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A Union County

by Russell Saltamontes Jacobin
Leftists and trade unionists should look to the energy and strategic intelligence of the Lorain labor movement, which has stayed strong despite substantial changes in the community and economy because of its commitment to struggling for strong contracts, organizing new shops, and building solidarity across industry, union, race, and gender.

Philadelphia Students Strike to Support Teachers

By Martha Woodall The Philadelphia Inquirer
Outside Science Leadership, Juliana Concepcion, 16, a sophomore from South Philadelphia, held a handmade sign that read: "Students 4 Teachers." "The teachers already do so much for us," she said. "It's just not right for the teachers to have their benefits cut like this."

Humpty-Dumpty and the Fall of Berlin's Wall

By Victor Grossman Portside
Did East Germany fall because it was totally foul? Was it given an outside push or two? And did that downfall represent simply the glorious revolution of a folk yearning for freedom - or is the matter more complicated? This is still very relevant, for many similar uprisings have since occurred - and are still occurring.

Silicon Valley, Meet Organized Labor

Kevin Roose New York Magazine
After a long absence organized labor is attempting to unionize workers in Silicon Valley. The teamsters have aimed their campaign Facebook drivers. Previous campaigns in 1992 and 2008 ended in failure.

MGM Vegas Casino Workers Approve Union Contract

Michelle Rindels AP
Members of the largest local of UNITE HERE, Culinary Union local 226, along with Bartenders local 165, voted to approve a five year contract with the largest Strip employer, MGM Resorts. This is the first new contract with the gaming employer since 2007, prior to the recession. The contract includes an economic package that funds the continuation of health benefits and pension. Currently workers pay no monthly premiums for benefits.

NSA Infected 50,000 Computer Networks With Malicious Software

Floor Boon, Steven Derix and Huib Modderkolk NRC Handelsblad
The NSA computer attacks are performed by a special department called TAO (Tailored Access Operations). Public sources show that this department employs more than a thousand hackers. According to the Washington Post, the NSA has been carrying out this type of cyber operation since 1998.

The Surge

Matthieu Aikins Wired
In 1988 there were 350,000 cases of polio worldwide. Last year there were 223. But getting all the way to zero will mean spending billions of dollars, penetrating the most remote regions of the globe, and facing down Taliban militants to get to the last unprotected children on Earth.