Labor Notes Magazine, March 2008, No. 348

Is Fighting for Justice at Smithfield Racketeering?

-- Jane Slaughter

Is it illegal for an activist group or union to criticize a company’s business practices? Is it a “conspiracy” if advocates call for boycotts, organize rallies, or press for resolutions from elected bodies? Smithfield Foods, the largest producer of pork products in the world, is hoping so, after a lawsuit it filed last October passed an initial court challenge. . . . Read More

Health Care Local Charges SEIU Is Shutting Members Out of Bargaining & Organizing

-- Mark Brenner

A long-simmering dispute over the direction of the Service Employees has erupted inside the union, pitting leaders of the 150,000-member United Healthcare Workers—West against top International officials. UHW President Sal Rosselli and other executive board members contend that the International is taking too much control of organizing and bargaining contracts away from local unions. . . . Read More

Shortcuts Hamper Unions in South, Say the UAW’s Fired ‘Freightliner Five’

-- Tiffany Ten Eyck

Pounding the pavement in a two-month tour of cities throughout the Midwest and West Coast, four fired United Auto Workers members have been busy speaking to supporters in a quest to get their jobs back. Questions about the effect concessionary bargaining and shortcut neutrality agreements may have on the future of new member organizing in the South are frequently raised at their meetings. . . . Read More

Verizon Workers Prepare for Contract Fight: At Stake, Health Care, Job Security, Wages, Internet Access

-- Pam Galpern

Thorny issues are coming to a head in the six-month countdown to the contract expiration at Verizon, the nation’s second-largest telecommunications firm. The contract covering 55,000 Communication Workers (CWA) and more than 10,000 Electrical Workers (IBEW) expires August 2. . . . Read More

District of Columbia Nears Vote Requiring Employers To Provide Paid Sick Leave

-- Karen Minatelli, Ruth Castel-Branco

It could have been an episode of “ER” or “House”: a popular patient battles against the odds, survives a near-death experience to triumph in the end, but still faces challenges in the next episode. . . . Read More

California SEIU Leader Mounts Battle for Local Control, Union Democracy: An Interview with Sal Rosselli

-- Mark Brenner

Sal Rosselli is the president of United Healthcare Workers—West, the third largest local in the Service Employees union. He resigned on February 9 from his position on SEIU’s executive committee—a top-level advisory board to International President Andy Stern.... Read More

Part-Time Professors: Little Pay, No Pensions, No Health Care, No Seniority, Now Organizing Unions.

-- Paul Abowd

One at a time, the teachers came out of the sub-zero January cold and into the lobby of Wayne State University’s McGregor Hall in Detroit. By the time the board of governors meeting began—where the teachers had three minutes total to detail their concerns—they were together in force. . . . Read More

Viewpoint: CAW Committed to Militancy, Movement Unionism

-- Jim O’Neil

Labor activism has never been limited to a single tactic or channel. It is this point that Herman Rosenfeld fails to recognize in his Viewpoint criticizing the recent direction of the Canadian Auto Workers union (see Labor Notes February 2008). . . . Read More

Health Care Union Defeats Western New York Hospital Closings

-- Donna Stefanacci

Viewpoint: How The Writers' Strike Was Won

-- Roger Wolfson

Round Two at University of California: After Contract Impasse

-- Mischa Gaus