February 6 News Update

Each Monday-Friday, by 9AM Central, we’ll post links to news stories and analytical articles of interest to working people. Sometimes they will be accompanied by editorial commentary. 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.

Nation's Largest Nurses Union: 'No Keystone XL'
Warming bringing big changes to forest
Gridlock at the NLRB
Union-Made Valentine's Day Shopping List
Employers told they must accommodate staff's child-care requests
Protestors block road to De Beers Victor Mine
White House seeks deal on guest workers
Restaurant Loses Effort to Have Ex-Delivery Workers’ Suit Dismissed *

February 5 News Update

Each Monday-Friday, by 9AM Central, we’ll post links to news stories and analytical articles of interest to working people. Sometimes they will be accompanied by editorial commentary. 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.

Philadelphia Teachers Take School Closings Fight Citywide
Obama Granted Sweeping Power in 'Secret' Cyber-Wars
The Paranoia of the Superrich and Superpowerful
Rosa Parks' Stamp on American History
What's the Impact of Decision on NLRB Recess Appointments?
Gerard: Immigration Reform Prevents Employer Abuse
Patient Protection Act Proposed for DC Hospitals
Commuters' wasted time in traffic costs $121B
Arctic nations' oil spill plans too vague: environmentalists
Paper giant agrees to avoid Indonesia’s rainforests
4,500 Tons of Evidence of Strike in Seville *

February 4 Week In Review

Week In Review

February 4 2013

by Bill Onasch

The Real Next Big Thing

The President opened his second term focusing on the trending, emotionally-charged issue of gun-control. He sought to balance his rhetoric for restrictions on magazine capacity and background checks by confessing to a reporter that, far from being anti-gun, his guilty pleasures include shooting a skeet now and then. When some raised doubts about this previously undisclosed penchant for slaughtering clay pigeons the White House released photographic proof , showing POTUS absorbing the recoil of a smoking shotgun. They even managed to include a clear image of the Nike® sign of the swoosh on his sleeve.

Whether this unexpected revelation will serve him as well as photos of Teddy Roosevelt accompanying the future German Kaiser on an African safari, or Saddam Hussein brandishing a long barrel birthday gift from the Iraqi parliament, remains to be seen. There’s always the risk that reaction might be more like the ridicule that fell upon presidential candidate Michael Dukakis when he was shown with a helmeted head protruding from the turret of a tank.

In any case, the present gun-control dust-up is likely episodic. It is not, borrowing the market vernacular of the raging smart phone wars, the Next Big Thing in Washington.

Presidents, with an eye on history books/downloads as they guide the ship of state to destinations determined by the ruling class, require more time for their Big Things than Apple or Samsung. In his first term, President Obama’s main domestic accomplishment was won only after nearly two years of take-no-prisoners combat in and with Congress– the Orwellian Affordable Care Act. Each day brings some new revelation about this “reform” that falls far short of promised universal care while making health costs less affordable than ever. Everything points to immigration “reform” as the Next Big Thing.

February 4 News Update

Each Monday-Friday, by 9AM Central, we’ll post links to news stories and analytical articles of interest to working people. Sometimes they will be accompanied by editorial commentary. 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.

Rebuking Austerity, Americans Say: Strengthen Social Security
'Just the Beginning': US Drought Kills Hundreds of Thousands of Trees
CAW reaches deal with Sudbury's Xstrata
Unions say quality of health care jeopardized by job cuts
Obama compromises on birth control
Blaze at historic anarchist bookshop is investigated by police
US carbon emissions fall to lowest levels since 1994
In Burma, officials seize land from the poor
Labor Board Refuses to Halt Strike by School Bus Drivers *
Postal Service Considers Sale of Bronx General Post Office *
Job Growth Steady, but Unemployment Rises to 7.9% *
Ottawa gives nod to west-to-east oil pipeline
2nd body found after Quebec quarry landslide
Spanish protests after PM speech
Md. school district proposes copyrighting all student work
Older Isn’t Better ... It’s Brutal *
Colorado Communities Take On Fight Against Energy Land Leases *
Tentative Deal Averts a Port Strike *
Canada falling behind on poverty, inequality, says report
Vast Oil Reserve May Now Be Within Reach, and Battle Heats Up *

February 1 News Update

Each Monday-Friday, by 9AM Central, we’ll post links to news stories and analytical articles of interest to working people. Sometimes they will be accompanied by editorial commentary. 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.

Explosion at Mexican oil giant Pemex headquarters kills 25
Union members join push for immigration reform with path to citizenship
Exhibition and concert Friday to benefit workers' campaign
A Novel Idea: Fiction for Labor Activists
Two unions join against Kaiser
Greek Workers Continue Tireless Strikes
As Predicted, Austerity Policies Send US Economy Downward
Vowing to 'Shut It Down,' Vermont Yankee Protesters Put Their Bodies on the Line
Pipeline demands to increase in coming decade
Four states consider creationism laws
Chevron is hit with record Cal-OSHA fine for Aug. 6 refinery fire
Fire in Gaza Kills Family and Stirs Rage Against the Power Company *
Labor Union to Ease Walmart Picketing *

January 31 News Update

Each Monday-Friday, by 9AM Central, we’ll post links to news stories and analytical articles of interest to working people. Sometimes they will be accompanied by editorial commentary. 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.

Union Attacks City for Refusing Role in Bus Strike *
Climate Change Has Already Brought Catastrophe to US Wildlife
Student Loan Delinquencies Skyrocket
Mine Workers President Roberts and Nine Others Arrested at Peabody Protest
Confronting Colonialism in Canada
Ontario athletes playing in U.S. during teachers' protest
Beijing Takes Steps to Fight Pollution as Problem Worsens *
U.S. Navy to Scrap Vessel Stuck on Philippine Reef *
Officials Back Deep Cuts in Atlantic Cod Harvest to Save Industry *
Rule Limits Aid to Families Who Can’t Afford Employers’ Health Coverage *
Oil Cleanup Resuming at Leaking Miss. River Barge *

January 30 News Update

Each Monday-Friday, by 9AM Central, we’ll post links to news stories and analytical articles of interest to working people. Sometimes they will be accompanied by editorial commentary. 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.

Search to resume today for missing quarry workers
AFL-CIO chief vows ‘full-fledged campaign’ for immigration overhaul
First Contracts: How to Avoid Delay, Disappointment and Decertification
Keystone XL Multinational Bullies Pipeline Protestors into Settlement
Why the ideas of Karl Marx are more relevant than ever in the 21st century
Board drops ball – again – on Tomblin methane rule
UMWA explains Patriot plan for health-care cuts
Unemployed pay millions in fees under state-run payment-card programs
Collective Bargaining a Big Issue in Legislatures This Year
Helpers of B.C. disabled to stage 1-day strike
Shell 'happy' over Dutch verdict
Lawmakers see no deal in sight to stop sequester
Boeing Battery Was a Concern Before Failure *