Tell Congress: Say "No" to Columbia Trade Deal

From the Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO:

President Bush is using his final months in office to push for a U.S.-Colombia Free Trade Agreement. But the Colombian government hasn’t done enough to protect the lives and rights of its workers.

An AFL-CIO delegation traveled to Colombia last week to hear firsthand the dangers faced by Colombian trade unionists. The group came to some troubling conclusions.

AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Emerita Linda Chavez-Thompson found that “there has been too little real progress in ending the brutality that trade unionists face in Colombia.” And not only do trade unionists have to operate in this climate of fear--the Colombian government has continued its policy of union-busting.

Balanced trade agreements must guarantee the right to organize, lift the lives of workers in both countries and prevent exploitation. But this can’t happen in a country where workers who try to organize are killed.

Click here to tell Congress to oppose the U.S.-Colombia trade deal until the lives and rights of Colombia’s union members are protected.

Last year, 40 trade unionists were murdered, and Colombia’s government hasn’t done enough to stop the killings.

Meanwhile, only about 1 percent of Colombian workers have union contracts. “It is the lowest rate in the hemisphere and among the worst in the world,” said Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). “They are killing the unions, not just the union leaders.”

Colombian union leaders are opposed to a trade deal with the United States. These courageous advocates for workers’ rights want the Colombian government to take strong action to stop the violence against trade union members and end the government’s assaults on unions.

Please tell Congress to oppose a trade deal with Colombia until the lives and rights of Colombian workers are protected:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/no_colombia_trade_deal

In solidarity,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO


This is the BFM Action Center blog. Blogging For Michigan is a progressive blog that features news and commentary on Michigan politics, policy, and social issues. Visit us at www.bloggingformichigan.com.

Petition to End Predatory Lending Practices

From Working America, AFL-CIO:

Dear Friend,

If you aren’t feeling it, you probably know someone who is.

Debt is hitting many of us hard. The effect of the mounting debt crisis on working families has been serious—almost half of our members report they know someone who has faced housing foreclosure. And many working people are faced with losing their homes. This is due, in no small part, to the predatory practices of mortgage companies.

When given the opportunity to change their practices, these lenders have proven time and again that they care more about profits than the livelihoods of their customers — working people like you and me.

That’s why Working America is joining the AFL-CIO to fight back. Sign the petition calling on mortgage companies to stop the predatory actions pushing many working families further and further into debt.

Last month, we created a petition targeting the U.S. Treasury, and more than 19,210 online letters already have been sent by Working America members.

Now we’re calling on the top six mortgage lenders—Citibank, Chase, Washington Mutual, Countrywide, Wells Fargo and Bank of America—to end their predatory practices against working people.

We’re asking these lenders to change their practices in the following four ways:

• A moratorium on foreclosures;
• Conversion of outstanding loans at fair rates;
• Change to servicing agreements that encourage refinancing over foreclosure; and
• Far more transparency from lenders around their policies and practices.

These steps are urgent, bold and necessary to end the practices that predatory lenders continue to use against working people. That's why it's critical to act now.

So please, don’t wait another moment. Stand up for the working families who risk losing their homes by making sure these mortgage lenders hear from you today.

Thanks for acting,

Working America, AFL-CIO

This is the BFM Action Center blog. Blogging For Michigan is a progressive blog that features news and commentary on Michigan politics, policy, and social issues. Visit us at www.bloggingformichigan.com.