AFL-CIO Executive Council to Set Big Plans to Turn Around America

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/03/03/afl-cio-executive-council-to-set-big-plans-to-turn-around-america/

by Mike Hall, Mar 3, 2008

The nation’s staggering economy, the home foreclosure and housing crisis, a disastrously flawed U.S. trade policy and a hostile climate for workers seeking to form unions are at the top of the AFL-CIO Executive Council’s agenda at its annual winter meeting this week.

The three-day meeting begins tomorrow in San Diego and council members are expected to outline plans and strategies for a 2008 nationwide campaign covering health care, the economy and the Employee Free Choice Act as part of the AFL-CIO Turn Around America initiative.

Other items on the council’s agenda include a look at a green jobs/global warming strategy, the legislative fight against President Bush’s push for a Colombian Free Trade Agreement and the need for effective regulation of the nation’s financial industry.

On Wednesday, the council will discuss the AFL-CIO’s aggressive and large-scale Working Families Vote 2008 campaign to help elect a worker-friendly Congress and president. The campaign includes a strong education component to reveal what Republican Sen. John McCain really stands for when it comes to key working family issues such as jobs, health care, trade and retirement security. In August, the AFL-CIO Executive Council said it would not make a presidential endorsement for a 2008 presidential candidate, freeing AFL-CIO unions to endorse candidates for the caucuses and primaries.

Both remaining Democratic candidates, Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.), have strong working family voting records—94 percent and 98 percent, respectively. An endorsement requires a two-thirds consensus of the AFL-CIO unions, weighted by membership.

Several AFL-CIO member unions have made endorsements. Twelve have endorsed Clinton while five are backing Obama. Click here for more information: http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/02/26/utility-workers-back-obama/