WASHINGTON: Statement by National AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka, urging the appointment of Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

The National AFL-CIO applauds the passage of the Wall Street Accountability Act and looks forward to the creation of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - which has the potential to be a powerful and independent voice for consumers.  In our view, there is only one candidate who is uniquely qualified and equipped to head this new agency: Harvard Law School Professor Elizabeth Warren, who originated the idea of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and has proven as Chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel to be a strong and fearless advocate for the American public.  We therefore strongly urge President Obama to appoint Professor Warren as director of the new Consumer Protection Bureau.  Professor Warren's appointment would make clear that under President Obama's leadership, there truly will be accountability for Wall Street and fair treatment for the American public in the financial marketplace.

WASHINGTON: United Steelworkers Send 100,000 Letters Urging Action On Clean Energy Jobs Legislation, Creating & Maintaining Manufacturing Jobs

(WASHINGTON) - As the U.S. Senate prepares to take up Clean Energy legislation, members of the United Steelworkers (USW), along with USW International Secretary-Treasurer Stan Johnson and BlueGreen Alliance Executive Director David Foster, are highlighting the more than 100,000 letters sent from USW Members that urge action on strong Clean Energy Jobs Legislation with critical policies aimed at creating and maintaining good manufacturing jobs across the United States.

“Union members sent more than one-hundred-thousand letters urging action on Clean Energy Jobs Legislation that includes the investments that we need to create and maintain good, Middle-Class manufacturing jobs in this country.  Now it’s time for the Senate to get moving on clean energy jobs legislation,” said USW Member Dennis Barker from Granite City, Illinois.

Added USW Member Wilmer Bradley from Collierville, Tennessee: “We have an opportunity to make America a leader in building the components for the emerging Clean Energy Economy, but we can only do that if we make the necessary investments in manufacturing that will ensure that clean energy technologies are built here at home, creating and maintaining jobs in every community in America.”

“We have to build a clean energy economy that maintains current and creates new jobs in America,” USW Secretary-Treasurer Stan Johnson said. “For example, every wind turbine has two-point-five tons of steel and eight-thousand parts.  Solar panels, energy-efficient windows and numerous other clean energy products use glass, aluminum, steel, paper products and other materials. We already have the domestic capability to produce everything here in the U.S., but only if we make the necessary investments in American manufacturing.”

David Foster, executive director of the BlueGreen Alliance, a national partnership of Labor Unions and environmental organizations - including the USW and the Sierra Club, said: “The U.S. is poised to be a global leader in the production of clean energy technologies, but only if we act now and only if we implement policies that build clean energy manufacturing.”

DENMARK, N.Y.: Carthage Area Hospital Nurses To Management: “You’d Rather Play Golf Than Negotiate!”

(DENMARK, NEW YORK) - Carthage Area Hospital Registered Nurses (RNs) will be without a contract as of July 31^st, yet instead of taking every opportunity to reach a deal, hospital management has decided to play golf on Friday.

The RNs at the hospital, who are represented by the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA), are angry that management will not make time to sit down and negotiate.

“NYSNA and a federal mediator cleared their schedules to meet with hospital management on Friday, July 23rd, but management had other plans to play golf on that day.  Apparently a day on the links is more important than protecting patient care,” NYSNA representative Roger Bull said.

After five bargaining sessions, negotiations at the hospital have stalled.

RNs are asking the hospital to provide differential pay for night shift and specialty nurses to allow the facility to fill these vital positions, Union Officials said, adding they also want management to remedy the current 34% vacancy rate for nighttime RNs.

The nurses plan to attend the hospital foundation’s golf tournament on Friday, which is being held at Carlowden Golf Course in Denmark, New York.  Although some of the hospital’s administrators will be playing golf to benefit the hospital, the nurses want to remind hospital management that providing excellent patient care is their shared top priority, Union Representatives said.

NYSNA – The Voice for Nursing in the Empire State - represents more than 37,000 members and is the state's largest professional association and Union for RNs.  NYSNA supports nurses and nursing practice through education, research, legislative advocacy and collective bargaining.