Minneapolis, MN – The Supreme Court is set to hear the case Friederichs v. California Teachers Association, Jan 11. The case could weaken public sector unions by forcing the public sector to be ‘right to work’ nationwide.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following Dec. 22 statement from the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

Milwaukee, WI – A 32-day strike at Kohler Co. ended Dec. 16, resulting in a partial victory for over 2000 Kohler workers represented by UAW 833.

Minneapolis, MN – After six difficult months of contract negotiations with management and a hard-hitting contract campaign targeting the inequality of “Two Universities,” the union of 1500 clerical workers at the University of Minnesota, AFSCME 3800, won a tentative agreement Dec. 10. The clerical workers’ negotiating committee characterized the agreement as a breakthrough for workers which is better than any contract they’ve won in the past decade.

Chicago, IL – In the face of attacks on teachers, their schools and students, union members in Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) Local 1 are ready to fight.

Kohler, WI – As of last week, Kohler Company and United Auto Workers Local 833 went back to the bargaining table for negotiations amidst a strike now entering its fourth week.

Kohler, WI – Members of UAW Local 833 are picketing the sprawling Kohler plant here, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in a nearly month-long strike against a two-tier wage system that would condemn newer, ‘Tier B’ workers to poverty wages.

Milwaukee, WI – Building solidarity with the more than 2000 Kohler workers on strike, the United Worker Organization, along with many other progressive organizations, have begun a food drive to support the works of UAW Local 833.

Chicago, IL – Palestinian icon Rasmea Odeh; Black youth leaders Veronica Morris-Moore and LaCreshia Birts; Black Liberation Movement veteran Frank Chapman and Eric Koene, a striking worker from the Kohler plant in Wisconsin, appeared together on the stage of the 24th Annual People’s Thanksgiving.

Kohler, WI – On Dec. 5, a car caravan of students from the Milwaukee-based Youth Empowered in the Struggle (YES), along with community members, traveled to Kohler to support the workers and their fight for a fair and livable contract.

Chicago, IL – A crowd of 100 people from all walks of life gathered in Chicago for an annual event, the People’s Thanksgiving. A fundraiser for Fight Back!, the event raised almost $1600, half of which was donated to the striking Kohler workers of UAW Local 833.

Athens, Greece – On Dec. 1 a delegation of trade unionists from the U.S. met for several hours with George Mavrikos, the General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). Mavrikos presented the principles of the WFTU and explained the history of the union movement internationally. Then he answered questions and exchanged views on a variety of topics.

Athens, Greece – More than 40,000 workers marched from Omonia Square to Syntagma Square in front of the Greek parliament Dec. 3 as part of a nationwide general strike against austerity measures.

Delegation of U.S. trade unionists welcomed at WFTU headquarters

Athens, Greece – Founded in the struggle against fascism during World War II, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) continued the celebration of its 70th Anniversary by welcoming a delegation of trade union activists from the U.S. to its headquarters in Athens, Greece on Nov. 29. WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos told the Americans that the WFTU is oriented to the working class. He spoke of how at the last WFTU Congress, the 828 delegates representing 90 million workers debated and discussed ideas of how to move the class struggle forward in the interests of working people.

Houston, TX – Over 20 activists protested outside of Wal-Mart in Memorial Heights, Nov. 27, to stand with low-wage workers in their struggle to for a $15 wage, health benefits and a pension. Wal-Mart is one of the most exploitative companies in the U.S. It pays its workers almost nothing, provides them with few benefits and makes them work under the constant threat of being fired. The protest was organized by the National Organization for Women (NOW), which organizes the demonstration each year on Black Friday.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the call from the Greek labor organization, the All-Workers Militant Front (PAME) for a general strike. PAME calls the trade unions to alert General-Nationwide Strike Uprising!

Minneapolis, MN – “The strikers at Kohler are fighting for all workers. They are fighting for our future. We need to stand with them,” says Cherrene Horazuk, the president of AFSCME Local 3800, the union that represents clerical workers at the University of Minnesota.

Kohler, WI – Thousands from around the state joined the Kohler picket line this weekend, Nov. 21-22, ending the first week of a strike by 2100 Kohler employees.