Labor Organizing

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There Is No Future for a Labor Movement That Fails to Organize at Amazon There Is No Future for a Labor Movement That Fails to Organize at Amazon

In the 20th century, organizing basic industries like coal, steel, and manufacturing automobiles was key to reviving the labor movement. Today, Amazon workers occupy the same strat...

Apr 24, 2023 / Jonathan Rosenblum

The Iowa State Capitol

Want to Manufacture Explosives? Soon You Can Hire Teenagers to Do It. Want to Manufacture Explosives? Soon You Can Hire Teenagers to Do It.

The Iowa state Senate recently ratified a bill that would lower age minimums for workers and reduce liability for companies with unsafe working conditions.

Apr 21, 2023 / Chris Lehmann

An Arkansas girl in migrant camp near Greenfield, Salinas Valley, Calif., 1939

How Reading “The Economist” Helped Me to Stop Worrying About White Supremacy How Reading “The Economist” Helped Me to Stop Worrying About White Supremacy

A recent viral sensation identifies the migration of poor whites as the cause of the problem—letting the rest of us off the hook!

Apr 21, 2023 / Sarah Taber

Rutgers students and faculty hold signs at a picket

Rutgers Strikers Run the Table Rutgers Strikers Run the Table

Three faculty unions at Rutgers University in New Jersey have shown a way out of the crisis in higher education.

Apr 19, 2023 / Jonathan David

Triumphant ATU members with their signed petition

How Open Bargaining—and Not Letting Management Set the Ground Rules—Led to a Union Victory How Open Bargaining—and Not Letting Management Set the Ground Rules—Led to a Union Victory

In 2017, Kentucky became the most recent “right-to-work” state in the US. Which makes the recent victory by the Amalgamated Transit Union all the more significant.

Apr 19, 2023 / Column / Jane McAlevey

How Fran Drescher Went From TV Nanny to Union Boss

How Fran Drescher Went From TV Nanny to Union Boss How Fran Drescher Went From TV Nanny to Union Boss

Drescher was once network TV’s working-class darling—now, as head of SAG-AFTRA, does she have what it takes to marshal the collective power of a deeply divided union?

Apr 18, 2023 / Feature / Piper French

Live to fight another day: A scene from the Texas Observer’s victory party.

The Brief Death and Miraculous Resurrection of the “Texas Observer” The Brief Death and Miraculous Resurrection of the “Texas Observer”

Progressive media is not a “business.” It’s a labor movement.

Apr 13, 2023 / Gabriel Arana

Chicago’s Rich Organizing Tradition Paid Off, Delivering Victory for Brandon Johnson

Chicago’s Rich Organizing Tradition Paid Off, Delivering Victory for Brandon Johnson Chicago’s Rich Organizing Tradition Paid Off, Delivering Victory for Brandon Johnson

The Windy City's first movement mayor faces a formidable array of challenges, testing him and the coalition that brought him into office.

Apr 13, 2023 / Barbara Ransby

New United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain

The End of Business Unionism at the United Auto Workers—and Beyond? The End of Business Unionism at the United Auto Workers—and Beyond?

In the first-ever elections where members voted directly for the top leadership, UAW reformers on the Members United slate just won every race they entered.

Apr 7, 2023 / Becca Roskill

A food delivery driver on a bicycle rides in the snow on January 28, 2022 in New York City.

We Had New York City’s Back During the Pandemic. Now We Need It to Have Ours. We Had New York City’s Back During the Pandemic. Now We Need It to Have Ours.

It’s time for Mayor Eric Adams to stop stalling and make good on his promise of a minimum wage for delivery workers.

Apr 6, 2023 / Gustavo Ajche and Chris Smalls

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