By Mark Gruenberg

PAI Staff Writer

WASHINGTON (PAI)--The AFL-CIO activated its state and local leadership and is appealing to its members to stage a massive blitz on June 10-12 of e-mail and phone calls to Congress, urging passage of a new bill lengthening jobless benefits from their present 26 weeks to 39 weeks in most states and 52 weeks in states with 6%+ jobless rates.

The effort, coordinated by Americans United for Change, also includes AFSCME and SEIU, leaders said in a June 10 telephone press conference.

Jorge Ramirez, Secretary-Treasurer of the Chicago Federation of Labor, will join some of the region's leading voices in health care policy and management on an independent governance board for the Cook County health system.  Ramirez was nominated by President Todd Stroger and confirmed by commissioners on Tuesday. 

The Board of Health Directors was created earlier this year to improve the quality and sustainability of the health system.

International holiday to celebrate workers has Chicago origin

Chicago –Labor leaders and workers’ rights advocates recognized the struggles and accomplishments of working men and women on May Day, a holiday celebrated around the world by millions as International Workers’ Day.

On Thursday, May 1, Chicago's labor community will celebrate May Day as International Workers Day with a ceremony at the Haymarket Monument.  Organized labor will call for fairness and justice in the workplace, including the right to organize and the Employee Free Choice Act, access to health care, fair trade agreements, and the right to earn a living wage.