employment
GRITtv: Dorian Warren: The 'Walmart Way' and Koch's FOIA request in Wisconsin
"It's a targeting of workers' abilities to come together against big companies," says Columbia University professor Dorian Warren of the Walmart v. Duke case. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments from both sides on whether a class-action lawsuit that pits female employees since 1998 against the corporate giant Wal-Mart will be permitted. Plaintiffs say that the level of gender discrimination is so entrenched that is has become part of the corporate culture. A class-action lawsuit would ensure that workers have the resources and voice to take on an opponent as formidable as the world's largest retail chain. If the decision to block a class-action suit is made, workers will be left with individual lawsuits and few other options. And, more GOP maneuvering in Wisconsin: the state GOP, with Koch backing, have issued a FOIA request for the email address of several UW Madison professors. They would like to prove that state email addresses were used for illegal lobbying after professor William Cronon published a blog outlining the role of the conservative think-tank American Legislative Exchange Council in drafting legislation around the country.
Email this pageGRITtv: March 30, 2011
"It's a targeting of workers' abilities to come together against big companies," says Columbia University professor Dorian Warren of the Walmart v. Duke case. The Supreme Court heard oral arguments from both sides on whether a class-action lawsuit that pits female employees since 1998 against the corporate giant Wal-Mart will be permitted. Plaintiffs say that the level of gender discrimination is so entrenched that is has become part of the corporate culture. A class-action lawsuit would ensure that workers have the resources and voice to take on an opponent as formidable as the world's largest retail chain. If the decision to block a class-action suit is made, workers will be left with individual lawsuits and few other options. And, more GOP maneuvering in Wisconsin: the state GOP, with Koch backing, have issued a FOIA request for the email address of several UW Madison professors. They would like to prove that state email addresses were used for illegal lobbying after professor William Cronon published a blog outlining the role of the conservative think-tank American Legislative Exchange Council in drafting legislation around the country. "We know that two-thirds of corporations in the U.S. pay no taxes at all. General Electric was not only paying no taxes but taking a three billion dollar tax benefit," notes Josh Holland, editor & senior writer at AlterNet and author of The Fifteen Biggest Lies about the Economy. And while corporations are finagling their way out of paying taxes, working people still have no money to spend to keep the economy moving--and thus the recession goes on. Josh joins Laura in studio to talk about taxes and other lies politicians tell about the economy. Sleeping in the statehouse, takin' it to the streets--this generation of students is getting a great education, at least outside of the classroom. Last week a group of San Francisco students and educators turned out to protest Governor Jerry Brown's cuts. These may be some of the youngest movement leaders we've seen to date. This video courtesy of Openline Media and voiced by our friend, Davey D. Finally, Sheriff Joe Arpaio's latest anti-immigrant plan? Arming his volunteer posse and sending them up in planes to hunt for immigrants and drug smugglers. Laura asks if it's time for a no-fly zone over Arizona. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: March 23, 2011
"Republicans are moving an agenda to defund programs and agencies that they've never supported," says Bill Fletcher, Jr. "They're not discussing where we get the money to attack Libya if we're broke." Bill, past president of the TransAfrica Forum, says that it's hypocritical of the U.S. to get involved in Libya's conflict while ignoring tyrants in other parts of the world.Bill joins Laura via Skype from Washington, D.C. to discuss the conflict in Libya, the ongoing workers' struggles at home, and his hopes for tactics both at home and abroad."We have to change the balance here and the way you change the balance is a conceptual shift in what you see as the purpose of a nation. The purpose of a nation isn't to make the rich richer or to make the poor poorer, it's to make sure that you have a vibrant economy where there's room for everyone," says Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich.Laura sat down with Rep. Kucinich in Madison March 12 after his speech at a rally hosted by The Progressive magazine and discussed the attacks on public sector workers and what a real economic democracy would look like--full employment, universal health care and education, and a commitment to peace.Then, with all the talk about attacks on unions recently, Laura reflects on the other jobs unions do for us--including help serve as public education.
GRITtv: Dennis Kucinich: Creating Economic Democracy
"We have to change the balance here and the way you change the balance is a conceptual shift in what you see as the purpose of a nation. The purpose of a nation isn't to make the rich richer or to make the poor poorer, it's to make sure that you have a vibrant economy where there's room for everyone," says Ohio Representative Dennis Kucinich. Laura sat down with Rep. Kucinich in Madison March 12 after his speech at a rally hosted by The Progressive magazine and discussed the attacks on public sector workers and what a real economic democracy would look like--full employment, universal health care and education, and a commitment to peace.
GRITtv: Jan. 25, 2011
Barack Obama isn't the only one giving a talk tonight--the League of Young Voters will be bringing together some top thinkers, activists, and artists to have a live conversation streaming on the Web, as well as on Twitter and Facebook. "We have to keep going deeper," notes Biko Baker, the League's executive director, "We have to step up and be a lot stronger on jobs." Baker joins us via Skype to discuss the state of the union -- both Obama's speech and the actual state of the country -- and to tell us more about the League's plans for tonight and beyond. You can join their conversation with hashtag #BarackTalk on Twitter, or on their Facebook page. Monday night, NBC reported that Quantico Brig Commander James Averhart had improperly classified alleged WikiLeaks source Bradley Manning as a “suicide risk” in order to punish him for refusing to follow orders. Already on Prevention of Injury watch, Manning's conditions were tightened further last week against the recommendations of psychiatrists. At the same time, officials admitted that they could find no connection between Manning and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. This Sunday, Jane Hamsher and David House, who has been Bradley Manning's only regular visitor at Quantico, were detained for several hours at the Marine Corps base while attempting to visit Manning and deliver a petition to the brig protesting his conditions. Jane joins us via Skype to discuss what happened, their ongoing fight to improve Manning's treatment. As we've noted before, the oil from BP's spill in the Gulf didn't just magically disappear. Naomi Klein and Big Noise Films' Jacquie Soohen headed to the Gulf aboard the research vessel Weatherbird II, they found plenty of evidence of the damage still being done. It's not just the birds and dolphins we have to worry about, the scientists note in this report from our friends at The Nation. Finally, Obama will deliver his take on the State of the Union tonight and while Congress has bickered about bipartisan seating, it doesn't matter where anyone sits because the profiteers who define what’s possible in our politics have already barred any serious solution to what ails us. Laura has some suggestions. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: The F Word: No Solutions at State of the Union
Obama will deliver his take on the State of the Union tonight and while Congress has bickered about bipartisan seating, it doesn't matter where anyone sits because the profiteers who define what’s possible in our politics have already barred any serious solution to what ails us. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: Jan. 24, 2011
"We have deified businessmen while denigrating government workers," says Erica Payne of the Agenda Project, and there's no better example of that than President Obama appointing GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt to head a commission on jobs and competitiveness. Heading into the State of the Union speech, Heidi Shierholz stresses that businesses aren't hiring and creating jobs because there is not enough demand--because people are not buying goods or services.Erica and Heidi join us to discuss the state of the economy, Obama's choice for a leader on jobs, and where the US jobs have really gone.The Raging Grannies also have some thoughts on the economy, and Citizens United's role in it.Budget cuts in care for those with mental illness often go unnoticed, notes mental health nurse Rexanne Darnell, because there is no one to speak for the mentally ill who are affected. It is too often left to legislators and governors, like Jan Brewer in Arizona, are making cuts to programs that keep patients safe and protected--as well as protecting the medical professionals who care for them.Rexanne joins us from Tucson, Arizona, where Jared Loughner shot Gabrielle Giffords and 18 others at a Congress On Your Corner event, and discusses the ongoing assault on mental health care funding.Finally, the revelation of thousands of pages of confidential Palestinian diplomatic records has shocked the world -- all of it except the US, that is. Laura takes a look at the different responses to the Palestine Papers.
GRITtv: Erica Payne & Heidi Shierholz: "Competitiveness" and the Economy
"We have deified businessmen while denigrating government workers," says Erica Payne of the Agenda Project, and there's no better example of that than President Obama appointing GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt to head a commission on jobs and competitiveness. Heading into the State of the Union speech, Heidi Shierholz stresses that businesses aren't hiring and creating jobs because there is not enough demand--because people are not buying goods or services. Erica and Heidi join us to discuss the state of the economy, Obama's choice for a leader on jobs, and where the US jobs have really gone. Distributed by Tubemogul.
GRITtv: Oct. 27, 2010
A weak foundation cannot properly support a massive superstructure, as the leaning Tower of Pisa shows. The latest wage data show the disastrous results some of us warned about, although like the famous tower, the economy only lists badly and has not collapsed.That's from David Cay Johnston's latest piece, digging into the scary numbers on real wages in the U.S. Who's making money, and how much of it? He joins us via Skype to discuss the dirt--and the causes.The election is getting closer, and the money keeps on flowing. Today we're bringing you part two of Harry Hanbury’s investigative series for GRITtv's new investigative series, GRITtv Digs. ; In part one, we looked at the Chamber of Commerce's contributions to the campaign cycle--now, we ask, who's watching the Chamber? Why does it get away with this?Want to see more investigations
GRITtv: David Cay Johnston: Still-Growing Wage Gap
"A weak foundation cannot properly support a massive superstructure, as the leaning Tower of Pisa shows. The latest wage data show the disastrous results some of us warned about, although like the famous tower, the economy only lists badly and has not collapsed." That's from David Cay Johnston's latest piece, digging into the scary numbers on real wages in the U.S. Who's making money, and how much of it? He joins us via Skype to discuss the dirt--and the causes. Distributed by Tubemogul.
