New York Times | On Oct. 27, the United Steelworkers announced an agreement with Mondragon International to move toward establishment of manufacturing cooperatives in the United States and Canada.

Maybe this agreement represents a symbolic gesture that will not generate any significant economic benefits. Maybe it represents a step in the evolution of a new institutional form for the modern manufacturing firm.Read more.

Alexandra Early, October 8, 2009
www.progressive.org/mpearly100809.html

I’m glad to hear that the stock market is up. But, frankly, my own household doesn’t feel it.

My under-30 partner and I don’t own any stocks, so we’re not benefiting from Wall Street’s recovery. We’re both still jobless and searching for full-time work — in my case, for three months now and, in his case, for much longer.Read more.

UNITY LABOR RALLY! & PRESS EVENT!

STAND UP IN SOLIDARITY! TO STOP THE MASSIVE LAYOFFS OF OUR UNION BROTHERS & SISTERS IN PUERTO RICO!

DEFEND PUERTO RICAN WORKERS RIGHTS!

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2009 12 NOON CITY HALL STEPS

For more information - NYC LCLAA - 212-701-9400

For more information - New York City LCLAA (Labor Council for Latin American Advancement) - 212-701-9400Read more.

From today's Open Left:

"Is your boss stealing from you? Probably.

"Paul Rosenberg wrote recently about how wage theft against the bottom 15 percent of the workforce is 'so widespread that workers in just three cities-Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City (total population about 15 million)-had roughly $2.9 billion in wages stolen from them in 2008.' The workers surveyed had lost an average of 15 percent of their legal wages. Now that kind of theft is in outright violation of the law, not that anyone who can do something about it cares."Read more.

"Snack-maker Lance, Inc., has announced its intention to buy the 78-year-old Stella D'oro Biscuit Company and move production from its historic home.

"Tell Lance to keep Stella D'oro production in the Bronx!"Read more.

"Low-wage workers are routinely denied proper overtime pay and are often paid less than the minimum wage, according to a new study based on a survey of workers in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago."

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/us/02wage.html

"Vestas plan to close the UK's only wind turbine factories on the Isle of Wight (UK). Workers are fighting back against the bosses, OCCUPYING THE FACTORY to pressure the government to nationalise the factories and continue production under new management" (from the occupation website).Read more.

Head over to stelladorostrike.com and help fight to keep Brynwood Partners, owner of Stella D'Oro, from closing the factory in the Bronx and busting the union.