Tag: Labor
Ottawans weren’t passive pushing back on the blockade
by Wade Rathke February 23, 2022 Marble Falls When you read the New York Times about the Ottawa blockade you have to distill quite a lot of high-powered spin to search for the truth….
UMW coal miners’ union rebukes Manchin for effort to kill Build Back Better
“Manchin has lost the coal miners with this latest betrayal,” said one labor reporter. by Julia Conley, Common Dreams Tuesday, December 21, 2021 The push for passage of the Build Back Better Act got a…
Amid deadly tornado, texts show Amazon threatened to fire driver if packages not delivered
“I’m literally stuck in this damn van without a safe place to go with a tornado on the ground!” by Kenny Stancil, Common Dreams Friday, December 17, 2021 More damning information about last week’s deadly workplace…
Starbucks union drive spreads to Mass, Ariz,
‘Next!’ “We want the company to succeed,” organizers of the Mesa unionization effort said, “and we want our work lives to be the best they can be.” by Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams Friday, December 17, 2021…
West Virginia constituents decry ‘Immorality’ of Joe Manchin
“West Virginia has been locked into an economy that forces workers into low-wage jobs with no hope for advancement, and after decades of this our hope is dwindling,” said one West Virginian. “The cuts that Sen….
Sinema kills Democrats’ plan to raise corporate tax rate
Although “all of President Biden’s Build Back Better agenda can be paid for by fairer taxes on the wealthy and corporations,” noted Americans for Tax Fairness, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema’s refusal to support tax hikes on the…
Essential, low-wage workers share why they need reconciliation package
‘Please Help Us’ “We’ve heard the voices of the poor. We’ve heard the voices crying out, demanding justice. All I want to know right now, Joe Manchin, is which side are you on?” by Jessica Corbett,…
This isn’t a labor shortage—It’s a strike by workers kicked in the face by low wages for too long
A lot of those now out of work simply don’t want to return to backbreaking, low-wage shit jobs. Why should they? by Robert Reich October 10, 2021 The U.S. added just 194,000 jobs in September, down…
EPA bans all food uses of neurotoxic pesticide Chlorpyrifos
‘Long overdue’ “Finally, our fields are made safer for farmworkers and our fruits and vegetables are safer for our children.” by Jessica Corbet, Common Dreams August 18, 2021 Public health experts and labor rights advocates…
GOP Governors’ termination of jobless aid could cost local economies over $12 billion
“If states proceed with their plans to end these critical programs, they will be ripping the rug out from under millions of Americans and further hindering our economic recovery.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Thursday, June…
Workers stage Global Day of Action to #MakeAmazonPay
“Loud and clear, Amazon’s producers, distributors, and delivery drivers are telling Jeff Bezos: pay your workers.” by Brett Wilkins, staff writer Asserting that workers—not CEO Jeff Bezos—drive Amazon’s success, employees of the world’s largest online…
Sanders urges Labor Secretary to protect jobless benefits as GOP governors race to cut them off
Az Gov. Ducey moves to cut fed unemployment help The Vermont senator warned that many workers “will be forced into poverty” if Republican leaders are permitted to end emergency unemployment benefits. by Jake Johnson, staff writer…
Violent overthrow of government – DÉJÀ VU
by Wade Rathke May 11, 2021 New Orleans There are some in America who live in denial about our history, despite the fact it is riddled with violence and contemptuous of democracy. For them the…
Corporations rigged rules to boost pandemic pay of CEOs
“By inflating executive compensation while their workers struggled during a pandemic, corporate boards have strengthened the case for tax penalties on huge CEO-worker pay gaps.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Tuesday, May 11, 2021 Dozens…
As hiring undershoots expectations, Biden urged to go big with $10 trillion jobs plan
“Millions of people are out of work, and the unemployment rate is rising. The real risk isn’t doing too much—it’s doing too little.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer May 7, 2021 Analysts expected Friday’s April…
Pay a Living Wage or ‘Flip your own damn burgers’: progressives blast right-wing narrative on jobs
“If one in four recipients are making more off unemployment than they did working, that’s not an indictment of $300 a week in UI benefits. It’s an indictment of corporations paying starvation wages.” by Kenny Stancil,…
Progressive groups mark May Day with rallies urging passage of PRO Act
“The fight for the PRO Act is a fight for a future of dignity for all workers,” said Democratic Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York. by Andrea Germanos, staff writer May 1, 2021 A coalition…
Nurses at Maine’s largest hospital vote to unionize
‘A Dream Come True’ “It’s a new day for nurses and patients across Maine.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Friday, April 30, 2021 Registered nurses at Maine’s largest hospital have voted to form their first…
How Biden’s paid leave proposal would benefit workers, their families and their employers too
by Joya Misra, University of Massachusetts Amherst Friday, April 30, 2021 Making ends meet when you have a newborn is easier with paid family leave. John Moore/Getty Images. The Biden administration is proposing a…
Biden gives Congress his vision to ‘win the 21st century’ – scholars react
President Joe Biden spoke to Congress on April 28, 2021, with a historic duo flanking him: two women, one of them African American. Vice President Kamala Harris called the proceedings to order; Speaker of the House Nancy…
A hard look at the Amazon Bessemer union election – Part I
by Wade Rathke April 10, 2021 Pearl River The results of the union election at the Amazon warehouse in Bessemer, Alabama are finally tallied and the scorecard by the numbers was 1798 voting NO to be…
A Hard Look at the Amazon Bessemer Union Election – Part II
by Wade Rathke April 11, 2021 Pearl River There’s no way to put sugar in your coffee. The union’s loss at Amazon is deeply disappointing. A victory would have been a huge blast of wind…
NLRB says Amazon firing of workers illegal retaliation
The workers are demanding better climate, labor policies. “It’s clear that Amazon has been violating the law when it tries to silence workers who speak out,” said Christy Hofmann, general secretary of UNI Global Union. by…
House Passage of Historic Union Rights Bill Intensifies Pressure on Dem Senators to ‘Stop Hiding Behind’ Filibuster
“Once again, the key obstacle in the way of passing this legislation is the Jim Crow filibuster.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Wednesday, March 10, 2021 With the support of just five Republicans, the House…
