PSI News

More than 3,000 nurses and activists gathered at Daley Plaza in Chicago Friday to rock out with musician Tom Morello and call for a tax on financial speculation — a Robin Hood tax. This small sales tax on Wall Street trades could raise up to $350 billion a year in the U.S., money that American communities desperately need.

It's time for Wall Street to start paying what all the rest of us pay,” Karen Higgins, RN, told a cheering crowd, many wearing red nurse scrubs and green Robin Hood caps. Higgins, who works as a registered nurse in Boston, is co-president of National Nurses United, the country’s largest registered nurses’ union, which organized the rally.

As nurses, they see how the economy is hurting families and communities across the country. They understand the suffering Americans face every day – in healthcare, foreclosure, jobs, and education.

I've been a nurse for 38 years and I have never seen our communities in such disarray and in such suffering as I have in the last couple of years,” said Deborah Burger, RN, and NNU co-president. They got us into this mess and they have the money to bail us out.

 

Indeed they do-- almost a quarter of the nation’s GDP – close to $4 trillion – sits in corporate coffers, the largest cash hoard in U.S. history.

We are here to protest all the people that are taking all the money out of our economy,” said Jean Ross, RN, and co-president of NNU. “We the 99 percent know what it’s about. We set an alarm. We work for a living. We don't sit by a swimming pool and wait for our dividends to come in.

More than 100 organizations of community, environmental, labor, and health groups from around the world endorsed the event.

RoseAnn DeMoro, NNU’s executive director, thanked everyone for being there and gave a special shout-out to Occupy protesters.

“To all the community groups, the political groups, the non-profit groups that came out to support us -- bless you,” DeMoro said. “It’s your voices that are going to make a difference in this country.

Also speaking at the rally was Tom Hayden, student activist during Chicago's 1968 protests.

The rally ended with a performance by music legend Morello, who played with bands Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave, and is also known for his acoustic music as The Nightwatchman.

It’s an honor to be here today in my hometown of Chicago with the nurses union. I want to thank them for standing up for free speech, for standing up for economic justice, and standing up for me,” he said.

Morello’s reference was to a standoff between the nurses and the City of Chicago over a permit to assemble in Daley Plaza. The city changed the permit last week that would move the rally away from downtown Chicago. After nurses and the community protested, the city caved and allowed the rally to go on at the plaza as planned.

Before the rally, nurses attended an international panel discussion on global austerity and ways to fight back, including the Robin Hood tax.

It’s so important we have a strong Robin Hood tax campaign,” said Jörn Kalinski, Oxfam Germany director of lobbying and campaigns. “We need America to come around on this issue.

In addition to Kalinski, other speakers included:

Mi Jung Han, RN, Vice President, Korean Health and Medical Workers Union (South Korea), David Hillman, Coordinator, Stamp Out Poverty (UK), Rosa Pavanelli, President, Funzione Pubblica CGIL (Italy) and Vice President, European Federation of Public Service Unions (EPSU), Linda Silas, RN, President, Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions (Canada), and Brenda Cristina Morales, RN, Regional Coordinator, Sindicato Nacional de Trabajadores de Salud deGuatemala (SNTSG) (Guatemala) made presentations.

 

(author unknown)

The union representing more than 1,300 school board workers at the Cape Breton Victoria Regional School Board will be holding a "Walk of Concern" to highlight the second year in a row of cuts to services and jobs.(author unknown)

In her inspiring life, trade unionist Siphiwe Hlophe has been on the frontlines of Swaziland’s labour, women’s rights and HIV movements. This week, CUPE members and staff had the opportunity to meet her and learn firsthand about the grassroots struggle against HIV in Swaziland.(author unknown)

Santiago de Cali, 17 de mayo de 2012                                                  S-01-072-12

 

 

Señores

CONSEJO DIRECTIVO

Corporación Autónoma Regional del Valle del Cauca – CVC

Atte: Doctora Adriana Carabalí

Presidente

 

 

Asunto: Elección de Director General CVC

 

 

Cordial saludo

 

En relación con la decisión de la Corte Constitucional en sala plena, que declaró inexequible el Decreto 3565 de 2011, mediante el cual el Gobierno Nacional amplió el periodo institucional de los directores generales de las corporaciones, dejando en el momento a la CVC sin Director General, es urgente que el Consejo Directivo, el cual Usted preside, se reúna de inmediato  y nombre un director encargado, mientras se realiza el procedimiento de elección de director en propiedad, por lo que solicitamos se convoque a la mayor brevedad a los miembros del Consejo Directivo para dichos efectos.

 

secretaria@sintrambiente.org (Administrator)

Consejo Permanente de Sindicatos Andinos del Agua, Saneamiento y Ambiente.

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secretaria@sintrambiente.org (Administrator)

Employees of the Region of Peel, Transhelp Unit, members of CUPE Local 966, filed for a "no board" on May 17 with the Ministry of Labour, putting them in a legal strike or lockout position in the second week of June.(author unknown)

At our national convention last November, delegates voted to establish June 23 each year as Communities Day. This day will be an annual celebration of public services and the people who deliver them. This year CUPE is working to lay a solid foundation for future years of celebration and advocacy. The first step is working with your municipality to proclaim June 23 as Communities Day.(author unknown)

NSGEU/NUPGE members to vote on new contract.

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dduffy

Why would your government give up annual revenues of $2.7 billion in order to obtain $100 million? This must count as one of the most short sighted and potentially dangerous decisions a government has ever made." - Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.

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dduffy

The Public Service Alliance of Canada is speaking out against Bill 78 which restricts the freedom of expression and association of all students and citizens of Quebec.(author unknown)

Members of Canada’s largest and most progressive union are coming to the City of Roses next week to plan the next steps in their fight to protect the quality public services and good jobs that support communities like Windsor.(author unknown)

After 83 days on the picket lines, striking animal workers from the Lincoln County Humane Society will return to work sometime next week, pending ratification by both parties of the tentative agreement reached on May 16, 2012.(author unknown)

“B.C.’s commercial vehicle inspector corps is being stretched to the breaking point,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker.

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dduffy

Social service workers at St. Stephen’s Residences of Ottawa joined CUPE to improve their working conditions, including fairer treatment and better job security in their workplace.(author unknown)

Sexual diversity in the workplace, it pays off!, highlights the positive aspects of sexual diversity in the workplace as well as its benefits for employers, companies, institutions and workers alike.

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dduffy

Corte tumbó ampliación de periodos de directores de la CAR

La Corte Constitucional tumbó la norma que permitía la ampliación del período de los directores de las Corporaciones Autónomas Regionales (CAR) hasta junio de este año.

secretaria@sintrambiente.org (Administrator)

Members of CUPE Local 966, Ontario Works Unit, voted on Wednesday night to reject an offer from the Region of Peel.(author unknown)

 

Over a hundred children with complex needs could be sent back to their families without adequate support if the ...

Liz Brown

 

 

Unions representing staff at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade say there are still serious concerns about ...

Liz Brown

The PSAC has confirmed that 598 of its members are among the 1,072 Department of Fisheries and Oceans workers being told today that they could lose their jobs. The Numbers as of May 17, 2012(author unknown)