Army sergeant David Brash gets 21 million verdict on mortgage company
Army sergeant David Brash gets 21 million verdict on mortgage companyNYU stomping through Greenwich Village like an elitist Godzilla
NYU stomping through Greenwich Village like an elitist GodzillaTexas congressional members collect state pensions too
So Rick Perry is in good company it seems.Ten of the 32 members of the Texas delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives also collect pensions from one of the public retirement systems in Texas, according to federal financial disclosure forms. Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison takes one, too.
I think a representative from Public Citizen's Texas office said it best.
Smith said the principles of pensions are to ensure people have enough to live on when they cannot work anymore, but the law allows some people — like members of Congress — to collect state retirement money while still being paid "fat congressional salaries."
I agree when I think of a pension it usually for someone who has retired for the most part. Sure, there are retirees who take on part-time jobs or what have you, but they're not like Rick Perry and the rest of the Texas congressional delegation.
The worst corporations to work for if you want to join a union
The worst corporations to work for if you want to join a unionSurprise, Surprise a Wal-Mart Warehouse is abusive
Forcing people to work in extremely hot conditions, not paying their workers the right amount and forcing people to watch Larry Kudlow on CNBC are all hallmarks of a Wal-Mart outfit. Well, I made the Larry Kudlow part up but still!
The workers "spend their workdays performing strenuous, unskilled physical labor in an environment where the temperature often exceeds 90 degrees," the suit alleges. When workers questioned their paychecks, their bosses "routinely responded with threats of retaliation and actual retaliation, including by sending the inquiring workers home without pay, refusing to give them work the next day ... and imposing other forms of discipline on them."
Goldman Sachs has $428 million loss
Goldman Sachs is making the auto bailout look like genius.“Our results were significantly impacted by the environment, and we were disappointed to record a loss in the quarter,” Lloyd C. Blankfein, Goldman’s chief executive, said in a statement. “However, we believe the strength of both our client franchise and our balance sheet positions us well for when economies and markets improve.”
I support the Suzuki workers
Mr. Shinzo NakanishiManaging Director and CEO
Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) Dear Mr. Nakanishi, I am shocked to learn about the disgraceful conduct of Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) and your company’s blatant disrespect of basic worker rights. I am astonished that after a difficult and intense month-long negotiation, Maruti Suzuki would violate the September 30th agreement by not reinstating contract workers, and instead call on police and the Indian government to support your anti-union, anti-worker behavior. Suzuki is a well respected global company and as such has a responsibility to uphold fundamental principles of mutual respect and dignity for its workforce. Additionally, as a member of the OECD, Japan has an obligation to ensure that companies like Suzuki, respect fundamental labour rights as contained in the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises. I urge you to immediately end the intimidation and attacks on Suzuki workers, honor the September 30th agreement and reinstate all workers without delay. Jason Gooljar USA
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Please make sure that friends, family, fellow union members, colleagues and other co-workers participate in this effort. If you use Facebook, please make sure to check out our page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/LabourStartorg/114200568660597
Tell Walmart: Intervene Before Labor Activists Are Sentenced to Death
In Bangladesh, the minimum wage for a garment worker is a mere $43 per month. This equals 20 cents an hour-- the lowest wage, by far, of any major garment producing country. Walmart is the leading exporter of these garments. When Bangladeshi workers staged protests demanding a livable wage, factory owners responded with fabricated criminal charges against three labor leaders from the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity: Kalpona Akter, Babul Akhter, and Aminul Islam. These three organizers spent 30 days in jail, where they were threatened and tortured. They are now free on bail; however, the falsified charges against them remain. If convicted, they face possible life imprisonment or even the death penalty.
As the largest buyer of Bangladeshi-made clothing, Walmart has the power to ensure that Bangladeshi garment workers who face poverty wages and abusive conditions can stand up for their rights without risking harassment, imprisonment and torture.
Ask Walmart to tell its suppliers that have instigated false charges against labor leaders that those charges must be dropped; that the officers responsible for torturing these individuals must be held accountable; and that labor rights defenders like the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity must be allowed to operate freely.
Please join us in demanding the dropping of these charges so that the Bangladesh Center for Worker Solidarity can continue its important work of educating workers' about their legally guaranteed rights.
Some cases are scheduled to be decided in a 60-day tribunal, which could start any day. Please take action by May 31st!
Rally against Coventry in Tyson's Corner
From the Metro Washington Council, AFL-CIO
Carlton Hotel in Tyson’s Corner – where Coventry Health Care executives are meeting – at 7:30A tomorrow to tell Big Insurance, “We need an economy and health care that works for the middle class, seniors and small businesses, not more tax breaks for CEOs and the wealthy,” reports Health Care for America Now. “We need to show these health insurance executives that real people want and need health care coverage,” says Northern Virginia Labor Federation President Dan Duncan. “The change we are still seeking is protection for all, not more coins in CEO pockets.” Click here for an event flyer, or email bjohns@virginia-organizing.org for more information.

