Armistice with capitalism

Minneapolis, MN – Chanting, “What do we want? Raises and respect. When do we want it? Now!” about 20 university workers held signs and protested inside the Board of Regents meeting, Oct. 9.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 250 university workers, students, faculty and community allies rallied at the steps of Morrill Hall at the University of Minnesota, Sept. 29, to demand raises, respect and a good contract for frontline workers.

Minneapolis, MN – Members of AFSCME 3800, AFSCME 3937 and Teamsters 320 will rally Sept. 29, noon until 1:00 p.m., at Morrill Hall to demand raises and respect from the University of Minnesota administration. Sept. 29 is the day that university clerical workers return to bargaining.

Houston, TX – About 30 people protested outside of Whole Foods in the River Oaks area of Houston, Sept. 26, demanding that they end the exploitation of prison labor. Organizations involved were End Mass Incarceration, the Peoples New Black Panther Party and the IWW.

Los Angeles, CA – Over 200 teachers, community members and students protested at the grand opening of the Broad Museum of Contemporary Art on the morning of Sept. 20. The Broad Museum is named after billionaire Eli Broad. Broad has been spearheading the attacks on public education not only in Los Angeles, but across the country. The United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) called out Broad for using his big money to push for more charter schools

Los Angeles, CA – Celebrating and parading through the streets of East Los Angeles (ELA), Sept. 13, community members gathered along the route to watch the annual Mexican Independence Day parade. Participants included many local Mexican clubs, leaders and business owners, both Chicano and Mexican, traveling on adorned cars and floats, playing mariachi music and waving at viewers. This year the teachers’ union, United Teachers of Los Angeles (UTLA), and Centro CSO marched in unity.

Minneapolis, MN – Labor won a victory, Sept. 4 when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a ruling that upheld the rights of workers to engage in union activities.

Minneapolis, MN – More than 60 members of AFSCME and Teamster Local 320 marched to the office of University of Minnesota (U of MN) President Kaler, where they delivered thousands of petition signatures from staff, faculty and students calling on the university administration to give U of MN workers raises and respect. The chant, “President Kaler hear our call, your crummy offer is way too small,” echoed through the halls of the administration building.

Tucson, AZ -Nearly 500 members of the Teamsters Local 104 entered day 40 of their strike against Sun Tran Management. Bus drivers, mechanics and service island operators cite unaddressed safety concerns and undelivered pay increases as the reasons for the strike.

Chicago, IL – While much of the media is focused on Hilary and Donald, many Teamsters are focused on another election. Tim Sylvester will challenge current Teamster General President James Hoffa in the 2016 International Union elections. New York Teamsters Local 804 President Tim Sylvester, a former UPS driver, turned in 60,000 signatures for himself and his Teamsters United Slate. These signatures are almost double the number required to become an accredited candidate.

Los Angeles, CA – On the morning of Sept. 7, Labor Day, hundreds of union members and families joined together, in LA’s Wilmington Community, to celebrate unions and the working class. Many members from a host of trade unions talked about past victories in contracts and recent organizing drives.

Farmworker strike led to formation of the United Farm Workers union

Milwaukee, WI – Sept. 8, 2015 will mark the 50th anniversary of the beginning of the grape strike in Delano, California. On that day in 1965 the farmworkers in the Delano area went on strike to demand a raise to $1.25 per hour (the minimum wage at the time, which did not apply to farmworkers), an improvement in working conditions and for union recognition.

Minneapolis, MN – Upwards of 250 members of Teamster Local 320 and their supporters joined a spirited informational picket line, August 31 to “Turn up the heat” on the U of M administration, pushing their demands for a real raise and respect. The six-hour long picket took place on the Super Block, a huge complex of student dormitories. It coincided with move-in day.

Saint Paul, MN – Thirty people gathered outside O’Gara’s Bar to picket against Wisconsin governor and Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker. Walker was speaking at a fundraiser for the right-wing pro-corporate Minnesota Jobs Coalition.

Fridley, MN – On July 14, 345 Hospital Workers at Unity Hospital in Fridley, a first ring suburb of Minneapolis, voted by a roughly 60% majority to join SEIU Healthcare MN. The new bargaining unit includes Nursing Assistants, Dietary Aides, Patient Care Techs, Health Unit Coordinators, Environmental Services Aides and other job classes.

Chicago, IL -They started filing into work between 7:00 and 8:30 in the morning. After years of schooling they landed a job with the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS). The job can be mentally draining. Conditions are bad. Today the temperature is supposed approach 90 degrees. The air conditioning hasn’t worked for more than two years. Bed bugs have again been reported as being in the building. The bathrooms are unsanitary and the drinking water has both color and odor.

Chicago, IL – Empezaron a llegar al trabajo entre las 7:00 y las 8:30 de la mañana. Después de estudiar por años, lograron conseguir un trabajo con el Departamento de Servicios Humanos de Illinois (DHS). El trabajo da cansancio mental. Las condiciones son malas. Hoy la temperatura podría alcanzar los 90 grados. El aire acondicionado no ha funcionado por más de dos años. Una vez más hay reportes de chinches en el edificio. Los baños son asquerosos y el agua del chorro tiene mal color y olor.

Washington, DC – In the Philippines, there is a mounting crisis of human rights abuses against indigenous people, labor and community activists at the hands of the armed forces. Victims demand justice and there are even calls for President Benigno Aquino to resign. But mainly the demand is for an end to impunity for the killers and torturers, because over and over they go unpunished.

Minneapolis, MN – About 200 people gathered in the Warehouse District here, July 18, to install a plaque commemorating the 1934 Teamsters strike. The epic strike was one of the pivotal events of the 1930s that ushered in a huge upsurge in the labor movement.