May Day Rally and March

Broad Coalition Rallies on May Day
for Immigrant Rights, Workers’ Rights and Safe Communities

Participants demand roadmap to citizenship, worker protections and strong communities

(New Haven, Connecticut) Hundreds of people gathered today on the New Haven Green for a May Day rally and march demanding rights for all workers, regardless of where they were born. Governor Dannel P. Malloy, U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro and Mayor John DeStefano joined speakers representing a broad coalition of immigrant families, students, union members and leaders of the civil rights, faith and progressive communities.Read more>>>

 

March 26, 2013 OP-ED by John W. Olsen and Reverend Thomas Carr

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/op-ed_dont_water_down_cts_clean_energy/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peggy Buchanan 860-571-6191x229


Connecticut Stands to Lose Massive Funding
for Education, Healthcare and Public Safety from Sequester Cuts

Republicans take economy hostage to protect tax loopholes for corporations and wealthy

Hartford, CT – A report from the Senate Appropriations Committee shows that Congressional Republicans’ threats to harm the economy by letting automatic across-the-board budget cuts – called “sequestration” – go forward on March 1, 2013 would cause Connecticut to lose enormous funding for education, public safety, healthcare and job training.  Read more >>>

 

For Immediate Release: February 12, 2013

Contact: Peggy Buchanan, 860-571-6191x229
860-712-9528

Connecticut AFL-CIO Joins Growing National Chorus
for Comprehensive Immigration Reform
Labor Federation Supports a Road Map to Citizenship for 11 Million Aspiring Americans

Rocky Hill, CT - Today, the Connecticut AFL-CIO, representing 200,000 union members in the state, adopted a resolution calling on Congress to pass common-sense immigration reform that includes a practical and inclusive road map to citizenship and reflects core American values such as fairness, equality, and family unity. Read more >>>
 

A Message From President John W. Olsen and Secretary-Treasurer Lori J. Pelletier

The Connecticut AFL-CIO is heartbroken at the loss of the 20 children and 6 adults in the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. We grieve for their families who have suffered such an unthinkable loss and for the entire community whose lives will never be the same. We learn the names and see the pictures of the twenty children, all smiling for photos in happy times, and think of how much they deserved to live out their lives and to pursue their dreams just as any kid does. Read more>>>
 

President John Olsen is quoted in the 3-26 Courant article, "CT Set to Rule on NU Merger Today, But Lack of Alternative Energy in Settlement Rankles Some."  Please read and click on link for full story >>>

President John Olsen weighs in on the negotiations between the State of Connecticut and NU over the NSTAR merger.  He urges inclusion of the Montville biomass project because of the construction jobs and maintenance jobs that would come from this renewable energy project.  Read more>>>

In recent news articles, President John Olsen speaks out in favor of a requirement that Northeast Utilities agree to buy power from an alternative energy plant, the Montville Biomass, as a condition of the utility's $4.8 billion purchase of Boston-based NStar. A similar type of provision is being considered in Massachusetts.  President Olsen makes the case for jobs associated with the Montville Biomass.  Please read on for additional information and links to the story.
  Read more >>>

Please read more by clicking on the title and then click on the arrow to see the video of Congressman Murphy reacting to testimony in Congress.  In his comments, Congressman Murphy demonstrates the role that unions have played in many of the most important workplace and social advancements in the United States. 

President John Olsen reacted to the idea that the staff of the State Elections Enforcement Agency be treated with the same requirement as board members - to be removed from politics for three years.  His Letter to the Editor was published in the Hartford Courant on January 17, 2012.  The full text of the article can be read by clicking on the heading.

In a Letter to the Editor, published in the Hartford Courant 1-27-12, Secretary-Treasurer Lori Pelletier writes that retirement security is necessary for a vibrant state economy.  Defined benefit plans offer that security, not inherently risky 401ks.  Here is the link to the Courant Letter to the Editor or you can read more and see the letter that was submitted>>

http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/letters/hc-letters-to-the-editor-cdb,0,1099648,results.formprofile?Query=4723HC

Press Release January 20, 2012

Huge Fine on the American Red Cross Reinforces Workers’ Demands for Blood Safety

Rocky Hill – Reacting to the $9.59 million dollar fine incurred by the American Red Cross, Connecticut AFL-CIO President John W. Olsen said today, “The Federal Drug Administration’s multi-million dollar fine of the American Red Cross reinforces the workers’ arguments that the country’s largest blood supplier needs to do a better job protecting the public and ensuring blood donor safety.”  Read more >>>

 

Below is the Hartford Courant article about the CT AFL-CIO convention.

Below is an article published in the Day on September 16, 2011 related to the Connecticut AFL-CIO convention.  Read more>>>

Labor Day Opinion by President John Olsen

The New Haven Register (nhregister.com), Serving New Haven, CT

Opinion

FORUM: America is not broke, so there are ways to end the jobs crisis
Monday, September 5, 2011

By John W. Olsen

LABOR Day is a day of picnics and end-of-summer events. This year, it also is a day when too many unemployed Americans are worrying about how to make ends meet.

The U.S. is in a severe and continuing jobs crisis, with official national and state unemployment above 9 percent, and real unemployment and underemployment twice as high. Long-term unemployment is at record levels, with nearly 4 million workers nationwide exhausting all unemployment benefits by the end of the year. Read more >>>

 Connecticut Workers Want to Work!
Jobs Crisis is the Focus of Roundtable with Congressman Chris Murphy

New Britain, CT -- Fixing the economy and creating new jobs was the topic of today’s roundtable discussion with Congressman Chris Murphy and community and labor organizations. The roundtable, held at Right Now Ministries, included a student, teacher, manufacturing worker, construction worker and unemployed worker who told personal stories about how the economic crisis has affected their lives.  Read more >>>

 
Connecticut Workers Want to Work!
Jobs Crisis is the Focus of Press Conference
with Congressman Jim Himes

Bridgeport,, CT -- Fixing the economy and creating new jobs was the topic of today’s press conference with Congressman Jim Himes and community and labor organizations. The press conference followed a roundtable discussion, held at Burroughs Community Center in Bridgeport, which included a student, teacher, manufacturing worker, construction worker and unemployed worker who told personal stories about how the economic crisis has affected their lives. Read more>>>

 

Connecticut Workers Want to Work!
Jobs Crisis is the Focus of Roundtable with Congresswoman DeLauro

New Haven, CT -- Fixing the economy and creating new jobs was the topic of today’s roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and community and labor organizations. The roundtable, held at Second Star of Jacob in New Haven, included a student, teacher, manufacturing worker, construction worker and unemployed worker who told personal stories about how the economic crisis has affected their lives.  Read more >>>

PRESS RELEASE  - May 13, 2011

State House of Representatives Votes to Protect Workers

Forced to Attend Captive Audience Meetings

Connecticut’s workers moved one step closer to having some additional protections on the job when the House of Representatives voted in favor of HB 5460, An Act Concerning Captive Audience Meetings. Read more>>>

The New Haven Register (nhregister.com), Serving New Haven, CT


AFL-CIO leader says Malloy plan off-base

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

By Mary E. O’Leary, Register Topics Editor
moleary@nhregister.com

HARTFORD — In the first salvo in what could be a pitched battle between the governor and state workers over concessions to help Connecticut with its deficit, AFL-CIO President John Olsen offered some pointed suggestions. READ MORE >>>

Leo Canty produced this video about the Connecticut AFL-CIO Rally calling on the Big Wall Street Banks to help stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Good Jobs Now!  Press Conference on CT AFL-CIO Legislative Agenda - March 4, 2010

State Union Federation Supports Stop and Shop Workers - February 26, 2010

January 7th Ads in Connecticut Newspapers  Read more>>

Press Release Issued by the International Association of Machinists District 26:

February 5, 2010 Kensington, CT – Connecticut’s US District Court tonight issued an injunction against Pratt & Whitney, prohibiting them from moving work and equipment out of their Cheshire and East Hartford CARO operations. The decision by Judge Janet Hall sustains a lawsuit brought by the International Association of Machinists (IAM) District 26 on behalf of its members working in those locations. 

For Photos of this event please click here

Read more>>>

"Young Workers Need Good Jobs" Op - Ed

by Secretary Treasurer Lori Pelletier and Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler

Connecticut Post, January 8, 2010   Read more>>>

"An Accomplished Senator" Letter to the Editor

by President John Olsen

Hartford Courant, January 19, 2010  Read more>>>

"Business, Labor & Political Leaders Weigh In On Supreme Court Ruling" Op- Ed

President John Olsen 

Hartford Business Journal, 2/01/10  Read more>>>

John Olsen Speaks at the 2009 JJB Dinner upon receiving an award.