Portside

Last month, thousands of people protested in Rome against austerity policies and high unemployment, urging the new government to focus on creating jobs to help pull the country out of recession. The sea of protesters waving red flags and calling for more workers' rights and better contracts. Italy is in a recession and unemployment has skyrocketed with youth unemployment at around 38 percent. "We can't wait anymore" and "We need money to live" were among slogans.

The civil liberties group said leaked details of the case could portray the suspect in a triple murder in Waltham in an unfair light.

A building collapse in Philadelphia kills 6 - a non-union contractor with a shady history faces scrutiny - see 2 articles below. The factory collapse in Bangladesh that killed more than 1,100 workers is another glaring example of workers without union protection at the mercy of greedy employers and corrupt politicians. But this cycle can finally be broken if demands for change start to focus on workers’ right to form trade unions - see opinion column below.

Nick Coles previews the scholarly and creative works that were recognized in this year's Working-Class Studies Association awards.

For all the excitement about left-leaning demographics, a real majority party needs better numbers among blue-collar whites.

Documents presented to the Fund's board last Friday will reveal that the Washington-based organisation underestimated the damage austerity would cause to the eurozone country, which has required two bailouts in the past three years.

Colorado has crippled its own ability to tax. And now some citizens say that's depriving them of their right to a republican government.