Astonishing speed and breadth of pww.org
Tim Yeager, who was interviewed in a recent article on our web site, says he was “astonished at the speed of the article, not only going up on the web site, but also the speed it was picked up by news media and blogs and made its way around the world.”
Live on stage at the Guthrie: The Employee Free Choice Act?
Imagine my surprise when I heard a character in a world premiere play now at the Guthrie Theater sing the praises of the Employee Free Choice Act! The proposed federal legislation is labor’s top priority in Congress right now. And here was Pulitzer-winning playwright Tony Kushner’s character, Maria Teresa Marcantonio — a labor lawyer — discussing her work to help pass the bill to restore workers’ rights to organize unions.
Was failure to invest behind D.C. train wreck?
WASHINGTON — In the worst disaster of the 33-year history of the Washington, D.C., Metro, a fast-moving train slammed into the rear of a stopped one Monday, killing the driver of the moving train (Jeanice McMillan, age 42) and eight other people, and injuring about 80. Early indications are that failure to carry out needed repair and renovation of trains and signaling equipment very likely played a role.
Obama pushes health care overhaul
At a news conference Tuesday at the White House President Barack Obama called for the creation of a national health care system that would cover the 47 million now without insurance, a clean energy economy, and for the Iranian government to stop its attacks on political opponents.
Atheist group challenges 'prayer station' in City Hall
The city of Warren, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit, is the site of a separation of church and state controversy with a Wisconsin-based group, the Freedom from Religion foundation challenging a “prayer station” set up in the town’s City Hall. According to the Detroit Free Press, the station is to offer solace to residents experiencing job loss and other economic woes.
High court upholds Voting Rights Act
Civil rights leaders hailed the U.S. Supreme Court’s 8 to 1 ruling June 22 upholding Section 5 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA) and vowed to continue the struggle to protect African Americans, Latinos, and others targeted for voter disenfranchisement.
COMMENTARY 'No one asked us...'
'Doomsday' budget cuts that hurt society's most vulnerable leads one Illinois worker to question if the 'system' is worth preserving. Today I came home from work with another headache, jaw sore from clenching my teeth, drained emotionally and physically. I spent the whole day with people whose lives are being ripped apart. Hours spent trying to answer questions that had no answers, offer encouragement where none was merited, and ultimately knowing I failed on every level.
Oregon workers fight unemployment, cutbacks
The jobless rate in the western region of the U.S. surged to 10.1 percent in May and Oregon topped the list at 12.4 percent with California close behind at 11.5 percent and Nevada at 11.3 percent. Washington State’s jobless rate virtually matched the national rate 9.4 percent. Workers and their allies in Oregon are beginning to fight back. “United for Oregon,” a coalition initiated by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 503 staged a march of several thousand union members and community activists through downtown Portland Sunday June 7 to protest $2 billion in budget cutbacks in the Oregon State budget.
State after state, budget crises loom
Hundreds of thousands nationwide are protesting against state budget shortfalls that could fall on the backs of working families including those at risk of losing badly needed human services at a time where jobs are scarce and unemployment, homelessness and hunger are on the rise.
Stonewall riots: The beginning of the LGBT movement
This Sunday, June 28, will mark the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall riots, the event largely regarded as a catalyst for the LGBT movement for civil rights in the United States. At the time, there were not many places where people could be openly gay. New York had laws prohibiting homosexuality in public, and private businesses and gay establishments were regularly raided and shut down.
