Troublemakers Blog

Protesters sitting in a row in a meeting hold up yellow posters with a picture of slain worker Juan Baten.
May 25, 2023 / Luis Feliz Leon
The first labor story I ever wrote was about the death of Juan Baten, a 22-year-old Guatemalan worker who was killed on the job at a food warehouse in Brooklyn in 2011. Baten got pulled into a mixing machine that lacked the required safety guard. »
A man, Yang Hoe-dong, walks along a sidewalk wearing a resolute expression. His right arm is in the air, holding a green flag. In his left hand he holds a microphone to his lips. He wears a red headbank with printing on it in Korean, and a vest and badge that also have printed text in Korean. It seems likely he is speaking or leading chants at a union protest.
May 08, 2023 /
A South Korean union leader has ended his life, enraged in anger and humiliation as the government attempted to bring racketeering charges against him over union activity. »
Strikers stand in front of Medieval Times holding a banner that reads "Knights on Strike."
May 05, 2023 /
Shocking video of Medieval Times strikers in Buena Park, California, run down by a car and then physically assaulted while picketing in a crosswalk had hundreds of thousands of views on social media in April. »
Four members of Helpline Associates United on Zoom.
May 04, 2023 /
Is artificial intelligence a new union-busting tool? For the leadership at the National Eating Disorders Association, it would seem the answer is yes. »
April 25, 2023 / Keith Brower Brown
Huge changes are coming for our workplaces, quick as a heat wave. This month Joe Biden inked new rules to make all-electrics the majority of new cars sold in America within a decade. »
People stand on grass with signs. A red banner says "Seven months without a contract, OMG!" with stylized images of Edward Munch's painting "The Scream." Another sign says "More sick leave" in English, Spanish, and Russian. Another says, in Spanish,"Provide money for the future of students." Another says "Woodburn teachers don't want to strike, but we will."
April 13, 2023 /
Twenty years ago, the small school district of Woodburn piloted Oregon’s first K-12 district-wide dual-language program. It became a model for schools nationwide. Yet while the district continues to proudly present itself as bilingual, in reality this program—along with the rest of the system—is failing. »
Around 50 people stand outside in a warm, sunny spot, holding homemade signs that are either facing away from us or too far to read. Behind them is a cement wall and a tree against blue sky; the ground looks dusty. In the foreground is a white truck.
April 11, 2023 /
For years, workers in the Fyffes/Sol melon plantations of southern Honduras have persisted in organizing the independent Agro-industrial and Similar Workers Union (STAS, Sindicato de Trabajadores de la Agroindustria y Similares). »
A teacher reads to kindergarteners, one of whom has her chin on her hands and seems to be rapt by the story
April 03, 2023 / Barbara Madeloni
When I ran for president of the Massachusetts Teachers Association I ran headlong into attacks about my character, my competency, and the intentions of our reform caucus. We were accused of being divisive, of being controlled by outside forces, and of cheating. »
Black-and-white line drawing of people on a picket line, holding signs. In the foreground is someone with a big furry hood; words on their sign are not visible. Signs in the background read "Be gay, do strike" and "The union is us!" Background behind the sketch is a purple watercolor oval with subtle pink splatters. Title in rounded black letters: Strike in style. Along the top is the edge of a spiral sketchbook.
March 30, 2023 /
Queer and trans workers have long been at the frontlines of solidarity, bridging identities and social movements. »
Workers with flags gather outside the glass-doored offices of Frontline in Cleveland
March 30, 2023 /
It’s never a bad idea to be suspicious of your boss, especially when they act like they’re doing you a favor. For workers at FrontLine Service, a Cleveland non-profit that serves the unsheltered, distrust of our employer is one of the critical sentiments that binds us. »

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