In the battle of union members versus pirates, chalk one up for the union members. One of the crew members of the ship that fought off Somali pirates said it was because of the crew's union membership that they won. Watch the video and pass it on.

When working people have the choice to form unions, they can ensure that they receive the proper training to keep the safe on the job.

The American crew members of the Maersk Alabama - a ship recently hijacked by Somali pirates - regained control of the ship.  The seamen specifically cite their union membership as a reason for how they were able to beat the pirates.

In an interview with NBC, the ship's Third Engineer, John Cronan, said this about their efforts:

"We are American seamen.  We are union members.  We stuck together, we did our jobs.  And that's how we did it."

Plain Dealer
April 18, 2009

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown stumped for national health-care reform at a Cleveland Heights church Friday morning, bringing with him local perspective and urgency.

"We together are going to see this Congress pass national health-care reform by the end of the year," the Ohio Democrat told a crowd of about 500 community organizers and activists packed into the sanctuary at Forest Hill Presbyterian Church. Many held up an array of signs, such as "Fix it now" and "Caution: Pre-existing condition."

President Barack Obama has called health-care reform a top priority, proposing a national system that would include both private and public insurance options for all Americans. Brown said he expects lawmakers to begin writing legislation soon. Continue.

ResCare workers at three more counties in West Virginia have joined SEIU District 1199 this year so far.

Nursing assistants and LPNs from Grant, Lewis, and Marion counties opted into the master contract through a majority sign-up process. They join Rescare workers who are organized in SEIU across an overwleming majority of counties throughout the state.

A warm welcome to our newest members!

Jeannine Aversa, Associated Press
March 6, 2009

WASHINGTON -- Tolling grimly higher, the recession snatched more than 650,000 Americans' jobs for a record third straight month in February as unemployment climbed to a quarter-century peak of 8.1 percent and surged toward even more wrenching double digits.

The human carnage from the recession, well into its second year, now stands at 4.4 million lost jobs. Some 12.5 million people are searching for work - more than the population of the entire state of Pennsylvania.

No one seems immune: The jobless rate for college graduates has hit its highest point on record, just like the rate for people lacking high school diplomas.

Employers also are holding hours down and freezing or cutting pay as the recession eats into sales and profits. If part-time workers who can't find full-time jobs are counted in, along with those who have simply given up looking, the rate would be 14.8 percent, the highest in records going back to 1994. Continue

By Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times
November 13, 2008

Andy Stern has an answer for those who are floating his name at the top of a list of potential labor secretaries: Thanks, but no thanks.

Mr. Stern, perhaps the nation’s most visible labor leader, is president of the Service Employees International Union, one of the largest and fastest growing unions, with 1.8 million members.

With its vast army, budget and political action committee, the service employees union threw more resources into electing Barack Obama than any other labor organization. It mobilized thousands of its members in Florida, Virginia, Ohio and other states.
Read more.

By Catherine Candisky, The Columbus Dispatch
July 9, 2008

Nearly every week after her mother was killed and her father was gravely injured in a car crash, Stephanie Beck Borden battled her parents' insurance company.

He was ready to go home, insurance officials insisted.

But he couldn't walk and needed 24-hour care, the family argued.

Ultimately, rehabilitative services were extended a few more weeks when her father's surgeon called a friend at the insurance company.

"Something is wrong when a family in the midst of this kind of grief has to gear up for a pitched battle every week," said Borden, of Cincinnati.

She is one of thousands of Americans behind a national effort to take on insurance companies and push for comprehensive, affordable health care in the United States.

Health Care for America Now launched its campaign yesterday with news conferences in Columbus, Washington, D.C., and 51 other cities across the country.

The coalition of labor unions, faith-based groups, health-care organizations and consumer advocates says it will spend at least $40 million to push for affordable health care.  (Keep reading...)

(Akron Beacon-Journal, May 20, 2008) Read any number of reports on consumer finances and you catch the drift that times are tough. The theme is that the net worth of the average American household is not growing as fast as its debt load. In the past decade or so, the average household has accumulated debt faster than its income has grown and has made up for shortfalls with combinations of cash advances, home equity loans and credit cards.

Many borrowers in a pinch have also found a source for quick loans in businesses that for a fee will cash checks or make advances against a borrower's paycheck.

A major rap against these lenders is that together, the business model (high interest rates, currently at 390 percent APR on a $100, two-week loan) and weak state regulations created a perfect vehicle for trapping clients in debt.

A three-year effort led by a coalition of social agencies, churches and consumer advocates to change the laws on payday loans came to a head in recent weeks at the Ohio Statehouse.

In a dramatic shift of support, first legislators in the House in April and then in the Senate last week, overwhelmingly approved the legislation for tighter regulations. Among other changes, the bill would put a 28 percent limit on the interest rate on payday loans.

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