All Articles

Searches titles and body text

Seattle Boycotts Hyatt while a Boston Boycott Ends »

October 1, 2014 | Rolando Avila

Unlike the hotel workers who made the Hyatt hotel empire recognize their right to form unions, the workers at the Seattle Hyatt hotel chain have not been able to get their employer to agree.

Everyone On the Bus: Rider-Driver Alliances »

September 30, 2014 | Julia Kann

Transit cuts put a strain on the community, and the effects are similar on the workers who make public transportation run. With so much common interest, there are plenty of opportunities for solidarity between transit riders and drivers.

Review: Why Privatization Fails »

September 29, 2014 | Steve Downs

It's a story that anyone concerned about attacks on the public sector should know. Janine Booth's new book shows not only how transit privatization failed in London, but why it had to fail.

Did Lear Strike Really Beat Two-Tier? »

September 26, 2014 | Scott Houldieson

The one-day strike at the Hammond, Indiana, seating plant showed real leverage, shutting down Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant. But despite union pronouncements, it didn't exactly end two-tier. Lower-seniority workers will be shunted off to a new plant, "Lear II," where pay will remain low.

Bus Company Fails at Racial Divide and Conquer »

September 25, 2014 | Jenny Brown

Bus workers in Amalgamated Transit Union Local 788 won a new contract after they called out management on outrageous racism.

High-Flying Drones and Basement Wages: Alarming Trends in Package Delivery »

September 24, 2014 | Alexandra Bradbury

Online retailer Amazon is opening its own mail sorting plants and sending public letter carriers out delivering its groceries at 4 a.m. Call it privatization by a thousand cuts. If you work sorting, trucking, or delivering packages, is Amazon coming after your job next?

Members Are Angry at the Union for… Wait, What?! »

September 23, 2014 | Jenny Brown

Don’t officers care when one of their number violates procedures, breaks the law, and commits murder? Turns out at least one officer organization does.

Viewpoint: Unusual Victory At Market Basket »

September 22, 2014 | Peter Olney and Rand Wilson

In a highly unusual management-led action, employees paralyzed the company’s 71 stores and promoted a devastating consumer boycott to get CEO Arthur T. Demoulas back. The struggle contains lessons for organized labor.

Sunday Climate March Drawing Unprecedented Labor Support »

September 19, 2014 | Jenny Brown

Climate change activists are getting ready for a huge climate march on Sunday in midtown Manhattan, aimed at world leaders who are gathering at the United Nations for a climate summit. The march’s message: Let’s see some real action.

Overwhelming Union Win for American Airlines Agents »

September 18, 2014 | Jenny Brown

After many close votes against unionization, American Airlines passenger service agents scored an overwhelming victory, voting 86 percent to unionize. The win covers 14,500 workers, the largest union-representation vote in the U.S. this year.

Review: How Coal Miners Fought the Railroad Barons »

September 17, 2014 | Tim Sheard

Digging for a little historical inspiration? You'll find a rich seam in Andrew Arnold's account of how 19th century coal miners used their leverage in a wildly profitable supply chain to demand a living wage. They also invented dues check-off, by the way.

New Safety-Conscious GM? Not for Injured Workers »

September 16, 2014 | Frank Hammer

“There’s an epidemic of disabled autoworkers at GM factories,” said organizer Paige Shell-Spurling at a recent protest. That's why four injured Colombian ex-GM workers are on hunger strike with lips sewn shut, and one is buried up to his neck.

Rail Workers Vote Down Single-Person Crews »

September 11, 2014 | Alexandra Bradbury

Railroaders voted down a covertly negotiated deal that would have allowed huge freight trains to rumble across the western U.S. with just an engineer onboard, no conductor. “There’s a real rank-and-file rebellion going on right now.”

Grain Agreement Ends Lockouts in Northwest Ports »

September 10, 2014 | Paul Bigman

A hard-won contract settlement has ended the 15- and 18-month lockouts of two Longshore locals by grain companies in Portland and Vancouver, Washington.

Protests Break the Silence of Grief over Turkish Mine Disaster »

September 9, 2014 | Kıvanç Eliaçık

Each passing day we understand better: what happened May 13 was no accident. It was the result of privatization, corporate negligence, and an indifferent government.

Pages