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Hundreds of Foster Farms employees, upset about wages and working conditions, went on strike Tuesday at the company's largest chicken plant. Union leaders claimed that about 80 percent of the day shift stayed out and that much of the night shift would follow suit. "We need respect," said 19-year employee Juana Santiago of Atwater, who works in packaging. "We need better treatment from the foremen. There are people working 30 years getting $9.33 an hour. That's ridiculous." Walsh said the average wage is about $10.50 an hour, and health and other benefits bring total compensation close to $17 an hour. The workers are seeking 50-cent-per-hour wage increases in each of the next three years. Foster Farms has proposed no raise the first year, 15 cents the second and 20 cents the third. The employees rebuffed the company's offer in May and talks have been at a standstill since. They were represented by the League of Independent Workers of the San Joaquin Valley, which has since affiliated with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. "We want the company to be fair with us, that's all, and realize that we are human, not slaves," said Singh, who said he makes $9.28 an hour on the processing line. Workers also complained about high health insurance costs, favoritism by supervisors, short notice of overtime shifts, pressure to increase production, and threats against union supporters. "They treat us like product instead of employees, instead of people," said warehouse worker David Reos of Livingston, who has spent three years at Foster Farms. Read More | Interviews with Workers

On October 28th, Democratic Party Chair Howard Dean came to the picket lines to show his support.
Photos | Scabs mar rally | Sutter Management-SEUI Union Class War

On October 13th, striking dietary aide Lorenna Hernandez was hospitalized with abdominal injuries after being kicked to the ground by military-trained security following a candlelight vigil at CPMC. Since the picket began at one of Sutter's eight bay area hospitals, Sutter has hired temporary security personnel from Steele Foundation, an expensive international security firm that sends private armed guards to volatile areas around the world. Report

On October 5th, Jesse Jackson and others joined striking healthcare workers in San Franciso to urge Sutter to accept the compromise offered by a federal mediator last August. Video

Over 800 California Pacific Medical Center caregivers have been walking the picket lines in San Francisco since September 13th. On August 28th, a federal mediator issued a compromise to SEIU-UHW and Sutter CPMC as a settlement of the issues to avoid a strike – a compromise proposal that would establish the same quality of care standards that are currently in place at hospitals across California.

The United Healthcare West Bargaining Team accepted the compromise. Sutter CPMC accepted it as well, but Sutter backtracked and went back on their acceptance. The workers want Sutter CPMC to accept the Federal Mediator’s neutral proposal – accepting standards that hospitals across California already have in place- and end the strike. There is an online petition on SEIU-United Healthcare West's website. A variety of political and community activists are standing with the striking caregivers and urging Sutter to “Just Say Yes.”

9/23 Striker Diary | 9/17 Striker Diary | 9/15 report | Beyond Chron article | SEIU-UHW's CPMC Page | Sutter Strikers for Patient Care | Sutter Corporate Watch

For three years, workers at the Union Square Cheesecake Factory were denied breaks in the busiest and most profitable restaurant in San Francisco. After two years of actions by Young Workers United, worker organizing and public pressure, Cheesecake has finally settled; the workers have won back pay and a new break policy with increased wages. Workers across the state of California will get a $4.5 million settlement.

Over the course of the long campaign, Young Workers United reports that it "has built a solid crew in the kitchen who are standing up to abusive managers." Meanwhile, former Cheesecake General Manager Jeff Reznick has been transferred to Pensacola, a small city on the Florida panhandle.

Young Workers United is building a local organization of low-wage workers in food service and retail to improve their lives and hold corporations accountable. Full story | Young Workers United

Kaiser injured workers and patients will demonstrate on Friday, September 2nd at Kaiser Center in Oakland to protest the attacks on injured Kaiser workers and patients. The rally will be held at 12pm on Friday at One Kaiser Plaza, at 1550 Ordway in Oakland, 94612, in front of the big glass building. Kaiser is the largest HMO in the country and insures millions of working people. At the same time, Kaiser is reportedly "self-insured" for workers who are injured on the job. The California Coalition For Workers Memorial Day, VOICE, and with other organizations that represent Kaiser's injured workers, are calling for a statewide protest on the 2005 Labor Day weekend to demand justice for Kaiser's injured workers, the patients and the consumers.

Kaiser has fired injured workers, refused to compensate them, discriminated against workers who stand up for other workers and fought consumers who have tried to get justice for themselves or families. It has also covered up toxic gases and other deadly dangers in the hospitals. Kaiser's monopoly control and power over the politicians and legislature has also prevented a full airing of the role it plays in our society. This protest aims to speak out for the thousands of injured and disabled Kaiser workers.

Workers Memorial Day Website | The Kaiser Papers | Californians Inured at Work | California Injured Workers Coalition | Injured on the Job TV | Labor on the Job TV

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