Andrew Elrod is a writer and historian in Los Angeles who works in the Research Department at United Teachers Los Angeles.
Congress was able to break the rail strike last week because of a century-old law designed to weaken the disruptive power of unions. It’s time to cast aside this law and every other government-mandated strike prohibition that ties the hands of workers.
To address the cost-of-living crisis, we need to expand production and rein in corporate profits. Only Congress and the White House have the tools for the job — but they won’t use them unless labor organizes to force their hands.
The industries where employers are complaining the loudest about recruiting and retaining labor are those where workers have lost the most independence and autonomy over their work. The best way to build and strengthen that independence is through unions.
The postwar order that emerged from the Great Depression was as fragile as it was prosperous.
Cleo Silvers, a former organizer with the League of Revolutionary Black Workers, discusses racism in the labor movement.
New York State United Teachers members have an opportunity to create a broad educational justice movement — if they can move their union away from politics as usual.