Working Life

Yesterday, I spoke before a group of Democrats in Reno, Nevada on behalf of Bernie and, at one point, someone asked me about why the biggest labor unions are not choosing to endorse Bernie. My first point was simple: it’s a crass and ugly if understandable choice—the union leaders, many of whom I know, understand […]

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It seems more likely than not that, in a short while, the Supreme Court will inflict a deep wound in public union organizing, and, ultimately, the power of organized labor in the workplace and in politics. But, just a small word on what silver lining could be found here–and I know my friends will perhaps violently disagree.

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    What is with our city? We keep attracting the worse of the Tea Party, union-busting Republicans in the nation. First, Scott Walker was in town so two weeks ago to shake the Republican money tree–and we treated him to a Bronx cheer. Today, his Tea Party, low-life, colleague John Kasich came to town for […]

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There isn’t any other way of putting it: last night was a disaster for the labor movement and for its members and all working people. When the working class "hero" John Boehner choked up in recounting his humble roots, I said aloud, "will you remember that when you unleash Big Business to press its boot […]

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   Nobody noticed that this past Friday was the first official day the Laborers were back in the AFL-CIO. I tweeted it and posted the fact on Facebook (I’ve not quite gotten back to blogging here full-time again but hope to do so soon). Which made me think: when will Change To Win officially fold? […]

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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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   By now, you may have read this: Service Employees International Union President Andrew Stern, one of America’s most prominent labor leaders, is set to resign, according to a member of the union’s board and another SEIU official. The President of an SEIU local based in Seattle, Diane Sosne, broke the news to her staffers […]

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   I’m only about peace and love these days when it comes to the labor movement–there is plenty to write about in the AIG-side of the world that makes you want to cry. So, it was nice to read the email in my box announcing an agreement between SEIU and the California Nurses Association to […]

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   Once again–sigh–what this financial mess shows is how the progressive movement is disorganized, incoherent and fragmented. The bankers are pretty clear what they want. The public has been heard loudly that it rejects the Paulson bailout for bankers. But, progressives? I think I’ve seen at least half a dozen different "THIS IS THE SOLUTION" […]

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