Texas Fire Fighters (IAFF) members have been on the lines around the clock as historic and deadly fires rage in central Texas leaving at least four people dead, destroying nearly 1,400 homes and burning hundreds of thousands of acres.

The nation’s ailing economy needs a prescription powerful enough to heal the jobs crisis and America’s working families need an independent political voice that’s not beholden to parties or politicians, says AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

Hundreds of Verizon workers who have been striking for middle-class jobs last night took their message to the posh upper-class New Jersey neighborhood where Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam lives, to “mourn the death of good middle-class jobs.”

More than 45,000 Verizon workers are standing strong on picket lines and at rallies and marches for middle-class jobs, as the strike enters its second week. But while the public has rallied for their fight for middle-class jobs—you can sign a petition here—Verizon has lined up with the extremist Scott Walkers, John Kasichs and other far-right elements in attacking working families.

This afternoon, members from unions in the Northern Virginia Area Labor Federation are joining striking Verizon workers and Communications Workers of America (CWA) President Larry Cohen at a rally in Ashburn, Va.

The huge crowd outside the Verizon Center in downtown Washington, D.C., Saturday wasn’t there for a basketball game or concert. They came to tell Verizon to stop its attack on middle-class jobs.

Liz McElroy of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO and AFL-CIO field communications staffer Nora Frederickson send us this report about a Verizon action in Philadelphia.

As 45,000 members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and Electrical Workers (IBEW) on the East Coast continue their strike against Verizon to maintain quality, middle-class jobs, union locals in southeastern Pennsylvania decided to take their message directly to the public – at the local ballgame.

United Steelworkers in Pennsylvania and Oregon ratify a contract with Allegheny Technologies, and more news from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 1,400 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.

UPDATE 2: Click here to demand that Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam stop attacking the middle class and share his company’s success with those who make it possible.

UPDATE: A rally on Tuesday, Aug. 9, is set in the Washington, D.C., area. Join striking workers at  the Verizon worksite at 99 Shawan Road, Cockeysville, Md.

UPDATE: Tomorrow morning, Aug. 8, thousands of striking workers will join mass picket lines and rallies at more than 100 Verizon work locations across New York and New Jersey to push the highly profitable company to back off its sweeping demands. The list of picket lines and rallies is here.

And in the Washington, D.C., area, you can show your support for striking workers at a mobilization rally Monday at noon at the Chesapeake Complex, 13100 Columbia Pike, Silver Spring.