Subway fires worker for giving a 3-year-old a cookie
We've heard of ridiculous excuses companies use to fire pro-union workers, but a Seattle Subway shop takes the cake...er, cookie. Working Washington reports the firm fired Carlos Hernandez for giving a 66-cent cookie, free, to a 3-year-old.
Today in labor history: Labor journalist Mary Heaton Vorse is born
She reported on the Lawrence textile strike, the steel strike of 1919, the textile workers strike of 1934, and coal strikes in Harlan County, Kentucky. After reporting on the Loray Mill strike in Gastonia, N. C., in 1929, she wrote her famous novel, "Strike!"
Report: Nissan in Mississippi is violating international labor law
The company is in violation of the standards on freedom of association, the report notes, because of Nissan's "aggressive interference" with workers attempting to exercise their fundamental right to organize a union.
Palestinian union leader seeks support from U.S. unions
Labor leader Mahmoud Abu Odeh is hoping American trade unionists will help Palestinian workers achieve basic rights. He says it is a question of human needs shared by Americans, Palestinians and Israelis.
Today in labor history: California landmark Paid Family Leave
On September 23, 2002, Democratic California Gov. Gray Davis signed legislation making the state the first to offer workers paid family leave.
"Mr. Clean" gives guest workers a dirty deal
America's unions are going to bat for foreign workers who toil in America, in conditions that approximate slavery. And Dwight Allen, a 41-year-old "guest worker" laboring in Florida apartment buildings says he is sure glad they have.
Iraqi union leader: "War not over for our workers"
Hassan Juma'a Awad, president of the Iraq Federation of Oil Unions, was a guest at the AFL-CIO's convention where he spoke at an event organized by U.S. Labor Against the War.
Ethiopian immigrant Tefere Gebre shakes up labor organizing
Gebre's first attempt at union organizing in Orange County was a smashing success. He successfully signed up 400 workers who toiled as sorters of trash.
Blueberry pickers strike at Labor Camp 2
When the blueberry picking started, the company fired Federico Lopez on July 10 for asking for a wage raise, and workers went on strike on July 11 to get his job back.
Today in labor history: U.S. tries to overthrow workers' government in Russia
On Sept. 4, 1918, U.S. troops landed at Archangel, in northern Russia, seeking to overthrow the new workers' government that had ousted the czar a year earlier.
