May Day marches put immigration reform front & center
CHICAGO — Thousands of immigrant rights advocates marched in cities coast to coast May 1, to honor the most widely celebrated holiday on the planet, International Workers Day. Thousands took to the streets in Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, Denver, Chicago and New York to press for comprehensive immigration reform, a halt to raids and deportations and a path toward legalization for the country’s estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.
At Haymarket, workers demand EFCA and immigrant rights
CHICAGO – As the skies began clearing here May 1, several hundred enthusiastic labor activists gathered for the annual celebration at the Haymarket Monument to honor the Haymarket martyrs and step up the fight for workers rights. Workers from December’s Republic Windows sit-in and a group of young anarchists also participated.
Hospitals not ready for swine flu
“I can’t honestly say that my hospital is ready to protect the health and safety of our workers during a potential pandemic.” The words were those of a top level administrator at one of the largest suburban hospitals in the New York City area, who spoke with the World, May 4, on condition of anonymity.
Needed now: a national retirement security program
An autoworker we know is facing the possible slashing of his General Motors pension, earned in decades of work. Even with the full pension and his Social Security check, this 79-year-old retiree can barely cover his basic monthly bills.
Some warn of anti-teacher agenda on school inequities report
A new report says wide educational achievement gaps hurt our economy and need national attention. But some wonder if the report is being used to advance an anti-teacher-union agenda.
The fight for employee free choice: Alive and well!
“I am here to assure everyone that rumors about the impending death of the Employee Free Choice Act are decidedly premature.” The statement was made by Arlene Holt-Baker, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO, last week, at a gathering of the nation’s civil rights leaders in Washington D.C. The civil rights leaders assembled by the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights added their voices to a growing national chorus of support for the Employee Free Choice Act.
Jerry Springer: Cutting workers loose is unethical, immoral
Jerry Springer is fighting for employees to be able to move from Chicago to Connecticut with his show. Springer is taking on his bosses on behalf of his staff.
Of long fuses and seven league boots: US labor today
I don’t know if Steven Greenhouse, of the New York Times, writes his own headlines. Doubt it.
Jobs with Justice celebrates, organizes
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Jobs with Justice continues as a tremendous asset for organized labor, but new and exciting trends were also evident at its national conference here May 2-4. The organization that was founded by five industrial unions in 1987 has continued to grow and fulfill its original purpose of reaching outside labor’s ranks to assist the union movement. Now, it is also organizing the broader working class in the United States and abroad.
Protect Social Security customer service
We thought the push to privatize Social Security was dead. Failing to privatize Social Security, the administration has slashed the agency’s budget. These tactics ensure that the next time we have to fight to save Social Security, the public’s view of the Social Security Administration (SSA) might not be so favorable.
