Portside

In a country where migrant workers fear deportation, and in an industry where employers often physically abuse workers, the process of union-building is a slow task that requires building relationships of trust amongst fishers.

Employment-based Health Care Has Become an Anchor Around the Neck of the U.S. Working Class

My union is in a perpetual battle for decent health care coverage. It’s a tactic of our employers to prevent us from striking against our terrible work conditions. If we had Medicare for All, we could demand much more at the bargaining table.

Our colleagues who support the contract must understand that this is not enough, just as our colleagues who are against the contract must understand that the fight doesn’t stop here; both groups must recognize that we need each other to move forward.

This is one of two contrasting viewpoints posted to Portside Labor today about the PSC (AFT) tentative agreement with CUNY, covering 30,000 faculty (including 12,000 adjuncts), professional and graduate employees.

This is one of two contrasting viewpoints posted to Portside Labor today about the PSC (AFT) tentative agreement with CUNY, covering 30,000 faculty (including 12,000 adjuncts), professional and graduate employees.

The Chicago Teachers' strike is over. Union President Jesse Sharkey said they won "...real changes for our students and school communities." The tentative agreement would put a nurse and a social worker in every school.

“People who have dedicated their careers to public service are worried about retaliation. I have seen violations of disabled employees’ rights. I have seen violations of due process. I have seen my union locked out of my building for serving cake.

How might collective bargaining change if health care wasn't tethered to work? Democratic presidential candidates aren’t in agreement over how to solve the current health care crisis, where 1 in 2 sick Americans cannot afford health care.