News

Government gets blamed for widening wealth gap

The state and federal governments are largely responsible for the widening gap between the rich and poor in the United States and should institute policy changes - including reforms to the tax code and more investment in education - to help reverse this 30-year trend, economists and researchers told state lawmakers Wednesday.

San Francisco Chronical

December 8, 2011

California's wealth pyramid

Is there a widening gap between rich and poor? In the nation, and particularly in California, the answer is yes. The most durable message from the Occupy Wall Street encampments across the nation is also the simplest: "We are the 99%." But are the implications of that message fair? Is there a widening gap between rich and poor? Are those doing well just a fraction of the populace?

Los Angeles Times

December 6, 2011

This strike could start to turn the tide of a generation

United Kingdom--It's not just the scale of the strike, though, but its breadth, from headteachers to school cleaners in every part of the country, that has set it apart. Most of those taking action were women, and the majority had never been on strike before. This has been the "big society" in action, but not as Cameron meant it.

The Guardian (UK)

December 1, 2011

Thanks to Nurses Union and Occupy Wall Street, Pressure for Wall Street Speculation Tax Grows

“There’s the idea of taxing financial transactions, which have exploded in recent decades. The economic value of all this trading is dubious at best. In fact, there’s considerable evidence suggesting that too much trading is going on.”

AlterNet.org

December 1, 2011

Strikes over public sector pensions hit services across UK as 2 million walk out

Trade unions and the government have traded blows over the impact of the biggest outbreak of industrial unrest in three decades, as up to 2 million public sector workers went on strike, forcing the closure of 62% of state schools in England and the cancellation of 6,000 hospital operations.

The Gardian (UK)

November 30, 2011

Wednesday's UK strike is just the start

The day of action is a rebuke to an elite that gives money to banks at the expense of the poor. Wednesday's public sector pensions strike is more than industrial action; it is a national day of rebuke. The dispute represents many things beyond its central purpose of making ministers think again about trying to make public servants pay more, work longer, and receive less. It represents a rebuke to an elite, represented by the Conservative-dominated coalition, which has treated the banks and hedge funds in precisely the opposite way, giving them more to deliver less in lending and investment.

Guardian, UK

November 29, 2011

Minnesota Nurses Association leader talks OccupyMN, strikes and Facebook

A report published last week in Health Care Management Review downplays the importance of nurse-patient staffing ratios in the quality of patient care. But Linda Hamilton, two-term president of the Minnesota Nurses Association, maintains that those ratios are still the 20,000-member organization's utmost concern.

MedCityNews.com

November 29, 2011

Redefining the Union Boss

New York Times - When Rose Ann DeMoro speaks, her voice sounds like a burbling faucet. Ms. DeMoro, 61, is executive director of National Nurses United, a 170,000-member union that she runs with dramatic flair.

New York Times

November 21, 2011

Robin Hood tax gains ground at the G-20

The G-20 meeting in Cannes got under way last week. The sunny beach resort, playground to movie stars and media moguls, was an odd choice for a somber meeting. As President Obama touched down in Air Force One, the Greek government was on the verge of collapse, austerity was sweeping Europe and the future of the Eurozone was in doubt.

Capital Times

November 9, 2011

Robin Hood Tax Gains Ground at the G-20

The G-20 meeting in Cannes got underway this week. The sunny beach resort, playground to movie stars and media moguls was an odd choice for a somber G-20 meeting. As President Obama and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner touched down in Air Force One, the Greek government was on the verge of collapse, austerity was sweeping Europe and the future of the Eurozone in doubt.

CommonDreams

November 4, 2011