When I interviewed Amir Peretz, the leader of the Histadrut, Israel's national trade union federation, back in June 2005, I mentioned to him that I thought it was pretty unusual for a trade unionist to announce his candidacy for the post of prime minister.

When I interviewed Amir Peretz, the leader of the Histadrut, Israel's national trade union federation, back in June 2005, I mentioned to him that I thought it was pretty unusual for a trade unionist to announce his candidacy for the post of prime minister. "I actually know of several additional examples of workers' leaders who became heads of government," he responded, "such as Bob Hawke in Australia, Lech Walesa in Poland, and Lula in Brazil."

In other words, in normal countries, trade union leaders sometimes become leaders of political parties and even heads of government. But Israel, until now, has not been a normal country.

When the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) pulled its members at Telus (one Canada's largest telephone companies) off the job in late July, its members were euphoric. Picketing enabled them to strike back at the management that had been putting them through years of stress.

When the Telecommunications Workers Union (TWU) pulled its members at Telus (one Canada's largest telephone companies) off the job in late July, its members were euphoric. Picketing enabled them to strike back at the management that had been putting them through years of stress.

The rest of the labour movement came forth with tremendous support. Members from other unions participated in rallies supporting the TWU across Alberta and British Columbia. Unions in both provinces, the rest of Canada and abroad offered financial help and use of their resources. The two provincial federations of labour provided generous financial support. TWU's issues were communicated to other unions' members, and they provided strong picket line support.

Fifty years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, Atlanta's Transit Riders Union (TRU) is continuing the struggle. Formed this spring as a committee of Atlanta Jobs with Justice, TRU has already played a key role in stopping a $.25 fare increase proposed by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

Fifty years after Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama bus, Atlanta's Transit Riders Union (TRU) is continuing the struggle. Formed this spring as a committee of Atlanta Jobs with Justice, TRU has already played a key role in stopping a $.25 fare increase proposed by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

As TRU builds on that success, Atlanta's transit riders, union members, and community supporters are heeding the call TRU co-chair Sheila Adams made at a December 5 community forum: "Get on board!"

Things seem to keep going from bad to worse for workers at Northwest Airlines (NWA). While striking mechanics and cleaners face a bitter winter after more than four months on the picket line, pilots, flight attendants, gate/ramp agents, baggage handlers, customer service reps, and other union workers face a fresh round of givebacks against the backdrop of a bankruptcy court.

Things seem to keep going from bad to worse for workers at Northwest Airlines (NWA). While striking mechanics and cleaners face a bitter winter after more than four months on the picket line, pilots, flight attendants, gate/ramp agents, baggage handlers, customer service reps, and other union workers face a fresh round of givebacks against the backdrop of a bankruptcy court.

A New York City bankruptcy court ordered NWA's non-striking unions to accept interim concessions on November 16. Machinist union (IAM) members took 19 percent pay cuts (sending wages back to 1980s levels), hefty health care cuts (doubling deductibles up to $400 for some), layoffs, and wide-scale outsourcing.

Rank-and-file United Auto Workers members stepped up their organizing efforts in December, forming a group called Soldiers of Solidarity (SOS) and planning actions to confront concessions.

Rank-and-file United Auto Workers members stepped up their organizing efforts in December, forming a group called Soldiers of Solidarity (SOS) and planning actions to confront concessions.

This is why we are fighting!

Meanwhile, auto parts maker Delphi pushed back the deadline for its bankruptcy proceedings twice--leading observers to wonder whether the corporation was dragging its feet now that its workers do not seem ready to concede.

Workers at Wal-Mart and other big-box retail chains--like workers in any mostly nonunion industry with low pay and tense, dreary working conditions--are generally a disgruntled lot. In central Florida, Wal-Mart workers are fighting and sometimes winning campaigns using collective action to solve both shop floor and larger industry-wide problems.

Workers at Wal-Mart and other big-box retail chains--like workers in any mostly nonunion industry with low pay and tense, dreary working conditions--are generally a disgruntled lot. In central Florida, Wal-Mart workers are fighting and sometimes winning campaigns using collective action to solve both shop floor and larger industry-wide problems.

Mike Konopacki

In one rural Florida town, over 20 percent of workers in the local Wal-Mart had their hours cut. In response, workers went into their community with a petition to reinstate the workers' lost hours, and collected 390 signatures in three days. Their hours were returned.

Since the beginning of 2005, Boeing workers in Newcastle, New South Wales have been trying to negotiate a contract to cover wages and employment conditions. Although these employees are part of the Australia Workers' Union (AWU), for years Boeing has
given individual, not collective, contracts regarding wages and employment conditions.

Twenty-seven Newcastle aircraft maintenance workers have been on strike since June 2005 demanding a collective contract with the AWU. The federal government has responded, stating "all Australian workers, including these AWU members at Boeing, will
always have the right to negotiate a collective certified agreement."

The government of Indonesia, in cooperation with private and public sugar employers, is thwarting sugar workers' rights in Indonesia. The sugar worker union president, Daud Sukamto, has been fired, and management, through harassment and intimidation,
has pressured locals to resign from the union.

The Federation of Independent Tobacco, Cane and Sugar Workers' Union (FSPM TG) was officially registered in February 2005. FSPM TG is affiliated with the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied
Workers' Associations (IUF). Soon after the establishment of the union, harassment of members and union officials began.

British researchers have recently written a report in the Environmental Health Perspectives journal that suggests "a relatively consistent relationship between pesticide exposure and Parkinson's [disease]."

Parkinson's disease, currently incurable, is a progressively degenerative nerve disease. Individuals with Parkinson's have trouble with many daily routines; their brain still functions properly, but the physical actions carried out aren't what the brain intends. In short, their body can't keep up with their brains.

The United Farm Workers (UFW) is demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) act against the threat.

United Airlines, the world's second largest airline, has proposed a bonus plan to give its top eight executives $45 million in stock after the company emerges from a three-year bankruptcy, in February.

The proposal reserves 13.6 million shares, or 11 percent of the company, for 400 executives. CEO Glenn Tilton would receive $15 million in stock, or 1.1 percent of the company. According to a separate document, Tilton also would receive $605,625 annually in compensation, with the ability to double it with an annual bonus.

United workers find the proposal unfair because of their $4 billion in pay and benefit concessions taken.