Thanks for visiting Labor Notes!

All Articles

Searches titles and body text

Iraqi Labor Unions Still Struggling with U.S. Occupation’s Yoke »

August 21, 2012 | Steve Early

In the wake of last year’s long overdue U.S. troop withdrawal, media coverage of Iraq has dwindled to near zero. The fate of costly U.S.-funded projects and institutions is little known or largely forgotten, $800 billion later. Among the many problematic U.S. efforts to remake the country was...

Home Care Workers: Still Waiting for Obama »

August 20, 2012 | Eileen Boris and Jennifer Klein

Why do Democrats fear to recognize the labor of care? Once again party leaders are wavering at a crucial moment, and could fail to grant home care workers rights to overtime pay and the minimum wage.

NY Public Employees Hit Reset After Old Guard Pushes Contract Takeaways »

August 17, 2012 | Mark Brenner

New union leaders signal a tougher stance by New York state workers and more wrangling with the governor. The NY Union Proud slate aims at new directions in the Public Employees Federation.

U.S. Protests Tell GM to Resolve Colombian Hunger Strike »

August 16, 2012 | John Walsh & Mischa Gaus

Student, community, and labor groups demonstrated outside GM corporate headquarters in Detroit and around the U.S. in support of Colombian hunger strikers who have sewed their lips closed in protest.

Detroit’s Wayne State University Looks to Destroy Tenure »

August 15, 2012 | Aaron Petkov

Wayne State University in Detroit has proposed a new contract that would radically redefine the terms for eliminating faculty. The school would be the first research university to effectively abolish tenure, said the faculty union.

Paper Workers Picket Obama Over Secretive Trade Negotiations »

August 14, 2012 | Alexandra Bradbury

As a Democrat running for re-election, President Barack Obama might assume he has organized labor in his pocket, but one West Coast union staged a public protest when the president made a campaign stop in Portland, Oregon.

Brazil Union’s Highway Occupation Cancels GM Layoffs »

August 10, 2012 | Ron Lare

Two thousand Brazilian Metalworkers took over a key highway last week, demanding a stop to permanent layoffs at GM. Five days later, they achieved their goal, accepting an agreement that suspends the firings.

Teamsters Lose Jobs when UAW Signs Sweetheart Deal »

August 9, 2012 | Ken Paff

More than 100 Teamster drivers in Louisville, Kentucky, lost their jobs when employers colluded with a United Auto Workers local to oust them and sign a sweetheart deal.

Making Sure a Strike Centers On Unfair Labor Practices »

August 8, 2012 | Robert M. Schwartz

Positioning a walkout as an unfair labor practice strike is one of the key tasks for any union on the verge of a labor battle, because ULP strikers cannot be permanently replaced. Here's how the union can lay the groundwork it needs.

Lacking Contracts, New Orleans Teachers Use Old-School Tactics »

August 7, 2012 | Theresa Moran

After Katrina, New Orleans fired all 7,500 of its teachers. The firings were recently ruled illegal, but teachers won't get their jobs back. Instead, the union is fighting for teachers and students through a grassroots, social justice approach.

Lips Sewed Shut, Colombia GM Workers Will Not Be Silent »

August 6, 2012 | John Walsh

Last week four disabled former General Motors workers in Bogotá, Colombia, sewed their lips closed to begin a hunger strike that they say they will continue until GM responds to their demand for other jobs, or until they die.



Review: Organize or Die by Laura McClure »

August 3, 2012 | Jane Slaughter

Many of us hesitate to read books, or watch movies, where we’re familiar with the subject matter, because it’s so painful when the author gets it wrong. Attorneys wince watching the many lawyerly TV shows, because it just doesn't happen that way.

Nissan Workers Seek Fair Shake in Mississippi Plant »

August 2, 2012 | Jane Slaughter

UAW President Bob King says organizing foreign-owned auto plants is make-or-break for the shrinking union. A Mississippi Nissan plant where temps are a quarter of the workforce is the UAW's first Southern foray in 11 years.

Ending Quebec Lockout, Steel Workers Limit Subcontractors »

August 1, 2012 | Mischa Gaus

Just before Olympic athletes began climbing London podiums to receive their medals, Canadian smelter workers settled a dispute with the multinational that provides the gold, silver, and bronze.

Eager to Unionize, Grad Workers Wait for NLRB’s Thumbs-Up »

July 31, 2012 | Sarah Lazare

Students or workers? As grad employees wait for the NLRB to consider allowing them to unionize, some aren’t waiting for the legal right to bargain to start acting like a union. On several campuses, they’ve spent years organizing.

Pages