Listen to the full episode, with our labor-climate organizer @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social joining the pod: labornotespodcast.podbean.com/e/construction-unions-face-a-choice-cave-or-defend-members/ 1/2

Labor Notes@labornotes.bsky.social · last yr.

Construction unions here have historically either struggled to or not really helped immigrant workers organize themselves, leaving a "Wild West" non-union sector fostered by companies who drag down wages and erode working conditions by repressing vulnerable undocumented workers 1/2

california's enviro/public input law was huge leverage to unionize 90% of big solar workers here, when the rest of the US was <5%. building trades🤝greens! Newsom + state Dems just gutted it. their "abundance" strategy is "removing regulatory barriers" for developers. calmatters.org/environment/...

Last-minute California budget includes sweeping environmental law rollbacks

Major changes include an exemption for high-tech industrial plants and other projects. The move, fast-tracked under pressure from Gov. Gavin Newsom, sparked fierce pushback from environmental, communi...

calmatters.org

Farmworker organizer Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez was detained by ICE agents this week in what many believe to be retaliation for organizing. 3 things you can do in solidarity: - Attend a vigil or action - Call elected officials - Donate to his legal defense labornotes.org/blogs/2025/0...

Three Ways to Support Detained Farmworker Organizer Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez

Longtime farmworker organizer Alfredo “Lelo” Juarez was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents this week in what many believe to be retaliation for his organizing. Juarez was pulled ov...

labornotes.org

new from me on a fav topic: how have jet mechanics and refinery workers opened up union convos on changing what they make — to fight the boss for a livable environment?

Labor Notes@labornotes.bsky.social · 2y ago

Mid-size planes fly < a mile/gallon of fuel, bosses may use pollution laws as an excuse to cut jobs, and climate chaos is causing riskier turbulence for flight crews. Some aviation union members are trying “worker assemblies.” @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social reports: labornotes.org/2025/03/stew...

"Moved by her story, members resolved to confront management immediately... and presented management with a signed petition that same afternoon. The following morning, management... emerged with a decision to grant Jane a combined 18 weeks of postpartum leave" labornotes.org/blogs/2025/0...

Army Corps Workers Defend Parental Leave with Direct Action

The doctor recommended at least 18 weeks to recover from childbirth. But Jane (whose name was changed for this article) was entitled to only 12 paid weeks under the Federal Employee Paid Leave Act. So...

labornotes.org

curious how auto worker reform activists are strategizing for power in an electric transition that just got twice as chaotic us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Don't miss out on our event with @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social this month! He will talk about his research with construction laborers in the solar industry and how the green sector could offer an opportunity for union revitalization! Register here: yorku.zoom.us/meeting/regi... March 20, 1pm EST.1/

big L for accelerationists

The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 2y ago

The recently discovered, much-hyped Asteroid 2024 YR4 now has almost zero chance of hitting Earth in 2032, according to the latest astronomical observations.

they're evicting the labor law enforcers right where starbucks workers first won. it's not just about enriching elon, it's about emboldening all bosses to work you like a serf

More Perfect Union@moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2y ago

Elon Musk is trying to make it impossible for the National Labor Relations Board to do its job of protecting workers and their right to organize. It's especially worth noting that Tesla workers in Buffalo tried to form a union and were met with relentless union-busting.

no IBEW strike yet at National Grid, but chance bumped up imo—in rare move, union officers say they’re “not able to immediately endorse” the company’s contract offer, will hold member discussions on it. promising sign of debate, not a rubberstamp, in this powerful union.

KBB@keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social · 2y ago

IBEW utility workers just voted 99% (!) to authorize a strike at 6 gas power plants – a majority of electric generation on Long Island – if megacorp National Grid doesn't come back with a fair contract by 11:59pm, Valentines.

Don't miss our first event with @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social on his research with solar and building trades! March 20, 1pm EST. Registration: yorku.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

KBB@keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social · 2y ago

debuting new research on solar & building trades, 3/20. it takes more than a contract to build a powerful union in a green transition. moderated by @nicolekhkgonzalez.bsky.social

debuting new research on solar & building trades, 3/20. it takes more than a contract to build a powerful union in a green transition. moderated by @nicolekhkgonzalez.bsky.social

The super rich are in command, as Donald Trump and Elon Musk run a rampage on the working class. To stop them, the labor movement needs to lead. inthesetimes.com/article/labo...

It’s Time for a United Front to Take on Billionaire Rule

The super rich are in command, as Donald Trump and Elon Musk run a rampage on the working class. To stop them, the labor movement needs to lead.

inthesetimes.com

IBEW utility workers just voted 99% (!) to authorize a strike at 6 gas power plants – a majority of electric generation on Long Island – if megacorp National Grid doesn't come back with a fair contract by 11:59pm, Valentines.

happy Flint Sit-Down Strike UAW victory day to all who observe! looking for inspo on fighting corporate-run government? love this action-packed account of the leader of the Women's Brigade that helped beat GM and the National Guard 💪 historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/doll...

Contracts expire next month for 47,000 Kroger + Albertson’s subsidiary workers across UFCW locals in SoCal, along with contracts for 20,500 Kroger workers w/ UFCW Local 1996 in Georgia, Labor Notes Organizers Joe DeManuelle-Hall + @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social report: labornotes.org/2024/12/big-...

The Big Union Contract Fights Coming in 2025

In some of the most exciting fights of 2024, strikers shut down ports on the East Coast and backed up plane orders on the West. The coming year is full of expiring contracts that could keep the strike...

labornotes.org

Labor Notes@labornotes.bsky.social · 2y ago

10,000 members of Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 are on strike all across Colorado. It’s the first skirmish of this year’s large-scale grocery bargaining rounds—contracts will expire covering more than 130,000 workers at Kroger. @l-l-xu.bsky.social reports: labornotes.org/2025/02/firs...

Germany's Left Party has a new goal of cutting the wealth of billionaires in half within a decade. Ultimately, they "believe there should not be any billionaires." They aim to implement a wealth tax and raise inheritance and income taxes on the rich. www.dw.com/en/germanys-...

Germany's Left Party wants to halve billionaires' wealth – DW – 02/08/2025

The Left Party says "there shouldn't be any billionaires." With Germany gearing up for an election, the far-left force has launched a new tax plan — though it will most likely never get a chance to im...

dw.com

in the biggest US private sector union, heartening signs of a coordinated bargaining / striking / democratic reform coalition taking shape labornotes.org/2025/02/firs...

First Skirmish: Ten Thousand Grocery Workers Strike Kroger

Ten thousand members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 7 are on strike all across Colorado. They work for King Soopers grocery stores, owned by Kroger, the largest supermarket chain i...

labornotes.org

will be sending this every time an academic asks me "how can I help labor?": help figure out organizing targets, based on worker insights! labor leverage depends on how the job isolates or connects coworkers. you gotta learn that firsthand. labornotes.org/blogs/2025/0...

Viewpoint: There’s More to Amazon Organizing Strategy Than Choke Points

As a longtime Amazon warehouse worker and union activist, I was glad to see Professor Ben Fong’s strategic analysis calling on the union movement to focus Amazon organizing on the Sortation Centers. B...

labornotes.org

The King Soopers workers on strike today are among the tens of thousands of grocery workers at the country’s largest supermarket chains fighting for new contracts in 2025 and taking on issues like understaffing. By Joe DeManuelle-Hall and @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social: labornotes.org/2024/12/big-...

The Big Union Contract Fights Coming in 2025

In some of the most exciting fights of 2024, strikers shut down ports on the East Coast and backed up plane orders on the West. The coming year is full of expiring contracts that could keep the strike...

labornotes.org

this climate diagnosis is right. to begin to build power that beat the unholy fossil + silicon capital alliance, I think our best shots are union revival (ala UAW) and insurgent electoral campaigns (ala Bernie / Rashida)

This is a time for the labor movement to choose sides: between deeper class unity and solidarity, or shortsighted conciliation with Trumpist power brokers. www.nplusonemag.com/online-only/...

Solidarity in Retreat | Luis Feliz Leon

Labor’s future will also be decided by its response to a reactionary political climate, and whether it can overcome two sinister and mutually reinforcing dynamics that are now at play in the movement:...

nplusonemag.com

New Labor Notes Workshop: Steering Green Transitions Talk to rank-and-file union members organizing collective action for better jobs and a livable climate. Monday, Feb. 3, 8 p.m. ET | Online Sign up today! labornotes.org/events/2025/...

KBB@keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social · 2y ago

climate wins in union contracts are a vital path forward, with national climate laws way off the table. join me and @labornotes.bsky.social monday for a workshop on union climate demands, learning from a Chicago teacher and Canadian autoworker who've lit the way. labornotes.org/events/2025/...

climate wins in union contracts are a vital path forward, with national climate laws way off the table. join me and @labornotes.bsky.social monday for a workshop on union climate demands, learning from a Chicago teacher and Canadian autoworker who've lit the way. labornotes.org/events/2025/...

Steering Green Transitions (February)

Real solutions to the climate crisis depend on workers' know-how. CEOs usually cling to their dirty profits, or try to cash in on green technology to bust our unions and degrade our jobs. In this new ...

labornotes.org

new from me. unions face scary new pressures towards selfish collaboration with trump: business unionism on uppers. but only fighting solidarity – across unions, with immigrants, in politics – can sustain & grow the fragile labor upsurge. socialistcall.com/2025/01/30/c...

Cranking Up the Labor Upsurge - The Call

Labor's recent advances vindicate the hope that rank-and-file movements can transform sleepy unions into sharp tools against the billionaire class.

socialistcall.com

Organizing your workplace? Start by mapping the shop floor to identify your coworkers' proximity to one another at work and socially. Labor Notes organizers Courtney Smith and @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social on building your organizing committee:

The Valley Labor Report@tvlrfm.bsky.social · 2y ago

How to Form Your Union Organizing Committee (w/ @labornotes.bsky.social ) 🧵

proud to help facilitate this call tonight on organizing solidarity with immigrant workers. over 300 people now signed up! fighting for solidarity against bosses isn't just necessary defense for labor — it's how we build the collective muscle to go on offense. labornotes.org/events/2024/...

Labor Notes National Call: Union Solidarity with Immigrant Workers

As the Trump administration cracks down on undocumented workers, that persecution threatens the power and solidarity of all of us in the labor movement. From farm workers to food processing to janitor...

labornotes.org

Labor Notes Organizers Courtney Smith and @keithbrowerbrown.bsky.social discuss dynamics that discourage members from taking on the work of building the union, and how members can break out of passivity. Don't miss this episode of The Valley Labor Report: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tonJ... 1/3

Beating Apathy in Your Union Campaign

YouTube video by The Valley Labor Report

youtube.com

why do bosses who won't bargain with their workers, proudly flouting labor law, get police protection to move product and union-bust with scabs? hard for working people to believe in elite "democratic institutions" when we see the law bends backwards for CEOs, never for us

Hell Gate *subscribe today!*@hellgatenyc.com · 2y ago

On the scene of the Amazon strike in Maspeth, the NYPD is trying to break the picket, engaging in arrests of union members and engaging in physical confrontations with workers and their supporters.

I think this was the best writing beyond Labor Notes I did this year: on SFSU's working-class students forging a practice of democracy and mass action that led them to win campus divestment, then become a model in the palestine movement jacobin.com/2024/05/san-...

At San Francisco State, a Democratic Movement for Palestine

At San Francisco State University, students built a democratic pro-Palestine protest movement — convincing the university president to engage in open bargaining and to work on a proposal for divestmen...

jacobin.com