Labor Union Blog

Economic Report:

By Jesse Russell

The real estate market said “ouch” on Thursday when new data was released showing a staggering 94 percent increase in foreclosures over the same time in 2006. According to RealtyTrac that amounts to one filing per every 555 U.S. households. Nevada was hit the hardest with one filing for every 154 households. California was second followed by Florida.

Nike workers in Vietnam are taking poor factory conditions into their own hands as they launch a massive strike. Jesse Russell reports:

More than 10,000 workers are said to be on strike at a factory roughly 35 miles North of Ho Chi Minh City. They walked off the job on Tuesday seeking holiday bonuses, severance pay, more sick days, and better lunches provided in the factory’s cafeteria. According to the provinces Labour Federation they are investigating workers grievances and it is currently unknown when workers will be returning the production line. Footwear is Vietnam’s third largest export.

By Jesse Russell

With the possibility of a railway strike looming in February, a Presidential Emergency Board has been created to handle disputes between Amtrak and union representing railway workers. More than 6000 workers are represented by at least seven unions under the banner of the Railway Labor Bargaining Coalition. The dispute between Amtrak and the employees has been ongoing for eight years and with the negotiations out of steam the board was created to help resolve ongoing issues within 30 days.

By Doug Cunningham

The United Steelworkers union says since 15 workers were killed and 180 injured in the British Petroleum explosion and fire in Texas City, Texas in 2005 the industry response to safety hazards pervasive in U.S. oil refineries has been anemic. USW President Leo Gerard says a new union survey of safety practices at U.S. refineries shows there’s an alarming potential for future disasters and companies need to work with the union on a comprehensive overhaul of oil refinery safety practices.

[Gerard]: “It’s a wake-up call to the industry and as the United Steel Workers we’re prepared to work hand in hand with them to improve the safety