Faculty strikes three Rutgers campuses in New Jersey

Vol. 87/No. 17 - May 1, 2023
Faculty and graduate student workers picket Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey, April 12. Five-day strike at three campuses statewide won wage raise for part-time teachers.

NEWARK, N.J. — Spirited picket lines went up April 10 at Rutgers University’s three campuses in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden. The strike by 9,000 faculty members — the first in 257 years — is the biggest public sector strike…


Cleanaway garbage-collectors strikes spread across Australia

Vol. 87/No. 17 - May 1, 2023

SYDNEY — Around 100 Transport Workers Union members rallied April 11 at the Cleanaway depot in Erskine Park in western Sydney as part of their fight for new contracts. Workers at the depot there were joined by union members from…


Australian unionists fight for ban on debilitating silica dust

Vol. 87/No. 16 - April 24, 2023
Unionists march in Sydney April 5 demanding ban on manufacture, use of stone products that produce silica dust. These particles can cause silicosis, a potentially fatal scaring of the lungs.

SYDNEY — Chanting “Union power!” over 1,000 workers marched through the central city here and rallied at the New South Wales state parliament April 5. The protest was part of a national day of action demanding a ban on the…


Seattle rally backs mushroom workers fight for union rights

Vol. 87/No. 16 - April 24, 2023

SEATTLE — Over 100 students and unionists rallied together at the University of Washington here March 31 in support of mushroom workers in Sunnyside fighting to win recognition of the United Farm Workers at Greenwood Mushrooms, formerly known as Ostrom.…


UAW members fight for first contract at Chicago-area plant

Vol. 87/No. 16 - April 24, 2023

BEDFORD PARK, Ill. — “We’re here to show the company you can’t treat us like this,” William Gehrig told Militant  correspondents visiting the picket line outside the Metal-Matic plant here April 7. Gehrig and some 120 other members of United…


Northwestern hospital workers demand more pay and staffing

Vol. 87/No. 15 - April 17, 2023
Hospital workers, members of Service Employees International Union, rally outside Northwestern hospital in Chicago March 31 in fight for contract, pay increase, more staffing.

CHICAGO — “Respect us, pay us, staff us!” chanted hospital workers, members of Service Employees International Union, and their supporters outside Northwestern hospital here March 31. They were there to build support during their ongoing contract negotiations with the hospital.…


Minneapolis postal workers rally for contract, no forced overtime

Vol. 87/No. 15 - April 17, 2023

MINNEAPOLIS — “We deserve to have our lives back!” chanted some 150 members of National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 9, family members and supporters outside the main post office here April 2. They’re demanding an end to forced overtime…


Steelworkers rally protests firings at Calif. Chevron refinery

Vol. 87/No. 15 - April 17, 2023

RICHMOND, Calif. — Over 60 people attended a protest organized by  United Steelworkers Local 5 at the Chevron oil refinery here March 23 titled “We are still here.” The leaflet building the action said, “Bring your family, friends and pets…


Pennsylvania chocolate factory explodes, killing seven workers

Vol. 87/No. 15 - April 17, 2023

WEST READING, Pa. — One of the buildings at the R.M. Palmer chocolate factory here exploded and burned to the ground March 24. The blast killed seven people inside the plant. At least 10 others were taken to the hospital. …


Sanitation workers in Denmark strike over onerous work schedule

Vol. 87/No. 14 - April 10, 2023

Some 550 sanitation workers went on strike in Copenhagen, Denmark, March 20 after officials at the municipal trash-collection agency refused to back down on imposing a more onerous work schedule. The strikers set up a mass picket, blocking the entrance…