Workers Struggles
New York school bus workers denounce layoffs
By Dan Brennan, 18 June 2013
Approximately 2,000 New York City school bus workers are facing layoffs next week as the city continues to dismantle job protections.
The California Nurses Association and health care “militancy”
By David Brown, 18 June 2013
Although presented as a “progressive” union by various pseudo-left groups, the California Nurses Association has suppressed the struggles of health care workers while subordinating them to the Democratic Party.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
18 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Portland, Oregon teachers face unprecedented attack on jobs, work rights
By Katie Hughes and Hector Cordon, 17 June 2013
The Portland School board has demanded drastic concessions in contract negotiations.
Caterpillar announces layoffs at South Milwaukee plant
By Nicholas Russo, 17 June 2013
Days after the United Steel Workers forced through a six-year concessions contract at Caterpillar’s Global Mining facility in South Milwaukee, the company announced indefinite layoffs for more than 30 percent of production workers.
Indian Tire maker Apollo in deal to buy Cooper Tire
By Shannon Jones, 15 June 2013
The deal follows the three-month lockout of Cooper Tire workers in 2012.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
15 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Elevator companies invoke anti-worker law in bid to break Ontario strike
By Carl Bronski, 14 June 2013
The bargaining representative of Canada’s major elevator companies has invoked an anti-democratic provision in provincial labour law to force many of Ontario’s striking elevator technicians back to work.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
14 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Union rams through sellout deal at Caterpillar South Milwaukee plant
By Niles Williamson, 13 June 2013
Without releasing the vote count, the United Steelworkers (USW) announced Tuesday that workers at Caterpillar’s Global Mining plant in South Milwaukee had narrowly accepted a six-year contract.
More than 3,500 state health workers to be laid off under Louisiana privatization drive
By Tom Hall, 12 June 2013
Louisiana's Civil Service Commission recently voted to approve the privatization of four hospitals, which will result in the layoff of thousands of state employees.
Reject the USW sellout in South Milwaukee! For an independent struggle by the working class!
By the Socialist Equality Party, 11 June 2013
The Socialist Equality Party is distributing the following statement to South Milwaukee Caterpillar workers urging them to reject the sellout deal being pushed by the United Steelworkers.
Canada: U.S. Steel lockout in seventh week
By a WSWS reporting team, 11 June 2013
Nearly 1,000 workers at U.S. Steel’s Lake Erie Works in Nanticoke, Ontario have been locked out since April 28.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
11 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
8 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
California State Assembly passes bill to enable teacher firings
By Gabriel Black, 8 June 2013
A California bill that speeds up and streamlines the process for firing teachers has moved to the state senate.
New Bedford, Mass. public schools to cut 250 jobs
By John Marion, 8 June 2013
The layoffs represent almost 14 percent of the school district’s existing workforce.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
7 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Worker dies from extreme heat at Georgia auto parts plant
By Kristina Betinis and Jerry White, 6 June 2013
Teresa Pickard, a 42-year-old Sewon auto parts worker, died May 29 after working on a weld line in the LaGrange plant.
USW pushes sellout deal at South Milwaukee Caterpillar plant
By Niles Williamson, 4 June 2013
United Steelworkers Local 1343 is recommending a tentative six-year agreement covering 800 workers at Caterpillar’s South Milwaukee, Wisconsin plant.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
4 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
1 June 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
31 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Thousands of New York City school bus workers face job cuts in June
By Sandy English, 29 May 2013
With New York City education officials accepting bids without job protection provisions, some 2,000 out of the 9,000 school bus employees will lose their jobs when school ends.
Australian coal loader workers strike to defend conditions
By Terry Cook, 29 May 2013
The dispute comes amid a wider restructuring within the Australian coal industry, triggered by falling demand in Asia.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
28 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
25 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
University of California medical workers strike
By Norisa Diaz, 24 May 2013
Workers at UC Medical Centers across California went on a two-day strike this week
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
24 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Works council in Bochum seeks to stifle opposition to GM-Opel plant closing
By Dietmar Henning, 24 May 2013
The chairman of the works council at the GM-Opel factory in Bochum called a meeting at the plant gate which halted production for several hours following the recent confirmation by management that it planned to close the plant.
UAW and Fiat battle over union’s multi-billion dollar stake in Chrysler
By Shannon Jones, 23 May 2013
The United Auto Workers is seeking billions of dollars for its holdings in Chrysler Corporation as Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne prepares for a merger of the two automakers.
California nurses go on weeklong strike
By Evan Winters, 23 May 2013
In yet another effort to isolate its own membership, the California Nurses Association has called a weeklong strike.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
21 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Union limits UC Medical workers to two-day strike
By our reporters, 21 May 2013
Some 13,000 patient care workers are set to strike on Tuesday and Wednesday at University of California Medical Centers after voting by 97 percent to walk out.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
18 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Hundreds of New York City Access-a-Ride workers lose their jobs
By Alan Whyte and A. Woodson, 17 May 2013
A month after the betrayal of the school bus workers in New York City, another group of transit workers have been hit with job losses and massive pay cuts.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
17 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Union seeks sellout deal at South Milwaukee Caterpillar plant
By Niles Williamson, 16 May 2013
A week after the collapse of negotiations between Caterpillar and the United Steelworkers in South Milwaukee, the union is determined to push through a concessions contract.
California hospital workers vote overwhelmingly to strike
By a reporting team, 14 May 2013
13,000 workers are set to strike against University of California austerity measures.
Contract talks break down at S. Milwaukee Caterpillar plant
By Niles Williamson, 11 May 2013
Contract negotiations between the United Steelworkers and Caterpillar in South Milwaukee broke down this week, only hours after talks resumed.
Unions, ministers organize protest in Detroit over fast-food worker pay
By Shannon Jones, 11 May 2013
The Detroit protests held Friday at locations across the city shut down several fast-food restaurants.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
10 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Contractors, Bloomberg step up attack on New York City school bus workers
By Dan Brennan, 9 May 2013
The New York City Department of Education announced the next round of school bus contracts, which threaten to lead to mass layoffs and the replacement of current drivers and escorts with part-time workers earning a fraction of the pay.
Patriot Coal bankruptcy threatens thousands of US miners, retirees
By Clement Daly, 8 May 2013
Patriot is attempting to use the bankruptcy court to rid itself of obligations owed to more than 1,650 active union miners and 13,000 retirees.
Steelworkers union exposes workers to lockout threat as talks resume at South Milwaukee Caterpillar plant
By Niles Williamson, 8 May 2013
Having rejected strike action, the United Steelworkers is seeking to impose a sellout agreement with the heavy equipment maker.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
7 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
4 May 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
University of California medical workers hold strike vote
By Norisa Diaz, 1 May 2013
Medical workers at a UC Medical Center spoke to the WSWS about the alarming conditions facing both workers and patients.
South Milwaukee Caterpillar workers reject sellout contract
By Niles Williamson and Nicholas Russo, 1 May 2013
Eight hundred workers at Caterpillar’s Global Mining plant in South Milwaukee rejected a six year concessions contract on Tuesday by a large margin.
Teachers’ struggles escalate across Mexico
By Rafael Azul, 30 April 2013
Tens of thousands of Mexican teachers are mobilizing against education reforms that attack job security and subordinate public education to corporate interests.
University of California’s medical workers to hold strike vote
By Thomas Gaist, 30 April 2013
Thirteen-thousand patient care workers in the University of California’s medical system will vote on a possible strike starting April 30.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
30 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Reject the USW sellout of S. Milwaukee Caterpillar workers! For an independent struggle by the working class!
By Statement of the Socialist Equality Party, 29 April 2013
The SEP is distributing the following statement to the 800 workers at Caterpillar’s Global Mining plant in South Milwaukee who are voting today on a six-year concessions contract approved by the United Steelworkers (USW).
After strike vote against wage-cutting demands
IAM agrees to contract extension at New York Air Brake
By Steve Filips, 29 April 2013
New York Brake is demanding wage cuts of up to $4.15 an hour for workers whose pay averages $20.88.
Chicago food service and retail workers protest low wages
By Shane Feratu, 27 April 2013
About 500 fast food and retail workers in downtown Chicago walked out in a one-day protest.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
27 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
26 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Victimized Detroit Chrysler worker reinstated
By Shannon Jones, 25 April 2013
Alex Wassell returned to work last week after more than one month off the job.
350 working without a contract at Master Lock in Milwaukee
By Niles Williamson, 23 April 2013
Workers represented by the United Auto Workers (UAW) at the Master Lock facility in Milwaukee, Wisconsin have been working without a contract since April 3.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
23 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
20 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
19 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Locked-out American Crystal workers narrowly pass concessions contract
By Michael Stapleton, 18 April 2013
The ratification ended the 20-month lockout by American Crystal Sugar Company.
US Postal Service announces new attacks on workers
By James Brewer, 16 April 2013
The USPS Board of Governors announced its intention to reopen the contracts of postal workers in order to impose new wage and benefit concessions.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
16 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
13 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Unions sabotage strike by ambulance staff in Yorkshire, England
By Barry Mason, 12 April 2013
Around 450 ambulance workers employed by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust held a one-day strike April 2.
Norwegian trade unions avert national strike
By Robert Stevens, 12 April 2013
A deal on pay will mean a minuscule raise, wholly in the interests of the employers.
General Motors in drive to cut skilled trades jobs in US plants
By Shannon Jones, 11 April 2013
GM is seeking to eliminate skilled and high seniority workers in order to slash costs.
AT&T workers reject contract, face déjà vu betrayal by union
By Juan Verala Luz and Marc Wells, 9 April 2013
AT&T West workers resoundingly rejected a proposed contract that would have capped wages at $22 an hour and offered paltry health care plans.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
9 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Rank-and-file committee points way forward for New York school bus workers
By Jerry White, 8 April 2013
A committee formed by school bus drivers and escorts after the union betrayed their month-long strike issued a leaflet to a mass meeting of workers in New York City last Thursday.
New York City school bus drivers, escorts denounce contractors’ “final” offer
By our reporters, 8 April 2013
School bus workers spoke about their struggle at a mass local union meeting in New York City.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
6 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
One month after victimization of Alex Wassell
UAW breaks silence on Chrysler firing skilled tradesman
By Shannon Jones, 5 April 2013
Auto workers should place no confidence in the UAW to fight for the reinstatement of the 20-year veteran Chrysler Warren Stamping worker.
Three years since West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch mine disaster
Sequester cuts pose new threat to US mine safety
By Kate Randall, 2 April 2013
Three years after the West Virginia tragedy, cuts threaten to further undermine mine safety, inevitably leading to more deaths.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
2 April 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
IG Metall union joins offensive against GM-Opel workers
By Dietmar Henning, 30 March 2013
The executive of the IG Metall trade union unanimously voted in Frankfurt-Main in favor of the so-called “Opel Master Contract”, sealing the closure of the GM-Opel factory in Bochum.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
30 March 2013
Illinois House approves pension cuts
By Alexander Fangmann, 30 March 2013
The Illinois House of Representatives has approved a bill all but eliminating cost-of-living increases and raising the retirement age for state workers.
Caterpillar prepares confrontation with South Milwaukee workers
By Niles Williamson, 29 March 2013
Contract talks are scheduled to begin April 2 between Caterpillar Inc. and the United Steelworkers Union for a new contract covering 800 workers in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
29 March 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
The trade unions and Michigan’s “right to work” law
By Joseph Kishore, 28 March 2013
The actions taken by the trade unions in response to the passage of Michigan’s reactionary “right to work” law expose the anti-working class character of these organizations.
Michigan unions ram through concession deals ahead of right-to-work law
By Naomi Spencer, 27 March 2013
Public employee unions throughout the state have rushed through long-term contracts that secure their dues base before the right-to-work law takes effect.
Detroit area worker killed in auto parts plant
By Bryan Dyne, 27 March 2013
A 42-year-old auto parts worker at Mollertech LLC in Shelby Township, Michigan was crushed to death last Thursday when a five-ton die fell on him.
Workers Struggles, the Americas
26 March 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
The attack on public education in Chicago
By Alexander Fangmann, 25 March 2013
The announcement of plans to shut down 61 schools in Chicago, Illinois marks a new stage in the social counterrevolution in America.
Eastern Kentucky hospital workers authorize strike
By Naomi Spencer, 25 March 2013
Some 2,200 health care workers at hospitals in the Appalachian region could strike by April 1.
Striking teachers, students and parents rally to defend education in Cleveland area
By Phyllis Scherrer and Samuel Davidson, 25 March 2013
Teachers, parents and students in Strongsville, Ohio rallied last week as instructors concluded the third week of their strike.
Chicago announces plans to shut 61 public schools
By Shane Feratu, 23 March 2013
The elimination of 13 percent of Chicago public school buildings is one of the largest mass school closures in US history.
CTU president denies opposing school closures
By Kristina Betinis, 23 March 2013
After the closure of 61 schools was announced by the Chicago public schools district, Chicago Teachers Union president Karen Lewis made clear that the union supports shutting schools.
In second vote, Washington Boeing technicians accept concessions contract
By Angelo Bosworth and Hector Cordon, 23 March 2013
In a vote of no-confidence in their union, Boeing technicians have accepted the identical contract they rejected February 19.
Workers Struggles: Asia, Australia and the Pacific
23 March 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Contractors impose sweeping givebacks after defeat of New York City school bus strike
By Fred Mazelis, 22 March 2013
The latest attack on school bus workers underscores the need for a united struggle to mobilize the industrial and political strength of the working class.
Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa
22 March 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
US retirement confidence at 23-year low
By Kate Randall, 20 March 2013
Confidence in a secure retirement is at a 23-year low in the US, as workers struggling to pay for basic necessities are unable to put aside adequate savings.
Kodak ends retiree benefits to emerge from bankruptcy
By Steve Filips, 20 March 2013
For nearly 63,000 people covered under the Kodak pension plan, the company's plan to survive bankruptcy means an uncertain future.
School bus drivers face legacy of toxic pollution
By Dan Brennan, 19 March 2013
As school bus companies in New York seek to cut costs by eliminating health benefits, workers are exposed to high levels of diesel pollution linked to asthma, cancer and premature death.
Workers Struggles: The Americas
19 March 2013
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.
Teachers, school staff continue strike in Cleveland, Ohio suburb
By Phyllis Scherrer, 18 March 2013
Teachers entered the second week of their strike in Strongsville, Ohio, as a federal mediator called for talks.
Follow us on