Posted on 09/02/21 by Michael Shields (he/him) in Work & Wages
This week marks the centennial of the Battle of Blair Mountain, where some 10,000 Appalachian mine workers joined together across race in the largest labor uprising in U.S. history. For a week in 1921, mine workers in West Virginia’s Mingo County fought a pitched battle against mine owners, hired mercenaries, and sympathetic local police departments to demand their right to form a union. They helped spark a vibrant union movement secured through hard-won protections for workers in the New Deal.
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Miners in Logan Co., WVA. Courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress
Miners did grueling work in dangerous conditions, often lying... read more
Posted on 04/29/21 by Michael Shields (he/him) in Work & Wages
Working people have proved time and again that when they join together in a union, they have the power to win better pay, better working conditions and a chance at a decent life. Organized labor... read more
Posted on 09/15/20 by Michael Shields (he/him) in Work & Wages
Pandemic and recession setting back progress since Great Recession
Everyone deserves to be able to cover the basics, to build a life for themselves and their loved ones, regardless of race, gender or geography. New data... read more
Posted on 09/27/17 by Michael Shields (he/him) in Work & Wages
Under President Barack Obama, the U.S. Department of Labor planned to extend overtime protection to 12.5 million American workers, including 351,000 Ohioans, by updating the rule that exempts some salaried workers. Ohio was among a... read more
Posted on 06/30/17 by Michael Shields (he/him) in Basic Needs + Unemployment Insurance
Cleveland residents struggle to afford safe and secure housing. A higher minimum wage would help. More than 66,000 families in Cuyahoga County who rent their homes are considered housing insecure. Those who are housing insecure... read more
Posted on 06/09/17 by Michael Shields (he/him) in Work & Wages
More than 200 Ohio workers were killed on the job in 2015 alone. Nearly 105,000 others were hurt or made sick by exposure to workplace hazards. Workers’ Compensation laws are designed not only to treat... read more
Posted on 03/13/17 by Michael Shields (he/him)
Federal budget should make good on manufacturing promises
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Photo by Steve Cagan
On Thursday, President Donald Trump will release his federal budget plan. Although he campaigned on the promise of bringing back manufacturing jobs, it’s widely expected... read more
Posted on 11/18/16 by Michael Shields (he/him) in Education & Training
Cleveland expands its program and Cincinnati and Dayton approve preschool for all
Communities across Ohio are recognizing the vital need for preschool as an early learning foundation and coming up with innovative solutions to deliver quality... read more