Feature Archives

On April 9th at The Carter Center in Atlanta, the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW) and McDonald's announced a landmark agreement to work together to improve the wages and working conditions of the farmworkers who pick Florida tomatoes. After two years of escalating pressure by the CIW and its allies, McDonald's has agreed to all of the CIW's demands and more.

Cafeteria workers at Cal State University Monterey Bay, employees of Sodexho USA, have joined the local hotel and restaurant workers' union, UNITEHERE! Local 483. The 40-worker unit chose Local 483 through a “card check” process, similar to that outlined in the Employee Free Choice Act approved by the US House of Representatives last month. Maryland-based Sodexho USA has recognized the union and has agreed to contract bargaining at the beginning of May.

Workers at a Fresno Convalescent hospital in Fresno are fighting for a living wage. Today they held an informational picket line.

On April 5th, over a thousand teachers in the Hayward Unified School District went on strike. Pickets took place throughout the day in front of the 38 school sites in the 20,000-student Hayward district. There was also a noon rally of parents, teachers and other supporters in Birchfield Park.

Threatened workers, the majority of whom are Latino, are striking CMC Rebar of Fresno for unfair labor practices. CMC workers in Fresno voted in their Union more than eight months ago. Despite certification by the NLRB, the Union has not been recognized by CMC Rebar. There was a press conference Tuesday, March 27th at 12:00 p.m. at 2914 Argyle Ave. in Fresno

Cesar Chavez Day was Saturday, March 31st. In Fresno, the Committee Cesar E. Chavez CO-CE-CHA held the 14th Annual Cesar Chavez Celebration. This year, the theme of the march was to stop all anti-immigrant raids. In Sacramento, there was a march at Southside Park and in San Francisco there was a march starting at 24th and Potrero. Many other events were planned around the state, including marches in Los Angeles, Santa Rosa, Bakersfield, Salinas, and Oxnard. Cesar Chavez was born on March 31, 1927. He led successful strikes and boycotts that resulted in the first industry-wide labor contracts in the history of American agriculture.

On Wednesday March 21st, the California Faculty Association announced that members had authorized a strike. Faculty at San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, and five other California State University (CSU) campuses could walk out of classrooms as soon as the beginning of April. In the past four years, the faculty has only received a 3.5 percent pay raise, while CSU execs have gotten in 23 percent pay hikes.