MetaFilter posts tagged with unions

Mondragon and the Steelworkers

enn — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:13:13 -0800

Last month the United Steelworkers entered into an agreement with the successful Spanish cooperative Mondragon to work toward establishing worker-owned manufacturing coops in the US.

ZNet has an in-depth look at the agreement and Mondragon
Cooperate and No One Gets Hurt has an interview with Rob Witherell of USW (bonus: an account of a trip to visit Mondragon, parts 1, 2, 3, 4)
The NYT Economix blog weighs in

“Randi Weingarten would protect a dead body in the classroom. That’s her job.”

Oxydude — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:52:08 -0800

The Rubber Room: The Battle Over New York City’s Worst Teachers.

“…If you stand up straight, people can’t ride your back. And that’s what we did. We stood up straight.”

univac — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:00:30 -0800

When Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated April 4, 1968, he was helping sanitation workers in Memphis form a union. In 1967, SCLC initiated the Poor People's Campaign to unify the African-American civil rights movement with working people's movements more generally. In MLK's words, "It must not be just black people, it must be all poor people. We must include American Indians, Puerto Ricans, Mexicans, and even poor whites." The campaign brought him to Memphis in 1968 to rally with striking sanitation workers. A movement of clergy & community activists had grown in support of the strikers after two workers died on the job. After King's death, the workers won recognition of their union, AFSCME Local 1733, as well as a collective bargaining agreement containing wage increases, a grievance procedure, and improvements to outdated & dangerous equipment. In 1968, union membership in the United States was at 29.4 % of the workforce. Since then, the country's election of a black president has prompted suggestions that King's dream has been fulfilled, while union membership has decreased to under 13%.

Ah, web 2.0, is there nothing you can't make better, or at least more entertaining?

jb — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 22:36:13 -0800

York University is no stranger to strikes (even breaking its own length record), and the latest is shaping up much like the previous - TA & Lecturers' union on the picket line, admin in the ugly concrete buildings, and undergrads looking cold and confused all around (YT). But since the last strike in 2001, a few things have changed. No, not the issues (same as always - living wages for TAs, job security for lecturers) or the effect (disruption of undergrad education) - but last time there were few discussion forums, no facebook groups or videos by the local newspaper, and definitely no (somewhat obvious, but still mildly entertaining) Apple ad parodies. Actually, they have some pretty good teaching there - but from this view of the campus (mentally add snow and slush for the school year), you can see why the university homepage has so few images. (I'm cheating - the building this view is from is quite pretty. Shame it's the only one :)

The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class

kliuless — Thu, 01 May 2008 02:22:59 -0800

"The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class" With inequality on the rise [1,2,3], what can be done to combat the "credit crunch"* and restore the link between wages and productivity? [cf.] Afterall, "economic inequality makes democracy repugnant to elites and attractive to the masses. It is a recipe for civil conflict and unstable democracies. But a sizeable middle class is conducive to democracy: civil society is stronger, while the dangers of unbridled populism are reduced." Otherwise, "globalization will fail and capitalism or even humanity itself may come to an end. The real alternative to good globalization is world war. And because of the nature of today's technology, such a war would be apocalyptic in the twenty-first century. Because there is not much time left, the Great Boom, taken as a whole, either is not a bubble at all, or it is the final and greatest bubble in history." --- *when "what the US economy produces is no longer well matched to what Americans consume, and we are structurally unprepared to generate tradables, goods or services, in quantity adequate to cover the difference," is it -- US living standards -- even defensible and/or is another revolution on the way?

Tenth Anniversary of the Patrick Stevedores Dispute

Effigy2000 — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 16:56:27 -0800

Australian dock workers will stop work for a minute today to remember the Patrick stevedores dispute, an industrial dispute that involved the stevedoring corporation Patricks, the Howard government and the Maritime Union of Australia. A landmark event in Australian political and legal history, the dispute saw dock workers stand "in the first line against the Howard government and the Patrick corporation that was seeking to remove their legal rights, their right to go to work [and] the right to collective bargaining." In its wake, the event generated debate about the role of unions in Australia, an alleged conspiracy between Patricks and the former Howard Government and even spawned a controversial TV mini-series, Bastard Boys. For more history and analysis of the dispute, you can read about it from the view of the MUA or this account but for the definitive analysis see here.

A (Republican) Change of Heart

fourcheesemac — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 13:58:29 -0800

The Mayor of San Diego has a change of heart. GOP Mayor Jerry Sanders of San Diego comes out in support of gay marriage.

Announcing: The International I.T. Workers Union

Babylonian — Tue, 01 May 2007 13:05:43 -0800

Today is May 1st, also known as International Workers Day. International Workers Day began when 340,000 in Chicago, Milwaukee and other cities struck for the eight-hour day in 1886. Flash forward to today where for many workers in the I.T. industry, years of 60-hour weeks and taking classes on your own dime to keep up with technology leave you in the unemployment line, after being laid off with no notice. For years, people have been calling for the I.T. Workers of the world to unite and form a unified labor union. I.T. workers should form a union for the same reason that workers have always formed unions: together we have more power to improve the terms and conditions of our employment than we do as individuals. This is an announcement and a call to action to the world-wide IT worker community to become involved in the development of a new resource — The International I.T. Workers Union that will represent the interests of I.T. Workers around the world.

I Love Vermont

james_cpi — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:16:05 -0800

I Love Vermont

Youtube as picket line

drezdn — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:31:40 -0800

Employees of Miller turn to youtube to express their concerns about pension benefits. [link via Church of the Customer]

Labor, Inc.: SEIU president says unions should serve corporations.

univac — Wed, 14 Feb 2007 02:46:36 -0800

SEIU President Andy Stern says unions should be less like unions. He recently teamed up with Wal-Mart to call for incremental healthcare reform, and has said that unions should assist employers in outsourcing their employees. His union once teamed up with CA nursing home operators to limit the rights of abused patients. This is the same union that promoted this insipid PR campaign.

Tell me the stories that will embarrass those conservative bigots that are backing a constitutional ban on our formalized relationships.

amberglow — Thu, 25 Jan 2007 20:58:19 -0800

The dirty underbelly -- I'm sick and tired of these hypocritical Hoosier legislators who think that my sex life or relationship status is any of their business. Do I intrude on who they're sleeping with? I didn't, but I'm going to start now. ...Consider this a call to ~~arms~~ gossip. ... -- Bilerico, a GLBT blog in Indiana, fighting their proposed state Constitutional Amendment to ban marriage and all other rights for gay and lesbian couples and families.

WorkChoices: Fair or not, they're here to stay.

Effigy2000 — Mon, 13 Nov 2006 17:19:48 -0800

Australiafilter: The Australian High Court handed down its ruling today on the constitutionality of the Howard Government's new Industrial Relations laws, called 'Workchoices', deeming them constitutional by a vote of 5 to 2 (full text of the decision here). Two dissenters, Justices Michael Kirby and Ian Callinan, argued that upholding the laws changes the very nature of the Australian federal system and is "in contradiction of, what was intended and expressed in the constitution by the founders." Whilst bloggers and academics debate the nature of the laws and how fair or unfair they are, the simple fact now is that the laws are here to stay unless there is a change of Government at the 2007 federal election. Find out what it means for you as an employee from both the Howard Government's view and the Union's point of view so you can know your rights at work and decide for yourself.

civil unions? marriage?

amberglow — Wed, 25 Oct 2006 12:26:33 -0800

NJ says yes to same-sex marriage! (altho it might not be called that in the end) -- link to pdf of ruling here.

Is Tyra A Workplace Tyrant?

jonp72 — Tue, 12 Sep 2006 09:07:47 -0800

America's Next Top Picket Line Writers from America's Next Top Model have gone on strike after the Writers Guild of America West began a campaign to unionize reality TV. How many strikes do you know have their own MySpace page, Television without Pity interview, and a model "working it" on the picket line? Ironically, a previous 1988 writers' strike encouraged the current boom in reality TV, as this article argues.

French

semmi — Mon, 10 Apr 2006 21:18:22 -0800

In Defense of French Dirigisme.

segway stock soars on late news

wakko — Tue, 20 Dec 2005 00:51:17 -0800

So it actually happened. Not going anywhere tomorrow? The last time the MTA went on strike in New York was 1980. This time, one would hope there are plans already in place to cope with what will no doubt be an awful morning for millions, though the information seems dated already. Perhaps ths might be a good opportunity to share any tips and information about the situation. [newsfilter, of course]

Kicken it in sunny Southern France

jeffburdges — Sun, 04 Dec 2005 10:08:43 -0800

Unions are much of the source of the E.U. vs. U.S. lifestyle difference.

Why do you have to be a strike-breaker, is it a lesson that I never knew?

banishedimmortal — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:37:23 -0800

NYU President John Sexton warns striking grad students that they must resume teaching or lose their benefits. After weeks of marching outside Bobst library and refusing to teach classes, NYU grad students have been sent a letter from President John Sexton, warning them that any TA who does not return to work next week will lose their stipends and eligibility to teach next semester. Until recently, NYU was the only private school that allowed graduate teaching assistants to unionize, following a 2000 NLRB decision, which was subsequently reversed. NYU claims that it has negotiated in good faith and that the union's demands would limit decision making that should remain in the hands of academics, while the grad students argue that they cannot trust NYU's admistration to take care of them without unionization (and representation by the UAW). Meanwhile, many undergrads paying tuition upwards of 50K/year will have to retake classes or opt for pass/fail. Do you sympathize with highly educated American grad students who receive free tuition, health insurance, and stipends in exchange for modest teaching duties (when many other students depend on student loans), especially compared the with 19th century coal miners, third-world factory workers, and modern-day wage slaves we normally associate with unions and strikes?

Best idea since sliced toast? Or butter-side downer?

Rumple — Sat, 08 Oct 2005 12:12:38 -0800

Since Sliced Bread: A union-sponsored contest to find and develop ideas to improve the U.S. economy - the winner will receive $100,000. Entries range from virally-spreading an anti-exploitation shame meme to increasing US world domination. Other greatest ideas since sliced bread include your own personal jesus toast, corporate logos on toast, and Liberty.

bad cop--no highball

leftcoastbob — Sat, 27 Aug 2005 07:42:00 -0800

Cops who break the law. Should a police chief be able to fire a cop for breaking the law? Not according to the cop's union.

The Union Makes Us Strong

plep — Fri, 05 Aug 2005 08:26:48 -0800

The Union Makes Us Strong. Articles on British trade union history.

Where's my pension ?

elpapacito — Wed, 11 May 2005 17:33:24 -0800

UAL (United Airlines) dumps four pension plans[optional audio interview with Businessweek expert] ; bankruptcy court authorizes shifting of USD 5 billions (allegedly largest pension default in U.S. history) in pension obligations to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. As a result the burden of private failure and incompetency will be shared by all taxpayers (whose taxes finance PBGC which is already operating on a 23 Billion deficit) and by beneficiaries of the pension plans who will see their pension severely cut : pilots from 100K to 30K pensions but also less privileged workers will be hit. For instance Mrs Tamuk, spokeswoman from Association of Flight Attendants said her pension will be reduced from $1,700 a month to $800 a month.

Center for the Study of Political Graphics

Ufez Jones — Tue, 04 Jan 2005 11:10:32 -0800

The Center for the Study of Political Graphics has some very cool virtual exhibits, including Graphics of the International Labor Movement and Earth, Wind and Solar - International Ecology Posters.

What really happened in Ohio.

mojohand — Sun, 21 Nov 2004 10:54:24 -0800

Who Lost Ohio? As more evidence comes in disproving voting fraud in the 2004 Presidential election, perhaps the real lessons for Democrats can be gleaned from this NYT (Reg required, of course) feature on ACT, a Democratic 527. Lavishly funded by George Soros and unions, this high tech organization turned out a record number (2.66 million) of Democratic voters in Ohio, but were out-organized and beaten by a grass-roots Republican effort operating below their radar. [MI]