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Pensions: The Next Casualty of Wall Street »

September 29, 2009 | Mark Brenner

Nobody wants to admit it, but the next casualty of the Wall Street meltdown will probably be your golden years. For years corporations have been trying to choke the life out of traditional pensions, working hard to get out from under the risk—and the cost—of providing for their retirees....

Defined-Benefits Squeeze »

September 29, 2009 | Mark Brenner

Workers in defined-benefit pension plans used to be one-third of the private sector. Now they are a sixth—and those 20 million workers’ security is under serious threat.


Consider the Central States Pension Fund. Once an anchor of retirement security for Teamsters in 29 states from...

State and City Pensions Drenched in Red »

September 29, 2009 | Mark Brenner

The economic crisis has left 47 states in the red, with a combined deficit of $350 billion over the next two years. Pension benefits have been a highly visible target, pitting taxpayers against public workers in state and local governments.


These struggles will only intensify, as...

Grocery Unions Join with Community To Build Better Supermarkets »

September 29, 2009 | Tiffany Ten Eyck

Multi-Union Coalition at UC Strikes Back at Devastating Cuts »

September 29, 2009 | Jack Gerson, Tanya Smith

A coalition of unions, faculty, and students gave a sharp rebuke to cuts and corporate giveaways at the renowned University of California system on September 24—the first day back for most UC campuses.

Putting Labor Films to Work »

September 29, 2009 | Chris Garlock and Jon Garlock

Hey, organizers, let’s put on a show!


Workers are using video to document and share their struggles, and filmmakers from every corner of the globe are addressing labor themes.


Communications Workers Crash Wall St. To Protest AT&T's CEO »

September 29, 2009 | Mischa Gaus

CWA Local 1298, which represents AT&T telecommunications workers in Connecticut, protested CEO Randall Stephenson as he made a presentation at a Goldman Sachs event on Wall Street Thursday. More than 4,000 CWA members in Connecticut have been without a contract since April.

Bronx Cookie Bakers Fight Runaway Owner, Think Big to Save Jobs »

September 29, 2009 | Micah Landau

Two months after returning to their jobs on the heels of a victorious 11-month strike against deep concession demands, the defiant workers at the Bronx-based Stella D’oro Biscuit Co. are at it again. This time, however, they are not walking out of their plant—they are trying to stay in it.

AFL-CIO Convention: Free Choice Confusion, Invisible to Delegates »

September 15, 2009 | Jane Slaughter

Stewart Acuff, coordinator of the AFL-CIO's Employee Free Choice Act campaign, told Labor Notes that a deal on EFCA has been made: it’s the same three provisions as the original bill except that we’ll get expedited elections—seven days—instead of card check. (The other two are heavier penalties...

Now For Something Completely Different: Dispatches from the UE Convention »

September 15, 2009 | Mark Brenner

Looking for a break from the palace politics and spit-shine glitz of the AFL-CIO convention in Pittsburgh (where, behind our reporters just hours ago, they turned back on the booming sound system to give tomorrow's speeches a dry run)? Let us transport you to downtown New Haven, where a...

AFL-CIO Convention: Two Health Care Resolutions; Everybody's Happy »

September 15, 2009 | Mischa Gaus

After President Obama speaks later today, the AFL-CIO convention will consider two health care resolutions, but won't vote them against each other.


Both are expected to pass unanimously.


AFL-CIO Convention: Having Some Fun with Capitalism »

September 15, 2009 | Jane Slaughter

Michael Moore’s new film “Capitalism: A Love Story” premiered to a rowdy—and wholly appreciative—labor audience at the AFL-CIO convention. The event, following a noisy march from the convention center to a theater down the street, was organized by the California Nurses Association and the Labor...

AFL-CIO Convention: Reform? We'll take it! »

September 14, 2009 | Jane Slaughter | Jane Slaughter

Asked whether the AFL-CIO would stick to earlier statements that the federation will not support a health care reform bill without a government-insurance “public option,” incoming federation President Rich Trumka ducked this morning.

AFL-CIO Convention: We'd Like to Thank the Academy... »

September 13, 2009 | Mischa Gaus

Labor Notes started the AFL-CIO convention week with a little something to celebrate: we took home first place for general excellence among national labor publications, in the International Labor Communications Association Labor Media awards. ILCA is the organization of editors and reporters...

Food Service Workers Buck Secret Organizing Deals »

September 10, 2009 | Paul Abowd

A delegation of U.S. food service workers flew to the Paris headquarters of their employer Sodexo last winter, delivering petitions against the company’s anti-union practices. They also took to the streets, joining the French general strike.

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