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Welcome to the Trades & Labor websiteWelcome to the Bloomington & Normal Trades & Labor Assembly web site. Here you will find current news articles from the Grand Prairie Union News , community services updates, a thorough labor history of both Bloomington and Normal, Illinois (including pieces on early Irish railroad laborers, Mother Jones' exciting 1917 visit and the 1978 Normal fire fighters strike), and an archive of labor book, film, and music reviews. You can reach us at 309-828-8813, P.O. Box 3396, Bloomington, IL 61702.Mott apples rotten to the coreAmong the many TV ad jingles sadly cluttering my brain since childhood (although useful in trivia contests) is the one that went, "The finest apples from Apple Land/Make Mott's Apple Sauce taste grand!" Federal dollars bring jobs to Normal
Senator Richard Durbin (D), center, and Congresswoman Debbie Halvorson (D- Illinois 11th District), pose with Laborers Local 362 members at the ground breaking for Normal's multi-modal transportation center on August 7. Local, state and federal officials touted the economic benefits of the uptown transportation center before turning the first ceremonial shovel of dirt near the site Saturday, August 7. “I believe taxpayer money is well invested,” said Sen. Dick Durbin. “The high-speed rail corridor will bring much more development. If we don’t spend money to put people to work, we’ll never get out of this recession.” Union picket survives line incident
When Operative Plasterers & Cement Masons Local 18 asked member Joanna Carnahan to help picket on June 17, she readily agreed. Not that she pickets that often, but she knows a good union member stand up for their organization. Little did she know that she would end up in the hospital. |
Bloomington Labor Day Parade marches Sept 6
With a theme of "A Working America is a Strong America," Bloomington's Labor Day Parade will march on Monday, September 6 at 10 a.m. Labor Secretary Solis praises NLRB's 75th anniversary
July 6 marked the 75th anniversary of the National Labor Relations Act - also known as the Wagner Act - one of the lesser known, but key components of President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal. Bill Brady, who's a union boss?Republican candidate for Governor Bill Brady recently sent your editor a letter, asking for $30 a month to oppose Democratic Governor Pat Quinn and stop “the union bosses.”Senator Brady, who are these “union bosses” you are referring to? Trumka:Working people have a right to be angryby AFL-CIO President Richard TrumkaI am going to talk tonight about anger—and specifically the anger of working people. I want to explain why working people are right to be mad about what has happened to our economy and our country, and then I want to talk about why there is a difference between anger and hatred. Heartland IFT members honor Joe McCauley
Introducing a book of sketches by Joe McCauley called “The Tactile and The Intellectual”. This 80-page book consists of quotes by Joe about art and humanities with over 100 sketches. All proceeds from the sale of this book will go to the Heartland Community College Joe McCauley Art Scholarship Fund. • Image Wrap versions of this book are $48 Please make checks payable to: Heartland Faculty Association, Local #6038 Books will be delivered to faculty mailboxes or may be picked up from Jane Camp, ICB 2606 in approximately 4-6 weeks. Please e-mail jane.camp@heartland.edu for additional information or questions. PAL workers in Pekin settle strikeLaborers Local 231 members at PAL Health Technologies in Pekin, Illinois, returned to work on Monday, February 1, after a four-month strike against the foot orthotics manufacturer.Bill Brady opposes the minimum wageBloomington State Senator Bill Brady, Republican candidate for Illinois Governor, recently came out in favor of cutting workers’ minimum wage.Obama at Lincoln Library: Lincoln speaks to today's politicsOn April 19,2005, the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum was formally dedicated in Springfield. President George Bush was there, along with Governor Rod Blagojevich, Senator Dick Durbin and Congressmen RayLaHood and Dennis Hastert. Your editor was in the audience and was deeply moved by then Senator Barack Obama’s words. Obama spoke about Lincoln’s heritage and its reflection in our current political climate. There are some excellent points here worth reading carefully and pondering. |