Free Republic

Breaking from his party, Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter on Friday issued his first veto, rejecting a controversial labor bill that had prompted a large and vocal campaign from business interests who said it would hamstring the state economicially. House Bill 1072 would have eliminated one of two votes needed for unions to negotiate all-union shops. The Democratic governor campaigned as a pro-business moderate but also indicated to labor that he would sign such a measure. "We are obviously extremely disappointed that Gov. Ritter felt it necessary to break a campaign promise under pressure from big business," Steve Adams of the...

Unions spent more than $100 million getting out the vote, knocked on millions of doors and delivered Election Day support to Democrats running for the House by a more than 2-to-1 ratio. Now organized labor is spelling out what it wants from the new Democratic Congress. The priorities include raising the minimum wage, expanding health care and improving pension protections. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney sees the elections as a "mandate for a union agenda." Likewise, says Bill Samuel, legislative director for the AFL-CIO, "we have an opportunity to push our agenda... The AFL-CIO executive council is scheduled to meet Tuesday...

West Coast beat Sydney by one point in a classic AFL grand final today at the MCG. The teams produced a grand final even more nail-biting than their thriller last year, with the Eagles reversing the result to hold on this time to win 12.13 (85) to 12.12 (84). It was West Coast's third premiership, following its flags in 1992 and '94. The Swans, who won last year's decider by four points, reduced the margin to one point three times during the last quarter but only led at the very start of the game when they opened the scoring with...

PRIME Minister John Howard said he has concerns national football finals could be terrorist targets. But Mr Howard said there was no evidence any terrorist attack could occur. The AFL Grand Final between Sydney and West Coast will be played at Melbourne's MCG tomorrow, while fans will also pack Sydney's Telstra Stadium for the NRL final between Melbourne and Brisbane on Sunday. "Like everybody else I worry about the potential (for a terrorist attack on the football finals), and I hope and pray nothing happens," Mr Howard told Southern Cross Radio today. "I don't believe it will. I know all...

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City police stopped a bus carrying Soul players yesterday morning and took five players to police headquarters in connection with a rape investigation. The Soul defeated the Kansas City Brigade, 54-24, in an Arena Football League game at Kemper Arena on Monday night. The team's bus was preparing to leave Kansas City when officers pulled it over.

Everybody has their favorite memory of Super Bowl III, aka the Game That Changed Pro Football Forever -- everybody who goes back that far, that is. Maybe it's Matt Snell scoring to put the Jets ahead of the Colts, the first time the AFL had ever led the NFL (in a Real Game, anyway). Or perhaps it's the shot of Joe Namath jogging off the field, right index finger aloft. For me, though, it's Curt Gowdy, NBC's play-by-play man, calling Sports Illustrated's Tex Maule a word that can't be used in this newspaper after the telecast was over -- but...

Early reports show the AFL-CIO spent $49 million (27 percent of its total annual budget) on political and lobbying activities but only $30 million (or 16.5 percent) to represent its members. That gap contributed to the breakaway from the AFL-CIO of the Teamsters, the Service Employees and other unions.

Wednesday 15th February, 2006 Two unions leave AFL-CIO Big News Network.com Tuesday 14th February, 2006 (UPI) The Laborers' International Union and the International Union of Operating Engineers said Tuesday they were leaving the AFL-CIO. The two unions, two of the largest in the United States and have 1.1 million members between them, will leave the AFL-CIO's Building and Construction Trades Department to form a new organization. Both unions will join several other construction trade unions in founding the National Construction Alliance, which will represent virtually all union basic trades workers in the United States. The NCA will focus on helping...

THE Swans and Kangaroos could be playing for million-dollar American football contracts on Monday. The Sydney-Kangaroos exhibition match here is primarily to give US sports fans a taste of the AFL but, in the wake of Ben Graham's stunning debut season with the New York Jets, NFL scouts are expected to attend. The match will be held at the University of California (UCLA), home to the country's glamour college American football team, the UCLA Bruins. Members of the UCLA coaching staff will also be taking a look at potential recruits. "Sure, we're interested in looking at these guys," UCLA director...

IF the West Coast Eagles win tomorrow's AFL Grand Final, a bet between the New South Wales and WA premiers will see the Perth's team flag flying from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. WA Premier Geoff Gallop said today he had made a bet with his NSW counterpart Morris Iemma on the outcome of the match between the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles. "If the Eagles win he'll fly the Eagles flag over the bridge and if the Swans win we'll hang the flag over Parliament," Dr Gallop said on ABC radio. "That's the deal. When a premier commits...

Union riveter Chester A. Riley would know what to say: What a revoltin’ development this is. Two major unions broke away from the AFL-CIO this week with others likely to follow. When the dust settles, the labor federation stands to lose a third of its membership. After 50 years of dominance in representing unionized workers, the AFL-CIO will now confront that which it abhors, competition. Union power is predicated on monopoly. Use our members or go out of business, Mr. Employer. Pay our dues or go without a job, Mr. Worker. Protect us from overseas competition, Mr. President. AFL-CIO boss...

IN a shift in the pecking order of Australian sport, rugby union has surpassed rugby league in national interest for the first time since the 15-a-side game turned professional 10 years ago, according to the Sweeney Sports Report. The annual survey of sporting interest and sponsorship, shows interest in rugby union has surged from 29 per cent to 44 per cent in the past four years. Rugby union is three percentage points ahead of rugby league, but still trails AFL (55 per cent) and soccer (45 per cent). While rugby union is behind AFL, it has closed the gap in...

Former NFL defensive lineman Al Lucas died on Sunday from a presumed spinal cord injury sustained while trying to make a tackle for the Los Angeles Avengers during an Arena Football League game, the team said. Lucas was taken to California Hospital and all attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, team physician Dr. Luga Podesta said in a statement. Members of the team were prohibited from speaking to the media after the game. A call to a California Hospital spokesman was not returned.

No mandate for Bush agenda Author: Tim Wheeler, Editor of PWW First published 04.11.2004 00:00 by {article_topic_desc} WASHINGTON — Bruised but unbowed by labor’s failure to oust George W. Bush in the Nov. 2 election, AFL-CIO President John Sweeney told a news conference here that the movement will “fight like hell” to stop Bush’s ultra-right agenda in his second term. “Yesterday’s election was breathtakingly close. There is clearly no conservative mandate for our nation,” Sweeney said. The people reject Bush policies of outsourcing jobs, privatizing Social Security and are demanding affordable health care, he said. Sweeney spoke at a crowded...

To:        Interested Parties From:   Bush-Cheney '04 Communications Date:    10/11/04 Re:        Violence At Republican And Bush-               Cheney '04 Campaign Headquarters               Across The CountryBelow is the text of a letter sent by Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign Chairman Governor Marc Racicot to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney via fax at 10:15 a.m. today.  The letter asks Sweeney to put an end to protest activities that have led to injuries, property damage, vandalism and voter intimidation at Bush-Cheney '04 and Republican Party offices around the country.Bush-Cheney '04 has created a hotline for victims of voter intimidation to report what happened.  The hotline, 1-888-303-7125, will...

AFL-CIO LOBBYIST: "Gephardt better damn well be the pick ... We've done too much for Kerry to get screwed this way. A governor from Iowa ain't going to cut it for our membership. It's been tough enough selling Kerry to some of our people." (The Prowler, "Kerry Flies The Flag," The American Spectator Website, http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=6698, 6/15/04)

PIERRE, S.D. - South Dakota will observe April 17 as a working holiday in honor of former Gov. Joe Foss under a bill that received final legislative approval Wednesday. The Senate voted 33-1 to pass HB1222, which was approved a couple of weeks ago by the House of Representatives. The measure will become law if signed by Gov. Mike Rounds. The bill would designate April 17 as a holiday, but people would still work on that date. Sen. Arne Brown, R-Brookings, said Foss should be honored as a former governor and for his many other accomplishments. Foss grew up near...

America's top World War II ace and the first commissioner of the American Football League, retired U.S. Marine Maj. Joseph J. Foss, was in critical condition today at Saginaw's Covenant Medical Center Cooper.