Tag: workers rights
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…
A huge, huge deal’: Biden issues public statement of support for unionizing Alabama Amazon workers
“We haven’t had this aggressive and positive of a statement from a president of the United States on behalf of workers in decades.” by Jake Johnson, staff writer Monday, March 1, 2021 Declaring that all…
John Thune’s childhood $6 wage—$24 adjusted for inflation—sure helps make the case for at least $15
“The worst thing is that these people aren’t dumb. They know about inflation… They just don’t think people who make their food and clean their bathrooms deserve the same things they got.” by Kenny Stancil, staff…
Google and majority unionism
by Wade Rathke January 4, 2021 New Orleans A well-orchestrated rollout welcomed workers back from the holidays with the news that around 225 people of the 260,000 employees of Google and its parent company, Alphabet, have…
Effects of CA Prop 22 begin as Albertsons stores move to replace unionized drivers with gig workers
“Albertsons was happy to reap public goodwill during the pandemic. But once Prop 22 gave the company the option of replacing workers with lower-paid contractors, they jumped at the opportunity.” by Kenny Stancil, staff writer Tuesday,…
New York City protects fast food workers
by Wade Rathke December 18, 2020 Atlanta The New York City Council passed two ordinances that could open the door to a new era of job protection for some of the most precarious workers in the…
Longtime Union members Pocan and Norcross announce Labor Caucus to advocate for workers in Congress
“President-elect Joe Biden’s new administration gives the Democratic Party the opportunity to reprioritize working families at the center of our legislative agenda.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Friday, November 13 Amid a flurry of new campaigns…
Disney fires 28,000 workers during stock buyback spree
“It appears that—prior to, and during the pandemic—Disney took good care of its top executives and shareholders—and now is hanging its front-line workers out to dry.” by Andrea Germanos, staff writer Wednesday, October 14 Sen. Elizabeth…
Dept. of Labor takes paid leave away from low wage healthcare workers
by Wade Rathke New Orleans This is complicated, so hang with me, but here is what you need to know. Nursing home workers and other frontline healthcare providers like home health aides, and community home workers…
Firing workers for off-the-job protests
by Wade Rathke September 17, 2020 New Orleans A small notice in an email caught my eye. A National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) attorney in a newly released guidance letter wanted to make sure that…
Where’s the health and safety plan?
by Wade Rathke Friday, September 11, 2020 New Orleans Leaders and members of Local 100 United Labor Unions finally had enough of working on the frontlines without proper protection against the coronavirus in nursing homes, supported…
Gig work is not a jobs safety net
by Wade Rathke Thursday, September 3, 2020 Pearl River If service work had been the equivalent of a jobs’ “safety net” for workers in many cities and towns in the past, the only replacement available would…
Major ‘Milestone’ for workers as California judge rules Uber and Lyft must classify drivers as employees
“This is a resounding victory for thousands of Uber and Lyft drivers who are working hard—and, in this pandemic, incurring risk every day—to provide for their families.” by Jessica Corbett, staff writer Tuesday, August 11 In…
Pandemic privacy and discrimination
by Wade Rathke New Orleans Businesses are madly lobbying Congress for liability protection from lawsuits by their workers. They are clear that they want their staff to return to work, but they do not want…
The 2020 uprisings join a long river of struggle in America
Protesters filled the newly named Black Lives Plaza, near the White House, on June 6, 2020 in Washington, DC. Win McNamee/Getty Images by Matthew Countryman, University of Michigan The river was the metaphor that best captured…
How pro-Trump millionaires robbed small businesses of coronavirus aid
Thanks to a specially carved loophole, one multi-millionaire claimed 339 times more than the average small business received. by Jim Hightower May 20, 2020 Monty Bennett was just another faceless right-wing millionaire on the long list…
Nike turned away a public health official from Its warehouse days after a worker with COVID-19 died
The Health Department received a complaint that a Nike warehouse wasn’t being cleaned thoroughly or allowing for social distancing. Its inspector wasn’t allowed inside. Twenty-one workers have tested positive for COVID-19 at Nike’s Memphis locations. by…
The robots are coming and jobs are disappearing
Pearl River We all wonder what the world of life and work is going to look like at the end of this 2020 Great Depression under the helm of the modern-day Herbert Hoover. Just as an…
Workers virus rights for big companies
Pearl River The stimulus bill overs some expanded rights for workers at companies with under 500 workers. What do you do if your employer has over 500 workers and is refusing to do the right things…
Delivery driver unions and resistance are growing
New Orleans Traveling in other cities both in the United States and around the world, it sometimes seems like food delivery workers are everywhere on either scooters or bicycles. The soft box on their backs…