Idaho miners’ rally marks two-and-a-half-year walkout

Vol. 83/No. 38 - October 21, 2019

MULLAN, Idaho — Some 100 members of United Steelworkers Local 5114 and supporters marched and rallied here Oct. 5, marking two and a half years since silver miners at the Lucky Friday mine went out on strike against Hecla Mining…


California sheet metal workers end strike, cite gains

Vol. 83/No. 38 - October 21, 2019

STOCKTON, Calif. — After 26 days on strike, workers voted Oct. 1 to approve a new contract with Simpson Strong-Tie, a maker of metal parts used in the building and construction industries. Three hundred and nineteen workers at the plant…


Albany nurses fight for union contract, against short staffing

Vol. 83/No. 38 - October 21, 2019

ALBANY, N.Y. — “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!” chanted hundreds of nurses and their supporters outside Albany Medical Center here Sept. 25.  “We nurses love to take care of our patients but, at this…


In Teamster battles, ‘Workers learned to fight as a class’

Vol. 83/No. 38 - October 21, 2019
In Teamster battles, ‘Workers learned to fight as a class’

The following excerpt is from Teamster Power, by Farrell Dobbs, one of Pathfinder’s Books of the Month for October. The title is about how members of Teamsters Local 574 learned to wield the union power forged through three 1934 strike…


Step up solidarity with UAW strikers at GM!

Vol. 83/No. 37 - October 14, 2019
Autoworkers picket Detroit GM Hamtramck Assembly Plant, Sept. 25. Key issues are permanent status for temporary workers, end to divisive two-tier pay scale, reopen shuttered plants.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — The nearly 49,000 United Auto Workers union members on strike against General Motors since Sept. 16 are winning solidarity in their fight to make temporary workers permanent, as well as to get rid of two-tier wages and…


Blackjewel miners end protest camp, fight goes on

Vol. 83/No. 37 - October 14, 2019

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Miners who had blocked the railroad near Cumberland, Kentucky, since July 29 took down the encampment, cleaned the area and ended this phase of their struggle Sept. 26. But, they and their supporters said that this doesn’t…


Calif. sheet metal workers walk out over low pay, health care

Vol. 83/No. 37 - October 14, 2019

STOCKTON, Calif. — More than 250 members of the Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local 104 on strike against Simpson Strong-Tie here overwhelmingly voted down what workers said was the company’s “last, best and final contract offer” Sept.…


Steelworkers in British Columbia strike Western Forest Products

Vol. 83/No. 37 - October 14, 2019

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Some 2,600 loggers and sawmill workers who are members of United Steelworkers Local 1-1937 have been winning solidarity in their strike against Western Forest Products. The unionists, who walked out July 1, are fighting concessions demanded…


Quebec Steelworkers on strike at Galvano plant win solidarity

Vol. 83/No. 37 - October 14, 2019

SAINT-MATHIEU-DE-BELOEIL, Quebec — Chanting “15 years of concessions, enough with the humiliation” and “a 12-hour day, no way, it sickens us,” some 60 workers rallied in support of United Steelworkers Local 9414 members on strike at the Galvano plating plant…


Unionized university workers in Quebec strike for higher wages

Vol. 83/No. 37 - October 14, 2019

MONTREAL — Unionized support workers at the University of Quebec at Montreal went on strike Sept. 3, the opening day of classes, to press their demand for higher wages. The 1,800 members of Union of UQAM Employees have been without…