The nation’s growing income inequality recently has generated considerable attention—and has sparked a backlash by billionaires. TED’s Chris Anderson showed what a hot button issue it is when he tried to repress a video talk on the subject by venture capitalist Nick Hanauer. Hanauer, like billionaire investor Warren Buffett, supports increasing taxes on corporations and wealthy individuals for the good of the nation. Buffett and other billionaires have joined forces in a new pro-tax-increase-for-the-rich organization to assert: “We are the 1 percent, we stand with the 99 percent.” Read more >>>

Consumer protest is growing against a proposed rule by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that could put contaminated poultry products on your family’s dinner plates and throw more than 800 trained federal food safety inspectors out of work. Read more >>>

Craig Becker has been named AFL-CIO general counsel, joining General Counsel Lynn Rhinehart in leading the federation’s legal work on behalf of working people. AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says Becker, a former member of the National Labor Relations Board. Read more >>>

The February 8, 2012, meeting of the Pierce County Central Labor Council has been rescheduled to February 15, 2012, by action taken by members of the Delegate Body on January 11, 2012.

Do you know a son or daughter of a union member who will be continuing their education after high school in 2012?

If so, they are invited to apply for the Jerry Beckendorf Community Service Scholarship.
This is the10th year the scholarship has been offered.

Applicants must complete a 500-word essay describing their most rewarding volunteer activities and what they learned from the experience. They must also:

• Be a high school student in Pierce County, Washington.
• Have at least one parent or guardian who is a member of a labor union
• Plan to attend college or university, community college or junior college, trade or technical school in the fall of 2012.

Applications can be downloaded here, or picked up at the Central Labor Council office.

The 2011 General election will be here soon. Over the past few months, your central labor council has done due diligence to see that those candidates who support working families are found and supported.

 

Don't get caught in the web of non-union candy this Halloween season ... print our handy guide to union made sweet treats to hand out to the goblins at your door.

The Pierce County Central Labor counci lis invited to hear WSLC President Jeff Johnson on Monday, November 7 at 7 p.m.

President Johnson will speak about current labor and working class issues facing Washington state today.

Where:  
Firefighters Hall
1109 South 50th Street (50th and South L Streets)

Follow this link to see the invitation.

Join our brothers and sisters of the four employee unions of the United States Postal Service and members of the community at the offices of the following members of Congress on Tuesday, September 27th, from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., to send a message to Congress to SAVE AMERICA’S POSTAL SERVICE!

 

Join Teamsters General President James P. Hoffa, International Vice Presidents, community members and elected leaders for a march and rally in support of Teamsters at Fred Meyer.

Let's tell Fred Meyer to Stop Hurting Washington's families!! 

When: Friday September 9, 2011
Time: 2 p.m.
Where: Puyallup Recreation Center
               808 Valley Ave NW
               Puyallup 98371

Click to read the message from PCCLC Secretary Treasurer Patty Rose.

The 2011 Primary is fast upon us. Over the past few months, your central labor council has done due diligence to see that those candidates who support working families are found and supported. 

 

No region has a more dramatic and consequential labor history that the Pacific Northwest. The Labor Archives of Washington State was founded in 2010 to preserve and make accessible the records of working people and their unions, documenting the local, national, and international dimensions of the labor movement in this region.

Do you know a son or daughter of a union member who will be continuing their education after high school in 2011?

If so, they are invited to apply for the Jerry Beckendorf Community Service Scholarship.

This is the 8th year the scholarship has been offered.

Applicants must complete a 500-word essay describing their most rewarding volunteer activities and what they learned from the experience.  They must also:

• Be a high school student in Pierce County, Washington.
• Have at least one parent or guardian who is a member of a labor union
• Plan to attend college or university, community college or junior college, trade or technical school in the fall of 2011.

Applications can be downloaded here, or picked up at the Central Labor Council office.

The 2010 election is fast upon us. Over the past few months, your central labor council has done due diligence to see that those candidates who support working families are found and supported.

What does Labor Day mean to you? The last 3-day weekend of summer? The start of the football season? Last minute shopping for school clothes?

In 1892, it meant so much to union workers in New York City that they took an unpaid day off and marched around Union Square demanding a national holiday honoring American workers. Two years later and after many brutal labor struggles, Labor Day was born.

Each year the Pierce County Central Labor Council and the Washington State Labor Council recommends candidates that support working men and women. The attached file contains our endorsements for 2010.

On November 11, 1919, there was a showdown in Centralia, WA between members of the American Legion and the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW).

Four Legionnaires were killed and an IWW organizer, Nathan Wesley Everest, was tortured and lynched. Eight IWW members were sentenced to 25-40 years in prison for shooting the Legionnaires, but no community members were ever brought to trial for the lynching of Everest. This year marks the 90th anniversary of this tragedy.

See the full story and download the .pdf for details.

Your elected delegates and other members have been working hard to interview and screen the candidates for positions across our county. The process focuses on how candidates will stand up for the rights of the working men and women of all sectors in our economy.

Their recommendations were then voted by the delegate body.

You can click here to download a .pdf of the recommendations:

General Election 2009 Endorsements.

Labor Day -- the last 3-day weekend of the summer or an opportunity to take a few minutes to remember Ralph Chaplin and all our own local labor leaders who helped keep the spirit of trade unionism alive for our generation?

Please take a few minutes this Labor Day to join us at our annual memorial ceremony honoring the life and accomplishments of longtime labor activist and songwriter, Ralph Chaplin. Among his many contributions to the labor movement is the writing of the words to "Solidarity Forever," the national anthem for organized labor. This short memorial service will be held at Calvary Cemetery, in Tacoma, at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 7, 2009. See the attached flyer for additional information.

Bring the whole family to the annual Labor Day picnic starting at noon in Wright Park. Enjoy a free barbecue (hot dogs and hamburgers), live music by "Loose Gravel and the Quarry," and lots of fun kids' games. The highlight of the day is the annual tug-o-war between Unions. Who will take home the bragging rights this year? Put together a team from your Union -- no experience necessary -- or just cheer for your favorite. Contact Todd Iverson at America in Solidarity (253) 473-1123 or todd@americainsolidrity.org for more information.

To learn more about the life of Ralph Chaplin and his role as a leader of the union movement in the early part of this century, read Witness to History: The Life and Times of Ralph Chaplin, by Maria Pascualy, on the Washington State Historical Society's web site: http://columbia.washingtonhistory.org/magazine/articles/2001/0201/0201-a2.aspx.

Health Care Can’t Wait!
This week, Congress goes back to work on important health care legislation that could address our country’s health care crisis by lowering costs, making private insurers play by fair rules, and providing affordable coverage for everyone.

Can you make a quick call to your Members of Congress and ask them to stand firm for health care reform that provides quality, affordable health care to everyone in America?
CALL 1-877-264-HCAN (4226)
TO BE CONNECTED TO YOUR MEMBERS OF CONGRESS

Here is a sample of what you could say to Senators or Representatives:

I’m calling from Health Care for America Now to make sure that Sen. Cantwell knows that we need real health care reform in 2009.

Please tell Senator Cantwell to support the legislation from the HELP Committee that provides:

• Coverage we can afford;
• Comprehensive benefits we can count on;
• Choice of a private or public health insurance plan; and
• Equal access to quality care.

Join the Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO and Independent Unions from around the Puget Sound for the 29th annual Solidarity Day and food drive at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Sunday, July 26, gates open at noon.

The Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO is the county federation of labor representing over 50,000 members of 85+ unions throughout Pierce County. The mission of the Pierce County Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our state and the nation.

Read more...