abrams wants public projects to utilize more Georgia workers and products.
- She opposes legislation that bans project labor agreements on public works projects.
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Ethical Camping Essentials Ethical Camping Essentials Labor 411 Ah, the great outdoors. The fresh air, the sounds of nature, the s’mores! That’s right. When you’re planning an outdoor vacation during the final weeks of summer, you’ll need a bunch of supplies, both fun and practical. Whether you’re protecting against the elements or putting together a decadent fireside treat, Labor 411 reminds you to shop for ethical American-made brands manufactured by companies that treat their workers fairly. Enjoy the outdoors, and together we’ll camp our way to a stronger America. S’mores
- Campfire marshmallows
- Chocolate – Ghirardelli, Hershey, Cadbury
- Honey Maid graham crackers
- Weber
- Algoma Net
- AFL-CIO union-made gear
- All American Clothing Co.
- Carhartt
- Eight O’Clock coffee
- Folgers
- Maxwell House
- Millstone coffee
- USA Coffee Company
- Ghirardelli
- Swiss Miss
- Rubbermaid
- Bain de Soleil
- Coppertone