May 18, 2002

The historic actions taken in California that establish the maximum number of patients a hospital can assign to a nurse are sending shockwaves across the country. Finally, at least one state took the proper action to protect the health of patients and nurses.

A picture is emerging of what is behind Bush's "war on terrorism." For the entire article, click on the headline. To see a background article from the Asia Times, click here.

The AFL-CIO's "Ask a Working Woman" survey shows that although their concerns remain the same, working women's legislative issue priorities have shifted, with health and retirement issues now topping a list that includes affirmative action, equal pay, on-the-job discrimination, child care family/medical leave and equity for part-time workers.

CHICAGO - AT&T Broadband workers rallied here April 29 to demand the right to organize. Joined by supporters from the Chicago-area labor movement, they cheered as AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka and other labor leaders vowed to fight "one day longer" than AT&T.

In the United Nations Special Session on Children, May 8-10, the Bush administration stood virtually isolated from the world community because of its opposition to comprehensive reproductive health services and sex education for teenagers. For the entire article, click on the headline. To see the Cuban statement ot the UN on this issue, click here.

In a speech on Cuban TV May 14, former President Jimmy Carter called for an end to the U.S. blockade against Cuba. His remarks came as Bush administration claims that Cuba is making biological weapons and sharing information about them continued to unravel.

HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Executive Board of the U.S. National Council of Churches (NCC) met here May 14 to stand in solidarity with Good Schools PA advocates for public education reform. Together they are calling on the Pennsylvania legislature to pass comprehensive public education reform legislation that would provide funding equity for the state's schools.

The recent assembling of 100,000 people in our nation's capital protesting the Bush administration's policies of militarism, economic austerity, and sweeping denial of democratic liberties was a major political breakthrough. Its size was greater than many anticipated; the diversity of the marchers, including large numbers of Arab people, was striking; the level of anti-imperialist understanding was papable; the urgency of Palestinian statehood emerged in a new way; the action was the first major mobilization in Washington since Sept. 11, and, perhaps most importantly, the stage was set for a broad range of actions at the national and local level against Bush's reactionary policies.

The Communist Party USA (CPUSA) is sponsoring a conference June 28-30 on building Party clubs and the labor and people's movements at the grassroots. The conference will be in New York City.

BALTIMORE - Maryland Gov. Parris Glendening's May 9 decision to halt executions pending completion of a study of racial bias in capital punishment drew strong praise from death penalty opponents this week. In announcing his decision, Glendening cited reports showing that 101 death row inmates across the nation have been exonerated since 1978, raising concerns that innocent people have been wrongfully convicted and executed.