Workers Struggles
UAW pushes local deals past opposition at GM Lordstown plant
By Jerry White, 18 March 2016
Union officials made it clear that they would force workers to vote again and again until they approved a local contract.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
18 March 2016
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New Jersey Transit contract includes major concessions in health care costs
By Philip Guelpa, 17 March 2016
Unions representing 4,200 New Jersey Transit workers have agreed to sweeping concessions.
Slumping car sales lead to extended layoff of Fiat Chrysler Sterling Heights workers
By Shannon Jones, 15 March 2016
Last week Fiat Chrysler announced that what had originally been scheduled as a six-week layoff would be extended for another three weeks.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
15 March 2016
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As April 8 fiscal deadline approaches
Judge Rhodes threatens shutdown of Detroit Public Schools
By Nancy Hanover, 14 March 2016
As Wall Street demands action on the reorganization of Detroit Public Schools, Judge Steven Rhodes threatened that schools could “go dark.”
Detroit teacher: “Children are made into dollar signs”
By our reporters, 14 March 2016
Detroit teachers spoke to the World Socialist Web Site at the DFT emergency meeting on Thursday, March 10.
California Faculty Association prepares to sell out CSU workers
By Evan Blake and Guillaume Garnier, 14 March 2016
With a limited strike looming, the CFA is rushing to push through another deal that will erode the living standards of 26,000 professors and other staff.
UAW sanctions mass layoffs by farm equipment giant John Deere
By George Gallanis, 14 March 2016
Since November, John Deere has laid off 445 workers with the full complicity of the United Auto Workers.
New Jersey Transit strike deadline approaches
By Sandy English, 12 March 2016
Some 4,200 rail workers at New Jersey Transit, the third-largest bus, rail and light rail transit system in the US, are set to strike on Sunday over wages and health care contributions.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
12 March 2016
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Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
11 March 2016
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Steel workers strike in Mexico
By Rafael Azul, 10 March 2016
Striking steel workers at ArcelorMittal in the port city of Lázaro Cárdenas are demanding the rehiring of laid-off workers.
US steel union hails Obama trade war measures
By Shannon Jones, 10 March 2016
Predictably, the USW showered praise on the Obama administration for measures targeting imported rolled steel.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
8 March 2016
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United Steelworkers rams through sellout contract at ATI
By Evan Winters, 7 March 2016
This contract, hailed by the USW as a victory, gives in to all of ATI’s major demands, and in some cases is actually worse than the contract ATI demanded at the beginning of the lockout.
USW-ATI contract imposes health care and pension cuts, casualized labor
By Evan Winters, 7 March 2016
This contract, hailed by the USW as a victory, gives in to all of ATI’s major demands, and in some cases is actually worse than the contract ATI demanded at the beginning of the lockout.
TVA pension cuts: A new stage in the assault on American workers
By Niles Williamson, 5 March 2016
The attack on the pensions of federal employees is a warning that no section of the working class is exempt from the social counterrevolution being carried out in the interests of the financial aristocracy.
US employment report: Payrolls rise, wages fall
By Barry Grey, 5 March 2016
According to the Labor Department’s household survey, only 11.7 percent of new jobs created in February were full-time.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
4 March 2016
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Caltrans workers rally in Sacramento for better pay and benefits
By David Brown, 3 March 2016
The rally was held outside the California Department of Human Resources, where a bargaining session had been scheduled but was canceled by the state in order to avoid the protest.
Autoworkers support challenge to UAW-Ford 2015 contract vote
By Shannon Jones, 1 March 2016
An internal UAW Local 600 hearing on the challenge to the ratification vote by a Ford skilled trade worker is set for Thursday.
United Steelworkers tries to ram sellout deal past ATI workers
By Evan Winters, 1 March 2016
After deliberately isolating locked out workers for over six months, the USW is forcing 2,200 Allegheny Technologies Inc. workers to vote on a sellout contract Tuesday.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
1 March 2016
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Los Angeles area teachers stage “sickouts” over pay
By Dan Conway, 29 February 2016
The job action in the Compton School District highlights the growing opposition to the attacks on teachers and public education as a whole.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
27 February 2016
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Michigan autoworker files challenge to UAW-Ford 2015 contract vote
By Eric London, 26 February 2016
A worker at Ford’s Dearborn Truck plant is continuing to pursue his allegations of fraud during the 2015 contract ratification vote in the face of stonewalling by the United Auto Workers.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
26 February 2016
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Downsizing begins as Fiat Chrysler seeks merger partner
By Shannon Jones, 25 February 2016
The plans by CEO Sergio Marchionne to eliminate small car production as part of a potential merger call into question the future of thousands of jobs at the company’s US operations.
USW agrees to sellout deal to end ATI lockout
By Evan Winters, 25 February 2016
The United Steelworkers union and Allegheny Technologies Inc. have announced a tentative agreement to end the six-month lockout of 2,200 workers.
Civil rights groups request federal investigation of San Diego police brutality
By Kevin Martinez, 24 February 2016
The request by the ACLU and other groups cites numerous deaths at the hands of the San Diego Police Department involving brutal shootings of those suffering from mental illness.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
23 February 2016
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Air conditioner maker Carrier to close two Indiana plants, slash 2,100 jobs
By Steve Filips, 19 February 2016
Anger erupted on the shop floor of an Indianapolis factory last week after a spokesman told workers the plant closing was the “best way to stay competitive.”
West Virginia passes “right-to-work” law
By Naomi Spencer and Jerry White, 19 February 2016
The dispute between Democrats and Republicans on right-to-work laws is over the most efficient means of funneling even more money into the hands of the corporate and financial elite.
Australian union escalates nationalist campaign over shipping layoffs
By Oscar Grenfell, 19 February 2016
The Maritime Union of Australia is seeking to divide workers along national lines and obscure its own role in facilitating the job destruction.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
19 February 2016
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Lockout of steelworkers at ATI enters sixth month
By Evan Winters, 17 February 2016
Half a year into the Allegheny Technologies Inc. lockout, 2,200 workers in six states are set to lose their unemployment benefits.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
16 February 2016
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United Steelworkers offers ArcelorMittal millions in concessions
By Evan Winters, 13 February 2016
With these concessions, the USW hopes to keep ArcelorMittal competitive by passing the burden of the crisis in the global steel industry onto the backs of workers.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
13 February 2016
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GM and UAW donate $3 million to Flint: Criminals covering their tracks
By Jerry White, 12 February 2016
Outside of the state and local authorities, there are few if any other entities so deeply implicated in the social catastrophe in Flint as GM and the UAW.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
12 February 2016
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Video: Retirees speak on Teamsters pension cuts in Detroit
By Shannon Jones, 11 February 2016
In this video, retired truck drivers and delivery workers discuss the plans to slash their pensions by as much as 75 percent.
Who is Kenneth Feinberg?
Kenneth Feinberg and the victim compensation racket
By Shannon Jones, 11 February 2016
Once again Feinberg is offering his services as a “fixer,” this time for the US government and giant trucking corporations, to strip workers of hard-earned pensions.
Hundreds more US coal miners laid off
By Naomi Spencer, 10 February 2016
Mine employment continues to hemorrhage across Appalachia and the Illinois coal basin.
The looting of US workers’ pensions
By Andre Damon, 10 February 2016
The assault on the pension benefits of retirees is an escalation of the decades-long drive to reduce American workers to the conditions of life that existed in the 19th century.
“If the company gets away with this, they will do it with other workers”
Locked out Allegheny Technologies workers to lose jobless benefits
By Evan Winters, 9 February 2016
The more than 2,000 steelworkers at ATI who have been locked out for nearly six months, isolated by the union, have already lost health care benefits.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 February 2016
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Detroit and Chicago teachers fight to defend public education
By Jerry White, 8 February 2016
The struggle to defend the right to education poses political questions that are critical for the entire working class.
Job losses mount in US steel and aluminum industries
Arcelormittal announces $8 billion loss
By Samuel Davidson, 8 February 2016
Manufacturers have posted record losses amid a massive fall in prices and continuing slump in domestic and world demand.
Politicians, unions use the “carrot and stick” to try to derail Detroit Public Schools struggle
By Nancy Hanover, 6 February 2016
As Emergency Manager Darnell Earley resigns, union officials and Michigan politicians are working overtime to try to derail the struggle of Detroit teachers.
Pakistan airline workers defy government repression, continue strike
By Sampath Perera, 6 February 2016
Workers’ defiance in the face of Tuesday’s bloody crackdown and threats of mass firings and jailings marks a major intensification of the class struggle in Pakistan.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
6 February 2016
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Mass one-day strike hits Syriza’s austerity measures in Greece
By Robert Stevens, 5 February 2016
Just over one year after it came to power, Syriza, the party that was hailed by pseudo-left groups internationally, is an object of hatred and contempt.
Belgian rail unions cancel mandated strike action
By Ross Mitchell, 5 February 2016
After organising a 48-hour strike that shut down the Belgian rail network January 6-7, the unions wound up three other days of planned action.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
5 February 2016
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GM skilled trades worker killed at Defiance, Ohio factory
By Shannon Jones, 4 February 2016
50-year-old Terry Bodenbender, father of two, was working on an overhead crane when he plunged to his death Tuesday afternoon.
Uber cuts protested by New York City drivers
By Steve Light and Isaac Finn, 2 February 2016
With support from taxi drivers, Uber drivers in New York City protested rate cuts by the international company, which will reduce already meager incomes even further.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 February 2016
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Steelworkers union begins counting ballots in sellout contract at US Steel
By Evan Winters, 30 January 2016
The contract being rammed through with no discussion by the USW reportedly includes a three-year wage freeze, no signing bonus and the elimination of retiree health care for new-hires.
Longshoremen walk out at New York/New Jersey Port
By Daniel de Vries, 30 January 2016
Hours after the job action began, the International Longshoremen’s Association moved to shut down the strike, telling workers on Friday evening to return to work.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
30 January 2016
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Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
29 January 2016
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Workers Struggles: The Americas
27 January 2016
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Workers Struggles: The Americas
26 January 2016
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”Democracy is being taken away in Michigan”
As Detroit teachers head to court, politicians plot further attacks
By Nancy Hanover, 25 January 2016
Teachers face a hearing Monday as the Detroit Public Schools seeks an injunction against sickouts and legislators ramp up efforts to ban opposition to the destruction of public education.
Misery compounds as mass layoffs continue in West Virginia
By Naomi Spencer, 23 January 2016
Each week brings announcements of hundreds of layoffs in coal, rail or other industries across the state.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
23 January 2016
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Job cuts mount as global economy falters
By Gabriel Black, 22 January 2016
The cascade of job cuts comes as prominent figures attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland predict a grim future for the world economy.
Hearing scheduled to consider injunction against protesting Detroit teachers
By Jerry White, 22 January 2016
While a judge denied an initial request for a temporary injunction, 23 teachers have been ordered to appear on Monday morning to answer accusations that they organized “illegal strikes.”
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
22 January 2016
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Port of Oakland in California to close major terminal
By David Brown, 21 January 2016
The decision of the largest terminal operator to leave the Port of Oakland is a harbinger of a crisis in the shipping industry and worsening conditions for port workers.
“We are all in this together. This is class warfare”
Video: Detroit teachers speak out in protests during Obama visit
By Jerry White and Buster Haycook, 21 January 2016
Hundreds of teachers shut down the school system in a “sick out” protest Wednesday against decaying buildings, overcrowded classrooms and years of pay and benefit cuts.
Union officials work with Obama administration to crush Detroit teacher protests
By Jerry White, 19 January 2016
The Detroit Federation of Teachers sent out a letter to educators urging them to stop their protests and place their faith in city officials and President Obama.
Workers Struggles: the Americas
19 January 2016
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Democrats and unions scramble to contain Detroit teacher protests
By Nancy Hanover, 18 January 2016
Fearing that the sickouts could trigger a broader rebellion by the working class, the enemies of teachers spent last week trying to quash the movement.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
16 January 2016
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Detroit teachers and the political struggle for public education
By Jerry White, 15 January 2016
Rank-and-file teachers have taken their own initiative and acted independently of every faction of the Detroit Federation of Teachers and political establishment in Detroit and Lansing.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
15 January 2016
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Amid state of emergency, French workers jailed for struggle to defend jobs
By Kumaran Ira, 14 January 2016
With the unprecedented decision to jail Goodyear workers who struck against mass layoffs, the state is showing that its emergency powers are aimed squarely at the working class.
As union, Democrats try to smother protests
Detroit teachers issue demands to defend public education
By Jerry White, 14 January 2016
Sickout protests continued Wednesday as the American Federation of Teachers and the city’s Democratic Party establishment sought to corral the protests and end them.
Autoworkers support Detroit teachers’ fight
By our reporters, 14 January 2016
Autoworkers have spoken out in defense of Detroit teachers who have launched a series of sickouts in defense of public education.
Tata Steel sale of Long Products Division means attacks on wages, pensions and conditions
By Danny Richardson, 14 January 2016
Tata Steel is desperate to offload the main loss-making section of its operations in Europe as a means to further slash the wages and conditions of steelworkers.
The Detroit teachers’ fight to defend public education
By Jerry White, 13 January 2016
It is no accident that social opposition is taking the form of a rebellion against the trade unions, which have long served as industrial police for the corporations and government.
“For too long we looked to the union… now we have to do it ourselves”
Teacher sickouts shut two-thirds of Detroit schools
By Jerry White, 12 January 2016
The struggle has erupted outside of the control of the Detroit Federation of Teachers, which has a long and sordid history of collaborating with state and local officials.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
12 January 2016
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Boston: Museum of Fine Arts victimizes veteran worker
By Kate Randall, 11 January 2016
John Powhida was fired after the museum refused his request for a four-day unpaid leave.
Walter Energy bankruptcy threatens thousands of workers and retirees
By Shelley Connor, 11 January 2016
The Birmingham, Alabama-based firm was one of five coal companies to file for bankruptcy in 2015, and one amongst more than three dozen to file for bankruptcy since 2012.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
9 January 2016
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Worker killed in Ohio Honda plant
By David Brown, 8 January 2016
The contract worker died as Honda draws large profits and continues to recall defective airbags responsible for nine deaths.
190 Muslim workers fired from Colorado meatpacking plant
By Tom Hall, 7 January 2016
The workers, mostly Somali refugees, walked off the job last month in protest after management at the Cargill plant refused to allow them prayer time at sundown.
Freightliner announces nearly 1,000 layoffs at North Carolina plant
By Jerry White, 6 January 2016
The layoff announcement follows similar job cuts and UAW-sanctioned attacks on workers at Volvo, Navistar and other truck manufacturers in the US.
UAW local publishes blacklist of workers who opt out of dues payment
By Eric London, 5 January 2016
The anti-democratic move by Local 412 in suburban Detroit is aimed at victimizing workers who criticize the UAW’s collusion with corporate management.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
5 January 2016
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2016 will be a year of escalating class struggle
By Jerry White, 4 January 2016
Class conflict will become an ever-more dominant feature of life in 2016 as the ruling classes in the US and around the world demand that workers pay for the global economic crisis.
Worker crushed to death after wall collapses at Chicago Ford plant
By Marcus Day, 4 January 2016
One worker was killed and another critically injured Saturday after a concrete wall collapsed at Ford’s Chicago Assembly Plant, the company’s oldest continually operating factory.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
4 January 2016
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Analyst says US auto contracts will not increase labor costs
By Shannon Jones, 31 December 2015
Despite claims by the UAW that the agreements were among the richest in history, the overall labor costs at the Detroit automakers will remain essentially unchanged.
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