AFL-CIO’s Post

We believe that the upcoming Autumn Statement is a real chance for change, so we've written to the Chancellor to outline how the government can help parents and carers. 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿: 𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘁𝘆 Whether you’re employed, self-employed or on a zero hours contract, we believe all new mothers should be entitled to the same financial help, but the way income is calculated for Universal Credit means that some mothers are missing out. This needs to change. More info about what we https://loom.ly/ZYpa7Yk #AutumnBudget #MotherhoodPenalty

THE STATE YOU SEE: How Government Visibility Creates Political Distrust and Racial Inequality - OA PDF: https://lnkd.in/gFTjDqjd The State You See uncovers a racial gap in the way the American government appears in people’s lives. It makes it clear that public policy changes over the last fifty years have driven all Americans to distrust the government that they see in their lives, even though Americans of different races are not seeing the same kind of government. For white people, these policy changes have involved a rising number of generous benefits submerged within America’s tax code, which taken together cost the government more than Social Security and Medicare combined. Political attention focused on this has helped make welfare and taxes more visible representations of government for white Americans. As a result, white people are left with the misperception that government does nothing for them, apart from take their tax money to spend on welfare. Distrust of government is the result. For people of color, distrust is also rampant but for different reasons. Over the last fifty years, America has witnessed increasingly overbearing policing and swelling incarceration numbers. These changes have disproportionately impacted communities of color, helping to make the criminal legal system a unique visible manifestation of government in these communities. While distrust of government emerges in both cases, these different roots lead to different consequences. White people are mobilized into politics by their distrust, feeling that they must speak up in order to reclaim their misspent tax dollars. In contrast, people of color are pushed away from government due to a belief that engaging in American elections will yield the same kind of unresponsiveness and violence that comes from interactions with the police. The result is a perpetuation of the same kind of racial inequality that has always been present in American democracy. The State You See is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding how the American government engages in subtle forms of discrimination and how it continues to uphold racial inequality in the present day. #PublicPolicy, #Race and #Politics, #PublicOpinion, #PoliticalParticipation, #AmericanElections, #PoliticalTrust, #PoliticalDistrust, #RacialInequality,

We want to share an important advocacy alert with you. There will be a referendum on the March 19 primary election in McHenry County to change the way the Mental Health Board is funded. If it passes, it could lead to a $2M+ increase annually in funding for mental health, disability, and substance use services, and is expected to increase over time. This will directly and positively impact Independence Health & Therapy’s funding. Please register to vote by February 20 and VOTE YES for Mental Health on March 19! The referendum will remove the Mental Health Board portion of property taxes ($10.8M) and add a 0.25% mental health sales tax county-wide. This would mean an extra $0.25 for each $100 spent on certain purchases. Items such as food and medicine will NOT be included in this sales tax. Please vote, and spread the word to your friends, neighbors, and other connections in McHenry County! https://buff.ly/3OLgOdx

While Prop 1 may pass, there are ramifications that I do not believe people have thought through. Impacts to existing mental health programs, what this means for future housing bond measures (not good in my opinion if this just barely squeaked by) and will this give Gov. Newsome cover to continue his $1.2 billion clawback of existing affordable housing funding? IMHO, this illustrates a need to get off of the bond/proposition roller coaster for affordable housing funding and make housing a budgetary line item like transportation, education, health care, etc are. Housing is a basic human right, we should treat it as such. Not just something we build with when we have extra money. Comments below are welcome 😎 #california #affordablehousingfinance #proposition1

I recently watched an episode of Call the Midwife; the topic was black mould in social housing and the terrible affects to health. A child was hospitalised for Bronchitis due to the spores from the back mould. I thought to myself how disgraceful all these decades later in this rich and prosperous county the health and welfare of our citizens are still being blighted by such dire housing conditions. The death of children and adults is still ongoing due to poor housing conditions in this country, what a shameful disgrace on the government, the plight of those tenants who must endure such inhuman living conditions, are in fear of complaining due to the cruelty of Section 21 being served for their audacity to want to live in clean, safe housing. Damp cost's to fix, but whilst it may affect the wallets of the landlord, the affects to the tenant are more costly to their mental and physical health and well-being. I have heard some say this is not true, but I can vouch that it is! The breaches to human rights in this country are mind blowing, the government has introduced laws that has stripped the rights of citizens, making many vulnerable, they encourage voter disenfranchisement, limit judicial oversight of their actions, and have placed new restrictions on the right of peaceful protest. What other depths of depravity will they make us succumb to? Appendix 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human rights (abbreviated) states that we should all receive equality, dignity, and respect, have freedom from discrimination, right to personal security and not have to endure degrading treatment. However, there is Racial injustice, poverty, and inequality, hunger, mental health issues that rarely receive adequate treatment, the list grows daily. But it is government behaviour and structure, the total lack of due diligence and care that is culpable for inflicting this present social inequality. Such little respect for those who have served this country who like so many others find themselves homeless, what gross indictment! What have we come to and where will this end?

With a new government in place and many new MPs following last week's election, we're calling for the needs of older people to be considered. Age UK has produced a 'Blueprint' for improving the lives of older people, outlining key priorities including enforcing existing age discrimination laws, addressing pensioner poverty, tackling digital exclusion and loneliness, and ultimately creating 'age-friendly' communities where older people are valued and connected. You can read the blueprint here: https://buff.ly/3WbIaxa

A staggering 68% of Virginia voters support this idea according to Public Policy Polling. 🗳️👥 Child Tax Credits are one of the many ways to close the gap and help families invest in themselves and their future. Virginia has an opportunity implement a Child Tax Credit that provides a $500 refund for every child under the age of 18 in households making up to $100,000 in adjusted gross income would help more than 1 million children in over 640,000 Virginia families - reducing childhood hunger, improve test scores for students, and improve infant and maternal health. Together, we can enact positive change and build a more equitable future for our community. Check out our latest article to learn more and how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/e-hNwnmg #ACTforAlex #AlexandriaVA #ChangeMakers #EmpowerAlexandria #childtaxcredits

The #UntappedPotentialNC report reveals that breakdowns in child care impact more than employers and families. When people miss work or leave their jobs, North Carolina faces economic losses through decreased tax revenues. Learn More > https://lnkd.in/eFKDMCfC #ChildCare4NC

ALONE as a member of The Age Alliance presented the latest report ‘Taking stock: Is Government keeping its commitments to older people?’ to TDs and Senators at Leinster House. The Alliance believes that an effective Positive Ageing Strategy requires: (1 of 3) a top-level governmental commitment to older people. This would take the form of a Prog. for Government Outcome, actively monitored by Cabinet Committee on Social Policy or an independent body such as a Commissioner for Older People that can mediate the rights, needs and interests of older persons. (2 of 3) The allocation of specific responsibilities to government departments with such responsibilities underpinned by clear deliverables, timelines and performance indicators; and (3 of 3) Specified funding allocation tethered to each Strategic Outcome. Find out the report at: https://lnkd.in/e9xi9dQQ #TheAllianceofAgeSectorNGOs #AgeSectorNGOs 🌐💙

43% of Americans report they are financially insecure. 40% are unable to plan beyond their next paycheck. And 46% don’t have the cash to pay for a $500 emergency expense. Yet, their struggles aren’t accounted for in current measures of economic well-being in the United States. A newly released survey from the National True Cost of Living Coalition exposes that gap – and underscores the need for a new national measure that accounts for the full costs of modern essentials like regionally specific housing costs, childcare, and transportation. With a ready-made measure of true economic security, we will show hard-working Americans they are seen by their government. We all deserve an opportunity to make a better life for ourselves and our families. Learn more at the link below: https://lnkd.in/eauqJxG5