Contact: Bridget Martin
Tel. 202-756-2868
Cell Phone: 703-850-6124
Email: bmartin@boilermakers.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 9, 2012 — In a unanimous vote, the Boilermakers Executive Council proudly endorsed President Barack Obama for re-election. The Boilermakers will now begin an extensive mobilization of its membership to help ensure President Obama wins in November.
WHEN THE LEAP conference convenes in Washington, D.C., in late April, delegates will strive to get their message across to a Congress mired in GOP obstructionism. Making this situation even more complex is the fact that 2012 is an election year for the presidency, the U.S. House, and one third of the Senate — as well as numerous state and local positions. Clearly, lawmakers will be distracted by re-election campaigns.
WITH RIGHT TO Work for less now on the books in Indiana (the 23rd state with RTW), neighboring Ohio faces an attempt by union-hating activists that hope to make the Buckeye State number 24.
U.S. congressman had strong ties with late IBB legislative director
U.S CONGRESSMAN BRIAN Higgins (D-NY 27th) will become the first recipient of the Abe Breehey Legislator of the Year award in recognition of his tireless work on behalf of working families. International President Newton B. Jones will present the award April 25th, during the 44th annual LEAP conference in Washington, D.C.
LOBBYING, PRECINCT WALKING, and phone banking to elect labor-friendly candidates are all in a day’s work for Local 549 (Pittsburg, Calif.) member Wilmer Ellis. A Boilermaker of 34 years, Ellis has been selected by the Contra Costa County Central Labor Council and Building & Construction Trades Council for the Labor Activist of the Year Award.
Tithi Bhattacharya, an associate professor of South Asian History at Purdue University and a protester who is taking part in Occupy the Super Bowl, discusses the protest and the opposition to Indiana’s so-called “right-to-work” law.
THOUSANDS OF UNION members, including Boilermakers, rally outside the Indiana statehouse in Indianapolis against right to work as the state Senate votes 28-22 to pass the legislation today. Gov. Mitch Daniels is expected to sign the bill into law, making Indiana the 23rd state in the nation with “right to work for less” on the books.
Democratic leader says RTW “doesn’t put Hoosiers back to work.”
IN A FIERY written statement broadcast via e-mail Jan. 25, Indiana State House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer unloaded on Republican House members who helped pass a “right to work for less” bill. If House Bill 1001 becomes law, Indiana will become the 23rd right to work state.
Bauer, the House Democratic leader from District 6, has been an outspoken critic of right to work and has led the statehouse charge against it for the last two legislative sessions.
