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(45) #1,000 (45) Categories Archives Syndication Credits View blog authority	Two unrelated things you should read Posted by Dave on 05/20/09 at 01:54:07 pm Categories: Sports Ravings, Race Ravings, Quick Links, Labor Being busy at work and spending my time at home with my beautiful daughter means very little time for blogging. Oh well. But here are two completely unrelated stories that you should read: Treasures Lost to Time : Shaquille O’Neal, already a basketball legend, was speaking in his soft, husky voice about men with names like Woody Sauldsberry, Cleo Hill and Ben Jobe. "Some of these guys, I’d never heard of in my life," he said. "So I guarantee you the younger players have never heard of them." ... The Ugly Truth Behind Organic Food: The organic labeling standards do nothing to denote how farms treat their workers. Is your organic food a humanitarian nightmare? \| Permalink How Not to Join a Union Posted by Dave on 05/06/09 at 11:39:36 am Categories: Labor \| Permalink Unifying Unions Posted by Dave on 04/08/09 at 10:51:25 am Categories: Labor Woh... this is really, really big - Unifying Unions: Today, the American labor movement proclaimed its intention to come back together -- helped, of course, by the fact that Democrats now control both Congress and the White House and are bent on enacting universal health insurance and, perhaps, some legislation that would make it easier for workers to join unions. After meetings in Maryland this week, the presidents of the two federations and of the nation's 12 largest unions -- including the National Education Association, which heretofore has not belonged to any labor federation -- announced the formation of the National Labor Coordinating Committee, an interim body that could pave the way for labor's reunification by forming a new federation with roughly 16 million members. This could be the best thing that has happened to the labor movement in decades. Of course, it could also turn into a complete and utter nightmare. Either way, it is huge news. \| Permalink Happy Cesar Chavez Day! Posted by Dave on 03/31/09 at 12:08:11 pm Categories: Social Justice Ravings, Labor We draw our strength from the very despair in which we have been forced to live. We shall endure. Today is the birthday of Cesar Chavez (for more background, go here). Chavez is a man who played a HUGE role in organizing migrant farm workers (mostly in California) in order to have a unified voice against the abusive practices of the farm owners, and served for many years as the President of the United Farm Workers (UFW). Chavez started just like so many others - as a son of farm workers who then became a farm worker himself. He began to get involved in community organizing and quickly saw the need to organize his fellow farm workers. He also was a man who not only stressed social and economic justice for farm workers, but he also stressed the absolute need for non-violent actions against the bosses rather than using violent means. Here are some quotes: You know, if people are not pacifists, it's not their fault. It's because society puts them in that spot. You've got to change it. You don't just change a man - you've got to change his environment as you do it. ...People think non-violence is really weak and non-militant. These are misconceptions that people have because they don't understand what non-violence means. Non-violence takes more guts, if I can put it bluntly, than violence. Most violence acts are accomplished by getting the opponent off guard, and it doesn't take that much character, I think, if one wants to do it. We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community...Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own. Chavez was a man of principle. He was a man who was willing to embrace the struggle of justice, and embrace non-violent means to get to a point of justice. If Chavez was still living today, I think he would be a bit disappointed. Disappointed that so many of his fellow migrant workers are still in awful conditions. Disappointed that we have yet to get to a point of just immigration policies. Disappointed that while progress was made, that there is still a long, long way to go. But regardless of the disappointment, Cesar Chavez is a man who made a difference. He made a difference for thousands of farm workers and more generally, thousands, if not millions, of migrant workers around the country. \| Permalink PBS on JWJ's James Thindwa Posted by Dave on 03/30/09 at 01:19:17 pm Categories: Social Justice Ravings, Labor Take a look at PBS' Bill Moyers Journal profile of Chicago community organizer James Thindwa. Thindwa is the executive director of Chicago Jobs with Justice. You can watch an excerpt below: \| Permalink Can My Boss Do that? Posted by Dave on 03/09/09 at 04:39:18 pm Categories: Labor A wonderful site, from Interfaith Worker Justice: Can My Boss Do That? \| Permalink Strong middle class = strong labor movement Posted by Dave on 01/30/09 at 03:43:11 pm Categories: Labor, Barack Obama From Barack Obama: I do not view the labor movement as part of the problem, to me it's part of the solution. ... We need to level the playing field for workers and the unions that represent their interests, because we know that you cannot have a strong middle class without a strong labor movement. Wow... it sure is different having a President who cares about working people. \| Permalink Bailout against EFCA? Posted by Dave on 01/27/09 at 03:21:51 pm Categories: Economy, Labor Just lovely... Bailout Recipients Hosted Call To Defeat Key Labor Bill: Three days after receiving $25 billion in federal bailout funds, Bank of America Corp. hosted a conference call with conservative activists and business officials to organize opposition to the U.S. labor community's top legislative priority Good thing we are spending billions so that banks can actively lobby and actively mobilize against pro-union legislation. Don't get me wrong - I believe that the TARP money was absolutely necessary. But the oversight has been downright awful. The Employee Free Choice Act is a very important piece of legislation that will make it much easier for thousands, if not millions, or workers around the country to organize and form unions. Corporations are right to fear this legislation, as it will be a very large step in giving working people a voice in the workplace. But while corporations(and banks) are right to fear this legislation, the government surely should not be paying for campaigns against the legislation. \| Permalink The Little Unions That Couldn't Posted by Dave on 01/21/09 at 05:12:40 pm Categories: Labor The Little Unions That Couldn’t. Or, in other words, why Congress needs to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. UPDATE: Progress Illinois and Ezra Klein both take a deeper look at the above article. \| Permalink The Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr Posted by Dave on 01/19/09 at 08:39:16 am Categories: Social Justice Ravings, Race Ravings, Labor Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I must bring attention to today's holiday, the day to celebrate and remember one of my heroes. I do not think God approves the death penalty for any crime-rape and murder included. Capital punishment is against the best judgment of modern criminology and, above all, against the highest expression of love in the nature of God. - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1957 A couple of years I did a little series of statements from Dr. King. You can read them at the following links: Martin Luther King Jr - Non-violence Martin Luther King Jr - Capitalism Martin Luther King Jr - Love Martin Luther King Jr - Justice Martin Luther King Jr - War Martin Luther King Jr - Reordering Priorities \| Permalink Shoot the Retailers Posted by Dave on 11/21/08 at 10:41:43 am Categories: Labor If a retailer has not gotten involved with this, if he has not spent money on this election, if he has not sent money to Norm Coleman and these other guys ... [then the retailers] "should be shot." From Home Depot founder and former CEO Bernie Marcus Unbelievable. Of course, what this really means, is that Mr. Marcus is scared. He is scared that his workers may actually organize, and may actually have rights, and a voices. And this is just one more reason that we should all be fighting FOR the Employee Free Choice Act. Those workers at Home Depot need a voice, and need to be given a way to get that voice in the face of intimidation from people like Mr. Marcus. \| Permalink Wal-Mart at is "best" Posted by Dave on 10/20/08 at 09:07:06 am Categories: Wal-Mart, Labor Wal-Mart closes only union department in North America: In response to Wal-Mart's closure of the recently unionized Gatineau, Quebec Tire and Lube Express, Wal-Mart Watch Executive Director David Nassar released the following statement: "Wal-Mart's closure of the recently unionized Tire and Lube Express auto shop in Gatineau, Quebec shows how Wal-Mart is willing to do anything to keep its workers from receiving better wages, decent benefits or fairer working conditions. The Gatineau workers have merely exercised their human rights under Canadian Law, something that is clearly unacceptable to Wal-Mart. Ah Wal-Mart. Busting unions like only you can. \| Permalink Happy Labor Day! Posted by Dave on 09/01/08 at 11:59:58 am Categories: Labor, Barack Obama, Campaign 2008 Check out the Labor Day message from Barack Obama. \| Permalink Gene Upshaw and the NFLPA Posted by Dave on 08/25/08 at 09:48:36 am Categories: Sports Ravings, Labor Gene Upshaw, the President of the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) died last week, bringing to end a 25+ year era. Dave Zirin (the best sports writer around) has an article taking a look at what Upshaw accomplished. Upshaw had his critics, most notably from a Mike Ditka led group of former players who did not feel that the Union had done enough to take care of the former players. Zirin finds that complaint without merit when one actually steps back and looks at the situation. Upshaw oversaw a 25+ year period where the average salaries went from $125,000 to over $2 Million. He led the fight for free agency and an increased salary cap. He enabled these players to be set for life. There is a lot of criticism of athletes and their high salaries, but let me point this out. The average player in NFL will have a career that lasts just three years. Let me say that again. Just three years. Further, these players have their bodies abused - constantly getting crushed by other bodies. They are pushed to play through injuries by their teams, teams that ignore the long-term ramifications of what it means to their bodies or even lives. Now... don't get me wrong. These players are not poor. But there are many, many players who will make $400-500,000 over a three year career, have their body abused, and then have to retire. Their career will be over. Are there some players who are overpaid? Absolutely. But the abuse that these players take, combined with their incredibly short careers, make a strong union not just possible, but necessary. Gene Upshaw helped make that happen. He was not perfect, but he played a significant role in building union strength against incredibly wealthy team owners who are making millions on the backs of these players. Gene Upshaw will be missed. \| Permalink Biden and Labor Posted by Dave on 08/24/08 at 10:13:50 pm Categories: Labor, Barack Obama, Campaign 2008 Is Joe Biden Good For Labor? Mostly, Yes. \| Permalink Wal-Mart: 8 Unionized Employees Posted by Dave on 08/22/08 at 10:29:44 am Categories: Wal-Mart, Labor This story is a few days old, but I figured it was worth a mention. Eight employees at a Wal-Mart in Quebec now have a union contract, becoming the only eight Wal-Mart employees in North America to do so. This is great news, and, unsurprisingly, Wal-Mart is not happy: A spokesman for Wal-Mart said the company is unhappy with the decision and it is "incompatible" with the company's way of doing business. "Incompatible?" Really? Paying decent wages and giving decent benefits are "incompatible" with the way you do business? Thanks for reminding me why I have not shopped at Wal-Mart in years. \| Permalink The Collision of Catholicism and Capitalism Posted by Dave on 08/18/08 at 12:56:02 pm Categories: Labor The Catholic church has long been supportive of a worker's right to organize. Bishops, Priests, Nuns, and other Clergy have long been at the front lines along side workers and union organizers, standing up against unfair labor practices, against intimidation of employees, and for the recognition of a union in the workplace. But what happens when the Catholic Church also owns hospital chains that have workers who want to organize? We are seeing what happens in California, as St. Joseph’s Health System (SJHS) continues to fight the organizing efforts of its workers. What makes this even more disturbing is that Mothers of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Orange, which SJHS falls under, is the same order that strongly supported Caesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. They did not just support UFW in word, but they also supported them in action, even having several nuns be arrested in support of Chavez along housing union activists in the 70's. Now the NLRB has ruled that at there have been at least 35 different labor law violations by SJHS. SJHS claims that they have no problem with workers organize, while at the same time running an anti-union campaign: [SJHS] conducted surveillance of employees on their lunch breaks speaking with union representatives, coerced employees who approached the union, and interrogated employees wearing Union pulley pins. SJHS claims they just want a private ballot election, and they support a worker's right to organize. Yet they continue to run an anti-union campaign. They continue to refuse neutrality (meaning that they would not run a negative campaign). I guess we see where Catholic social teaching and capitalism collide. Read more at the NY Times or St. Joe's Healthcare Workers United. \| Permalink Chipotle and the Immokalee Workers Posted by Dave on 07/29/08 at 01:10:40 pm Categories: Labor This makes me sad. I like Chipotle. A lot. They have an excellent vegetarian fajita burrito, and they use fresh ingredients and get their meat from ethically treated animals. Yet it seems that their "food with integrity" motto is more public relations spin than actual reality: Chipotle Hypocrisy: In recent years, Taco Bell and Burger King have foolishly resisted efforts by activists to marginally raise the piece rate they pay tomato pickers only to eventually buckle under the pressure of well-deserved bad press. Chipotle Mexican Grill seems to have learned nothing from their lessons. Although Chipotle, the expanding Colorado-based restaurant chain formerly owned by McDonald's, touts its fair treatment of animals and its locally-sourced organic avocados, its colorful, interactive website neglects any mention of the fair treatment of farm workers. While CEO Steve Ells boasts about his "Food With Integrity" brand, he has ignored countless letters and petitions from all over the country, asking for an extra penny per pound for his tomato pickers. Why is it that Chipotle places an emphasis on "integrity" with the food that they purchase but not with the workers that pick the food? I have a guess... "ethical" food is trendy. Treating workers ethically and with integrity? Not so trendy. And in turn, it does not help the bottom line. Take a look at the Coalition of Immokalee Workers website to see what you can do to let Chipotle that do not just care about where the food came from, but that you also care about the workers responsible for getting the food. \| Permalink Minimum Wage Hike Posted by Dave on 07/24/08 at 03:20:43 pm Categories: Economy, Labor Today is a good day for many working people around the country as the minimum wage hike kicks in: The national minimum wage went up 70 cents on Thursday as the second of three planned increases mandated by Congress took effect. The national minimum wage will increase to $6.55 per hour as part of the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. Before last year's legislation, the national minimum wage had been left unchanged at $5.15 an hour since 1997. The act calls for a third and final increase, scheduled to take place on July 24, 2009, that will raise the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. Both Working Life and OurFuture have more. From Working Life: - Adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage today is what it was in the 1950s--more than half a century ago. - To really make ends meet at minimum wage pay, two people in a household have to work three full-time minimum wage jobs. And OurFuture points out that, contrary to many conservative theories, there are numerous studies that show that minimum wage increases are not harmful to the economy: The most credible economic studies prove that the dire predictions by conservative ideologues and business interests have never panned out after previous minimum wage increases. That includes one just released by the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment at the University of California at Berkeley that helps to rebut some of the claims often made that minimum wage increases lead to higher teen-age unemployment. You can view many of those studies at the Economic Policy Institute, as well as the Institute for Research on Labor and Employment. But while this is good news, it is far from enough. In a time where the rich are continually getting a larger and larger share of the pie, $6.55 per hour is hardly enough to live on, and even further from enough to have any semblance of an equitable society. Think about it... as food prices continue to soar, gas prices are outrageous, housing is becoming simply unaffordable, even at higher levels of income, the vast majority of the people in this country are struggling every day to get by. They are worrying where their food is going to come from tomorrow. They are being forced to make impossible decisions such as whether to buy their necessary medication or to buy food. They are struggling to even afford the gas that is requisite for them to even get to the job that they make just enough money to pay for more gas. Child care has become unaffordable for the average working American. Energy prices are soaring, making it nearly impossible to keep your house warm, keep your oven on, or even keep lights on. Without health insurance they put off necessary medical procedures, and without being able to afford any medicine, the problems are just exacerbated. And then they become too sick to work, but they cannot afford ways to get healthy and their financial situation continues to spiral down. We have a problem in this country. We have millions and millions of workers who have struggle with these nearly impossible situations every single day while the top 1% revel in the comfort of their wealth. A minimum wage increase is nice. And it is needed. And it will help many people. But we need more. And we need it soon. \| Permalink Workers, Labor, and Unions, Oh My! Posted by Dave on 06/27/08 at 07:54:38 am Categories: Wal-Mart, Labor Domestic Workers Unite! Domestic workers in America are among the most economically exploited and vulnerable to abuse by their employers. Ford tells union more cuts needed ... as ... Ford pays new CEO $39.1M in 4 months. Hmm... some slumping market, eh? Problems at Toyota: Your Prius Was Made By Abused Workers The Toyota You Don't Know Like Clock Work: Wal-Mart faces 80 class-actions, most from off-the-clock allegations Labor Needs to Improve Conditions for Nonunion Workers, Official Warns - I agree. \| Permalink Lottsa' Quick Links Posted by Dave on 06/13/08 at 02:59:13 pm Categories: Capital Punishment, Religion and Politics, Crime and Justice, LGBTQ, Quick Links, Immigration, Labor, Barack Obama, Campaign 2008 Here is what I am reading... what are you reading? [Colin] Powell tells B.C. crowd he might vote for Obama: Colin Powell, the former Republican secretary of state, says he is not ruling out a vote for Barack Obama, the presumed Democratic nominee for president. While Mr. Powell served in the administrations of two Republican presidents, he suggested yesterday his support for presumed Republican nominee John McCain is not a forgone conclusion. From the "Matthew 25 Network" Christians for Obama - I will hopefully more on this later. Immigration Through the Lens of Anabaptist History: For Mennonites of European descent, these are powerful stories of our immigrant history. We see our families facing the choice of entering a country illegally, the unfairness of stereotypes, and loss of economic stability. Through these glimpses into our history, may we be better informed of our own identity and increasingly empathetic in our response to those whose immigrant stories are more recent. Soulforce, Willow Creek, and Me - Willow Creek leadership meets with LGBTQ families and activists Fight the Smears: Barack Obama takes on the absurd smears against him and his family House passes jobless benefits extension: The U.S. House extends unemployment benefits, but Bush will veto. Thanks George for the compassion. SCOTUS: Gitmo Detainees Have Constitutional Habeas Rights New Gang of 14 won’t back McCain - Heh. He may want to try to bash for Obama for the one or two that when he has at least 14. Death penalty too inconsistent to be fair \| Permalink A Union Renaissance? Posted by Dave on 06/10/08 at 08:29:25 am Categories: Labor Fears Of A Union Renaissance: Who's afraid of a little organized labor? U.S. business, that's who. Union membership encompasses just 7.5% of the private sector, but the U.S. Chamber of Commerce is fearful of a potential resurgence in the United States. Now the group, which represents business interests, is opposing a laundry list of bills fluttering about Capitol Hill, which the chamber says would make it easier to organize a union, expand worker benefits at the expense of employers and lift the caps on punitive damages sought by employees in lawsuits. \| Permalink Quick Links Posted by Dave on 06/03/08 at 04:12:18 pm Categories: Sports Ravings, Quick Links, Labor, Campaign 2008 Blake will be live-blogging the Montana and South Dakota primaries this evening. Travelers Turn to Public Transit - Woohoo! Public transit usage us up! Why is Organizing Harder in the South? Running start: South Side fifth-grader up for ESPY - Vote for the Chicago South Side's ESPY nominee! \| Permalink Randomness Posted by Dave on 05/23/08 at 09:08:41 am Categories: Random Ravings, Sports Ravings, Theological Ravings, Capital Punishment, Non-violence, Chicago/Illinois, Labor, Barack Obama, Campaign 2008, McCain - More of the Same Hmm... looks like I have not blogged much lately, eh? Life happens, I guess. A few things I have been meaning to write about: Obama wins Oregon, Clinton wins Kentucky, and nothing in the race changes. Exciting, eh? Did you know John McCain is older than the chocolate chip cookie? Oscar Pistorius gets to keep his Olympic dreams alive: When an international court ruled Friday that a double-amputee sprinter from South Africa was eligible to compete in this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing, the stage was set for disabled athletes to meet their own trailblazer. The watershed ruling made the runner, Oscar Pistorius, the first amputee to successfully challenge the notion that his carbon-fiber prosthetics gave him an unfair advantage and assured his right to race against able-bodied athletes in the Olympics, should he qualify. Unions: good for equity, good for efficiency Justice Stevens contrasts lethal injection methods - Stevens says horses are probably euthanized more humanely than death row prisoners do. CeaseFire effective in curbing violence - Yet... in the amid the wave of violence in Chicago, the Governor has refused to fund Ceasefire. Thanks Rod. Theology for the Masses has an interesting discussion on whether or not a "relationship with God" actually exists. Anything else exciting going on? \| Permalink May Day! Posted by Dave on 05/01/08 at 12:04:23 pm Categories: Labor Today is May Day, or the International Workers' Rights Day. And while many will be out marching today, I will be sitting in an office fighting for workers' rights. Or at least their health insurance. Fun times... Feministing has a good collection of links to read: The Unapologetic Mexican Why Immigration is a Matter of Reproductive Justice An Anti-Trafficking Activist's Agenda ACLU Immigrant rights work WOC PhD has a good post up with events and a video about immigration myths \| Permalink :: Next Page >>	Friends of the mindful mission Advertising Disclaimer Visit the mindful mission's Amazon store friends Andrea Brendoman Danny's Blog Cabin feminism loves you Guy Smitty Hundie Jo Kyle's Corner Matt's Short Term Memory Spiritual Wanderings Stephanie and Somebody Tête-a-Tête-Tête The Confessional Theology for the Masses Turn the Clock Forward recommended blogs the revolution will not be televised... a badchristian blog An Absolution Revolution Bart Campolo Blogs of Transcendence Chip Berlet Chris Haw Dry Bones Dance eMergingCity grrrl meets world Hugo Schwyzer Hunger for Justice Jesus Politics Jivinjehoshaphat Jordan Cooper LAmom Messages My stupid mouth Nicholas Fiedler onehandclapping Pomomusings Street Prophets Submergent Swinging from the Vine The Homeless Guy the Jesus Manifesto Theological Food For Our Day Traveling Mercies Urban Onramps Waving or Drowning? welcome to the story young anabaptist radicals criminal justice/death penalty a Public Defender Abolish the Death Penalty Alaskablawg Amnesty: Death Penalty Arbitrary and Capricious Blonde Justice Campaign to End the Death Penalty - Austin Capital Defense Weekly CrimBlog Defending Those People Gideon's Guardians Grist for Breakfast Injustice Anywhere... 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