Feature Archives

Northern California workers and trade unionists will be rallying for NWA-AMFA mechanics who are striking this union busting airline. The rally will be held on Labor Day Monday September 5, 2005 at 11:00 AM at SFO Terminal 2. You can get to airport by BART. More Details: 1 | 2

Members of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Organization (AMFA), went on strike against Northwest Airlines on Saturday August 20th and are facing a a massive strikebreaking operation. The 4,400 workers walked out after rejecting management demands for a 26 percent pay cut, the elimination of more than half of their jobs, higher payments for health insurance and cuts in sick pay. The airline is also demanding a freeze on pensions and the transformation of the plan into a 401(k)-type “defined contribution” plan, which would entail sharp cuts in retirement benefits.
Northwest was able to continue flying despite the strike because of the refusal of the other unions at the airline to support the mechanics. The Air Line Pilots Association and the International Association of Machinists, which are members of the AFL-CIO, are crossing the mechanics’ picket lines and continuing to work, as are the flight attendants, organized in the independent Professional Flight Attendants Association.
Read More | The Northwest strike: the end of the AFL-CIO and political lessons for the working class | Machinists union grabs jobs of striking Northwest mechanics

The Berkeley Bowl signed a two-year contract with its workers Sunday, ending a divisive labor standoff at the popular supermarket.
Read More | Past Berkeley Bowl Coverage: Waiting For Berkeley Bowl's Response to NLRB Charges | Berkeley Bowl Workers Lose Unionization Vote | Showtime at the Berkeley Bowl | Berkeley Bowl Workers Stage Brief Walkout to Support Fired Worker | Berkeley Bowl Workers Unite

Nabolom Bakery is one of the oldest collective businesses in Berkeley, and it will close on September 1st unless it can raise $50,000. Nabolom has supported progressive causes for years- bakers have distributed pastries at early morning blockades in Livermore, donated food for events ranging from Sparks Fly! to draft counselor trainings. Nabolom has given thousands of dollars worth of pastries to events from Sparks Fly! to draft counselor trainings, have hosted an ISM-NorCal reportback, and they even hang community artists' work in the space, and have free WiFi. Over the years, Nabolom has provided decent jobs with maximum worker control over conditions to dozens of activists in many political movements.

Financial mismanagement forced the bakery into debt about four years ago. When a former financial officer took over the operation, this person incurred some $40,000 in debts from penalties on back taxes. The bakery lost its major client, the Fellini’s restaurant on University Avenue. The bakery held several meetings last year to try to revive the business. In spite of staying open later and serving pizza, Nabolom has not succeeded in attracting many new customers.

A Town Hall Meeting will be held on Monday, August 1st, from 7-9 p.m. at Nabolom (at 2708 Russell, just east of College) to discuss how the community can help save the bakery. Nabolom is looking for pledges to purchase $500 or $1000 sustainer certificates, which will entitle the bearers to 10% discounts on all products, and make it possible for the bakery to survive. Nabolom is currently only accepting pledges; money will not be accepted until $50,000 in pledges has been collected by August 15. Read more | Berkeley Daily Planet Article | List of Worker-Owned Businesses in the Bay Area

Hundreds of union member/delegates have gathered in Chicago to take part in the AFL-CIO's 25th Constitutional Convention from July 25th–28th. The Convention marks the 50th anniversary of the merging of the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations. On the opening day, two of the largest unions in the A.F.L.-C.I.O. - the Service Employees International Union and the Teamsters - said that they are leaving the federation. Although the announcement was anticipated, it still shocked the world as it underscored a major schism in the national labor movement. This occurred 3 days after the United Farm Workers joined the Teamsters, the SEIU, and other major unions in the Change to Win Coalition | Read more

On the second day of the conference, the AFL-CIO passed a resolution stating that the US troops should be brought home as soon as possible. The resolution also states "No foreign policy can be sustained without the informed consent of the American people. The American people were misinformed before the war began and have not been informed about the reality on the ground and the very difficult challenges that lie ahead." Us Labor Against War statement.

Conference Updates: Audio from 7/25 | Pre-conference audio

On Sunday, July 24th, 2005, a meeting of labor activists from around the United States took place in Chicago, across town from where the AFL-CIO Convention was set to take place. The 'Rank and File Conference to Take Back our Unions' declared its intention to "Take Back Our Unions" from the clutches of the highly paid union 'business executives' who have taken control of the "once proud and powerful American Labor Movement." This gathering was organized by the Labor Action Coalition. Read more

On Thursday, July 28th, a labor conference entitled "Democracy and Divisions in the House of Labor" will be held at California State University Sacramento.

Read more updates on Chicago Indymedia

Starbucks terminated IWW member Sarah Bender, a worker at the 17th St. and 1st Ave. store in Manhattan, for union activity. Bender's termination marks the first time since the founding of the Starbucks Workers Union that the company has fired a worker for union organizing. The pretext for her termination was that she allegedly came out six dollars short on her cash register.

Management learned that Sarah was associated with the Starbucks Workers Union after she hosted a party attended by Union members. Since then, the company disciplined her to build a phony case for firing her. Bender is coordinating her own defense and is in serious need of financial assistance for campaign expenses. Starbucks workers are asking all supporters to call-in on August 1st to show support for workers' right to organize a union and outrage at the firing of a fellow worker. Read Full article

Starbucks Workers Union website | Related articles on the Newswire | Related Feature Articles 1 | 2

On July 18, 2005 the Northern California Bricklayers/Stonemasons went on strike. Events leading up to the strike began when contract negotiations broke down last week. BAC decided to call a strike against members of the contractors association in an effort to get them to return to negotiations. The major points of contention focus around health care, retiree subsidy, pension funding, and travel compensation.

Bricklayers/Stonemasons and Allied Craftworkers represent approximately 3,000 Bricklayers/Stonemasons, Tile Layers and Finishers, Pointer Cleaner Caulkers, Marble Setters and Finishers, Terrazzo Mechanics and Finishers, and Refractory Bricklayers/Stonemasons who work various aspects of the industry in the Northern 46 counties of California. Read Full Article

BAC Local 3 Website | Related Articles on the Newswire

Teamsters GCIU local 4N has started contract negotiations with the Hearst Corporation, in what many think will be a fierce labor battle. In december, the Chronicle hired notorious union buster Frank Vega as publisher, whose reputation followed him after a 20 month strike at The Detroit Free Press. One of the first moves from Vega, at the Chronicle, was to install surveillance cameras on workers and distribute a 17 page memo detailing the Chronicle's plan of strike-breaking in the event of a strike or lockout.

Negotiations - The Hearst/Chronicle proposals submitted to the various Chronicle unions whose contracts expired on July 1, 2005 include provisions for the Chronicle to dramatically reduce wages, outsource work, eliminate each union’s jurisdiction by allowing non-union employees to do union work side by side with union members, and create a two tier condition for wages and benefits. Despite the outrageous demands, the unions all agreed to enter into bargaining. According to representatives of Local 4N, the Hearst Corporation is refusing to bargain in good faith.

Community Support - The Hearst Corporation's unwillingness to engage in serious discussion with union representatives brought the issue to the streets where many members of the bay area’s labor community showed their support. Frustrated by stalled negotiations, Local 4N & community allies held a rally in front of the Chronicle building at 5th and Mission on Monday, July 11, 2005 Photos - 1

Related - Labor | Related articles on the newswire | GCIU Local 4N website