Workers Issues in the US
Baltimore teachers’ contract set to expire at end of month
By Ron Barzel and E.P. Milligan, 18 June 2019
Neither one of the factions fighting for control of the Baltimore Teachers Union offers educators any way forward to fight the bipartisan attack on public education.
Mobilize the working class to fight the bipartisan attack on public education!
For a socialist policy to fully fund public schools!
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 18 June 2019
The following statement is being distributed to teachers and their supporters who are attending the “Red for Ed” rally in Lansing, Michigan today.
On eve of auto contract talks, VW workers in Tennessee reject UAW again
By Jerry White, 17 June 2019
Workers in Chattanooga were correct to reject, for the second time, “representation” by the United Auto Workers, a corrupt agent of corporate management.
As UAW stonewalls about contract talks
Faurecia workers voice their anger and determination to fight
By George Kirby and Tim Rivers, 17 June 2019
Faurecia workers face near-poverty level wages that force many workers to work two full-time jobs, for a total of at least 80 hours a week, just to make ends meet.
Minnesota Nurses Association announces sellout tentative deal at Children’s Hospitals in Minneapolis-St. Paul
By Jonas Boquist, 17 June 2019
It has been many decades since the unions have launched a nationwide strike in any industry. In its place they have adopted the program of union-management collaboration."
Chattanooga, Tennessee Volkswagen workers reject UAW for second time
By Shannon Jones, 15 June 2019
The union has been further discredited by revelations that top negotiators took huge payoffs from Fiat Chrysler to obtain favorable contract terms.
“UAW doesn’t care about us!”
Nurses outraged over UAW sellout of hospital strike in Toledo, Ohio
By Jerry White, 14 June 2019
After nurses struck for six weeks, the United Auto Workers union unilaterally ordered them back to work, demanding that they vote on a deal without time to study or discuss it.
Minnesota nursing home workers carry out two-day strike
By Jonas Boquist, 14 June 2019
Nursing home workers struck the Guardian Angels Care Center in Elk River last week to fight for improved wages and safe staffing levels.
Wildcat strike by Salinas, California food processing workers
By Rafael Azul, 13 June 2019
Salinas food industry workers are being driven into struggle against the unions, which enforce poverty wages and dangerous conditions.
Union halts New Jersey teachers’ strike after one day
By Erik Schreiber, 13 June 2019
Union officials in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey are negotiating behind the backs of educators to impose a sellout contracts.
Union betrayal ends three-week teacher strike in Hayward-Union City, California
By Evan Blake, 11 June 2019
After striking for 14 days, New Haven teachers were pressured heavily to vote for the union’s sellout contract.
Mexican teachers hold vigil over pay issues
Workers Struggles: The Americas
11 June 2019
Teachers in the state of Michoacán have begun a protest over millions of pesos in back pay, blockading streets around the Finance Secretariat in the capital Morelia.
Former ArcelorMittal steelworker speaks out on safety conditions and union repression
By Jessica Goldstein, 10 June 2019
ArcelorMittal and the USW union work together to prevent safety hazards from being addressed so as not to cut into profit margins.
Minnesota nurses seek united struggle as contracts for 13,000 Twin Cities hospital workers expire
By Jonas Boquist, 10 June 2019
Allina, which provoked a 37-day strike in 2016 that was betrayed by the union, is once again spearheading the attack on nurses.
UE union and Wabtec reach wage-cutting deal at Pennsylvania locomotive plant
By Nick Barrickman, 8 June 2019
The agreement will create a two-tier pay system, allowing the company to keep newer hires “in progression” at a fraction of standard pay.
Stop the closure of Benton Harbor schools! Defend public education!
By the World Socialist Web Site Teacher Newsletter, 7 June 2019
The following statement was distributed to teachers, parents and students at a school board meeting Tuesday night in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
Schneider Electric lays off over 300 in Peru, Indiana
By Michael Walters, 6 June 2019
The closure of the plant by the French multinational will devastate the town of 11,000 in central Indiana.
As new Democratic mayor takes office
Chicago Public Schools lay off hundreds of teachers and staff
By Kristina Betinis, 5 June 2019
Layoff notices were sent to 220 teachers and 498 support staff ahead of the June 30 Chicago Teachers Union contract expiration.
United Electrical Workers union offering concessions at Erie, Pennsylvania locomotive plant
By Jessica Goldstein, 5 June 2019
The union has offered the company a proposal to cut labor costs by $42 million—more or less a guarantee that it will get the wage cuts and two-tier system that it demands.
The global assault on jobs
By Jerry White, 5 June 2019
Job cuts by the Australian telecommunications company Telstra are part of a wave of international layoffs that urgently point to the need for a globally coordinated response by the working class.
New Haven teachers strike enters third week
By David Brown and Evan Blake, 4 June 2019
The New Haven Teachers Association has dropped their wage demands beneath inflation, leaving teachers at a loss.
A call to action
Autoworkers must take contract fight into their own hands!
By the WSWS Autoworker Newsletter, 4 June 2019
With a little more than three months before the mid-September contract expiration at GM, Ford and Fiat Chrysler, autoworkers are heading into a battle that has great significance for the whole working class.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Mass demonstrations in defense of education in Brazil, Honduran educators and doctors strike
4 June 2019
Mass protests are continuing in Brazil against education cuts by the right-wing Bolsanaro administration while striking Honduran teachers and doctors held protests against privatization of healthcare and education.
“We went out with the nurses, we should go back with the nurses”
Mercy Health strikers in Toledo, Ohio denounce UAW sabotage of their struggle
By Shannon Jones, 3 June 2019
In an act of blatant strikebreaking, the UAW organized a vote by support staff and technicians at Mercy Health St. Vincent in order to isolate striking nurses and force them back to work.
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra cancels summer program, locks out musicians
By Nick Barrickman, 3 June 2019
The announcement of plans to cut the performances and pay of BSO musicians comes amid efforts to attack the artistic and economic conditions of orchestra musicians across the US.
Aluminum workers vote to strike Arconic-Alcoa
By Steve Filips, 3 June 2019
Nearly 5,000 aluminum workers voted to strike after the United Steelworkers union extended their contract.
UAW calls for contract vote by Mercy Health support and technical staff in a bid to isolate nurses
By Shannon Jones, 1 June 2019
If the contract is ratified, medical technicians could return to work after Monday, in what is effectively an attempt by the union to force workers to cross the picket line.
University of Chicago graduate student union plans three-day picket
By George Gallanis, 1 June 2019
Graduate students must take this struggle out of the hands of the American Federation of Teachers-backed Graduate Students United union and form rank-and-file committees.
American educators demand freedom for Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 1 June 2019
The WSWS Teacher Newsletter has received many statements from educators in support of Assange and Manning.
As teachers union abandons demands and calls in Democrats
New Haven, California teachers strike at a crossroads
By Evan Blake and David Brown, 31 May 2019
The New Haven Teachers Association is working with state Democrats to end the teachers strike as quickly as possible with a sellout contract
Fiat-Chrysler announces merger, threatens jobs bloodbath
By Tom Hall, 28 May 2019
While Chrysler has denied that the merger would lead to plant closures, the economic advantages of the merger can be realized only through mass layoffs.
New Haven, California teacher strike enters second week
By Jonathan Burleigh, 28 May 2019
The New Haven school district has made no change to its offer of a one percent raise or its plans to lay off staff and close a school.
San Diego Sweetwater High School District to lay off 82 educators and staff amid investigation of budgetary fraud
By Evelyn Rios, 28 May 2019
The school board will meet to approve the layoff of 82 positions to close a budgetary shortfall, likely the result of fraud and mismanagement.
Chilean professors call for strike, teachers in Honduras begin nationwide walkout
Workers Struggles: The Americas
28 May 2019
Members of Chile’s College of Professors have set a June 3 strike date, meanwhile Honduran teachers declared a nationwide walkout over threats to privatize education.
UAW continues to isolate workers
Mercy Health workers continue strike as management digs in
By Shannon Jones, 25 May 2019
Three days of talks this week produced no agreement as management refused to seriously address workers’ concerns over understaffing while continuing operations with strikebreakers.
Management demands cuts to healthcare and pensions
United Steelworkers forcing 6,100 Alcoa and Arconic workers to work without a contract
By Steve Filips, 25 May 2019
Over 6,100 United Steelworkers members at Alcoa and Arconic are being told to continue working without a contract while the company prepares to bring in scabs in the event of a strike.
“They spit on our solidarity”
Lyft cuts drivers’ rates in weeks following global rideshare strike
By Kayla Costa, 24 May 2019
Since rideshare drivers participated in a global one-day strike on May 8 to oppose the billion-dollar market frenzy for Uber’s IPO, Lyft drivers have reported compensation cuts of up to 27 percent.
“This is a horrible feeling”
Ford workers in Michigan respond to job cuts
By our reporters, 22 May 2019
Hundreds of white-collar workers at Ford World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan received notice Tuesday that their jobs were being eliminated.
Teachers strike in New Haven School District, Northern California
By Dan Conway, 22 May 2019
The California Teachers Association is sponsoring a #RedForEd “Day of Action” at the state capital of Sacramento on Wednesday.
Over 240,000 people back Chinese tech worker protest
By Mike Ingram, 22 May 2019
Chinese tech workers protesting inhumane working conditions have received massive international support.
Ford slashing 7,000 white collar jobs
By Jerry White, 21 May 2019
In a scene played out just a few months ago at General Motors, hundreds of white-collar workers at Ford will be thrown out of their jobs this week as Ford cuts 10 percent of its salaried global workforce.
Three-day strike by Mexican teachers against “education reforms”
Workers Struggles: the Americas
21 May 2019
Last week teachers all across Mexico took part in strikes and protests to oppose continuing attacks on public education being overseen by the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
Death of a Los Angeles dockworker
By Rafael Azul, 20 May 2019
The death of Joseph Santoyo and severe injury to Pedro Chavarin at the Los Angeles port of San Pedro occurred in the midst of speed-ups and the destruction of working conditions.
As UAW starts closed-door talks with management
Toledo hospital strikers call for broader mobilization
By Shannon Jones, 20 May 2019
The hospital workers, members of the UAW, who have been supported on their picket line by other sections of UAW workers, must break through the union's straitjacket and broaden their struggle further.
Teachers rally in Nashville, Tennessee to demand pay raises
By Warren Duzak, 20 May 2019
More than 1,000 teachers and school employees called in sick last week in the latest protests by educators in the US.
Police escort workers out of closed plant in Central Pennsylvania
By Samuel Davidson, 20 May 2019
Police were called to stand by as nearly 1,000 workers were abruptly thrown out of their jobs at this Central Pennsylvania factory
Amid declining real wages, strikes in US escalate
By Jerry White, 18 May 2019
Fueled by declining real wages, new strikes by teachers, health care workers and other sections of the working class are erupting.
Video: Mass layoffs hit Illinois Fiat Chrysler plant
By Michael Walters, Marcus Day and George Marlowe, 18 May 2019
Workers at the plant are worried that Fiat Chrysler will eliminate another shift later this year, with hundreds or thousands more jobs cut.
New Jersey education budget reallocation threatens hundreds of jobs
By Erik Schreiber and Sandy English, 18 May 2019
The Democratic and Republican politicians of one of the wealthiest states in America are refusing to adequately fund public education in working class communities.
As New York City transit contract expires, governor launches vindictive attack on workers
By Daniel de Vries and Alan Whyte, 18 May 2019
The union is keeping 40,000 workers on the job while governor Cuomo whips up hysteria over allegedly fraudulent overtime.
University of California unions wear down workers with fifth one-day strike
By Evelyn Rios, 17 May 2019
Dwindling numbers participate in the fifth one-day, unpaid strike, as workers have been kept on the job without a contract for nearly two years.
With contract deadline approaching, Michigan auto parts workers vote by 97 percent to strike global parts maker
By James McDonald, 17 May 2019
Michigan auto parts workers, angry over deplorable conditions and years of UAW-backed concessions, face a contract expiration date of May 31.
Strikes by US workers outpacing rate in 2018
By Jerry White, 13 May 2019
There have been 17 major strikes in the US so far in 2019, involving nearly 230,000 public school and university employees, hospital staff, supermarket employees and other workers.
Toledo, Ohio workers complete first week of strike vs. Mercy Health St. Vincent
By Shannon Jones, 13 May 2019
Management has hired strikebreakers to maintain hospital operations and is relying on the UAW to contain and isolate the strike.
“They depend on us for their wealth and power”
Uber and Lyft drivers in Chicago, New York and California speak out against exploitation of gig economy workers
By our reporters, 10 May 2019
Drivers across the United States spoke out against the classification of Uber drivers as independent contractors as Uber heads into an Initial Public Offering worth billions of dollars.
GM workers denounce deals to “save” token jobs in Lordstown and Oshawa
By Shannon Jones, 10 May 2019
The moves, which will retain at most a few hundred jobs out of the thousands that are being permanently eliminated, are being denounced by workers.
Two thousand nurses and support staff strike at Toledo, Ohio hospital
By Jerry White, 8 May 2019
Nurses, technicians and other support staff walked out at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center Monday to fight against increased workloads and out-of-pocket health care costs.
Uber drivers to participate in global strike
By Leslie Murtagh and Jesse Thomas, 8 May 2019
Thousands of Uber and other ride-sharing drivers around the world will strike on Wednesday to protest low wages and the spread of casualized labor.
Teachers walking out statewide today in Oregon
By Kayla Costa, 8 May 2019
The SEP calls for the creation of rank-and-file committees to unite all educators, workers, parents and students in a common fight across the United States and internationally.
“The UAW sold us down the river”
Fiat Chrysler uses robocall to announce more layoffs at Belvidere, Illinois, plant
By Marcus Day and George Marlowe, 7 May 2019
On Monday, the auto giant announced more layoffs in addition to the shift it has already eliminated.
New Orleans Times-Picayune lays off its entire staff
By Aaron Murch, 7 May 2019
The mass layoff was the first action of the new owners after Baton Rouge-based the Advocate bought the New Orleans daily.
Teachers at three Chicago charter schools strike as union blocks common fight with public school educators
By Alexander Fangmann and Andy Thompson, 6 May 2019
The Chicago Teachers Union has worked closely with the Democratic Party to ensure that the two-tier education system is completely unaffected.
Sickout by teachers and school support staff in Nashville, Tennessee
By Warren Duzak, 6 May 2019
More than 1,400 teachers and support staff called in sick Friday after Democratic Mayor David Briley’s budget provided no increase in real wages for school employees.
As contract deadline approaches
Faurecia auto parts workers in Michigan speak out on sweatshop conditions
By James McDonald, 6 May 2019
In advance of their May contract expiration workers at the Faurecia auto parts plant in Saline, Michigan, spoke out on brutal working conditions and harsh treatment by management.
Horrific plant explosion kills at least three workers in northern Chicago suburb
By Jessica Goldstein, 6 May 2019
The 30,000-square foot plant was located close to residential areas, where witnesses reported power outages and structural and other property damage in nearby buildings.
Polls show growing sentiment for teachers strike in Mississippi
By J. L’Heureau, 4 May 2019
Mississippi educators, seeking to join the international strike wave of teachers, are demanding action against poverty wages and abysmal working conditions.
San Diego Sweetwater Teachers Union begins bargaining as false financial situation reported by district
By Evelyn Rios, 4 May 2019
The union and district are negotiating an austerity contract based on what is most likely fraudulent accounting, amidst allegations of fraud and mismanagement investigations.
General Motors reports $2.1 billion first-quarter profits as job cuts take their toll
By Shannon Jones, 1 May 2019
GM managed yet another quarter of huge profits amid mounting signs of a global economic slowdown by continuing its ruthless cost cutting.
New York pre-K teachers demand pay parity, as union seeks to sabotage strike
By Steve Light, 1 May 2019
As thousands of early childhood educators plan to walk out across New York City, AFSCME is dialing back the scheduled strike.
The teachers’ revolt and the fight for social equality
By the WSWS Teacher Newsletter, 1 May 2019
The following statement is being distributed to teachers and their supporters who are marching in Raleigh, North Carolina today.
“The Teamsters is a company-controlled union”
UPS national contract imposed after supplemental fights
By George Marlowe, 1 May 2019
Following the ratification of a contentious Detroit supplemental agreement, the Teamsters union has imposed its sellout national contract on more than 250,000 UPS workers.
Year after Arizona strike, teacher walkouts and protests spread in US
By Jerry White, 30 April 2019
Mass protests scheduled for North and South Carolina tomorrow are part of a renewed wave of planned strikes and demonstrations by educators, including in New York City, Chicago and Detroit.
Crane collapse in Seattle claims four lives
By Scott Burris and Tim Rivers, 30 April 2019
A huge tower crane at a block of buildings under construction for Google in Seattle collapsed on Saturday, killing four and injuring four others.
One-day general strike in Colombia
Workers Struggles: The Americas
30 April 2019
Workers mobilized in opposition to the National Development plan being proposed by President Ivan Duque that would mean significant attacks on workers.
Mayor Emanuel intervenes to shut down Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike
By George Marlowe, 26 April 2019
As part of his final act on behalf of the city’s financial elite, outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel has offered to intervene to end the nearly two-month strike by Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) musicians
GM continues tax avoidance schemes while it slashes thousands of jobs
By George Kirby, 26 April 2019
General Motors has received billions of dollars in government tax benefits over the past decade even as it continues to cut jobs and extract concessions from workers.
University of Illinois at Chicago faculty announces deal on eve of strike
By George Gallanis, 26 April 2019
More than 1,100 professors, lecturers, instructors and assistant professors are voting on a concessionary contract being pushed by the UIC United Faculty union, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers.
Forty hospitalized after toxic chemical leak in Chicago suburb
By Jessica Goldstein, 26 April 2019
Residents of Beach Park, Illinois were ordered to stay inside and 40 people were hospitalized after toxic anhydrous ammonia leaked into the air during a chemical spill.
Rutgers University faculty union blocks strike by professors and teaching assistants
By Owen Mullan, 25 April 2019
The American Federation of Teachers acted to prevent a coordinated fight by educators against the Democrats’ austerity measures.
Industry publication floats idea of UAW calling a “targeted” strike
By Shannon Jones, 24 April 2019
After expressing concerns over the rebelliousness of factory workers, Automotive News suggested that the United Auto Workers call an impotent partial strike if negotiations hit an impasse.
UFCW orders New England Stop & Shop strikers back to work without seeing contract
By Kate Randall, 23 April 2019
The order to return to work signals the union’s agreement to impose deep takebacks by Stop & Shop in its efforts to transform the supermarket chain into a low-wage sweatshop.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
Argentine newspaper and casino workers strike
23 April 2019
Workers at Clarín and sports daily Olé walked off the job April 17 over the firing of 56 of their colleagues while workers struck all Buenos Aires-area casinos for 48 hours over threatened closures.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike
Socialism and the defense of culture
By Kristina Betinis, 22 April 2019
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians, now in the seventh week of their strike, require the active support of the entire working class, in the United States and internationally.
“Capitalism is a terrible scheme that robs people of their labor”
As negotiations hit impasse, Chicago Symphony Orchestra musicians continue strike and free concerts
By Michael Walters and George Marlowe, 20 April 2019
The Chicago Symphony Orchestra management reiterated its demand that musicians give up their traditional pensions and also canceled concerts through the end of April.
“Why did Boeing make it like that? Pure negligence and greed. There is simply no other answer.”
Aviation reporter Rytis Beresnevičius speaks to WSWS on Boeing 737 crashes
By Bryan Dyne, 20 April 2019
Rytis Beresnevičius has closely followed the two recent Boeing 737 Max 8 crashes and the engineering, executive and regulatory decisions that led to these disasters.
US education secretary to gut regulations, seek a “major shift” in higher education—Part 1
By Nancy Hanover, 20 April 2019
A crude assault on educational standards, which hardens the class divide in educational access and spurs the plundering of the “education market,” is being enacted under the cover of “rule-making” by the US Department of Education.
“We’re all in this together. That is how I see it.”
Detroit Fiat Chrysler autoworkers defend Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning
By a WSWS reporting team, 20 April 2019
A WSWS Autoworker Newsletter campaign team spoke to workers Thursday at the Warren Stamping plant outside of Detroit about the importance of the defense of whistleblowers Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning.
USW forces rotten deal on Harley-Davidson workers in Wisconsin
By Jacob Crosse, 19 April 2019
The union rejected its membership’s demands for an improved contract and instead forced through the same concessions-filled deal workers rejected less than two weeks earlier.
Deadly week for construction workers in New York City
By Mark Witkowski, 18 April 2019
In the space of less than a week three construction workers were killed, as the building boom in the city continues to claim the lives and limbs of workers.
Why the defense of Julian Assange is necessary for all workers
By the Steering Committee of the Coalition of Rank-and-File Committees, 18 April 2019
The following statement in defense of Julian Assange was issued by the Steering Committee of the Coalition of Rank-and-File Committees.
Strike of 31,000 New England Stop & Shop workers in sixth day
By our reporters, 17 April 2019
Despite reporting profits of more than $2 billion last year, the multinational owner of Stop & Shop is seeking to drive down the wages and benefits of workers.
“The jailing of Assange is an attack on the entire working class”
US workers demand the release of Julian Assange
By Jerry White, 16 April 2019
Workers in the United States have reacted with outrage over the jailing of Julian Assange and the efforts of the Trump administration to illegally seize the WikiLeaks founder and subject him to detention, possible torture and even death.
The political lessons of the University of Illinois graduate student strike
By Andy Thompson, 16 April 2019
The strike by 1,500 graduate students has come to an end with a totally inadequate agreement, raising important political lessons that must be assimilated in preparation for future struggles.
Mexican teachers protest while DHL and Amazon pilots protest stalled talks
Workers Struggles: The Americas
16 April 2019
Workers in a number of towns in Chiapas are protesting education “reforms” under the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador while air cargo pilots protested outside Amazon’s offices in Florence, Kentucky.
31,000 Stop & Shop supermarket workers strike at over 240 supermarkets in New England
By Kate Randall, 15 April 2019
Supermarket workers at Stop & Shop, owned by retailer Ahold Delhaize, have struck the supermarket chain for the first time in 30 years.
“It seems to be class warfare”
Chicago Symphony Orchestra clarinetist John Bruce Yeh speaks on musicians strike
By George Marlowe, 15 April 2019
Clarinetist and striking Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) musician John Bruce Yeh spoke on the major issues of the strike as well as broader questions of social inequality and authoritarianism.
Chicago symphony musicians strike defies aristocratic principle
By Kristina Betinis, 13 April 2019
As CSO strike enters sixth week, a right-wing pressure campaign is being mounted to try to force the musicians to make concessions on their pensions.
070 UIC faculty vote to strike
13 April 2019
West Virginia college axes liberal arts; Pennsylvania Historical Society slashes workforce
By Tom Eley, 12 April 2019
The moves are symptomatic of a society that can spare nothing for art and history, subordinating them to the profit imperatives of the financial elite.
Sacramento, California teachers conduct one day strike
By Ben McGrath, 12 April 2019
As the teachers union works to reach a sellout deal with county officials, rank-and-file teachers are striving for a broader struggle in defense of public education.
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