Working Life

Aside from the Iraq war, nothing is more important in this election than where the next president will stand on how the rules will be set in the economy, particularly when it comes to trade. There is no greater threat to average Americans–a greater threat than the budget deficit, or the admittedly awful sub-prime mortgage […]

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    My friends at the National Labor Committee are up to their usual good work. Yesterday, Charlie Kernaghan testified at a Senate hearing on the abuses facing workers in China–in particular, those workers who churn out the toys that most American kids find under their X-mas trees: Mattel’s Barbie toys, along with Thomas & Friends […]

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To this day, the progressive movement—-and the entire country—-misses the voice and leadership of Paul Wellstone. I’m not sure we are conscious of it on a daily basis. But, on the fifth anniversary today of his death in a plane crash, I want us to remember what Paul meant to America.   He was the […]

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It’s nice to report some good news on the labor front—one of the biggest labor organizing victories in the last half-century. The United Federation of Teachers—the New York City-based affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers—has won the right to represent 28,000 child care providers. This is not only a great victory for organizing but […]

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It’s nice to report some good news on the labor front—one of the biggest labor organizing victories in the last half-century. The United Federation of Teachers—the New York City-based affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers—has won the right to represent 28,000 child care providers. This is not only a great victory for organizing but […]

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    In another world, this might be called a crime–and maybe it is illegal. But, at least, it’s pretty sleazy and makes you wonder: why would any state really want Wal-Mart? After all, it generates low-paying jobs that keep workers in poverty–not a great way to build your tax base–and, it turns out, the Beast […]

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    Today, I’m going to head down to a protest at noon by striking taxi drivers in New York City. You may remember that the drivers, who belong to the  Taxi Workers Alliance, struck for 48 hours right after Labor Day. In today’s NY Daily News, the Alliance executive director, Bhairavi Desai, explains the main reasons […]

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    I don’t know that one should trust The Wall Street Journal’s take on the vibe inside any union. I’m not familiar with the reporter who wrote today’s story describing stronger dissent inside the UAW to the negotiated deal with Chrysler, as well as a relatively strong minority "no" vote on the GM deal. But, […]

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    Now, I like this and I get to write about this on my birthday, too. SEIU managed to reach a deal in Philadelphia that…are you ready for this?…increases the health benefits for its members. Most of the time, we read about health care givebacks–health care is always the big issue and has been for […]

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    We just had an amazing panel here on the crisis in retirement security (if you missed it…you had your chance…make sure you get to our future events!). Bruce Raynor, general president of UNITE-HERE, gave some very clear examples of how defined benefit pensions are crucial to his members’ retirement, pointing out that pensions bind […]

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