AFSCME | From Guthrie to Morello, a Tradition of Labor Activism Through Song

Fans of Woody Guthrie are celebrating the folk icon’s centennial this week, as what would have been his 100th birthday approaches Saturday. Guthrie’s songs, penned as he traveled the country in the 1930s, 40s and 50s, captured the plight of working women and men. He left a legacy as both a musician and an activist committed to social justice. And he continues inspiring today’s musicians, from Bob Dylan to Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and the Nightwatchman. Morello is winning critical praise and awards for his advocacy on behalf of working women and men everywhere. AFSCME WORKS talked with Morello about why he’s passionate about unions and the lines of Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” they didn’t teach you in school.

AFSCME | From Guthrie to Morello, a Tradition of Labor Activism Through Song

AFSCME Pres. Saunders on Politics Nation with Al Sharpton - YouTube

AFSCME President Lee Saunders discussed with Al Sharpton on Politics Nation the recent Supreme Court healthcare decision, the 2012 elections and the ongoing attacks against working people across the country.

AFSCME Pres. Saunders on Politics Nation with Al Sharpton - YouTube

Dems take Wis. Senate after GOP incumbent concedes - Wire Nation/World - The Sacramento Bee

Republican Wisconsin state Sen. Van Wanggaard decided not to go to court to challenge his recall election loss, effectively conceding the race Tuesday to his challenger and giving Democrats at least a temporary majority in the state Senate. Wanggaard lost to Democrat John Lehman by 819 votes, or about 1.1 percent of the nearly 72,000 ballots cast. Wanggaard had demanded a recount, which affirmed his loss.

Dems take Wis. Senate after GOP incumbent concedes - Wire Nation/World - The Sacramento Bee

Capitol Report: Idea floated for state-run retirement system for private-sector workers

An effort to give private-sector workers the ability to ditch their 401(k)’s and instead participate in a state-run retirement system that would offer a more reliable pension payout could be on the horizon in Wisconsin. Within days of Wisconsin’s pension system being named the most solvent in the country by the Pew Center on the States, Sen. Dave Hansen, D-Green Bay, pitched a proposal to create a separate but equal system for non-government workers like small business owners and farmers to buy into. The private worker fund would pool contributions from participants but not receive any additional money from taxpayers. ….. On Monday, Davis plans to present the idea to the Wisconsin Coalition of Annuitants, an organization that represents public-sector retirees.

Capitol Report: Idea floated for state-run retirement system for private-sector workers

The Associated Press: Unions to hold 'shadow convention'

Three weeks before the Democratic National Convention this summer, union leaders plan to hold their own "shadow convention" to promote labor issues they believe too many elected officials are ignoring. The union gathering in Philadelphia on Aug. 11 was inspired by the anger many labor officials felt after Democrats decided to stage their nominating convention in North Carolina, a right-to-work state that is the least unionized in the country.

The Associated Press: Unions to hold 'shadow convention'

AFL-CIO Curbs Democratic Convention Involvement As Part Of New Strategy, Memo States

The AFL-CIO has told its member unions that it won't make significant contributions or host events at this year's Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., while it works to establish its political independence from the Democratic Party. In a memo to union presidents on Monday, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said he will host a meeting of federation members who are serving as delegates but this will be the extent of his group's involvement at this summer's convention. "In recognition of the changes we have made in our political program ... and our desire to engage in politics in a more effective and grassroots way, this year we will not be making major monetary contributions to the Convention or the Host Committee for events or activities around the convention," Trumka wrote. "We won’t be buying skyboxes, hosting events other than the Labor Delegates meeting or bringing a big staff contingent to the convention."

AFL-CIO Curbs Democratic Convention Involvement As Part Of New Strategy, Memo States

AFSCME | AFSCME Applauds Extension of Middle Class Tax Cuts

AFSCME Pres. Lee Saunders hailed President Obama’s announcement today calling on Congress to pass a one-year extension of the Bush-era tax cuts for people earning less than $250,000 a year.The tax cuts are set to expire on Jan. 1. …. Attending the ceremony were two AFSCME members from Local 3085 (Maryland Council 67): Dale Chase, a Howard County master electrician and president of Council 67, and Bill Chenowith, a county waste water treatment plant operator.

AFSCME | AFSCME Applauds Extension of Middle Class Tax Cuts