Tag Archives: unions

The nation’s largest labor union yesterday added transgender employment protections to its constitution. Chris Geidner reports at Buzzfeed: The decision to ban transgender discrimination at its 2013 convention followed the decision of several unions within the federation already to have made the addition of similar nondiscrimination policies into their own policies. The federation is made up of 57 national and …

Their Facebook page is here. (Tipped by JMG reader Brendon)

Some fast food workers across the nation are striking today in demand of a living wage. It’s unknown how many workers will participate. Employees of McDonald’s Corp, Wendy’s Restaurants LLC, Burger King Worldwide Inc and others have pledged to walk off their jobs in 50 cities from Boston, Mass, to Alameda, Calif., organizers say. They are expected to be joined …

From Quinn’s campaign site: The 120,000 member proud Teamsters Joint Council 16 provided an enthusiastic and robust show of support for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn today, endorsing her candidacy for Mayor of New York. Citing her unrivaled record of delivering real results for New York’s hardworking families and her forward-looking vision for making the City a place where middle …

Hostess Brands announced yesterday that they will return from bankruptcy and resume production by summer.  The company shut down last year during a union strike that became emblematic of corporate greed. “We expect to be making and selling in July,” Michael Cramer, executive vice president of Hostess Brands LLC, told NBC News. “Probably the later half of the month before …

Members of NYC’s subway workers union are handing out fake MTA cards today in a campaign urging to the city to act on the rising number of passenger deaths and injuries. Several riders have been murdered in recent months by being pushed onto the tracks by mentally ill people. “The union is sponsoring the outreach to bring public attention to …

The wingnut blogosphere is going nuts tonight after Fox News reporter Steven Crowder posted the below video in which he is punched several times by a pro-union protester outside the Michigan capitol building. (The above screen-cap is from Breitbart.)  In the clip, take note of the jump-cut at 38 seconds which immediately precedes the punching.  Commenters on even some of …

Via Breitbart: A group of pro-union, progressive protesters leveled a large tent with people inside during Tuesday’s demonstrations outside the Michigan Capitol building in Lansing against right to work legislation. The protesters shouted “scab” and “Walmart tent” as they advanced. The tent, one of many at the demonstration, had been put up by the pro-right to work group Americans For …

The Michigan legislature is expected to vote today to make that state the 24th to endorse a so-called “right to work” law which will make it illegal to require union membership as a condition of employment.  Yesterday President Obama denounced the bill. The House session has started and the Capitol has been closed because it has reached capacity. Insp. Gene …

Twinkies aren’t quite 100% dead yet after all. Hostess Brands Inc, its lenders and the unions representing its striking workers, agreed to start mediation hearings on Tuesday at the urging of a U.S. bankruptcy court judge. A hearing on Monday during which the bankrupt maker of Twinkies snack cakes and Wonder Bread was set to ask for permission to liquidate …

Details.

GOProud today sent out a fundraising letter blaming those communist unions for the demise of Hostess Brands and offering to send donors a Twinkie in return for a $50 contribution. Chris Geidner has the text: You know that our staff at GOProud works every day free market principles and freedom for everyone. You may not know about our special emergency …

Anti-union wingnuts are doing cartwheels across the blogosphere at the news that the owners of Hostess Brands, the makers of Twinkies, have decided to go out of business rather than deal with striking union employees. The closing will result in Hostess’ nearly 18,500 workers losing their jobs as the company shuts 33 bakeries and 565 distribution centers nationwide, as well …

In what is perhaps the most repulsive ad we’ve yet seen from the Republican Party, the Florida GOP is going after a local candidate by claiming that her support for a teachers union is akin to supporting pedophilia. Josh Israel reports at Think Progress: The mailings attack Karen Castor Dentel, an elementary school teacher in Maitland, Florida, and the Democratic …

The Chicago Teachers Union voted yesterday to end their week-old strike. Karen Lewis, the union president, described the voice vote as 98 percent to 2 percent in favor and a sign that the deal was seen as good, though hardly perfect. “We said that it was time — that we couldn’t solve all the problems of the world with one …

San Diego activists have launched a Facebook group calling on locals to “turn your back” on homocon mayoral candidate Carl DeMaio during this weekend’s gay pride parade. Carl DeMaio has turned his back on the LGBT community, accepting plenty of Yes on 8 money and making promises to “…not push the gay agenda issues…” in exchange for campaign aid from …

Con Edison has locked out more than 8000 New York City workers after union negotiations broke down early yesterday. The workers, members of the utility’s largest union, were locked out after their contract expired at 12:01 a.m. Sunday, and talks broke down less than two hours later. About 5,000 managers, including some former union members, will step in to keep …

As the temperature in New York City again teases the triple-digit mark, the local Con Ed union says it may go on strike at midnight tonight. Local 1-2 of the Utility Workers Union of America vows to strike if it can’t reach a deal by midnight, when its current four-year contract expires. Both sides were far apart yesterday on pay, …