"I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem. To me, it's part of the solution. You cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement."      

                      -- President Barack Obama, Jan. 30, 2009

BE SURE TO CHECK THE CALENDAR PAGE EVERY WEEK...

...and go to our Action Center to see actions you can take now to support working people.

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>>

Construction was recently begun on the Workers’ Memorial in Hartford’s Bushnell Park as members of Operating Engineers Local 478 were hard at work getting ready to pour concrete.

Groundbreaking for the strructure took place in April, 2009.  When completed, the monument will honor those who have been killed or injured on the job. It is located near the Sailors and Soldiers Memorial in Bushnell Park and across the street from the Carrousel. The Health and Safety Committee of the Connecticut AFL-CIO worked for years to raise funds and to lobby for the memorial. Check out the pictures and stay tuned as we keep you posted with more photos of its development.

VIEW SOME PIX OF HEALTHCARE RALLIES

CT group warns state budget cuts would undermine economic recovery 

Even before the current recession began, Connecticut’s job conditions were worse than they were before the last recession at the beginning of the decade, according to a new report by Connecticut Voices for Children. In addition, the portion of unemployed workers who have been looking for jobs for more than 26 weeks is higher in Connecticut than in any New England state. Problems with the state’s economic engine extend beyond rising unemployment, however. Connecticut has been losing higher wage manufacturing jobs and gaining lower wage service sector jobs, and the leading area of economic growth – the health and education job sector -- is threatened by the prospect of severe state budget cuts.

The report, The State of Working Connecticut: Job Trends and the Labor Market, concludes that state government needs to take greater, not less responsibility for supporting Connecticut workers and creating higher-wage jobs. Severe state budget cuts would only worsen economic conditions for families in the state, according to the state policy thinktank.  (Read more...)

On Tuesday, April 28th, 2009 the Connecticut AFL-CIO held a ceremony to commemorate Workers' Memorial Day in honor of the workers who were injured or killed on the job and they broke ground for a permanent workers' memorial in Bushnell Park, Hartford.

Union voters played an important role in President-elect Barack Obama's historic victory, delivering a critical bloc of support in swing states that helped propel Obama and other worker-friendly candidates to big wins on Nov. 4, according to polling data from the AFL-CIO.

High turnout among working-class union voters in states like Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania formed a foundation of support for Obama. In new battleground states like Colorado, Florida, North Carolina and Virginia, the AFL-CIO mounted a bigger effort than ever before, and union members voted by large margins for Obama.

AFL-CIO union members across battleground states supported Obama by a 68 percent to 30 percent margin, according to an election-night survey conducted for the AFL-CIO by Peter D. Hart Research Associates.   (Read more…)

CONNECTICUT LEGISLATORS' SCORECARD

The Connecticut AFL-CIO has created a guide used to score state legislators' voting records on issues of importance to Connecticut working women and men over the years. It's a tool that can be of great value to your members.

The Greater Hartford Labor Council, AFL-CIO represents over 25,000 members of 70 unions throughout north central Connecticut. The mission of the Greater Hartford Labor Council, AFL-CIO is to improve the lives of working families—to bring economic justice to the workplace and social justice to our state and the nation.

Read more...   (and read the latest Delegates' meeting minutes at bottom of the "About Us" page)