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Labor Braces for Impact of Obamacare

Don McIntosh Talking Union, a DSA labor blog
The Affordable Care Act may create serious problems for workers covered by negotiated health insurance plans.

What Dr. King didn't Say - Misremembering the March on Washington

Moshe Z. Marvit Washington Monthly
The March on Washington grew out of a clear understanding of the problems facing African Americans, and presented a discrete list of demands, including a comprehensive and effective civil rights law that would guarantee access to public accommodations, "decent housing, adequate and integrated education, and the right to vote." Also a "massive federal program to train and place all unemployed workers - Negro and white - on meaningful and dignified jobs at decent wages"

Outsourcing, Union Busting, Murder: Who Could Ask for More in a Novel?

Eleanor J Bader, Truthout Book Review Truthout
The sixth in Timothy Sheard's well-established series of Lenny Moss mysteries. In it, hero Moss, a tireless, working-class college dropout, articulates a solid message about worker solidarity and union militancy that is both refreshing and inspiring.

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DFL Control Drove Big Union Wins in Minnesota Legislature

Tom Scheck Minnesota Pubic Radio
"After years and years of politics of gridlock or politics that was focused on protecting the wealthiest in the state, the upper income folks and tax cuts for the wealthy, we saw a session that was focused on working families." Jamie Gulley, president of Minnesota Service Employees International Union commented on recent victories for labor in the Minnesota state legislature. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) control of state government was responsible.

Media Bits & Bytes - Summer Beach Reading Edition

Portside
US Army Blocks Access to Guardian Website, Americans Get More Leisure Time, Whether They Want It or Not; Ed Snowden Tries to Cool It to Stop Snooping; Paula Deen Hires DC's Real Fixer Queen; Big Tech And Gay Rights Arm-in-Arm; Fire Island Gets Switched to the Slow Lane on the Broadband Highway

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Brazil Update and Labor's Declining Share of National Income

Yana Marull and Bruce Bartlett
Brazilian President met with national union leaders to discuss their demands in an effort to avoid a July 11th general strike. Unions are seeking a reduced work day, stronger pensions, and increased resources directed to health and education. Also, new research reveals that workers' declining share of national income, due to technology-related productivity increases, is an international problem. Two articles are presented below.

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UAW's King Wants to Import German Labor Model to U.S.

Gabe Nelson and Amy Wilson Automotive News
UAW President Bob King, seeking to extend the union's base into auto plants across the South, has endorsed a German-style labor structure for a range of U.S. factories -- not just ones owned by German automakers such as Volkswagen AG but also Detroit Big 3 plants with existing UAW contracts and nonunion assembly plants in the South.

Fletcher Calls for Urgency and New Approaches to Organizing in Book Talk

Keith Quinnell AFL-CIO
Many in the labor movement recognize some of the problems that working people face, however there isn't enough urgency and there isn't a recognition that fundamental change is necessary. The opposition sees this as a tremendous moment to eliminate unions as a viable force for working people.

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Do private-sector unions still have a future in the U.S.?

Brad Plumer The Washington Post
Brad Plumer's blog post summarizes a long and interesting essay in the latest issue of "Democracy" that analyzes the decline, and long-term outlook, of private-sector unions in the United States. He highlights 3 factors: Taft-Hartley was the beginning of the end for unions in the private sector; labor’s recent attempts to launch new organizing drives aren’t working; and organized labor tends to expand only at rare points in history.
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