Bill Bumpus Somerville MA - An injury to one is an injury to all

One multinational company is using Martin Luther King Day to issue a slap in the face to its union, undermining the very legacy of the civil rights leader.

Louisiana-based telecommunications giant Lumen Technologies (formerly CenturyLink) announced to its staff October 23 that it would be newly establishing a company holiday on MLK Day—but for non-union workers only.

The hypocrisy of leaving out 10,000 union workers on MLK Day was not well received by Anna Robbs, an African-American employee and union steward.

One multinational company is using Martin Luther King Day to issue a slap in the face to its union, undermining the very legacy of the civil rights leader.

Louisiana-based telecommunications giant Lumen Technologies (formerly CenturyLink) announced to its staff October 23 that it would be newly establishing a company holiday on MLK Day—but for non-union workers only.

The hypocrisy of leaving out 10,000 union workers on MLK Day was not well received by Anna Robbs, an African-American employee and union steward.

The labor movement’s pundits and prognosticators ring in the New Year like commentators anywhere. They make pronouncements about what “will” happen and what “should” happen to revitalize the shrinking U.S. trade union movement.

At 6.2 percent density in the private sector, U.S. unions aren’t even treading water; we are drowning. That makes it more imperative than ever to engage members to strengthen connections between our union struggles and build broader public support.

The labor movement’s pundits and prognosticators ring in the New Year like commentators anywhere. They make pronouncements about what “will” happen and what “should” happen to revitalize the shrinking U.S. trade union movement.

At 6.2 percent density in the private sector, U.S. unions aren’t even treading water; we are drowning. That makes it more imperative than ever to engage members to strengthen connections between our union struggles and build broader public support.

Colombia is considered one of the world’s most dangerous places to be a union member. Between 2012, when the country’s free trade agreement with the United States entered into force, and May 2019, 172 union activists were murdered.

Colombia is considered one of the world’s most dangerous places to be a union member. Between 2012, when the country’s free trade agreement with the United States entered into force, and May 2019, 172 union activists were murdered.

Transit workers have been hit hard by the pandemic. Last year at least 100 from the Amalgamated Transit Union and 131 from the Transport Workers lost their lives to Covid-19.

Before Covid, transit unions in the Bay Area—six ATU locals, and one local each of TWU and the Teamsters—often faced their individual struggles in isolation. But during the pandemic, these locals united across the region and came together with riders to demand protections for all.

Transit workers have been hit hard by the pandemic. Last year at least 100 from the Amalgamated Transit Union and 131 from the Transport Workers lost their lives to Covid-19.

Before Covid, transit unions in the Bay Area—six ATU locals, and one local each of TWU and the Teamsters—often faced their individual struggles in isolation. But during the pandemic, these locals united across the region and came together with riders to demand protections for all.

FENSUAGRO o la Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria, es una federación de sindicatos de trabajadores agrícolas con sede en Colombia que aboga por los derechos de los trabajadores agrícolas, jornaleros, indígenas rurales y afrocolombianos. Luchan por una reforma agraria integral y por su derecho a vivir y trabajar en la tierra rural. Un derecho básico que se ha mantenido oculto a estas comunidades durante demasiado tiempo.

FENSUAGRO o la Federación Nacional Sindical Unitaria Agropecuaria, es una federación de sindicatos de trabajadores agrícolas con sede en Colombia que aboga por los derechos de los trabajadores agrícolas, jornaleros, indígenas rurales y afrocolombianos. Luchan por una reforma agraria integral y por su derecho a vivir y trabajar en la tierra rural. Un derecho básico que se ha mantenido oculto a estas comunidades durante demasiado tiempo.

The situation has recently gotten even worse in Colombia—already the world’s most dangerous place to be a union member.

Right now social movement leaders, union members, and participants in the peace process are being killed at a rate of more than one victim per day. With the restrictions and curfews related to the coronavirus, death squads can more easily find their targets at their homes, and have even massacred entire families.

The situation has recently gotten even worse in Colombia—already the world’s most dangerous place to be a union member.

Right now social movement leaders, union members, and participants in the peace process are being killed at a rate of more than one victim per day. With the restrictions and curfews related to the coronavirus, death squads can more easily find their targets at their homes, and have even massacred entire families.

Even asking the questions is exhausting.

Who’s making the Covid decisions, and why do they change every day? How has the workload doubled? What about the new extremes of micro-management? Which of my co-workers, or their families, or my customers or patients or students are going to get sick?

And why can’t we seem to do anything to stop all this suffering?

The pull to give up, to withdraw, to hunker down and “just survive” is almost irresistible—even for a committed activist like you.

Even asking the questions is exhausting.

Who’s making the Covid decisions, and why do they change every day? How has the workload doubled? What about the new extremes of micro-management? Which of my co-workers, or their families, or my customers or patients or students are going to get sick?

And why can’t we seem to do anything to stop all this suffering?

The pull to give up, to withdraw, to hunker down and “just survive” is almost irresistible—even for a committed activist like you.

As cases of Covid-19 skyrocket across Washington state, protecting the public health requires bold action from our leaders. Unfortunately, delayed and reactionary responses have abandoned many of our most vulnerable community members. Nowhere is this more evident than in the criminal justice system.

As cases of Covid-19 skyrocket across Washington state, protecting the public health requires bold action from our leaders. Unfortunately, delayed and reactionary responses have abandoned many of our most vulnerable community members. Nowhere is this more evident than in the criminal justice system.

The pandemic kicked workers back on their heels—even tumbled some over. Fearing for their lives and well-being, some responded with fire and organizing, others with stunned passivity.

The pandemic kicked workers back on their heels—even tumbled some over. Fearing for their lives and well-being, some responded with fire and organizing, others with stunned passivity.

My name is Sara Nelson. As International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, I represent nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines.

A year ago, aviation was flying high. Flight attendants were looking forward to industry-wide bargaining after so much had been taken from us. Airlines were heralding record profits. One CEO said his airline would never lose money again.

My name is Sara Nelson. As International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, I represent nearly 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines.

A year ago, aviation was flying high. Flight attendants were looking forward to industry-wide bargaining after so much had been taken from us. Airlines were heralding record profits. One CEO said his airline would never lose money again.