If I went to work in a factory the first thing I would do is join a union.  - Franklin D. Roosevelt

Let's Prevent a Repeat of 1994 Election
When Republicans Recaptured Congress

By Harry Kelber

With only nine months left before the mid-term elections, Republicans are clearly enjoying their momentum after their candidate, Scott Brown, won the Massachusetts Senate seat held by the late Senator Ted Kennedy for 47 years. The GOP victories for governor in Virginia and New Jersey were also regarded as harbingers of a resurgent, unified political party that, only a few months ago, looked confused and leaderless.

In contrast, the Democrats appear confused and divided on health-care reform and how to strike a balance between cutting the national debt and increasing the level of spending to create urgently-needed jobs.

The World of Labor                 February 6, 2010

NYU Adds Worker Rights Rules to Abu Dhabi Contract
Workers involved in building and operating New York University's Middle East campus in Abu Dhabi must have protections in areas such as how often they are paid and how many hours they can work in a week, the university announced Feb. 3 in a move that human rights advocates hope reverberates around the region. "Since we and our Abu Dhabi partners announced the creation of NYU Abu Dhabi in the fall of 2007, we have made clear our shared commitment to protecting the rights of the men and women who will build and operate the campus, NYU spokesman Josh Taylor told the Associated Press from Abu Dhabi.

Construction on the degree-granting campus is said to start later in the year. Abu Dhabi is the name of both the capital city of the United Arab Emirates and one of the seven largest individual emirates that make up the country. The city is one of the richest in the world.

The Human Rights Watch, while acknowledging that significant progress has been made in Dubai, insists that some abuses remain. The Emirates' authorities have rejected criticism, saying the government has taken significant steps over the past few years to increase rights and protection for laborers. Sarah Whitson, Middle East director for Human Right Watch, says NYU's actions are "a huge step forward."

Declaration of Workers' Rights

February 20, 2009: Issues