Court reinstates frame-up charges in Amtrak crash

Vol. 82/No. 10 - March 12, 2018

Common Pleas Court Judge Kathryn Lewis reinstated criminal charges Feb. 6 against Brandon Bostian, the engineer who was driving Amtrak Train 188 that crashed May 12, 2015, in Philadelphia. Eight people died and 200 were injured when the Washington-to-New York…


‘We can build unions that inspire workers to fight’

Vol. 82/No. 10 - March 12, 2018

NEW YORK — Some 4,000 union members rallied here Feb. 24 — and many more in actions in 27 other cities — two days before a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on whether government workers can opt out of paying union…


Seattle school bus drivers win new contract

Vol. 82/No. 9 - March 5, 2018
Seattle Education Association members picket Feb. 7 in support of Teamsters school bus drivers who struck First Student bosses. Nine-day strike led to gains in health care coverage, pensions.

SEATTLE — Seattle School District bus drivers who are members of Teamsters Local 174 overwhelmingly ratified a contract with First Student bosses Feb. 10 after a nine-day strike here. Teamster leaders say advances were made in getting health care coverage…



Agreement ends final case against Quebec rail worker

Vol. 82/No. 9 - March 5, 2018

On Jan. 19 locomotive engineer Tom Harding and train traffic controller Richard Labrie, members of United Steelworkers Local 1976, won acquittal by a jury on frame-up charges of criminal negligence for the deaths of 47 people in the July 2013…


School bus drivers in Seattle strike for health care, pensions

Vol. 82/No. 7 - February 19, 2018

SEATTLE — Some 400 school bus drivers, members of Teamsters Local 174, went on strike against First Student bus company here Feb. 1. First Student is the largest school bus operator in North America, with over 50,000 workers in more…


School bus drivers in Quebec fight for higher wages

Vol. 82/No. 7 - February 19, 2018
School bus drivers in Montreal picket Transco, part of multinational First Student company, Jan. 31. Drivers also struck against company in Seattle, California and Manchester, England.

MONTREAL — Some 100 school bus drivers braved freezing cold to conduct a spirited rally in front of the Transco headquarters here Jan. 31. The drivers, members of the Confederation of National Trade Unions (CSN) held the rally as part…


Albany hotel workers beat back concession contract demands

Vol. 82/No. 7 - February 19, 2018

ALBANY, N.Y. — For four months workers at the downtown Hilton Albany have mobilized informational picketing and rallies against the bosses’ concession demands, winning growing solidarity from unionists and others in the Capital Region. They voted to approve a new…


Workers rally against lockout at Quebec aluminum smelter

Vol. 82/No. 6 - February 12, 2018
Unionists at ABI smelter in Bécancour, Quebec, hold mass picket Jan. 12, day after ABI locked out 1,000 workers. Bosses were turned back after half an hour trying to get into plant.

BÉCANCOUR, Quebec — In a move that surprised both workers and United Steelworkers Local 9700 union officials, ABI aluminum smelter bosses here locked out over 1,000 workers at 3 a.m. Jan. 11. The workers had overwhelmingly voted down the bosses’…


Pickets in Canada target Tim Hortons coffee chain takebacks

Vol. 82/No. 6 - February 12, 2018

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — At dozens of locations across Canada unionists and other workers picketed outlets of the Tim Hortons coffee chain Jan. 19. They were protesting the decision by some franchise owners to take back health benefits and paid…