unions | Portside

December 6, 2015

The Entire Labor Movement Should Be Paying Attention to Wisconsin’s Kohler Strike

Joe Burns In These Times

The Kohler plant has a history of intense battles, including a 1934 strike which resulted in the formation of a company union. After the workers abandoned company unionism for the UAW, one of the longest strikes in U.S. history commenced in 1954. Every time these battles are lost, it sends message that unions can’t defend their members and the union movement is dead. Conversely, when workers win these fights, confidence in labor grows and organizing becomes a bit easier.

labor

November 28, 2015

Young Workers Still Looking to Get Organized, Experts Say

Amy Whyte Workforce

There might not be too many young workers represented by unions yet, but that doesn't mean they don't want to be.

labor

November 17, 2015

Will Labor Back Bernie?

Elizabeth Mahony and Rand Wilson Jacobin

The movement for labor to endorse Bernie Sanders is part of an effort to bring political decision-making back to the rank-and-file.

labor

November 16, 2015

Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley Back New IKEA Union Organizing Drive

BRUCE VAIL In These Times

A small group of IKEA workers in suburban Boston launched a union organizing campaign this week—and immediately attracted the support of Democratic Party presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley.

November 15, 2015

Strong Unions Strengthen Democracies and Deliver Peace

Houcine Abassi and Richard L Trumka The Guardian

My recent Nobel peace prize win for my contributions in Tunisia shows that giving working people a say is the best path toward a more equal and just world

November 15, 2015

How California Birthed the Modern Right Wing

Chris Lehmann In These Times

Many of 20th-century conservatism’s tricks were honed in 1930s agribusiness’s fight against farmworkers

labor

November 10, 2015

Cuomo to Create $15 Minimum Wage for New York State Workers

Jesse McKinley The New York Times

New York Gov. Andrew announced his support for a $15 minimum wage for state employees on the same day that fast-food workers across the country demonstrated for better pay and union representation. All told, 10,000 New York pubic employees will receive a pay bump. In July, Cuomo increased the minimum wage for fast-food workers in New York through a state wage board.

labor

November 8, 2015

Bernie Sanders' Momentum Stalls In An Unlikely Place: Union Halls

Evan Halper Los Angeles Times

Despite Sanders’ deep support for labor, the national nurses’ organization that Almada sought to join is the only major union to endorse Sanders in the race for the Democratic nomination for president. It is dwarfed by much larger labor groups that are lining up with his arguably less committed, less reliable rival, Hillary Rodham Clinton.

labor

November 3, 2015

How Unions Fight Inequality and Strengthen Democracy

Richard Eskow Campaign for America's Future

An International Monetary Fund study found that the very wealthy capture a larger share of an economy’s overall income when fewer people belong to unions. The study found this to be true even after controlling for other forces that can affect inequality, including technology, globalization, and financial deregulation.

labor

October 22, 2015

How Social Dialogue Led to a Nobel Peace Prize for Tunisia

Houcine Abass Equal Times

Dialogue is essential. It is the only way to put an end to situations of conflict. Otherwise there will be particular interests that will push conflict. There are governments, which claim that they want democracy but at the same time they encourage and assist terrorist bodies. To bring peace to the world is not an easy task because this depends on social justice.

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