7 pm, FRIDAY, NOV. 6 Evanston Community Media Center 1285 Hartrey Ave. Evanston, Illinois $20 Suggested Donation free parking on site - Excerpts from recent Labor Beat shows - Labor Beat producers introduce their work - Food & refreshments will be available - Discuss issues on labor media with other enthusiasts - More Labor Beat is a cable-tv series for and about the working class. On in: Chicago; Evanston; Rockford; Urbana; Peoria; St. Louis & area; Princeton, NJ "Labor Beat is a necessary institution. As newspapers and investigative reporting go under, Labor Beat somehow stays alive, low-budget, and on the scene. Everybody knows them, so when something is going to happen, they make sure Labor Beat will be there. They have been around long enough to have survived successive waves of technology, from cameras as heavy as cement blocks to little things that get images up on YouTube in minutes. They know the whole world of the labor movement, not just the headliners. They als...

If you are looking for the studies on the hotel industry referenced in the 11-2-09 Labor Express Radio program, click here... http://pilsenprole.blogspot.com/2009/09/6000-hotel-workers-at-30-chicago-hotels.html

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/