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Reform Caucus Jolts Chicago Teachers Union »

January 30, 2010 | Kenzo Shibata

Four hundred education activists joined the Caucus of Rank and File Educators in January to map strategy for battling the next round of school closures in Chicago. CORE's also vying for control of the Chicago Teachers Union this spring.

Labor Needs a New Survival Plan—Now »

January 29, 2010 | Steve Early
For trade unionists already frustrated and disappointed with Obama, the collateral damage of the Democrat's defeat in Massachusetts is far worse than giving up on the unworkable mess of his health plan. As one dismayed union official in Washington, D.C., told me: “It’s the end of labor law reform...

Auto Worker Activists Regroup, Prepare to Fight Anew »

January 29, 2010 | Tiffany Ten Eyck

“A job is a right, we’re going to fight, fight, fight!” The chant filled the cavernous hotel conference room with anger and enthusiasm as the largest rank-and-file auto worker meeting in many years came to a close. Nearly 100 retired and active workers from the Big 3 and a dozen parts suppliers...

Race to the Top: Unions Asked to Play Ball for Education Dollars »

January 28, 2010 | Paul Abowd

With all eyes on Obama’s fraught health care push, his plans to overhaul public education have sped along with relative ease. The first leg of the federal "Race to the Top" competition finished January 19 when 40 states sent applications for a piece of the $4.35 billion in stimulus funds.

Mexican Mine Company Attempts to Buy Workers it Could Not Beat »

January 27, 2010 | by Dan La Botz

Unable to break the Mexican miners union at Cananea, one of the largest open-pit copper mines in the world, the mine owner is now trying to buy the workers with a big severance package.

NUHW Takes Kaiser Elections »

January 26, 2010 | Mark Brenner

The National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) chalked up an important win today in Southern California as hundreds of professional and technical workers at Kaiser Permanente voted to leave the Service Employees (SEIU) and join the upstart NUHW.

Cameras on Trains Have Big Blind Spots »

January 26, 2010 | Ron Kaminkow and Ed Michael

Besides raising basic constitutional issues with the regard to the right to privacy, it is highly debatable whether a safety board's ruling to put video cameras in locomotives will diminish the likelihood of railroad accidents. But what it will do is place blame for accidents squarely on...

Growing Labor Support for Palestine Faces Stiff Opposition in the U.S. »

January 22, 2010 | Paul Abowd

Seizing on outrage over the Gaza bombardment and siege, a small but growing band of U.S. unionists are mobilizing behind a global call to pressure Israel with a boycott, divestment, and sanctions.

Non-Majority Auto Union in North Carolina Fights to Soften the Blow of Layoffs »

January 22, 2010 | Tiffany Ten Eyck

Most union workers laid off in the economic crisis had recall rights—a promise they’d get called back before their employer could hire new workers along with the ability to maintain seniority. But millions of workers simply lost their jobs. That’s what happened to nearly 200 workers at the...

Sick of Scandals, Locomotive Engineers Fight for Right to Elect Officers »

January 22, 2010 | Ed Michael

Rank-and-file members of the Locomotive Engineers are struggling to maintain their recently won and never exercised right to directly elect officers. The importance of one member, one vote elections, opposed by national union officers, is only too obvious after three top officers in four years...

Solidarity Success: The Sun Comes Up on South African Negotiations »

January 22, 2010 | Labor Notes staff

The recent film “Invictus,” depicting Nelson Mandela’s first presidential term, might have you thinking about South Africa’s brutal recent history. While the present is undeniably better than apartheid, workers still have to hit the streets to win decent treatment—and they credit international...

Anger over Health Care Bill Creates Uncertain Future »

January 20, 2010 | by Jane Slaughter

A Massachusetts local union president called it early: “I’ve never seen this much anger at the Democrats from union people. It’s worse than NAFTA," said Jeff Crosby, from a General Electric factory near Boston.

One of Us: A Professor Who Knows Which Side He’s On »

January 20, 2010 | Joshua Devries

Book Review: In and Out of the Working Class by Michael D. Yates.


A memoir blending real and created stories, and one that never loses sight of where the author stands as he turns his back on fellow economists who believed “they were learning the secrets of God himself” and navigates...

Interview: In Iran, Labor Activists Face Repression »

January 19, 2010 | Bill Balderston

Interview by Bill Balderston, Oakland Education Association and U.S. Labor Against the War



Iran has seen incredible tumult in the last few months, with massive street protests challenging the government, even as the U.S. and allied nations continue to threaten the Iranian government...

Celebrate Martin Luther King Day in the Streets »

January 18, 2010 | Tiffany Ten Eyck

If you're one of the fortunate workers that gets Martin Luther King Jr. Day off, keep in mind that MLK probably didn't write his famous "Letter From a Birmingham Jail" in comfy pj's and bunny slippers. Join up with local events commemorating the civil rights movement, or support workers in your...

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