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.

Click here to View the Resolutions

Pittsburgh (Sept. 7, 2009)

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. # # #