Labor Updates (8/21/08)

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)
Helping Norma Rae: Crystal Lee Sutton – the woman whom the movie "Norma Rae" was based on – is fighting for her life. Ill with meningioma (a brain tumor), her health insurance – which initially denied her coverage – covers so little that her husband must work two jobs to help pay her medical bills. "Crystal's long been a heroine to many of us in the labor movement," says Community Services Agency Executive Director Kathleen McKirchy, "CSA is proud to help coordinate metro-area support for the real 'Norma Rae'" To contribute to the Crystal Lee Sutton Foundation, click here now and be sure to put "Norma Rae" under Designation. Over 60,000 Call for Investigation into Wal-Mart Electioneering: More than 60,000 petitions and a legal complaint were delivered to the Federal Election Commission last week demanding an investigation into Wal-Mart’s attempt to influence its employees’ votes in the November election, reports American Rights at Work. The complaint – filed by American Rights at Work, the AFL-CIO, Change to Win and WakeUpWalMart.com – and the petition drive followed the revelation – in last month’s Wall Street Journal – that Wal-Mart has been telling workers not to vote for candidates supportive of the Employee Free Choice Act at mandatory workplace meetings (Wal-Mart Telling Workers How to Vote 8/7/08 UC). Click here to watch a video of the delivery and read press clips about the complaint and petition drive.