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...

Come see an advance screening of Michael Moore's Capitalism: A Love Story... Thursday, October 1, 2009 8:00pm Kerasotes City North, 2600 N. Western Av, Chicago. Sponsored by UE, organizers of the Republic occupation. Proceeds go towards UE's innovative education and organizing projects, such as Warehouse Workers for Justice. Michael Moore's new movie has some great sections on the victory of the Republic Windows and Doors workers, members of UE Local 1110, here in Chicago last winter. Moore's film crew was the only one allowed inside the factory during the occupation. He has agreed to let UE have an advance showing of the film this Thursday night as a fundraiser so that we can help additional workers fight and win the way the Republic workers did. We hope you can make it to the screening and that you forward this email to anyone who you think might be interested in attending. United Electrical Workers 312-829-8300

Here are some updates on the struggle of 6,000 Chicago hotel workers for a fair contract with 30 hotels in the Chicago area, straight from their union, UNITE-HERE, Local 1... Hundreds arrested in civil disobedience action Fighting layoffs and cuts, hospitality workers take a stand, saying big corporations like Chicago‐based Hyatt have gone too far (Chicago, IL) – Nearly 200 hospitality workers and community supporters were arrested today as part of a non-violent civil disobedience action in downtown Chicago. The action, witnessed by over 600 workers and community supporters, took place in front of the Park Hyatt Hotel amid an escalating local labor dispute and a growing public backlash against Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels for the recent firing of 100 Hyatt housekeepers in Boston. Hotel workers in San Francisco also staged a major civil disobedience action in conjunction today. After months of layoffs and chronic understaffing, hospitality workers in Chicago and across the country are c...

Thousands are demonstrating against the gathering of the G-20 nations in Pittsburg. This afternoon police fired tear gas on the protestors. You can find out more on the following links... http://indypgh.org/g20/ # http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/24/teargas-protest-g20-summit-pittsburgh http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2446872920090924 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/24/g20-protest-photos-vote-o_n_298692.html For information on the organizations leading the protests (OR TO TAKE PART!) go here... http://resistg20.org/ http://www.g20media.org/ http://www.peoplessummit.com/

NPR reported this morning rumours that in its crack down on protesters outside the Brazilian embassy, hundreds have been detained in a sports stadium in the area (disturbing echos from Latin Americas past). Here is a recent urgent action call from the Alliance for Global Justice... Please write immediately to the UN missions members of the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, India, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and others, IMMEDIATELY. The contact information for all the listed missions is below the sample letter. Demand that the United Nations immediately impose an economic blockaid on Honduras, a demand of the National Front of Resistance to the Coup against Honduras. The United Nations initiated a session today. Honduran President Manuel Zelaya yesterday arrived in Honduras, and is in the Brazilian Embassy. The defacto government is attacking protesters who have gathered around the Bra...

PRI's The World, a generally good international news program on public radio, reported on the stand off between Zelaya and the coup leaders taking place in Honduras. Unfortunately what was OK coverage, was ruined at the end of the piece when the reporter repeated the coup leader's propaganda that Zelaya was trying to find a way to run again for president in November and that is why he was removed from the country. This myth is repeated as fact in the U.S. media with almost every story on the situation in Honduras. It is the one thing that has lead some "progressives" to question the efforts to bring Zelaya back into the presidency. We really need to respond to this misinformation when ever we hear it. You can go here to post a comment on the piece... http://www.theworld.org/2009/09/22/ousted-president-zelaya-returns-to-honduras/#comments I have already but for some reason my post is still "awaiting moderation."