Canadian workers achieve first-ever contract at Wal-Mart
Some 180 workers at the Wal-Mart store in Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, became the first North American employees of the monster anti-union retailer to achieve a union contract.
Organizing
Shogren, MNA honored for health and safety advocacy
Her body of work has saved thousands of bodies. On March 30, Bettye Shogren and the Minnesota Nurses Association were honored for enduring contributions to the field of caregiver health and safety.
Organizing
National unions form coordinating committee; AFL-CIO president announces retirement plans
AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney formally told top leaders of the federation that he will retire at the AFL-CIO Convention in September. At the same time, Sweeney, Change To Win leaders and National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel announced creation of the National Labor Coordinating Committee, a group of presidents of the nation’s 12 largest unions.
Organizing
Unions step up mass mobilization for Employee Free Choice Act
The nation’s unions stepped up their mass mobilization to pressure Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, working over the two-week legislative recess to lobby lawmakers for the pro-worker bill. They unveiled a new round of commercials to run nationwide for it, while enlisting African-American leaders as key allies.
Fourth-generation telecommunications worker says AT&T squandering a legacy
By trying to slash health care benefits, AT&T is breaking its trust with the nearly 100,000 workers who have made the company profitable even in these tough economic times, Communications Worker Ed Davis said.
Worker safety advocate named acting OSHA chief
Health and safety activist Jordan Barab was appointed as the acting head of OSHA, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Barab, a senior policy adviser for the House Education and Labor Committee, is widely known as a strong advocate for health and safety in the workplace.
Star Tribune workers seek public support to save the newspaper
A major-league city depends on a professional source of daily news. Workers at the Minneapolis Star Tribune took that message to the streets Monday, using the Minnesota Twins’ home opener to unveil a campaign to save their bankrupt newspaper.
Environment
Film ’11th Hour’ highlights global environmental crisis, solutions
Union leaders, elected officials, scientists and others speak out on the global environmental crisis and how we can and must change course in the documentary film “11th Hour,” created, produced and narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio.
‘West Wing’ stars lobby for Employee Free Choice Act
In their long run on the nation’s television screens, Martin Sheen, Brad Whitford and Richard Schiff were always in the “West Wing,” but never on Capitol Hill — until now.
Workers remain on the job as contract expires at AT&T
Nearly 100,000 members of the Communications Workers of America, including several hundred in Minnesota, are still on the job at AT&T, even though their contracts with the telecommunications giant expired over the weekend with many key issues not resolved.