UNITY FAX - April 20, 2007

UNITY FAX - April 20, 2007


The San Francisco Labor Council received well-deserved recognition for its countywide universal healthcare access program at the California Labor Federation legislative conference in Sacramento earlier this week. Union members praised Sheila Kuehl's leadership for single payer healthcare and joined her call for action this year to bring California closer to that goal. In collaboration with the Contra Costa Labor Council, we met with most of our delegation and discussed principles for healthcare reform, the right to organize under gaming compacts, and workplace safety legislation.



Surveys show bargaining impact

Our survey of affiliates on bargaining and health care is being finalized and early results show rising healthcare costs are strongly impacting negotiations and wage gains. 82% of affiliates indicate that health care is the number one concern as they approach bargaining, and 18% rank it second. Only about one third have one or more contracts with maintenance of benefits (37.5%).



Healthcare proposals analyzed on-line

In addition to the local union action kit, you can view summaries and a comparison of the major healthcare proposals on the state AFL-CIO website, http://www.calaborfed.org/issues_politics/healthcare/index.html . On the same site, you'll find a detailed list of California Labor Federation legislative priorities, including defeating anti-worker gaming compacts.



Council endorses AB45, Oakland Schools

We have unanimously endorsed Assembly member Sandré Swanson's bill, AB 45, to return local control over Oakland Schools to the elected school board and transition away from failed state trusteeship.



Support May 1 immigration march

Join the Labor Council, Oakland Community Organizations, ACORN, Centro Legal de La Raza/Lucha Unida, and many many others in supporting pro-worker immigration reform. Tuesday, May 1, starting at 9:00 am from 100th Ave. and International Blvd. to the Federal Building in downtown Oakland. To volunteer, please call: Wendall Chin, (510) 632-4242 x222.



Tribal compacts clear Senate

The State Senate yesterday approved four compacts negotiated by Governor Schwarzenegger. These compacts represent a massive expansion of gaming for large, wealthy tribes, at the expense of smaller tribes, workers, and the communities around casinos. Lobbying by rank and file members at the state legislative conference earlier in the week held the line for many but not all Democrats.



Democrats voting with the tribes, against workers were:

? Alquist (San Jose) ? Correa (Long Beach) ? Ducheny (San Diego)

? Florez (Bakersfield ? Machado (Stockton) ? Oropeza (LA)

? Padilla (LA) ? Perata (Oakland) ? Ridley-Thomas (LA)

? Simitian (San Jose) ? Torlakson (Contra Costa)



State Senator Ellen Corbett (D-San Leandro) held firm and did not support the compacts despite heavy lobbying pressure. Labor is deeply appreciative of her support. The fight now moves to the Assembly. Watch for email action alerts.



Central Labor Council of Alameda County, AFL-CIO

100 Hegenberger Rd #150, Oakland, CA 94621 Tel. (510) 632-4242 http://www.alamedalabor.org cwa39521/afl-cio