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Friday, October 2, 2009

EFCA, AFL-CIO, THEY WON'T GIVE UP

This is cross posted from an AFL-CIO E-mail. We are not alone, labor is strong and we will take this fight for our families and our friends to congress.
Thank You, to the AFL-CIO for not letting Maine or the U.S. down.

Check Out the No on 4 Advertisement

Last Wednesday nearly 50 leaders and members from locals all over the state gathered for a training on how to defeat Tabor II and the gutting of the Excise Tax. AFSCME, APWU, IAFF, IAM, IATSE, IBEW, IBT, SMWIA, UNITE HERE, USW, IAM, and others were all represented.
The turnout reflected the breadth and depth of concern among working Mainers who will be devastated if Tabor II or the Excise Tax question pass this November. Question 4 (Tabor) and question 2 (Excise Tax), if passed will strangle public services while we are in the worst economic climate since the great depression.
To fight back union leaders and members were equipped with the tools and the knowledge, at Wednesday's training to get the message out that Tabor II and gutting the Excise Tax are no good for Maine.
The highlight of the training was a teleconference presentation given by Carol Hedges of the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute from Colorado. She detailed how Tabor had devastated the Colorado economy and urged Mainers to fight back. We're rejected versions of TABOR twice before it's time we finally put it down for good.
In Solidarity,
Ed Gorham, Maine AFL-CIO President
Matt Schlobohm, Maine AFL-CIO Political Director
Don't forget to Check Out the Maine Employee Free Choice Act blog at http://employeefreechoice.typepad.com/me/ and our friends at DirigoBlue.com and http://www.unionmaine.blogspot.com/.

There's more...>>

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Getting to 60 votes. EFCA NOW

Image by aflcio2008 via Flickr

We already have a majority in the House of Representatives and we have President Obama's promise that he will sign the bill. It all comes down to the Senate.

The rumor is that by the end of the month AL Franken the Minnesota Senator, will be seated. This will place us just shy of the 60 votes we need for a “cloture” vote. The cloture vote will stop the filibuster and allow the bill to proceed for a majority vote.

As moderate Republicans it's liekly that Senator Olympia Snowe or Collins could be that sixtieth vote. In effect, we have the power as Maine voters to decide this fight. Therefore we have a responsibility to our state, and to our country to fight like hell to convince Olympia Snowe, and Susan Collins that passing the Employee Free Choice Act is absolutely essential for a more equitable, sustainable society. So here are some of the ways you can get in the fray.

1) Educate yourself and your friends and family. For more materials and information about the Employee Free Choice Act visit the Working Families Toolkit. You can make custom flyers and fact sheets after briefly registering: www.workingfamiliestoolkit.com

2) Call Senator Snowe and Collins and tell them how you feel about the Employee Free Choice Act

Senator Snowe’s Offices
Auburn 207-786-2451
Augusta 207- 622-8292
Bangor 207-945-0432
Biddeford 207-282-4144
Portland 207-282-4144
Presque Isle 207-764-5124

Senator Collin’s Offices
Augusta 207-622-8414
Bangor 207-945-0417
Biddeford 207-283-1101
Lewiston 207-784-6969
Caribou 207-493-7873
Portland 207-780-3575

3) Write a letter to the editor of your local paper. Use this link to find your local paper and submit your letter. http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/ltrefca/search-zip?rk=&preview=f

4) Write a letter to our Senators and tell them why you support the Employee free Choice Act. Find their local office address here.

Senator Snowe's Office Addresses

Senator Collin's Office Addresses

5) Encourage your friends and family to write and call too!

6) Speak to your Rabbi, Minister, Priest or Pastor about publicly supporting the Employee Free Choice Act by signing a letter in support of it. To obtain the letter contact bniccoli@aflcio.org .

7) If you own a business, or know of a business owner that supports the Employee Free Choice Act encourage them to contact btraslav@employeefreechoice.org to sign on to the small business support letter.

8) Sign up for Maine AFL-CIO Get Active e-mails. You can do so by contacting maineaflciopress@gmail.com with your name, union or organization affiliation and e-mail address. You will receive a weekly update on the campaign and occasional information about other important labor events.

For more EFCA news check the source of this cross post.http://employeefreechoice.typepad.com/me/

Friday, June 12, 2009

The EFCA is Gainiing Support

Image by aflcio2008 via Flickr

This article below is a cross post from the AFL-CIO. We are not alone, we have the votes. We will pass the EFCA.
I want to be the first person through the door into a Unionized Wal-Mart.

Nationally the Sierra Club has allied with labor to support working families in our fight to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. They have done so because the Sierra Club understands that if we are to rebuild our economy with green jobs, it will only be sustainable if those green jobs are also good jobs.

Sandy Amborn is a Field Organizer for the Maine Sierra Club. She spoke at the Southern Maine Labor Council’s workers’ rights forum that was held in Portland. Sandy explained that “workers are the frontline in protecting the environment.” What’s more, sandy explained how green jobs must also be sustainable, good jobs and that can only be ensured through the Employee Free Choice Act.

The relationship between the environment and workers’ right to organize is particularly important in Maine. This is because Maine through stimulus money, and other sources of investment may be in the vanguard of the clean energy industry. It won’t make a difference though if workers don’t have the ability to democratically negotiate for a fair wage and benefits.

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He made the trains run on time and controlled the Unions