Working Life

    Immigration continues to be a very divisive topic. Too often, we don’t hear a basic point–most people don’t choose to leave their homes and travel thousands of miles to find work, often times at great risk to their lives. They are forced to. Today, at the SEIU convention, Gerry Hudson, a union executive vice […]

Read the full story

    It’s no secret that undocumented workers are some of the most vulnerable workers in society. Employers ruthlessly exploit them. I don’t think that most people can understand–deeply understand in your gut–the fear that undocumented workers have to live with every day. Well, here’s as close as you might get to understanding what it feels […]

Read the full story

    I’ve often pointed out that the question of immigration–and the way the debate is often framed–ignores the fact that immigrants are economic refugees, forced to come to the U.S., in large part, as a result of economic policies that our government imposes on the world–for example, so-called "free trade" agreements that end up undoing […]

Read the full story

    I’ve often pointed out that the question of immigration–and the way the debate is often framed–ignores the fact that immigrants are economic refugees, forced to come to the U.S., in large part, as a result of economic policies that our government imposes on the world–for example, so-called "free trade" agreements that end up undoing […]

Read the full story

    This past week, I pondered how immigration was going to end up conjuring up the Willie Hortons of the 2008 election. If you had any doubt about the power of fear on immigration, check out what happened in the union representation vote at Fresh Direct in NYC. Two weeks before the vote, the company […]

Read the full story

    This past week, I pondered how immigration was going to end up conjuring up the Willie Hortons of the 2008 election. If you had any doubt about the power of fear on immigration, check out what happened in the union representation vote at Fresh Direct in NYC. Two weeks before the vote, the company […]

Read the full story

    Here are a few things that caught my eye.     #1: Good riddance, Tom Tancredo–but do the Democrats understand the political implications of immigration in 2008? So, Tancredo, the odious member of Congress, is apparently dropping out of the presidential race, having registered barely a blip in the pretty weird and crazy Republican field. […]

Read the full story

    Here are a few things that caught my eye.     #1: Good riddance, Tom Tancredo–but do the Democrats understand the political implications of immigration in 2008? So, Tancredo, the odious member of Congress, is apparently dropping out of the presidential race, having registered barely a blip in the pretty weird and crazy Republican field. […]

Read the full story

    I have to get on a plane here soon so just a quick post. The only thing left of the attempt to change immigration policy is the government’s expanded efforts to raid workplace. So, the United Food and Commercial Workers is trying to put some brakes on the practice (from the Associated Press): A […]

Read the full story

    No, I haven’t turned this into a sex advice column (hmmm…maybe the readership would skyrocket? Memo to NW–put on "to consider" list). From way back during the fight over NAFTA, there was an interesting–and, for some, uncomfortable–alliance between "left" and "right." The "left" saw NAFTA as a disaster for workers and the environment, whereas […]

Read the full story