More than 15,000 members of the Steelworkers (USW) at 16 Goodyear Tire and Rubber plants in the United States and Canada went on strike October 5....

Goodyear strikers in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The company wants a 50 percent pay cut for new hires and the creation of a four-tier wage system. Photo: Nichele Fulmore

More than 15,000 members of the Steelworkers (USW) at 16 Goodyear Tire and Rubber plants in the United States and Canada went on strike October 5, rejecting a proposed contract that would have closed two plants and imposed steep concessions. Goodyear’s proposal reportedly included a 50-percent wage cut for new hires, the creation of a four-tier wage system, and health care and pension cuts.

During union-building campaigns, labor activists sometimes get demoralized because so many of their co-workers are unresponsive. Many workers don’t seem to understand much about the union, don’t seem to care, and don’t get involved.

After a relatively quiet summer following this spring’s massive immigrant mobilizations, immigrant workers and their allies are once again mobilizing to demand just immigration legislation. Activists took the streets nationally with protests held over Labor Day weekend, and more held September 30.

The new National Alliance for Immigrant Rights calls for a moratorium on deportations, opposes guestworker programs, and favors legalization for all immigrant workers. Immigrants rallied in Detroit earlier in the year. Photo: Jim West/jimwestphoto
.com

After a relatively quiet summer following this spring’s massive immigrant mobilizations, immigrant workers and their allies are once again mobilizing to demand just immigration legislation. Activists took the streets nationally with protests held over Labor Day weekend, and more held September 30.

After leading the charge to rebuke Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's slate of anti-labor ballot initiatives in 2005, California unions may play the key role in passing an election reform bill in upcoming state elections...

The California Nurses Association has been a driving force behind Prop 89. Their creative tactics include a homegrown rap video about the initiative.

After leading the charge to rebuke Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's slate of anti-labor ballot initiatives in 2005, California unions may play the key role in passing an election reform bill, the "Clean Money and Fair Elections Act" (or Proposition 89), in upcoming state elections.

This July’s Communications Workers of America (CWA) convention marked the first step towards reshaping the union for an offensive against corporate America.

Workers at Consolidated Diesel Company (CDC) have a lot to celebrate this fall. On October 12, a superior court judge forced the company to pay 1,000 employees at its Whitakers, North Carolina plant more than $1 million in unpaid bonuses.

Workers at Consolidated Diesel Company (CDC) have a lot to celebrate this fall. On October 12, a superior court judge forced the company to pay 1,000 employees at its Whitakers, North Carolina plant more than $1 million in unpaid bonuses.

The four-day work week is history for 100,000 Volkswagen auto workers in Germany. Germany’s largest industrial
union, IG Metall, and Volkswagen reached a new contract in late September that increased the workweek
from 28.8 hours to 33 hours in exchange for job security provisions.

The four-day work week is history for 100,000 Volkswagen auto workers in Germany. Germany’s largest industrial union, IG Metall, and Volkswagen reached a new contract in late September that increased the workweek from 28.8 hours to 33 hours in exchange for job security provisions.

Four hundred members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee surrounded the National Labor Relations Board regional office in Los Angeles on October 5 in a protest against the board’s Kentucky River ruling. The ruling may bar up to eight million workers from union representation by reclassifying them as supervisors. Over 30,000 CNA/NNOC nurses have signed pledge cards supporting strike activity if the rulings are applied to their workplaces. Photo: California Nurses Association

Four hundred members of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee surrounded the National Labor Relations Board regional office in Los Angeles on October 5 in a protest against the board’s Kentucky River ruling. The ruling may bar up to eight million workers from union representation by reclassifying them as supervisors. Over 30,000 CNA/NNOC nurses have signed pledge cards supporting strike activity if the rulings are applied to their workplaces. Photo: California Nurses Association.

Seven hundred members and supporters of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) met in Toledo, Ohio September 29-31 for the union’s convention. The convention brought together farm workers from both the U.S. and Mexico, opening with the singing of both countries’ national anthems. Photo: La Prensa.

Seven hundred members and supporters of the Farm Labor Organizing Committee (FLOC) met in Toledo, Ohio September 29-31 for the union’s convention. The convention brought together farm workers from both the U.S. and Mexico, opening with the singing of both countries’ national anthems. Photo: La Prensa.

Underreporting of worker injuries by employers is a growing national problem. Companies apply different types of pressure to discourage workers from reporting their injuries and punish those who do. The KFM story provides a dramatic example of this trend.

Underreporting of worker injuries by employers is a growing national problem. Companies apply different types of pressure to discourage workers from reporting their injuries and punish those who do. The KFM story provides a dramatic example of this trend.

The illegal business practices of a union-controlled bank, Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft (Bawag), have led to one of the most devastating corruption scandals in Austrian history.

The illegal business practices of a union-controlled bank, Bank für Arbeit und Wirtschaft (Bawag), have led to one of the most devastating corruption scandals in Austrian history.

Over the past dozen years, possibly no grassroots movement has excited progressives more than the living wage movement. Photo: Jim West/jimwestphoto.com .

Over the past dozen years, possibly no grassroots movement has excited progressives more than the living wage movement. Photo: Jim West/jimwestphoto.com .

While media coverage of this spring’s nationwide immigrant upsurge focused on dramatic marches and demonstrations, the upsurge was fueled by mass work stoppages in industries that employ a high percentage of immigrant workers.

While media coverage of this spring’s nationwide immigrant upsurge focused on dramatic marches and demonstrations, the upsurge was fueled by mass work stoppages in industries that employ a high percentage of immigrant workers.

The first step in a health or safety campaign is to find common problems. Then comes the detective work to find the hazards behind the symptoms. Many health and safety activists use body and workplace maps to see how workers are injured in their workplaces now or how they are affected by what they did years ago...

The first step in a health or safety campaign is to find common problems. Then comes the detective work to find the hazards behind the symptoms. Many health and safety activists use body and workplace maps to see how workers are injured in their workplaces now or how they are affected by what they did years ago.

Body maps can show the patterns of symptoms and the long-term effects of hazards. Drawing: Margaret Keith

Mapping is participatory and fun. It involves most senses, can be used where workers speak different languages or don’t read well, and is a quick way to make sense of complex situations. Maps can show the different experiences of workers by age, seniority, job, or gender.

One hundred nineteen Korean Government Employees Union (KGEU) offices have been forcefully closed by the South Korean government. Daily crackdowns began nationwide on September 22.

Police used claw hammers, drills, steel pipes, axes and power saws to enter offices by breaking windows, doors, or holes in the walls. Numerous union offices were sealed with iron plates and bars following the raids. Internet, phone lines, and electricity were cut off.

Riot police and private security contractors arrested unionists while storming their offices. Many workers were injured.

KGEU members and solidarity organizations held sit-ins and protest rallies inside and outside offices not yet invaded. Police used fire hoses and water cannons to break up these protests. In Namwon, Jeonbuk, a barricade was created in front of an office by a truck drivers union in solidarity with KGEU.

More than 400 South Florida workers fighting to organize a union may lose their jobs. About 70 percent of janitors and groundskeepers employed by the contractor UNICCO at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) voted in favor of unionizing with SEIU.

Less than two hours later, Nova President Ray Ferrero announced the end of UNICCO Service Co.’s cleaning contract. The contract is now up for new bids.

Wanda Rodrigues has been an NSU custodian for 11 years. ‘’Mr. Ferrero doesn’t want the union,’’ she told the Miami Herald. “It’s the best way for him to get rid of the workers in a legal way, a nice way.’’ Rodrigues is a mother of two. She makes $7.69 an hour with no health care coverage.

A Chilean musicians union in Santiago was destroyed at the end of September.

The Mayor of Santiago, who fired everyone pertaining to the union, heads administration of the theater.

Orquesta Filarmónica de Santiago stars in almost every performance at Teatro Municipal. Every one of the symphony’s musicians was fired.

Call for the musicians of the Santiago philharmonic orchestra to be rehired with a restored contract.

Send emails addressed to President Raul Alcaino, Corporación Cultural de la Ilustre Municipalidad de Santiago: alcalde at munistgo.cl, educam at congreso.cl. You can also write to Ambassador Andres Bianchi at the Chilean Embassy, 1732 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20036.