News and Views from the People's Struggle
Minneapolis, MN – Nearly 5000 nurses, members of the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA), went on strike this morning, June 19, at Twin Cites metro area Allina hospitals. At issue is an attempt by Allina to take away the nurses’ health care plan. The strike will last seven days. Workers from a spectrum of the Twin Cities labor movement are joining nurses on the picket lines.
Minneapolis, MN – About 150 members of AFSCME Local 3800, the union that represents clerical workers at the University of Minnesota, came together June 16 for a celebration of the 25th anniversary of the union’s founding. Early organizers of the union, past and present leaders, retirees, members other campus unions and Students for Democratic Society participated in the event.
Washington, D.C. – Thousands of visiting soccer fans and players were greeted with piles of rotting garbage and severe transportation delays as they arrived in France in time for the first day of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament on June 10. The foul-odored welcome comes courtesy of the French ruling class and the country’s governing Socialist Party.
Minneapolis, MN – The Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) announced June 8 that it had delivered the legally required ten-day notice for a strike at Twin Cites metro area Allina hospitals. About 5000 nurses at Abbott Northwestern, Phillips Eye Institute, Mercy, United and Unity hospitals could walk off their jobs June 19 for a seven-day strike if there is no progress toward a contract settlement.
Minneapolis, MN – About 5000 nurses represented by the Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) voted overwhelmingly to reject the latest offer by Allina Health, June 6, and authorize the negotiating team to call a strike in the coming weeks.
Washington, DC – Nearly 40,000 Verizon workers returned to work on June 1, just days after a tentative agreement between the company and the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) unions brought their 44-day strike to an end.
Chicago, IL – Leaders of the Coalition to Stop Trump and March on the RNC, which is organizing a major protest on July 18, the first day of the Republican National Convention (RNC), is condemning the City of Cleveland’s May 25 announcement of restrictive regulations and a “parade route” that’s designed to curtail protests at the Republican National Convention.
Washington, D.C. – Ongoing strikes by workers against proposed austerity measures, which would strip workers’ pay and protections, are disrupting France’s economy. Workers have been engaged in strike activity for weeks now as labor unions in the French rail, subway and airport transit, maritime transport, nuclear power, and fuel depot and refinery industries issue calls for work stoppages.
Fight Back News is circulating the following May 23 statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions.
Minneapolis, MN – Over 500 registered nurses from Allina Hospitals across Minnesota joined together and picketed outside of Allina Corporate Headquarters on Chicago Avenue and Lake Street in Minneapolis, May 19. The nurses have been in a fight with Allina Health, with whom they are bargaining for a new contract.