The May unemployment report: No rosy colors
The U.S. Labor Department said that 9.0 million workers were counted among the officially unemployed in May, bringing the official unemployment rate to 6.1 percent, the highest since July 1994.
Perus teachers spark nationwide struggle
Despite having reached a tentative agreement, Nilvar Lopez, general secretary of the Peruvian teachers union (SUTEP), said a nationwide strike will continue until the union ratifies the new collective bargaining agreement.
Memorial desecrated
Ludlow, Colo. – One of organized labor’s most sacred and cherished shrines, the Ludlow Memorial, was desecrated on or shortly after the evening of May 7. Vandals cut through solid granite and marble to sever the heads off the statues of a miner and his wife. The wife’s arm, holding a baby, was also removed and stolen.
Black telephone workers fight for MLK holiday
NEWARK, N.J. – Black telephone workers at Verizon are continuing their fight to force the company to make Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday a paid holiday. Although Dr. King’s birthday was won as a federal and state holiday, in private industry only twenty-six percent of employees at private companies have won a paid holiday.
Millions strike against privatization in India
NEW DELHI, India – A one-day general strike brought many states to a virtual halt here. Up to 50 million workers participated in what trade union leaders called one of the “biggest strike[s] witnessed since Independence,” May 21.
Illinois workers win pay hike
CHICAGO – In the midst of rising regional unemployment, a massive budget crisis, and a widespread housing shortage, some of Illinois’ lowest paid workers will be receiving some relief.
ILWU rep brings greetings from Danny Glover to CBTU
Clarence Thomas, executive board member of CBTU Northern California and executive board member of ILWU Local 10, read Danny Glover’s greetings to the CBTU convention.
CBTU calls for Bush defeat
SAN FRANCISCO – A defiant William “Bill” Lucy, president of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), blasted the policies of the Bush administration in his keynote speech to the more than 1,400 delegates attending the organization’s 32nd Convention, May 21-26.
CPUSA hosts health care meet
NEW YORK – “Health care is a life or death question,” said Scott Marshall, Communist Party USA (CPUSA) Labor Secretary, at a recent national meeting here. “Sixty million people are without health care each year, and that number is growing. People are being turned away from hospitals, being denied medicine – people are dying because of this crisis.”
Outsourcing slashes pay of auto parts workers
DETROIT – Last week Chrysler Group announced the sale of its 60 percent stake in its New Castle, Ind., parts plant to Metaldyne Corporation. Along with the sale, it was announced that plant workers will be forced to take a pay cut from $28 to $18 an hour.
