Brainstorm with me! Thinking of topics for an article on a Labor issue

[bicentennial_baby]

Hi all! I'm going to be writing an article about a Labor issue at my internship soon, so I thought I'd ask the lovely people of DU for their ideas. Can be domestic or international.

Right at the moment, I'm thinking of Smithfield Foods:

http://www.ufcw.org/press_room/fact_sheets_and_backgrounder/porkindustryfacts.cfm

Or possibly labor issues in the meat industry in general.

But, I'm open to any suggestions.

Thanks! :hi:

[ColbertWatcher]

1. Nursing.

Comparing nursing in the U.S. with countries that have universal health care.

Or, employees working for private prisons.

Or, mercenaries.

Good luck, I'd like to read what you come up with.

[bicentennial_baby]

2. All good ideas! Thank you!

I'll post it here once it's done, but that won't be for a while. :)

[ColbertWatcher]

3. I am sure it will be worth the wait. n/t

[bicentennial_baby]

4. The nursing issue could be really interesting...

I was editing a piece yesterday about the SEIU and the CA Nurse's Association.

[notadmblnd]

5. How about..... Human trafficking?

[Vincardog]

6. Look into IT. Outsourced to India. When The Indians started to demand more than crumbs they

outsourced from India to prison labor in China.

The important thing to remember is these people are processing our tax returns and major corporations most intimate financial details with no expectation or regard for privacy.

[bicentennial_baby]

7. I didn't know about the China thing, very interesting...

Thanks! I'll look into that.

[treestar]

12. Hell with your hate of Indians and Chinese

We ought to be making common cause with them. THEN we'd have effect. Just hating them is exactly what the MIC approves of.

As JP Morgan said, I don't have to worry about the working class. I can get 1/2 of them to kill the other half.

[Vincardog]

28. Project much? I have no problem with working people any where. I detest

parasitic corporations leaching our life blood for their profit.

[WWolf]

8. I know of an interesting labor issue

California's prison guard union has been having some trouble as of late, i'm told.

[bicentennial_baby]

9. I'll look for info, thank

And welcome to DU! :hi:

[blondeatlast]

25. "Some people say..." doesn't cut it at DU. Cite it from an unbiased source or STFU. nt

[Mugsy]

10. A question always on my mind: long-term unemployed vs The Numbers.

Something I always wondered about: They say that once your unemployment insurance runs out and you haven't found work, they drop you off the "unemployment figures". So the "true" "unemployment rate" and "number of people unemployed in the country at any one time" are actually greater than what is reported. True?

When Bush was crowing about "low unemployment" in his first term, and even defended last weeks numbers with "5.5% is still better that it was in the '90s" (bull), I don't think the number of long-term unemployed is being reflected by a snapshot of the unemployment rate at any one time.

It would be interesting to know just how accurate a figure the "rate" is and the true number of unemployed in this country.

[bicentennial_baby]

11. You are correct...

Also, if you are not actively seeking employment, you aren't counted by the BLS.

Another idea added to the list! Thanks! :hi:

[ColbertWatcher]

13. You know what might be interesting...

...is if you did something on common labor myths.

You could really blow people's minds...

[klyon]

14. My number 1 issue is the need for tariffs to protect jobs and industries

we need to also:
strengthen labor unions... they must have a voice at the table

solve the undocumented worker issue... we need works to fill a whole range of jobs
from manufacturing to health care (we have an aging population)

government must help create new environmental and energy jobs with tax incentives and federal money
we have along history of doing that like the railroads and the interstate highway system to pharmaceuticals

improve our public education so we have the best workers in the world again
future jobs will be more high tech and we need qualified workers to fill those positions

[readmoreoften]

15. Union busting in universities and the Walmartization of Education

Yeah I can help.

[bicentennial_baby]

17. Talk to me...

You've got my attention. :)

[readmoreoften]

27. Let's take it to email. I'll PM you.

It'll give me away.

[Juche]

16. Income disparities with women & non-whites

According to the AFL-CIO, a union is effective at bridging the gap in pay between men & women or between whites and non-whites. Researching why this is the case would be interesting.

http://www.aflcio.org/joinaunion/why/uniondifference/uniondiff4.cfm

"Union membership helps raise workers' pay and narrow the income gap that disadvantages minorities and women. Union workers earn 30 percent more than nonunion workers, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Their median weekly earnings for full-time wage and salary work were $863 in 2007, compared with $663 for their nonunion counterparts.

The union wage benefit is even greater for minorities and women. Union women earn 33 percent more than nonunion women, African American union members earn 37 percent more than their nonunion counterparts, for Latino workers, the union advantage equals 51 percent and for Asian American workers, the union advantage is 4 percent."

[bicentennial_baby]

18. Thank for the link!

I will check that out :)

[ColbertWatcher]

19. Would you consider doing something on whistle blowers? n/t

[bicentennial_baby]

20. Definitely

:)

[Shakespeare]

21. The new rise in international/multinational unions as a response to the global economy?

That's something that'll be huge in the coming years.

[bicentennial_baby]

22. Oooh, you're good

:D

[CANDO]

23. Employee Free Choice Act

It would make federal law abide by the simple and fair, card check agreement. A majority of employees sign a union card, the employer must recognize and bargain in good faith. Actually passed the Democratic led house, but I think the Senate R's may have filibustered it. Very important issue. Perhaps the most important labor law since FDR.

[bicentennial_baby]

24. I was just reading about that earlier...Yes, very important

Thanks :)

[bicentennial_baby]

26. Kick

:kick: