News Bytes:  Capsules of Breaking News from Labor Notes and The Portland Alliance 

 

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BREAKING: Reports say the president just offered to cut Social Security benefits, if Republicans agree not to let the U.S. default on its debts.1
 
It's his offering to the out-of-control Republicans, who are threatening to crash the economy in order to ram through savage cuts to crucial government programs.
 
It's sickening to think that millions of seniors would have to sacrifice in order to appease Republican hostage-takers.Especially because every poll shows overwhelming majority of Americans support raising taxes on the rich and protecting Social Security and Medicare.2
 
But there's still time to stop this "bargain" in its tracks. Whatever deal the president offers Republicans will need Democratic votes to pass Congress. So we need Democrats in Congress to stand strong and oppose any benefit cuts to Social Security and Medicare.
 
Can you sign our emergency petition to Democrats in Congress and tell them to stand up and tell the President they will not vote for Social Security and Medicare benefits cuts?
 
 
President Obama is making a huge mistake that will cost our country dearly.



Nurses Back Down Hospitals    

Winning a union is just half the battle: The other half is securing a first contract. A tired but happy union negotiating team at Rite Aid's huge California warehouse won a first agreement this week, following three years of talks and a vigorous campaign that spread to other unions and other states.

 

Nurse unions in five states threatened strikes to honor Nurses' Week, and they too bucked management, winning settlements that beat back health care cost hikes and strengthen patient safety by controlling how many patients a nurse cares for. 

 

The Mood in Wisconsin: Shaken, Angry, but Proud

Wisconsin public sector unionists face a sobering situation after weeks of unprecedented activism: for many, no contracts. Yet their mood is proud and angry. They're acutely aware how their struggle has inspired others. 

Teachers Are Singled Out in Attacks
on Public Workers  

Like other public employees, teachers find their bargaining rights under fire in the Republican-governed states. But the attacks on teacher job security and the drive to replace public schools with charters are nationwide, and bipartisan.


Egypt's Strikes Lead the Way to Freedom

Egypt's StrikesAs crowds celebrate the departure of Egypt's dictator Hosni Mubarak, tens of thousands of striking workers are among them. Workers' strikes became a central part of the protests that unseated Egypt's government this week.

Labor Notes interviewed teacher unionist Abdel Hafiz on the future of the protest movement and Kamal Abbas, director of the Center for Trade Union and Workers Services, an independent group, about workers' participation in the Egyptian revolt.

A wildcat action that began Tuesday among 6,000 workers in the Suez Canal showed how some workers' central position in the global economy can amplify the leverage of peoples' movements.

Chipotle's Chipocrisy: Dissing
its Mexican Workforce 

Chipotle Protest The Mexican-themed fast food chain Chipotle likes to hold itself up as a model of social responsibility, but labor activists in Minnesota say its ethical behavior doesn't extend to its immigrant workers. Chipotle fired nearly 700 Latino immigrant workers without notice and in some cases without paying back wages. SEIU and a worker center are helping workers fight back. Read more.

Come Celebrate the Rebel Rank and File Tonight in New York

Rebel Rank and FileCome to a discussion tonight with editors and contributors to the new book: Rebel Rank and File: Labor Militancy and Revolt from

Below During the Long 1970s

 

Friday, February 11 at 7:30 PM

Brecht Forum, 451 West Street between Bank & Bethune in Manhattan

 

Labor Notes emerged from this generation of upheaval, and several Labor Notes supporters from this remarkable era contributed to this volume and will share its lessons for today's labor movement. Speakers tonight will include Aaron Brenner, Steve Early, Judith Stein, and Dan La Botz.  

Hotel Workers Target Hyatt

UNITE HERE Hits HyattHyatt hotel workers are on the march again. They're calling out management's push for more work in less time, plus the chain's demands to push more health care costs onto workers and "lock in the recession" at the bargaining table. In San Antonio, Texas, workers put the focus on excessive workloads that cause injuries. Read more. 

UK Government Wants Volunteers to Make Up for Massive Public Service Cuts

UK AusterityGreat Britain's conservative government says voluntarism can compensate for enormous cuts to the public sector. The idea is nearly devoid of content and unrealistic, because no amount of voluntarism can compensate for the huge cuts to the public sector. Really, the idea is an excuse for more privatization. Read more. 

In the Troublemakers Blog 

Young Workers United In San Francisco, the Young Workers United worker center takes the long view, building membership and mobilizing to advocate for improved working conditions--with unusual success. Among their achievements is winning paid sick leave for all workers in the city. Read more.
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In This Email
Egypt's Strikers Lead the Way
Chipotle's Chipocrisy: Dissing Its Workers
Tonight in NYC: Rebel Rank and File
Hotel Workers Target Hyatt
UK: Don't Worry About Big Cuts, Volunteer
In the Troublemakers Blog
Boost Trainings with the Essential Troublemaking Guide
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