CHICAGO - AFL-CIO President John Sweeney, anticipating plans by the Teamsters and the service-workers affiliate he used to head to bolt, charged Monday that such a move would be a "grievous insult" to working people and their unions.

The election is over, but now our country faces another big moment. Behind closed doors, some members of Congress are trying to arrange a “grand bargain”—and some are insisting on extending tax cuts for the richest 2 percent of Americans while cutting Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security benefits.

Solutions to big problems don’t fit on a bumper sticker.

Although it might be as simple as personal pique, the withdrawal of two of the country’s largest unions from the AFL-CIO this week does seem to reflect different strategies on the part of various labor leaders.

“I am sick to death of people telling the Gilbert voters they just need to ‘pitch in’ and vote for Prop 406 to increase sales taxes. This recession has been playing ‘hard ball’ with me as I’ve watched my salary shrink by double-digits over the last 2 years. Apparently the unions, Town Council, and the beneficiaries of the taxes think the recession affects only them. It’s their turn to ‘pitch in.’ ”

October 22, 2004

It’s time for our government to hold Wall Street accountable and make them pay to create the good jobs they destroyed.

The East Valley's lowest-paid workers will see another bump in their pay in the new year.

Mesa resident Donna Bradley lost her job as a contract programmer earning $43 an hour, and just took a job at Kohls earning $7 an hour.

Gov. Janet Napolitano was cheered Monday at the Arizona AFL-CIO’s 2003 convention, and she asked for the union’s help in bringing about policy changes.

WASHINGTON -- After nearly a week on the ski slopes of Idaho, Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry resumes active campaigning today, picks up endorsements from a major union and a former rival, and celebrates his status as head of the Democratic Party.

WASHINGTON - The Teamsters Union said Wednesday it will ask a federal appeals court to block the Bush administration’s plan to allow Mexican trucks to carry cargo anywhere in the United States.

Add Democrat Bill Richardson to the list of past and potential future presidents campaigning in the Valley this week.

The state of America's trade unions on this Labor Day weekend is not good. The labor movement is deeply divided with conflicting views of how to reverse its declining membership and clout.

CINCINNATI - On a frigid winter afternoon, scores of people stood shoulder-to-shoulder on Cincinnati’s downtown Fountain Square, to chant, cheer, give speeches and wave placards and banners in support of better economic opportunity and union rights.

Protesters picketing at Pulte Homes construction sites in Florence and Mesa were demanding that water be provided for laborers working on new homes — but they got more water than they wished for.

WASHINGTON - In the latest version of musical efforts to promote social consciousness and challenge the government, some rock, blues and country artists have embarked on a tour to fight changes in federal rules governing ownership of newspapers, television and radio stations.

It turns out social conservatives aren’t the only group seeking to use state ballot issues to boost voter turnout for like-minded candidates. Last week, a coalition of labor unions led by the AFL-CIO submitted more than 209,000 petition signatures for an initiative to establish Arizona’s first state minimum wage at $6.75 an hour and tie future increases to inflation.

It's too bad that Jerry Lewis, educator, didn't do his homework before taking the recall bait provided to him by Randy Parraz, Democrat. Did Lewis ever ask, "Who is behind this recall?"