Buy American

[Omaha Steve]

Earlier this week, the Senate voted to keep much-needed “Buy American” provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. If we’re going to spend hundreds of billions to stimulate the economy, we really should spend them on U.S.-made goods and services, no?

With the Buy American debate up front, we thought it was a perfect time to remind you about all the great American-made items we have at the Union Shop Online. From hats to shirts, buttons, mugs, portfolios, games, umbrellas and more, we have what you need and it’s all made in America by union workers.


Dr. King




We're rebuilding the economy and our middle class by supporting good union jobs in America.

Shop here: https://unionshop.aflcio.org/index.cfm

February is also African American Heritage Month. From Flip Schulke’s biography of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to our inspirational T-shirt, not to mention the cool sounds of Sweet Honey in the Rock live at Carnegie Hall, we have lots of great ways to celebrate.

Thanks for buying American,

Working Families e-Activist Network, AFL-CIO

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[Fresh_Start]

1. totally agree

I even believe in buying local. Use shops in your town if you want to have the convenient of shopping in your town.
Farmers markets rather than big box stores crates of produce

[Gabi Hayes]

2. seen this? heard the NJ IBEW trustee on the radio talking about it:

http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2009/02/union_rat_is_protected_as_free.html

A large inflatable rat placed at a job site as a labor protest is protected speech under the First Amendment, the state Supreme Court ruled today.

The high court overturned a municipal ordinance that bans any inflatable signs not being used for a store grand opening. The court ruled the sign ban was overly broad and violates the First Amendment right to free speech.

Richard Brooks, a CWA Local 1033 member from Trenton and a giant inflatable rat outside the state House Annex.

The text of the court opinion is available.

The justices ruled in a case involving International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 269 in Lawrence and the union's business manager, Wayne DeAngelo.

Local 269's lawyer, Andrew Watson, called the unanimous ruling a "landmark" decision.

"Not only will it impact labor protests in New Jersey, but we feel it's a decision that will be influencing sign ordinances and law nationwide," he said.

The first inflatable rat was used by a Chicago union in 1990 to catch the attention of nonunion employers. There are about 50 throughout New Jersey and the Lawrence union's rodent is used about 50 times a year, union officials said.

[Fresh_Start]

3. have to love the creativity

don't love the ruling. I recall lots of inflatables for advertising: including small theme parks, car dealers, Christmas tree lots,.....