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For Monday's Eclipse, Working People Kept Us Safe, Informed
AFL-CIO
In ways large and small, working people helped America learn about and enjoy Monday’s rare total solar eclipse safely and with minimal disruptions.
School teachers (members of the AFT and the National Education Association) used the solar eclipse as a teachable moment about science and history.
Electrical workers—members of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the Utility Workers (UWUA) unions—balanced America’s electrical grid, as nearly half of the nation’s solar capacity fell into shadow, causing a rolling dip of nearly 9,000 megawatts. Yet, thanks to workers at coal, hydro, nuclear and natural gas power plants, the grid didn’t fluctuate at all.
Journalists and media professionals—members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA)—brought us the stories, and NASA scientists—members of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)—helped us all learn more about the earth and our solar system.
All that the rest of us had to do was enjoy it, and we did.
Kenneth Quinnell
Wed, 08/23/2017 - 12:43
A father and son from Staten Island, New York City were busted for using the darknet to deal potentially deadly opioids.
A research group based at Stanford University has drawn a plan for nations to reduce global warming by relying on solar and wind power.
A research group based at Stanford University has drawn a plan for nations to reduce global warming by relying on solar and wind power.
103-year-old Hong Inh survived starvation, suffering and war in Cambodia. She beamed and waved a tiny American flag on Tuesday as she became a U.S. citizen.
103-year-old Hong Inh survived starvation, suffering and war in Cambodia. She beamed and waved a tiny American flag on Tuesday as she became a U.S. citizen.
The Army announced it has suspended drill sergeants accused of sexual misconduct with trainees at Fort Benning.
The U.S. Should Not Reward Mauritania for Slavery Practices
Thousands of men, women and children in Mauritania live in slavery. Under the direct control of their masters, they are treated as property and receive no payment for their work. Meanwhile, Mauritania receives preferential access to U.S. markets under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade benefits program.
AGOA is designed to spark economic development in Sub-Saharan African countries by expanding duty-free benefits and opening U.S. markets to African goods. As part of the program, AGOA beneficiaries are required to improve the rule of law, human rights and respect for core labor standards, including the eradication of forced labor. This week, the AFL-CIO and its affiliated unions, along with labor rights organizations worldwide, are calling on the U.S. Trade Representative to review Mauritania’s eligibility for AGOA trade benefits.
Mauritania outlawed slavery in 1981, the world’s last country to do so. Yet in 2017, the practice of slavery is still widespread in Mauritanian society. Slave status is inherited, so children born to a mother in slavery also are...
The Pentagon officially acknowledges 8,400 troops on the ground there, but that number actually hovers between 11,000 and 12,000, the officials said.
The Pentagon officially acknowledges 8,400 troops on the ground there, but that number actually hovers between 11,000 and 12,000, the officials said.
