Evening News Round-Up

Unions met with Michael Chertoff on Monday to discuss changes to the Dept. of Homeland Security personnel rules which were recently slapped down by Judge Collyer (see here), according to the Washington Post. No word on how that went.

The AP is reporting that Bush will not intervene in a possible strike at Northwest Airlines that could begin as early as Saturday at midnight. On a more disturbing note, the AP quickly follows that with news that Northwest shares rose 15 cents on the Nasdaq. Oh that labor unrest were always good for business. It probably is, right?

Not for Gate Gourmet, the TX company who messed with the wrong British Airways workers. Their little pink slip festival comes amid $558 million in debt.

The Boston Globe reports that 260 nursing home workers who've been locked out for 2 weeks from a nursing home in CT are set to ratify a new contract.

From the home of the Port Huron Statement comes this tale of woe about hurting union machinists in MI.

Machinists and Boeing, however, are set to hammer out a new deal for workers in Wichita, Portland and Seattle. Also in WA state, SEIU is stepping up organizing efforts of daycare workers. Andy Stern was in Seattle yesterday to support protesting Swedish Medical Center workers. I mention only because I think it's wierd that Stern's day to day movements are now making the daily news, as though he were a presidential candidate.

CA farmers are reporting a shortage of farm labor, which they blame on the burgeoning construction industry in the Central Valley. Labor activists blame it on the low wages ($6.75 per hour). Toss in the sweltering heat, sub-human working conditions, and pesticide poisoning, and I cannot imagine why the farmers are surprised.