Join other working families as we honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and share experiences with legislators of working in Idaho. Economist Stephen Cooke will discuss the reasons Idahoans make $11,000 less than the average U.S. worker. Everyday Idahoans will also share their stories of struggling with low wages and job loss. "“Our needs are identical with labor’s needs: decent wages, fair working conditions, livable housing, old age security, health and welfare measures, conditions in which families can grow, have education for their children and respect in the community...." Martin Luther King Jr. (1961)

On April 4, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, where he stood with sanitation workers demanding the right to bargain collectively and pursue their dream of a better life.

Today that same dream is electrifying people all across America -- working people, students, faith leaders, black, white, Latino and Asian Americans. On April 4, 2011, and the days surrounding it, we will stand together with working people in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and other states where politicians backed by corporate CEOs are trying to take away the rights Dr. King gave his life for.  (Written by Natasha Clark at seiu.org.)

Join us to make April 4th days of solidarity by attending a rally in Boise, Coeur D'Alene, or Pocatello. Check the upcoming events or click here for more info.

On Saturday, February 26, IAGE members joined hundreds of other union workers to show solidarity with Wisconsin's public employees and demand that politicians stop attacking America's dwindling middle class.

For the last several decades, typical American families have watched as jobs have headed overseas, pension funds have been raided, their purchasing power has shrunk, and union membership declined.

Have American workers finally had enough?  Many are clearly fed up.  In response to nationwide attacks on public workers and the Idaho Legislature's attacks on teachers' collective bargaining rights, union workers rallied at the Idaho Statehouse to turn back the tide.

The Idaho Association of Government Employees is a member of the Public Employee Retirement Coalition.  As part of the coalition, we have been putting on informative meetings about PERSI around the state.  We think it's critically important that all Idaho's public employees understand the advantages of Defined Denefit retirement plans (like PERSI) over riskier programs solely based on Defined Contribution plans (eg. 401k).   If you weren't able to attend you can download an informative brochure here, feel free to share it with other public employees you know.