US Labor Day actions marked by union battles

Vol. 88/No. 34 - September 16, 2024
US Labor Day actions marked by union battles

BY BETSY FARLEY, SARAH ULLMAN and JANICE LYNN Labor Day actions across the country were marked by strikes by 10,000 UNITE HERE hotel workers, 17,000 AT&T workers and other union fights. Hundreds joined the Labor Day parade in Detroit Sept.…


CFMEU workers strike against Etex bosses’ attacks in Sydney

Vol. 88/No. 34 - September 16, 2024

SYDNEY — Striking workers on the picket line at Etex in Matraville in eastern Sydney told the Militant Aug. 30 they had voted overwhelmingly to reject the company’s new contract offer. The workers, members of the Construction, Forestry and Maritime…



Tessie Prevost and the battle to desegregate New Orleans schools

Vol. 88/No. 33 - September 2, 2024
Mob rallies for segregated schools outside McDonogh 19 Elementary in New Orleans Nov. 14, 1960. Federal marshal’s car, right, carries Tessie Prevost, two other courageous Black girls.

ATLANTA — Tessie Prevost, one of four 6-year-old girls who faced down violent mobs to desegregate New Orleans schools, died July 6. Sixty-four years ago Prevost, along with Leona Tate and Gail Etienne, were escorted by federal marshals as they…



25, 50 and 75 years ago

Vol. 88/No. 33 - September 2, 2024

September 6, 1999 HAVANA — Nearly 600 youth from 66 countries gathered here August 15-18 to participate in the International Seminar of Youth and Students on Neoliberalism. The last day conference participants filled the National Theater for a closing session…


Canadian rail workers walk out over jobs, wages, safety

Vol. 88/No. 33 - September 2, 2024
Teamster rail workers at Canadian National join picket of CSN hotel workers at the Bonaventure in Montreal Aug. 22. Rail workers at CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City have walked out in nationwide fight for safety.

MONTREAL — Almost 10,000 rail engineers, conductors and dispatchers, members of the Teamsters union, walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. Aug. 22 after Canadian National and Canadian Pacific Kansas City railroads, Canada’s two cross-country rail lines, refused to sign…


Chicago nurses strike for more staffing, higher pay

Vol. 88/No. 33 - September 2, 2024

CHICAGO — After voting overwhelmingly to strike, hundreds of members of the Illinois Nurses Association walked off the job at the University of Illinois Hospital here when their contract expired Aug. 19. This kicked off a weeklong work stoppage, in…


‘Working people need our own party, a party of labor’

Vol. 88/No. 33 - September 2, 2024
Rachele Fruit, SWP candidate for U.S. president, met Aug. 19 in Manchester, England, with Festus Igho, center, and Israel Akanji, rail gateline workers who are active in the fight to win recognition for the Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers union on the job.

Fruit in UK: ‘Workers need to take political power’  MANCHESTER, England — “Workers need to rely on ourselves if we’re to fundamentally change the conditions we face,” Rachele Fruit, the Socialist Workers Party candidate for U.S. president, told participants at…


Dallas rally backs Black dancers fired for forming a union

Vol. 88/No. 33 - September 2, 2024

DALLAS — In 105 degree heat, Dallas Black Dance Theatre performers and 200 of their supporters turned out for a spirited rally and picket in front of One Arts Plaza here Aug. 17. After the dancers voted to join the…