Tom Ward was 13 when his father came home from what would be his last day of work. Ward's father "barely made it through the door, fell to the floor and, between tears, said, 'I can't do it anymore.'"

Later that year, at age 39, Ward's father...

It's time for House Speaker John Boehner and the Republican leadership to stop holding America's middle class hostage and instead join Democrats in saying "No" to another tax cut for the rich.

That's what voters asked for, loud and clear.

People are tired of the rich getting gifts from...

After a hard-fought and divisive election year, it's time to rebuild America's middle class -- but to do it we need to make sure the lessons from this campaign stick.

Four years ago, the leadership of the Republican Party made a cynical political gamble -- and this year they...

This election may come down to cars. That's right, cars.

Nothing illustrates the choice between the two presidential candidates better than the 2009 rescue of the auto industry. And, despite Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's efforts to distort the contrast with patently dishonest claims and a new TV and radio...

Lo que a menudo falta en los debates altamente polarizados sobre las políticas de inmigración de Arizona y las prácticas judiciales del Alguacil Joe Arpaio son las historias de jóvenes que diariamente se ven afectados por estas mismas políticas y prácticas. Entre ellos se encuentra...

Every day while the right-wing Super PACs pour millions of dollars into attack ads, canvassers for Working America, the AFL-CIO's community affiliate, knock on nearly 25,000 doors and talk to more than 10,000 actual voters in town after town and state after state.

Each conversation is a little bit...

By Richard Trumka and Ai-jen Poo, Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance

Domestic workers around the world have been organizing for years to secure decent wages, benefits and recognition.

This past summer, domestic workers and their allies celebrated a major global victory after the Philippines joined Uruguay in becoming...

La historia de Christian Hurtado demuestra el potencial del nuevo movimiento por los derechos de los trabajadores. Es una historia digna de ser contada sobre todo en este mes, días después del Día del Trabajo y mientras nos preparamos a celebrar el Mes de...

"Cuando los más afectados por un problema se expresan abiertamente, ya no hay forma de seguir ignorándolo", afirmó Neidi Domínguez.

Tuve el honor de conocer a Neidi en febrero cuando trabajadores lavadores de automóviles, como miembros del sindicato Trabajadores del Metal Unidos (United Steelworkers), firmaron contratos con dos negocios en...

As Independence Day approaches, I've been thinking about that iconic American saying, "Freedom Isn't Free."

Usually it refers to the sacrifice of the men and women who serve in the military and their families -- and it's especially poignant now that Iraq- and Afghanistan-era vets are facing a 12.7 percent

This week's reports from the New York Times about Walmart's practices in Mexico are breathtaking. The Times found "credible evidence that bribery played a persistent and significant role in Walmart's rapid growth in Mexico." The Times interviewed an executive of Walmart's Mexican subsidiary who "bought zoning approvals and...

"Remember Ohio." Those two words should carry new meaning to politicians in Congress and state houses who think they can respond to unemployment, budget crises and voter anger with faux solutions that serve up red meat to their right-wing base.

With their now-famous rejection of a state law limiting...

Co-authored by Richard L. Trumka and Deborah L. Wince-Smith

Tuesday, April 26, was World Intellectual Property Day. The theme of this year's celebration -- Designing the Future -- emphasized the critical role that ideas play in the development of solutions to the challenges of the 21st century, such as combating...

For anyone who still thinks the inspiring actions in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana are just about public employees in those states, here's a moving dose of reality.

People in every walk of life and every part of the country -- even other countries --...

No job safety inspections while inspectors are furloughed for up to three months. No food safety inspections while inspectors are off the job for more than a month. Ten thousand teachers and aides cut from struggling schools and 7,000 special education teachers and staff gone. State and local job training...

What kind of country are we? A country of isolated individuals fending for themselves or a country with shared values and a shared vision? A country with scant resources, fading glory and no choices? Or a blessed nation with the potential to do right by its people and be a...

Today's passage of the $858 billion deal struck between Republicans and President Barack Obama provides vital assistance to a record number of long-term job-hunters. And we certainly needed it -- an average of about $290 a week for Americans who want to work but have been unable to find jobs...

"I have a poster above where I sleep," said Diane S. from Denver. "It says, 'Never, ever give up.' That's my motivation and my motto."

Diane traveled to Washington, D.C., last week as one of 300 job-seekers who put a face on a tragedy that has been all but...

It is a rare blessing when the earth gives back up those it has trapped within.

Early Wednesday morning, as I watched a live video feed of the first of 33 Chilean miners emerge safety from the San Jose mine after 69 days, I was overcome with emotion.

It...

Stacia Haley in Seattle worked all her life and raised a child as a single parent. Yet she has no retirement income other than Social Security.

[Social Security] is all many of us will have, if we live long enough to retire.

Stacia is right. Some 64 percent of...