No. 86, Sept. 7-13, 2000

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United Electrical workers vote to endorse Ralph Nader


Erie, Pennsylvania, Aug. 30— The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) voted at their annual convention Aug. 30 to endorse Ralph Nader’s candidacy for President, saying, “the wasted vote in this election would be for the pro-business Democrats and Republicans.”

The 35,000-member independent union represents workers in manufacturing, public sector and private non-profit sector jobs. “Decades of corporate-controlled Democratic and Republican presidencies convince us that we have no choice but to escape the two-party trap,” states a resolution passed by UE, which has endorsed just four other presidential candidates in its 65-year history. “Nader’s energetic and principled candidacy will bring us closer to real labor law reform, national health care and a challenge to – if not controls on – the power of multinational corporations.”

The union praised Nader’s pro-labor platform, which calls for triple back pay for workers fired illegally during an organizing drive, expanded power for the National Labor Relations Board to issue injunctions to stop unfair labor practices, a ban on the permanent replacement of strikers, and, most prominently, repeal of the anti-labor Taft-Hartley Act.

The UE is the third union to officially throw its support behind Nader. In June, the 31,000-member California Nurses Association, the largest organization of registered nurses in the country, endorsed Nader, praising his “outspoken stance on behalf of an overhaul of the nation’s health care system, and strong advocacy of nurses’ and patients’ rights.”

The 1,200-member AFSCME Local 1108 followed with an endorsement of Nader in August. The union of nonprofit workers – which represents Los Angeles area Head Start, child care and social service workers – cited Nader’s support of universal health care, expanded child care and better wages for child care workers as reasons for the endorsement.

Nader’s history of support for labor rights and his strong pro-labor platform have earned the enthusiastic support of growing numbers of rank-and-file union members, who are organizing Labor for Nader groups in major metropolitan areas around the country. One of the strongest Labor for Nader chapters is in Detroit, Mich., where Nader plans to appear on Labor Day, Sept. 4.

National strike in Honduras

Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Aug. 29— Thousands of striking civil servants in Honduras disrupted education, transport and health services for 24 hours Monday in protest of the government’s plans to privatize state-owned companies.

Called by the Popular Bloc (BP) —comprising workers, farmers and students— the strike closed down the National Autonomous and National Teaching universities, local media reported.

Hundreds of workers blocked a major highway linking San Pedro Sula and El Progreso.

BP said the strikers were opposing plans by the administration of President Carlos Flores to privatize the electricity, telecommunications and social security sectors to comply with International Monetary Fund requirements.

Monday’s modest strike was the latest in a series of work stoppages since the beginning of the year. The country’s three main labor unions have announced a massive strike by some 750,000 workers demanding increased wages on September 4.

Source: Agence France Press

Nike evades sweatshop issue

By Community Aid Abroad

Sydney, Australia, Sept. 1— A sacked Indonesian Nike factory worker and an American athlete will arrive in Sydney today to challenge the sportswear giant to live up to the Olympic ideal.

However, major Olympic sponsor Nike has refused to face its critics in a public debate over human rights abuses in its suppliers’ factories in Asia.

The Indonesian Nike worker was recently sacked for union organizing. Former American soccer pro, Jim Keady, spent August living in Indonesia trying to survive on a Nike worker’s wage of AUD $2 a day and has received national US coverage as the only known professional athlete to publicly refuse to endorse Nike.

Their arrival coincides with the release of a disturbing report based on new research into Nike’s Indonesian contract factories. The report, called ‘Like Cutting Bamboo,’ cites examples of previously unknown human rights abuses including:

*Forcing women factory workers to undergo humiliating physical examinations in order to claim menstrual leave, as is their right under Indonesian law,

*Threatening workers involved in independent union activity with violence by hired thugs.

An international campaign coalition including Fair Wear and the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia has invited Nike to a public debate on Monday, Sept. 4. Nike has refused the invitation to be part of the debate. To find out more about NikeWatch campaign, visit the website at www.caa.org.au/campaigns/nike/index.html

 

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