On the August 23rd episode of Labor Express Radio we discuss the lock-out of Steelworkers at the Honeywell uranium conversion plant in Metropolis Illinois. For more on developments in the lock-out you can check Local 7-669's website... http://usw7-669.com/ We also aired a conversation with Amisha Patel of the Grassroots Collaborative about the history and future of the struggle for living wages in Chicago. For more info on the Collaborative and their upcoming 10th Anniversary fundraiser, checkout their website... http://www.thegrassrootscollaborative.org/

You can hear the story from FSRN here... http://www.fsrn.org/audio/headlines-friday-august-20-2010/7349

Hilton Hotels workers in Chicago voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike at 4 area properties - the Chicago Hilton, Hilton O'Hare, the Palmer House Hilton, and the Drake, according to UNITE HERE Local 1 and Local 450. With 96% of union members voting in favor of a strike, the vote authorizes the rank-and-file bargaining committee to call a strike, if necessary. You can read more here... http://www.unitehere.org/presscenter/release.php?ID=4110

The plans for a strike by clerical workers at UIC has been called off, at least for the time being. It looks as if a negotiations on a new contract are moving forward. Here is a statement issued by Joe Iosbaker, Chief Steward at UIC for SEIU Local 73... As a result of last minute overtures by the University of Illinois president , the officers and elected bargaining committees of SEIU Local 73 at UIC have agreed we will not strike on Monday, August 23rd... We appreciate all the solidarity we have received from students; from our co-workers, especially the Graduate Employees, Nurses, Teamsters , Faculty, and Doctors; and of course, the labor movement and broader community. We will resume Federal Mediation and hope to gain contracts soon, as our members have been without raises and have suffered job losses over the past year without a contract. Of course, should negotiations fail to bring us a fair contract with job security and decent pay, we haven’t given up our right to strike. In...

Next Monday, August 23rd, is the first day of classes at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). It will also likely be the first day of a strike by clerical workers at the university, members of SEIU Local 73. You can listen to an mp3 of last Monday's Labor Express Radio program to hear more about some of the issues prompting the workers to strike... http://www.archive.org/details/LaborExpressFor8-16-10 The following is a message from Local 73 member Joe Isobaker... Workers Prepare Strike at UIC--Need Your Support! 2700 union workers, members of SEIU Local 73 at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) are preparing to strike on Monday, August 23rd. They are demanding job security and a fair contract. They need your support. The Network to Fight for Economic Justice (NFEJ) is calling on its affiliates and supporters to show your solidarity. The strike is provoked by UIC’s attempts to undermine the union and by an administration trying to balance the budget o...

This week, 22 workers at the Ex-Cell metal products plant in Franklin Park went out on Strike. Despite major contract concessions by the workers in recent years, the company is now demanding that the workers cover 20% of their health care coverage costs. This amounts to over $300 a month from most workers, and the average wage at the plant is $9 an hour. Most workers at the plant have worked there for many years, some more than 20 years. It is a familiar story. A light manufacturing facility employing low wage Latino workers and forcing them to accept poverty wages by threats of plant closings. Hats off to these workers for taking a stand and saying no to further concessions. Tune in to next Monday's episode of Labor Express Radio for more... Labor Express Radio Mondays - 10 AM 88.7 FM or listen live online at... www.wluw.org For archived episodes go to www.laborexpress.org For more pics, go to the following link... http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymeadlucero/ExCellWorkersOn...

Hi All, On today's Labor Express Radio program I reference an article by Mischa Gaus of Labor Notes on the agreement between the Chicago Federation of Labor and Wal-Mart announced in June. You can find the article here... http://www.labornotes.org/2010/07/wal-mart-outmaneuvers-unions-win-approval-chicago-store

On today's episode of Labor Express Radio, we talked about the Pension Rights Center's Retirement USA Speakout and "Wake Up, Washington!" campaign. Here are links for more information about how you can become involved... retirement - usa . org www. pensionrights .org

About 20 or so people this evening attended a "People's Dinner" outside a fundraiser for Alderman Daniel Solis of the 25th Ward. While campaign contributors inside the event paid a minimum of $150 a plate to influence the Alderman, attendees of the free People's Dinner called on the alderman to place the health of residents of the 25th Ward above the influence of corporate donors, including Midwest Generation, which owns and operates the Fisk coal-fired power plant on Cermak. Stay tuned for more news coming very soon that illustrates the depth of the relationship between Solis and Midwest Generation. You can find pictures of the event here... http://picasaweb.google.com/jerrymeadlucero/PeoplesDinner?feat=directlink Here is the press release issued earlier today for the People's Dinner... Pilsen Residents Push Alderman Solis to Stop Coal Soot “People’s Dinner” Held Outside Alderman Solis Fundraiser calling for Ordinance Support CHICAGO, August 2 – Pilsen residen...

Well another Fiesta del Sol has come and gone. And for the second year running, I feel the Fiesta is returning to its roots as a community festival. For many years it seemed the commercial booths had taken over and the community orientated booths were disappearing. This year and last that seems to be reversing itself. I also heard that the non-profit booth rated had dropped from $800 to $700. Still way to high, but improving at least. Members of PERRO (Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization) were able to gather over a thousand signatures on a petition asking for a Clean Power Ordinance in Chicago, reducing pollution from the Fisk and Crawford coal-fired power plants, despite Midwest Generation's sponsorship of the Fiesta. It was great to see the Latino Vote, Amnesty International and other folks out circulating petitions as well. Once again, the Art booth, Children's booth, The Alivio Medical Center booth and House of Sol were real highlights. The addition ...