Since the terrorist attacks of 2001, Homeland Security, the National Parks Service, and the City have poured millions of dollars into protecting Philadelphia's most prized historic treasures, Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. That's meant a lot of money for some area contractors, but ask Charles Wilson if a fair amount has trickled down to the men and women who work as security guards, actually protecting our prized national possessions every day. Charles, who guards the Liberty Bell, is diabetic and though he is a full-time employee of Wackenhut Security Services, the world's largest security company, he has neither health insurance or sick days.

That's why the Philly Progressive community should be applauding Charles and the other brave workers who last week launched the Wackenhut Workers Organizing Committee, a campaign to unionize local security guards with S.E.I.U..

Check out Damon Williams' story from the Daily News on the event that was attended by local Congressional supporters Chaka Fattah and former Veterans Stadium security guard Patrick Murphy. Apparently, the guards voted for S.E.I.U in September but the National Labor Relations Board still hasn't recognized the union, so Wackenhut refuses to negotiate with them. Let's keep up-to-date on this important local issue.

I've noted in the past that Nobel-nominated economist Paul Krugman lays out a compelling blueprint for improving the American economy in his latest book The Conscience of a Liberal, one that is meant to remedy the destructive and economically-polarizing policies of the last three decades. Unionizing the service industries and other low-wage workers is a key element in Krugman's recipe for restoring the American middle class. According to Krugman, tax, monetary, and labor policy initiated by Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930's, and that went nearly unchanged for more than 40 years--even during Republican administrations-- conspired to create America's greatest rise in the middle class, and likewise America's most economically fair society.

However you may feel about Krugman's recent politicking--he's fallen in line with bud and fellow Princeton Mafioso Shameless Sean Wilentz in a series of what I'd call unseemly and unfair diatribes against Barack Obama (Wilentz has been fairly open about seeking an official role as Hillary Clinton's "Arthur Schlesinger Jr.")--his book remains a very, very rewarding read, a level-headed, pragmatic, and yes hopeful prescription for the American economy and polity after the long Second Gilded Age between Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush.

Bringing back the middle class, and FINALLY focusing on the goal of economic fairness should inspire every Progressive in 2008 as we prepare for what should be our best national election in decades. Charles Wilson, S.E.I.U. are on the cutting edge of critical local solutions. Let's give them our support.

Temple University Student Labor Action Project (SLAP) and Philly Jobs With Justice is asking for your support and solidarity.

RALLY/PRAYER CIRCLE
On December 11, 2007 from 3:00PM-4:00PM at Temple University (Sullivan Hall, 1330 W Berks St).

Temple Student Labor Action Project will gather to recognize International Human Rights Day and continue the escalation of tactics aimed towards the Temple Board of Trustees and Temple President, Anne Weaver Hart.

We have yet to get a straight answer from Temple administration about our demand for 5 sick days.
http://media.www.temple-news.com/media/storage/paper143/news/2007/09/11/...

Since then we have had a series of meetings: