Working Life

Congratulations to the Houston janitors, who won higher pay, increased hours and health insurance after a six-week strike. As Jordan Borab’s analysis of the victory at firedoglake concludes, “[e]very city can be Houston. And every election can be 2006.” ~Stef

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Because they must. What is the alternative? It’s common wisdom now that we’ve just about reached the tipping point in terms of globabl warming. While the Dick Cheneys of the world seem to believe that their obligation to their descendants is met by leaving them a large inheritance of ill-gotten funds, most Democrats understand that […]

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Sander Levin says Congressional Democrats have sent a letter to the president in opposition to new trade deals with Colombia and Peru. The congressman said labour standards were at the “core” of Democrats’ objections – a sign that the influence of the labour movement within the party has been strengthened by the election result, which […]

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The United Steelworkers hopes to go viral with this new internet ad on YouTube, intended to demonstrate the possible dangers of tires made by replacement workers. The video is part of a new website the union has launched to inform investors about Goodyear Tires. 15,000 USW workers at 16 plants have been on strike since […]

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This bodes well, if it works. The Washington Post reports today that House Democrats will introduce a series of votes on ethics reforms: But they will do it with a twist: Instead of forwarding one big bill, Democrats will put together an ethics package on the House floor piece by piece, allowing incoming freshmen to […]

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First, the good news. While Tammy Duckworth wasn’t our first choice in Illinois’ 6th District, it’s sweet to see Gov. Blagojevich appointing her as the new director of Illinois Veterans’ Affairs. Duckworth said a priority will be bolstering Blagojevich’s new “Veterans Care” program and “making it available to more veterans.” Low-income veterans between the ages […]

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As the entrenched incumbent corporatist Democrats anticipate the incoming class of 2006, Jim Webb of Virginia, the man who saved the Senate, sets foot firmly in the populist camp with this WSJ op-ed. In the class war between the investing class and the working stiffs, Webb’s choosing sides: The most important–and unfortunately the least debated–issue […]

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Houston janitors and supporters, who blocked a downtown intersection in an act of peaceful civil disobedience, were held on $888,888 bond each yesterday, according to the SEIU. In contrast, bail for a Harris County man accused of killing another man in a bar fight was set at $30,000. The janitors are striking for a living […]

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Who comes up with the names for these industry groups? The “Compete America” coalition is asking Congress for an increase in the number of H-1B Visas, allowing them to import more foreign workers, primarily in the IT sector. A coalition of business and education groups is making a renewed push to persuade Congress to raise […]

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So now that Democrats have officially swept the midterms, barring Republicans from picking up a single Congressional seat or governorship, what next? Why, more troops and more war, of course! Leaks indicate that, in typical “who cares what you think” fashion, Bush and his new minder, James Baker, have settled on an Iraq strategy that […]

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