Labor Union Blog

By Doug Cunningham

French transportation workers are continuing their struggle against right-wing government reforms that will force them to work longer before retiring. Helene Bonneau of the French labor federation CGT says it’s really a fight against a broader government agenda to attack workers benefits across the board.

[Bonneau]: “What’s at stake with this strike is that the government wants to apply on all of us – all French workers – the same rule, which is to say not only working 40 years and contributing to the system for 40 years but they have also already planned for us to work 41 and even 42 years. Sarkozy, when he came into power, decided that he would break with all the past – all the regulations of labor law - and give lots of new advantages to employers.”

By Jesse Russell

Two years without a contract and no more. That is the message being sent loud and clear from CBS News writers who voted overwhelmingly to authorize their union to call a strike. The news couldn’t come at a worse time for CBS as they are already embroiled in a battle with striking screenwriters who have thrown a wrench into production on some of the stations more popular shows. The news writers have not seen a pay raise since April of 2004. CBS may not be the only station battling writers on two fronts. ABC News writers have been without a contract since January of 2005. H

Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards has often vowed during speeches and debates that as President he will march picket lines alongside workers. Last Friday he gave a sneak peak into what that could look like as he stood side by side with striking screenwriters in Hollywood. Jesse Russell reports:

On Friday, striking Hollywood screenwriters represented by the Writers Guild of America-West found a new ally marching with them as they picketed in front of NBC Universal: former Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate, John Edwards. Edwards reiterated his campaign message that if elected he will stand in solidarity with workers as they fight for what they need to live the America dream, but on Friday he expanded that platform, suggesting that there also needs to be oversight of the vast consolidation of media into the hands of only a few:

Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards has often vowed during speeches and debates that as President he will march picket lines alongside workers. Last Friday he gave a sneak peak into what that could look like as he stood side by side with striking screenwriters in Hollywood. Jesse Russell reports:

On Friday striking Hollywood screenwriters represented by the Writers Guild of America-West found a new ally marching with them as they picketed in front of NBC Universal – former Senator and Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards. Edwards reiterated his campaign message that if elected he will stand in solidarity with workers as they fight for what they need to live the America dream – but on Friday he expanded that platform suggesting that that there also needs to be oversight of the vast consolidation of media into the hands of only a few: