Just hours before Arizona’s controversial anti-immigrant law was to go into effect, a federal judge today blocked one of its most contentious provisions—the requirement that police stop and question anyone they have “reasonable suspicion” is undocumented. The law does not define “reasonable suspicion,” a fact that many opponents say is a carte blanche for racial profiling. Earlier this month, the federal government filed suit to bock Arizona from implementing the new law, which has drawn heavy criticism from civil rights organizations, immigrant groups, unions and the religious community. Read More>>

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka laid out a 21st century U.S. economic policy at today’s lunchtime keynote session at Netroots Nation before a diverse crowd of more than 1,000 progressive political activists. Restoring the nation’s middle class in part means returning to a “real economy”—one in which we make things, rather than move around complex financial products, Trumka said. Strengthening U.S. manufacturing must be part of the process to reverse five decades of stagnating wages. Read More>>

In Atlanta—one of the areas hardest hit by foreclosures—residents who are about to lose their homes today demanded that Big Banks like Wachovia/Wells Fargo reform their policies and protect homeowners on the brink of homelessness. Read More>>

The State of California and partner organizations provide a wide range of services to help people who have exhausted, or may soon exhaust, their unemployment insurance. Unemployed individuals may be eligible for assistance to meet basic needs as well as other services such as health care, counseling, employment and training assistance. In many parts of California, you can call 2-1-1 to learn about resources in your community.

We're in the fight of our lives!

This November, working families will face candidates who openly want to destroy our unions and basic standards including pensions, the 8-hour day and prevailing wages. Our opponents are powerful and well-funded, but WE CAN'T LET THEM WIN.

This summer we are building the political skills of our members to help beat the billionaires!

The Alameda Labor Council invites you to our 2010 Labor Day celebration. Please save the date on your calendar for Monday, September 6th from 3-6pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. Shoreline Park, Oakland.

Join friends and community leaders for BBQ by our local firefighters union and children's activities. Tickets are $20 and kids under 12 are free.

Please call 510-632-4242 x226 for volunteer and sponsorship information.

OAKLAND, April 30 – The Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO, has appointed Josie Camacho as its Acting Executive Secretary-Treasurer to lead the 100,000 member labor organization during a key election cycle.

When the General Motors factory in Fremont closed in 1982, Debbie Williams grieved with her brothers and sisters in the United Auto Workers. The daughter of GM's first African American electrician at Oakland's Fisher Body Plant, she had been through prior plant closings - and re-openings.

 

Help Locked-out workers at Castlewood Country Club today
Castlewood Country Club in Pleasanton, CA locked out 60 members of UNITE HERE 2850 on February 25. These workers have offered a less-expensive contract but are fighting hard to preserve family medical care for their children. You can support locked-out workers at Castlewood with a donation today and sign the petition at www.EndTheLockout.org.

The fastest, easiest way to keep up with Labor Council news is to join our Action Alert email list. You can also view an archive of alerts. Visit us on Facebook or follow our occasional Twitter postings.

 

Union members make the difference. Education and technology help union members win elections for pro-worker candidates and deliver results in our communities. Volunteer hours inform members and voters of where candidates stand on important issues, like healthcare, retirement security, and rights on the job. 
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The Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO is a union of unions, uniting workers from manufacturing, education, transportation,  healthcare, private and public sector. The mission of the Alameda Labor Council, AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our communities and the nation.

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