War on Workers

Tithi Bhattacharya, an associate professor of South Asian History at Purdue University and a protester who is taking part in Occupy the Super Bowl, discusses the protest and the opposition to Indiana’s so-called “right-to-work” law.

THOUSANDS OF UNION members, including Boilermakers, rally outside the Indiana statehouse in Indianapolis against right to work as the state Senate votes 28-22 to pass the legislation today. Gov. Mitch Daniels is expected to sign the bill into law, making Indiana the 23rd state in the nation with “right to work for less” on the books.

Democratic leader says RTW “doesn’t put Hoosiers back to work.”

IN A FIERY written statement broadcast via e-mail Jan. 25, Indiana State House Minority Leader B. Patrick Bauer unloaded on Republican House members who helped pass a “right to work for less” bill. If House Bill 1001 becomes law, Indiana will become the 23rd right to work state.

Bauer, the House Democratic leader from District 6, has been an outspoken critic of right to work and has led the statehouse charge against it for the last two legislative sessions.

LOCAL 1620 (PORTLAND, IND.) President Bill Coleman, l., and Sec.-Treas. Mike Landess stand near the Indiana statehouse, where unions and their supporters are rallying against state Republican lawmakers who have vowed to push through "right to work for less" legislation. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels has stated publicly that he will sign the legislation if it reaches his desk. Democrats plan to offer an amendment to let voters decide the measure, rather than politicians.

House upholds governor’s veto by 12 votes

THE STATE OF New Hampshire narrowly defeated so-called “right-to-work” legislation Nov. 30 when the state House failed to override Democratic Gov. John Lynch’s veto. The vote was 240-139 — 12 short of the two-thirds majority needed. The override was expected to pass in the 24-member state Senate, but it never got that far. Republicans dominate the 400-member state House by almost three to one and the state Senate by 19-5.

Democrats fall one seat short of regaining state senate

WISCONSIN VOTERS OUSTED two Republican state senators in the August 10 recall elections, one short of the number needed to put control of that house in the hands of the Democrats. Two Democratic Wisconsin state senators face recall elections next week.

Recall votes keep focus on anti-union aggression

MADISON, WIS., THE epicenter of the far-right’s strategy to blame unions for the nation’s economic woes, while slashing the collective bargaining rights of public workers, has held national media attention for months. And the state’s capital city continues to be a lightning rod for union solidarity.

Reverend Cletus Kiley gives a passionate and inspiring speech at the BCTD legislative conference.