The Freedom Foundation and Washington Policy Center took millions in government money intended for small businesses. Sign a petition demanding they give it back. By PETER STARZYNSKI OLYMPIA (July 9, 2020) — Anti-government, anti-union think tanks based in Washington state have reaped a windfall in taxpayer dollars from federal funds that were intended for […]
By MARILYN WATKINS OLYMPIA (June 25, 2020) — As tax revenues fall with people out of work and whole industries shuttered, Washington’s state and local governments are laying off staff, reducing pay, and slashing services that are helping people weather the COVID-19 storm. Cutting important services now will cause immediate suffering, prolong the recession, and […]
All workers have the right to a union, including police officers. But the labor movement need not accept all unions. By BILL FLETCHER, JR. (June 19, 2020) — The rebellions over the police murder of George Floyd have renewed a longtime controversy regarding police unions. Several unions, such as the Writers Guild of America, […]
(June 16, 2020) Driving while Black. Walking while Black… In the wake of Minneapolis resident George Floyd’s tragic murder, a Rainbow Coalition of people are full of anguish, rage, despair, frustration and myriad other soul-wrenching emotions. Seemingly countless other African-Americans have perished at the hands of police officers and self-appointed community “enforcers” — Ahmaud […]
Sending Love: A letter to Black workers, organizers, and labor leaders By CHERIKA CARTER and SYBILL HYPPOLITE (June 12, 2020) — As the world and the United States navigate the coronavirus pandemic, there’s a common refrain that we’re living in unprecedented times, with mass unemployment, unsafe working conditions for those still working, lack of […]
If we can’t solve this crisis, we could lose an engine for equality in Washington By BILL LYNE (June 9, 2020) — From 2008 to 2012, during the recession that now seems more quaint than great, Washington state slashed appropriations to public higher education. This only accelerated a process of privatization. Following a trend […]
Organized labor is a direct threat to white supremacy. We need to put that threat into action. By APRIL SIMS (June 4, 2020) — Say their names: Breonna Taylor. Ahmaud Arbery. George Floyd. Tony McDade. David McAtee. Manuel Ellis. Some days it’s hard to breathe. Here’s my truth: I’m a Black mother raising Black […]
The virus has brought into focus much about our country that was already weak, broken and just plain wrong. By KEN WINKES (May 28, 2020) — COVID-19 has punched the nation’s pause button, and though the president is eager to get things back to “normal” before the November election becomes a plebiscite on his […]
Inspired by the ongoing Allan Brothers strike, other fruit warehouse workers are walking off the job to demand safe workplaces and hazard pay. By DULCE GUTIÉRREZ YAKIMA (May 13, 2020) — There is a powerful force among the people in Yakima right now. It’s the force of solidarity and collective power. And it’s spreading […]
The same right-wing groups that oppose unions are backing ‘reopen’ protests By PETER STARZYNSKI (May 1, 2020) — We are living in unprecedented times. Businesses shuttered, employees furloughed, anxious families sheltering at home, while a virus we know little about has claimed the lives of more Americans than the Vietnam War did. While we […]
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