Protect Insurance Companies PSA

Hollywood speaks out to help insurance companies

Have we been too hard on private insurance companies? Will Ferrell and others say so in this new public service announcement from Funny or Die:

"As the health care debate heats up, we need to remember who the real victims are: health insurance executives…Why is Obama trying to reform health care when insurance companies are doing just fine making billions of dollars in profit?"

Just a Spoonful of Sugar: Potluck and Phone Bank

Let's make health care access palatable for all!

Our allies in the health care reform battle, Organizing for America, are providing Raleigh area residents another opportunity to affect the change we need in health care.

On Sunday, October 11 from 2 to 5:00 pm, there will be a potluck and phone bank for health care reform at the Raleigh offices of Organizing for America.

What: Fun, food, and phone banking for health care reform
When: Sunday, October 11 from 2:00 to 5:00 pm
Where: Organizing for America Raleigh office, 130 E Morgan St, Raleigh, NC

Bring a healthy appetite for health care reform and a dish to share. Suggestion: if your name begins A-O, bring an entree or bring a dessert if your name begins P-Z. And remember to also bring a fully-charged cell phone and a burning desire to move the health care reform mountain.

Please RSVP for this event by clicking here or emailing zkids@yahoo.com. Thanks!

Must See Film - Capitalism: A Love Story - Opens Today

Michael Moore's new film is indictment of political corruption, corporate greed and the cult of Wall Street

At the national AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh last month, delegates, labor activists, and other attendees were treated to the world premier of Michael Moore's latest film, Capitalism: A Love Story. When the film was over, Moore received a standing ovation from crowd.

The movie is a scathing critique of the current economic order in the United States, one that, Moore alleges, has replaced democracy with corporatism, corruption, and unchecked greed.

Find a showing of Capitalism: A Love Story near you.

"No matter what side of the political fence you're on or what you think of Moore as an activist and provocateur, a film that explores the economic meltdown and its historical roots is something most of us can get our heads around. Capitalism is impassioned, informative and entertaining...His rallying cry is simple: The country needs to return to its democratic roots."
--Claudia Puig, USA Today

"Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story is a blistering, mad-as-hell indictment of everything in America that, according to Moore, has led to our current state of economic peril. The back-scratching greed and corruption, the cult of Wall Street as a casino for elites, the subprime mortgage vendors who operated like loan sharks: Moore pulls the big picture together...urgent, unsettling, and mischievously funny."
--Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

After you've seen Capitalism: A Love Story, we'd like to hear your thoughts about the film. Leave us your comments.

APRI at YWCA Women's Health Luncheon

Raleigh chapter ready to aid community

Wednesday afternoon nine ladies of APRI attended the YWCA Women's Health & Fitness Day. The afternoon included a presentation on women's health, with an emphasis on the importance of eating healthy foods and visiting the doctor once a year to check blood pressure, glucose and conduct a mammogram.

APRI's participation illustrates the organization's willingness and desire to reach out into the community and weigh in on important issues such as women's health.

"Some people don't understand that labor folks are part of the community too," says Mary Montford. "We need to get out there and show the face of labor in a positive way to gain community allies and remake the image of unions."

APRI plans on participating in more of these workshops in the future so that people can see the positive effect of the labor movement in our communities.

REMINDER: NC NAACP Labor Breakfast is Next Friday!

Special event for labor at 66th State NAACP Convention on 10/9

Our HKonJ ally on many issues important to workers and working families in North Carolina - like the long-fought campaign to organize Smithfield Foods and our effort to win collective bargaining rights for public employees - the NC chapter of the NAACP will hold it's 66th Annual State Convention in Hickory next month.

The NC NAACP has invited us to join them at the Labor & Industry Breakfast on Friday, October 9, 2009.

What: NAACP Labor & Industry Breakfast
Where: Hickory Metro Convention Center, 1960 13th St NE, Hickory, NC
When: Friday, October 9 at 7:00 AM

Civil rights and labor leader the Rev. Nelson Johnson will deliver the keynote address at the Labor & Industry breakfast.

For more information about the 66th Annual NAACP State Convention, visit www.naacpnc.org.

NC AFL-CIO Convention Pics are Now Online

Visit the photostream to take a look

Did you take pictures at the convention that you would like to share with us? Email your shots to jeremy@aflcionc.org and include your name so we can give you the credit.