Apr
2016 27
2016 27
Coalition of AFL-CIO, Building Trades Locals Sue Michigan Over Anti-Union Campaign Finance Law
A group of Michigan unions have filed a lawsuit against a law that allows corporations, but not unions, to use payroll deductions for contributions to political action committees. The sweeping election law also banned elected officials in local governments from talking about ballot proposals or millage issues in the 60 days before an…
Mar
2016 30
2016 30
Words Alone Can’t Capture the Importance of Yesterday’s Friedrichs Decision. Only This Meme Can.
Workers’ rights advocates earned an indescribably important victory on Wednesday when the 8-person Supreme Court issued a 4-4 ruling in the case of Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association. This means a lower court ruling in favor of labor union rights stays in tact. The lower court, the U.S. Ninth Circuit of Appeals in San…
Jan
2016 26
2016 26
C-4 to Your Door, No Beef No More: Canadian Treasury Righting (Some of) Old Admin’s Labor Wrongs
In Canada, the Treasury Board has notified public sector unions that one of its “first orders of business” when parliament resumes this week is to repeal sections of Bill C-59, which gave the government the power to impose a unilateral sick-leave standard. The news comes as Canada’s largest public sector union, the Public Service…
Dec
2015 14
2015 14
Top Economists: Politics, Not Industry Changes, Responsible for Decline in Unionism
The upcoming issue of the New York Review of Books features a piece by Paul Krugman, who reviews the new Robert Reich book, Saving Capitalism: For the Many, Not the Few. In analyzing and highlighting some of Reich’s arguments, Krugman pieces together the changes that have occurred in both the U.S. and global economies [&hellip…;
Aug
2015 19
2015 19
Gallup Poll Finds Big Upswing in Union Support; Women, Young People Most Enthusiastic
A recent Gallup poll shows that America’s support for labor unions has jumped 5 percent in the past year, bringing it to 58 percent. This is the highest such figure since 2008 when 59 percent approved. The poll was conducted between August 5th and 9th and is part of Gallup’s annual Work and Education [&hellip…;
Aug
2015 5
2015 5
LiUNA-Sponsored Pre-Apprenticeship Program Expands to Help Youth, Ex-Offenders in PA
The Montgomery County Opportunities Industrialization Center in Eastern Pennsylvania has expanded its focus to help disadvantaged youths. Through a new pre-apprenticeship program it is helping begin careers in the building trades. The new program is free for 17 to 21-year-olds in Montgomery County and allows them to earn Occupational…
Jun
2015 24
2015 24
BLS Figures Paint Bleak Picture of IL Economy, Refute Gov. Rauner Claims of Union-Driven Ills
Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner has blamed almost all of the state’s economic woes on unions and pensions, but a look at the numbers shows the real problem may be the small group of workers he is trying to protect. Creating “Right-to-Work” zones and making drastic changes to the state pension system are cornerstones of [&hellip…;
Mar
2015 11
2015 11
Major Newspapers, Obama Slam Walker’s “Right-to-Work” Signing as Political; GOP Sets Sights on Further Dismantling Construction Worker Protections
As anyone following the labor movement or the race for the GOP presidential nomination knows, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker signed “Right-to-Work” legislation on Monday. Wisconsin became the 25th state in the country to enact such a measure. Calling the legislation “Freedom to Work,” Walker justified the middle class bashing…
Mar
2015 10
2015 10
IL Gov’s Absurd Ignorance of Labor Law to Be Tested Ahead of Summer Contract Talks
Following his failed executive order that would have halted the fair-share fees collected by Illinois’ public sector unions, Governor Bruce Rauner has pressed ahead by directing state agencies to withhold the fees from the comptroller’ office. In response, the AFL-CIO and 26 unions that represent Illinois’ 40,000 state…
Feb
2015 27
2015 27
New ALEC Member Talking Point Exposed: “Higher Pay Hurts Americans”
The Guardian has published details of a recent meeting in Washington, D.C. between conservatives and the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in which the anti-worker lobby discussed its two-pronged attack of litigation and legislation to help prevent a higher minimum wage. ALEC members argued that their “new battleground”…
Feb
2015 27
2015 27
Scott Walker Slammed for Comparing Union Members to ISIS. Even Rick Perry is In On the Action.
Honeymoon’s over, Scooter. Wisconsin’s full-time presidential candidate and part-time governor, Scott Walker, may have eclipsed the inanity of his evolution punt and ‘Obama might not be Christian’ moments by yesterday comparing Wisconsin protestors to ISIS. The incredible blunder during his CPAC remarks has even…
Jan
2015 8
2015 8
Muni-Lateral: Counties in KY Passing “Right-to-Work” Ordinances Despite State’s Opposition
In Western Kentucky an ordinance at year’s end made Warren County the first county in the nation to pass a “Right-to-Work” law. The decision was approved by Warren County Fiscal Court after magistrates passed the legislation on a 5-1 vote. Warren County is home to the city of Bowling Green, where Chevy builds its [&hellip…;