Blog

MLK and labor rights -- Support New Era Workers

January 21, 2008

While growing up in the suburbs of Detroit, it is unfortunate that topics of race, class and labor weren't addressed in my predominantly white schools.  I
think the first time I had MLK Day off was in college.  College was
where I received my foundation on progressive ideals.  I'll never
forget marching throughout the city of Kalamazoo while in college for
my first MLK parade.  Then I had the opportunity to learn about the
sanitation workers strike in Memphis as the context to why MLK had
decided to visit Memphis.  If you aren't familiar with this labor
struggle, be sure to watch "At the River I Stand."

Dannon Workers Unionize in OH with International Support

January 21, 2008

More than 300 workers at the Dannon yogurt plant here have become
members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers
International Union (BCTGM) following a National Labor Relations Board
(NLRB) election that concluded yesterday.

An overwhelming majority  of workers voted on December 5 and 6 to become members of the BCTGM.

"These
workers are to be commended for standing strong in their efforts to
become unionized," notes BCTGM International President Frank Hurt.
"While this organizing victory was the culmination of efforts on many
different fronts, it all came down to the strength of the workers,"
Hurt adds.

UN Labor Panel Rules in Favor of UE

January 20, 2008

The ILO finding comes in response to a complaint filed in December 2005 by the
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers of America (UE) and UE Local 150,
the North Carolina Public Service Union. The UE was joined by the FAT, ZENROREN
(the Progressive Labor Federation in Japan) and the SFPQ and CSQ (public sector
unions in Quebec in serving the governor with the complaint. In February 2006,
UE was also joined in its complaint by Public Services International (PSI), a
worldwide federation of trade unions representing more than 20 million public
sector workers in 160 countries.

Vote for Sweatshops?

January 11, 2008

From the Online Campaign
Stores:

Hillary Clinton            While some shirts appear to have a union printing “bug” on the
front there is no information on the online store webpage about where the shirts
were made and/or printed.

John Edwards             All T-shirts are union
made/union printed in the U.S.A.

Rudy Giuliani              All T-shirts are made in
the U.S.A., no other information
available

Mike Huckabee           There is no information
available on the website

Lying is More Dangerous in Colombia: False Allegations Put Human Rights Defenders at Risk

December 20, 2007

Such an outrageous story, in addition to being slanderous and clearly rejected by Colombian courts, brings considerable danger to the groups that were mentioned, as well as to the Colombian trade union movement as a whole.  Alleging connections between Colombian workers and the guerrilla movement is a common strategy of the Uribe administration.  It discredits unions and makes them a clear target for both paramilitary groups and Colombia’s own armed forces. 

Pages

Search form