It's Accountability Time

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee an organization that fights to elect bold progressive candidates to federal office is standing up to hold President Obama accountable to the promise he made during his campaign. The website boldprogressives.org launched a petition stating:

"President Obama, ARE YOU KIDDING? Democrats lost in 2010 because they caved instead of fighting on popular progressive issues. Americans strongly oppose more tax cuts for millionaires and nearly a trillion in new debt. If you don't fight on this issue, Democrats may lose even more seats in 2012 - and possibly even the White House."

The failure of the progressive left thus far has been our focus on only engaging and mobilizing during election season.

Our resources should be overwhelmingly spent on organizing to hold our representatives accountable between the elections. That is our responsibility, our right, and our duty as citizens and even more so as organized citizens. Any lack of real progress by elected officials is on us and our failure to do so. As the late Fred Ross said: "90 percent of organizing is follow-up."

Now that the elections are over...It's accountability time.

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Posted by Russell Bannan

Stand Up for Our Workers who are Workless

AFL-CIO video of unemployed Americans telling their story.

In the video, an unemployed auto worker, university researcher, pipefitter, legal secretary and others who have been unable to find new jobs describe just how important to their survival it is for Congress to restore emergency unemployment benefits that expired Nov. 30.

Vote Now for your favorite greedy, most cold-hearted...Scrooge!

National Jobs with Justice annual Scrooge award!

Each year, national Jobs with Justice gives an “award” to the greediest, most cold-hearted company or person of the year. Nominations for the 2010 Scrooge of the Year are in, and it's time to vote. Please read about the candidates below and then VOTE for your favorite greedy Scrooge! We'll announce the winner on December 20th.

This year's nominees are....

Stop the Lies

You can help Stop the Lies. Go to http://www.afscme.org/stopthelies

Public service workers are under attack -- but the real cause of our country's economic troubles are greedy Wall Street CEOs, their friends in Washington who turn a blind eye, and the right-wing talking heads who spin the lies. Add your name to stop the lies: http://www.afscme.org/StopTheLies

Denver supporters of Philadelphia Longshoremen and City Council members send message on Nov. 22:

"Del Monte is undermining the fundamental pillars of the work force in America!"

-November 23, 2010

On Monday evening, in a show of support and solidarity for 200 longshoremen from the Port of Philadelphia, community, clergy and labor advocates in Colorado met as a delegation in front of the Denver City and County Building to pressure City Council to take a stand against global giant Del Monte’s decision to cut over 200 good paying, quality jobs.

“When you have corporate aggression of this type that strips out a families abilities to provide for their children, not only do we have the immediate destabilization of families, but this has long term ripple effects in our communities,” stated Denver School Board Director Andrea Merida. “When we do not set up our children to be successful then we are weakening our democracy.”

Denver City Councilman Paul Lopez met the delegation outside in 28-degree weather and stated, “It’s a cold day and a cold night but this is an action of solidarity. We are here because what Del Monte is doing is undermining the fundamental pillars of the work force in America. They are taking us back to the 1920s.”

Councilman Lopez continued, “I personally will boycott Del Monte products until this issue is resolved and in a few moments we will be getting signatures from Denver City Council on a letter to the head of Del Monte.”

The delegation was part of a Nov. 22 National Day of Action called by the Friends and Families of International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) Local 1291 in response to the Del Monte Fresh Produce cut of over 200 union jobs at the Port of Philadelphia. The corporation did this after demanding and getting over $5 million dollars in wage and other benefit concessions from the local union.

“In Philadelphia this morning, hundreds came out in the streets and blocked traffic including the 3-year old daughter of one of the longshoremen that lost his job. She was wearing a sign that read, “Del Monte ruined my Christmas,” said Russell Bannan with the American Federation of Teachers in Colorado. "The reality is Del Monte also ruined her college education and her father’s ability to provide a future for his family."

US Social Forum - Some Raw Footage pt.1

While we work to put together video we shot while in Detroit at the US Social Forum last month, we thought we would share some raw footage. More soon.