Workers Issues in the US
“I think it’s a set-up with the union and Caterpillar”
Caterpillar-UAW deal: Workers denounce information blackout
By Marcus Day and George Marlowe, 21 March 2017
Less than a week before they are set to vote on a six-year contract proposal, workers have still not received any details on the content of the deal.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
21 March 2017
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Coal miner killed at mine owned by West Virginia governor
By Clement Daly, 18 March 2017
Jason Kenneth Matthews was killed at the Bishop Preparation Plant, owned by Jim Justice, West Virginia’s governor and richest man.
Los Angeles school district sends layoff notices to 1,600 administrators
By Dan Conway, 18 March 2017
The layoffs are part of an ongoing attempt to gut public education in the nation’s second largest school district.
Workers have the right to study the full contract!
Caterpillar-UAW deal: An anti-worker conspiracy
By Marcus Day, 18 March 2017
In an attempt to overcome worker opposition to further concessions, the UAW and Caterpillar are coordinating an information blackout over details of a proposed six-year contract announced Wednesday.
Rockford, Illinois public school employees go on strike
By George Gallanis, 16 March 2017
While school workers have demonstrated their determination to fight, behind the scenes AFSCME officials are seeking to cut a deal that will accept the bulk of management’s demands.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
14 March 2017
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
As backdoor UAW-Caterpillar negotiations and tax fraud investigation continue
Former Caterpillar worker speaks on 2012 Joliet, Illinois strike betrayal
By Marcus Day, 13 March 2017
Caterpillar is in the midst of a worldwide restructuring, laying off tens of thousands and closing multiple plants.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
11 March 2017
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Boston mass transit privatization scheme proceeds through bullying and tricks
By John Marion, 9 March 2017
The crisis of the MBTA caused by years of deferred maintenance and a massive February 2015 snow storm is being used to implement a prolonged assault on workers.
Rockford, Illinois public school employees set to strike next week
By George Gallanis, 8 March 2017
The AFSCME union is limiting the action to a three-day walkout to blow off steam and curtail the growing combativeness of workers.
“The corporations are our enemies, not immigrant workers”
General Motors announces 1,100 job cuts at Lansing, Michigan plant
By Shannon Jones and Jerry White, 7 March 2017
Just three days after laying off 1,300 workers at its Detroit assembly plant, GM announced it was cutting another 1,100 workers at a factory near the Michigan state capital.
Sanders covers for UAW at Mississippi Nissan rally
By Ed Hightower and Jerry White, 7 March 2017
Sanders was the keynote speaker at Saturday’s rally in Canton, Mississippi where the United Auto Workers is campaigning to win recognition at the Nissan auto factory.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
7 March 2017
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
As UAW maintains information blackout on contract negotiations
Federal agents raid Caterpillar headquarters in Illinois
By Marcus Day, 6 March 2017
The dramatic operation hints at the immense criminality and fraud that characterize the day-to-day workings of giant transnationals.
As attack on jobs escalates, AFL-CIO chief pledges to “partner” with Trump administration
By Jerry White, 4 March 2017
The unions are joining Trump’s efforts to divide the working class and block a unified response to his class war policies at home and imperialist militarism abroad.
“They’re laying people off and scattering them to the winds to find employment”
GM layoffs of 1,300 workers at Detroit assembly plant
By a reporting team, 4 March 2017
The layoffs are a major blow to workers and to the city, which is already the poorest big city in America with an official unemployment rate of nearly 10 percent.
Illinois state workers vote overwhelmingly to strike
By Alexander Fangmann, 3 March 2017
AFSCME leaders are desperately hoping to avoid a strike, while Republican Governor Bruce Rauner has ruled out further negotiations and is preparing to use scabs and the National Guard against workers.
Dockworkers’ union threatens one-day strike on US East Coast
By Daniel de Vries, 27 February 2017
Tens of thousands of longshoremen are poised to shut down ports from Maine to Texas.
“They are leaving us basically to fend for ourselves”
Detroit GM workers speak on layoffs as deadline draws near
By Shannon Jones, 25 February 2017
The layoffs will add to the already high unemployment rate in Detroit, which stands at close to 10 percent.
US retail chain J.C. Penney announces over 130 store closures
By Niles Niemuth, 25 February 2017
The department store chain is only the latest retailer to announce major store closures in the US this year, including Macy’s, Sears and Kmart.
Iowa governor signs bill limiting collective bargaining for state employees
By Marcus Day, 18 February 2017
Iowa’s Republican-controlled state government enacted legislation Friday gutting collective bargaining rights for teachers and other public workers.
Stunning rebuke to machinists’ union at South Carolina Boeing plant
By Jerry White, 17 February 2017
The IAM’s record of collaboration with Boeing’s attack on jobs and living standards did far more to repel workers than the campaign against the union by the aerospace giant.
On eve of GM Detroit layoffs
Jeep announces partial shutdown of Toledo, Ohio complex
By Shannon Jones, 17 February 2017
The UAW is collaborating with GM to lay off some 1,300 workers at the GM Detroit-Hamtramck plant while trying to divert anger with a reactionary “Buy American” campaign.
Momentive strikers forced to take pay and health cuts as US owner throws a multi-million-dollar party
By Jerry White, 15 February 2017
As the unions told workers to accept a concession-laden contract, the billionaire who owns a substantial share of Momentive was enjoying a birthday party complete with camels, acrobats and fireworks.
“It’s like we’re working for a temporary agency”
As deadline nears, autoworkers speak on General Motors layoffs in Detroit
By Shannon Jones, 10 February 2017
With only weeks to go before 1,300 layoffs, opposition is mounting to the job cuts.
SEP meeting in Detroit Saturday to oppose GM layoffs
10 February 2017
The SEP and the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter have called this meeting to organize and mobilize opposition to the layoffs throughout the region.
Caterpillar workers in US overwhelmingly authorize strike
By Marcus Day, 9 February 2017
Workers at the heavy-equipment giant voted by 93 percent to authorize a strike last Thursday.
UAW agrees to sweetheart settlement in Michigan “robo-fraud” scandal
By Debra Watson, 8 February 2017
A US District Court judge has agreed to an out of court settlement in the Michigan “robo-fraud” scandal that lets state officials off the hook and leaves thousands of claimants out in the cold.
GM makes $9.4 billion in global profits as it slashes thousands of jobs
By Jerry White, 8 February 2017
GM is doling out $14 billion in stock buybacks even as it lays off 3,300 workers in Michigan and Ohio.
Workers killed on the job near Rochester, New York
By Steve Filips, 1 February 2017
Workplace fatalities will be certain to increase under the administration of Trump, which has pledged to gut what little remains of federal workplace safety regulations.
“It’s not the fault of Mexican or Chinese workers”
1,200 GM workers laid off at Lordstown plant in Ohio
By Jerry White, 31 January 2017
More than 2,000 General Motors workers, including 1,245 in Lordstown, Ohio, were laid off the same day that Trump delivered his inaugural address.
Illinois attorney general files request to halt state workers’ pay
By George Gallanis, 30 January 2017
The aim is to force the Illinois government to agree to a new state budget that will include sweeping attacks on social programs and public education.
Iowa worker killed in partial mine collapse
By Matt Rigel and Marcus Day, 27 January 2017
In the first US mining fatality of 2017, a truck operator died after a partial collapse at Linwood Mining and Mineral in eastern Iowa.
Video game industry strike in US now second-longest in screen actors’ history
By Kevin Martinez, 27 January 2017
The 99-day strike over pay and work conditions involves voice actors who perform for the highly profitable video game industry.
New York raises transit fares as train and bus workers vote on concessions deal
By Alan Whyte, 27 January 2017
New York’s Metropolitan Transportation voted Wednesday to increase its fare and tolls about 4 percent.
Book review
Lessons from the 1937 Little Steel strike in the US
The Last Great Strike: Little Steel, the CIO, and the Struggle for Labor Rights in New Deal America, by Ahmed White
By Tom Mackaman, 23 January 2017
If the Little Steel Strike has been ignored by historians, it is perhaps because it does not fit the standard narrative of American labor history.
Automakers announce US investments, anticipate big profits under Trump
By Jerry White, 20 January 2017
Over the past weeks major US- and foreign-based automakers have announced they will maintain or expand production in the US and, in some cases, trim back operations in Mexico.
“We should take a stand and reject this contract”
New York transit workers denounce sellout agreement
By a WSWS reporting team, 20 January 2017
New York transit workers will be voting on a tentative agreement that will continue the erosion of their living standards and working conditions.
Union reaches deal to block New York transit workers from recouping concessions
By Alan Whyte, 18 January 2017
Transport Workers Union Local 100 announced an agreement Monday that will do nothing to stop the erosion of living standards for 38,000 bus and subway workers in New York.
New York transit workers denounce sellout
By our reporting team, 18 January 2017
Transit workers spoke to the World Socialist Web Site after the Transport Workers Union announced a deal for a new four-year agreement covering 38,000 bus and subway workers employed by the Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA).
Dayton transit workers set to vote on sellout contract
By Shannon Jones, 17 January 2017
Published details of the agreement include a major attack on health care benefits and a derisory pay increase.
New York City transit workers and riders made to pay for system’s ballooning debt
By Philip Guelpa, 16 January 2017
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs New York City’s buses and subways, is tens of billions of dollars in debt.
Ford contract worker killed at Rouge complex outside of Detroit
By Tim Rivers, 14 January 2017
A contract worker, Ricky Mcintosh, died Wednesday morning after a fall from an overhead crane.
“The union is not for us”
Detroit autoworkers speak out against GM layoffs
By Shannon Jones, 14 January 2017
With layoffs scheduled for March 5, workers are facing temporary plant closures that play havoc with their lives and finances.
Low turnout for University of California workers’ one-day strike
By our reporters, 11 January 2017
Teamsters Local 2010, which represents over 12,000 UC administrative, support and clerical staff, staged a limited one-day strike Tuesday.
Ohio workers face precedent-setting pension and retiree health cuts
By Evan Winters, 11 January 2017
Members of Cleveland Iron Workers Local 17 are being forced by their union to vote on whether to cut current pensions in half, or lose everything within ten years.
Dayton, Ohio transit workers strike over wages, health care
By Shannon Jones, 10 January 2017
The walkout by 463 drivers and mechanics is the first by transit workers in Dayton in nearly 60 years.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
10 January 2017
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
As contract expiration nears, union moves to block fight by New York transit workers
By Alan Whyte, 9 January 2017
Transport Workers Union Local 100 officials have praised state Democrats who have overseen the attack on workers’ wages and pensions.
“The working class needs better health care, wages, and retirement.”
New York transit workers discuss issues in contract battle
By a WSWS reporting team, 9 January 2017
Transit workers who came to the mass membership meeting spoke to the WSWS about their most pressing concerns.
Macy’s, Sears announce mass layoffs, hundreds of store closings across the US
By Niles Niemuth, 6 January 2017
The closings and layoffs are an indication of the actual state of the economy, more than seven years after the beginning of the supposed economic “recovery.”
New York City transit workers must fight to defend living standards and basic rights!
6 January 2017
The following statement is being distributed to New York City transit workers who are holding a mass meeting Saturday, ahead of the January 15 contract deadline for 30,000 bus drivers, subway workers and other transit authority workers.
The class struggle in the US in 2017
By Jerry White, 4 January 2017
This year promises to be one of increasing class struggle in the United States and around the world.
As strike enters third month
Momentive workers fight Trump’s billionaire appointee Schwarzman
By Philip Guelpa, 3 January 2017
The 700 striking workers at Momentive Performance Materials will be among the first to experience the full force of the Trump administration’s viciously anti-working class policies.
“People are working two to three Saturdays in a row and they are laying people off”
Anger mounting among US autoworkers in wake of GM layoff announcement
By Shannon Jones, 30 December 2016
Young workers and temporary workers will be hardest hit by the layoffs as many gave up other jobs to work at GM.
Trumka on Trump: AFL-CIO chief urges president-elect to work with unions to save capitalism
By Jerry White, 30 December 2016
AFL-CIO head Trumka wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times offering the services of the unions to suppress working-class opposition to the incoming administration.
“They have no concern for workers. You are just a number”
US autoworkers express anger, opposition to GM layoffs
By a WSWS reporting team, 23 December 2016
Autoworkers reacted with anger and defiance in the face of the announcement by GM that it is cutting 1,192 jobs at the company’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant.
“Instacart is stealing, manipulating and creating stress”
US grocery delivery workers file lawsuit over reduced pay
By Kevin Martinez, 23 December 2016
Instacart, like ride services Uber and Lyft, classifies their workers as “independent contractors” to avoid having to pay benefits and overtime.
New York Daily News column hails assassination of Russian ambassador
By Bill Van Auken, 23 December 2016
The filthy column supporting the assassination was made even more offensive by comparing the Turkish cop who carried it out to 17-year-old Herschel Grynszpan, who shot and killed a Nazi official in 1938.
US coal miners hit by sharp rise in deadliest black lung disease
By Clement Daly, 19 December 2016
New reports have revealed a spike in the deadliest forms of the respiratory disease, which miners contract by inhaling coal dust.
The United Steelworkers, Wilbur Ross and economic nationalism
By Evan Winters, 14 December 2016
The USW has a long history of collaborating with billionaire asset stripper Wilbur Ross, Trump’s pick for commerce secretary.
US coal miners face cutoff of health, pension benefits
By Jerry White, 13 December 2016
More than 120,000 retired coal miners are threatened with the cutoff of health and pension benefits over the next several months as the United Mine Workers Health and Retirement Fund runs out of money.
Judge temporarily delays imposition of draconian contract on Illinois state workers
By George Gallanis, 12 December 2016
The legal maneuver by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is aimed at convincing the governor to let the union impose his deep cuts.
Michigan legislature targets school employee pensions
By Shannon Jones, 8 December 2016
Republican lawmakers are seeking to end defined benefit pensions for new hires under conditions in which the entire system is massively underfunded.
After Carrier deal, effusive praise for Trump from steelworkers union
By Jerry White, 7 December 2016
The United Steelworkers union praised Trump’s protectionist and chauvinist policies along with his deal with Carrier, which will wipe out 1,300 of the firm’s 2,100 production jobs in Indiana.
120,000 coal miners face loss of retirement benefits
By Clement Daly, 7 December 2016
The growing insolvency of the various UMWA health and retirement funds is rooted in the continuing global economic crisis and the resulting collapse of commodities prices.
Union cancels strike by California state workers, seeks to impose concessions
By Dan Conway, 5 December 2016
The Service Employees International Union called off the strike by 95,000 California state workers to prevent a struggle against the austerity measures of Governor Brown and the Democrats.
Trump outlines right-wing program of extreme nationalism at Cincinnati rally
By Joseph Kishore and Jerry White, 2 December 2016
While couched in populist rhetoric, Trump’s proposals center on corporate tax cuts and deregulation, combined with expanding the military, widening police powers and curtailing immigration.
Former Bethlehem Steel plant near Buffalo, New York destroyed by fire
By Jason Melanovski, 2 December 2016
The massive fire last month exposed firefighters and residents in nearby neighborhoods to smoke and high levels of carcinogens, leaving homes covered in toxic soot.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
29 November 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Federal judge blocks new Obama administration overtime rules
By Shannon Jones, 28 November 2016
The court ruling upset 70 years of prior precedent that gave the Labor Department the authority to set rules regulating overtime pay.
After six-month lockout, workers reject UAW-Honeywell ultimatum
By Jerry White, 26 November 2016
Honeywell workers in the US are waging a courageous struggle against corporate management and the UAW, which is backing the company’s demands for health care concessions.
Four workers critically injured in fire at Louisiana refinery
By Tom Hall, 26 November 2016
The fire at ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge refinery, the fourth largest in the country, flows from the betrayal of the 2015 refinery strike by the United Steel Workers union.
Sharp Healthcare nurses in San Diego, California to begin three-day strike
By Marko Leone, 26 November 2016
Nurses are determined to fight, while the union has called a limited strike to let off steam while it works to impose a contract on management’s terms.
Incoming Trump administration prepares assault on federal workers
By Nick Barrickman, 25 November 2016
In the first of many attacks on the living standards of American workers, the incoming Trump administration is targeting federal employees for job and pension cuts.
Construction accident in Queens, New York kills two workers
By Mark Witkowski, 25 November 2016
In the drive to maximize profit for the construction and real estate industries, the safety and well-being of workers is given a back seat to the demands of real estate developers.
Significant opposition as Philadelphia transit workers ratify contract
By Alan Whyte, 21 November 2016
After shutting down a six-day strike to boost the vote for Hillary Clinton, the Transport Workers Union imposed a concessions deal on Philadelphia transit workers.
Barnard College contingent faculty vote on strike authorization
By Sandy English, 19 November 2016
Part-time and temporary faculty at Columbia University’s Barnard College in New York City began voting on a strike authorization this week.
Contract worker killed at Indiana steel mill
By Jessica Goldstein, 18 November 2016
The death of a contract truck driver at ArcelorMittal in Burns Harbor, Indiana, highlights the deadly consequences of the corporate cost-cutting drive backed by the unions.
“Workers are going to see Trump is not going to do anything for them”
Autoworkers react to the election of Trump
By Shannon Jones, 17 November 2016
Autoworkers contacted by the WSWS acknowledged that Trump had been able to tap into the deep social anger and alienation among workers towards the political establishment.
Strikers at Momentive plants vote down union-backed sellout deal
By Philip Guelpa, 9 November 2016
By a more than a 2-to-1 margin, Momentive workers rejected a second contract offer that was even worse than the first.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 November 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Transit officials, Democrats seek injunction to break Philadelphia transit strike
By Alan Whyte, 7 November 2016
The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) and Democrats on the local and state level want to use the courts to end the strike.
Momentive workers strongly oppose tentative agreement
By Philip Guelpa, 7 November 2016
Momentive Performance Materials is seeking major concessions from its thousand-strong workforce, continuing the trend in past contracts.
California state workers to vote on strike authorization
By Dan Conway, 4 November 2016
The union fears that a strike will cut across its support for the Democratic Brown administration and the Democratic Party.
Class struggle in US intensifies on eve of election
By Jerry White, 4 November 2016
There is growing opposition among American workers to corporate and government demands for endless rollbacks in wages, health care and pension benefits.
Nearly one-third of Chicago teachers reject CTU concessions deal
By Alexander Fangmann, 3 November 2016
The Chicago Teachers Union on Tuesday announced the ratification of a concessions-laden contract.
Pittsburgh Symphony musicians begin their second month on strike
By Samuel Davidson, 3 November 2016
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians are fighting against pay cuts and job reductions.
Musicians speak out at Pittsburgh Symphony strike support concert
By Evan Winters, 3 November 2016
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra musicians spoke to the World Socialist Web Site on the importance public access to arts, especially in schools, after a Halloween-themed concert to support striking orchestra musicians. Over sixty musicians played to an enthusiastic audience of 350.
Strike pits Philadelphia transit workers against budget-cutting Democrats
By Alan Whyte, 3 November 2016
The strike by nearly 5,000 Philadelphia transit workers is an expression of the growing militancy of workers on the eve of the US presidential elections.
Officials threaten court action against Philadelphia transit strikers
By Alan Whyte, 2 November 2016
Transit workers are in a battle against the attack on health benefits, which is being spearheaded by the Obama administration.
Philadelphia transit workers go on strike
By Alan Whyte, 1 November 2016
The nearly 5,000 transit workers are seeking improvements in pensions and resisting management demands for increased health care costs.
Workers Struggles: the Americas
1 November 2016
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Vote by Chicago teachers on concessions contract begins today, after postponement
By Kristina Betinis, 31 October 2016
The decision by the Chicago Teachers Union to delay the vote by two days, supposedly to allow teachers to read the contract, is an indication that there is widespread opposition.
Harvard concedes main demands of dining hall workers to end strike
By Mike Ingram, 31 October 2016
The strike of Harvard dining hall workers ended after three weeks with a new contract that appears to satisfy the main issues of health care and wages that prompted the strike.
Strikes end at Libbey Glass in Ohio and Jim Beam in Kentucky
By Shannon Jones, 29 October 2016
The strikes by glassmakers and distillery workers are part of a nationwide uptick in strike activity that reflects a growing spirit of resistance.
Boston: Two excavation workers drown in a 12-foot-deep trench
By John Marion, 24 October 2016
While the contractor for the job has been cited dozens of times for safety violations, it is not the only construction company risking the lives of Massachusetts workers.
Five thousand faculty strike at Pennsylvania state campuses
By Samuel Davidson and Douglas Lyons, 20 October 2016
The strike by Pennsylvania faculty is an expression of growing social opposition among different sections of workers in the run-up to the US election.
Chicago Teachers Union House of Delegates approves concessions contract
By our reporter, 20 October 2016
Both district officials and union leaders are hailing as a success a contract that will escalate the attack on teachers, while paving the way for the closure of more public schools.
Follow the WSWS