Video: Michigan Unions Battle for Amendments to Defend Democracy, Collective Bargaining
Former Labor Notes writer Paul Abowd was on "Democracy Now!" this morning to explain the union-backed initiatives facing Michigan voters this fall.
Unions have fought to place two measures on the ballot. One would block emergency managers, appointed officials who can impose budget cuts on cities, towns, and school districts operating in the red.
Inside and Out the Convention Hall, A Fight for Farm Labor
Baldemar Velasquez, president of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee and member of the Labor Notes Policy Committee, spoke to “Democracy Now!” yesterday about organizing in the fields and in the neighborhoods.
Back-to-Work Legislation Ends Teamsters Railway Strike
Teamsters on the Canadian Pacific Railway will be ordered to end their nine-day strike shortly, when Parliament sends them back to work. Government back-to-work legislation is becoming a trend in Canada, with CP the third private company to receive that form of government help against its workforce since the Conservatives were elected in 2006.
Chicago Schools Showdown Galvanizes Teachers
The Chicago Teachers Union filled an auditorium with 4,000 teachers yesterday, in a show of numbers marking the next step in the union’s struggle for educational justice.
Nurses Defy Chicago Mayor, Rallying for Robin Hood Tax
When Chicago’s “Mayor 1%” Rahm Emanuel threatened to derail the National Nurses United rally this Friday, NNU didn’t back down. Chicago nurse Martese Chism tells why.
Wisconsin Unions Will Push On without Champion in Walker Recall
Wisconsin voters chose Tom Barrett yesterday as the Democrat to face Republican Scott Walker in the June 5 vote for governor. Barrett won the Democratic primary handily, defeating Kathleen Falk, the candidate endorsed by most major unions in the state, by 22 points.
Barrett, the preferred choice of the state's Democratic establishment, has hinged his campaign on his independence from labor, and repeated many of the same talking points about public sector workers that voters hear from the Walker camp.
Will Apple's Exposés Produce Reform or Just Hand-Wringing?
The media watchdog group FAIR followed up Jeff Ballinger's piece for Labor Notes with a segment on their weekly round-up show "Counterspin." Ballinger questioned the motivations behind Apple's response to reports on appalling factory conditions.
Verizon Targets Union Leaders in Retaliatory Firings
Verizon unleashed another salvo in the company’s six-month battle against its unionized workers, firing 40 East Coast workers over the weekend for picket-line activity during August’s two-week strike.
Reformers Sweep Vote in Verizon Union
Verizon, look out—there’s a new union in town. A reform group took over a big New York City telecom local yesterday, pledging to re-energize the union. The election took place against the backdrop of a wrenching contract fight that’s dragged on since a two-week strike at Verizon in August.
Blowing Holes in the Low-Road Approach
The Remapping Debate website yesterday exposed the real motives behind a consulting company’s August report that suggested manufacturing companies are finding advantages to investing in the U.S.