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Beyond Fast Food Strikes - Why the Left Shouldn't Write Off Low-Wage Strikes

Trish Kahle Jacobin
Despite the massive attention it's gained, this movement is still in its infancy. It must be built with strong workplace and community networks. This summer, we went on strike for very concrete demands. But we also went on strike for dignity, respect, and power. Because militancy works. My bosses don't taunt me about going on strike anymore. After striking, I got a raise - and more than a dozen co-workers asking me how they could join the union.

Texas Judge Almost Blocked From Voting Because of New Voter ID Law

Aviva Shen ThinkProgress
Texas new voter ID law could prevent women who use maiden names or hyphenated names from voting. Women must present original documents verifying their name change. So far Texas has issued 41 free voter IDs to women who request one - out of 1.4 million Texas voters who lack the required documents.

The Long History of Privatization Failures

Ellen Dannin Employment Policy Research Network (EPRN)
We need to own up to is that privatization experiments, based on ideology rather than evidence, have created disruption, neglect, and harm to vital public services and infrastructure - and those effects have undermined the private sector which depends on high quality public services. We seem to have forgotten that the public sector has long created the environment and resources necessary for businesses to prosper.

Environmentalists, Workers Seek Common Ground

Kevin Begos AP
The nation's largest labor unions are ready and willing to help fight global warming, but are cautioning environmentalists that workers need new clean-energy jobs before existing industries are shut down.

Germany Says U.S. May Have Monitored Merkel's Phone

By Noah Barkin Reuters
Revelations before the trip of a covert U.S. Internet surveillance program, code-named Prism, caused outrage in a country where memories of the eavesdropping East German Stasi secret police are still fresh.

100 Children’s Book Authors Ask White House to Ease Standardized Testing Mandates

By Karyn M. Peterson School Library Journal
More than 100 children’s book authors and illustrators have sent a letter to the White House to ask President Obama to ease the country’s mandates for "excessive" standardized testing in our nation’s schools. Such an emphasis has a negative impact on kids’ love of reading and literature, they say. The letter is being promoted by advocacy group FairTest (The National Center for Fair & Open Testing).