Troublemakers Blog

Line of workers on picket line in red union T-shirts holding signs that say "Dedham Education Association on Strike" and "Fair Contract Now"
October 25, 2019 / Barbara Madeloni
In Massachusetts, strikes are unlawful for public sector workers. That didn’t stop the Dedham Educators Association from walking out this morning after an overwhelming 248- 2 (out of 280 members) strike vote last night. »
October 25, 2019 / Chris Brooks
The Chicago Teachers Union and SEIU Local 73 are on strike for class size caps, fair wages, support for homeless students, affordable and sustainable housing, a nurse in every school and more counselors and librarians – and more! We’ve learned that they have reached a tentative agreement that includes naptime for Pre-K students. Yes, we need to strike to get »
This webinar was held on October 21 at 8:00 p.m. EST. It was facilitated by Labor Notes board member and veteran organizer Ellen David Friedman.
October 22, 2019 / Chris Brooks
Within the massive and stunningly persistent social insurgency in Hong Kong against authoritarian domination, thousands of unionized workers are risking white terror... the threat of constant surveillance, discipline and loss of livelihood. »
In this webinar, rank-and-file autoworkers debated whether to support the agreement and go back to work, or vote it down and stay out on the picket lines in the hope of achieving something better.
October 21, 2019 / Chris Brooks
Forty-nine thousand auto workers are on strike at General Motors in the largest private sector strike since the last time union and company clashed, in 2007. Now, there is a tentative agreement with the company. »
Crowd of GM workers on strike, marching.
October 21, 2019 / Jane Slaughter
The Detroit Free Press did its bit Friday toward convincing GM workers to vote yes on their proposed contract. »
Chicago teachers and Service Employees (SEIU) Local 73 marching with signs.
October 17, 2019 / Chris Brooks
They thought they were oh so clever. Back in 2011, destroyers of public education bragged that “the unions cannot strike in Chicago.” And yet they did, in 2012 and again starting today, with 32,000 school employees now on the picket lines. »
Workers on the GM picket lines with signs.
October 15, 2019 / Jane Slaughter
The GM strike jumped off suddenly September 16. At the start, it wasn't clear what the bargainers were going for—including to members themselves. »
October 11, 2019 / Chris Brooks
Let's be honest: Picket lines can be tedious, especially if strikers simply repeat the same hackneyed chants over and over again. But not always. To break up the monotony, workers often make up their own chants, dances and songs. »
This is Day 23 for the United Auto Workers' strike vs. GM and three large issues remain unresolved.
October 08, 2019 /
This is Day 23 for the United Auto Workers' strike vs. GM. Today’s Detroit Free Press says at least three items have not been resolved: »
Two workers at work from the documentary American Factory
October 04, 2019 /
You’ve probably noticed that Hollywood doesn’t turn out many movies about unions. But, says film buff and labor historian Toni Gilpin, there are some overlooked movies out there that depict working people and their lives on the job even though they might lack scenes with picket lines. This is her latest installment in an occasional series of viewing »

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