09Feb
ssue 37 – 25, February 9, 2025
Government Against the People
AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler announced the union's launch of the "Department of People Who Work for a Living"—a new campaign aimed at reporting on DOGE's attacks on working Americans through digital ads and public actions at the agencies Musk's advisory body is attempting to cut.
Since Donald Trump’s inauguration, Musk has relentlessly pushed himself and his so-called DOGE into every corner of the government. He forced his way into sensitive government information from USAID, putting the agency’s security chiefs on leave to do so. Additionally, he gained access to federal pay systems in the Treasury and student loan systems in the Department of Education, including the personal information of millions of Americans and students. It’s highly unusual for someone who is not part of an official government agency and who has not been elected to a cabinet position to gain the level of access to sensitive information that Musk has seized.
A federal judge on Friday night rejected labor unions’ push to block Elon Musk’s government efficiency team from accessing sensitive data at the Labor Department.
District Judge John Bates, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, said that the groups failed to properly show the standing necessary to win the temporary restraining order they sought against the Department of Government Efficiency, while expressing sympathy for their concerns that the Musk-led effort presents privacy risks.
Read More - AFL-CIO Launches the Department of People Who Work for a Living | AFL-CIO
Read more - AFL-CIO sues over Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency
The Clock is Ticking – Implementation of Tariffs
The recent deal between Prime Minister Trudeau and Donald Trump has delayed the implementation of U.S. tariffs by 30 days—but this is only a temporary reprieve. The clock is now ticking for Canada to prepare for the tariffs and brace for future economic pressure from the US, said Bea Bruske, President of the CLC.
"When our jobs and our economy are under threat from billionaire oligarchs in the US, the answer isn't to just hand over the keys to billionaire oligarchs in Canada," said Hancock, National President, CUPE.
Jim Stanford, Centre for Future Work, "even if the tariffs are not ultimately implemented, Trump’s actions pose an unprecedented threat to Canada’s economic stability". A new National Policy should be implemented including ambitious efforts to stimulate more public and private investment in industries, technologies, and infrastructure, and a reorientation of economic activity toward producing in Canada, for Canadians.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told union and business leaders at the Canada-U.S. Economic Summit in Toronto that U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to annex Canada "is a real thing" motivated by his desire to tap into the country's critical minerals.
Read more - 2025-02-04-Backgrounder-Trump-
Read more - Resources for a Trade War; Amazon Shutdowns; Alberta’s Lost Advantage… and more from the Centre for Future Work
Valentine's Day is nearly here! February 14th Question:
How many heart-shaped boxes of chocolates are typically sold each Valentine's Day?
Question: About how many roses are sent for Valentine's Day each year?
Answer: Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!