Unemployment compensation for the entire duration of layoff to be paid for by taxes on windfall corporate profits. Make large corporations maintain health care and pension contributions for their workers who are victims of layoffs or plant closings. Corporations that receive subsidies and tax abatements should be forced to repay them if they shut down or move plants. In addition, labor has to continue to fight for the overall needs of working families in times of economic crisis. This includes such things as energy price relief and making it illegal to cut off heat and utilities.
Capitalist globalization is a fact of life.
New and creative forms of international labor solidarity are critical. World solidarity actions by longshore unions in defense of longshore unions in England and Australia, and actions in support of the WTO protests in Seattle, are fine examples. US corporations and banks are aided in their world plunder by the American government and military. The CIA, the State Department and the military have often intervened to help break unions and democratic movements that challenge US big business interests around the world. Recent discussions in some AFL-CIO central labor councils questioning the role of labor in supporting such efforts in Chile and asking for a nationwide discussion in labor of similar union activities is most welcome.