2. Union Veterans Council Kicks Off With Two Great Events in Pennsylvania

Top: Allegheny County Central Labor Council Political Director and WWII Veteran John Vento, Allegheny County Central Labor Council President Jack Shea, and ATU Local 85 President and Vietnam Veteran Patrick McMahon at Union Veterans Council event in Pittsburgh. Bottom:Rich Kulick, UMWA Retiree; Mike Dwonczyk, USW Retiree; Charlie Kelly, USW and SOAR President 7&9;  John Stoffa, Northampton County Executive; Jerry Green, USW Local 2599 President; Bob McAuliffe, USW International Staff & District 10 Rapid Response Lead Coordinator; Paul Coaches, USW Retiree; Don Trexler, USW Retiree; and Joe Long, UAW Retiree at Union Veterans Council Event in Bethlehem.

This week saw a series of events that kicked off the Union Veterans Council in Pennsylvania to speak out to and hold government officials and candidates accountable to the needs of our returning union veterans. To view more pictures from the events CLICK HERE.  To view video of Ron Demicheli, AFGE Local 1916 President and Vietnam Veteran on John McCain's anti-worker policies CLICK HERE.

On Tuesday the Union Veterans Council kicked off in Pittsburgh led by PA AFL-CIO President Bill George, AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department President Mark Ayers, and Auditor General Jack Wagner, with an emphasis on Barack Obama’s record of supporting union veterans.  On Monday, August 11th over fifty union members, veterans, and retirees led by USW Local 2599 President Jerry Green and IBEW member Jim Wasser kicked off the Union Veterans Council in Bethlehem with a denunciation about John McCain’s record of voting against union veterans.

“We are here today with veterans, families of veterans and union members because we are concerned about the direction this country is headed under the Bush Administration,” said President George in Pittsburgh.  “We support our troops and we know that we have only one candidate running for office that shares in our support.  We have a responsibility to educate our members and make sure that they know that Barack Obama is the labor movement’s candidate and the candidate for veterans.”

“We all agree that improved spending for the VA hospitals, health care, prescription drugs is a must,” said USW Local 2599 President Jerry Green in Bethlehem. “Under the Bush administration, veterans are  not getting the attention and support that they need.  John McCain will only be more of the same and it is crucial that we make sure union members and veterans understand that.”

President Ayers said, “It is so important that our union veterans get out and talk to each other.  John McCain, despite his service, has a record of voting against policies that would support our veterans.  And we need to talk to McCain as well.  When he comes to town, veterans and union members will be there to talk to him about social security, health care, and taking care of our veterans.”

 “I think it is so important that the labor movement works with its veterans,” said Oliver Montgomery, USW retiree and Korean War veteran. “I am proud to be a part of this organization and this event.”

The Union Veterans Council was created this year because some 2.1 million union members, or 14 percent of all union members, are veterans of military service. The Union Veterans Council brings together union leaders and members who are veterans to speak out to and hold government officials and candidates accountable to the needs of our returning heroes—through the November election and beyond.

3. Members Prioritize Million Member Mobilization This Month

Eloise Mullen, UFCW Local 1776, members from IUOE Local 542 and Liz McElroy from the Philadelphia AFL-CIO get ready to walk for The Employee Free Choice Act and the Million Member Mobilization Petition in Delaware County in June.

Due to the hard work of union members and working families with the Labor 2006 political program, the Employee Free Choice act passed both the House and the Senate in 2007.  But this important piece of legislation, one that would level the playing field and make it easier for workers to form a union and bargain fairly with employers, can only be passed with a president in office that will sign it into law.  Barack Obama pledged that if elected president he will sign the Employee Free Choice Act.  Additionally the union movement is mobilizing to collect one million signatures for the Million Member Mobilization Petition supporting the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.  We want to send a strong message to politicians and candidates that our freedom to organize must not be ignored and are trying to gather as many signatures as possible before Labor Day. 

LIUNA Local 910 Business Manager Bob Kmecak in Johnstown said that his members made gathering signatures for the Million Member Mobilization a priority this summer because “everybody should have the freedom to form unions.  As union members we’ve got to fight to maintain our unions and we’ve got to make sure that all working people have the ability to form a union.”  Kmecak made sure that his executive board members, his stewards and his members collected signatures at home, at the workplace and at their monthly local meetings.  “We have to get the message out that union members and their families want the Employee Free Choice Act passed,” said Kmecak and with his local’s effort and the continued effort of the entire state’s labor movement, Washington D.C. is sure to hear us loud and clear.   

4. Labor Leaders Voice Support For Barack Obama: PA AFL-CIO President Bill George

PA AFL-CIO President Bill George supports Barack Obama.

PA AFL-CIO President Bill George voices support for Barack Obama: "Senator Obama is labor's candidate. That's because the labor movement has been left behind on all our issues.  Working families are suffering more now than they have since the depression.  If you want have freedom in this country, the right to form unions and have the middle class grow then you need to vote for Obama.  He supports the Employee Free Choice Act.  We've got to get out there and do something about it."  To view video of President George on Obama CLICK HERE. To view video of President George on the September 4th Labor Walks CLICK HERE.

5. Political Coordinator Meetings This Week in Your Zone

The following is a list of August political coordinator meetings scheduled across all political zones in Pennsylvania. For questions about each meeting, please contact the leads in each zone. For any other questions, please contact Frank Snyder at 202-427-2546 or Lenny Sapozhnikov at 717-370-1637.

This is opportunity to plug into the Labor 2008 program in your region.  "The starting line for the Labor 2008 program is the political coordinators meeting,”said Bob Cooper, Southeast Area Labor Federation Secretary Treasurer and AFSCME District Council 88 Director this week.  “The finish line is Barack Obama as the next President of the United States.  Whether we get there or not is really what the political coordinators meetings are all about.  They set up the way we center the program and mobilize our members.  It is crucial that all political coordinators participate in the meetings in order for us to get out of the starting gate ahead of the pack this year." Participation by local union political coordinators is strongly encouraged.  We look forward to seeing you there!
 

Zone 1: Philadelphia: Contact Liz McElroy: 267-455-8191

Wednesday, August 20th, 10:00 AM, Philadelphia CLC, 22 S. 22nd Street, 2nd Floor, Philadelphia

Zone 2: Southeast: Contact Andrew Gaffney: 484-636-7321 

Tuesday, August 26th, 10:30 AM, AFSCME, 3031 Walton Road, Plymouth Meeting

Zone 3: Lehigh Valley: Contact Lori Jurczak: 570-807-2093

Wednesday, August 20th, 6:00 PM, APWU Local 268, 2nd Floor, 3360 Airport Road, Allentown

Thursday, August 21st, 5:30 PM, 129A Sunbury Street, Minersville

Zone 4: Northeast: Contact Rod Muchnok: 304-549-6964

Wednesday, August 20th, 7:00 PM, AFSCME DC 87, 1258 O’Neill Highway, Scranton

Thursday, August 21st, 6:00 PM, AFSCME DC 86, 250 Commerce Park Dr., New Colombia

Zone 5: Central East: Contact Michael Fedor: 717-395-0566

Wednesday, August 20th, 6:00 PM, AFSCME DC 83, 160 Patchway Road, Duncansville

Zone 6: Central West: Contact Katrina Coleman: 717-319-6256

Wednesday, August 20th, 9:30 AM, 522 South 22nd St, Harrisburg

Zone 7: Northwest: Contact Jeff Calvin: 724-977-4422

Wednesday, August 27th, 5:00 PM, IBEW 712, 217 Sassafras Lane, Beaver

Zone 8: Upper Northwest:Contact Rosann Barker: 814 437 5571

Thursday, August 21st, 10:00 AM, 1701 State St. 2nd Fl., Erie

6. Updates From Around the Commonwealth

Southwest ALF
Jack Shea, Chair
Richard Caponi, Secretary Treasurer

The following unions ordered worksite leaflets on Barack Obama's record of supporting working families: AFT Local 1589, ATU Local 85, ATU Local 1753, ATU Local 1753, CWA Local 13500, IUOE Local 66, UFCW Local 325, UMWA Local 1980 and USW Local 1196.  The Southwest Area Labor Federation is preparing to walk on September 4th.  A list of staging locations is forthcoming.  Verizon Communications Inc. and two unions, CWA and IBEW, agreed Sunday on a new three-year contract that provides 10.5 percent wage increases and changes in retirement benefits. The agreement also extends union recognition to 600 former MCI technicians who had sought it since joining Verizon two years ago. Verizon said another 900 temporary employees would be regularized. A group of 15 military veterans  held the first meeting of the Pittsburgh unit of the AFL-CIO Union Veterans Council at the Sheraton Hotel Station Square. The vets and union members announced their intention to show voters the GOP's presumptive presidential candidate has not lived up to his image as a defender of veterans "We honor Sen. McCain as a POW and a war hero, but he has a dismal record of taking care of vets," said Mark Ayers, the council's national chair and the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department president.

Northwest ALF
John Zanetti, Chair
David A. Bielski, Secretary Treasurer

The following locals ordered worksite leaflets on Barack Obama’s record of supporting working families: AFSCME District Council 85, ATU Local 1743, IBEW Local 5, IBEW Local 459, IBEW Local 712,  NALC Local 84, UAW Local 3303, USW Local 1016, USW Local 1366, USW Local 1660, USW Local 1917, USW Local 2229, USW Local 3199, USW Local 6346, and USW Local 7312. The Beaver/Lawrence Central Labor Council is planning for fall labor dinner on Oct, 16th.  They will hold walks in Beaver, Rochester and Monaca on September 4th for the national labor walks.  On August 18th they will hold a delegate meeting.  The Butler Central Labor Council is planning on debates for PA 3rd congressional race.  The Central Labor Council is recruiting volunteers for Labor 2008 and September 4th National day of walks. The Clearfield/Elk/Cameron/Jefferson Central Labor Council is holding a candidates forum for PA 5th congressional race on Sept.4th and holding a walk for the September 4th National Labor Walks in Clearfield.  The Erie/Crawford Central Labor Council is holding forums for CD-3 candidates and recruiting volunteers for the Sept. 4th National Labor Walks.  The Greater Westmoreland Central Labor Council is gearing up for August turn around America program at August 18th delegate meeting and has walks planned for September 6th in Greensburg. The Indiana/Armstrong/Clarion Central Labor Council building volunteer base for the Labor 2008 program and will hold walks for September 4th National day of walks in Blairsville. Their Labor breakfast will be held on September 20th,Key note speaker David Fillman, AFSCME District Council 13, Pa State Director.  The Mercer Central Labor Council is holding Sept 4th Labor Walks in Sharon and Sharpsville.
 

Philadelphia CLC/ALF
Pat Eiding, Chair
Ted Kirsch, Secretary Treasurer

The Philadelphia Central Labor Council would like to welcome our newest release staff member Lisa Powell from APWU Local 89. Lisa is a veteran to the Labor program and her experience and dedication is a huge asset to the team.  BCTGM Local 6 sent out both pro-Obama flyers and McCain versus Obama comparison pieces to all worksites across eastern PA. IUPAT District Council 21 released the latest Building Trades Flyer at their worksites and apprentice training sites. USW Local 10-68, USW Local 10-86 and USW Local 10-286 gave out material at the worksites through leaflets and local union meetings. USW Local 10-86 released their summer newsletter which endorsed Senator Obama and emphasized the importance of having him in the White House in January 2009. In addition, SEIU Local 32BJ, SEIU Local 668, SEIU Local 1201 and SEIU Healthcare worksite leafleted. The following locals also ordered worksite leaflets last week: IUEC Local 5, ROOFERS Local 30, and USW Local 404. The Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO is preparing to walk on September 4th.  A list of staging locations is forthcoming.  As a reminder to all unions the Philadelphia Political Coordinators meeting is this Wed Aug. 20th at the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO offices. The meeting will take place at 10:00 am.  In preparation for upcoming post-Labor day walks and phone banks, Zone 1 coordinators will be hosting an Activist Training on Tuesday August 26th in the Council Building. All volunteers, stewards, activists and political coordinators are encouraged to attend. For more information or to RSVP contact Mai Syed at 215-665-9800. 

Central ALF
Mary Schwanger, Chair
Paul Bachman, Secretary Treasurer

The following locals ordered worksite leaflets on Barack Obama's support of working families: IBEW Local 229, USW Local 308, USW Local 412, USW Local 488, USW Local 1035, USW Local 1442, and USW Local 8166.  Zone 5 and 6 are holding political coordinator meetings on August 20. In Zone 5, Local Union Presidents and LUC are invited to attend this Labor 2008 Kickoff on Wed, Aug 20. The Central Area Labor Federation is preparing to walk on September 4th.  A list of staging locations is forthcoming.  Over twenty union members and supporters showed up at the York County Fair Grounds on Tuesday to protest John McCain’s anti-worker policies while he visited the area.  York/Adams Central Labor Council President Clark Ruppert and members from AFSCME, BAC, BCTGM, IAM, IBEW, SMWIA and SEIU came out to tell John McCain that his anti-worker policies will not be tolerated. The Johnstown Central Labor Council continues to collect signatures for the Employee Free Choice Act Million Member Mobilization petition.  The Blair/Bedford Central Labor Council is preparing for the upcoming Labor Day parade and picnic on August 30. Next organizing meeting is Aug 27. In the York/Adams Central Labor Council the IAM District 98 Retiree Club will meet on Tuesday, August 19th at  The Thomas E. Boger District 98 IAMAW Machinists Union Complex.  A town hall meeting will be held on Sept 3rd at 7:30pm at the AFSCME Conference Center.  It is sponsored by APALA, APRI, CBTU, CLUW, LCCA, LCCLA, and PAW and speakers will include PA AFL-CIO President Bill George, CLUW National President Marsha Zakowski and CLUW Philadelphia Chapter President Kathy Black.

Southeast ALF
Steve Sarno, Chair
Bob Cooper, Secretary Treasurer

Last week IBEW Local 743 hosted a birthday party for social security.   Social Security is one of the most important and successful social programs in history and the Alliance for Retired Americans held this "Birthday Party" to mark the 73rd Anniversary of its signing into law by President Roosevelt.  The event was attended by 40 people. This week the Southeast Area Labor Federation is preparing to walk on September 4th.  A list of staging locations is forthcoming. Last week IUOE Local 542 ordered worksite leaflets. The Southeastern Area Labor Federation held it’s quarterly Board Meeting this past week, where they recommitted to the Labor 2008 program.  On September 8th at 9:00am the Area Labor Federation will hold an event at the IUOE Local 542 Hall in Fort Washington PA, call Andrew Gaffney 484 636 7321 for details.   Upcoming Labor Events include the Montgomery, Delaware and Chester Central Labor Council COPE banquets, and the Bucks County Labor Breakfast.  The Southeastern AFL-CIO is meeting with endorsed candidates to assist them in their election this fall.   The Area Labor Federation continues to prepare to fully mobilize for this fall.

Northeast ALF
Dave Antle, Chair
Liz Bettinger, Secretary Treasurer

Political coordinators meetings will take place in Zone 3 on Wednesday, August 20th at 6:00pm and on Thursday, August 21st at 5:30pm.  Political coordinators meetings will take place in Zone 4 on Wednesday August 20th at 7:00pm and on Thursday, August 21st @ 6:00pm.  The following locals ordered worksite leaflets on Barack Obama's record of supporting working families this past week: USW Local 3657 and USW Local 5652. The Northeast Area Labor Federation is preparing to walk on September 4th.  A list of staging locations is forthcoming.  USW Local 2599 held a Pennsylvania Union Veterans Council event on Monday with over fifty union members, veterans, retirees, and family members in attendance.  CLC President Gregg Potter and the Lehigh Valley Central Labor Council, CLC President Nancy Krake and the Scranton Central Labor Council and CLC President Sam Bianco and the Wilkes-Barre Central Labor Council continue their support of the Scranton Diocese Association of Catholic Teachers (SDACT) fight to form a union. Here is yet another example of why the Employee Free Choice Act is such an important part of this election. CLC President Dean Reynolds and the Northern Tier Central Labor Council continue to work on affiliations and moving an Employee Free Choice Act resolution in Lock Haven. The Northern Tier, Five County, Schuylkill, Lehigh Valley, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre Central Labor Councils are all preparing for Labor 2008 and distributing fliers that highlight Barack Obama's record of supporting working families.
 
7. Labor Leader of the Week: Walt Friedrich, SMWIA Local 19

Labor Leader of the Week Walt Friedrich, SMWIA Local 19 discusses the Million Member Mobilization Petition and the importance of this year's election.  To view video highlights CLICK HERE.

Walt Friedrich is a Business Agent for SMWIA Local 19 and Secretary Treasurer of the Pennsylvania Building and Construction Trades Council.  SMWIA Local 19 has 4,700 members in Philadelphia, the Southeast, and the Central Region.

Friedrich is a third generation member of the SMWIA. In 1984 he started his apprenticeship with SMWIA Local 19 just two years out of high school.  It was as an apprentice that he realized the important connection between politics and the daily lives of union members and became involved with the local’s political program.

“I saw that a lot of times the union, in its involvement in political campaigns, was helping union and non-union workers by staying strong, keeping everyone together, and electing officials that know and recognize our issues.”

One of the biggest issues for working families this year is the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.  In 2000 Friedrich was offered a position as a full time organizer for SMWIA Local 19 in Harrisburg, which informs his views about the importance of the Employee Free Choice Act.  “Today when we help workers form unions and seek recognition from the company we get turned down or ignored.  Then we have to file for an National Labor Relations Board-sanctioned election and in the mean time the company can wage an anti-workers campaign that scares and intimidates the workers.”

“This is why the Employee Free Choice Act is so important.  It will give working people a fair chance at forming unions and negotiating with the company.  The Employee Free Choice Act will make it easier for that first contract to become a reality,” said Friedrich. “My local is doing everything it can for the Employee Free Choice Act by collecting signatures for the Million Member Mobilization Petition.  We pass out the petition at local meetings and hand it out to members to take home and back to the work place.  The Million Member Mobilization Petition is important for the labor movement to grow our numbers and send the message that we want workers to have the freedom to form a union if that is what they want.”

Friedrich emphasized that for his members the most important issues, like the Employee Free Choice Act, all come back to their pocket books.  “My members are concerned about the cost of gas.  They have to travel to worksites and are actually turning down work because it might now cost them $100 to get to a worksite when it used to cost $20.  In addition the cost of heating their homes is going up and people have to make tough decisions between groceries and heat.  And healthcare is always a big concern.  The cost of healthcare keeps going up and it seems like every time we get a wage increase it just goes towards the rising cost of healthcare.”

“We really can’t afford another four years like what we have been going through.  John McCain is just more of the same.  There are no jobs being created in this country right now and everything is going up except our wages.  It is time for a change and I know Barack Obama is the right candidate for the labor movement.  We need to get our members involved and get him elected this year to save our jobs and the future of the labor movement as we know it.”

8. Meet Your Release Staff: Marlon Whoolery, UMWA

Release staff Marlon Whoolery, UMWA.  To view video highlights from the interview CLICK HERE.

UMWA release staff Marlon Whoolery was born and raised in Fairchance in Southwestern Pennsylvania.  He comes out of UMWA Local 1980 and worked in the Dillworth Mine in Greene County from 1977-1996, which is owned by Consolidated Coal.  He is now an international representative for UMWA Region 1 which includes Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia in the United States, and Nova Scotia and New Brunswick in Canada.

As a Labor 2008 release staff for Zone 9 in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Whoolery is both focused on mobilizing the union vote behind endorsed candidate for President Barack Obama and also supporting State Representative Bill DeWeese in the 50th State House District. 

“Bill DeWeese has always been a supporter of union issues.  The mining laws in Pennsylvania, for example, had not been updated since 1961.  Technological advances have changed mining in many ways in the last forty years and we need the laws to reflect that.  Just about two months ago, thanks to DeWeese and other Democrats that worked with us, we were able to develop new mining laws to make mining safer.” 

“One part of the new law provides a 750 feet rule regarding the tracks in the mine.  That means that there cannot be more than 750 feet between a miner and the tracks that provide the only means of escape from the mine in case of an injury or accident.  Before this new law there were not any regulations about that and so just getting an injured miner out of the mine could be very difficult.  That is the kind of legislation that UMWA makes a priority and an example of how Bill DeWeese supports the members of the labor movement.”

“The Employee Free Choice Act and the Million Member Mobilization Petition are also big priorities for the UMWA and the Labor 2008 program.  Mineworkers are taking a very active role in gathering signatures for the Million Member Mobilization Petition.  We are visiting all of our work sites and getting all our workers to sign the pledge cards and we endorse candidates who pledge their support or agree to co-sponsor or sign it.”

“In Pennsylvania, where in the past the vast majority of minworkers had unions, the number of non-union mines in growing.  My primary responsibility with our union, as an international representative, is organizing.  The company will fire people on a daily basis if they have to in order to stop workers from having a free and fair decision on whether to form a union.  The Employee Free Choice Act will give workers the right to freely form unions and to bargain fairly with companies once they do.”

“That is why Barack Obama is the only choice this year for working men and women.  He will sign the Employee Free Choice Act when it reaches his desk.  If you work for a living then Barack Obama is your candidate.  He is from a coal mining state, he supports laws for the use of coal and clean coal. John McCain has done nothing for working people and furthermore he believes in “Right To Work” For Less legislation.  He is not for working families.”

“I urge all union members to get out and participate.  Signing the Employee Free Choice Act and voting for Barack Obama in the Fall is a start.  But getting out and talking to other union members about these important issues is crucial as well.  Even though the labor movement does not make up the entire population of working people in this country we have the numbers and the structure to be the difference.  With union member participation in the Labor 2008 program we can be the voice of change this year.”

9. Local Union Spotlight: IAM Local 1968

IAM Local 1968 President Harry Ross stands outside the Lord Co. Plant in Erie with a leaflet on John McCain's anti-worker policies. To see video of President Ross CLICK HERE.

Standing outside of the Lord Plant in Erie on Thursday, August 6th, IAM Local 1968 President Harry Ross explained why worksite leafleting is an effective way for him to let his members know that John McCain and his anti-worker policies are bad for working people.  “Worksite leafleting allows me to bring these important issues right to the workers.  This way they get information that they know they can trust without much hassle.”

IAM Local 1968 includes 70 members employed by eight different plants in Erie and Crawford counties in Northwestern Pennsylvania, and about 150 retirees.  Some shops have only one or two members, while other, larger shops, like the Lord Plant in Erie, where President Ross works, employ twenty members.

Despite his members being fairly spread out, President Ross has found ways to make sure every one of them receives important information about the candidates and the issues that matter most for working families this year. One of President Ross’s main strategies is to use his shop stewards.  “I make sure that shop stewards are doing the same thing that I am: taking these leaflets into the plants and getting them to the workers.  I make sure that the shop stewards understand the issues and then I have them spread the word to members in all of our plants.  This way I reach as many people as possible and in the most effective way possible.”

President Ross believes that worksite leafleting is the most effect way of getting information to union members because “it requires one-on-one contact.  The exchange between the person handing out the leaflets and the person receiving it is the best way to get information to sink in.  It also can start a discussion.  Now the member is thinking about these issues because another member asked them to and now they can ask important questions and get answers when otherwise they wouldn’t.”

“This election is the most important one of our life time.  The middle class is hurting from the Bush Administration’s failed policies.  We know that McCain will be more of the same.  That is why it is so important that I make sure my members know about the issues and know that McCain will mean more of the same bad policies.  We are going to turn America around this election.  We have to turn America around.”

10. Word on the Street: A Word From Working America

Working America, the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, continues to build worker power across the state, organizing non-union workers.  The organization recruited over 10,000 new members in the state through their field canvass last week, and put voter registration cards into the hands of 525 of them.  While skyrocketing costs, the scarcity of good jobs, and our troubled economy have been the hottest topics of late, sometimes the conversations also turn to the labor movement itself, as in this account from Pittsburgh Office Manager Rose Bonesso:
"Last week, I answered the phone and spoke to a woman who had been canvassed [in the field] the prior evening. She said that she spent most of her adult life thinking that unions were the "problem", but after talking with one of our organizers, she felt differently. She spoke about her own workplace where she had always made a good living in commission sales, but now, the corporation was demanding more and more and offering less and less in terms of pay, benefits and incentives. She said she was about 10 years away from retirement, and wanted to try and organize a union!!  She went from being anti-Union to establishing herself as a Union organizer! "

11. News Clips

York Citizens Say “No” to McCain’s Policies, Keystone Progress: www.keystoneprogress.blogspot.com

Steelworkers Increase Wages, Improve Pensions and Benefits in 4-year Agreement with U.S. Steel, The Wall Street Journal Market Watch: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/steelworkers-increase-wages-improve-pensions/story.aspx?guid=%7B955EF687-CD36-44E9-876C-57722396D478%7D&dist=hppr

Carney Frets Over Pen’s Staff, The Daily Item: http://www.dailyitem.com/0100_news/local_story_226080135.html

McCain Opponents Show Up, Too, In York: http://www.inyork.com/local/ci_10174249

Social Security is Not A Disgrace, The York Dispatch: http://video.ap.org/v/Legacy.aspx?g=2a053da4-7a5b-41eb-82db-1d906d92bd7c&f=payor&mk=en-ap&fg=copy

Protesters Greet McCain at the Gates, York Daily Record: http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_10182967

Veterans Group Will Campaign Against McCain, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/s_582543.html

New Council Will Work for Vets, The Express-Times: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf?/base/news-0/1218513916178430.xml&coll=3

12. Union Jobs

PA AFL-CIO Interns,  The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO is seeking Political and Legislative Interns for the fall. Fast pace, real time experience in dynamic political and legislative environment. Please send a cover letter, resume, and writing sample to bbobb@paaflcio.org

Working America:
http://www.workingamerica.org/cdjobs.cfm