3.06.2006
Back to Blogging
After a much too long sabbatical from blogging, I'm back. I just got internet access at my new apartment, so I should be able to blog anytime of the day or night without fear of my employer discovering my non-work-related activities. Prepare yourselves.
Anyway, I just wanted to highlight a couple of really exciting things that are going on with unions in the US - these are all very 'newsworthy' events, so you've probably come across them already...
1. UNITE!-HERE Hotel Worker's Rising Campaign is SO impressive and has been getting some really good publicity. They've identified Hilton as a major target and come out with an incredibly ambitious campaign plan for the next year. And this is a simple enough campaign to support - all you have to do is be a conscious consumer when you are making hotel arrangements. For more information on showing your solidarity with hotel workers who are striking, see http://www.unitehere.org/hotelguide/default.asp
2. The SEIU janitors at the University of Miami. These women and men are taking a huge risk by walking off the job without the protection of a union, but that's what they've got to do to get their union recognized. Donna Shalala, former Secretary of Health and Human Services under Clinton and current U of M President, acts more hypocritical every day in her refusal to support these workers' right to health insurance. And you've got to smile when you hear that her home gardeners walked off the job today in solidarity with the janitors!
3. And then there is the discussion over the immigration/guest worker bills. While the AFL-CIO and a number of other unions have come out against the McCain-Kennedy bill (which would allow undocumented workers to earn legal status), the SEIU and UNITE!-HERE are supporting it. Considering all the crazy talk going on around immigration these days (minutemen, building a fence on the border!), it makes me happy to see some unions taking a progressive stand on these issues.
So, in a time when there seems always to be so much bad news about unions, I thought I'd start back by talking about a few hopeful things.
Anyway, I just wanted to highlight a couple of really exciting things that are going on with unions in the US - these are all very 'newsworthy' events, so you've probably come across them already...
1. UNITE!-HERE Hotel Worker's Rising Campaign is SO impressive and has been getting some really good publicity. They've identified Hilton as a major target and come out with an incredibly ambitious campaign plan for the next year. And this is a simple enough campaign to support - all you have to do is be a conscious consumer when you are making hotel arrangements. For more information on showing your solidarity with hotel workers who are striking, see http://www.unitehere.org/hotelguide/default.asp
2. The SEIU janitors at the University of Miami. These women and men are taking a huge risk by walking off the job without the protection of a union, but that's what they've got to do to get their union recognized. Donna Shalala, former Secretary of Health and Human Services under Clinton and current U of M President, acts more hypocritical every day in her refusal to support these workers' right to health insurance. And you've got to smile when you hear that her home gardeners walked off the job today in solidarity with the janitors!
3. And then there is the discussion over the immigration/guest worker bills. While the AFL-CIO and a number of other unions have come out against the McCain-Kennedy bill (which would allow undocumented workers to earn legal status), the SEIU and UNITE!-HERE are supporting it. Considering all the crazy talk going on around immigration these days (minutemen, building a fence on the border!), it makes me happy to see some unions taking a progressive stand on these issues.
So, in a time when there seems always to be so much bad news about unions, I thought I'd start back by talking about a few hopeful things.
