Labor Notes Magazine, May 2008, No. 350

Labor Notes Conference 2008: Enthusiasm and Inspiration

-- Jane Slaughter

The labor movement has been hurtin’ for certain, so what made the Labor Notes conference April 11-13 in Detroit seem an oasis of enthusiasm and inspiration. . . . Read More

SEIU’s Disruption Draws Wide Criticism from Union Leaders and Members

-- Chris Kutalik and Mischa Gaus

Leaders of the Service Employees International Union launched what appeared to be a carefully crafted plan on April 12 to disrupt parts of the Labor Notes conference, where contingents from a dissident SEIU local, a new reform caucus within SEIU, and a competing union were in attendance. . . . Read More

As Talks Drag, American Axle Strike Enters Third Month

-- Jane Slaughter

Although the two-month-old strike at parts-maker American Axle has shut down 30 General Motors plants and idled more than 40,000 GM workers, the United Auto Workers appear unable or unwilling to make use of their leverage to reach a settlement. . . . Read More

SEIU’s Internal Divisions Spill into Delegate Races

-- Mark Brenner

Mounting conflicts within the SEIU have spilled into the delegate election process for the union’s convention, scheduled for June 1-4 in Puerto Rico. SEIU opposition activists, particularly from several large locals on the West Coast, are crying foul. . . . Read More

Members Drive Flight Attendant Organizing at Delta

-- Joshua DeVries

Flight attendants at Delta Airlines are pushing to join the ranks of unionized cabin crews. With almost all major airlines organized for decades, only Atlanta-based Delta has held out. Now a growing number of flight attendants there—aided by a huge team of Association of Flight Attendants member - organizers from other airlines — have decided their time has come. . . . Read More

Tomato Pickers Say Burger King Spies on Allies

-- Tiffany Ten Eyck

Members of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers have exposed Burger King for its role in attempts to infiltrate and spy on the inner workings of a CIW-allied organization, the Student/Farmworker Alliance. Both CIW and SFA are headquartered in Immokalee, Florida, where tomato pickers are demanding Burger King join with other tomato purchasers to better the wages and working conditions throughout the tomato industry. . . . Read More

Copper Miners Get Help from Women in Long Strike in Mexico

-- Dan La Botz

The miners of Local 65 of the Mexican Mine and Metal Workers Union at Cananea marked their ninth month of striking against Grupo Mexico, the country’s largest mining corporation and third-largest copper producer in the world. . . . Read More

Honoring Martin Luther King, Jr.: Student-Labor Activists Hold More Than 200 Solidarity Actions Across the U.S.

-- Paul Abowd

Small Strikes, Big Leverage in Two More Michigan Auto Strikes

-- Mischa Gaus

Santiago Rafael Cruz

-- Labor Notes staff

Workers Center Members Share with Each Other

-- Tiffany Ten Eyck

Labor Notes conference: 'Freightliner Five' Build for May 9 Rally

-- Tiffany Ten Eyck

Labor Notes Conference: Black Workers Track

-- Tim Schermerhorn

Labor Notes Conference: Chinese Labor Movement Track

-- Ellen David Friedman

Government Cracks Down on Strikes and Protests in Egypt

-- John Becker

SMART Plans Strategy at Labor Notes Conference

-- Labor Notes staff

Iranian Union Members Face Continuing Attacks

Garment Workers Lead Fight in Bangladesh