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Longshore Union Protests ‘Police Brutality’ as President Surrenders »

September 26, 2011 | Evan Rohar

A grain exporter's attempt to operate a new facility without longshore labor has met stiff resistance in the Pacific Northwest. Police responded by breaking up protests and arresting about 135 unionists, prompting the union to sue to stop “ongoing police brutality."

California Farmworkers Rebound after Veto »

September 25, 2011 | Eduardo Soriano-Castillo

California Governor Jerry Brown’s June veto of a bill making it easier for the state’s 400,000 farmworkers to organize caught the Farm Workers union (UFW) by surprise.

Michigan Rebels Against Emergency Managers »

September 24, 2011 | Jane Slaughter

Michigan’s notorious emergency manager law could soon be suspended, say activists who are circulating petitions to put a repeal of the law on the ballot in fall 2012.

Was Verizon Unions’ Labor Lost? »

September 24, 2011 | Mischa Gaus

Almost two weeks into their August strike, 45,000 Verizon workers were tapping a deep root of anger at corporations that enjoy immense profits but can’t be bothered to pay taxes or treat workers decently.

Tomato Pickers Pedal for Penny »

September 24, 2011 | Eduardo Soriano-Castillo

How many times have you seen a penny on the floor and didn’t bother to pick it up? Yet for tomato pickers in Florida the effort to get a penny from supermarket giants Publix and Trader Joe's has become a backbreaking struggle.


GM Settlement Fulfills Low Expectations »

September 24, 2011 | Jane Slaughter

The United Auto Workers settled the first of the Detroit 3 contracts September 16 with an agreement that appeared to meet the low expectations union bargainers had worked hard to instill in members.

21,000 Strike Giant California Hospital Chains »

September 23, 2011 | Mark Brenner, Mischa Gaus

Sparking giant strikes in two California hospital chains, 4,000 members of the National Union of Healthcare Workers walked on Wednesday. Joining them on sympathy strikes were 19,000 other hospital workers.

California Grocery Workers Win Settlement, Wait for Details »

September 22, 2011 | Jenny Brown

Southern California grocery workers have wrested a tentative agreement from their three profitable employers. The union said the settlement “protects your health care” but did not release details.

Hershey Still Silent after Student Guestworkers Strike »

September 20, 2011 | Stephanie Luce

Three hundred student-workers from overseas went on strike last month at a Hershey plant in Pennsylvania. Some have returned to work, while others have hooked up with the National Guestworker Alliance to publicize exploitation of student-workers.

Low Expectations Are Met in GM-UAW Deal »

September 19, 2011 | Jane Slaughter

Update: For an analysis of the contract by UAW bargaining committeeperson Gary Walkowicz, click here.


For an analysis of the contract's "lowlights" by the Autoworker Caravan reform group, click here.

Building a Coalition from the Grassroots »

September 16, 2011 | Howard Ryan

New York is a tough town for education advocates. The mayor is a corporate operator with a privatization agenda. The city’s teachers union offers meager resistance. Rank and filers are building a no-cuts coalition, showing activists they shouldn't wait for permission.

UAW Contract’s Hidden Surprises for Skilled Trades »

September 14, 2011 | Alex Wassell

As United Auto Workers talks with the Detroit 3 go down to the wire—contracts expire at midnight tonight—workers are wondering what hidden surprises may await them in a tentative agreement. At Chrysler, skilled trades workers are finding big problems concealed in the last concessions contract,...

Transit Union Takes Education On the Road »

September 13, 2011 | Jane Slaughter

The Amalgamated Transit Union is educating local leaders around the country about what’s wrong with the economy, helping bus drivers and mechanics who’ve seen transit funding slashed to understand some ugly truths. Squarely in the center is the impact of military spending on public budgets.

Week-Long Strikes Push Hyatt for Contracts, Right to Solidarity »

September 12, 2011 | Jenny Brown

Hotel workers escalated their efforts against Hyatt, launching a week-long strike in four cities Thursday. They want contracts, and the right to strike or boycott in support of Hyatt workers elsewhere.

The Big Winner in Obama’s Jobs Speech? Small Thinking. »

September 9, 2011 | Mark Brenner

In closing his jobs speech last night, President Obama challenged Congress to imagine where the U.S. would be if their predecessors had balked when asked to think big. Unfortunately for the president, the comparisons he made only served to highlight how puny his jobs proposals are.

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