No on California Prop: 54 Connerly’s Information Ban

Ward Connerly is back. The right-wing financier behind Prop 209 has come up with yet another ballot initiative to promote racial inequality in California- Proposition Sq.

What is Proposition 54?

Proposition 54-otherwise known as the Information Ban-would bar state and local agencies from collecting and analyzing data on race and ethnicity. While collecting "data" might not seem important, state and local governments rely on this Information to enforce laws against dlscrlmlnation, .and to develop programs to eliminate racial disparities in health and education. Proposition 54 Is an attack on equal rights at the workplace, in the housing market, in schools, in health care. If passed, Prop 54 would:

Promote Workplace and Housing Discrimination Tens of thousands of Californians report Workplace and housing discrimination every year to the'Department of Fair Employment and Housing In ten years, Prop 54 will block this Department from gathering information on employment or housing discrimination Based on race or ethnicity. Without this information, the State of California will not be able to enforce anti-discrimination laws.

Neglect Unequal Schools

Students of color in California have less access to trained teachers, score lower on standardized tests, and are more likely to drop out of high school. Prop 54 would prevent our school system from using data on race and ethnicity to develop programs to make the educational system more equitable for our students.

Allow Hate Crimes to Go Unpunished

Reports of hate crimes are on the rise in California, and most are based on the victim's race or ethnicity. Under Prop 54, the State would no longer be able to mandate hate crime data collection and reporting, making hate crimes much more difficult to punish.

Destroy Public Health Programs

Our public health system relies on data about race and ethinticity to target programs that will reduce the rates of breast cancer, teen pregnancy, and childhood obesity in certain communities. Prop 54 would destroy these public health programs.For information on this campaign, and how to get involved, please go to: www.informedcalifornia.org

Labor's Anti-Recall Fight Makes Headlines:

The Federation made above-the-fold headlines across the globe today because of our strong position against the recall of Governor Gray Davis. It began when the Federation's executive council sent a letter to California's Democratic elected officials urging them to stay off the ballot. The groundswell grew after the AFL-ClO's executive council, meeting in Chicago, voted unanimously to support the Federation's position. Hundreds of stories appeared in the national and international press today.

Some highlights:

"This is not about one man. This is about the principles of democracy." - Art Pulaski, executive secretary-treasurer, California Labor Federation, AFL- CIO (Bloomberg)

We are united against the recall of Governor Davis and urge all potential Democratic candidates to stay off the recall ballot" - Federation letter (CNN)

"United, we will defeat this ultra-conservative coup attempt" - Federation letter (CBS)

"The recall will cost $70 million and will produce an uncertain future for our nation's largest state." - AFL- ClO Statement (NBC)

"We call on all state leaders In the Democratic Party to stand united with the governor and stay off the recall ballot" - AFL-CIO Statement (Reuters, UK)

"The support came at a crucial time for the governor." (New York Times)

"Governor Gray Davis got a key boost in his fight for political survival" (Los Angeles Times)

"This is standing up on principle and protecting democracy. Someone has to stand up and say, we're not going to take this anymore." - Art Pulaski (San Francisco Chronicle)

"We are not guided here merely by the short term or practical reaction of politics, but a principle upon which we stand, that this is a hijacking of an election." - Art Pulaski (New York Times)

Late breaking news: Arnold Schwarzenegger has formally announced he will run in the recall election.

HEALTH CARE FOR WORKING FAMILIES DAY OF ACTION

September '4th is Health Care Now Day. The Federation will be coordinating a statewide day of action to win health care for California's 5 million working uninsured. Please join us in calling and faxing the Governor's office to ask him to sign S6 2, HEALTH CARE FOR WORKING FAMIUES. For additional information check out www.healthcareforworkinqfamilies.org

Workers' Comp On Next Session's

Legislative Agenda

When the legislature reconvenes on August 18th, the crisis in California's workers' compensation system will be one of the top agenda items. Premiums have gone up over 50% over the last three years and the Workers' Compensation Rating Bureau is claiming that another 12% increase is needed next January to keep up with increasing costs. Medical costs, which now make up almost 2/3 of the benefit dollar, are the major cause of the premium increases. Industry deregulation, which led 27 Insurance companies Into bankruptcy and drove many more out of the California market, is also to blame.

The Federation is working on a reform package designed to reduce workers' compensation costs while protecting the rights of injured workers and improving the functionality of the system. The answers to reducing premiums lie in gaining control of medical costs, re-regulating the insurance industry, speeding up the processing of claims and, of course, better safety practices to stop the injuries from happening in the first place. .

Critical for a real reform is the implementation of a comprehensive medical fee schedule based on Medicare as proposed by Senator Alarcon's bill SB 228. The outpatient surgery center lobbyists have succeeded in evading coverage by a fee schedule in the past. They cannot be allowed to do it again. Excessive outpatient and pharmaceutical fees taken

Together are projected to cost the system almost $1.2 billion in 2004.

To protect our recently hard won benefit increases, which are still being phased in over the next three years, it is essential that Labor speak with one voice on workers' compensation during the next month and a half. We need to work closely together to pass real reforms that reduce system costs without taking money from the pockets of injured workers. When the legislature reconvenes in August the issue will come before a Conference Committee. Members of the committee are Senators Burton, Alarcon, and Poochigian and Assembly Members Vargas, Nunez and Maddox.

The Federation will be calling on all affiliates soon for help in getting the right reform package out of the Conference Committee and to the Governor. For more information on Workers Camp reform visit

Www calaborfed org/legislation/leg index htm

UFCW Convention Takes on Health Care, Wal-Mart

Union delegates at the UFCW five year Convention held last week in San Francisco passed resolutions on two issues of concern to many union members. The convention participants approved a resolution concerning the nationwide health care crisis, affirming that "many men, women and children are suffering and dying needlessly, and others are forced to use Emergency Rooms as their only source of care." The union committed to take whatever action is necessary to establish a quality system of national health care.

Delegates also passed a resolution condemning Wal-Mart for driving down wages and benefits in the industry and for waging aggressive anti-union campaigns and vowed to "assist any and all Wal-Mart workers who desire to improve their lives through collective bargaining... because, truly, their fight is our fight"

EVENTS

REMINDER: Health Care for Working Families: Town Halls across the State

Join one of the town hall meetings across the state to support "Senate Bill 2, Health Care for Working Families," the bill that would provide health care to five million Californians. For more information call 510-663-4010.

Dates are: Alameda County Thursday, August 7th, 3:30pm - 5:30 pm, Orange County Thursday, August 7th, 5:30 pm, San Diego Saturday, August 9th, 10 am, San Francisco Thursday, August 14th, 5 - 6:30 pm

HERE local 2850 "Good Fortune" Rally At the Claremont!

In Chinese, B is a number that brings good fortune and prosperity. On August 8th (8IB!) HERE is holding a picket at the Claremont, to ensure that good fortune extends to workers as they continue to fight for one union for all workers. With a plan for a big escalation against the Claremont in the fall, this rally will show Claremont that the union is ready to keep fighting until everyone has won a fair contract! Friday, August 8th, 3:00pm to 5:00 pm, at the Main Entrance of the Hotel on Ashby Avenue. For more information, contact Claire Darby at (510) 893-3181, ext. 133.

Discount Fares - Not Discounted Employees!

Transport Workers Union Local 556, which represents over 7,100 Southwest Airlines Flight Attendants, needs your support in helping them achieve the contract they deserve. Tuesday, August 19, 2003. 11 am - 1 pm at the San Diego Lindbergh Field of the SD International Airport. For more Information call 1-800-969-7932 ext. '12.