Demise of Workplace Class Action Lawsuits Makes Unions Key to Fight Rights’ Violations
The US Supreme Court in May 2018 ruled against workers in Epic Systems v. Lewis declaring that employers can force employees to accept arbitration of disputes individually and give up their right to class action lawsuits in the courts. The ruling puts individual...
Workers and Unions Face Crony Politics
It’s nice to have friends and allies and supporters. But for some it’s even nicer, if more costly, to have cronies. Cronies, not buddies, who have the political power to bestow favors on those who can fill their campaign war chests, fund their PACS and hire their...
The More Things Change, The More Solidarity Matters
Activist union teachers around the country continue to stack up victories and anti-union legislators continue to oppose workers’ union rights, as in Sen. Rand Paul’s (R-KY) introduction of a national right-to-work bill. The more things change, the more they remain the...
First Amendment is Vitally Important to the Labor Movement
Assaults on the First Amendment continue as Republicans tried again unsuccessfully to pass Marco Rubio’s Combating BDS Act, a measure designed to protect Israel. Unfortunately, an act that criminalizes boycotts in one sphere may lead to criminalization of other...
Building on the 2018 Midterms
The so-called “blue wave” that swept many Democrats and Progressives into office on November 6 contained a less-noticed labor wave. Not only were many of the successful candidates, who frequently washed away reactionary incumbents supported by the Labor Movement, but...
Buy Union Week
The 10 days following Thanksgiving are designated by the AFL-CIO as “Buy Union” week to encourage all union members to look for union-made goods and services when they buy for the Holiday Season. When you buy union, you’re supporting good jobs in American communities,...
Working Families Have Been Hurt by Trump Administration Policies
The two years since the 2016 presidential election have been tumultuous. As noted in previous issues of the Label Letter, and this one, too, Labor has been lambasted and working people and their families have been hurt by Trump administration policies. The 2018...
In the age of anti-worker decisions like Janus, what does Labor Day mean anymore?
The intent of Labor Day, as envisioned by our forefathers, has, of course, eroded over the years. Most see it as an opportunity to have a last trip to the beach or backyard barbeque, but in reality, the state of labor and capital today make it more important than ever...
Attack on Rights at DoEd: Human, Civil and Labor
Human rights, civil rights and labor right are inextricably connected. Just ask the people who are attacking them. the Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, for example.
DeVos has been roundly criticized for undermining protections against all manner of abuses to which students are subject.
So-Called Reforms are Really Ripoffs
It’s time for everyone to drop the word “reform” as applied to Trump administration policy changes. The right word can be chosen from the following: rip-off, scam, cheat, fraud or theft. The tax bill enacted by the Republicans rewards the party’s big-league donors....