Portside

After a series of one-day strikes, marches and demonstrations, about 220 food- service workers at two Smithsonian museums will be represented by a union in contract negotiations for the first time.

What you won't hear about this new deal: Public workers will get eviscerated, to achieve "deficit reduction"

Government shutdown's consequences also rippled through food service and other non-federal industries as workers sent home.

US Congress fails to pass budget legislation before midnight deadline, shuttering large portions of the government