The U.S. jobless rate worsened to 9.6 percent in August from 9.5 percent in July, with 54,000 jobs lost, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data out today. The private sector created only 67,000 jobs in August, far below the 150,000 jobs a month needed to keep up with the population and extremely far below the hundreds of thousands of new jobs needed each month to return to pre-recession employment levels. Government employment fell by 121,000, largely reflecting the loss of 114,000 temporary workers hired for U.S. Census 2010. Click the headline to read more>>

Corporations that lead the way in creating fair working environments prosper—but too many employers and governments around the world are abusing workers’ rights, according to the findings of several reports released in time for Labor Day. You can check out all the reports on our Labor Day 2010 webpage here. Click the headline to read more>>

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.

The elections this year come down to a choice between leaders who will stand with working people or those whose right-wing agenda will choke off economic recovery and put corporations back in the driver’s seat. With that said, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka outlined plans for an aggressive and massive mobilization of working people this Labor Day weekend and for the fall election. During a press conference this morning at the AFL-CIO, Trumka also announced the federation will run TV and radio ads Labor Day weekend in key markets around Major League Baseball games, NASCAR, and college football games. Click headline to read more>>

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.

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