What bitter irony. Studs Terkel, who gave voice to working people throughout his life, passed away yesterday, just days before a potentially historic presidential election. Should Sen. more »
Before she became the first female Labor secretary in 1933, Frances Perkins had seen firsthand the tragedy of Manhattan’s 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist fire. Locked in by their employer, 146 mostly young girls died when they couldn’t escape the burning building where they toiled in sweatshop labor. Later, as the New York industrial commissioner, Perkins held employers accountable for workplace safety and health, expanding factory investigations and championing other pro-worker laws, like unemployment insurance.
Now, imagine if Elaine Chao had been there instead. more »
But the current crisis has long roots. America's working families have been suffering through what is now a generation-long stagnation of wages and rising economic insecurity. Steps must be taken immediately to shore up our flagging economy and provide much-needed assistance to working families.
This Labor Day, many working families in America may not feel like celebrating. Approximately half of Americans are concerned that a member of their household will lose his or her job in the coming year. More than a quarter say that their household’s financial situation is now fairly or very bad. [CBS/ New York Times] American families don’t want more government bailouts for irresponsible banks or tax breaks for big oil companies—they want an economy that works for working Americans.
Individualistic "netroots" bloggers are at the forefront of new media technology, and are looking for ways to improve coordination and broad the reach of their ideas. Labor unions have been organizing and coordinating for decades, and are looking for ways to maximize the potential of new media technology. more »
Without legal protections such as the Employee Free Choice Act, workers when trying to organize unions are subject to routine intimidation, harassment, coercion and firings. more »
Peter D. Hart Research Associates, “Employee Free Choice Act,” December 2006. http://www.ourfuture.org/public-pulse/americans-believe-employee-free-choice-act
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Before she became the first female Labor secretary in 1933, 
