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Reining in Russell »

November 24, 2009 | Amanda Wilson

Student anti-sweatshop activists spurred a historic deal between a Honduran union and the largest exporter of T-shirts to the U.S. Russell will rehire 1,200 workers fired for unionizing, injecting hope into a movement eager for good news.

Teamsters Move In Reform Leaders in New York Local »

November 23, 2009 | Jane Slaughter

“It’s time to close the concessions stand,” said the candidates of the New Directions slate, and members of Teamsters Local 814 in New York City agreed. They voted 406-154 for the reformers.

Restaurant Workers Tell Fancy Dining Chain: Quit Stealing Wages »

November 23, 2009 | Paul Abowd

The sidewalk outside a restaurant in suburban Detroit was packed for the Friday night dinner rush—but it wasn't because the line was out the door. Restaurant workers and supporters were out front protesting a slew of minimum-wage violations, part of a national campaign against employers that...

More Concessions? Ford Workers Tell UAW: ‘No!’ ‘No!’ ‘No!’ »

November 21, 2009 | Ron Lare

“No!” “No!” “No!” It started with a simple question, “Can you hear me?” Bob King, a United Auto Workers vice president, was inside Ford’s Dearborn Truck Plant, near Detroit. He was ready to tell a crowd of rank-and-file members why they should vote for more concessions to the automaker, the...

British Postal Union Calls Off Strike »

November 21, 2009 | Sheila Cohen

Five 24-hour strikes in mid-October over speedup, harassment, and lost jobs brought down media and government accusations demonizing British postal workers for potentially denying the public “their Christmas.” Unnerved, postal union leaders cancelled further actions.

Media Howls as Philly Transit Workers Strike »

November 21, 2009 | Daniel Denvir, Evan Rohar

Ending a dispute that underscored the need for stronger bonds between public workers and the communities they serve, Philadelphia’s transit workers went back to work in early November after a six-day strike.


Steward's Corner: Remember the Past, and Use It »

November 20, 2009 | Craig Merrilees, Gillian Furst

In San Francisco in 1934, heavily armed police and company thugs attacked striking maritime workers on the waterfront. The massive funeral procession that followed won public support and inspired workers—including Teamsters members who overruled their president to support a general strike that...

Should Single-Payer Activists Back Down? »

November 20, 2009 | Mischa Gaus

Despite many expressions of support and much advocacy for a single-payer health plan, it hasn't captivated the country in the lengthy health care debate nor moved a bill through Congress. The onus is on single-payer supporters to “take a step back," an AFL staffer argued.

Longshore Contract: Peter Robbed, Paul Paid, Reformers Regroup »

November 19, 2009 | by Mark Brenner

Rank-and-file longshore workers pushed to reject a contract that top officials negotiated 10 months early, but longshore (ILA) members approved a two-year deal.

University of Illinois Caves After Two-Day Grad Strike »

November 18, 2009 | Peter Campbell

University of Illinois graduate employees ended a two-day strike with the school agreeing to key union demands. Assertive unions can turn back the erosion of conditions on campus, strikers said.

NUHW Supporters Brave Eggs, Bottles in Los Angeles »

November 18, 2009 | Paul Krehbiel

Attendees at an NUHW forum in Los Angeles had to pass a demonstration of a few hundred SEIU staffers and members who had arrived on buses. The SEIUers chanted, beat on drums, and threw eggs and water bottles in an unsuccessful effort to intimidate people from attending.

Book Review: Embedded with Organized Labor »

November 17, 2009 | Chris Kutalik

One nagging factor in labor's crisis has been its internal culture of silence. Difficult issues are often sidestepped, finessed, or ignored all together. Steve Early says he learned in his early days the first rule of business unionism: “Thou shall not criticize another union.” Thirty years...

East Coast Longshore Workers Push to Reject Contract »

November 16, 2009 | Mark Brenner

Rank-and-file longshore workers are pushing to reject another contract, after sending top officials in the East Coast longshore union back to the bargaining table. The negotiations haven't addressed members' biggest concerns, they say.

Steelworkers Take Fight at Canadian Mine Global »

November 15, 2009 | Derek Blackadder

Steelworkers at nickel giant Vale Inco’s operations in Sudbury and Voisey Bay in Canada have been on strike since July. After rejecting contracts calling for deep concessions, Steelworkers (USW) members there find themselves in the midst of one of the largest battles in their history.

National Work Stoppage in Mexico Demands Reversal on Power Co. Takeover »

November 13, 2009 | Dan La Botz

Tens of thousands of Mexican workers joined a national work stoppage to restore the Electrical Workers union, but despite large and militant protests, it's unlikely the government will be moved.

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