UE Political Action Updates

Pages

Congress Throws in The Towel and Goes on Vacation

August 6, 2007
Washington, DC

With Congressional Republicans blocking most significant legislation proposed by Democrats in the House of Representatives and Senate, both chambers have adjourned for the customary August month of vacation and visits to home states and districts. With more than half of the year gone, it looks increasingly likely that Congress is heading for a political train wreck this fall as the logjam of urgent legislation continues to pile up.

Senate Republicans Block Labor Law Reform Bill

June 26, 2007
Washington, DC

As expected, when the U.S. Senate took up consideration of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA)(H.R.800), Republican Senators closed ranks to block a vote on this critical legislation to restore the right to organize. A total of 60 votes are needed under Senate rules to end filibuster and proceed to an actual vote on the legislation. When the late morning vote was called on June 26, an insufficient majority of 51 Senators supported the cloture motion to end the filibuster by Republicans.

Help Press For Senate Vote On Card Check Bill

June 9, 2007
Washington, DC

The “Employee Free Choice Act” (EFCA) (HR.800/S.1041) is due for a Senate vote any day now. This legislation provides for automatic recognition of a union when a majority of workers have signed union cards, replacing the existing broken and employer-corrupted “election” process. The bill also provides real penalties for bosses who break the law and fire or harass workers trying to join a union, as well as facilitating the negotiation of first union contracts on a rapid basis.

To view a list of Senate co-sponsors of the EFCA, visit;

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.

Pages