Labor Unions

It's Time to Give Voters the Liberalism They Want

Thomas Frank | Posted 11.19.2008 | Politics


Thomas Frank

It is possible, I suppose, that the pundits are right and the public didn't really mean it when it elected a liberal Democrat president and gave Democrats even larger majorities in both houses of Congress.

America Needs a Strong, Unionized Auto Industry -- That Requires Government Action

Robert Creamer | Posted 11.19.2008 | Politics


Robert Creamer

If we allow the unionized American automobile industry to collapse, we will accelerate the reduction of middle class incomes for everyone. That collapse would start a tidal wave of lower wages.

Bailout Brainstorm 2: More Ignorant Questions from a Confused Citizen

David Quigg | Posted 11.11.2008 | Business


David Quigg

When the road-builders, bridge-builders, and school-builders get some money in their pockets, they may do more for automakers than any bailout can.

GOTV in North Carolina: Labor Takes a Lead

Elana Levin | Posted 11.04.2008 | Politics


Elana Levin

Last week one of the Change to Win volunteers was outside a polling place and a woman in line called out her name. "Erin! I'm in line here to vote because of you!"

SAG Update: Union Meets with Mediator

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.27.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

SAG leaders met Friday with the federal mediator, and in a statement said that they discussed with him the union's request for mediation and "the possibilities regarding the resumption of negotiations."

On the Ground in Wisconsin, a Union Voter Update

Elana Levin | Posted 10.24.2008 | Politics


Elana Levin

United Here is knocking on the doors of members of Change to Win unions telling them how Obama supports working families. On weekends, they volunteer with the Obama campaign too. Their dedication is incredible.

AMPTP Agrees to Mediate

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.23.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

The AMPTP has agreed to attend sessions conducted by a federal mediator, Juan Carlos Gonzalez, who unsuccessfully mediated the WGA negotiations just before the contract expired and the union decided to strike.

The Obama Challenges

John Bruhns | Posted 10.23.2008 | Politics


John Bruhns

As President, Obama will need to confront two costly wars, global terrorism, an economy on the brink and a serious energy crisis. Don't expect immediate change.

SAG Steps Toward Strike

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.20.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

The SAG national board passed a resolution yesterday on what to do regarding contract negotiations with the studios. My take: Membership First outma...

James Taylor to "Stand & Fight" for Barack Obama in North Carolina

Mike Ragogna | Posted 10.16.2008 | Entertainment


Mike Ragogna

Beyond trophies, Grammys, or Taylor Family bragging rights, North Carolina's most prized gift from James might be this legendary artist's influence on the presidential race's outcome.

SAG Stalemate Update

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.09.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

Next news is likely to come next weekend (Oct. 18-19), when the SAG national board meets. Items on the agenda will include whether to send a strike authorization referendum to the members.

Phase One Reanimator

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.05.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

Aieee, it's alive! Remember Phase One? That's the 27 year old joint bargaining arrangement between SAG and AFTRA that collapsed this spring.

Report: SAG Strike Would Have No Immediate Credit Impact on Entertainment Conglomerates

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.03.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

Fitch Ratings, a leading global rating agency that rates the credit of large businesses, municipal governments, and entire industry sectors (they must...

On the Ground with Working Families in Oregon

Stewart Acuff | Posted 10.03.2008 | Home


Stewart Acuff

As the nation's economic crisis deepens and the focus of voters shift from silly attack ads to America' s dire problems, Democratic candidates for the...

SAG: Toss that Hot Potato Back (UPDATED)

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.02.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

SAG's negotiating committee has the power to send a strike authorization referendum to the membership at large, but it instead punted to the national board.

SAG: A Half Step Closer to a Strike

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.02.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

SAG moved closer to a strike today, but not quite as far as some predicted. The guild's negotiating committee, which has the power to send a strike...

SAG Apparently Seeking Strike Authorization

Jonathan Handel | Posted 10.01.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

SAG's appears to be playing a dangerous game: Seek an authorization and fail to obtain it, and the guild's leverage collapses.

SAG Nudges the Studios, but the Studios Say No Thanks

Jonathan Handel | Posted 09.29.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

A key sentence warns "If your intransigence continues, however, our choices become harder and fewer." Whether SAG actually has any leverage to back up those words is unclear.

Obama, McCain And The Rights Of The American Worker

Natasha Vargas-Cooper | Posted 09.25.2008 | Home


Natasha Vargas-Cooper

And where does the Senior Senator from Arizona stand on the issue of worker's rights? Simple, he's a scab. He's anti-union and anti-worker and uses anachronistic images of big bad union bosses to slam reform legislation.

SAG: The Calm before the Storm

Jonathan Handel | Posted 09.22.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

The SAG elections are over, and the Unite for Strength challenger slate now has a razor-thin majority on the national SAG Board. Indeed, one of MF's ...

Mitch McConnell and Our Effort to Turn Around America

Stewart Acuff | Posted 09.22.2008 | Home


Stewart Acuff

Remarks to the Kentucky Jobs with Justice Annual Dinner Louisville, Kentucky Thursday, September 18th, 2008 We gather tonight at a most precipitous m...

A Push-Poll with No Oomph

Jonathan Handel | Posted 09.18.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

Sarah Palin may not know what the Bush Doctrine is, but SAG's leadership seems to have forgotten what we might call the (Teddy) Roosevelt Doctrine: s...

The Denigration Express

Jonathan Handel | Posted 09.17.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

The writers strike settled in February, but in the months since, the Screen Actors Guild has been flying apart at the seams like a rag doll spun through the air by a petulant 2-year-old.

Former Colombia Foreign Minister Argues For An Extension Of Tough U.S. Drug Plan And Free Trade, Supports McCain

Diane Tucker | Posted 09.15.2008 | Home


Diane Tucker

I think Senator McCain will probably win in November because what North Americans value most is security, stability and experience, and that is McCain.

AFTRA Video Interview

Jonathan Handel | Posted 09.12.2008 | Entertainment


Jonathan Handel

AFTRA's got a deal, but SAG doesn't. Variety says AFTRA's been signing up new TV shows. What else is going on with this union, a smaller rival to th...