Category: Labor

Here is our open thread for today on what’s happening in Madison, Wisconsin. 9:05 a.m. PST – Last night WI…

In that town called San Diego when the workers try to talk, The cops will smash them with a sap…

This gallery of photos was sent to us by Merton Gaudette, who we met via the California and San Diego US Uncut movement on Facebook. Thank you Merton!

Click on the title of this article to see all the images.

All photos Copyright © Merton Gaudette 2011

Video of February 26,2011 San Diego rally to support Wisconsin and workers everywhere!

Over one thousand San Diegans – mainly of them union members – rallied today, Sat, Feb 26th, in the rain…

The Genesis of the Saturday Rally in San Diego In Support of the Working People of Wisconsin

OBcians – you should be very proud – for it was your little blog that got the big boulder rolling. Your little blog – the OB Rag – was the first organization (if you can call us that) that initiated the call for a rally in San Diego on this Saturday in solidarity with the working people of Wisconsin.

We were the little pebble that got the big boulder – the San Diego County Labor Council – rolling. And now, the Labor Council, with all its members, experience, and resources, have taken over the bulk of the organizing for the noon time demonstration in front of the San Diego County Administration Building for tomorrow, Feb. 26th.

By Alyssa Battistoni / Salon / Feb. 24, 2011 Amid all the rightful outrage over Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to…

By Mark Niquette / Bloomberg News / Feb 22, 2011

Protesters demonstrated at the Ohio Statehouse before a hearing on a bill to limit collective- bargaining for public employees as Wisconsin’s Assembly prepared to vote on a similar measure.

In Ohio, protesters packed the Statehouse atrium as a crowd gathered on the steps outside because the Ohio Highway Patrol is limiting the number of people inside for safety reasons, said Joe Andrews, a spokesman for the Department of Public Safety. Former Governor Ted Strickland, who came to support the demonstrators, said more people should be allowed in.

By Chris Bowers / AlterNet / February 22, 2011

Mirroring events in Wisconsin, Democrats in the Indiana House have left the state to deny a quorum and block legislation that would strip collective bargaining rights. From the Indianapolis Star:

House Democrats are leaving the state rather than vote on anti-union legislation, The Indianapolis Star has learned.

A source said Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky. They need to go to a state with a Democratic governor to avoid being taken into police custody and returned to Indiana.

People from across the world have donated to provide free pizza to protesting Wisconsinites

By Meredith Shiner / Politico

MADISON, Wis. — Someone in Egypt has been paying attention to what’s happening in Madison and wanted to send a message of solidarity from across the globe — so they ordered a pizza.

It might seem like a small gesture, but it’s overwhelming to the staff at Ian’s on State Street — a campus staple mere blocks from the Capitol — where in the last few days, they’ve fielded calls from concerned citizens of 12 countries, and 38 out of 50 states looking to donate money to provide free pizza to the Wisconsinites who have congregated here.

The greatest threat of the 21st Century is not terrorism or religious fanaticism or nationalism….. it is concentrated power – both political and economic – within the corporate state. That very power, concentrated in an elite, an oligarchy, whether national or local, is an interlocking system of wealth, politics, media, and corporations whose sole purpose is to destroy the ability of individual citizens to organize together for the common good through the mechanism of government.

By James Kelleher / Reuters / Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:55pm EST MADISON, Wisconsin (Reuters) – Supporters of legislation to…