Over 600 workers employed at Rite Aid's giant distribution center in Lancaster, California, sent a representative to attend the company's shareholder meeting in New York City on Tuesday, December 2.

A new report by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR) documents a large wage and benefit advantage for women workers in unions relative to their non-union counterparts.

Though many of us in the labor movement figure Bill Sizemore’s time behind bars will be short, since his lawyer says that overdue federal and state reporting forms will be filed right away, it still is cause for celebration to at least see a little bit of justice served to this contemptuous enemy of organized labor. http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/b...

Those who watch ABC’s World News Tonight are probably familiar with one of the broadcast’s segments titled, A Sign of the Times. An on-going news-magazine piece, the regular feature highlights adventures in popular culture that cause one to take a step back, reflect and internalize the current events of our time. Although news stations don’t normally report on themselves, ABC could have easily added their own November 30, 2008 broadcast to the Sign of the Times segment after anchor Dan Harris grouped the salaries of auto industry CEOs with union contracts under the same "ugly" umbrella.

Last week I received an email and press release from DC 37, announcing a proposed landmark settlement with healthcare services company McKesson in a cased filed by the union claiming the company artificially inflated drug prices.

This is another perfect example of how our unions are searching out and finding solutions that benefit everyone, members and nonmembers alike.

Thanks to the folks at the union for sending this over to me to share with everyone.

Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report
                            National Edition
         Produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg 
             ********************************************

The Friday after Thanksgiving. Folks are running around to shop where they can for what they could afford. Some of us are with family and friends, others are just reviewing how the year went for them. I am doing a little of all that and then some, and in my review (and work), I thought to share a piece the Teamsters are running on it is website; a story announcing the union reached its goal of organizing 40,000 workers, so far, in 2008. Enjoy.

“We announced two goals for the Teamsters in 2008: To organize 40,000 workers and to elect Barack Obama President of the United States,” said Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa. “I am proud to say that thanks to the hard work by so many in our union, the Teamsters delivered on both promises.”

I am out with family and friends in St. Louis and wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday. My hope and prayer is that you are safe, fed, and happy. I thank you all for making our little corner of the Internet a great learning and sharing community. See you all next week.

James Parks of the AFL-CIO filed this article yesterday for the Federation's blog, I thought to bring it over to UnionReview.com in an effort to help spread this news.

It took five years to get justice, but justice was finally gained!

Click into the body of the story to get a list of all the stories that appeared on UnionReview.com between November 12 and November 23.

Building Bridges: Your Community and Labor Report
                            National Edition
         Produced by Ken Nash and Mimi Rosenberg 
             ********************************************

I find it awkward when union members, organizers, staff, etc., find their way to an online venue to air out dirty laundry in public. I think certain things are better left inside the office -- and should NOT be open to everybody's commentary. I also don't think that having this point of view is censorship; I think that is a whole other conversation.

I put this all up in the Forums, here; but thought to put on the front page as well in case folks aren't making it over to the Forums, yet.

On Friday I attended the International Labor Communications Association's annual luncheon and award ceremony.

Click through to read the story written by James Parks of the AFL-CIO about the day.

For the last couple weeks there have been a ton of emails from folks asking why they were getting all kind of email alerts from the website, I hope this entry will answer some of those questions.

The Teamsters announced another School Bus and Transit Worker victory yesterday -- this time in Naperville, Illinois.

Since the School Bus campaign began in 2006, more than 13,400 workers have become Teamsters.