Working Life

Hypocrisy probably makes it into the top three characteristics, alas, of the vast majority of politicians. That isn’t a reason not to participate in the electoral process but it’s just one of those cautionary, red lights to keep an eye out for. To wit: all those politicians who eloquently talk about the importance of unions—mostly […]

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Nah, I’m not talking about cheaper tickets or seats that are actually comfortable. Something more consequential, if you want to take the broader good view: fingers crossed but looks like a few thousands NYC-area airport workers will be unionized.

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Everyone likes to compare their city to New York City. If you can be like the greatest city in the world, hey, you’ve made it. But, uh, this might not be a comparison the Chamber of Commerce and Tourist Board wants making the rounds.

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   It’s rare that we get to read about a total victory for workers in a contract fight. But, you can’t read this any other way: The talks went right up to the midnight strike deadline, as they often have in the past, with the union resisting the owners’ demands for cuts in health care […]

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   We’ll know soon whether there will be a strike of the doormen and other services workers in NYC. Check the background and ways to support the union here.

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This is not a post about the auto industry. The attack against the decent standard of living fought for and won by auto workers over many generations is just one of the most visible assaults on the American Dream–an assault that is sweeping through every corner of the economy as workers have to pay for […]

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   I thought I’d take a short timeout from the on-going wildness in the markets (don’t pay any attention to the rallies you might see in the markets for one day–things are still very dire) to make an observation about the politics of hypocrisy in New York City. This has some relevance to the lives […]

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   I am not going to say too much about whether I agree or disagree with the entirely self-serving, hypocritical, "Only I Can Save You" decision by his lordship NYC Mayor (or is that "God"?) Michael Bloomberg to reverse his position on term limits and seek a change in the law that would bar him […]

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   It was an overcast afternoon but people still turned out for a very spirited rally organized in a very short time by the New York City Central Labor Council. People came from a whole range of unions–Teamsters, Teachers, UAW, RWDSU, Laborers, AFSCME…John Sweeney was there. Gary Labarbera, the head of the CLC, lead off […]

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   The New York City Central Labor Council is calling for a mobilization tomorrow in Wall Street to protest the bailout for bankers. Here is a piece of the statement which outlines the demands: In response to the growing concerns for worker’s needs, the Central Labor Council Executive Board today announced the following “Seven Conditions […]

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