TheRepublic.com - Labor issues News

Officials: Senators reach deal on high-tech visas

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:58:22 -0400

WASHINGTON - Leading senators working on immigration legislation reached a compromise Tuesday on the details of an expanded high-tech visa program, officials said as the Senate Judiciary Committee neared completion of its work on the measure.

UC hospitals say patients safe despite strike

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:43:48 -0400

LOS ANGELES - Thousands of workers at University of California medical centers began a two-day strike on Tuesday that prompted the postponement of dozens of surgeries amid reassurances that patients were safe.

Some UMass Memorial nurses plan to strike

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:52:26 -0400

WORCESTER, Massachusetts - Nurses at UMass Memorial Medical Center-University Campus are planning a strike after the latest round of contract talks failed to result in a deal.

Protesters rally at FirstEnergy meeting in W.Va.

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:23:20 -0400

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia - At least 200 union workers picketed FirstEnergy's annual shareholder meeting in West Virginia on Tuesday, demanding the Ohio-based utility hire enough people to keep the power on without forcing an ever-shrinking labor force to work as many as 1,800 hours of overtime a year.

Does France have right plan to revive its economy?

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:39:33 -0400

PARIS - The man charged with reviving France's shrinking economy and attracting businesses to invest here is gaining a reputation for doing the opposite.

Minn. lawmakers wrap up historic session

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:22:38 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - Minnesota lawmakers worked right up to the end Monday before adjourning a session that produced $2.1 billion in tax hikes and a historic vote on gay marriage.

State determines OOB employee retaliated against

Tue, 21 May 2013 07:30:56 -0400

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Human Rights Commission has found that a former Old Orchard Beach town employee suffered discrimination and retaliation for reporting financial irregularities.

Teachers call for ouster of RI commissioner

Tue, 21 May 2013 06:49:37 -0400

CRANSTON, Rhode Island - Teachers attending a union forum in Cranston have called for the ouster of Rhode Island Education Commissioner Deborah Gist.

Fired Iowa Senate staffer plans to file complaint

Mon, 20 May 2013 19:47:17 -0400

DES MOINES, Iowa - A former staffer for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus said Monday that she plans to file a civil rights complaint over her allegation that she was fired after reporting sexual harassment.

Firm to appeal nuclear plant whistleblower case

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:08:43 -0400

WICHITA, Kansas - An engineering firm accused of firing a whistleblower for reporting unsafe conditions at an eastern Kansas nuclear power plant plans to appeal the ruling by federal regulators, the firm said Monday.

Vt. city, teachers work on new contract

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:37:08 -0400

SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vermont - The South Burlington school board and the teachers' union are hoping a fact-finding report can help them reach an agreement on a new contract.

UAE construction giant faces rare labor strike

Mon, 20 May 2013 08:37:06 -0400

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates - United Arab Emirates-based construction company Arabtec says it's working to resolve a rare strike by laborers seeking higher wages.

Cargo ship worker rescued after injury at Fla port

Mon, 20 May 2013 03:35:04 -0400

FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida - A worker on a cargo ship docked in South Florida is recovering from injuries after officials say he was struck by a cargo container.

Dems to take late stab at Minn. minimum wage bill

Sun, 19 May 2013 23:59:03 -0400

ST. PAUL, Minnesota - Minnesota Democrats are making a late push on a bill to raise the state's minimum wage.

Analysis: Missouri GOP success in eye of beholder

Sun, 19 May 2013 20:56:20 -0400

JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri - Success. That desirable word can have different meanings to different people.

Eugene schools face $16 million budget gap

Sat, 18 May 2013 16:47:44 -0400

EUGENE, Oregon - The Eugene School District wants wage concessions from teachers because of a projected $16 million budget gap.

Lewis says fight to stop school closings not over

Sat, 18 May 2013 15:56:46 -0400

CHICAGO - Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis says the fight to stop the closure of dozens of city schools will not end with the school board's upcoming vote on the proposal.

Teens spearheaded Louisville desegregation effort

Sat, 18 May 2013 13:55:30 -0400

LOUISVILLE, Kentucky - Raoul Cunningham was a gangly 17-year-old high school junior when Louisville police came for him at the lunch counter of the old Stewart's Department Store in February 1961. They handcuffed him, he says, and hauled him off to the old Children's Center juvenile facility on East Chestnut Street.

Karen Lewis re-elected teachers union president

Fri, 17 May 2013 22:38:22 -0400

CHICAGO - Karen Lewis says she and her slate of candidates have been re-elected to top offices of the Chicago Teachers Union.

NYC's biggest union picks de Blasio in mayor race

Fri, 17 May 2013 20:07:15 -0400

NEW YORK - The biggest labor union in New York City endorsed Public Advocate Bill de Blasio for mayor Friday, providing him a prized endorsement heading into the highly competitive Democratic primary.

US wants Bangladesh progress on labor standards

Fri, 17 May 2013 17:30:33 -0400

WASHINGTON - Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. wants to see Bangladesh move forward on improving labor standards after a building collapse that killed hundreds of garment workers.

Groups divided on Bangladesh safety overhauls

Fri, 17 May 2013 16:28:03 -0400

NEW YORK - The nation's largest retail industry organization fired back Friday, outlining reasons why a legally binding global pact to make Bangladesh clothing factories safer would expose merchants to undue legal exposure. The move came as U.S. retailers face increasing pressure from a large coalition of religious groups and investors to work together to develop a plan.

Brazil approves law to modernize ports

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:42:18 -0400

SAO PAULO - Brazil plans to modernize and expand its overcrowded ports, attract private investments to the sector and make it easier for companies to hire skilled foreign workers, in a bid to spur economic growth,

Kansas unemployment rate drops slightly in April

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:39:33 -0400

TOPEKA, Kansas - A new report says the Kansas unemployment rate dipped to 5.5 percent last month while the number of people filing initial claims for jobless benefits also fell.

Colorado unemployment drops to 6.9 percent

Fri, 17 May 2013 14:49:21 -0400

DENVER - Colorado unemployment fell to 6.9 percent in April, the first time the rate has been below 7 percent since January 2009, state labor officials said Friday.