US Railroad Worker And US Socialist Labor Leader Stopped the Blacklist

http://www.marxists.org/archive/debs/works/1902/blacklist.htm

Eugene V. Debs

Stopped the Blacklist

Written: September, 1902
First Published: September 1902, Wayland’s Monthly
Source: DEBS: His Life Writings and Speeches 1908 by The Appeal to Reason newspaper, Girard, Kansas. Page 297-300
Online Version: E.V. Debs Internet Archive, 2008
Transcribed/HTML Markup: David Walters, August, 2008
Public Domain: The E. V. Debs Internet Archive follows the advice of the original copyright (now expired and in the public domain) published in the title page of the 1908 edition: “Copyright by The Appeal to Reason: “NOTE—Copyright protection is taken upon this volume for the sole purpose of protecting the work of Comrade Debs from prejudiced misues by pirate Capitalist publishers, and will not be invoked against Socialist and Labor Publications and Comrade publishers, they giving us notice.—Appeal to Reason”

It was on a mixed train on one of the mountain roads in the western states. The conductor and both brakemen had already shown me their old A. R. U. cards, which they treasured with almost affectionate tenderness. The soiled, illegible scraps were souvenirs of the “war,” and revived a whole freight train of stirring reminiscences. The three weather—beaten trainmen were strangers prior to ‘94; they were off of three separate roads, and from three different states.

TWSC Protests Threat To Hang Iranian Kurdish teacher by Iranian Government

11/27/2008

The Transport Workers Solidarity Committee (TWSC) demands that the Iranian government halt their plans to execute Iranian Kurdish union activist teacher Farzad Kamangar. We also call for his immediate release from prison. He was arrested for his union activity and for being an activist among Kurdish people in Iran. These democratic rights apparently are worthy of a death sentence by the theocratic regime in Iran. We condemn this assault and warn the Iranian government that the murder of Farzad will be seen as a crime against working people throughout the world and not just in Iran and the Middle East.
We call on transit workers and their unions internationally to protest this attack and to use their power in opposition to these threats.

Transport Workers Solidarity Committee
www.transportworkers.org

http://www.ei-ie.org/en/news/show.php?id=917&theme=rights&country=iran

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12/4 SF Rally: UTU 1741 School Bus Drivers Protesting Union Busting & Firing By First Student

November 26, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Laurie Cahn, spokesperson, UTU 1741/San Francisco School Bus Drivers
(415) 608-4092

MEDIA ALERT

School bus drivers gather to protest contract-violating firings by First Student

Drivers suddenly without jobs, health insurance days before the holiday season begins; students lose experienced drivers

SAN FRANCISCO—More than 100 San Francisco school bus drivers are expected to gather to protest the sudden, contract-violating firings of school bus drivers by First Student, the nation's largest operator of school buses. This action is part of a national effort that includes Bus Driver Unions in Santa Rosa, CA; Buffalo, NY; and Boston, MA.

WHEN: Thursday, December 4, 2008, 10:00 AM

WHERE: First Student Bus yard; 2270 Jerrold Ave. San Francisco CA 94124

WHO: A veteran driver with 24 accident free years of school bus driving in San Francisco, fired under an arbitrary new rule, for a minor first time accident.

WHY: San Francisco's school bus drivers are demanding that:
First Student stop arbitrary firings and honor the progressive discipline section of our legally negotiated union contract

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/11/25/319326/us-airline-labour-flexes-its-muscles.html

DATE:25/11/08
SOURCE:Airline Business
US airline labour flexes its muscles
By David Field

Heartened by the presidential victory of Democrat Barack Obama, US airline labour is flexing its muscle as it prepares to recoup its concessions of recent years. At American Airlines, flight attendants have threatened to strike when they are legally allowed, and the airline’s pilots have pressed repeatedly for a federal declaration that their negotiations are at an impasse. And labour at normally placid Southwest Airlines has begun picketing.
William Swelbar of the MIT airline programme says: “Never before have we seen such a convergence of ‘amendable’ dates. Because so many of the present contracts were negotiated during bankruptcy, we have many contracts coming up in a close period.” This means that unions would be able to leverage their negotiations on progress at other carriers.

At American, the Association of Professional Flight Attendants marked the fifteenth anniversary of its five-day strike against the carrier by noting it was ready to strike again, when it legally could, to regain its 2003 concessions. The Allied Pilots Association representing pilots at the carrier, claiming that negotiations are stalled, says it is time to make up for their 2003 givebacks. American responds only that airline negotiations are normally lengthy and it hopes for an equitable settlement.

Northwest flight attendants union sues Delta for union busting schemes
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D94LHM486.htm

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS November 24, 2008, 4:18PM ETtext size: TT
Northwest flight attendants union sues Delta

By HARRY R. WEBER

The union that represents Northwest Airlines flight attendants is suing Delta Air Lines Inc. to block the world's biggest carrier from starting the process to integrate the two carriers' seniority lists until the combined group is given the opportunity to vote on union representation.

Northwest's 8,000 flight attendants are represented by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, while Delta's 14,000 flight attendants are not part of any union.

Atlanta-based Delta bought Northwest for $2.8 billion in stock on Oct. 29. Federal rules allow for a post-merger union election involving workers from two different airlines if, among other things, it is determined that a single carrier exists.

But in its suit filed in U.S. District Court in Washington on Friday, the AFA-CWA said it has not yet filed its application with the National Mediation Board seeking a single carrier determination that would prompt a union representation vote. It noted Delta has not yet obtained a single operating certificate from the FAA. Therefore, the AFA-CWA said efforts by Delta to start the seniority integration process are premature.

http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/art.php?id=16484

Posted: 7.32pm Tuesday 18 November 2008

News

Dover dock strikers have bosses all at sea

Marching in Dover last Saturday: dockers from the port started a 48-hour strike this week (Pic: Socialist Worker)

by Esme Choonara reporting from the port of Dover

"We're not just fighting for our jobs and pensions, but for everyone who works in the ports.

"Everyone knows if they get away with this here, it will spread."

So says Graham Gladwin, one of more than a hundred workers at the Dover Harbour Board (DHB) who began a 48-hour strike on Tuesday of this week.

The workers, members of the Unite union, are taking action against plans by the harbour board to outsource around a third of the workforce to a private company.

Many fear that the move would mean worse pensions, conditions and possible job losses – as well as opening the door to further casualisation and privatisation in the industry.

Workers gathering at the picket line on Tuesday morning told Socialist Worker that they are determined to win the dispute.

"This action is just the beginning," said Steve, one of the strikers. "We're out on strike because our boss only cares about profit," added fellow striker Simon.

Terminals want productivity hike
November 17, 2008
BILL MONGELLUZZO
Pacifica Shipper
Cargo volumes are down, and congestion at marine terminals is only a bad memory, but industry veterans know they’ll be scrambling for space when economic conditions improve.

That is why terminal operators intend to use the International Longshore and Warehouse Union contract that was negotiated this year on the West Coast, and the International Longshoremen’s Association contract that will be negotiated next year on the East Coast, as opportunities to improve port productivity.

“Over time, U.S.-based facilities want to have world-class terminals,” said Bill Rooney, managing director for the Americas at Hanjin Shipping Co. “We have to gravitate toward world-class standards based on safety, the environment and productivity.”

Carriers say most terminals on both coasts average 25 moves per hour, compared with 30 or more in Asia and Europe.

European and Asian terminal operators were the first to adopt information technology and modern cargo-handling equipment. They were able to marry computerized terminal-operating systems with ultra-efficient machines to maximize production from limited acreage.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2008/nov2008/tran-n19.shtml
As MTA demands deep cutbacks
New York transit union president signs no-strike pledge
By Alan Whyte
19 November 2008
Barely two months before a contract deadline for New York City's 38,000 transit workers and as the transit authority announces plans for unprecedented cutbacks, the transit union's president has signed a court affidavit surrendering the right to strike and promising never to walk out again.
Transport Workers Union Local 100 President Roger Toussaint signed the no-strike pledge as part of a deal between the city and the TWU bureaucracy to restore dues check-off, the automatic deduction of union dues from workers paychecks.
After it staged a three-day strike in December 2005, the union lost dues check-off as part of the sanctions imposed under New York State's anti-strike Taylor Law, which bars walkouts by public employees. In addition it was hit with a $2.5 million fine.
The court affidavit signed by Toussaint, states, "The Union does not assert the right to strike against any government, to assist or participate in any such strike, or to impose an obligation to conduct, assist, or participate in such a strike, and that the Union has no intention, now or in the future, of conducting, assisting, participating, or imposing an obligation to conduct, assist or participate in any such strike, or threatening to do so, against the plaintiffs or any governmental employer."

Korea President Lee Says No to Railway Workers’ Plan for Strike
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/11/116_34597.html

11-18-2008 16:56
Lee Says No to Railway Workers’ Plan for Strike
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Staff Reporter

President Lee Myung-bak warned Tuesday that Korea Railroad union workers should not go on strike as they plan to do Thursday.

``It doesn't make sense that state-run firm workers go on strike because their demand for rehiring union workers who were laid off has not been met, given the global economy is in crisis,'' said Lee during a video Cabinet meeting.

Lee is on an official visit to Brazil after attending the Group of 20 summit in the United States and presided over the online meeting from Sao Paulo.

``Labor may argue that they have good reason to resort to strikes, but it's clear that now is not the time,'' he said.

Lee said many people were worrying about losing their jobs amid the tough economic environment.

The President called on the management of the railroad corporation to persuade its union not to resort to extreme measures.

Representatives of the state-run firm's management and the union sat down Monday for negotiations on the demands.

http://www.sacbee.com/840/story/1407917.html
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Court issues injunction against United pilot union
By JOSHUA FREED
AP Airlines Writer
Published: Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2008
MINNEAPOLIS -- United Airlines said on Tuesday that a federal judge has barred its pilot union and four pilots from activities that disrupt the airline's activities.

United had accused some pilots of abusing sick time and refusing to fly extra hours. Sick-outs in particular are not allowed under the Railway Labor Act, the federal law that governs airline labor relations.

United said the judge in Chicago found that the actions of the Air Line Pilots Association had violated the act, and issued a preliminary injunction on Monday against four pilots and the union. United said it would next seek a permanent injunction.

Over the summer United blamed the pilots for the cancellation of 329 flights between July 19 and July 27. The carrier said that cost it about $8 million in lost revenue and $3.9 million in operating profit. United filed the lawsuit on July 30.

A spokesman for the United branch of ALPA did not immediately return a phone message seeking comment.