A number of authors are writing about the coming end of capitalism. But how will the end come about, and what will post-capitalism look like? Paul Mason's optimistic view of the liberatory potential of info-tech may be misguided.
Given the public sector is the largest employer of African-Americans, and recognizing their substantial and traditional involvement in unions — Black workers are more likely to belong to a union than any other racial group — such anti-union campaigns as Right to Work have particular implications for African-Americans.
What has remained is the National Labor Relation Board’s (NLRB) position that Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects workers’ substantive rights to join together in class actions.
Indian farmers - carrying the Red Flag of the Kisan Sabha and the Communist movement - used the technique of the mahapadav (sit in) to stop local governments from operating and to paralyze the state. This forced the neoliberal government to negotiate. Perhaps if the French workers hear about this struggle and its victory, it might inspire them in their own battles against anti-labor laws.
The changes come at a time when there's growing concern for hourly workers. Thousands of workers have staged protests to call attention to their financial struggles and to fight for hourly pay of $15. The November election of a Republican-controlled Congress dampened hopes of an increase in the $7.25-an-hour federal minimum wage. But advocates have continued to press for boosts on the state and local level.
Many in the labor movement are watching the Supreme Court to see what happens with Janus v. AFSCME. But Janus is not the only important case for workers. The Court will open with three important cases that seriously cut employee rights.
Two unions, Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Motion Picture Editors Guild/IATSE Local 700 (MPEG) have announced that approximately 430 VICE Media employees have chosen to go union.
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