As discussed on the Labor Express radio program, here are some important works of labor history and analysis released in the past few months. Kim Moody has long been an insightful analyst of developments in the labor movement as a former union organizer and one of the founders of Labor Notes. His new work - U.S. Labor in Trouble and Transition: The Failure of Reform from Above, The Promise of Revival from Below – takes a look at the reasons for organized labor’s precipitous decline in membership and power over the past few decades, and provides solid advice on what is necessary to turn the situation around. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK… http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1844671542/ref=s9_asin_image_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_r=1PRY0CX1MFXW8KT8N51D&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=320448701&pf_rd_i=507846 http://www.versobooks.com/books/klm/m-titles/moody_k_labor_transition.shtml Kim Moody also has another important book out on the economy and labor in New York...

The IWW (Industrial Workers of the World), is viewed by many as a relic of organized labor’s past. A heroic attempt by militant trade unionists in the early part of the 20th century to build radically inclusive industrial unions – a shining moment in the history of the U.S. labor movement – that long ago was eclipsed by other organizations of labor. The truth is that the IWW is a living breathing organization that is currently involved in some of the most exciting worker organizing going on anywhere. Their efforts in the last two years to organize immigrant Latino & Asian warehouse workers in New York City is a case in point. It was the worker’s themselves who began to organize two years ago and sought ought the IWW’s help. Since that time, IWW organizers and members have been tireless in their efforts to win these workers millions of dollars in unpaid wages, improved wages and working conditions, and a shop floor organization that can further challenge the boss. In this interview ...

Hi All, Updates on my visits with workers in Mexico should be coming in a week or so. I the mean time I wanted to sum up my experience at the USSF. I will try to post some more audio and info from some of the sessions I attended at the forum, particular those organized by the UE, AFSCME and Domestic Workers United at a later time. The following is a short summation piece I wrote for the Industrial Worker, newspaper of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). An edited version will be published in next months Industrial Worker, which you can find at... www.iww.org/projects/iw/ Labor Participates in a Big Way at the First United States Social Forum: “What is happening in America to workers today is the result of a thirty year sustained, intentional, strategic, assault on workers, unions, our quality of life and our standard of living. It has been a class war against workers and it is time we engage that class war and fought back… (a standing ovation from the crowd and loud applause).” ...