Orlando, FL – The Florida Education Association (FEA) held their 2011 Delegate Assembly Oct. 27-29 at the Rosen Centre Hotel of Orlando, Florida, with the theme of “We Are One – Union Strong.” The event opened with the famous IWW Solidarity Forever union song and was attended by more than 600 delegates from all over the state of Florida.

Chicago, IL – Registered nurses from across the U.S. today condemned Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel for his decision to arrest nurse volunteers, as well as peaceful protesters, in a late night crackdown, Oct. 22 at the Occupy Chicago protest.

Minneapolis, MN – The Hennepin County Government Plaza – known now as the People’s Plaza – sprouted several tents on the evening of Oct. 15. At this writing, dozens are risking arrest to defend protesters’ rights to have safe and warm shelter for overnight stays at OccupyMN. Since the occupation began on Oct. 7, county officials have said that no tents or shelters would be allowed.

Boston, MA – Students and union workers met at Dewey Square, Oct 10 and marched, 10,000 strong, all over downtown. All the groups identified as the 99% and had agreed to march together on Columbus Day. The occupiers made a point to call the day Indigenous People’s Day, an acknowledgement of the colonial terror associated with Christopher Columbus.

Minneapolis, MN – Over 50 students from around the state gathered at the Occupy Minnesota site here, Oct. 13. They came together to speak to the struggles of students burdened by crippling debts, challenged by inequalities and struggling to get an education in a system corrupted by corporate interests.

Milwaukee, WI – More than 3000 people marched here, Oct. 15, as a part of the Occupy movement, which began about a month ago on Wall Street in New York. At 11:00 a.m. in Milwaukee’s Zeidler Park, protesters gathered to stand against continuing cuts to education and public services carried out by Governor Scott Walker and to stand against rampant corruption in the powerful financial sector.

_Occupy Milwaukee begins Oct. 15 _

Milwaukee, WI – About 75 protesters rallied outside of U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s office at the Federal Courthouse here. Riot police swarmed inside and outside of the building, refusing to allow the activists to meet their representative. 19 activists who entered the building refused to leave until they were allowed a meeting with Johnson; instead they were arrested, loaded into paddy wagons and hauled off to the first precinct. Each of the demonstrators arrested was issued a $171 ticket for trespassing and released.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution from the 72nd National UE Convention, held Sept. 25-29. The resolution condemns the FBI and grand jury repression aimed at anti-war, labor and international solidarity activists and urges support for the Committee to Stop FBI Repression.

Tampa, FL – 50 people rallied in support of union postal workers outside U.S. Representative Kathy Castor's office, Sept. 27. Local Postal Service workers, along with members of the Tampa Bay Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), protested against the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006. The Act is the cause of major debt and budget problems for the United States Postal Service. Congress, as a result, is pushing to stop all Saturday postal services. Saturday is the one day of the week that many working people can make it to the post office. If the Saturday postal service cuts happen, it will lead to layoffs and increase unemployment for postal workers.

My local newspaper chose a strange way to honor workers on Labor Day. On page one, they printed a New York Times story warning that, thanks to its “generous labor contracts,” the U.S. Postal Service is about to go out of business.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution to save the public postal service by the Letter Carriers Union, Golden Gate Branch 214.

The huge procession began with 400 members of Bricklayers Union No. 6, all dressed in white aprons. They were followed by a band and then the members of the Manufacturing Jewelers union. The jewelers marched four abreast, wearing derby hats and dark suits with buttonhole bouquets. They all carried canes resting on their shoulders (similar to the way infantry officers carry swords when on parade.)

Milwaukee, WI – About 500 protesters came out with their homemade signs to picket Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker's afternoon visit to Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood, Aug. 26. Residents of the neighborhood, joined by unions and community groups such as Peace Action Wisconsin, mobilized within 48 hours. The message was clear that the people in Milwaukee want Walker out!

Gainesville, FL – The Graduate Assistants Union (GAU) and allies from Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) rallied against student fees leveled upon graduate students at the University of Florida, Aug. 16. Volunteers began by leafleting and talking to teaching assistant employees about the importance of banding together and fighting for the union that provides them with healthcare and pay stipends. Many graduate students are surprised to learn that without the union, fees would go up every year like other campuses. Now the GAU union hopes to eliminate the fees, making graduate school more affordable for everyone. Most graduate student employees understand how poorly the administration treats them, despite teaching almost 50% of all undergraduate courses.

Washington, DC – More than 10,000 teachers and students assembled here, July 30, for the Save Our Schools Conference and March. The event was met with national media attention.

New York, NY – More than 45,000 workers at Verizon Communications walked off job Aug. 7 in response to company demands for major concessions to worker benefits, health care and pensions. The strike involves about 35,000 members of the Communications Workers of American (CWA) and about 10,000 members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers IBEW).

The recession ain’t over yet, fears of a ‘double-dip’ rise

San José, CA – On July 29, the Commerce Department released its report on Gross Domestic Product or GDP for the Second Quarter (April to June) of 2011. GDP, which measures the value of goods and services produced in the United States, rose at only a 1.3% annual rate, much slower than most mainstream economists expected. Even worse, the First Quarter (January to March) economic growth was cut from an earlier estimate of 1.9% to just 0.4%.

Fight Back News Service is circulating the following resolution that was adopted by the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW) Executive Board in July 2011. More statements supporting the anti-war, international solidarity and trade union activists under attack by the FBI can be seen at StopFBI.net.

Milwaukee, WI – A dozen members of Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) marched in Independence Day parades for the fourth year in a row over the July 4 weekend. The group of student and youth activists entered parades – without registering – in Whitefish Bay and Shorewood, which are in the midst of a heated recall campaign against Republican State Senator Alberta Darling.