Tag Archives: union

Nebraskan Independent’s Senate Race Shows Working Class Politics Can Win

by Allison ABoston MA Independent challenger Dan Osborn leads by 2 points in the 2024 US Senate election in Nebraska against two-term Republican incumbent Deb Fischer. Osborn has been working in a Kellogg’s factory in Omaha for 20 years. He is currently the president of Local 50G of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers, and GrainContinue reading “Nebraskan Independent’s Senate Race Shows Working Class Politics Can Win”

Unionizing Portland, Maine’s Coffee By Design

An interview with Lauren G., a barista at Coffee by Design.by ISG Maine Branch What sparked interest in unionizing?  We were facing a huge amount of turnover and understaffing. Some resulted from poor planning because a good chunk of employees were leaving to go to college, and, at the same time, long-time workers decided theyContinue reading “Unionizing Portland, Maine’s Coffee By Design”

A BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE LABOR MOVEMENT?

by Jeff BoothBoston, MAAFSCME Local 3650 (personal capacity) Four high-profile, important union struggles ended recently. Wages, benefits, and working conditions were improved for hundreds of thousands of workers from the contract campaign at UPS, the UAW strike against all the “Big 3” auto companies, the largest healthcare workers strike in US history led by SEIU-UHWContinue reading “A BREAKTHROUGH FOR THE LABOR MOVEMENT?”

UAW Workers’ Strike Wins a Stronger Deal—Missed Opportunity for More

“Though the final contracts are significant improvements compared to past concessionary contracts, there are still important unresolved demands and issues. Wage increases aren’t enough to make up for pay losses due to inflation and give-backs during the Great Recession. Pensions, retiree healthcare, and other benefits and protections are not restored for all workers. All EV production jobs still don’t automatically fall under the national agreements. And the contracts accept the closure of many facilities and subsequent job losses. The UAW could have fought for more, especially considering only a third of their Big 3 members were called out on strike. General support for unions is the strongest it’s been in 60 years, and there was overwhelming public support (by a 4-1 margin) for the strike.”

Autoworkers Prepare to Battle Car Companies for Good Contracts and Green Union Jobs

Photo: Kansas City UAW members on strike at GM in 2019 by Nicholas WurstSMART-TD Local 1473 and Railroad Workers United (both personal capacity)Worcester, MA The United Auto Workers (UAW) have entered into negotiations with the “Big 3” car manufacturers: Ford, General Motors (Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, and GMC), and Stellantis (Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram). 150,000Continue reading “Autoworkers Prepare to Battle Car Companies for Good Contracts and Green Union Jobs”

Teamster Rebellion: Revive the Spirit of 1934 to Win in 2023!

Striking teamsters defend their picket line from anti-union police on the streets of Minneapolis, June 1934— From the Minneapolis Historical Society (Public Domain). “There was a war in Minneapolis:a conflict of poverty against wealth,of labor against capital.” -Farrell Dobbs, Teamster Rebellion (1972) by Jacob BilskyWestern MA On May 16th, 1934, Teamster Local 574 struck toContinue reading “Teamster Rebellion: Revive the Spirit of 1934 to Win in 2023!”