Portside

"Why destroy public education so that a handful of people can boast they have a charter school in addition to their yacht?"

When workers want to vote on whether to form a union, they should have a fair chance to do so. The National Labor Relations Board is set to issue rules that aim to do that. A rule that Romney scorched and judges killed is being revived by Obama appointees. While the proposed rule is a basic step toward protecting workers' rights, much more needs to be done to fully address the significant challenges people face when they try to come together for a voice on the job.

Retail giant faces trial over its campaign to snuff out worker strikes. The NLRB complaint, similar to an indictment, lists incidents involving more than 60 workers in 34 states, as well as a Wal-Mart official's warning on national television to workers not to participate in Black Friday actions.

A Supreme Court case to be heard this month could deal another body blow to the embattled U.S. labor movement. The case, Harris v. Quinn, offers the court’s conservative majority a chance to make so-called right to work the law of the land for millions of public sector workers.

Warehouse workers at a California Walmart warehouse win payment after charging abuse and fraud -- as parallel Wal-Mart supply chain battles rage on.

Florida Congressman questions Obama's praise for Wal-Mart: "What has Wal-Mart given the president in return?" "Even people who are employed now, many of them are not making enough money to survive," said Grayson. "And the outlet more and more for people that they see is this kind of civil disobedience, because the political system has become completely unresponsive to their genuine concerns and their physical needs."

Wal-Mart arrests could fuel "A New Political Movement of the Disenfranchised," Florida Congressman Alan Grayson tells Salon. The Congressman questions Obama's praise for Wal-Mart: "What has Wal-Mart given the president in return?"

An interview with Seattle's new socialist councilmember, Kshama Sawant.

Union-backed groups mount new strikes, announce a potential federal complaint, and promise a big Black Friday.

A Supreme Court case being argued could take away a tactic that's kept unions alive. The case, Unite Here Local 355 v. Mulhall, involves the constitutionality of "card check neutrality agreements" between unions and companies they're trying to organize. The case now facing Antonin Scalia and company could be "the most significant labor case in a generation."