University of California, Santa Barbara
Nelson Lichtenstein is Professor of History at the University of California, Santa Barbara and Director of its Center for the Study of Work, Labor, and Democracy. He is the author of several books, including Walter Reuther: The Most Dangerous Man in Detroit, State of the Union: A Century of American Labor, The Retail Revolution: How Wal-Mart Created a Brave New World of Business and Achieving Workers' Rights in the Global Economy.
President Trump, organized labor and working Americans The President helped unveil Boeing's new Dreamliner today in South Carolina -- at a plant where workers just rejected unionization by a vote of three-to-one. In half of America's state capitals, Republicans are enacting so-called "right-to-work" laws crippling unions by allowing employees not to pay dues. Fifty years ago, organized labor was a powerful force in politics and the economy -- earning credit for creating the middle class. With the White House incumbent applauding efforts to reduce union clout, what about his promise to "make America great again" for millions of workers?
Is America Losing Its Middle Class? There's good news today: the US economy grew 5% in the summer quarter. But bad news continues: that growth is not trickling down to everyone. The gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" is now the biggest on record, and it's not likely to get much smaller any time soon. Opportunities are not what they were before the Recession—let alone before high-paying manufacturing jobs went overseas. We hear about the under-employment of educated people, the bleak outlook for Millennials and the financial plight of racial minorities.
LA Unions and the Supreme Court Labor unions have used so-called "neutrality agreements" to organize workers in LA and other parts of California. Unite Here struck such a deal with Hyatt Hotels this summer in Los Angeles and other cities. Today, the US Supreme Court heard arguments that "neutrality agreements" violate federal law because they are "things of value." History Professor Nelson Lichtenstein is director of the Center for the Study of Work, Labor and Democracy at UC Santa Barbara.
UAW Labor Negotiations in Motor City Negotiations between the United Auto Workers and the Big Three car manufacturers used to be something of an economic contact sport, with both sides going head to head. With talks underway once again in Detroit, last week the UAW struck a deal with GM that brought some gains for workers, but not nearly the kind of deals that the union wrangled in its heyday. How is the UAW dealing with a changed marketplace? What labor gains are possible in a post-bailout world, after government aid brought the auto industry back from the brink? What new economic landscape is emerging on the shattered streets of Detroit? Doom and gloom stories are still commonly reported, but what initiatives are taking shape to bring the city back to life?
UAW Labor Negotiations in Motor City Negotiations between the United Auto Workers and the Big Three car manufacturers used to be something of an economic contact sport, with both sides going head to head. With talks underway once again in Detroit, last week the UAW struck a deal with GM that brought some gains for workers, but not nearly the kind of deals that the union wrangled in its heyday. How is the UAW dealing with a changed marketplace? What labor gains are possible in a post-bailout world, after government aid brought the auto industry back from the brink? What new economic landscape is emerging on the shattered streets of Detroit? Doom and gloom stories are still commonly reported, but what initiatives are taking shape to bring the city back to life?
The Supreme Court: Big Business and the First Amendment As the US Supreme Court recessed this week until next October, John Roberts completed his sixth term as Chief Justice of the United States. He continued to lead the court in a conservative direction, and this was a good term for big business, including Wal-Mart, AT&T and power companies. It was also a term dominated by the First Amendment. Is the Court more business-friendly under Roberts and the conservative majority? Is it liberal when it comes to the First Amendment?
The Supreme Court: Big Business and the First Amendment As the US Supreme Court recessed this week until next October, John Roberts completed his sixth term as Chief Justice of the United States. He continued to lead the court in a conservative direction. The US Chamber of Commerce openly claims more influence with the US Supreme Court than any litigator except the US Solicitor General . Sure enough, big business has been winning 61 percent of its cases. Does it have better lawyers? Are the justices on its side ideologically? They often recognized the free-speech rights of business. Is that because they're dedicated to defending the First Amendment? What did the Wal-Mart case mean for women's employment rights? Why don't Supreme Court justices use the same ethics rules as other federal judges?
Are Republican Governors Union Busting? With state budgets facing massive shortfalls, several Republican Governors are demanding concessions from public employee unions. Some union officials accuse the Governors of playing politics with Democratic supporters. In Wisconsin, unions have agreed to pay more for healthcare and retirement, but not to give up their bargaining rights. The Senate's minority Democrats have left the state to prevent a vote in the legislature. In a recorded telephone call, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker appeared to confirm it's about more than the budget.
Are Republican Governors Union Busting? Republican Governors around the country are trying to solve state budget problems without raising taxes by weakening public-employee unions. They claim it's not a coordinated campaign, but union officials call it a scheme to undermine a key source of money and manpower for Democrats. In Wisconsin, unions have agreed to pay more for healthcare and retirement, but not to give up their bargaining rights. The Senate's minority Democrats have left the state to prevent a vote in the legislature. Last week, President Obama accused Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker of "an assault against unions," but the White House says it's not mobilizing its forces. We hear what's happening in several states and debate the politics. What do voters think about the pros and cons of union organization, public and private?
Budget Crisis Threatens the University of California The University of California is considered America's leading public institution of higher learning, but cutbacks in state funding may put that that status at risk. At UCLA, the Labor Center will close; deans have been told to cut courses, majors and numbers of faculty by 10 to 20%. In-state tuition is already almost $9000 and it could go higher. Freshman enrollment for this fall may drop by 500 students. The nine other campuses face comparable assaults on the university's basic mission of higher education for California's high school graduates. Tomorrow, University President Mark Yudof will present the Board of Regents with a plan for an $813 million reduction.
Who's to blame for the opioid crisis? Some of the lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are now going after Big Pharma. It’s all about the deadly epidemic of opioid use. Are the drug companies to blame? What about the users? Later, on today’s Talking Point: making sense of Britain’s upset election.
Trump's 'America First' goes missing abroad In the Middle East, President Trump is changing some policies of the Obama Administration—and reversing his own campaign attacks on Islam as a religion that "hates us." We hear about his visit to Saudi Arabia and what's at stake for the rest of his foreign excursion.
The longest US war: Will Trump send more troops to Afghanistan? The Trump White House is divided over the Pentagon's request for more troops in Afghanistan—where the US has been fighting for the past 16 years. Is there a formula -- either for "victory" or a political settlement? Is there an end in sight for America's longest war?