The International Association of Machinists (IAM) has filed suit against South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley for taking sides against the union in its attempt to organize workers at a Boeing airplane plant in North Charleston. The suit contends that Gov. Haley is violating US labor laws and the Constitution by siding with Boeing. “Gov Haley placed […]
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Archive | January, 2011
US labor leader arrested in Mexico under suspicious circumstances
January 28, 2011 
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Mexican police on Monday arrested a leader of the United Steelworkers (USW), who was crossing the border to meet with lawyers of the militant and independent National Union of Mine and Metalworkers (Los Mineros). A Mexican customs officer stopped Manny Armenta, a USW sub-district director in Albuquerque, and accused him of driving a stolen vehicle. The vehicle […]
Read moreTexas State Employees Union mobilizes for budget justice
January 27, 2011 2 Comments
The Texas State Employees Union CWA Local 6186 is facing an uphill climb. State leaders want to erase Texas’ $26 billion budget deficit by cutting state services by 30 percent and eliminating more than 9,000 state employee jobs. The state legislature, which convened on January 11, will spend most of the next five months writing a budget that closes the gap. […]
Read moreTexas’ job killer budget
January 26, 2011 0 Comments
One thing is clear about the budgets submitted recently to the Texas Senate and House: a substantial portion of the state’s private economy depends on public funding. Both budgets would close Texas’ $26 billion two-year budget deficit by reducing state services by more than 30 percent. These cuts eliminate 10,000 state employee jobs, but many state services are provided by private employers. As a result, even […]
Read moreMexican labor rights activists threatened for supporting independent unions
January 25, 2011 0 Comments
Intruders last week in Puebla, Mexico broke into the office of the Center for Worker Support (CAT, the Spanish abbreviation), scrawled a threat on the wall, hacked into the e-mail account of CAT’s executive director, and ransacked the building. Earlier this month, CAT members received email threats. No one has been arrested in either incident. These […]
Read moreTunisian teachers union calls strike to oust government
January 25, 2011 0 Comments
The Tunisian teachers union on Monday called a strike to put pressure on the interim government to resign. Schools, which had been closed since early this month because of the unrest in Tunisia, were scheduled to open on Monday, but most remained closed because of the strike call. Meanwhile, people from outlying areas are camping […]
Read moreGE workers look to make progress not concessions when contract talks begin
January 24, 2011 0 Comments
GE has always been generous to its investors but its workers have always had to fight for their fair share. That’s why union leaders are expecting GE to ask for benefit concessions when unions and GE begin negotiating a new contract in May even though the company is flush with cash. Bob Santamour, of the […]
Read moreUnion leaders demand clean break from Tunisia’s dictator
January 21, 2011 0 Comments
Tunisia on Friday began an official three days of mourning for the 78 Tunisians killed during the month-long struggle to overthrow former dictator Zine al Abidine Ben Ali, but street demonstrations continued in Tunis, the capital city, as people demanded that the new interim government, which includes eight members with ties to the old regime, be […]
Read moreHoneywell workers warn community about plant risks
January 20, 2011 0 Comments
Earlier this week, union workers warned residents of Metropolis, Illinois and Paducah, Kentucky that the safety of their communities was at risk because the Honeywell uranium processing plant in Metropolis was being operated and maintained by temporary workers. “We’ve become gravely concerned for the safety of the greater Metropolis-Paducah community, especially since the Dec. 22 […]
Read moreStates respond to rising demand for services with budget cuts
January 19, 2011 0 Comments
According to Wal-Mart, most Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. To take it one step further, a lot of Americans can’t even count on a regular paycheck. The US Census Bureau reports that 43.6 million Americans live in poverty and 50.7 million don’t have health care coverage. Clearly, there are a lot of people in the US who […]
Read moreWhat are we waiting for?
January 18, 2011 1 Comment
“If we are not using the Rainy Day Fund now, in this economic period,” asked Texas State Representative Roberto Alonzo. ”Then what are we waiting for?” Good question, Rep Alonzo. The Texas Rainy Day Fund, which will be worth $9.6 billion when the next state fiscal year begins September 1, is a reserve fund created to preserve vital […]
Read moreGrassroots effort derails attempt to undermine public education in Illinois
January 17, 2011 0 Comments
A non-profit group that would like to see more public money invested in charter schools failed in its effort in Illinois to pass legislation that would weaken teachers’ unions and undermine public education. Karen Lewis, president of the Chicago Teachers Union, called the proposal known as Performance Counts “an attempt to turn teaching into a low-wage, […]
Read moreTunisian government falls after general strike
January 14, 2011 0 Comments
President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia today fled the country after demonstrators flooded the streets of Tunisian cities and town. Last night, President Ben Ali addressed the nation over television and agreed to make concessions to demonstrators who have been demonstrating against Tunisia’s rampant poverty, unemployment, and autocratic regime that has favored wealthy elites over the […]
Read moreRally to protect collective bargaining for child care and healthcare workers
January 14, 2011 1 Comment
Tonight, union leaders and members will gather at the Cincinnati City Hall to protest a plan by Ohio Governor John Kasich to revoke the right of the state’s home health care and child care workers to bargain collectively. The rally is one activity planned for the AFL-CIO’s annual celebration of Martin Luther King’s life that takes place this year […]
Read moreLow-wage workers sue Florida agency for not raising state’s minimum wage
January 13, 2011 0 Comments
The Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation has refused to raise the state’s minimum wage as mandated by the state’s Constitution. As a result, Florida’s 188,000 minimum wage workers have been denied a six-cent per hour raise. AWI’s decision led four low-wage workers and three worker advocacy centers to file suit asking a judge to order the agency […]
Read moreWorker unrest in Tunisia widens
January 13, 2011 0 Comments
After a deadly day of clashes between police and demonstrators in cities and towns across Tunisia, President Zine El Abidne Ben Ali Thursday ordered food prices slashed, hinted that he may not run for re-election, and said that security forces would no longer use deadly force, but his actions have not stemmed the protests that […]
Read moreTunisian demonstrations for jobs and justice met with deadly force
January 12, 2011 2 Comments
Union leaders in Tunisia yesterday demanded an independent investigation into the deaths of at least 50 demonstrators last weekend during protests against unemployment and poverty. Last weekend’s demonstrations were a continuation of a struggle that began in December. The union also demanded that people arrested during the demonstrations, including many union members, be immediately released and threatened a general strike in […]
Read moreAgency and major IT contract drain scarce state resources
January 11, 2011 0 Comments
When the Texas Legislature convenes today, it will be facing a two-year budget shortfall estimated to be $26.8 billion. The leaders of the state have said that they intend to close this gap by reducing services. But before lawmakers make cuts that will cause more mentally ill Texans to get warehoused in jails and prisons instead […]
Read moreFlight atttendant day of action demands United bargain in good faith
January 7, 2011 0 Comments
United Airline flight attendants and their supporters staged a protest at airports around the world today demanding that United quit its stalling tactics that have prevented the company and its flight attendants from reaching an agreement on a new contract. “Flight attendants have legitimate concerns, and management has a poor track record when it comes to labor […]
Read moreMaryland state worker injured by mailed incendiary device
January 6, 2011 0 Comments
Two state workers in two Maryland state office buildings were injured this afternoon by incendiary devices sent through the mail. The injuries do not appear to be serious. Some reports said that as many as six workers were injured, but so far, only two have been confirmed. State police have been called in to investigate the two incidents and […]
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