economy

The Campaign for Working Families boost the number of people who receive free tax filing assistance and do not have to pay sky-high fees to commercial tax preparers. Over the past eight years, The Campaign for Working families has brought $146.4 million into the homes of low-income working families. And saved these families an estimated $20.2 million in interest, fees and charges for tax preparation

By Dan Jones & Azeem Hill

A key feature of any public education system is its purpose. Right now, a lot of people are putting forward the idea that the purpose of our schools is to prepare students to “compete in the global economy.” The proponents of this framework span the political spectrum, from Newt Gingrich to Barack Obama, but is it really the best thing for students?

The Wall Street Journal ran an article summing up some of the job losses that defined this recession - and that many of these jobs will never return. Unlike recessions past, when workers were temporarily laid off and then brought back on the job, this time around marked high rates of permanent layoffs and the disappearance of whole sectors of work. Real estate and construction took some of the hardest hits, with over 1.6 million construction jobs lost - a fifth of the 7.2 million lost since December 2007.

Christine Lewis, an organizer with Domestic Workers United, speaks about the conditions that domestic workers face on a daily basis and shares a political analysis of the role that domestic work plays in our economy.

This interview was conducted by Kistine Carolan, and produced by Milena Velis. It originally aired on Labor Justice Radio, which can be heard every Monday from 7-8pm on 88.1FM WPEB in West Philadelphia.

Families face a shrinking social safety net as political disagreements hold up the passage of a final state budget. This segment covers a rally by The Coalition for Essential Services in Media, PA. Speakers discussed potential cuts to Head Start, Pre-K, child care, housing assistance, adult education classes along with other social services.

Produced by Kistine Carolan for Labor Justice Radio.

Lots of shots flying about the upcoming presentation from Mayor Michael Nutter of the proposed budget to City Council. Be there on Thursday morning at City Hall in the Chambers. Until then here are the notes and articles from our friends on the issue...