election

  • Laying the Groundwork Before You Run

    Author(s):
    Chris Kutalik

    Excerpt:
    Your mother might have been right about that old “try-and-try-until- you-succeed” saw. That is certainly the case for the victory of Teamsters (IBT) reformers at Local 743 in Chicago. . . .

    Body:
    Members of the 12,000-member Teamsters Local 743 launched a reform movement a decade and a half ago. Their New Leadership Slate swept to victory last October. Photo: New Leadership Slate

    Your mother might have been right about that old “try-and-try-until-you-succeed” saw. That is certainly the case for the victory of Teamsters (IBT) reformers at Local 743 in Chicago.

    Late last October, the New Leadership Slate swept to victory over the incumbents. It was the fourth election in over a decade’s time in which Teamsters for a Democratic Union (TDU)-affiliated reformers had tried to oust the old guard in the 12,000-member local.

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • Labor’s Political Game Falls Short Without Pressure From Below

    Author(s):
    Chris Kutalik

    Excerpt:
    The noise, exhilaration, and sheer drama of horse races don’t lend themselves to sober reflection. As the political fortunes of the Bush administration have waned, many labor activists have been on their feet with excitement, watching the wide-open presidential primary contest unfold. But serious questions remain. . . .

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • New York School Aide Booted from Ballot

    Author(s):
    Mischa Gaus

    Excerpt:
    Tripping up an insurgent campaign among school aides, American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Local 372 disqualified in mid-November a dissident candidate for the union’s executive board. . . .

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • The Loyal Opposition in New York's Teachers Union Collapses After Making Deal with Unity Caucus

    Author(s):
    Marian Swerdlow

    Excerpt:
    Recent elections in New York’s United Federation of Teachers -- the nation’s largest teachers union local -- marked a sea change in the union’s internal politics.
    In the short term, no serious challenge is posed to the Unity caucus, an efficient monolith which has dominated the UFT for decades and rewards members with jobs outside the classroom. But in the long term, these elections may signal a revitalization of opposition to Unity within the UFT.

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • Top 10 Things Heard in the White House after the November 5 elections

    Author(s):
    According to the AFL-CIO

    Excerpt:
    10. "Social Security to be replaced by giant Bingo game -- brought to you by Wall Street."

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • GOP Election Victory Opens Door for Intensified Anti-Worker Offensive

    Author(s):
    Justin Jackson and Chris Kutalik

    Excerpt:
    This fall the AFL-CIO kicked its election strategy into full gear. Promising “No More Business As Usual” for candidates who refused to embrace labor’s issues, the federation committed massive amounts of cash and manpower to mostly Democratic Party candidates.
    That support failed to push the Democrats to victory on Election Day. Reports from Washington indicate that GOP leaders are planning new attacks on unions and a revival of old anti-labor legislative assaults either delayed or partially implemented in the past decade.

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • What If Citizens Got To Decide the City Budget? Brazil’s Workers Party Tries "Participatory Budgeting"

    Author(s):
    Micah Maidenberg

    Excerpt:
    Brazil will vote for a new president October 6. If the Workers Party (or PT, for Partido dos Trabahadores) wins, South America’s largest country will be governed by a party that was created by the labor movement and dedicated to building movements of workers and the poor...

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • New York District Attorney Investigates SEIU Local 32B-J Staff "Volunteering" on Mark Green Campaign

    Author(s):
    by Freda Coodin

    Excerpt:
    On November 13 the Manhattan District Attorney subpoenaed the Service Employees International Union Local 32B-J to hand over documents, after the DA was notified of possible violations by a member and dissident leader, Paul Pamias.

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • Steward's Corner: How Our Local Bonded With The Community

    Author(s):
    by Ken Riley; President ILA Local 1422, Charleston, South Carolina

    Excerpt:
    For a long time our local union was a sleeping giant in the community. Other groups solicited us only for our funds and not for our involvement. We were also losing ground in contract negotiations: Charleston is a major port, and we weren't taking advantage of that fact to address issues that were particular to Charleston.

    Available Online:
    Yes

  • Carpenters Launch International Organization for Democratic Reform

    Author(s):
    Matt Noyes

    Excerpt:
    On March 4 in Boston, 100 rank and file carpenters from across the country formed the Carpenters for a Democratic Union International. It is the first national rank and file reform organization in the history of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters.
    The group's founding conference was sponsored by the Boston carpenters' reform group, Carpenters for a Democratic Union, and the Association for Union Democracy. The conference included carpenters from reform groups in Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago, Tacoma, New York, and other cities.

    Available Online:
    Yes