We’re watching closely to see if the U.S. Senate begins its debate on health care this week. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will unveil the Senate bill tonight and we could see the first vote to begin debate as early as Saturday. Read More>>

Today at the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka and other leaders joined together to call for urgent action to create jobs and rebuild the economy. In a live webcast panel discussion, the consensus was clear: Without quick action, an entire generation could be mired in economic turmoil. The nation can, and must, put people back to work—while addressing critical needs for the future of our communities. Read More>>

With successful passage of a historic health care reform bill this weekend, experts are weighing in on the benefits that the bill would bring to working families. Read More>>

The labor movement lost one of our best friends today. Senator Ted Kennedy spent a lifetime fighting for civil rights, workers’ rights, public education and his life’s goal: quality universal health care for our nation.

For 47 years in the Senate, his roaring voice spoke for the voiceless. The ideals of equality and economic justice guided his work and he looked out for people when too many simply turned their backs.

He chaired the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, was the patron of the Employee Free Choice Act and the cause of his life was quality, affordable health care for all. He may have passed too soon to cast deciding votes for these causes but we are confident we will see his legacy through.

“Our country has lost a great leader, who picked up the torch of his fallen brothers and became the greatest United States Senator of our time. For five decades, virtually every major piece of legislation to advance the civil rights, health and economic well being of the American people bore his name and resulted from his efforts.”
- President Obama

We send our thoughts and prayers to the Kennedy family and friends.

In unity,

Jim Leaman
President, Virginia AFL-CIO

Doris Crouse-Mays
Secretary-Treasurer, Virginia AFL-CIO

Support Federal Correctional Officers, Sign the Petition!

Correctional Officer Jose Rivera was stabbed to death in a federal prison in Atwater, California in June, 2008, while locking inmates into their cells by himself. He should not have been alone. But in the understaffed Bureau of Prisons, where correctional officers are often outnumbered by inmates by 150 -1, prison violence is rising at an alarming rate. On April 23 of this year, an officer at a prison in Terra Haute, Indiana was stabbed seven times by an inmate. A week later in Tucson, Arizona, another officer was attacked. Similar incidents are now reported regularly system-wide.

The repeated refusal of the Bureau of Prisons management to address understaffing and underfunding within the system threatens the safety of correctional officers, inmates and our communities.

Sign the online petition and pass the link to your friends.