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…


Canada rail workers win fight against frame-up

Vol. 82/No. 5 - February 5, 2018

SHERBROOKE, Quebec — The rail bosses and federal government were handed a stinging defeat when the three-and-a-half-month frame-up trial of locomotive engineer Tom Harding and train traffic controller Richard Labrie, both members of United Steelworkers Local 1976, and low-level former…


Jury deliberates in frame-up of Quebec rail workers

Vol. 82/No. 4 - January 29, 2018
Jury deliberates in frame-up of Quebec rail workers

MONTREAL — After six full days, jury deliberations continue in the Canadian government’s frame-up trial of locomotive engineer Tom Harding and train traffic controller Richard Labrie, both members of United Steelworkers Local 1976. Along with Montreal, Maine and Atlantic Railway…


Fla. rail worker fights firing after speaking out on safety

Vol. 82/No. 2 - January 15, 2018

Louis Billingsley, a freight rail conductor with 12 years experience, is fighting his firing after speaking out against unsafe practices and conditions at the CSX railroad in a televised interview on CBS Action News Jax in Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville is…


‘Unions are important not just for pay, but for safety’

Vol. 82/No. 2 - January 15, 2018

EAST CHICAGO, Ind. — In the early morning hours of Dec. 11, 2017, Alfred Cadena, a 61-year-old operator on the Continuous Annealing Line, was killed on the job at the ArcelorMittal Indiana Harbor mill here. He had 41 years’ experience…


Quebec: Frame-up case against rail workers unravels

Vol. 82/No. 1 - January 1, 2018

MONTREAL — At the conclusion of the state’s presentation Dec. 12 of its frame-up case against locomotive engineer Tom Harding and train controller Richard Labrie, members of United Steelworkers Local 1976, their attorneys told the judge and jury they will…