Just hours before Arizona’s controversial anti-immigrant law was to go into effect, a federal judge today blocked one of its most contentious provisions—the requirement that police stop and question anyone they have “reasonable suspicion” is undocumented. The law does not define “reasonable suspicion,” a fact that many opponents say is a carte blanche for racial profiling. Earlier this month, the federal government filed suit to bock Arizona from implementing the new law, which has drawn heavy criticism from civil rights organizations, immigrant groups, unions and the religious community. Read More>>

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka laid out a 21st century U.S. economic policy at today’s lunchtime keynote session at Netroots Nation before a diverse crowd of more than 1,000 progressive political activists. Restoring the nation’s middle class in part means returning to a “real economy”—one in which we make things, rather than move around complex financial products, Trumka said. Strengthening U.S. manufacturing must be part of the process to reverse five decades of stagnating wages. Read More>>

In Atlanta—one of the areas hardest hit by foreclosures—residents who are about to lose their homes today demanded that Big Banks like Wachovia/Wells Fargo reform their policies and protect homeowners on the brink of homelessness. Read More>>

Trade unionists from across Indiana are participating in the Indiana AFL-CIO's Labor 2010 Boot Camps, honing their skills as activists for the future of their movement.  Boot Camp sesssions have taken place in Lakeville (6/18) and Indianapolis (6/19) and an additional one will take place in Evansville (6/25). 

Hoosier Workers Join Observance of Workers Memorial Day: Call for “Good Jobs, Safe Jobs” 

Hoosier workers and the families of those lost at work will stop this week to mourn workers lost as a result of their work during 2009 and to rededicate themselves to the fight for good, safe jobs.  Ceremonies are planned throughout Indiana to honor the 91 workers identified as killed on the job in Indiana last year and to remember the many workers not counted in the official statistics.  Workers call upon elected officials to enact the Protecting America's Workers Act, which would strengthen our nation's outdated worker protection regime.