By Doug Cunningham
Workers Independent News is heard Monday through Friday at 8:45 and 11:45 a.m. and 5:45 p.m.
Ford Motor Company said Tuesday it’s investing $1.6 billion in a new auto plant in Mexico, creating 2,800 jobs there rather than creating them here in the United States. United Auto Workers President Dennis Williams says that investment is very troubling and disappointing.
Williams says every investment in Mexico means jobs that could and should have been available right here in the U.S. Williams says it’s an example of what’s wrong with trade agreements like NAFTA and why the TPP trade agreement would be a disaster for workers in the U.S.
“When you look at what has occurred since NAFA, and the amount of jobs that we have lost to NAFTA and the fact that companies are—and not just the Big Three but Nissan and Toyota and Volkswagen and a lot of other companies—are investing in Mexico. There’s another example (of) how employers will go to low-payin’ nations and manipulate the process and start importing into probably the greatest market in the world – the United States of America. And that’s unfair to the American taxpayer and that’s unfair to the American people and it’s unfair to UAW members.”
Chicago Workers and Clergy Urge City Council To Pass Paid Sick Day Ordinance
Responding to the Working Families Task Force report in Chicago, workers and faith leaders are calling for quick action on the recommendations in the report.
Arise Chicago’s Adam Kader says Chicago’s City Council should swiftly pass an ordinance guaranteeing paid sick time for Chicago workers.
According to Betsey Stevenson of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, 43.5 million workers have no paid sick time Zero. That’s 39 percent of American workers. U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez says evidence is mounting that paid sick leave for workers brings enormous benefits to public health and the economy.
The U.S. is the only wealthy nation that doesn’t provide paid sick leave, guaranteed vacation time or parental leave.
Arise Chicago says a paid sick leave ordinance in the city would affect half of all private sector workers who lack paid sick time off now.
Proposed California Law Would Give In-Door Workers Relief from Extreme Heat
Proposed state legislation in California would protect indoor workers from extreme heat. Warehouse workers moving goods for major U.S. retailers have to suffer now, working in extreme heat.
Warehouse Workers Resource Center’s Sheheryar Kaoosji.
“The kinds of things we see are workers feeling ill, feeling exhaustion very quickly, workers not drinking enough water and getting dehydrated. These kinds of issues can also build up and add to potential much more catastrophic issues like heart attacks and strokes.”