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Rail Workers and Environmentalists to Teach Each Other »

January 21, 2015 | Ron Kaminkow

With unusual public attention focused on coal and oil trains, a railroad workers group is seizing the opportunity to teach the general public “railroading 101”—and rail workers “environmental politics 101.”

Unbought Slate Wins against Democrats-for-Chevron »

January 20, 2015 | Jane Slaughter

It’s not often that a city council race in a city of 100,000 draws national attention. It happened in Richmond, California because one big corporation was so shameless in its open attempt to buy the election.

‘Solidarity Forever’ Written 100 Years Ago, Today »

January 17, 2015 | Jonathan Rosenblum

On a windblown, gray Chicago day 100 years ago, January 17, 1915, Ralph Chaplin left his home on the South Side for a raucous, poor person’s rally at the city’s famous women’s center, Hull House.

Review: ‘We Are All Equals Now’: How Trapped Chilean Miners Survived »

January 15, 2015 | Christopher Mark

Imagine you’re trapped at the bottom of a mine, 2,000 feet belowground. It is dark, dirty, wet; you have very little food; the water is tinged with oil. And you share this predicament with 32 of your co-workers.

We Need Less Work, Not More »

January 14, 2015 | Alexandra Bradbury

The Laborers union says senators who voted against the Keystone XL Pipeline "killed thousands of jobs." Meanwhile, jobs are killing us.

On the Beaches of Santa Monica, Temp Workers Organize »

January 12, 2015 | Shyolanda Montana

Even public employers are dipping their toes into the "permatemp" economy. Workers designated "trainees" clean Santa Monica bathrooms and lifeguard stations, earning half of what permanent workers earn for the same job.

Why 2,600 Kaiser Mental Health Workers Are On Strike »

January 12, 2015 | Clement Papazian

Mental health clinicians hate to strike. We got into this profession to help people. But the situation is only getting worse.

Memphis Campus Temps Outwit Scheme to Privatize Their Social Security »

January 8, 2015 | Steve Payne and Jeffrey Lichtenstein

Ever heard of a “FICA alternative plan"? The university implied it would amount to a pay raise and give us more flexible retirement options—but we were skeptical.

Review: New Book Reveals Untold Queer Labor History »

January 7, 2015 | Kate Ekman

This significant, comprehensive new history collects for the first time the stories of many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer labor activists. It's essential to a contemporary understanding of union solidarity.

Viewpoint: Concerns about Obama's Immigration Announcement »

January 5, 2015 | David Bacon

The president stressed that he would strengthen workplace enforcement—counter to the demands of most unions and communities that have suffered from audits and firings.

Virtual Teaching, Real Organizing »

January 5, 2015 | Samantha Winslow

Turning the usual rivalries upside down, “virtual teachers” in an online charter school system in California are pushing to unionize.

Free-Speech Crackdowns Show Transit Workers Are on the Right Track »

January 4, 2015 | Samantha Winslow

Even basic rights like free speech can’t be taken for granted, transit workers are finding out, when your speech makes the boss look bad.

When Bad Gripes Happen to Good Stewards »

January 2, 2015 | Ellen David Friedman

Stewards can turn discontent into campaigns that build workplace power. Sometimes, though, too much unproductive discontent is floating around. What to do?

Why Did Swiss Voters Reject Single-Payer Health Care? »

December 31, 2014 | Claudia Chaufan

Pundits are crowing that a Swiss referendum proved people prefer private insurers. Don't buy it.

All the Books We Reviewed in 2014 »

December 30, 2014 | Labor Notes Staff

'Tis the season to curl up indoors with a mug of something warm and an interesting book. These 19 titles include fascinating unsung histories and sharp takes on today’s debates.

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