Social Welfare Action @ Eastern Michigan University

From Poverty Reform to Program Funding Cuts

Where are the advocates? Where are the social workers? What are the Democrats doing? People thought that electing Howard Dean as the chairman of the Democratic National Convention would make some waves but even in light of the recent Republican debacles the conservatives have us chasing our tails and too overwhelmed to push any issues effectively.

Check out this piece on how the conservatives are turning hurricane rebuilding into another reason to turn the screws on the poor.
Jason DeParle writes in his NYT article Liberal Hopes Ebb in Post-Storm Poverty Debate:

Conservatives have already used the storm for causes of their own, like suspending requirements that federal contractors have affirmative action plans and pay locally prevailing wages. And with federal costs for rebuilding the Gulf Coast estimated at up to $200 billion, Congressional Republican leaders are pushing for spending cuts, with programs like Medicaid and food stamps especially vulnerable.

"We've had a stunning reversal in just a few weeks," said Robert Greenstein, director of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a liberal advocacy group in Washington. "We've gone from a situation in which we might have a long-overdue debate on deep poverty to the possibility, perhaps even the likelihood, that low-income people will be asked to bear the costs. I would find it unimaginable if it wasn't actually happening."

Submitted and Edited By Josh Wilkins

October 11, 2005 in Domestic Issues, Human Rights, Labor | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Florida Wal-Mart workers start a non-union union

Mitch Stacy of the Associated Press is reporting that Wal-Mart workers are organizing!

About 250 employees and former employees from 40 central Florida stores have joined the fledgling Wal-Mart Workers Association, spurred by what they say is a reduction of hours and schedule changes recently that may jeopardize health care benefits for some. Organizers say the word-of-mouth campaign is attracting 15 to 20 new members every week.

October 02, 2005 in Labor | Permalink | Comments (0)

Florida Chief Bans Women Firefighters From Burning Buildings

Women fire fighters in Clearwater Florida have been barred from entering burning buildings after threats by male fire fighters they they would not be protected in the line of duty. Investigations have been launched by Chief Jamie D. Geer. But in a profession such as this can the damage done by threats like these?

Read more about this story at WKMG site.

September 21, 2005 in Labor, Womyn's Rights | Permalink | Comments (0)

116,000 workers sue Wal-Mart for denying lunch breaks

Lawyers representing about 116,000 former and current Wal-Mart Stores Inc. employees in California told a jury Monday that the world's largest retailer systematically and illegally denied workers lunch breaks. The lawsuit covers former and current employees in California from 2001 to 2005.

NYT by the AP

September 20, 2005 in Human Rights, Labor | Permalink | Comments (0)

Workers in 6 countries file suit against Wal-Mart for worker abuse

Workers in six countries that include Bangladesh, Swaziland, Indonesia, China and Nicaragua filed suit in Los Angeles on 8/13/05. The suit is filed under California's Unfair Business Practices Act. The workers are claiming that Wal-Mart is able to keep prices so low due to unfair and unjust labor practices such as sweatshop labor, unpaid over time, human rights violations, unpaid lunches, forced work off the clock and other such practices.

CNN by the AP   The Age - Australian News  NYT - Reg Required

September 20, 2005 in Human Rights, Labor | Permalink | Comments (0)

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