update 2/22/2012

 

Apple is under intense scrutiny right now.

Apple is under intense scrutiny right now. But rather than genuinely addressing the problems in its supply chain, we believe the company is trying to stop the outcry by brushing its problems under the rug.

We’re demanding that Apple do what it takes to ensure the people who manufacture its products are treated ethically. And we’re joining a global movement to deliver hundreds of thousands of petitions from activists worldwide at Apple’s annual shareholder meeting this Thursday.
Sign our petition: Tell Apple to transform its industry by being ethical and innovative.

 

Not that long ago, I switched from a BlackBerry to an iPhone. It’s been a great switch. The iPhone is intuitive and powerful—it’s an incredible piece of machinery. If you don’t use an Apple product yourself, you probably have friends or family who do.

When it comes to technology, Apple has revolutionized its industry and set a standard other companies aspire to meet. The company has been richly rewarded for its success. It is now the biggest publicly traded company in the world, worth a whopping $465 billion. The company made $17.5 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011 alone—just shy of a 40 percent profit margin.^(1,2)

But Apple’s record-breaking success comes at a back-breaking price. According to news reports, workers who assemble iPhones, iPads and iPods at Foxconn, Apple’s largest supplier in China, have needlessly suffered lifelong injuries and even died from avoidable tragedies, including suicides, explosions and exhaustion from 30- to 60-hour shifts. And there are stories of workers suffering such awful repetitive motion injuries that they permanently lose the use of their hands.⁽³⁾

Sign our petition to Apple’s CEO Tim Cook. Tell him to ensure that people integral to Apple’s success—workers who manufacture Apple’s electronics—are treated fairly.

Apple is under intense scrutiny right now. But rather than deal with that by genuinely addressing the problems in its supply chain, we believe the company is trying to stop the outcry by brushing its problems under the rug.

Recently, Apple joined the Fair Labor Association (FLA) to arrange for inspections of its factories. We believe these inspections will not expose—or begin to solve—Apple’s problems. The FLA is funded and controlled by the multinational corporations it oversees, which means it is not at all independent. As Scott Nova of the Worker Rights Consortium (WRC) recently said, independence “means an organization is not funded and governed by the companies it is charged with investigating.”⁽⁴⁾

A couple days ago, Foxconn also announced a recent raise for some of its workers. But we believe that, too, is a PR smokescreen. According to Students & Scholars Against Corporate Misbehavior, “The new basic wage…only applies to the workers in Shenzhen. In inland provinces, where two-thirds of production workers are based, basic salary remains meager. Given that the inflation in China is high, Foxconn is just following the trend of wage increase in the electronics industry in China.”

We call on Apple to immediately allow genuine unions, with truly independent factory inspections and worker trainings. Trying to brush this under the rug—or hide behind a front group like the FLA—only will make Apple’s PR problems worse.

Tell Apple’s CEO Tim Cook: Get to work to ensure people who manufacture Apple electronics are treated ethically.

One anonymous Apple executive told The New York Times there’s a trade-off between working conditions and innovation: “You can either manufacture in comfortable, worker-friendly factories,” or you can “make it better and faster and cheaper, which requires factories that seem harsh by American standards.”⁽⁵⁾

We disagree with the idea that Apple can’t be both ethical and innovative. Apple needs to ensure the quality of its working conditions matches the quality of its products.

As one anonymous Apple executive told The New York Times, “[s]uppliers would change everything tomorrow if Apple told them they didn’t have another choice.”⁽⁶⁾

Please sign our petition to Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, urging him to treat all of the workers who make Apple’s electronics fairly—no matter where they live.

Thank you for standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in China.

In Solidarity,

Richard L. Trumka
President, AFL-CIO
Twitter: @richardtrumka

P.S. What leaders do matters. And Apple is now the leader in its industry. That’s why the AFL-CIO will be watching Apple closely to make sure the company does right by the workers who make its products—no matter where they live.

Apple has the resources it needs to do this right. Manufacturing costs are only a very small portion of Apple’s expenses: Workers are paid just $8 to manufacture a $499 iPad, for example, while Apple pockets $150 of the retail price. And the company is sitting on nearly $100 billion in cash.^(7,1)

Sign our petition to Apple’s CEO Tim Cook, telling him to make Apple’s products ethically.

⁽¹⁾ www.google.com/finance?q=NASDAQ:AAPL&fstype=ii
⁽²⁾ http://money.msn.com/top-stocks/post.aspx?post=f7428a06-dd15-4076-bec0-4204c437c814
⁽³⁾ http://sumofus.org/campaigns/ethical-iphone/
⁽⁴⁾ www.cnn.com/2012/02/17/opinion/nova-apple-foxconn/index.html
^(5,6) www.nytimes.com/2012/01/26/business/ieconomy-apples-ipad-and-the-human-costs-for-workers-in-china.html
⁽⁷⁾ www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2012/02/15/chinese-workers-get-only-8-from-each-apple-ipad-2/

 

Voter Registration Trainings

 

As we continue gear up to take back our state this November, join us for one of our free Voter Registration and Mobilization Trainings in the coming weeks. These trainings offer important resources and strategies for getting more union members registered to vote and turning them out at polls on Election Day.

In 2010, because so many working Hoosiers didn't vote, we allowed anti-worker forces to take control. This year, if we hope to reverse those attacks and make real gains, we must get all of our union brothers and sisters, along with their family and friends, registered to vote and out to the polls.

Join us at any of these upcoming sessions to help us do that:

North Central Indiana Training Session
Saturday, February 25, 10 a.m.—1 p.m.
USW Local 12273, 56355 Ash Rd
Osceola, IN

Northwestern Indiana Training Session
Saturday, February 25, 3 p.m. — 5 p.m.
USW 1010, 3703 Euclid Avenue
East Chicago, IN

Northeastern Indiana Training Session
Saturday, March 3, 10 a.m. —1 p.m.
Plumbers & Steamfitters Local Union NO. 166, 2930 West Ludwig Road
Fort Wayne, IN

Southwestern Indiana Training Session
Saturday, March 10, 10 a.m. — 1 p.m.
Evansville Labor Temple, 210 N. Fulton Ave.
Evansville, IN

Other Opportunities (Locations to be announced)
Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m. — 12 p.m. New Albany
Saturday, March 17, 3 p.m. — 5 p.m. Lawrenceburg

*All times are local time for training site.

(If you have questions, please contact Becky Smith, Indiana AFL-CIO Field and Community Mobilization Organizer at 317-372-8795 or bsmith@inaflcio.org.)

 

update 2/15/2012

 

Brothers and Sisters,

The attacks on working men and women at the Indiana Statehouse just don’t stop. Now Governor Daniels and the Republican leaders in the House and Senate are pushing a bill to end the federal Medicare guarantee for Hoosiers, and ultimately decrease benefits for Hoosiers on Medicare and Medicaid.

On Wednesday, the Senate’s Health and Provider Services Committee will vote on House Bill 1269, a proposal that would place Indiana into a so-called “State Health Care Compact” with a few other states. Under this legislation, which is being advanced by several right-wing groups, Indiana would join states like Texas, Oklahoma, and Georgia in creating a totally separate system for administering these critical programs.

If this compact becomes law, not only would it have a disastrous effect on the state budget, it would end the federal Medicare guarantee for Indiana’s seniors and lead to major cuts in benefits and services.

This proposal is nothing more than a political stunt. It’s the Republicans' way of sending a symbolic message to President Obama regarding the national health reform law and other federal health programs.

The problem is their political games will hurt Indiana’s families.

Our state legislators should be focusing on how to improve Indiana’s health care system and enhance consumer protections – such as those included in the Affordable Care Act health reform law – instead of wasting time on political theater.

Please contact the members of the Senate’s Health and Provider Services Committee listed below NOW as well as your own State Senator and urge them to vote “NO” on House Bill 1269.

Senator Pat Miller (Chair) 317-232-9489 s32@in.gov
Senator Ryan Mishler 317-232-9447 s9@in.gov
Sen. Vaneta Becker 317-232-9494 s50@in.gov
Sen. Ed Charbonneau 317-232-9494 s4@in.gov
Sen. Beverly Gard 317-232-9493 s28@in.gov
Sen. Ron Grooms 317-234-9425 s46@in.gov
Sen. Jean Leising 317-232-9054 s42@in.gov
Sen. Jean Breaux 317-232-9523 s34@in.gov
Sen. Earline Rogers 317-232-9491 s3@in.gov
Sen. Vi Simpson 317-232-9427 s40@in.gov

 

Fight back against Cooper Tire's flat-out greed!

 

Fight back against Cooper Tire's flat-out greed! Tell Cooper to end the lockout! A classic tale of corporate greed is unfolding in Ohio, and we need your help to put a stop to it. In 2008, when Cooper Tire & Rubber Company was losing money, workers at its Findlay, Ohio plant gave up $31 million in pay and benefits to help the company stay afloat. Thanks to the workers' sacrifices and productivity, Cooper has made more than $300 million in profits since 2009. Cooper paid its executives millions of dollars in bonuses and bought a new corporate jet. What did its employees get? Locked out on Thanksgiving weekend. Despite soaring profits, Cooper pushed a new contract on its employees with higher healthcare premiums and undisclosed wage terms. Do you think CEOs would accept a contract if they didn't know if they were getting a raise or a pay cut? Not a chance. Still, Cooper's employees were more than willing to keep working through negotiations to reach a fair deal after their contract expired last fall. But Cooper refused to budge—leaving 1,050 workers out in the cold since November 28. The workers in Findlay, Ohio are counting on you! Email Cooper Tire NOW! Cooper can easily afford to set things straight and still turn a profit. Cooper CEO Roy Armes received $4.7 million in compensation in 2010.3 And the company has purchased a plant in Serbia for $17.3 million!4 Cooper wants to cry broke, but greed—not need—is driving this lockout. As Chico Ramirez, who's logged 25 years with the company, explains, "The thing that bothers us is that we gave them concessions to help them get back on their feet, and they are paying out bonuses instead of paying back the backbone of the company." Around the country, people are fighting back against corporate greed and standing up for the 99%. Will you stand up and fight for Cooper's workers too? Tell Cooper Tire that its bullying and greed must end now. Thanks for all that you do for workers everywhere. In solidarity, Manny Herrmann AFL-CIO Working Families e-Activist Network 1. http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/01/02/U-S-senator-drops-in-to-cheer-up-locked-out-Findlay-tire-workers.html 2. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204319004577084441182793280.html 3. http://people.forbes.com/profile/roy-v-armes/22977 4. http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/01/19/Cooper-closes-on-deal-to-buy-Serbia-tire-plant.html

 

update 2/8/2012

OUTRAGE Tea Party legislators are trying to punish and humiliate people who are out of work—they’re even threatening to take away unemployment insurance from some people completely. If you think Congress should be focusing on jobs instead of punishing and even humiliating people who are out of work through no fault of their own, take action now. Brothers and sisters, Unemployment insurance as we know it is on the chopping block. Tea Party Republicans are leading the charge to reduce coverage and throw up barriers to benefits like GED requirements. And they’re even threatening to force people who are jobless—through no fault of their own—to endure humiliating drug tests just to get survival aid. Tell Congress: It’s time to pass a clean, yearlong extension of unemployment aid now. It’s great news that the economy added jobs last month. But for working America, the economy still is in the gutter. We’re climbing out of a deep, deep hole. Unemployment remains sky high, and it’s projected to stay there through the next year and beyond. But Tea Party politicians are holding America’s jobless hostage to their extremist agenda.   Urge Congress to act now to extend unemployment benefits for a full year—with no strings attached, no barriers to benefits and no brutal humiliation. We have to force Congress to renew unemployment insurance benefits again—and this time, the stakes are higher than ever before. Tea Party politicians are pushing plans to:   Slash federal unemployment funding by more than half in the states with the highest unemployment. Let states whose governments have been taken over by the Tea Party divert premium money away from unemployment insurance as we know it—and use it to experiment with right-wing social engineering programs (like “workfare,” where people are forced to work for free to get unemployment benefits.) Mandate drug-testing requirements. Politicians are ready to humiliate people who are out of work—by making them urinate in a cup to get benefits they paid for and are entitled to. Make jobless workers pay for their re-employment services. People who are out of work through no fault of their own and have paid into the system aren’t asking for a handout—but a helping hand. Now, the radical lawmakers want to make them pay for the privilege. Deny benefits to people who never got their high school diploma—they’d have unemployment insurance taken out of their paycheck, but would get nothing should they lose their job. Shame! Cut federal employee pensions—or freeze wages for yet another year. Federal workers already have done more than their fair share to balance the budget—while the richest 1% of Americans have been asked to do absolutely nothing. Outraged? You aren’t alone. Demand Congress extend unemployment insurance for a full year—with no barriers, no strings attached and no brutal humiliation. Let’s make this happen.

 

update 2/2/2012

It’s time to take our fight to the streets.

Yesterday Governor Mitch Daniels, Speaker Brian Bosma, Senate President David Long and their corporate paymasters were able ram through the unpopular and unnecessary right to work for less bill despite the lack of any public support or verifiable evidence of its economic benefit.

Thousands turned out at the Statehouse in what is likely to be one of the largest demonstrations in Indianapolis’ history. However yesterday’s vote, the rally and the march through the Super Bowl village to Lucas Oil Stadium is only the beginning.

It’s now time to get to work taking our government back.

The first order of business is making sure that every working person in this state knows what happened - and how it happened. We must spread the word about how those in control worked to shut us up and shut us out. They need to understand how this law will lower their wages, reduce their benefits and make them less safe at work.

And, they need to know who stood with working people and who stood with corporate America. You can find the House roll call here and the State Senate roll call here.

Our second job is to get every working person and every member of organized labor registered to vote. To find out how to register, click this link. We simply cannot allow what happened yesterday to go unpunished. Our only avenue left is to vote the bums out, and like we did in the 1950s and 1960s, repeal right to work.

Third, we need to find labor friendly candidates to run against every single person who voted in favor of right to work. We need Republicans to run in the primary and Democrats to run in the general election. None of the Republicans who supported RTW will get a pass.

Time is running out to file for these races, but if you’ve had enough and are ready to put your name on the line, please contact us immediately so we can assist you with the necessary paperwork.

Brothers and sisters, we can never forget about what happened on Wednesday. However, now we must channel our anger and frustration into action and change. The governor and some members of the Indiana General Assembly failed the people of Indiana yesterday – we must not.

In solidarity,
The Indiana State AFL-CIO

 

 

1/26/2012

It’s now halftime in the legislature. Our fight is far from over.

As expected, under the direction of House Speaker Brian Bosma today the Republican controlled House of Representatives passed their version of the so-called right to work bill.

The final vote was 54 to 44. You can click here to see the roll call.

While we will continue to monitor Senate Bill 269's movement in the House, our fight now shifts to the State Senate with House Bill 1001, where the process starts over again. A committee hearing will be held, amendments will be debated and a final vote will take place - sometime after the Super Bowl break.

That means we've got more time to raise public awareness and to win votes in the State Senate.

Last week the State Senate voted on its own right to work bill. In addition to the 13 Democratic votes, we garnered 9 Republican votes. This round we need to keep those 9 Republican votes and pick up 4 more to defeat this bill.

Below is a list of State Senators that we feel may be open to supporting our cause. In a very respectful way, please reach out to the following individuals to explain how this will hurt you and your families and urge them to vote against House Bill 1001 in the State Senate. They are:

Sen. Ron Alting (Lafayette)
317-232-9517
S22@in.gov

Sen. Mike Delph (Indianapolis/Carmel)
317-232-9488
S29@in.gov

Sen. Susan Glick (LaGrange)
317-232-9493
S13@in.gov

Sen. Randy Head (Logansport)
317-232-9488
S18@in.gov

Sen. Jean Leising (New Castle/Rushville)
317-234-9054
S42@in.gov

Sen. Allen Paul (Richmond)
317-232-9541
S27@in.gov
Senator.paul@iga.in.gov

Sen. Joe Zakas (Granger/Elkhart)
317-232-9490
S11@in.gov

At the same time we need to continue to reach out and encourage those Republican Senators who previously voted against RTW to stay with us. Please continue to email and call these Senators and thank them for standing strong with working people.

Vaneta Becker (Evansville)
317-232-9494
S50@in.gov

Richard Bray (Martinsville)
317-232-9466
S37@in.gov

Ed Charbonneau (Valparaiso)
317-232-9494
S5@in.gov

Sue Landske (Cedar Lake)
317-232-9490
S6@in.gov

Johnny Nugent (Lawrenceburg)
317-232-9541
S43@in.gov

Brent Steele (Bedford)
317-232-9814
S44@in.gov

Jim Tomes (Evansville/Mount Vernon)
317-232-9489
S49@in.gov

Brent Waltz (Indianapolis/Greenwood)
317-234-9426
S36@in.gov

John Waterman (Sullivan)
317-232-9814
S39@in.gov

Against all odds, against millions of dollars in ads from secret out-of-state donors, and against all the heavy handed partisan tactics that have been used against us, we are still in this fight. And, if we continue to push, to fight and to spread the word about what RTW really does – we will win.

With the eyes of the world focusing on Indianapolis and Super Bowl, it is our time to shine. Please do take a few moments to email, call and write these State Senators before it is too late – and continue to come to the Statehouse to make our voices heard.

The fight continues Thursday at noon. See you there!

In Solidarity

The Indiana AFL-CIO

 

 

update 1/25/2012

Hoosier workers turned out again by the thousands today at the Statehouse. We're standing with the Ohio workers who joined us today to remind our elected leaders about the dangers of overreach - that by going after workers' rights, they are testing our resolve and strengthening our convictions.

In response to the assault on the democratic process by Gov. Daniels and GOP leaders, working people have been proud to stand with the Democratic legislators staying strong. House Democrats remained in caucus today, rejecting the partisan rush to pass a "right to work" bill.

Republican leadership seems intent on ignoring the will of Hoosier voters and serving only corporate special interest groups and undisclosed donors that want RTW enough to flood the airwaves with secret money. These extremist views are being supported by national groups and are resulting in a national spotlight for Gov. Daniels tonight: he'll give the response to President Obama's State of the Union Address.

It is outrageous that Gov. Daniels will address the nation tonight from a state that he's put in turmoil. His misplaced priorities and wrong choices are hurting Hoosier workers and getting in the way of the business of the state..not to mention the upcoming Super Bowl. It is up to us to stand up for working people, despite the worst efforts of the Governor, House and Senate leadership.

When people watch the Governor speak tonight, they'll also hear from Hoosier working families. We have a new ad on the air - which shows another of Gov. Daniels' speeches. In the ad, Gov. Daniels states his opposition to a "right to work" law. Please watch and then make a donation using the button below to help keep these ads on the air.

In Solidarity,

The Indiana State AFL-CIO

P.S. Tomorrow, we must hold the line. Be there with your fellow union members and keep up the fight another day. See you at the Statehouse at noon.

 

BREAKING: Senate passes RTW; House goes to Caucus

Brothers and Sisters,

Despite overwhelming opposition to the so-called "right to work" bill throughout the state, the Indiana Senate passed its version of RTW (Senate Bill 269) by a vote of 28 to 22, while House Speaker Brian Bosma continued to use strong arm tactics to force RTW down Hoosiers’ throats.

Throughout the day Democratic amendments to the House version of RTW (House Bill 1001) were rejected on party lines. Even the hugely popular amendment calling for a public referendum that would allow voters decide on RTW went down to defeat. Then, moments ago, Speaker Bosma shut down the discussion on amendments cutting off further debate. In protest, House Democrats left the chamber and went to caucus.

Brothers and sisters: the fight for Indiana isn't over. Not by a long shot.

There are two different right to work for less bills, HB1001 and SB269. Now that one has passed the Senate, that bill goes to the House, to committee where amendments can be added, to second reading and then to a final vote. The same procedure applies to bills passed in the House, moving to the Senate through the final vote. Only if there are no changes made in the second Chamber would the bill go directly to the governor’s desk to sign. If there are changes, the bill would then go back to the house of origin where legislators would again vote to sign on or not.

The fight isn't over, but there isn't much time to even the score.

The Senate chose to vote today, even though 10,000 Hoosier workers packed the Statehouse. Even though working families have been holding town hall meetings, making thousands of phone calls and signing postcards.

Our voices have ensured bi-partisan opposition to right to work for less, despite GOP leadership leaning on Republican elected officials that are standing with us. And our voices are being heard by the Democratic legislators that brought up amendment after amendment to lessen the blow of a "right to work" bill - and when the amendments were denied a hearing by partisan leaders, walked out to stand with us.

Wherever you are in the state, whatever you are doing, take action tomorrow. Come to the Statehouse at noon. Support those that stand with us, and remind those that would suspend democracy and wreck middle class jobs: we aren't going anywhere.

Speaker Bosma, Senate President Long and Governor Daniels would like nothing more than to push the labor movement right out of Indiana.

Together, we aren't going to let that happen. See you tomorrow at the Statehouse.

In Solidarity,

The Indiana State AFL-CIO

 

 

1/20/2012

Brothers and Sisters,

EMERGENCY WEEK OF ACTION

What: All Workers Lobby Day Against ”Right to Work” (for Less) When: Monday, Jan. 23 Where: Indiana Statehouse 200 West Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46204 Click here to RSVP.

High Noon. Monday at the Indiana statehouse. Which side will you be on?

Democratic legislators who have been standing up for working families are headed in Monday to introduce amendments that will let voters decide on "right to work" for less. We need to be there to back them up—and to show all of our elected officials that the people of Indiana oppose this legislative attack.

Can we count on you to be there Monday and help take the fight against "right to work" to the people, not bought-and-paid for politicians? Click here for details and to RSVP.

House Speaker Brian Bosma, along with Senate President David Long and Gov. Mitch Daniels, didn't campaign on taking away workers’ rights. In fact, Gov. Daniels assured union members he didn't think the state needs a "right to work" law at all. But big corporate dollars and national politics are getting in the way of what's important to working Hoosiers.

By shutting doors and shutting off debate, extremist politicians have attacked not just middle-class jobs and wages, but the legislative process. We can be sure that they aren't going to stand down quietly. When worker-friendly legislators arrive at the statehouse Monday to move that Hoosiers have a say on a "right to work" law, we must stand with them.

Every day next week we need to be there, but Monday is critical.

This Monday, Jan. 23, we're taking our state back. Click to get details and RSVP.

What: Rally against "right to work" (for less)
When: Monday, Jan. 23 at noon *
Where: Indiana Statehouse
200 West Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204

As we get ready for Monday's showdown, there's an opportunity this weekend to make sure local elected officials have heard from their constituents—not just from lobbyists and interest groups. Check out our calendar here and turn out at one of the many town hall meetings, phone banks and other actions across Indiana.

Make your voice heard—and please bring your friends and family. Union members, nonunion workers, retirees, students and everyone who stands for workers’ rights and fundamental fairness should come.

Join us Monday and add your voice to the thousands who have been at the statehouse, taking back Indiana from the CEOs and special interest groups.

In Solidarity,

The Indiana AFL-CIO

 

update 1/19/2012

Flashback: 2006 Mitch Daniels thought "Right to Work" was the wrong way for Indiana. Most Hoosiers still oppose this bad legislation. Watch:

 

1/17/2012

 

 

Chip in $5

Imagine Mitt Romney in the White House. Tea party Republicans still in control of Congress. No Obama to veto their worst bills.

The election is months away, but this scenario could definitely happen, and here's a big reason why: voter suppression laws passed by Republicans in battleground states to make it as hard as possible for students, poor people, African-Americans, and Latinos to vote.

Already, Wisconsin, Florida, and Ohio have passed laws to restrict voter registration drives, end early voting, or require voters to present photo IDs at the polls.¹ And now Republicans are scrambling to pass laws in virtually every other key battleground state to make it harder to vote in 2012.

These laws shamelessly target key segments of the Obama coalition from 2008, including first-time voters, poor people, and people of color, and could easily tip a close election to Mitt Romney or whoever the Republican nominee is. We're looking at Florida in 2000 all over again.

The good news is that Attorney General Eric Holder has used the Voting Rights Act to block one of the worst GOP voter suppression laws in South Carolina. But the election won't be decided in South Carolina—and to protect every vote Holder needs to keep going.

It'll be a huge fight with Republicans, and with the election approaching, we don't have much time. So we're aiming to raise at least $150,000 this week to launch an emergency grassroots campaign for voting rights. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Here's our plan: First, we'll team up with the leading voting rights groups in each state—great organizations like the Advancement Project, who have top-notch expertise in the policy but who don't have the grassroots network that MoveOn has.

Then, MoveOn will organize events to deliver petitions calling out the Republican legislators behind these despicable attacks on voting rights, swamp their phone lines, and show Attorney General Holder that if they refuse to back down, we'll be right there with him.

Voting is one of the most sacred rights in our democracy. But Republicans know that if they can shave off even 1-2% of turnout among these key voting blocs, it'll be enough to tip the scales in race after race.

These laws are a major attack on voting rights. Nationwide, 21 million eligible voters lack the kinds of photo ID required by these laws.² And especially if you're elderly, poor, or a student, it's not easy to jump through the hoops required by these laws.

Take Joy Lieberman of Missouri. She's 80 years old and has been voting for 60 years. But now she won't be able to vote because her birth certificate does not list her middle name. Or Larry Butler, who was born in 1926 in South Carolina, when birth certificates often were not issued to black Americans. Now, it would cost Mr. Butler $150 to get the documents required by South Carolina's voter suppression law.³

The 2012 election is coming up fast, so we don't have much time. Can you chip in $5?

Yes, I can give $5 to help stop the GOP attack on voting rights.

Thanks for all you do.

–Steven, Anna, Adam Q., Stefanie, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Voter Identification Requirements," National Conference of State Legislatures, January 9, 2012
http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=16602

2. "Voting Law Changes in 2012," Brennan Center for Justice, October 3, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268598&id=34802-20772150-Zpstjux&t=4

3. "Democracy Under Assault: The Truth About Voter Disenfranchisement Laws," Advancement Project, accessed December 6, 2011
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=268596&id=34802-20772150-Zpstjux&t=5 [PDF]

Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

 

Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney—who killed thousands of jobs as a corporate raider—recently said he “likes being able to fire people.”

Romney’s record as a corporate raider backs up his words: He supports laws that attack workers’ rights and make it easier to fire people. Laws like the so-called “right to work” bill being considered in Indiana that targets collective bargaining, robbing workers of union protection.

If Indiana’s so-called “right to work” bill passes, the state’s unions no longer will stand between corporate raiders like Mitt Romney and many of the workers they like to fire to boost short-term profits. And it will become much harder for everyday workers to improve their wages, benefits and retirement security.

If you agree with the AFL-CIO that our leaders need to work together on an agenda that actually creates jobs—and stop following the lead of corporate raiders like Mitt Romney—add your name to our “I like leaders who hire people” petition.

In 2011, we saw the beginnings of a new democratic movement for economic justice. We had the most solidarity I’ve seen at any time during my career in the labor movement. We shifted the debate. And we’ll keep doing it.

But to translate this movement into lasting change, politics matter. Not just who we elect for president, but our choices at the state and local levels, too.

America wants to work—and it is politics as usual, not economic obstacles, standing in the way of putting people back to work. That’s why we’re promoting a job-creating agenda in statehouses around the country this year, focusing on priorities like:

• Making sure state tax dollars are used to keep jobs in that state and in America.
• Buying state-made and American-made goods—so we create jobs in our communities and in America.
• Stopping corporate tax loopholes and tax breaks for millionaires—so our states no longer are starved of the revenue they need for critical services.

Please make sure your lawmakers—from the statehouse to the White House—know where you stand. Add your name to our “I like leaders who hire people” petition.

Even though ruthless, corporate-backed attacks on workers continue, make no mistake: Our message—the message of the 99%—is taking root. Many politicians haven’t caught up yet. But they will. They’ll have to. Because people all across the country are saying our economy and our democracy are out of balance. They’re saying it’s time to create jobs for every person who wants to work—jobs that can support our families and that can support our dreams.

Sign the “I like leaders who hire people” petition. Make sure our leaders know you expect them to build a better America—and drop the attacks on working families.

Thank you for all the work you do.

 

update 1/16/2012

 

LET HOOSIER'S VOTE

On Friday, we announced our support for letting Hoosiers vote on the controversial anti-paycheck, anti-worker “right to work for less” bill in the November general election.

This will end the stalemate at the State House and get us working on bills that will actually create jobs for Hoosiers and get our economy moving again.

We should give the people of Indiana the chance to vote on the most contentious bill of the decade.

Sign the Online Petition

We let Hoosiers vote on school and hospital building projects, the property tax caps, creating the state lottery.... Why wouldn’t we let them vote on legislation that would lower their paychecks by an average of $5,000 a year?

While we're on the topic, let's make one fact perfectly clear. Giving Hoosiers the chance to vote on important legislative issues is nothing new. Just this session, in fact, seven House bills were filed dealing with voter referendums.

The Governor and the Republican majorities in the House and Senate are trying to steamroll it through the legislative process as quickly as possible before the full national attention that will be provided by next month’s Super Bowl here in Indianapolis.

Republicans have shut out the public every chance they could. From closing off public access to the State House to conducting legislative hearings with no opportunities for testimony or discussion, the public has been kept out of the process while big business has driven the agenda.

Sign the Online Petition

Over half of all Hoosiers are undecided about "Right to Work for Less" and when they find out about its effects (lower wages, less benefits and unsafe workplaces), Hoosiers oppose the radical bill.

The people of Indiana have the right to speak their piece by voting this issue.

Tell Speaker Bosma to give Hoosiers an up or down vote on this anti-paycheck, anti-worker “Right to Work For Less” bill!

Sign the Online Petition

 

 

 

As we’ve been telling you, this week will be a big one at the Indiana Statehouse – and we need you!

On Tuesday, we expect the House of Representatives to begin the amendment process on the so-called “right to work” bill. This means that both parties will be allowed to offer language adjusting the bill. THIS IS NOT THE FINAL VOTE ON THE BILL, but is the second to last step in the process.

While we don’t know all the amendments that will be offered tomorrow, we do expect the House Democrats will offer an amendment to move this issue to a public referendum – which would take the vote out of the hands of the politicians and allow the people to vote directly on it. In a poll that was conducted over the weekend and released earlier today, we found that 71% of Hoosiers want this issue moved to a public referendum and 69% of Hoosiers wanting more time to learn about what it really does.

It is critical that our State Senators and State Representatives support this amendment, and allow the people – not the special interests to determine this matter. Please click here to email and then call your legislators and urge them to support a public referendum on right to work for less.

As this bill moves closer to a final vote, we need your help in keeping the pressure on. We are clearly winning, as thousands of working men and women continue to call their lawmakers, visit the Statehouse day after day and attend dozens of town halls throughout the state – but we can’t let up. The other side continues to pour millions of dollars in secret donations into Indiana in hopes of jamming right to work for less down our throats.

Let’s keep fighting back, and let’s keep our momentum going. Please continue to call, write and show up to the Statehouse as much as you can this week.

Thank you for your continued dedication to Indiana and to the Labor Movement.

In Solidarity,

Indiana State AFL-CIO

 

 

We have a problem.

Maybe you've heard about the "sweetheart" deal that would let the biggest banks avoid a full investigation for their role in causing the housing crisis. Some in President Obama's administration are supporting this bad deal.¹ So we're calling on the president to take bold action to hold Wall Street accountable and demand a real investigation.

To make sure the president gets our message, this Thursday we're protesting Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and other 1% banks that ravaged our economy. We'll urge the president to order a federal investigation Wall Street—and show him the culprits to investigate. By taking just one hour out of your day, you'll join with thousands more from the 99% to make sure the president hears us loud and clear.

Can you help fight Wall Street by attending an event in South Bend on Thursday?

Yes, I'll be there and I'm a homeowner who is underwater or facing foreclosure.

Yes, I can be there to support the 99%!

I can't make it to this event, but i'll fill out a homeowner survey.

Momentum is building for an investigation. More than 226,000 MoveOn members signed a petition calling on the president to order a full investigation of Wall Street and more groups are joining the call for a "full federal investigation" every day. Can you maximize our impact by attending an event in South Bend on Thursday?

Yes, I'll be there and I'm a homeowner who is underwater or facing foreclosure.

Yes, I can be there to support the 99%!

I can't make it to this event, but i'll fill out a homeowner survey.

The 99% can't take more of a system that's rigged for the 1%. With more Americans disgusted that those who crashed our economy haven't been brought to justice—and given that it's an election year—we can change the status quo. The president has taken important steps to stand up for the 99%, but we need more bold leadership from him. Let's seize this opportunity and get a victory for all of us.

Thanks for all you do.

–Elena, Stephen, Sarah, Mark, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "On the Trail of Mortgage Fraud," The New York Times, January 15, 2012
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269574&id=34779-20772150-tXIOtqx&t=8

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

 

 

Brothers & Sisters,

 

Martin Luther King on "Right to Work" “In our glorious fight for civil rights, we must guard against being fooled by false slogans, such as ‘right to work.’ It is a law to rob us of our civil rights and job rights. Its purpose is to destroy labor unions and the freedom of collective bargaining by which unions have improved wages and working conditions of everyone…Wherever these laws have been passed, wages are lower, job opportunities are fewer and there are no civil rights. We do not intend to let them do this to us. We demand this fraud be stopped. Our weapon is our vote.” —Martin Luther King, 1961

As we commemorate the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., our state is at a crossroads. Hoosier workers are at risk of losing the collective bargaining rights that Dr. King stood for, lived for and died for.

While the politicians at our Statehouse take the holiday, thousands of Hoosiers are spending the day living MLK's legacy, struggling for justice. Your participation in town halls and in-district meetings, sharing postcards with your coworkers and your e-mails and phone calls are making a difference.

Please take a moment and reflect on Martin Luther King's words on the dangers of so-called "Right to work" laws. Then send an e-mail and call your local elected officials.

Urge your representatives not to impose "right to work" on Hoosier workers. A referendum would allow working people to make the choice. Send an email and then call today.

In honor of Dr. King, we've issued a special message, MLK Day: Time to Revisit the Dream. In this op-ed, shared with local newspapers throughout Indiana, we are continuing our efforts to educate the community on this dangerous legislation. Please read and share the message - we live in a state that's at a historic crossroads. The work we do over the next few days will have lasting implications.

update 1/15/2012

This weekend DeMaurice F. Smith, the Executive Director of the National Football League Players Association, wrote the following opinion piece for Indiana newspapers - and we wanted to share it with you.

The Real Meaning of “Right to Work” Is No Right to a Team

By: DeMaurice F. Smith
Executive Director
National Football League Players Association

Indianapolis is the home of the upcoming Super Bowl; an event that is supposed to celebrate the best of America’s game, but also the best of the host city and state. The people and workers of Indiana have come together and worked hard to prepare for this upcoming Super Bowl for a long time, but they are also bracing for the potential damage caused by a legislative game being played off the field.

The so-called Indiana “Right to Work” Bill is bad for working men and women for one simple reason: it jeopardizes the ability of workers to organize as a team to protect, preserve and promote themselves as employees in a workplace, where management can always outspend workers and target individuals. During the NFL lockout and the months leading up to it, the Players of this great game learned lessons that most older American workers learned decades ago: namely, that all of the protections that employees currently have in the workplace resulted from the ability of employees to stand together as a team, protect their rights, and demand change for the better. It is a lesson that many of us have not only forgotten but worse yet, simply never learned. The protections that millions of workers possess today, including fair pensions, workplace safety innovations, management supported health care plans, and compliance with occupational health standards, were achieved by thousands of workers standing together as ONE over decades to fight for those vital standards. An indisputable lesson of our American history is that none of those workplace protections came as a “gift” from corporations; rather, all of them resulted from the ability of workers to stand united and demand change when it would have been easy to fire or silence the voice of a single worker. The history is also clear that even when employees fought as a team, some of them paid a dear price for organizing and demanding fairness. This bill would make future efforts even harder than they are today.

As employees of football teams, we were reminded of our own history as a collective group of players during our lockout. Players are extremely fortunate to be well compensated, but the history is that it took a strike by one of our players in the 1960s to create a pension for former players, and improvements in salary, free agency, work-rules and grievance procedures, tuition reimbursement were all collectively bargained benefits by a union that was supported and constituted by Players standing together as a team in the negotiation room. More recently, as a strong union, we achieved improvements in the players’ pension, obtained a Legacy Fund that reached back to increase pensions for former players, and negotiated rules for safer practices and games. From 2009 to the present, through their union, players collectively have taken aggressive steps to change the way concussions and head trauma are dealt with at practice, during games, as well as during a player’s post-career life. We know that one single player, just like any one single employee acting alone, could never achieve what we as a Team were able to achieve.

Today, the assault on that team of employees comes disguised in proposed legislation deviously named as “right to work,” and the reason why every employee should have concern is that it simply is not what it claims to be. This “right to work” is not a state constitutional amendment guaranteeing a state citizen a job. This “right to work” does not mandate a state to improve local schools so that educated young people are ensured of employment. Rather, this “right to work” legislation is simply designed to negatively impact the ability of employees to form teams that can go “toe-to-toe” with management in the hope of having a fair negotiation over issues that matter to working people.

In this time of extremely challenging economic conditions, where there are efforts to divide all of us, we have an obligation to move beyond the rhetoric and know the issues. The legislation may have a catchy title, but that is all it provides to men and women who work for a living. If you support this bill, do so by recognizing and calling it what it is: “the elimination of the ability to negotiate strongly and fairly with your employer” legislation. Somehow, that description of the bill does not sound good for millions of people who work for a living. Get the facts at http://www.indianarighttowork.com

We oppose this bill and stand in strong support of what needs to be every employees’ right to be member of a team to protect and preserve their rights for themselves and their families.

 

For Immediate Release: Monday, January 9, 2012
Media Contact: Jeff Harris, Indiana State AFL-CIO, 317.632.9147

GOVERNOR CONTINUES TO REFUSE TO DISCLOSE DONORS, SHOW PROOF OF CLAIMS IN TV ADS
Pressure mounts on Daniels as more Hoosiers demand answers

INDIANAPOLIS – For seven days, Governor Mitch Daniels has refused to publicly disclose who is funding the barrage of television ads being aired around the state promoting his partisan right to work for less agenda, and has been unable to verify any of the claims in those commercials.

"It’s outrageous that Governor Daniels who likes to brag about being ‘transparent’ refuses to tell taxpaying Hoosiers who is secretly funding his attacks on their collective bargaining rights, nor is he willing to provide evidence to back up the claims he is making in these spots,” said Indiana State AFL-CIO President Nancy Guyott. "It is hypocritical and is a stain on his legacy.”

Jim Bopp, a Republican Party activist, filed the paperwork for a group called the "Indiana Opportunity Fund," but both he and Daniels have refused to disclose who is funding the group, saying it qualifies as a "social welfare" organization under IRS rules. Thus far the group has spent more than $600,000 on its media campaign.

“Every Hoosier should be asking themselves ‘what is Governor Daniels hiding?’” Guyott continued. “His refusal to release his secret funders, his rush to ram through this divisive legislation without holding public hearings across the state, and his alarming failure to publicly name a single business that would not locate to Indiana shows that he’s more interested in advancing a national right-wing agenda than representing Hoosiers.”

A growing number of independent groups as well as newspaper editorial boards have begun calling on Daniels to release his secret donors. The Lafayette Journal & Courier, recently editorialized, “We understand you're hesitant to push the group calling itself the Indiana Opportunity Fund to reveal who is putting up the money for the right-to-work message. We can guess who might have an interest in the aggressive, pro-business stance you outline in the spot -- who would want a law that keeps workers from being compelled to pay union dues. But we don't know, and you're not saying.”

“This is a major public policy debate and its outcome will have wide-ranging impacts on millions of Hoosiers, and this is no way to do it,” added Guyott. “Once again, we call on Governor Daniels to do the right thing and release his secret donors to the public and to provide proof to back up the claims made in these ads. Hoosiers taxpayers deserve no less than full disclosure.”

The Indiana State AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is a federation of 800 local unions across the state belonging to 50 International Unions. In total, the Indiana State AFL-CIO represents more than 300,000 working Hoosiers.

For more information on please visit www.inaflcio.org or call 1-800-433-8423

 

 

 

LATEST DANIELS COMMERCIAL DECEPTIVE
PORTRAYS SUPERVISOR AS "UNION WORKER" TO PROMOTE ANTI-LABOR LAW

 

Governor Daniels is continuing his attacks on collective bargaining rights of Hoosier workers with another ad funded by secret donors. This latest television commercial attacking working families and promoting false claims about "Right to Work for Less" features an employee of a company that is supporting Right to Work for Less and is a contributor to Gov. Daniels and other Republicans. The ad was paid for by the Indiana Opportunity Fund, whose funders have not been disclosed, which also begs the question.. is this same company also paying for the ads?

Read the Facts here...

 

Is Newt Gingrich right?

“You have to ask the question: Is capitalism really about the ability of a handful of rich people to manipulate the lives of thousands of people and walk off with the money, or is that in fact a little bit of a flawed system?”
—Newt Gingrich

 

Here are words you won’t hear from me very often: I agree with Newt Gingrich.
As Mr. Gingrich recently pointed out, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney “looted” companies, leaving behind “broken families and broken neighborhoods.” That’s not the kind of capitalism that built America.

If you agree that job creation is a critical part of capitalism—and that unions are a critical voice to stop job-killers like Mitt Romney from taking over our democracy—then sign our petition.

While I agree with Mr. Gingrich’s point about the kind of capitalism that works for working people, it’s unfortunate that both Mr. Gingrich and Mr. Romney are on the wrong side of most issues that matter to working people.

For example, they are both on record in support of so-called “right to work” legislation, like the bill that’s being considered in Indiana. This misnamed bill has nothing to do with “rights”—and it has terrible consequences for people’s work.

If “right to work” passes, Indiana’s unions no longer will stand between corporate raiders like Mitt Romney and many of the workers they like to fire to boost short-term profits. And it will become much harder for everyday workers to improve their wages, benefits and retirement security.

Like leaders who focus on policies that will get people hired into good, family-sustaining jobs? Sign our petition.

America wants to work—and it is politics as usual, not economic obstacles, standing in the way of putting people back to work. With your help, while the federal government is stalled and caught up in an election-year circus, we’ll focus on a job-creating agenda in statehouses around the country. Our priorities include:

• Making sure state tax dollars are used to keep jobs in that state and in America.
• Buying state-made and American-made goods—so we create jobs in our communities and in America.
• Stopping corporate tax loopholes and tax breaks for millionaires—so our states no longer are starved of the revenue they need for critical services.
  

Please make sure your lawmakers—from your statehouse to the White House—know where you stand. Add your name to our “I like leaders who hire people” petition.

Thank you for all the work you do.

 

 

 

DANIELS’ ADS RELY ON FUZZY MATH, MISLEADING CLAIMS

As Governor Daniels prepares for his final State of the State address this evening, it’s time for a reality check on Indiana’s chief executive. In his TV ads pushing for the so called the “Right to Work” law, which are being paid for by secret donors that he refuses to name, and in speeches and interviews, the governor is continuing to peddle unsubstantiated claims and fuzzy math to try to make his point.

Study after study, including one that came out earlier this week from the University of Notre Dame, prove that this proposal lowers wages and living standards for working people, and actually has a net negative economic impact on the states that have passed it.

Regardless of what Governor Daniels says on TV or in tonight’s State of the State address about this legislation, here are the facts:

THE FACTS:

• Employer surveys show RTW is not important to employers’ decisions about where to locate – especially for higher-tech, higher-wage manufacturers. When asked, state officials have admitted that they are unable to produce documentation such as names of companies or anonymous survey data supporting the claim that the state is losing one-third of prospective business deals because the state lacks RTW. In the last two years Indiana has added twice as many manufacturing jobs as all the midwest RTW states combined. (IA, SD, ND, NE, KS)

• The last state to adopt RTW -- Oklahoma (in 2001) -- has seen the number of manufacturing jobs in its state, and the number of new companies coming in to the state, both fall by one-third in the decade since they adopted RTW. They made the same claims as Gov Daniels is now making -- but in reality those claims proved totally false

• Economic Policy Institute research finds that RTW laws do not boost employment growth, may actually harm a state’s economic prospects, and can lower wages

• RTW will cut wages and benefits in Indiana without bringing in new jobs. Maybe that's why a majority of people in the state told pollsters they oppose the policy.

The truth is, hardworking Hoosier families need real solutions to the job crisis, not more of the same old politics. Gov. Daniels should put an end to his misleading, partisan attacks and instead bring people of both sides together to create quality jobs and put people back to work.

The Statehouse can once again be considered the people's house.

Meanwhile, inside the Statehouse Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long continued to push for passage of the so-called "right to work" bill before the public's allowed to comment. Before the bill became public, a unprecedented joint hearing of the House and Senate Labor Committee has been set for 9:00 a.m Friday.

As lawmakers scrambled to read the bill and assess its content House Democrats caucused and held a press conference to call for public hearings around the state on the legislation

. House Democrat Leader Pat Bauer pledged not to return to the House floor until the public has had a chance to weigh in on the contraversional bill.

To view videos, news articles or comments from today at the Statehouse, click here.

On Thursday, the Indiana State AFL-CIO is again asking all working men and women who are available to come to the Indiana Statehouse beginning at 11:00 a.m. to talk with their legislators. And, on Friday, we are encouraging all interested parties to come to the Statehouse to testify at the joint Senate/House hearing on "right to work" which begins at 9:00 a.m. As we learn details of the hearing we will let you know.

Thursday at the Statehouse:

As you enter the building, please proceed to the Rotunda on the main floor of the Statehouse (2nd Floor) where volunteers will be wearing yellow vests to provide assistance and materials for the day.

1. Check in. Please check in at the Rotunda as you arrive at the Statehouse. Here you will be able to get legislators phone numbers, and materials for the day.

2. Lobby. We are at the Statehouse to talk to legislators about the "right to work" bill, not rally - so please make every effort to contact your legislators to have a discussion. In addition to calling their offices, we encourage you to email them and send in notes to the legislative chambers when they are on the floors of their respective chambers. If you are unsure who represents you click here to look them up.

3. Demand Public Hearings. Call Speaker Brian Bosma at 317-232-9657 or Senate President David Long at 317-232-9416 and ask them to hold public hearings around the State to allow full public input into this legislation.

4.Use Social Media to help spread our Message. For those of you with smart phones, we urge you to tweet (using the hashtag #inunion) as often as possible about what you are seeing and feeling. We also urge you to post items to your personal Facebook page and on the

Stand up for Hoosiers Facebook page. We must let the world know that Hoosiers are being locked out of their Statehouse while lobbyists get free-rein.

As we learn more information about the upcoming schedule, we will pass it along. Thanks to all those who helped take back the people's house today - and please continue to write, email, call and visit your legislators to talk to them about why "right to work" is wrong for Indiana!

 

 

 

Despite the threats of being locked out, more than 7,000 working Hoosiers came to Indianapolis today to talk to their state legislators about the ill effects of the "right to work for less" bill.

With lines wrapping around the Capitol, and thousands waiting to get in, at 10:45 a.m Governor Daniels finally bowed to public pressure and rescinded the 3,000 visitor cap and the other unecessary restrictions on free speech.

The Statehouse can once again be considered the people's house.

Meanwhile, inside the Statehouse Republican House Speaker Brian Bosma and Senate President Pro Tem David Long continued to push for passage of the so-called "right to work" bill before the public's allowed to comment. Before the bill became public, a unprecedented joint hearing of the House and Senate Labor Committee has been set for 9:00 a.m Friday.

As lawmakers scrambled to read the bill and assess its content House Democrats caucused and held a press conference to call for public hearings around the state on the legislation

. House Democrat Leader Pat Bauer pledged not to return to the House floor until the public has had a chance to weigh in on the contraversional bill.

To view videos, news articles or comments from today at the Statehouse, click here.

On Thursday, the Indiana State AFL-CIO is again asking all working men and women who are available to come to the Indiana Statehouse beginning at 11:00 a.m. to talk with their legislators. And, on Friday, we are encouraging all interested parties to come to the Statehouse to testify at the joint Senate/House hearing on "right to work" which begins at 9:00 a.m. As we learn details of the hearing we will let you know.

Thursday at the Statehouse:

As you enter the building, please proceed to the Rotunda on the main floor of the Statehouse (2nd Floor) where volunteers will be wearing yellow vests to provide assistance and materials for the day.

1. Check in. Please check in at the Rotunda as you arrive at the Statehouse. Here you will be able to get legislators phone numbers, and materials for the day.

2. Lobby. We are at the Statehouse to talk to legislators about the "right to work" bill, not rally - so please make every effort to contact your legislators to have a discussion. In addition to calling their offices, we encourage you to email them and send in notes to the legislative chambers when they are on the floors of their respective chambers. If you are unsure who represents you click here to look them up.

3. Demand Public Hearings. Call Speaker Brian Bosma at 317-232-9657 or Senate President David Long at 317-232-9416 and ask them to hold public hearings around the State to allow full public input into this legislation.

4.Use Social Media to help spread our Message. For those of you with smart phones, we urge you to tweet (using the hashtag #inunion) as often as possible about what you are seeing and feeling. We also urge you to post items to your personal Facebook page and on the

Stand up for Hoosiers Facebook page. We must let the world know that Hoosiers are being locked out of their Statehouse while lobbyists get free-rein.

As we learn more information about the upcoming schedule, we will pass it along. Thanks to all those who helped take back the people's house today - and please continue to write, email, call and visit your legislators to talk to them about why "right to work" is wrong for Indiana!