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.
They may be party animals when chugging $8,204 worth of booze but, after the hangover is over, the staff at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce goes back to being their ugly anti-worker selves.
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 »
Every day, most of us go to work and then come home. Next day: Rinse, repeat.
But some U.S. workers go to work and never come home.
In April 2005, Donald Wilcher Smith was one of them. The 22-year-old central Texas man was electrocuted at the Sanderson Farms processing plant. more »
Here is the Senate roll call vote on HR 2831, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which is designed to allow employees adequate time to discover and file claims against employers who violate equal pay laws. more »
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Even though a fight for union representation rights has stalled in Congress, the Jobs with Justice coalition is not only being persistent but is optimistic as it prepares for its upcoming national conference. more »
Help us spread the word about these important stories...
In August 2004, Hector Alino Martinez and three other Colombian trade unionists were dragged out of their homes and assassinated in the streets of Caño Seco. The men were among 96 unionists killed in Colombia that year. more »
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Before she became the first female Labor secretary in 1933, 
