Aug 9, 2003

CHICAGO – As George W. Bush settles into his Crawford ranch for his carefree, month-long vacation, working families are saddled with worries about jobs, health care and the state of the economy. Over three million jobs have been lost since Bush took office in January 2001, hemorrhaging at a rate of 110,700 per month.

LOS ANGELES – The effort to recall California Gov. Gray Davis involves more than the fate of a Democratic governor. At stake is the future political direction not only of California but our nation.

DETROIT, Mich. – “We know from our clients that the FBI is once again targeting ethnic, religious, and political minority communities disproportionately,” says Ann Beeson, associate legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union and member of the legal team heading up the ACLU’s recently filed lawsuit against the U.S. government.

CHICAGO – The one candidate who wasn’t there and wasn’t expected was the focus of the AFL-CIO’s National Candidates Forum Aug. 5. “Show him the door in 2004!” was the message for George W. Bush, the missing candidate, chanted by a group of retirees to the delight of the 2,500 union members and leaders waiting for the program to begin in Navy Pier Auditorium here.

A Senate vote to cut off debate on the nomination of right-wing Alabama Attorney General William Pryor to the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals failed to garner the 60 votes necessary on July 31.

CHICAGO – With the hottest summer months still ahead of us, a Chicago group is charging that Chicago’s electric utility, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), is violating the provisions of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

AUSTIN, Texas – About 50 Texas trade unionists, fed up with pay cuts, give backs, and concessions, came to a Jobs with Justice workshop at the recently concluded state AFL-CIO convention to make plans for the upcoming “Season of Struggle.”

MARKS, Miss.:Poor people’s march, 35 years later / WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.:Feds find ‘foul play,’ not suicide / OAK RIDGE, Tenn.:Police infiltrate peace groups / HARRISBURG, Penn.:Hold mine owners responsible for safety

TEL AVIV – How many invulnerable and invincible “defense walls” have been constructed during history? “High-security walls,” propagated as a guarantor of protection against an enemy onslaught, have all proven to be vulnerable and penetrable.

Japan: Anti-nuke meet opens / Liberia: Emergency food airlifted / Britain: Unions shift to left / Britain: Unions shift to left / Afghanistan: Union-busters help draft laws / China & Russia: Urge ban on space arms / France: Anti-globalization activist released