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

I was not aware when I purchased this book that it was the most recent in a series featuring American-born Cambridge professor (and spy) Tom Wilde. The good news is that knowing that, I’ve saved myself a lot of time as I have no intention of reading another book in the series. While the opening scenes are gripping — a Japanese submarine making a secret delivery to the English shore in the final days of the Second World War, for instance — they quickly fade away and this becomes yet another thriller-by-numbers, with chase scenes at night through the English countryside, evil Nazis and *spoiler alert* even more evil Communists. The characters are wooden, the plot non-existent. Don’t waste your time.

I admit that it’s a great title. And the opening few pages are kind of cute. And then — nothing. The book has absolutely nothing to say. And it’s based on nothing, other than Mark Manson’s life story which is, frankly, not all that interesting. It’s written in a blokey, sexist way — almost as if, foul language excluded, it could have been written in the 1950s. I have absolutely no idea why over ten million copies of this book were sold. Manson has, apparently, written a sequel or two. But I couldn’t give a fuck. Don’t waste your time.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Rena Zacarias Youngblood

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Rena Zacarias Youngblood of AFGE.

Rena Youngblood is a U.S. Air Force veteran and executive vice president of AFGE Local 3511. She works in Inpatient Behavioral Health-Nursing Services at the South Texas Veterans Health Care System, where she represents more than 6,000 Veterans Administration (VA) workers. She was recognized as a top organizer through the AFGE National VA Council and received the Augusta Y. Thomas Civil Rights Award for organizing. Youngblood currently serves as the co-chair of AFGE A.P.O.W.E.R., the union’s Asian American constituency group, and is an active member of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA).

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/30/2023 - 11:29

Trade Policy Should Center Workers: The Working People Weekly List

Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.

UAW, AFL-CIO Leaders Say Workers Need to Be at Center of Trade Policy: “UAW President Shawn Fain and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond called for trade policies Thursday that improve the lives of workers and benefit their communities rather than force a ‘race to the bottom’ through deals that boost the fortunes of wealthy people at the expense of others. ‘Here in America, free trade deals, they had a disproportionately negative impact on communities and particularly workers of color. These trade deals, they gutted communities, and they really deepened inequality in this country amongst workers,” said Redmond, whose union represents 12.5 million members. ‘We have the opportunity to reverse the damage through trade policies with workers at the center.’”

The Labor Movement Just Scored One of Its Biggest Victories in the South This Century: “After a bruising three-year fight, workers at school bus manufacturer Blue Bird in Fort Valley, Georgia, voted May 12 to join United Steelworkers (USW) Local 697. ‘It’s been a long time since a manufacturing site with 1,400 people has been organized, let alone organized in the South, let alone organized with predominantly African American workers, and let alone in the auto industry,’ said Maria Somma, organizing director with the USW.”

NLRB Sues Colleges, Says Athletes Are Workers: “The big business of college sports is back in federal court again. And this time it’s over the right of the athletes to organize. That’s because the National Labor Relations Board’s top enforcement official, General Counsel Jennifer Abruzzo, sued the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the PAC12 conference, and several colleges to court in federal court in Los Angeles, seeking approval of its stand that college athletes are ‘employees’ and have the right to organize under labor law.”

Palms, Culinary Union Reach Agreement on New Contract: “Union leaders reached an agreement early Friday with The Palms for a new three-year contract. The agreement affects about 900 employees and on Tuesday 95% of Palms workers voted to ratify the new contract, according to a statement from Culinary Local 226. ‘We celebrate this historic agreement with Palms, which protects workers with the best health care in Nevada, strong job security, and fair wage increases,’ Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer for Culinary Local 226, said in the statement. ‘The San Manuel Gaming and Hospitality Authority and Palms Casino Resort have done the right thing by respecting their employees and recalling workers back to work with their seniority intact.’”

The New York Times Reaches a Contract Deal with Its Newsroom Union: “The New York Times reached a deal on Tuesday for a new contract with the union representing the majority of its newsroom employees, ending more than two years of contentious negotiations that included a 24-hour strike. The agreement, if ratified, will give union members immediate salary increases of up to 12.5% to cover the last two years and 2023, and will raise the required minimum salary to $65,000, up from about $37,500. The previous contract expired in March 2021, and union members have not received contractual raises since 2020. The union negotiating the deal, which is part of the NewsGuild of New York, represents nearly 1,500 employees in the newsroom, advertising and other areas of the company. More than 1,800 people work in the Times’s newsroom.”

‘Your Fight Is Our Fight’: John Leguizamo, Busy Philipps, Tony Kushner and Unions Show Solidarity with WGA: “John Leguizamo, Busy Philipps, Tony Kushner, Neil Gaiman, Al Franken and Wanda Sykes were among those who took to the stage during WGA East’s Rally at 30 Rockefeller Center on Tuesday, appearing alongside union leaders from SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Actor’s Equity and more pledging that ‘all of labor stands behind the writers.’ Cynthia Nixon, Ilana Glazer, Warren Leight and labor leaders Rebecca Damon from SAG-AFTRA, Kate Shindle of Actors Equity and Matt Loeb of IATSE were also among those who spoke, with Mark Ruffalo and Susan Sarandon making crowd appearances.”

Hispanic Society Museum Workers Approved a New Union Contract, Ending a Grueling Two-Month Strike: “After eight long weeks, workers at New York’s Hispanic Society Museum and Library have ended their strike and voted to approve their first union contract. The fraught labor battle recently led to a demonstration outside the home of Philippe de Montebello, the institution’s chairman and former director of the Met Museum. ‘We are elated about the new contract,’ Patrick Lenaghan, the museum’s curator of prints, photographs, and sculptures, said in a statement. ‘It provides the security we never had before. With this, we can concentrate on the work we love and dedicated so many years to.’ The Hispanic Society first organized in May 2021 amid a groundswell of unionization at museums across the U.S. Workers petitioned the National Labor Relations Board to join Local 2110, part of the United Automobile Workers (UAW) union. A few months earlier, the museum had ended its pension plan for staff members, and staff sought improved benefits and salaries.”

Epic Games' Bandcamp Has Unionized: “Fortnite and Unreal developer Epic Games now has a union. Bandcamp, the music distribution platform aimed at bringing artists to the world, has formed Epic's first union after holding a successful union vote. ‘Today, a majority of eligible Bandcamp workers voted 31-7 in favor of forming Bandcamp United, a union represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU),’ the new union wrote in a statement. ‘The vote results now await certification by the National Labor Relations Board, with a collective bargaining process to follow.’”

Wisconsin AFL-CIO Stands in Solidarity with OPEIU Local 39 Members on Strike at CUNA Mutual in Madison: “Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement of solidarity as members of OPEIU Local 39 take strike action: ‘OPEIU Local 39 members at CUNA Mutual in Madison are on strike for good union jobs to remain in Wisconsin, for quality and affordable healthcare for all, for fair wages, and for the ability to retire with dignity after a lifetime of work. As union men and women, we do not take the decision to strike lightly. The history of our union movement has clearly demonstrated that only by standing shoulder to shoulder have working people gained the family-supporting wages, pay equity and other benefits which we are rightly due. The Wisconsin labor movement proudly stands in solidarity with our sisters and brothers of OPEIU Local 39 on strike at CUNA Mutual as they take brave action to secure a fair contract. We urge CUNA Mutual to come to the table and negotiate in good faith.’”

Carnegie Museums Workers Approve First Union Contract, Including Pay Raises: “The United Museum Workers union announced Thursday its members had ratified their first contract with the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh. The more than 500 union members voted to approve the four-year pact, which raises base pay at the museums from $12 an hour to $16 an hour. Most workers will see immediate raises ranging from 15% to 35%, according to the union. Union members already earning more than $16 an hour will also receive raises, according to the museum.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/30/2023 - 09:36

Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Veterans Affairs Registered Nurses Sign 3-Year Contract with NNOC/NNU

Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.

Registered nurses with National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United (NNOC/NNU) at the Department of Veterans Affairs signed a three-year contract, which covers more than 14,000 RNs at 23 hospitals. 

“We are pleased that this protracted process is finally over and this agreement is signed,” said NNOC/NNU-VA Chair Irma Westmoreland, RN. “We are proud to have a new contract in place, but our work as registered nurses is never done. We must now keep our sleeves rolled up to tackle the understaffing conditions our nurses are facing across the country. We look forward to working with Secretary [Denis] McDonough to implement alternative work schedule flexibilities that will retain nurses and improve staffing levels for veterans.

“Throughout the pandemic, VA nurses have worked tirelessly in extremely difficult conditions to provide care for the sickest of the sick. While providing this care, we have had to fight for optimal personal protection equipment, appropriate training and staffing, notification and testing following exposures, and proper infection controls. This has put us, our families, and our patients unnecessarily at risk. We hope the signing of this contract marks the beginning of a new era of renewed respect for the rights and lives of the nurses who advocate and care for our nation’s heroes.”

Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 05/30/2023 - 09:16

Insurance company professionals are highly trained in prioritizing profits and fucking over customers. Could you process a claim at a health insurer?

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NORCROSS, GA—Stressing that it was his life’s goal to visit every U.S. location of what he referred to as “the best damn fast food dining franchise in the country,” former President Jimmy Carter told reporters Tuesday that he had embarked on a quest to eat at every Taco Bell in America. “There are over 7,000 Taco…

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RALEIGH, NC—Holding an all-hands meeting Tuesday morning to discuss first-quarter performance and set expectations for the rest of the year, local CEO Randall Schmidt reportedly outlined the challenges the company was facing due to his own insatiable greed. “These are tough times, given the economic realities of my…

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AMERICA, FORMER LAND OF THE FREE AND EX-HOME OF THE BRAVE—A hush reportedly spread across the country Tuesday as another star fell from the American flag following a well-attended drag queen brunch. “So for our special today, we have a salmon Benedict, and as always, we have our signature bottomless mimosas,” a server…

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MIRAMAR, FL—Adding another option to its budget-friendly travel offerings, Spirit Airlines began providing a new service this week that allows passengers to purchase directions to the nearest bus station for $45. “In keeping with the ultra-low costs our customers have come to expect, Spirit now makes it affordable to…

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GREENWOOD, IN—Noting that his decision would likely set the tone for the entire meeting, local man Andy Franklin told reporters Tuesday that he never knew the right moment in a job interview to go in for a kiss. “I hate to say it, but when you meet your interviewer for the first time, that first kiss is such a…

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LabourStart headline - Source: Business Insider

LabourStart headline - Source: Yahoo Finance

LabourStart headline - Source: Yahoo Finance

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Profiles: Aina Iglesias

For Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Aina Iglesias of the Office and Professional Employees  (OPEIU).

Aina is a labor relations specialist with Hawaii Nurses' Association (OPEIU Local 50) and serves as OPEIU's representative on the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) board. "APALA gives a space to talk about issues that are important to AAPI members," she said.

Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 05/29/2023 - 11:29

NEW YORK—With the beloved characters joyously sharing the warmth of Yuletide cheer as snow fell gently upon Manhattan, HBO’s hit drama Succession concluded Sunday with the Roy family saving Christmas. “After years of sibling squabbles over who would take the throne at Waystar Royco, the hit series has elegantly stuck…

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NORFOLK, VA—Gathering their children for what they described as a difficult but important discussion that every family like theirs must have, local white conservative parents Brian and Marie Fortner sat their son and daughter down for a tough conversation about seeing a Black character in a movie. “One day you might…

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After threatening boycotts of companies and violence against retail workers, conservatives explain why they’re so triggered by products celebrating Pride Month.

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Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) bid $100,000 to win a tube of cherry Chapstick used by Speaker Kevin McCarthy at a short GOP fundraising auction held during a break from debt ceiling negotiations. What do you think?

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