Fight Back! News

News and Views from the People's Struggle

collective bargaining

By staff

Deer Park, TX – On April 22, the United Steelworkers (USW) condemned Rohm and Haas Texas Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Dow Chemical Company, after the company made the decision to lock out more than 200 workers at its plant in Deer Park, Texas.

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By Tom Burke

Members of United Association 174 protest Michigan tax dollars going to Dahlgren

Coopersville, MI – Over 100 workers and community supporters rallied to oppose the firing of four local Michigan workers by Dahlgren Industrial. Dahlgren fired the workers in retaliation for organizing a union and raising their voices about safety concerns. The workers are also demanding that companies benefiting from Michigan tax dollars and tax breaks hire locally.

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By staff

Tallahassee, FL – On Thursday, February 17, the Florida Supreme Court ruled in a 4-3 decision that a bill cutting public workers' wages by 3% was constitutional. The so-called pension reform bill requires Florida's public workers to pay 3% of their wage into the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The bill was passed by the Republican-dominated Florida state legislature and signed into law by Governor Rick Scott in 2011 as a part of their larger assault on the rights of public workers and the right to collectively bargain.

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By staff

Wisconsin Occupy groups in Fond Du Lac

Fond Du Lac, WI – Dozens of Wisconsin Occupy groups gathered here for a day of actions and discussions during the first state-wide General Assembly (GA) of Occupy Wisconsin. The assembly was held over the May 5 weekend in the occupied Veteran's Memorial Park. Two demonstrations were held to draw connections between the banks, police, jails and the military recruitment center in downtown Fond Du Lac. Protesters held a die-in in front of the military recruitment center, holding signs that demanded “No war on Iran,” and “U.S. out of Afghanistan.”

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By Tom Burke

Red Cross workers on picket line

Muskegon, MI – Workers at Red Cross in Michigan and Ohio have been on strike since March 30, after a clash with management over health care for themselves and others. Workers in other Midwest states are considering a strike over health care and related unfair labor practices by Red Cross bosses too. With public safety in mind, it is important to know the workers are not striking the local Red Cross Chapters and still cover emergency events.

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By staff

Informational picket of close to 200 workers at Zeke Georgi State Office Bldg

Rockford, IL – Laverne Huggins, Mary Sargent and L’seandra Anderson of AFSCME Local 473 lead an informational picket of close to 200 workers at the Zeke Georgi State Office Building in Rockford, Illinois. Workers are protesting Illinois Governor Pat Quinn’s announcement that he would not honor the collective bargaining agreement negotiated with state workers.

#RockfordIL #AFSCME #CollectiveBargaining #PublicSectorUnions #GovernorQuinn #AFSCMELocal473

By staff

June 14 protest against Governor Walker's budget

Madison, WI – In his latest attempt at smashing unions, derailing public education and further punishing the working class for the economic crisis, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker called together an ‘Extraordinary Session,’ June 14, so that right-wing legislators can ram through his proposed two-year budget. The new budget will slash funding for public education, make large cuts to social services and local governments and pave the way for more privatization.

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By staff

Chicago, IL – An anti-bargaining bill disguised as an education reform bill has passed through the Illinois Senate and moved on to the Illinois House of Representatives. This bill called SB7, includes many components that will take away the Chicago Teachers Union’s (CTU) bargaining rights and rights to strike.

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By staff

Columbus, OH – Around 700 workers, students and community activists poured into and around the statehouse here yesterday, including 200 who were admitted to the House gallery to witness the passage of Senate Bill 5.

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By staff

Photo ofMarch 14 protest at UWN.

Milwaukee, WI – Hundreds rallied at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM), March 14, as protests continue against Governor Scott Walker's anti-union, anti-people attacks. The rally was the third mass action taken at the university in recent weeks and included speeches by student, community and union leaders.

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