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About Northwest labor press. (Portland , Ore.) 1987-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 17, 2007)
Happy Labor Day! Working together—hand in hand You work hard for the well-being of your family and this community we’re proud to call home. That’s why we’re dedicated to helping you be the healthiest you can be. At Regence, we’re more than your health care company—we’re your neighbors. Find nutrition and safety tips for your Labor Day Celebration at myRegence.com Have A Safe and happy LABOR DAY From the Executive Board, Members and Staff of AFL-CIO’s political program to extend far beyond presidency CHICAGO (PAI) — The national AFL-CIO’s political program for the 2007-2008 election cycle is still being formed, but it will extend far beyond the presidential race, the group’s polit- ical director says. Seven U.S. Senate seats are on the labor federation’s radar screen, in- cluding one in Oregon, where Repub- lican incumbent Gordon Smith is up for re-election. Two Democrats have filed to chal- lenge Smith. They are House Speaker Jeff Merkley and political activist Steve Novick. Other states being targeted by the national AFL-CIO are Republican Senate seats in Virginia, Maine, Min- nesota, New Hampshire and Col- orado. The seventh seat in South Dakota is held by a Democrat. De- mocrats now hold a 51-49 U.S. Senate majority and a 232-203 majority in AFL-CIO to start major health care drive on Labor Day CHICAGO (PAI) — The national AFL-CIO will start a major drive to put universal quality health care atop the national election agenda, starting just after Labor Day. The federation’s Executive Council said it would add the health care drive to its effort to restore workers’ free- dom to join unions and bargain collec- tively through passage of the Em- ployee Free Choice Act. But the council did not endorse specific legislation for universal cover- age. At least five unions, including the Steel workers, the California Nurses Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, support government-run single-payer health care. Others support different methods. The labor federation established a spe- cial health care panel of union presi- dents and leaders to work out which specific plan to support. It named longtime Democratic political organ- izer Heather Booth to direct the drive. the U.S. House. Final decisions on the scope, size, funding, and how to pay for the sup- port will be made at meetings of the federation’s political committee on Sept. 21 and its Executive Council on Sept. 28, both in Washington, D.C., said political director Karen Acker- man. Decisions on which races to get in- volved in are separate from the feder- ation’s Aug. 8 vote to take no action in the Democratic presidential primary. “Every national union affiliate may decide for itself if it wishes to support a candidate in the primaries, and dif- ferent unions will be ready to make decisions at different times,” the AFL- CIO Executive Council said. The Executive Council’s decision not to endorse a presidential hopeful before the big round of primaries in 2008 could change if the political situ- ation changes, Ackerman said after the council vote. But its resolution set- ting the unions loose to make their own pre-primary endorsements had the presidents “reflecting their mem- bership,” she added. L EGAL P ROBLEMS ?? For $16 a month coverage includes: ❖ Unlimited toll-free phone consultation with attorneys. ❖ A comprehensive will with yearly updates is included. ❖ Representation for traffic tickets, accidents, criminal, and civil suits. ❖ Coverage on IRS tax audits. ❖ Divorce, child custody, bank- ruptcy and many more benefits.* THESE LEGAL SERVICES ARE PROVIDED BY THE VERY BEST LAW FIRMS IN OREGON & WASHINGTON. * Some services not 100% covered For more information, call 503-760-2456 or toll-free at (888) 252-7930 www.prepaidlegal.com/info/randallnix /$%25(*21 /(5& ,ABORô%DUCATIONôANDô2ESEARCHô#ENTER Carpenters Local 1388 If You Enjoy Labor Day, Thank a Carpenter! PAGE 10 NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS 7EªAREª0ROUDªTOª3ERVEª7ORKERS ANDªTHEª5NIONª-OVEMENTªINª/REGONª THEª&IRSTª3TATEªTOª-AKEª,ABORª$AYª ANª/FlCIALª(OLIDAY 4HEô&ACULTYôANDô3TAFFôOFôTHEô,ABORô%DUCATIONôANDô2ESEARCHô#ENTER 5NIVERSITYôOFô/REGON AUGUST 17, 2007
