Tag Archives: Labor Movement

Local 743 Members Unite to Say “We Won’t Go Back”: Teamster Reformers Ousted in Power Grab

Posted on January 12, 2010 | 10 comments

Richard Berg speaks at a rally in solidarity with the workers of Republic Windows and Doors as they occupy their factory

The following is from Fight Back! News:

Chicago, IL – Chicago Teamster bosses ousted reformers Richard Berg and Gina Alvarez from union office today in a power struggle between grassroots reformers and old guard Teamster officials over one of the largest Teamster local unions in Chicago and the country.

Joint Council 25 officials suspended Richard Berg from union membership and removed him as president of Teamsters Local 743 on false charges that he violated Teamster procedures. Alvarez was also suspended from membership and removed as secretary-treasurer.

The 11,000 members of Local 743 voted Berg and his New Leadership Slate into office in 2007 on a reform platform. His election was bitterly opposed – for years – by Chicago’s top Teamster officials, who used every means at their disposal to prevent a reform victory in Local 743.

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Militant Protests Rock the University of California: 3 Articles

Posted on November 19, 2009 | 2 comments

The following articles are from Fight Back! News:

  • Protests Rock Meeting of University of California Regents Los Angeles, CA – As of Nov. 18, dozens of tents are cropping up on UCLA’s quad as over 100 students begin a tent city, part of an all-night protest against the budget cuts, layoffs and tuition hikes in the University… (more)
  • UC Berkeley Fights Tuition Hikes Berkeley, CA – While the University of California’s Board of Regents were at UCLA voting to increase the cost of education by a whopping 32%, students, labor and faculty from across the state were fighting… (more)
  • UCLA Students Stage Building Takeover Los Angeles, CA – Shortly after midnight on Nov. 19, dozens of students barricaded themselves inside UCLA’s Campbell Hall in protest of a planned 32% fee hike that will be enacted later today. (more)

For background, see: University of California Walkouts Show the Way and ‘Education is a Right, Not a Privilege for the Rich’

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Posted in Labor Movement, Student Movements

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Movie Trailer: Workers’ Republic

Posted on October 16, 2009 | 1 comment

Following on the heels Kari Lydersen’s book, Revolt on Goose Island and Michael Moore’s new documentary Capitalism: A Love Story, here comes another documentary film featuring the heroic Republic Windows and Doors factory occupation – Andrew Freund’s Workers Republic:

See also the outstanding pamphlet on class struggle unionism by the Labor Commission of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization, “Build a Fighting Workers’ Movement.”

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Posted in Labor Movement, Political Economy

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Colombia: Eyewitness report from solidarity delegation

Posted on September 8, 2009 | Leave a comment
Angela Denio in the Colombian countryside

Angela Denio in the Colombian countryside

The following article is from Fight Back! News:

Colombia: Eyewitness report from solidarity delegation
By Angela Denio

In August, a delegation of U.S. students, trade unionists and anti-war activists traveled to Colombia to meet with leaders in the struggle there. The Colombian Action Network and the Campaign for Labor Rights, two grassroots organizations here in the United States fighting against U.S. intervention in Colombia, hosted the trip.

“I knew what I heard in the U.S. media about the benefits of U.S. tax money and aid to Colombia was true only for the rich. I wanted to see for myself what the reality is for Colombians,” said Jeremy Miller, a member of the Colombian Action Network when explaining his decision to go on the delegation. Members of the Colombian Action Network and the Campaign for Labor Rights arranged meetings with peasant, indigenous and student groups, as well as with political leaders, unions, political prisoners and families of Colombians killed or imprisoned by the government.

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Posted in Anti-War / Anti-Intervention, Colombia, Imperialism, Labor Movement

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Happy Labor Day!

Posted on September 4, 2009 | Leave a comment

See also: Build a Fighting Workers Movement by the Labor Commission of the Freedom Road Socialist Organization

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Quad City Die Casting: Struggle catches fire as workers from around the country rally in support

Posted on July 9, 2009 | Leave a comment

The following is from Fight Back! News Service:

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Quad City Die Casting: Struggle catches fire as workers from around the country rally in support

By Fight Back! editors

The workers of Quad City Die Casting are on the frontlines in the battle against plant closures.

Quad City Die Casting is a tool and die factory in Moline Illinois, on the Illinois/Iowa border.   Quad City had been a successful locally-owned factory, until the current economic crisis, making custom aluminum parts for farm equipment dealers and manufacturing.  Even though business is down during the current crisis, this factory has been a source of steady work for Moline workers for generations.  The factory has a loyal customer base that would continue to buy parts from the factory.  With sufficient credit lines the factory could stay in business and the 100 workers could stay on the job during this crisis.  Instead, Wells Fargo Bank, which got 25 billion dollars in bailout money, has cut off credit to the factory and without a new development, Quad City Die Casting will close this summer.

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Jose Maria Sison: Tasks and prospects of workers of the world amid global financial and economic crisis

Posted on May 5, 2009 | Leave a comment

The following is from the International League of People’s Struggle:

_EUS6384_2Speech to the 25th International Solidarity Affair
By Prof. Jose Maria Sison
Chairperson, ILPS International Coordinating Committee

On behalf of the International Coordinating Coordinating Committee and member-organizations of the International League of Peoples’ Struggle (ILPS), I convey warmest greetings of solidarity to the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) and to all the delegations to the 25th KMU International Solidarity Affair (ISA).

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Posted in Labor Movement, Philippines, Theory

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May Day 2009: Fighting the Crisis

Posted on April 29, 2009 | 5 comments

The following statement is from Freedom Road Socialist Organization (en español):

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May Day 2009: Fighting the Crisis

By Freedom Road Socialist Organization

On May 1, International Workers Day, millions upon millions will be marching against the capitalist economic crisis that has engulfed most of the world. Working people in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America will hit the streets to protest the soaring unemployment, shorter hours and cuts in pay that are sweeping the world.

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Posted in Black Liberation, Chicano Liberation, FRSO, Immigrants Rights, Labor Movement

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No More Bank Bailouts! No to Phony ‘Nationalization!’

Posted on March 18, 2009 | 7 comments

The following statement by the Freedom Road Socialist Organization is being reposted here from Fight Back! News Service.

Joe Isobaker of SEIU Local 73 at a rally outside worker-occupied Republic Windows & Doors back in December 2008

Joe Iosbaker of SEIU Local 73 at a rally outside worker-occupied Republic Windows & Doors back in December 2008

Recently the media has been abuzz with talk of the possible ‘nationalization’ of ailing big banks such as Citigroup. Both Democrat and Republican senators, as well as the former chair of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan, have raised the possibility of a temporary ‘nationalization’ or government takeover of big banks.

Freedom Road Socialist Organization (FRSO) opposes ‘nationalization’ of banks by the present government. We stand with the majority of the American people who oppose more bank bailouts.

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Posted in FRSO, Labor Movement, Political Economy

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Massive Job Losses Show Economy Sliding Into a Depression

Posted on March 12, 2009 | Leave a comment

Workers TakeoverThe following is form Fight Back! News:

Massive Job Losses Show Economy Sliding Into a Depression
650,000 More Jobs Lost in February

By Adam Price

San José, CA – On March 6, the Labor Department reported that the economy lost 650,000 more jobs in February. The report also said that the number of jobs lost in December and January was revised upwards by 150,000. This brought the total job losses since the recession began to 4.4 million, more than half lost in the last four months alone. The total number of jobs has shrunk by 3.2% since the recession began, the most in more than 50 years.

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