Top 10 Stories This Week You Missed: Park Slope Car Washers, Merging Chains, Income Inequality Grows

FEATURED

 

Richest 1% to Own More than the Rest of the World

 

The wealthiest 1% will soon own more than the rest of the world's population, according to a study by anti-poverty charity Oxfam.

The charity's research shows that the share of the world's wealth owned by the richest 1% increased from 44% in 2009 to 48% last year.

 

"Extreme inequality isn't just a moral wrong. It undermines economic growth and it threatens the private sector's bottom line.

FEATURED STATS

Global Wealth

48%: owned by richest 1% in 2014

54%: owned by richest 1% by 2020

• $1.9tn wealth of 80 top billionaires - equal to bottom 50% of rest of world
   
• $600bn increase in wealth for 80 top billionaires in 4 years - or 50% rise
   
• $750bn drop in wealth for the poorest 50% of the world in 4 years

Source: Oxfam, Credit Suisse

WHAT'S NEWS THIS WEEK   1. "I'd Shoot the Union." That's what a Walmart manager said to an associate and his co-workers threatening them if they try to organizing.   2. Stew Leonards Gets Heat for Making Employees Walk to Work During Storm

3. Mitt Romney Will NOT Run for President The former candidate announced he will not be running for President in 2016.  Republican Senator Rand Paul called Romney, "yesterday's news".

4. Where is the Empathy? If you read one story this week, this is it. A MUST READ: A powerful Op-Ed by a New York Times writer on how income inequality lead to the death of his childhood friend.

5. Albertsons & Safeway Finalize Merger

6. Trade war between Obama and Dems Dozens of House Democrats are expressing deep reservations about the White House’s trade agenda, putting themselves on a collision course with President Obama over concerns that the deals will benefit big business at the expense of U.S. workers.

7. Park Slope Car Washers Vote in RWDSU Marks the 10th Car Wash unit to unionize.

8. Host a Union-Made Super Bowl

9. Obama Urges Strengthening Labor Unions

10. Reporters at Politico to Organize Union High turnover rates have pushed reporters at the popular news outlet to seek union representation.     11. Grocers Angry over Swipe-Fee Denial The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a petition by the Food Marketing Institute, National Association of Convenience Stores, National Retail Federation and other groups, which challenged the Federal Reserve’s rule on debit card swipe fees.

12. Obama Wants to Give Workers Paid Leave The White House has made plans to give workers more paid time off.     13. McDonald's Sales Drop Most in Over a Decade To say this year has been a rough year for McDonald's is an understatement.  Worker uprising, food questions, health concerns, all led to lower sales and the removal of their CEO this week.   14. Senate Democrats Urge Obama to be  Aggressive for Higher Wages, Expanding Overtime Regulations Fixing income inequality one step at a time.   15. Ebola has mutated Scientists say the deadly virus is mutating, making it stronger.         Thank You: It's often a thankless job, so we'd like to say, thank you.  Your work throughout this week has helped hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers prepare for adverse weather.  We know it wasn't easy dealing with the pre-storm chaos, and we'd like to sincerely recognize you for helping your communities.

 

Shameless Plugs:

 

Union Blood Drive is coming up in March.  If you're interested in donating let us know!

 

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