Dispatch from the Walmart Convention

Josh Eidelson attended Wamart's shareholers' meeting in Arkansas over the weekend. Great fun! Superb cast! Hugh Jackman was there and Tom Cruise and Jennifer Hudson! Oh and also some OUR Walmart protesers. Here's one: "They said Walmart’s going to donate a million dinners for American people that are hungry, and they’re going to bring them to their local food bank. And the saddest thing is that their associates are going to be going to those same food banks to get that food."

Labor Labor Labor

Josh Eidelson was on Talk of the Nation earlier this week talking labor. If you are like me and can't get enough of Josh Eidelson, listen or read the transcript. Good convo great convo learned some things.

Working Families Flexibility Act Not So Flexible for Workers

If you could choose between paid time off or overtime, which would you choose? Overtime, right? Where's Christian Brown when we need him?

We’re Essentially All Becoming Domestic Workers

Josh Eidelson talked to Ai-jen Poo, who directs the National Domestic Workers Alliance, about what's going on right now in organizing for care workers and other domestic workers.

Meanwhile in Bentonville

Josh Eidelson is in Bentonville, Arkansas covering OUR Walmart's visit to Walmart HQ during its weeklong strike after earlier demonstrators were met with retaliation. Love this interaction in a Walmart museum between the blue shirts (Walmart employees in town for a Walmart meeting) and the green shirts (OUR Walmart members).

The Post-Boomer Economy

Here's a very interesting take on the post-boomer economy by Conor Sen, a former hedge fund analyst.

Big Day for Labor Good Job Great Job

In Chicago, 500 fast food workers from a dozen chains are striking today to protest low wages. (“Like their New York counterparts, the Chicago workers are demanding raises to $15 an hour, and the chance to form a union without intimidation.”)

And around the country, workers in 100 Walmart stores are confronting management today to demand changes to the company’s scheduling system. (“Workers have charged that insufficient and erratic work schedules consign them to poverty, wreak havoc on their personal lives and shortchange customer service.”)

Walmart Workers Go on ‘Prolonged Strikes’

According to The Nation Walmart workers across the country have decided to go on prolonged strikes today—the first time in the company's history. Our pal Josh Eidelson is closely following the story.

This Is Getting Exciting I’m Excited Solidarity

Fast food workers in Detroit are striking today, in what organizers predict will be the largest strike since 400 people walked off their jobs in New York last month. ("According to the campaign, a walkout by twenty workers at Detroit's 10400 Gratiot Avenue McDonald's prevented the store from operating. Some workers brought in as strikebreakers to replace those striking workers chose to join the strike instead.")

Labor Issues Made Real for Crazy TV Watching Life

The writers for FASHION POLICE are on strike. This is a good little case study in labor. Let's learn together.