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Southern California Grocery Workers Vote Massive Strike
By Marc Cooper
The union representing more than 65,000 Southern California grocery workers has voted to authorize a region-wide strike against the giant Vons and Ralphs supermarket chains. A few months ago the same union authorized a strike against the Albertsons chain.
The new vote comes after an impasse was reached in contract talks last week. More than 90% of members approved the possible strike action.
At central issue, no surprise, are wages and health care benefits. Only 3 1/2 years ago the union went out on a bitterly fought 142 day strike that ended in a disappointing manner. The markets were able to impose a new two-tier contract, severely cutting back wage rates and insurance benefits for newer employees.
(9) CommentsJune 25, 2007
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California: Iraq War Referendum Advances
By Marc Cooper
California voters could become the first in the U.S. to formally demand that U.S. troops be pulled out of Iraq.
By a 2 to 1 margin on Wednesday, the state senate voted to place a referendum on troop withdrawal on the February 5 primary ballot. Numerous townships and cities throughout the country have already voted for withdrawal -- but this is the first time the question would ever be put up statewide. And in this case, in the most populous state in the country.
The measure written by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and passed 23-11 along sharp party lines. The bill now moves to the Assembly where it is likely to win approval and then must be signed into law by Governor Schwarzenegger. So far the governor has taken no position on the matter -- but his signature on the bill could set off a firestorm inside the GOP.
(4) CommentsJune 7, 2007
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LAPD Gone Wild. Again.
By Marc Cooper
All of a sudden it looked like the bad old days this week in Los Angeles. A peaceful pro-immigration rally in the downtown area Tuesday descended into chaotic violence as the LAPD charged in swinging with batons and firing more than 200 rounds of foam bullets.
The melee was sparked when a small group of protestors, their faces covered in bandanas, broke off from the rally, blocked traffic and starting peppering riot-ready police with epithets and filled water bottles.
These antics which marred the wonderfully peaceful tone of both this year and last's pro-immigrant demonstrations certainly merit excoriation. But not the heavy-handed over-reaction by LAPD.
(36) CommentsMay 3, 2007
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Mainstream Media Discover Antiwar GIs
By Marc Cooper
A story The Nation broke eight weeks ago about the growing movement of active-duty military dissenters against the war will get a nationwide television audience Sunday on CBS News' 60 Minutes.
The soldiers and sailors who organized the Appeal for Redress and who petitioned Congress last month to bring the troops home from Iraq will be interviewed and profiled by CBS correspondent Lara Logan. At the time The Nation published its story, we found about 1,000 officers and rank and file personnel had signed on to the effort, from all branches of the military, some stationed stateside and others on the frontlines in Iraq.
At latest count that number had grown to more than 1,300. After 60 Minutes airs its report, that number could multiply quickly. Read our original report here.
(23) CommentsFebruary 23, 2007
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Who's Paying for Rummy's Final Show?
By Marc Cooper
I have a short, direct question. Don Rumsfeld's shameful tenure as Defense Secretary comes to an end a week from Monday.
Meanwhile, he jaunts off on a "secret trip" to Baghdad this weekend for what's being billed as personal farewell to the troops. We know he's not conducting any real government business. If he wanted to personally thank "his" generals, he could have signed onto to a cheapo Web teleconference.
So why are the taxpayers underwriting this PR junket? why should one penny of public funds be spent to bolster the personal legacy of this disgraced architect of the catastrophe in Iraq?
(51) CommentsDecember 10, 2006
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Pinochet Is Dead. His Legacy Lingers
By Marc Cooper
Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet died of complications from a heart attack Sunday at age 91. His death has cheated justice, snatching him from the material world just as he faced the possibility of standing trial for the murder of two bodyguards of his predecessor, President Salvador Allende.
A neatly timed exit, considering the former general was also facing charges on how and why he stashed as much as $17 million in overseas accounts, as well as continuing judicial investigations into numerous human rights atrocities that took place during the bloody and dark period of his rule that stretched from 1973 until 1990.
But Pinochet's demise doesn't save him from the harsh judgment of history. He dies not only decrepit and politically abandoned in a Santiago hospital but also discredited and reviled. His very name has come to rightfully symbolize and encapsulate all of the horrors and fears associated with brutal, dictatorial regimes.
(32) CommentsDecember 10, 2006
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Pinochet Death Watch
By Marc Cooper
Who's going to definitively catch former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet first? The slow, grinding wheels of earthly justice or the swift ruthlessness of the Grim Reaper?
Just as the latest criminal case against the 91 year-old former general was about to be heard one more time in the Santiago courts on Monday, Pinochet suffered an acute heart attack. He was immediately hospitalized and submitted to emergency surgery. Last rites have been given.
As the case with much of his life, even his possible impending death has been shrouded with deception. Doctors have contradicted the version offered by Pinochet's son, Marco Antonio, that he was given a bypass. Attending physicians say it was, instead, an angioplasty. Similar reports say that the former dictator's life still hangs in the balance and that the next 24-48 hours will be crucial to his survival.
(50) CommentsDecember 4, 2006
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California: Arnold and Jerry Big Winners
By Marc Cooper
Partial returns in California still suggest the Golden State might, in an odd way be one the better Red success stories tonight.
Schwarzenegger was immediately projected as re-elected the moment the polls closed. Now the question is just how miserable a finish Democrat Phil Angelides will have. So far, it seems, he risks not getting much more than 40% of the vote and perhaps a lot less.
The downward pressure from the top of the ticket is putting several statewide Democrats at risk. And at this moment, with about 10% of the vote tallied and the caveat that the night here is still young, most of those Dems are trailing.
(1) CommentsNovember 7, 2006
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Arizona's 8th District Goes Blue
By Marc Cooper
At this hour of just after 8 pm Pacific, the first significant results are coming in here in the west. And as expected, the first congressional seat to flip Democratic is Arizona's 8th district. As predicted, Democrat Gabby Gifford walloped pro-minuteman GOP rival Randy Graf.
And as I write, CNN has just projected a Democratic majority for the House.
A couple of more victories in the west, like the defeat of Arizona incumbent J.D. Hayworth, and New Mexico congresswoman Heather Wilson would broaden the new majority.
(9) CommentsNovember 7, 2006
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Do or Die Time for Angelides
By Marc Cooper
It's do or die time for California Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides -- but he's mostly dying. With just a handful of weeks to go in the re-election race of Governor Schwarzenegger, new polls show Angelides trailing by as much as 17%.
Next week is the only televised debate of the campaign and most observers believe that if Angelides doesn't land some sort of knock-out punch he will be doomed for defeat in November. The new polls show that while Arnold has sewn up Republican support, Angelides is attracting only about 3 out of 5 California Democrats. Independents, meanwhile, are tilting toward the incumbent.
Some California unions, including the prison guards, teachers, and service employees have just rolled out a multi-million TV ad campaign slamming the Governator as too conservative to govern one of the bluest states in the union. And Angelides has come up with a new campaign tack of calling for the withdrawal of California National Guard troops from the conflict in Iraq.
(6) CommentsSeptember 28, 2006
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