Labor Day

Workers Pay the Price in an Era of Declining Job Quality

Janet Murguía | Posted 11.11.2009 | Business


Janet Murguía

When employers violate wage and occupational safety laws, they effectively devalue hard work and workers' lives. It is simply outrageous and unacceptable that a country like ours allows people to work to death.

Live from the Toronto Film Festival: Day 1

Marshall Fine | Posted 11.11.2009 | Entertainment


Marshall Fine

The Toronto International Film Festival suffers from its own success. There are too many damned commercials before the start of each film.

Autumn's First Kiss: a Wake-up Call Or a Sweet Fragrance?

Patricia Yarberry Allen | Posted 11.10.2009 | Living


Patricia Yarberry Allen

The change of seasons has brought a bounty of smart writing to Women's Voices for Change.

Alaska Fisherman Send Labor Day SOS-Call For Action to Protect Jobs, Fisheries from Climate Change's Evil Twin

Celia Alario | Posted 11.08.2009 | Green


Celia Alario

More than 100 fishing boats, sail boats, skiffs and kayaks took to the waters Sunday to draw attention the threat of ocean acidification.

Happy Terkel Day

David Murray | Posted 10.23.2009 | Chicago


David Murray

Well, why wouldn't we rename Labor Day after Studs? He narrated this film about workers' health and safety that was banned by Ronald Reagan's OSHA. Most copies were destroyed. But not all.

Women's Labor and Infertility

Elizabeth Gregory | Posted 10.23.2009 | Living


Elizabeth Gregory

Released from old biological constraints, women have flooded the universities and climbed career ladders, redefining "women's work" by expanding it to include just about every field, and doubling our national talent pool.

Obama Gives Fiery Speech At AFL-CIO Labor Day Picnic

AP | DARLENE SUPERVILLE | Posted 10.23.2009 | Politics


CINCINNATI — President Barack Obama declared Monday that modern benefits like paid leave, minimum wage and Social Security "all bear the union l...

Labor Day Investing

Amy B. Dean | Posted 10.23.2009 | Politics


Amy B. Dean

Labor Day is a reminder of what workers can achieve when they organize: improved working conditions, fairness in the work place, holiday and vacation pay, health care and pensions.

Meatless Monday: Labor Day Pains

Ellen Kanner | Posted 10.23.2009 | Green


Ellen Kanner

Purple mountain majesties, amber waves of grain, we've got it all, but one of America's greatest natural resources is you. Yeah, you sitting in your ...

7 Tips To Turn Your Weekend Into A Staycation

Eli Davidson | Posted 10.23.2009 | Living


Eli Davidson

As I wave good-bye to summer, I realize how very precious and restorative a vacation is. So I decided to make my weekend into a "staycation". If you aren't taking a one, two or three week vacation, it is essential that you give yourself a weekend "staycation" at least once a quarter.

The Cresting Wave

Sasha Reuther | Posted 10.23.2009 | Politics


Sasha Reuther

The fight for health care reform is a generation-defining struggle that must not waver, even with the loss of a great champion. I pledge to do my part and only hope that we can forge the next coalition to finally reach the shore.

Labor Day By The Numbers: How The Economic Crisis Has Impacted Labor

Economic Policy Institute | Anna Turner | Posted 10.23.2009 | Business


TOTAL JOBS LOST DURING THE RECESSION: 6.9 MILLION • New jobs needed per month to keep up with population growth: 127,000 • Jobs lost in August 20...

Rutgers Report: More Jobs Lost, But Wages Increase

AP | BETH DeFALCO | Posted 10.22.2009 | Business


TRENTON, N.J. — Despite the nation's highest jobless rate in 26 years, American workers are seeing some encouraging trends this Labor Day, accor...

Too High a Price for High Octane

Leo W. Gerard | Posted 10.22.2009 | Business


Leo W. Gerard

The refineries in this country still using unnecessarily hazardous hydrofluoric acid must ensure their workers and the residents of their neighborhoods live to see Labor Day 2010.

Workers of the World Unite on Labor Day

Bill Fletcher Jr. | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics


Bill Fletcher Jr.

The right to join or form labor unions is so central but so often overlooked precisely because it goes to central questions regarding power in so-called free market societies.

Some Thoughts for Labor Day

Angela Heimburger | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics


Angela Heimburger

The workers who clean houses, cook meals, and provide care for children and the elderly are often on call around the clock, paid a pittance for their services and protected far too little by labor laws.

For The Perfect End-Of-Summer Cocktail, Keep It Simple: In Praise Of The Gin & Tonic

Tony Sachs | Posted 10.22.2009 | Style


Tony Sachs

I was intrigued when an invitation came down the pike to attend a talk/demo about the humble gin & tonic, sponsored by Tanqueray and featuring globe-trotting brand ambassador Angus Winchester.

Hard Labor

Robert Kuttner | Posted 10.22.2009 | Business


Robert Kuttner

There are three parts to the woes of American workers -- falling wages, rising unemployment, and insecurity about the future. More robust policies could improve all three.

A New Workforce Model for A New American Economy

Tom Woodruff | Posted 10.22.2009 | Politics


Tom Woodruff

To rebuild our economy, we must restore worker purchasing power by restoring worker bargaining power.

Taking Back Labor Day: The 'Lost Decade' Of Young Workers

Kari Henley | Posted 10.22.2009 | Living


Kari Henley

Labor Day has lost its luster as a holiday. First celebrated on September 5, 1882 in New York City, the day consisted of a parade and celebrations to ...

This Labor Day, Is the World of Work a More Secure and Lawful Place?

Nelson Lichtenstein | Posted 10.21.2009 | Politics


Nelson Lichtenstein

It has happened before. The Great Depression saw the moral and ideological collapse of an old order that no longer seemed rational, productive or democratic.

Labor Day in the City

Erica Abeel | Posted 10.21.2009 | New York


Erica Abeel

Usually, I'll move heaven and hell to avoid spending Labor Day weekend in New York City. A shaky sense of self worth tells me I'm a loser if I'm stuck here during major holidays.

It's Not a Holiday Unless There's Dip

One For The Table | Posted 10.20.2009 | Style


One For The Table

It doesn't matter what kind, just as long as the dip exists in some shape or form in my kitchen.

On Labor Day and Every Workday, Single Women Struggle to Stay Even

Page Gardner | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics


Page Gardner

Now as before the recession, working women are particularly vulnerable to economic insecurity -- especially the 53 million "women on their own."

Health Care and Other Communist Ideas

Ian Ruskin | Posted 10.20.2009 | Politics


Ian Ruskin

Harry Bridges said very simply that America should have a national health system and once suggested the best way to get one would be to do away with health insurance for members of Congress.