November 7 News Update

‘Hands Up, Don’t Ship!’ Minneapolis UPS Workers Protest Shipments to Missouri Police - See more at: http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2014/08/hands-dont-ship-minneapolis-ups-workers-protest-shipments-missouri-police#sthash.rJeEoDbc.dpuf

Today is the Ninety-Seventh Anniversary of the Russian Revolution

Water Cannons, Tear Gas Unleashed on 100,000 Anti-Austerity Marchers in Brussels
Port Worker Slowdown Spreading to Nation’s Biggest Hub
Protests for Mexico missing students set sights on president
Americans’ ownership of assets shrinks
FairPoint Talks to Resume Nov. 18
Talks pit union vs. union
Split Decision by Voters on Local Fracking Bans *
Airbag Maker Takata Saw and Hid Risk in 2004, Former Workers Say *
California voter midterm turnout plummeted

Stories from the New York Times will be followed with a *. The Times pay wall policy allows free access to only about ten articles a month.

We take a closer look at news stories in our companion Week In Review blog, hosted at: KC Labor at WordPress

It Wasn’t Our Fight But It Is Our Loss

It Wasn’t Our Fight But It Is Our Loss
by Bill Onasch

I have a perfect record in predicting every election since the first I was allowed to vote, in 1964.  It’s been the same expectation every two years–the working class majority will be the losers.

While there are two major classes in our Free Enterprise society it’s the tiny one that has two major political parties while the rest of us haven’t yet established one of our own. The ruling class of bosses and bankers sometimes have competing interests and tactical differences among themselves. Fights among the dinosaurs can be risky and bloody so they prefer to use their donkey and pachyderm stunt doubles to sort them out on election day rather than through coups or civil wars.

I haven’t yet been able to dig up hard statistics for Tuesday’s voting but typically the majority of workers–especially in midterm elections–don’t vote. Many, such as noncitizen immigrants and convicted felons, usually can’t. New registration and voter ID laws in many states further discourage the poor and people of color from participating. And many recognize the outcome of most elections will make little difference to them.

November 6 News Update

‘Hands Up, Don’t Ship!’ Minneapolis UPS Workers Protest Shipments to Missouri Police - See more at: http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2014/08/hands-dont-ship-minneapolis-ups-workers-protest-shipments-missouri-police#sthash.rJeEoDbc.dpuf

Plans Taking Shape for National Day of Action – Nov. 14

At the polls, workers win some and lose much more
Voters Favor Higher Wages, Sick Pay

The IPCC report: Between nightmare and revolution
IPCC report warns no Planet B

Divvy bike workers ready to roll with a union
Erdogan's vast new palace to cost over $600 million
Voters Reject Oil Titan Chevron, Elect Progressive Bloc in Richmond, California
Strong Election Night for Public Transit
Major Settlement Reached Between NNOC-FL/NNU and Orlando Health
Rally to Restore Quality Patient Care at Huntington Hospital
Business Leaders Cautiously Expect G.O.P. Win to Open Some Doors *
Abortion-Rights Advocates Preparing for a New Surge of Federal and State Attacks *

Stories from the New York Times will be followed with a *. The Times pay wall policy allows free access to only about ten articles a month.

We take a closer look at news stories in our companion Week In Review blog, hosted at: KC Labor at WordPress

November 5 News Update

‘Hands Up, Don’t Ship!’ Minneapolis UPS Workers Protest Shipments to Missouri Police - See more at: http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2014/08/hands-dont-ship-minneapolis-ups-workers-protest-shipments-missouri-police#sthash.rJeEoDbc.dpuf

Judge orders Kansas to let gay couples marry
Mexico mayor, wife arrested over 43 missing students
Oklahoma Supreme Court halts certain abortion restrictions
Venezuela's president orders 15pct wage increase
Fight to save endangered Indus dolphins, turtles
Thousands of Gaza civil servants strike
Israel ex-officers urge PM to make peace with Palestinians
Caseworkers Ally with Clients to Restore Human Services
Judge blocks Catalonia independence vote
Labor, biz united behind postal reform push in the lame duck
Three States Vote to Raise Minimum Wage *

Stories from the New York Times will be followed with a *. The Times pay wall policy allows free access to only about ten articles a month.

We take a closer look at news stories in our companion Week In Review blog, hosted at: KC Labor at WordPress

November 4 News Update

‘Hands Up, Don’t Ship!’ Minneapolis UPS Workers Protest Shipments to Missouri Police - See more at: http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2014/08/hands-dont-ship-minneapolis-ups-workers-protest-shipments-missouri-police#sthash.rJeEoDbc.dpuf

Climate change fight affordable, cut emissions to zero by 2100: U.N.
The Little Union That Could
South African Postal Workers Strike Enters Fourth Month
Honoring the dead but keeping search for Mexico students alive
Five states to vote on minimum wage raises
Confirmed: Sprawl and Bad Transit Increase Unemployment
CA Nurses Launch ‘Yes on 45’ Radio Ads
Strikers Defeat Waste Management, Despite Teamster Officials
From firebrand to PM-in-waiting, Greek leftist smells power
Food Bank Canada report: Number of Canadians in need of help 'alarmingly' high
Little Opposition Seen in Some Votes to Raise State Minimum Wages *

Stories from the New York Times will be followed with a *. The Times pay wall policy allows free access to only about ten articles a month.

We take a closer look at news stories in our companion Week In Review blog, hosted at: KC Labor at WordPress

November 3 News Update

‘Hands Up, Don’t Ship!’ Minneapolis UPS Workers Protest Shipments to Missouri Police - See more at: http://www.labornotes.org/blogs/2014/08/hands-dont-ship-minneapolis-ups-workers-protest-shipments-missouri-police#sthash.rJeEoDbc.dpuf

U.N. Panel Issues Its Starkest Warning Yet on Global Warming *
IPCC report: six graphs that show how we're changing the world's climate
UN: World faces do-or-die carbon threat
The IPCC still underestimates the situation
Climate change is new priority for Black and Hispanic voters

It Was a Good Summer for the Economy, but the Future Looks Less Bright *
U.S. Consumer Prices Barely Rise as Inflation Remains Muted *
South Dakota tribes, ranchers unite to fight Keystone pipeline
Activists urge Americans to vote 'climate'
Hungary halts Internet tax after protests
McCain serves up its final french fries in Borden-Carleton
Cuomo, Backed by Working Families Party, May Chip Away at Its Clout *
Ozone hole remains size of North America, NASA data shows
Russia accused of blocking creation of vast Antarctic marine reserves
One Day in an Elevator With Obama, Then Out of a Job *
Seeing a New Future for French Nuclear Site, After the Toxic Dust Has Settled *
Police Targeted Media With No-Fly Zone Over Ferguson, Tapes Show *
Thousands protest Redskins at away game
Victory at Voith
Labor Board finds North Memorial Hospital retaliated against workers

Stories from the New York Times will be followed with a *. The Times pay wall policy allows free access to only about ten articles a month.

We take a closer look at news stories in our companion Week In Review blog, hosted at: KC Labor at WordPress

November 2 Week In Review Now Online

You can view the new WIR by clicking here