Articles by Mike Elk
After 7-Year Struggle, Memphis Workers Win Federal Ruling But Will It Help?
A federal ruling this week in a Memphis union campaign underscores the toothless and ineffectiveness of labor law. For the past seven years, workers there have been attempting to organize and collectively bargain at several Ozburn-Hessey Logistics (OHL) distribution centers.
Resounding Victory for #Law360Union
Today, media workers at Law360 struck a decisive blow in the burgeoning media workers rights movement. Staff at the legal news publication voted 109 to 9 to join the NewsGuild in a National Labor Relations Board election.
JP’s New Song on Railroad Fatigue & A Poem on Chinese Railroad Dangers
When JP Wright is not wearing his Folk Labor Desk hat, he is a Locomotive Engineer, driving trains from Louisville, Kentucky to Nashville, Tennessee. This song details the stress of working a job that takes a person away from home for 70 hours a week.
2nd Florida Paper Moves to Unionize – Non-Union Ironworkers Strike Nashville Again – Baltimore Dems Kill $15 an hour – Happy Birthday Roberto Clemente
OSHA Starts Crack Down on Southern Poultry Plants, But Will Non-Union Workers Talk?
OSHA fined a Tyson’s chicken plant in Center, Texas $263,498 for two repeated violations and 15 serious safety violations.
1st Florida Paper Unionizes – Unpaid Sailors Stranded Off Georgia Coast – Feds Enforce Immigration Laws, Ignore Workplace Dangers – #EqualPlayEqualPay – #FireGardenhire
JP Sings about Berniecrat Khristy Wilkinson, TDU, & #law360union #firegardenhire
Featuring “Singing to the Choir” and a rewritten version of the classic.
Yuuuge Birdiecrat Upset in Tenn State Senate Primary – Anti-Union Southwest CEO in Trouble – Job Numbers – #FireGardenhire
JP Covers “Which Side Are You On?” and Dedicates a Song to Bill Moyer and Bill McKibben
Along with songs, this episode also features poetry about contemporary life on the railroad from one of JP’s fellow locomotive engineers.
OSHA Issues Landmark Citation Against “Medical Mismanagement” in Northern Florida Poultry Plant
OSHA issued a citation against a Pilgrim’s Pride chicken slaughterhouse and processing facility for, among other serious violations, failing to promptly refer injured workers to medical attention.
Nashville Ironworkers Strike over Water – Uber, the Big Winner at DNC – #Law360Union Shames Union Busting – IAM Fights BLS Contractor in Georgia
While the workers at the Philly airport made some headway, unionized taxi drivers took a hit as Uber and Lyft were given special permission to operate during the DNC.