Brooklyn Oil Workers At United Metro Energy Enter Second Month of Strike

The workers of United Metro Energy Corp. in New York City have been striking for two months to win a first contract. Against a billionaire boss who continues to delay negotiations, it will take militant action to break this deadlock.

“Put a Crimp in the Belt and the Whole Belt Freezes”: The Anniversary of the Flint Sit-Down Strike

Today, 84 years ago, the Flint sit-down strike began. By sitting down, autoworkers stood up for the entire working class and set into motion a movement that built a mighty labor movement. As the pandemic and economic downturn continues to wreak havoc, it is important to remember what solidarity and grit can accomplish.

Detroit Activists Threatened with Intimidating Texts

Two dozen Detroit activists received threatening text messages last night and this morning. The movement against racism will not be intimidated by such tactics. Left Voice stands with the activists against intimidation and repression.

Not Enough Nurses: Philadelphia Healthcare Workers Strike for Safe Staffing

Workers at St. Mary Medical Center outside Philadelphia went on strike Tuesday morning, demanding safe staffing ratios to confront the growing numbers of Covid cases in Pennsylvania. Why are the bosses cutting staff and refusing to hire enough nurses during a pandemic?

The PRO Act: Biden’s Latest Lie to Labor

Polls show that support for unions is rising. 60 million workers would join one if they could. At a Labor Day event with the AFL-CIO, Biden outlined his plan to be labor’s “friend in the White House.” But the PRO Act will be betrayed just like the Employee Free Choice Act over a decade ago. Only class struggle will give us our rights.  

“By Solidarity We Triumph”: The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

95 years ago, Pullman porters came together to form a union. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters won union recognition and a contract in a decade-long struggle. Their fight wasn’t just against the Pullman Car Company, but also against racism within the labor movement.

Marches, Assemblies, and a Public Tribunal: How Detroit Activists Are Building Power

On June 20, Detroit protesters staged a Public Tribunal Against Police Brutality. This was only the latest action in a series of growing militant activity in the Motor City. What powers the movement? Daily assemblies and marches.

Black Struggle is Class Struggle: Five Demands on Unions

In the ongoing uprising against racism and police brutality, unions can play a big role. But only if they are pushed to. Here are five proposals to bring labor into the Black struggle movement.

The Cops: Racists and Strike Breakers

Cops are not workers; they are tools of capitalist oppression, and as such they have no place in the labor movement. Unions should stand with the protesters against racist police violence.

The Unemployment Catastrophe Continues

The Bureau of Labor Statistics latest reports show that the U.S. unemployment rate has reached 14.7 percent. Now is the time for unemployed councils and an “essential workers” fight back. 

What Kind of Party Do We Need? Five International Examples

Many people are calling for a new party in the United States. But what kind of party do we need? We rate five international examples: a green party, a democratic socialist party, a neoreformist party, a new anticapitalist party, and a class-independence party.

Building Black Hawk Helicopters in a Pandemic

As the coronavirus crisis was heating up in mid-March, Connecticut workers representing over a dozen unions, as well as unemployed workers, formed the Connecticut Workers Crisis Response group. A Plan of Action was drawn up and hundreds of workers have signed up to their list of demands. One such worker is Vinny Caizzi, a machine repair technician at Sikorsky Aircraft, and here is what he has to say about the crisis and the workers’ response.   

Connecticut Workers Put Forward Plan of Action

Connecticut workers have come together and formed the Connecticut Workers Crisis Response committee. This group, made up of union and non-union workers and representing sectors as diverse as hospitality workers and teachers, grocery store workers and pilots, Teamsters and professors, have put forward a Plan of Action that could serve as a template for Crisis Response committees throughout the country.

The World Needs Ventilators, General Electric Workers Want to Make Them

Factories that once produced jet engines may soon be producing ventilators if General Electric workers have their way. They demonstrated on Monday, March 30th, at a Massachusetts aviation facility and at GE’s corporate headquarters in Boston, demanding that factories that would otherwise be idle be used in the fight against Covid-19.

Another Workers’ Controlled Factory Fights Against Covid-19

Workers’ controlled factories in Argentina are taking the initiative in the fight against the Coronavirus. Madygraf, a printing plant in the northern region of Buenos Aires, is the latest factory to retool during the pandemic. 

Workers’ Control Against the Pandemic

Argentina has a long tradition of workers occupying their factories and producing under workers’ control. In the crisis, workers who once had to sew police uniforms have taken control of their workplace and are now making surgical masks. A U.S. hotel worker currently in Argentina reports.

Union Density Is Down, but Class Struggle Is on the Rise

The Bureau of Labor Statistics released a report this week showing that union density is down in the United States for 2019. In light of the rise in combative labor struggles across industries over the last several years, what does this trend mean for the labor movement?

Trump Labor Board Escalates War on Workers’ Rights

This week the National Labor Relations Board published changes to the rules and procedures for union recognition elections that will make it more difficult for workers to unionize. To fight back, workers will have to reclaim the militancy that started the labor movement in the first place, and force bosses to recognize their unions.

Low-Wage Workers Shut Down Airports Across the Country, Demand Better Pay and Affordable Health Care

With a strike authorization already on the table, Tuesday’s actions could be the first step toward a bigger nationwide strike of airport workers.

Sheraton, No Layoffs!

The Stamford Sheraton plans to cut departments and lay off workers. But the workers are fighting back.

NYC Nurses in Struggle Against Hospital Managers – and Against Union Bureaucrats

On Wednesday, the panel, “Reflections & Lessons from the Nurses’ Struggle” took place in Manhattan. Six nurses—a seventh appearing by videochat—recounted their experiences in fighting for good contracts and union democracy. A group of union bureaucrats made a scene.

Stop and Shop Workers Go on Strike

Solidarity with Stop and Shop workers who are on strike.

How I broke with the Democrats

As a hotel worker in Stamford, CT, I oppose Bernie Sanders and his party. I take this position because I watched the Democrats betray hotel workers in Providence.

Unrequited Love: NY Unions Mourn Amazon HQ2

Unions should stop their policy of 'engagement and cooperation' with the bosses and represent the interest of working-class communities.

Migrants on Hunger Strike Are Being Force-Fed at Texas Detention Center

In the El Paso Processing Center in Texas, eleven migrants are on hunger strike against the conditions of the center, the slowness of their legal proceedings, and the verbal abuse they regularly receive from Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Hotel Struggles Across the Nation

With the eruption of strike action by Chicago hotel workers, hotel worker William Lewis argues that the unions have the power to organize the unorganized, spread the strike nationally -- and win.

Workers at Hilton Stamford Picket for a Contract and against Retaliatory Firing

For months the workers of the Hilton Stamford have been battling it out for a good contract. They won recognition for their union 110 votes to five in December of 2017. Since then they have been strengthening their organization internally while mobilizing for fights outside their hotel.

Hilton Workers Walk the Picket Line for Women’s Rights

Today on International Women’s Day, workers of the Stamford Hilton marched out through the front door and formed a picket line to call attention to their fight for a fair contract.

WV Teachers Show Us How to Fight the ‘Janus’ Attack

The Janus v. AFSCME case, now being argued in the Supreme Court, represents the latest of a series of attacks by the bosses on public sector unions. However, the strike led by the courageous teachers of West Virginia demonstrates that public employees can fight back — and win — even in the most adverse conditions.

Democracy and Action at the Hilton Hotel

Today negotiations have begun for the first contract at the Stamford Hilton. The union goes to the negotiation table with high spirits having built an organization that has not only maintained enthusiasm throughout the hotel, but has also politicized the workplace.