Working Life

Worth reading today in the Metro section of The New York Times (one can reasonably say “buried in the Metro section) is an update on the federal lawsuit by six anonymous day laborers who are arguing that they are being harrassed by the Village of Mamaroneck, NY: The case accuses village officials of harassing the […]

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CAFTA 15 Rep. William “I store $90,000 in my freezer” Jefferson is back in the news. The New York Times has a piece today that expands on Dollar Bill’s relationship with iGate. Here’s a bit from the story: Soon after meeting Mr. Jackson in late 2000, Mr. Jefferson prodded the Pentagon to test one of […]

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My favorite “George” in government is Rep. George Miller from California. He’s been all over the Wal-Mart issue, among other things, and a tiger on workers’ rights. So, he’s put out a new report on the economy, which summarizes neatly many of the items I’ve brought up here: â–ºFamilies are earning less. Since 2001, median […]

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Over a long period of time, I’ve argued that we need to challenge Democrats who are in the pocket of corporate America and stop simply supporting Democrats simply because they are incumbents. So, I’m heartened by today’s article in The New York Times that seems to indicate, at least towards the end, that some folks […]

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Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago has vetoed the living wage ordinance that was passed largely to require “big box” retailers like Wal-Mart to pay a decent wage. Well, not surprising since the Daley family has always been about protecting powerful interests.

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I hope readers will be patient with a slightly more erratic schedule the last week or so. A bit snowed under with this and that so hang in there.

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This isn’t really that shocking: Wal-Mart Finds an Ally in ConservativesBy MICHAEL BARBARO and STEPHANIE STROM As Wal-Mart Stores struggles to rebut criticism from unions and Democratic leaders, the company has discovered a reliable ally: prominent conservative research groups like the American Enterprise Institute, the Heritage Foundation and the Manhattan Institute. Though it would have […]

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My friend Barbara Ehrenreich has launched a new organization: Washington, DC Sep 07, 2006 Two days after Labor Day, best selling author Barbara Ehrenreich announces the launch of United Professionals (“UP”): “We waited until after Labor Day because UP represents the next step in the mobilization of wage earners. While working on Bait & Switch […]

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[Had a couple of days that I went “dark” here] Well, here’s a minor step that would can salute: U.S. Opposes Bankruptcy Bonus Plan By FLOYD NORRIS The Justice Department has joined with unions and creditors of the Dana Corporation, an auto parts company in bankruptcy protection, in opposing a proposed pay system for top […]

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Let’s see the spin Rumsfeld and his blind chorus put on this NYTimes article this morning: Iraqi casualties soared by more than 50 percent in recent months, the product of spiraling sectarian clashes and a Sunni-based insurgency that remains “potent and viable,” the Pentagon said in its latest comprehensive assessment of security in Iraq. During […]

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