On the picket line

Rio Tinto lockout protested

Workers in Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Vancouver protested in front of British consulates on April 16 to demand justice for nearly 600 members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 30 who were locked out Jan. 31 at Rio Tinto’s Borax mine in Boron, Calif. The protests came a day after a locked-out miner addressed shareholders at Rio Tinto’s annual general meeting in London, asking the company to end its lockout at the world’s second largest borax mine.

Rio Tinto, one of the world’s largest mining companies, with a history of union busting and human rights abuse around the globe, made nearly $5 billion in profits in 2009. Nevertheless, the company locked out the workers after they voted down a giveback-packed contract. Rich Rogers, executive secretary-treasurer of the Greater Boston Labor Council, denounced Rio Tinto’s use of “economic terrorism tactics against these brave families who are standing up for good jobs.” (AFL-CIO blog, April 16) To help the miners, make a tax-deductible contribution to Labor Community Services and write “Boron Lockout” in the memo line. Mail the check to Labor Community Services, 2130 W. James M. Wood Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90006.

Study shows low nurse-patient ratio saves lives

In light of the heroic nurses’ strike at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, it’s exciting that a new study by the University of Pennsylvania proves the validity of an important component of what the nurses are fighting for. The study shows that California’s nurse-to-patient staffing law, instituted in 2004 after a long battle, reduces patient deaths, allows nurses to spend more time with each patient, and helps keep experienced nurses on the job. The study shows that if other states followed the California ratios, patients’ lives would be saved. Malinda Markowitz, co-president of the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, said the study shows what “California RNs have long known — safe staffing saves lives.” (AFL-CIO blog, April 20)

NYC building workers’ strike averted

The more than 30,000 door attendants, janitors, porters and superintendents at thousands of New York City residential buildings refused to back down. Instead, their unity, rallies and strike vote forced the Realty Advisory Board, the negotiating body for the $584 billion real estate industry, to meet their demands on April 21. Now members of Service Employees Local 32BJ will get a wage increase, protected health care and pension benefits, and no givebacks.

S.F. Labor Council supports May Day

In keeping with past years, the San Francisco Labor Council voted April 12 to support a May Day demonstration there with the following demands: “Full rights for undocumented workers! Legalization/amnesty for all! Money for jobs and education, not war and occupation! Jobs for all! No budget cuts or fee hikes! Tax the rich and corporations!”

Two pro-labor lawyers appointed to NLRB

The recent appointments to the National Labor Relations Board of two pro-labor members — Craig Becker, a lawyer for the AFL-CIO and the Service Employees union, and Mark Pierce, a Buffalo attorney experienced in employment law — was a promise the Obama administration fulfilled that the Republican Party, the Chamber of Commerce and other anti-union groups had blocked for years. The rest of labor’s agenda — card check, single-payer health care legislation, immigration reform and a real jobs program to turn around rising unemployment and poverty — has been put on the back burner or has been compromised by the Democrats.

With the midyear elections coming, the Democratic Party desperately needs assurances that organized labor is on board to support the Democrats with its resources. The organized labor movement believes these pro-labor members will be helpful, and they will, but much more is needed to resist the unrelenting assault of the ruling class.

Build the labor movement from below! That was the lesson from the 1930s, when the NLRB was created. Stay tuned.