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The first Labor Outreach Committee Meeting of 2008 was held on May 7th.
The first Labor Outreach Committee Meeting of 2008 was held this past Wednesday, May 7th.
The first Labor Outreach Committee meeting of 2008 was held on Wednesday May 7th at the IBEW Local 103 Hall to discuss recent events, and to set the direction of the committee for the upcoming months. The Labor Outreach Committee is a subcommittee of the Democratic State Committee, and is comprised of DSC members who are labor leaders, union members, or committed to the Labor Movement.
On the meeting’s agenda were several important proposals that are imminent in the Commonwealth and could have a severe impact on working families. First, was the ballot initiative to eliminate the state income tax, which will appear on the ballot in November. Tom Gosnell, President of AFT-Massachusetts, spoke about this initiative and how destructive it would be if passed. All public interests are in jeopardy if this initiative passes, as it would reduce the state’s budget by 40% and drive property taxes even higher than they already are. The Coalition for Our Communities is the campaign formed to defeat this ballot initiative. Click HERE for more information about the ballot initiative and the Coalition for Our Communities.
Robert Haynes, President of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, spoke about other political and legislative issues facing working families. These included efforts to keep public employees health care premium splits at 85/15; with 85% covered by their employers and 15% covered by the workers. Closing corporate tax loopholes while maintaining corporate tax rates was discussed as a way to make businesses pay their fair share of revenues to the Commonwealth and bring in approximately $300 million in new tax revenues. Paid Sick Days and various bond bills that Governor Patrick has proposed to build up public investments in education, housing, roads and bridges, and other infrastructure.
The Labor Outreach Committee also discussed the D.S.C. Meeting on this Saturday, May 10th, to elect Democratic National Committee members, At-large delegates, and Party Leader and Elected Official (PLEO) candidates to the Democratic National Convention. There are strong candidates on both the Obama and Clinton slates, as well as other candidates that are not on a slate. Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Robert Haynes is a PLEO candidate. The Massachusetts AFL-CIO wishes all labor activists the best in Saturday’s elections.
Stay tuned for more information on the Labor Outreach Committee. The LOC’s next event will be a breakfast held immediately before the Massachusetts Democratic State Convention at the Tsongas Arena in »
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