"Wal-Mart's low prices come at too high a cost,"
Appelbaum declared."
"For them, the issue isn't that they can't find work most of them have
jobs. They work hard to take care of their families.

work top

The head of New York 's retail union declares that every New Yorker has a stake
in a strong, growing, winning labor movement that transforms poverty wage work
into jobs with a future

NEW YORK, On Saturday, September 10, at the Labor
Breakfast preceding the New York City Labor Day Parade , Stuart Appelbaum,
President of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, charged that
hundreds of retail workers live in poverty caused by the Wal-Martization of
the retail industry.

movement top

The problem is that their employers refuse to do
theirs," Appelbaum said."
The RWDSU represents 100,000 members throughout the United States and
Canada, including 45,000 in New York.

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
represents nearly 700,000 active and retired members and is among the largest
industrial trade unions in North America. They have recently partnered
on a platform that would reform the AFL-CIO and bring the labor movement into
the 21st Century .

way unions

"
"That which unites us is much stronger than that which divides us,"
Appelbaum added stressing that the labor movement is united in the fight
against Wal-Mart and other anti-union employers.

WASHINGTON, The International Association of
Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) today unveiled "Use Our Power," a
sweeping seven-point strategy document that focuses on labor's core strengths
and is certain to reinvigorate the debate over the future of the AFL-CIO.
"The American Labor Movement may be a lot of things, but it is not
politically impotent, financially bankrupt or lacking in allies," said the IAM
in "Use Our Power," a report with detailed recommendations about how the labor
movement, with $6.
The five unions represent 5 million workers.

Press Conference:

Who: Terence O'Sullivan, President, Laborers' International Union of
North America
James P.

society work

.7 billion in assets and 13.

top movement

"We transform poverty wage work into jobs with a future.
"The Machinists' view is that how we use our power is the acid test of the
labor movement," said the report, which cites 28 million union members who
voted in the 2004 presidential election and the million who joined Working
America as examples of a still vibrant and potentially influential movement.
Among the key recommendations in "Use Our Power" are: invest $200 million
to create a labor-owned cable network that projects a positive image of union
members and the American labor movement; establish a health care database to
leverage the purchasing power of over 50 million union members and retirees
and expand the number of votes cast by focusing political efforts on states
with heavy concentration of union households. Presidents of Teamsters, UFCW, UNITE -HERE, Laborers', SEIU
to Announce Plans for Future of Labor Movement

WASHINGTON , The leaders of five of the largest
unions in the AFL-CIO -- Teamsters, UFCW, UNITE-HERE, Laborers ', and SEIU --
will hold a press conference Wednesday, June 15, at 12:30 PM at the Laborers'
International Union of North America headquarters to announce the creation of
a new multi-union organization to address the urgent need for a large-scale,
coordinated effort to rebuild the American labor movement in the face of
globalization. The platform calls for dramatic new emphasis on organizing
non -union workers and for restructuring federation and affiliate activities to
respond to the profound changes in the American economy.m.

top movement

."
Appelbaum slammed retailers, big and small, who forced workers to struggle
just to get by," charging that workers are being "crushed by the cost of
housing and health care.
Additional suggestions in the 11-page strategy document include: expanding
AFL -CIO support for civil rights and women's movements; reevaluate how
disputes are resolved within the AFL-CIO and provide affiliates with far more
information and input over the development of AFL-CIO programs and budgets.

unions way

RWDSU President Stuart Appelbaum Declares Labor United in Fight to Stop Wal-Mart

"A strong, growing, winning labor movement," Appelbaum said, was the
answer. He added , "Wal-Mart has its
value but we in the New York labor movement have ours. A link to "Use Our Power " is
available at http://www.org.

Where: Laborers' International Headquarters
905 16th Street, NW, 6th floor

Telephone Call-in: 1-877-826-8983
Participant code: 599401

movement way

The IAM is opposed to proposed 'reforms' that would force smaller unions to
merge with the larger AFL-CIO affiliates.

Press Conference Wednesday With Leaders of Five Major Unions

organizations way

Addressing national leaders, New York City and State elected officials and
other dignitaries at the Labor Day Parade Breakfast at Tavern on the Green,
Appelbaum , who is also Chair of the 2005 Labor Day Parade, underscored a key
theme of this year's parade - "Stopping the "Wal-Marting" of good jobs . and
making Wal-Mart accountable to the communities they profit from.

Machinists Union Unveils Reform Strategy for AFL-CIO

The press conference will follow a meeting of 50 of the top leaders of the
five unions who will adopt a Constitution and Bylaws for the new organization
and develop coordinated organizing and growth plans.

society top

They're following the
rules and doing their part. That is what
unions are all about.3 million members, can better use
its financial and human resources.
"Here at the Machinists Union, we believe the current fight for control of
the AFL-CIO is a waste of time, energy and resources," said the report
commissioned by IAM International President Tom Buffenbarger, a vocal
supporter of independence and autonomy for international and local unions.goiam. Hoffa, President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Joseph Hansen, President, United Food and Commercial Workers Union
Bruce Raynor , President UNITE-HERE
Andrew Stern, President, Service Employees International Union

Fifty top leaders of the five unions

When: Wednesday, June 15, 12:30 p.

work unions

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