Portside

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.

Griffiths says the easiest way to organize the day laborers, and create a system that protects their rights, is what’s called a “worker center”: A place where contractors pick up laborers in an orderly fashion, on a first-come-first-serve basis, and negotiate contracts that both sides have to honor.

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."

This is not the first time that Americans For Prosperity has been embroiled in a controversy about misleading voters. It has faced similar accusations in at least three other states:

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.

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.

The University of Illinois at Chicago United Faculty successfully organized a union in 2012 but have not been able to reach an agreement with the administration on a first contract. The union is prioritizing higher wages, particularly for non-tenure track faculty, and a greater share of decision-making power in the university. They have called a two-day strike for the next two days.

More than two dozen states now have similar Stand Your Ground laws on the books, thanks to the American Legislative Exchange Council, or "ALEC."

Two items on the Keystone Pipeline: Native Americans discuss the Keystone pipeline; and a link to '10 Reasons to Oppose the Keystone XL Pipeline' by Rose Ann DeMoro

During Black History Month, let’s not forget the speech-stifling history of US government spying that has targeted communities of color.