labor movement news stories on Newser

Mayor: To Ban GOP From Labor Day Parade, Pay Up

Kevin Spak — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 07:28:23 CDT

The mayor of Wausau, Wis., has told the local labor council that it’ll have to reimburse the city as much as $2,000 if it sticks by its decision to ban Republicans from its Labor Day parade . "This is not a political rally, it’s a parade, for God’s sake," Mayor...

Feds to Maine Gov: Rehang Mural or Repay Our Money

Kevin Spak — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 12:40:06 CDT

When Maine Gov. Paul LePage decided to remove a 36-foot mural depicting the state's labor history from the state's Labor Department building, he didn't just tick off union leaders—he ticked off the federal government. The US Labor Department is demanding LePage put the mural back up, or else give...

100 Years Ago Today, Factory Fire Changed America

anothernewsjunkie — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:51:51 CDT

It was 4:40 in the afternoon on Saturday, March 25, 1911. The Triangle Shirtwaist Company was close to closing down for the day in New York City. Someone dropped a still-smoking object onto the factory floor. Within minutes, the eighth, ninth, and 10th floors of the building the company...

White House Blasts Labor for Wasting $10M in Ark.

John Johnson — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 13:07:48 CDT

The White House didn't waste much time harumphing about the labor movement's failed attempt to oust Blanche Lincoln. Ben Smith of Politico says a senior official called with a pointed message: "Organized labor just flushed $10 million of their members' money down the toilet on a pointless exercise. If even...

Dem Groups Loyal to Obama Despite Snubs

Kevin Spak — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 17:51:17 CDT

President Obama is publicly ignoring and even criticizing the liberal interest groups feverishly courted by past presidents. He has chastised the teachers’ union, skipped the State of the Black Union (again), and eschewed fanfare when restoring funding to groups that promote abortion. But activists remain loyal anyway, Politico reports, because...

New Labor Radio Ad Beats Up on Rush

Kevin Spak — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 15:00:00 CST

A radio ad is making the rounds in Cleveland, Reno, and Philadelphia, slamming the local Republican senator and the apparent leader of the opposition: Rush Limbaugh. The ad, from the labor-backed Americans United for Change, slams House Republicans who “voted with Limbaugh against creating 4 million new American jobs.” It...

Solis Is Cabinet's Lone Progressive

Gabriel Winant — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:39:31 CST

Progressives are viewing Barack Obama's ever-so-centrist Cabinet with disappointment, except for the notable pick of union friend Hilda Solis for labor secretary, Politico reports. Solis, a rising star in the House who had been viewed as a potential Speaker, is the daughter of a teamster and a factory worker, and...

Sweatshop Crucifixes Stir Up Unholy Mess for Church

Rob Quinn — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 02:13:50 CST

Revelations that crucifixes in their gift shops are made in a Chinese sweatshop has shocked officials at New York's St. Patrick's Cathedral and Trinity Episcopal Church, who removed the crosses from stores, reports Newsday . Young workers at the crucifix factory reportedly work 15-hour days in poor conditions for only 26...

Micky D Gives Migrants a Raise

Heather McPherson — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 10:50:56 CDT

The cent-a-pound increase McDonald's agreed to grant their tomato-picking field hands yesterday may sound like, well, pennies, but it represents a more than 70% raise, the Chicago Tribune reports. And the deal was hailed as paving the way for negotiations between migrant workers and other corporate Goliaths across the country.