UE Political Action Updates

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Backdoor Trade Deal Triggers Blow Up On Capitol Hill

May 14, 2007
Washington, DC

On May 10, several Democratic Party leaders in Congress, led by House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles Rangel (D-NY), and including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), announced a new "deal" with the Bush Administration to pave the way for more job-killing, NAFTA-like trade agreements with Colombia, South Korea, Peru and Panama. These Democrats claim that this still-secret deal includes protections for labor rights and the environment.

UE Leaders Push Congress to Take Action on Health Care and Pension Crises

April 5, 2007
Washington, DC

In late March a delegation of UE leaders visited Washington D.C. as part of our union-wide Mobilization for Health Care and Retirement Security. Led by the three National Officers and Regional Presidents, the leadership group met with 16 Congressional offices on March 27. Meetings were held with eight members of Congress in-person, and with senior staff members of 8 additional Congressional offices and committees.

U.S. House Passes Card Check Bill!

March 1, 2007
Washington, DC

The U.S. House of Representatives voted on March 1 to pass the Employee Free Choice Act (HR800) by a solid 241-185 margin. The widespread illegal and disgraceful conduct of corporations during union organizing drives is such that a total of 13 Republicans were compelled to support this critical legislation. Two Democrats voted against the bill, along with 183 Republicans. Nine House members did not vote. See how your lawmaker voted: go to: clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll118.xml

Big Business Wins One Battle in War to Preserve Overtime Pay

July 11, 2003
Washington, DC

By a narrow 213 to 210 vote on July 10th, the House of Representatives failed to derail the ongoing Republican plan to repeal overtime pay for as many as 8 million white collar, professional, and technical workers. House Democrats rallied to the defense of overtime pay by offering an amendment to an appropriations bill that would have blocked the Labor Department from unilaterally re-classifying potentially millions of workers as “exempt” from entitlement to overtime pay.

Dangerous Medicare Bill Moves Forward

June 19, 2003
Washington, DC

Both the U. S. Senate and House of Representatives are moving quickly to produce a Medicare reform bill before the summer Congressional recess. Pressure has been building over the past two decades to grapple with the problems and shortcomings associated with Medicare, the federal program providing health insurance for retired Americans. Medicare benefits have deteriorated in recent years, costs have skyrocketed, and the lack of any prescription drug coverage for seniors is an ongoing national disgrace.

Republicans Cancel Vote to Repeal Overtime Pay: For Now

June 6, 2003
Washington, DC

The big business attack on overtime pay has been temporarily put “on hold” as the efforts of hundreds of thousands of working people have stalled a final vote in the House of Representatives. The Republican House leadership withdrew the bill (HR.1119) from the Congressional calendar on June 4th, when it became obvious that the full-court lobbying push by union members and allies had prevented the possibility of passage of the legislation. While postponed, the legislation is not dead.

Bush Tax Cut: See What You're Not Getting

June 1, 2003
Washington, DC

President Bush signed his tax cut bill into law on May 28th, just hours after Congress passed the bill to reduce taxes by more than $350 billion dollars. The House of Representatives passed the legislation by a 231-200 vote, followed by a razor-thin 51-50 Senate margin. It even became necessary to bring Vice President Dick Cheney out of seclusion to provide the tie-breaking vote in the U.S. Senate. Despite record-breaking federal and state budget deficits the tax cut bill was passed on a party-line vote with only 9 Democrats supporting it and 4 Republicans opposing it.

Battle to Defend Overtime Pay Heats Up

May 6, 2003
Washington, DC

The Republican Congressional majority - along with the horde of Big Business lobbyists - are meeting fierce resistance in their attempts to repeal overtime pay. Working people from coast-to-coast have unleashed a barrage of phone calls, letters, and e-mails on lawmakers, demanding that they cease their attempts to gut the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) by passing the so-called “comp-time” bills.

Iraq War Hides Attack on Overtime Pay

April 9, 2003
Washington, DC

Very quietly, President Bush and Congressional Republicans have launched a renewed attack on overtime pay and paid time-off. Legislation is moving through the U.S. House of Representatives (HR.1119) and Senate (S.319) that would slash the wages and working conditions of tens of millions of working people. The legislation would end the current guarantee of time-and-a-half pay after 40 hours in one week, and provide employers with the ability to force workers to “earn” their vacation, sick, and personal time by working overtime and using the new “comp-time” leave.

Are Our Veterans Forgotten?

March 26, 2003
Washington, DC

As all eyes are focused on the unfolding war against Iraq, it is appropriate to pause and reflect on the past service and sacrifices of America’s veterans. But, sadly, recent Bush Administration attempts to deny Veteran’s Administration (VA) medical care to more than 160,000 aging veterans has gone largely unnoticed by veterans or the general public.

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