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ATU Action Weekly Update - 7/23/2007
Minimum Wage Increases This Week
The wait is finally over.
Minimum wage workers, who have gone more than a decade without a
raise, will see the first of a three-step minimum wage increase
go into effect tomorrow, July 24. This first step will raise the
minimum wage from $5.15 (where it has been frozen since 1997) to
$5.85. The second step will raise the minimum wage to $6.55
on July 24, 2008; and the third step will raise the minimum wage
to $7.25 on July 24, 2009. Increasing the
minimum wage for the first time in 10 years was one of the
first things Democrats did after taking control of
Congress. For years, President Bush and the Republicans in
Congress had blocked efforts to increase the minimum wage, but
they could no longer stand in the way of overwhelming support
from an American public and a Democratic Congress that was
determined to move forward with the long overdue raise.
Senators Seek to Overturn Wage Discrimination Ruling Last Friday, July 20th, a bipartisan group of fourteen Senators, led by Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Arlen Specter (R-PA), introduced a bill to overturn the Supreme Court's recent 5-4 decision in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, which undermined the basic protection against pay discrimination under the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The decision also undermines pay discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. The bill, called The Fair Pay Restoration Act, would restore the clear intent of Congress that workers must have a reasonable time to file a pay discrimination claim after they become victims of discriminatory compensation. In addition, the bill would clarify that the laws against pay discrimination apply to every paycheck or other compensation a worker receives. The bill's protection would extend to pay discrimination based on race, national origin, gender, religious, age or disability. The bill's co-sponsors include Democratic Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Barack Obama (D-IL) and Chris Dodd (D-CT).
Tell Congress to Stop Medicare Privatization Remember when President Bush tried to privatize Social Security? We were able to stop him. But in 2003, President Bush also tried to privatize Medicare by giving private insurance companies big subsidies to provide benefits that Medicare usually provides at a much lower cost. Today, these subsidies are out of control, putting the entire Medicare program at risk. They've already resulted in higher premiums - and they may force Congress to cut benefits. Within the next few weeks, Congress will vote on a law to cut overpayments to private insurance companies. Call Congress today. Tell your lawmaker to stop the privatization of Medicare and cut the overpayments to private insurance companies: 1-800-828-0498.
Attn: ATU Convention Delegates and Guests - Be an ATU Idol! Slots are still open for contestants for the ATU Idol Show at the ATU International Convention on September 17th. To be eligible, you must be a delegate to the Convention or an ATU member who has registered as a guest. ATU Idol was the surprise hit of the ATU International Convention in 2004, and it promises to be even better this year. Contestants bring their best vocal renditions of rock and pop hits, as well as selections from a wide range of American standards. Accompaniment is chosen by contestants from a HUGE list of Karaoke backup CDs provided by the competition. A panel of non-ATU entertainment professionals will judge the performances – just like the hit TV show. There may be a "Simon" in the group, but that’s all a part of the fun. Prizes will be awarded to the top performers,
but the real winner will be the ATU MS Research Fund – the
recipient of all show proceeds. Don’t delay. Performance slots are limited. You can download an application and the song list from the ATU website at http://www.atu.org. Just click on the ATU Idol link. |
