GCIU:

At the AFL-CIO's Working Women Conference in Chicago, Cecelie Blakey, left, of the AFL-CIO and Ellen Bravo of 9to5 lead a workshop on "What's Happening to My Paycheck?" – one of the components of "Common Sense Economics."

Have you heard people saying that the economy is booming, but you don't think things are all that great for you and your family? And have you wondered what it has to do with you when the experts start talking about economic indicators, the Federal Reserve, and the stock market?

"Common Sense Economics for Working Families," a new feature on the AFL-CIO's website (http://www.aflcio.org), can help answer these and many more questions.

With material drawn from a popular workshop developed by the federation, Common Sense Economics explains how the economy relates to every day life.

For those with a vague feeling that there's a bulls eye on their back, the corporate agenda section explains why. It details who's really benefitting from the economy and explains the growing concentration of wealth over the past decades. It explains why the corporate agenda includes weakening unions because of the role that unions play in the economy.

The course provides a rich source of economic fundamentals, including a glossary of economic terms, economic history, and a "stress test" to see how your situation compares to the overall economy.

Common Sense Economics also includes solutions for workers' economic problems that stress the importance of organizing and political action.

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