The following op-ed is written by Henry Bayer, executive director of American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31.
Wherever we live and whatever political party we identify with, most Americans agree on a few basic things.
We
believe that those who work hard should have decent pay, affordable
health care, security in retirement and respect on the job — and that
government should provide essential services, like good schools for our
children, safe streets for our families and a safety net for the most
vulnerable, including the elderly, disabled, at-risk kids and unemployed
workers.
Despite this common-sense consensus in support of vital
public services and the men and women who provide them, a chorus of
corporate special interests are echoing extreme attacks on workers and
their rights. And far too many politicians are listening.
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A class action lawsuit filed Monday by twenty Chicago area Walmart workers is just the latest action against the retail giant. Walmart is also subject to a lawsuit by Chicago area supply workers and a 
Affordable-housing advocates are calling on local and state
governments in the country’s 25 largest urban areas to address the rapid
rate at which housing and transportation costs have risen over the past
decade.
Employees at a giant Walmart supply warehouse in rural Will County
returned to work Saturday after staging a 21-day strike in response to
alleged employer retaliation by a Walmart subcontractor.
Just days after striking warehouse workers staged a large blockade
outside a major Walmart supply warehouse in the suburbs, a group of
like-minded labor advocates marched in front of a downtown Chicago
Walmart store.