Sept 4, 2004

Over 500,000 call for regime change

NEW YORK – On the eve of the Republican National Convention, before the first lie could come out of the speakers’ mouths, over half a million people took to the streets here Aug. click here for Spanish text

Why did thousands of workers march on the Republican National Convention in New York City, Sept. 1? Are they just whiny “girlie men,” the offensive term used so contemptuously by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in his convention remarks?

NEW YORK — The largest pro-choice rally in this city’s history Aug. 28 helped kick off a week of protest against the Bush administration’s anti-women policies.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A movement of unions, senior citizen and civil rights organizations is working hard to defeat George W. Bush in this battleground state even as Gov. Jeb Bush and the Republican right resort to some of the same dirty tricks they used to steal the 2000 election.

Tens of thousands of shop stewards, union activists and labor lawyers will be enforcing the Voting Rights Act on Election Day and in the weeks leading up it.

News Analysis

Last spring the television show, “The West Wing,” came very close to portraying reality. In that episode, a trade pact negotiated by a presidential aide allowed a U.S. tech company to “offshore” 17,000 jobs to India.

CHICAGO: Windy City rallies to defeat Bush / WASHINGTON: Workers door knock as Bush gets GOP nod / AUSTIN, Texas: Religious leaders defend workers / MONTGOMERY, Ala.: Victory against environmental racism / HARRISBURG, Pa.: Nader ruled off ballot

OAKLAND, Calif. — Demonstrators rallied in cities around California Aug. 26 in support of a bill giving undocumented immigrants the right to apply for driver’s licenses.

One day wasn’t enough for all the activities planned by union members in Michigan. The state AFL-CIO has proclaimed “Labor Week” Sept. 5-12. A whirlwind of a family, faith-based, historical and solidarity events are in the works.

SEATTLE — After 18 months of difficult negotiations, more than 2,200 members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) staged a five-day strike of Group Health Cooperative facilities in western Washington State Aug. 23-27 over health benefits.