For almost two years now we have been in the midst of the largest
economic crisis since the “Great Depression.” Unfortunately, much of
what has happened in the economy and on Wall Street could have been
avoided with proper oversight and regulation.
Having said that, I am flabbergasted by the slowness of BOTH parties
to react and enact any legislation or regulation to prevent the clearly
unethical and illegal activities that took place on Wall Street. The
only real thing that has changed is that we are now allowing these same
criminals who brought our economy to its last breath to borrow money
from the Federal Reserve at nearly NO interest!
At long last, the President and Congress are considering reforms
that could hopefully prevent some of what happened over the past two
years from ever happening again. But what has taken so long?
Countless Americans have lost their jobs, pensions and lifesavings to
greedy bankers on Wall Street. Now these same bankers are making
record profits off a recovery that is being funded by our government
and future generations.
If Goldman Sachs, Bear Stearns, Bank of America or any other Wall
Street Mega Bank were a union the response would have been vastly
different and immediate. The Federal Government would have immediately
swooped in and stopped their business completely in its tracks. Almost
instantly the political right would have instantly jumped up and
demanded that regulations and laws be imposed to prevent this from ever
happening again. At the same time, the political left would have
joined the Republicans in their public scolding of the union and would
have insisted that the justice department investigate and prosecute all
criminals involved.
But that is not the story here is it?
Maybe we have the focus and microscope focused on the wrong people
these days. Maybe we need to take the focus off the people who are
fighting for jobs, decent wages, pensions and healthcare and put it on those who are trying to rob people of their pensions, end their healthcare and outsource their jobs.
If only Goldman Sachs was a union, reforms and regulations would
have been in place less than two weeks after the market crashed and not
just starting to be debated two years later.
The "No Child Left Behind" Act was intended to improve education and funding in primary and secondary schools in the United States. Most teachers have found the law has done little to improve anything in the schools they work in.
A little known clause hidden in the arcane language of the law says that for schools and school districts to receive funding under the NCLB Act they have to cooperate with recruitment efforts of the US Armed Forces....without permission or knowledge of the parents of the children being recruited.
The military has long struggled to find more effective ways to reach potential enlistees; for every new GI it signed up last year, the Army spent $24,500 on recruitment. (In contrast, four-year colleges spend an average of $2,000 per incoming student.) Recruiters hit pay dirt in 2002, when then-Rep. (now Sen.) David Vitter (R-La.) slipped a provision into the No Child Left Behind Act that requires high schools to give recruiters the names and contact details of all juniors and seniors. Schools that fail to comply risk losing their NCLB funding. This little-known regulation effectively transformed President George W. Bush's signature education bill into the most aggressive military recruitment tool since the draft. Students may sign an opt-out form—but not all school districts let them know about it. Read more at this link: (Mother Jones Magazine - Sept/Oct 2009)
Calls for "Speedy Withdrawal" from Iraq and Defends Iraqi Labor Rights
These resolutions were adopted September 17, 2009, in the final session of the AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh. USLAW (US Labor Against the War) affiliates contributed to this success. International Unions, State Federations, Central Labor Councils, Local Unions and many individuals worked together to make this bold statement to end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and bring our brave members of the Armed Forces home.
Leaders of five of Iraq's labor federations attended the convention to witness this effort. They were also honored with a luncheon hosted by the United Steel Workers Union.
Leo W. Gerard,
International President of the United Steelworkers (USW), praised U.S.
President Obama’s naming of Ron Bloom to an expanded role that makes
the future of American manufacturing strategic to the nation’s economic
future and an answer to persistent unemployment.
Gerard declared, “President Obama’s announcement this Labor Day
brings a strong architect to the table in the development of a national
manufacturing policy by his Administration. Ron Bloom understands
capital, labor, production and the necessity of developing sustainable
jobs that utilize clean energy.”
“Ron is very passionate in his belief that manufacturing is
essential to a healthy economy. He is able to restructure industries by
respecting the role and obligations of all stakeholders.”
While at the
USW, he said Bloom worked with him to restructure almost 50 companies
in bankruptcy, saving tens of thousands of good jobs. “He’s been a
loyal friend for more than 20 years.”
Bloom brought a unique perspective to labor negotiations when he
joined the USW in 1996. After earning a MBA from Harvard University, he
became an investment banker at Lazard Freres & Co., and specialized
in restructuring corporations facing financial difficulties. He later
formed his own firm, Keilin and Bloom.
His restructuring plans are
recognized for saving companies, while preserving manufacturing jobs
and health care benefits for workers and retirees alike.
The USW represents 1.2 million active and retired workers in the
U.S. and Canada in industries including metals, rubber, chemicals,
paper, oil refining and the service sector.
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