pensions

  • Stealing the Nest Egg

    When millions lost their jobs and homes when the credit bubble burst in 2008, one slower-motion rip-off gained speed as well. In 2009, 50 million workers lost over $1 trillion invested in their 401(k) retirement accounts.

    The dream of a dignified retirement didn’t just evaporate, however. It has been systematically stolen over decades.

  • Millions Set to Strike in Britain
    Kim Moody
    Nov 29 2011 - 9:18am

    As many as 2.5 million public sector workers will strike across Britain on November 30. The one-day action contests the government’s plan to make public employees work longer, contribute more to pensions, and receive less.

  • Strike Beats Back Pension Cuts at NY Nuclear Plants
    Howie Hawkins and Vincent Lloyd
    Aug 5 2011 - 11:10pm

    Older workers defended pension benefits for younger workers in a successful strike at two nuclear reactors in Oswego, New York. IBEW Local 97’s strike drew notable community support, aimed at protecting union jobs and benefits, but also nuclear safety as a skeleton crew ran the plant.

  • British Strike Begins Drive to Save Public Pensions
    Kim Moody
    Jul 7 2011 - 1:25pm

    Protesting cuts to their pensions and a higher retirement age, 600,000 public sector workers and teachers struck across Britain June 30, and rallied in 80 towns and cities. They say bigger strikes are in store this fall.

  • GE to Unions: Drop Dead
    Alexandra Brown
    May 24 2011 - 4:18pm

    Flush with cash, fresh from plant closings, and celebrated at the White House, GE said the company would still seek to double workers' costs for health insurance and eliminate new hires' pensions. Bargaining with 11 unions opened yesterday in New York.

  • Six-Month Strike Settled, Detroit’s Orchestra Plays On

    Deep into a six-month strike, the Detroit Symphony had cancelled the fall and spring seasons. Music fans were afraid management unwillingness to seriously negotiate with the musicians would cost Detroit its magnificent orchestra. But musicians ratified a contract last week in a rush of bargaining capped by a 27-hour negotiating session.

  • Full-Bore Assault in the Midwest
    Labor Notes Staff
    Feb 23 2011 - 3:32pm

    The Midwest has become the flashpoint, as unions and their allies fight a raft of union-busting bills and ballot measures that look to cripple unions and scale back workers’ rights. Here’s a round-up of what’s at stake.

  • Shock and Law: Politicians Push Anti-Worker Bills
    Mark Brenner
    Feb 22 2011 - 4:41pm

    Labor’s 2011 political battles don’t end at the Beltway. Anti-union forces are pushing bills and ballot measures to limit workers’ rights and curb union power from Maine to Hawaii. A special Labor Notes map keeps track.

  • Canadians Rally to Defend Pensions in U.S. Steel Lockout
    Mike Williams
    Jan 31 2011 - 4:18pm

    As many as 10,000 unionists and supporters converged on downtown Hamilton, Ontario, to support locked-out Steelworkers and decry their employer, U.S. Steel, for failing to honor its commitments.

  • In France, Huge Protests Fail to Stop Pension Cuts. What Happened?
    Jason Stanley
    Nov 20 2010 - 12:36am

    In September and October, France was rocked by some of the country’s largest protests in recent memory as workers struggled to prevent cuts to their public pensions.