Cheri Honkala, founder of the Poor People’s Economic Rights Campaign spoke with America’s Work Force on August 14 about the campaign and what they are fighting for.
Honkala first spoke about UPS airport facility workers and the poor conditions they have been working in. Currently, they have been working in poor conditions such as extreme heat, while receiving low wages. Richard Hooker with Teamsters 623 joined Honkala during her segment and stating that workers at this UPS facility are unlikely to see any improvement in their wages, even when they become full-time workers. He said that it took some workers nearly four years to see wage increases.
Honkala also discussed the Poor People’s Economic Rights Campaign. She said that the organization is made up of people who are trying to advance basic human economic rights that specifically relate to housing, education and jobs. They fight for a living wage and to abolish poverty. Honkala stressed that people who are working should not be living below the poverty line and struggling for basic necessities such as food, water and housing. The campaign fights to push for a minimum wage increase to help working people afford a place to live.
Matt Jaworski, contributing writer for the Labor Citizen talked about what to expect in the upcoming edition. He discussed Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs (IRAPs) and how the guidelines for the standard apprenticeship programs are being stripped. Lastly, Jaworski talked about Amazon opening up a new warehouse in Akron, Ohio and all of the construction jobs that will be created because of it.
AWF host Ed “Flash” Ferenc discussed the United States Department of Justice and how they are seeking to eliminate Federal Immigration judges from being allowed to unionize.
Hunter first spoke about schools in Youngstown, Ohio and how, as of lately, they have been financially strapped and unable to put more money into their schools. As a former member of the Youngstown Board of Education, Hunter saw all of these problems first-hand and knew something needed to be done. He said that the government would rather put money into war, which they could profit off of, rather than investing in children’s education. Hunter then talked about the PRO Act and how it will allow workers to unionize freely without the fear of repercussions or harassment from their employers. Lastly, he talked about human infrastructure, such as healthcare, and how legislators need to compromise and move forward on certain pieces of legislation.
Dr. Stein said that around the world, there is an alarming decline in the freedom of the press. One of the biggest reasons why having the freedom of the press is so important is because it keeps unaccountable people in check, according to Stein. She claimed that by having freedom of the press, Democracy can stay strong because people are able to call out someone in a higher position when they make false claims, or lie, to either protect themselves or continue to push their agenda. Dr. Stein then went on to talk about how the protections for the press are being rolled back and how press members are being threatened or attacked because of the information they are providing. Lastly, she speaks about General Dynamics Bath Iron Works and the Green New Deal.
Scott began his time on AWF by talking about a newly proposed budget and how it will hurt federal employees and their pay. He then went on to talk about how no federal employees have paid parental leave and how he believes that it is unfair for them. According to Scott, only 14 percent of companies in the United States allow paid parental leave and he believes that number is way too low and needs to go up. Lastly, he discussed H.R. 1140, which deals with transportation federal security.
Hawkins, who finished third in New York’s governor’s race, described his vision of the 
Tom Germuska, Jr., with the