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Social Self-Defense Has Begun
In the first hundred days of the Trump regime, actions against his juggernaut have swelled from small local demonstrations to nationwide days of action with millions of participants, initiating a movement to defend society against the MAGA assault. In order to understand this movement and its possible future, this Strike! Commentary provides a snap history of how the movement started. The next commentary will recount the emergence of larger-scale mass actions like “Hands Off” and “May Day.” Subsequent commentaries will explore how that movement can halt, roll back, and eventually terminate the MAGA attack on society, exploring what we can expect from Trump and his interaction with the world, the role of workers and unions, and the lessons to be drawn from past movements.
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LNS May 2025 Spotlight: Nicole Cantello
Nicole Cantello is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lawyer, President of the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) Union Local 704, and leader of AFGE Council 238- a nationwide union that represents over 8,000 EPA employees…
Young Worker Leaders Speak
The Young Workers Project of the Labor Network for Sustainability has just released its major report Earth Is a Hot Shop. The report is based on a two-year survey of 400 young worker leaders, ages 18-35, from a wide range of industries and locations, followed by 70 in-depth follow-up interviews.
MayDay Mayday Mayday Mayday
A broad coalition largely led by local and some national trade unions is spearheading a day of action on May Day. While much of its focus is on immigrant rights, its call is for a broad opposition to MAGA policies…
How Chicago Teachers Won Green Schools and Climate Justice
On the eve of Earth Day, LNS and the Chicago Teachers Union held a webinar [link] describing CTU’s unprecedented contract embodying Green Schools and Climate Justice — and how it was won. The panel featured not only teachers but a parent and a community environmental justice advocate.
Save social security! Save the VA! Save our environment!
Federal Unionists United – FUN – is conducting a “RIF Resistance Campaign” to prevent reductions in force (RIF) plans from being implemented at federal agencies. The campaign is focused on the Social Security Administration, the VA, and the EPA – three agencies where job cuts are hurting both thousands of workers and millions of people who depend on their services.
Federal Workers: Need Legal Help?
Unions and civil rights organizations have helped form a new pro bono legal initiative to provide legal help for federal workers who have been fired or otherwise had their basic rights violated on the job.
Unions Help Lead Massive “Hands Off” Day of Action
With only three weeks advance organizing, at least three million people joined more than 1,400 local Hands Off actions at state capitols, federal buildings, congressional offices, Social Security’s headquarters, parks, and city halls.
Ten National Unions Say “Stop This Campaign of Terror”
The Labor Network for Sustainability has joined ten national unions and other labor organizations in a call for solidarity with workers and all those who are being targeted by the Trump administration. Their statement says: ”Labor Demands an End to the Assault on the Right to Organize and Protest”…
UAW Prez Sez: Trump’s Attack on Democracy is an Attack on Unions
In a recent livestream talk to UAW members and the public, UAW president Shawn Fain described the effects of the Trump administration on the working class…
Transit Is Hanging Over the Fiscal Cliff
From Philadelphia to Chicago, transit riders are feeling the effects of the impending fiscal cliff which will surely pass on to labor if the federal government does away with federal formula funding.
Unions Flex Pension Power Muscle
Does your union pension fund have any policies to address climate risk and climate solutions? An LNS webinar on “Pension Power Tools: Accountability and Transparency on Toxic Climate Risk” explained three critical pathways for ensuring accountability and transparency from workers’ pension funds.
In Case You Haven’t Heard…
New data from NOAA shows that the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide increased at a record rate in 2024. In recent decades the increase has often been in annual increments of 1 to 2 parts per million. But in 2024 the increase was 3.75 parts per million.
CTU Webinar Media Advisory
April 15, 2025–Labor Network for Sustainability is kicking off “Earth Day to May Day” organizing by hosting a webinar featuring the Chicago Teachers Union. Members of CTU will share how they led a year-long contract campaign where labor and community won on many issues including climate justice and public sector resilience.