After the municipal elections back in 2007, in which the Chicago Federation of Labor invested an historic level of resources in getting pro-labor alderman elected, I think many of us really hoped to see a more worker friendly city council and one that was more independent from Mayor Daley. It seems from the experience of the past few years (Walmart, Big Box Living Wage Ordinance, clean power ordinance, parking meter privitization, etc. etc.), those hopes have been dashed. Here is just one more example of how tone deaf the council is to the concerns of working class Chicagoans... From a UNITE-HERE Local 1 press release: For Immediate Release Wednesday, October 7, 2009 For questions please contact Annemarie Strassel at (312) 617-0495 City Council defers vote on Hotel Strike Notification Law Law would give customers notice about strikes or lockouts that could affect the quality of their stay before they book hotel rooms Chicago, Ill.— Today the City Council voted to re-refer the hot...

It appears that the Honduran army's harassment of Dr. Luther Castillo and his hospital continues. Dr. Castillo was in Chicago in August to bring attention to the situation in Honduras. You can hear an interview with him and his fellow Honduran democracy activists on the August 9 th 2009 episode of the Labor Express Radio... http://www.archive.org/details/LaborExpressFor8-9-09 You can also find out more about him at this previous entry on my blog... http://pilsenprole.blogspot.com/2009/08/honduran-civil-society-leaders-visit.html After Dr. Castillo's visit, he was unable to return directly to Honduras because of concerns for his safety. He did return in early September, however, it is clear that the danger to him and his colleagues continues. This report comes from La Voz de los Abajo ... This is to make known that on October 7 th at 6am three army patrols broke down the doors and stormed the first Garifuna hospital in Honduras, located on the Atlantic Coast. Al...