'Free Trade' Was Never Really About Trade

We need to think differently about trade.

First, let me say that I am 100% in favor of trade. Trade is when we do what we do best, they do what they do best and we trade. Trade, done right, will raise living standards.

Here's Something You Probably Didn't Know About Immigration Reform

While Republicans use deficit hysteria as an excuse to make cuts to earned benefit lifelines like Social Security and Medicare, here's a commonsense way to trim the deficit and boost revenue without hurting anyone: immigration reform with a road map to citizenship. 

Should the Koch Brothers Own The Tribune Newspapers?

Some say the press is the fourth branch of government. It serves as a "check and a balance" to our elected and non-elected leaders and informs the public of news for the greater good. But what if that was compromised by a corporate power grab?

That's exactly what the panel "Should the Koch Brothers Own The Tribune Newspapers?" will examine next Wednesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. 

Working Families Call on the Senate to Strengthen Worker Protections, Keep Families Together in Immigration Reform Bill

Worker protections, a road map to citizenship, family unification...these are the priorities of union members and working families this week as the Senate Judiciary Committee continues its markup of the immigration reform bill. 

Today, Republican senators are debating the SAFE Act, which would increase inhumane detentions and harmful policies that tear families apart from each other. 

The Secret Immigration Christmas Tree Lights

The U.S. Senate is in the midst of debating the long-awaited comprehensive immigration bill to address the plight of millions of workers in the United States who need resolution to finding them a path to citizenship. Republicans in Congress have been warned by some in their leadership that the Republican Party must be on the right side of history on this bill and help it pass. This sentiment is a light in recent public debates where the Republican Party has preferred the darkness of saying no to progress on America’s journey, like voting rights and workers’ rights.

Sign the Petition: Alta and Capital Bikeshare Deserve the Back Pay and Benefits They're Owed

Capital Bikeshare, operated by Alta Bicycle Share Inc., is a popular bicycle-share program that was piloted as a green alternative to driving. In Washington, D.C., Capital Bikeshare has been so popular that Alta has landed similar contracts in cities all over America. But while Alta claims to be progressive, its employees say the company is refusing to pay them the prevailing wages and benefits that are required by federal law. 

Sign the petition demanding that Alta and Capital Bikeshare pay workers the back pay and benefits they are owed.

Protests Spread to 77 Cities in Turkey

Over the past few weeks, Turkey has been rocked by unrest. The protests were sparked by peaceful resistance to the destruction of Istanbul’s Gezi Park in Taksim Square, the only green public place in central Istanbul, which was to be turned into a shopping mall and historical recreation of Ottoman Artillery Barracks. 

A harsh response from the state, characterized by extreme police brutality, has ensued in response to what have become the largest demonstrations the country has seen for decades. Protests have now spread to 77 cities in Turkey.

Houston Union Members Hand Out Books at the COPA Soccer Tournament

The Texas AFL-CIO and Texas AFT partnered this weekend with a Univision station in Houston to promote reading, immigration reform and workers' rights at the Houston edition of the COPA Univision amateur soccer tournament. The event included adult men's and women's and youth teams. During the tournament, several thousand people visited the AFL-CIO/AFT exhibit and volunteers gave out more than 1,800 books to children in attendance. Besides the ice cream truck, the exhibit was the second most popular, said Joe Arabie of the Texas AFL-CIO. 

Clarence's Story: Why We Need a Functioning NLRB

Clarence Adams from Brooklyn, N.Y., was fired by Cablevision for asking for a fair contract. He explains here why a functioning National Labor Relations Board is important for America's working families.

OSHA to Investigate Second Louisiana Chemical Plant Explosion

For the second time in the past few days, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has launched an investigation into a chemical plant explosion in Louisiana. On Thursday, a plant in Geismar, La., exploded, killing one person and injuring 73. On Friday, a blast in Donaldsonville, La., killed one person and injured seven. The plant that exploded on Thursday hadn't been inspected by OSHA in 20 years. It is not yet known when the last inspection was done at the Donaldsonville plant.