Thursday, July 24, 2008
Global Actions Calling for Reform Put KKR, Buyout Industry on Notice
Thousands Protest Tax Loopholes That Benefit Wealthy Buyout CEOs
Last Thursday, against a backdrop of rising income inequality and economic anxiety, thousands of workers and community leaders around the world rallied at corporate offices of global buyout firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), calling for an end to tax loopholes for wealthy buyout CEOs.
More than 100 actions in 25 countries on six continents put the buyout industry on notice it will face a coordinated, growing global effort to end special tax breaks and business practices undermining the economic well-being of workers. For a list of actions, photos, and videos, visit
www.july17action.org.
SEIU and community leaders nationwide are engaged in a campaign to hold powerful corporate buyout firms—now effectively 5 of the top 10 largest U.S. employers—accountable to workers and communities. After Wal-Mart, the second largest U.S. employer is KKR, which owns a stake in companies that employ more than 800,000 workers. The July 17 Global Day of Action, focused on KKR, is the largest-ever coordinated action focused on a single multinational corporation.
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Building a New American Health Care System
Over the past several years, SEIU and its members have become the strongest force for quality affordable health care anywhere in America.
Through every means at our disposal – organizing workers, negotiating contracts, political leadership, grassroots action, legislative victories, and building alliances—SEIU has elevated the importance of health care and established itself as the force to be reckoned with, from the market place to the ballot box.
And we’ve just begun. The critical 2008 elections give us an unprecedented opportunity to raise the bar even higher. We are seizing that opportunity and will not stop until every man, woman and child has quality, affordable care they can count on.
SEIU has compiled a history of the union’s work in the health care movement along with our members’ vision for the future. You can read it here.
SEIU Report: McCain’s Health Care Plan Would Make It Harder for Americans to Get Coverage
SEIU recently released a review of John McCain's disastrous health care proposals as part of an extensive voter education campaign. The research will be shared with the more than 500,000 health care voters identified by SEIU through its Americans for Health Care campaign, as well as other voters, union members and community allies.
As the research shows, McCain’s latest ideas for health care would actually make obtaining coverage more difficult for the average working family and raise health care costs for millions of hardworking Americans.
The McCain’s health care plan is harmful to workers is of little surprise; McCain’s closest campaign advisers are the very insider lobbyists who are benefiting from the current broken system.
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SEIU Calls on Health Insurance Industry to Join the Health Care Reform Team
On Monday, SEIU and Health Care for America Now called on the health insurance industry to to stop putting profits over the needs of hard working families. Today, more than 200 SEIU members will hold an informational picket in Columbus, OH to counter the launch of the insurance industry's campaign to keep the health care status quo.SEIU Running Health Care TV Ad In Missouri Governor’s Race
SEIU recently began airing a new television ad throughout Missouri supporting gubernatorial candidate Jay Nixon - the best choice for Missouri voters concerned about health care.You can view the ad now on YouTube.
Kentucky Senate Candidate Bruce Lunsford “Walks A Day in the Shoes” of SEIU Member
On July 11, Kentucky Senate candidate Bruce Lunsford walked a day in the shoes of SEIU member and school custodian Zina Stanley. Together, they scrubbed floors and did a variety of other tasks to get Butler Traditional High School ready for the academic year. You can watch videos of candidates walking a day in the shoes of SEIU members at Walk a Day in My Shoes."Gouging Grandma: Billionaire Bruce Wasserstein:” New Documentary Reveals Exploitation of Seniors At Elderly Care Facilities
Workers and residents from assisted living provider Atria Senior Living will join SEIU members came together on the streets of New York, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Boston to debut a new film about Atria’s mistreatment of its workers and elderly tenants by acclaimed documentary film-maker Robert Greenwald. Watch the documentary and visit ImproveAssistedLiving.org for more information.
All That Glitters Isn’t Gold: Keep Private Equity Away From Our Banks
“Short-term capital infusions from private-equity funds will only make the banking crisis worse, by encouraging risky behavior and abusive banking practices,” writes SEIU President Andy Stern in a Wall Street Journal op-ed today. Click here to read.
Washington Governor “Walks A Day in the Shoes” of SEIU Member
On June 30, Washington Governor Christine Gregoire walked a day in the shoes of SEIU home care worker Rosa Vadillo. SEIU members across the country are inviting candidates for races from Mayor to Governor to experience firsthand what its like to work and raise a family in America. Read more at Walk a Day in My Shoes.
