Articles

LABOR NEWS FROM ALL AROUND

July 7, 2010 – Working in These Times - After Hard-Fought Chicago Victory, Wal-Mart Eyes Urban Expansion – [This article reminds us that Wal-Mart is one of the most vigorous anti-union, anti-living wage companies on the planet.  The so-called ‘gains’ for workers at this single Wal-Mart appear to this writer to be almost meaningless, although the promise to build the store with union workers is a plus.]  “ending a six-year political battle that encountered strong opposition from local politicians and labor unions.” [Despite their promises] “the existing Wal-Mart in Chicago  hasn’t led to new jobs or economic activity . . . Workers are expected to make $8.75 an hour” [No one can live on  that.]

July 7, 2010 – Working in These Times – Sad, Startling Stats: Number of Union Elections, Strikes Continue Steady Decline –  “They've [unions] lost 1.1 million private sector members from 1995 to 2008. . . . Labor's decline in power is caused primarily by three factors—unionbusting, outsourcing, and union leader incompetency. . . employers have doubled their use of illegal unionbusting tactics . . . General strikes remain common in western Europe, but are illegal in the United States.” [This is a reminder to all of us to support our union brothers and sisters by shopping at union establishments whenever possible.]

July 7, 2010 – AFL-CIO Now – 75^th Anniversary of National Labor Relations Act : Unions the Answer Then and Now – “Social Security, Unemployment Insurance, a federal minimum wage and laws regulating child labor . . . (NLRA) which protected workers’ rights to join or form unions and engage in collective bargaining. . . Collective bargaining helped create our middle class. . . In order to rebuild the middle class today, we need to level the playing field for all working people and update our labor laws”