Seaport battle looms as Israel plans new competition

Published on May 16, 2013

Israel is betting its economic future on high-tech exports but faces a low-tech bottleneck in state-owned seaports subject to work stoppages and slowdowns because of the enormous strength of their unions.

European rabbis: Shechitah could come under legislative attack in EU

Published on August 7, 2012

A prominent European rabbinical group has warned that kosher slaughter could come under further attack this year in European Union countries.

Israel public sector strike ends

Published on February 12, 2012

An Israeli public sector strike that has disrupted public transportation and closed banks, the stock market and government offices ended on Sunday with a new wage package for low-earning contract workers.

Israel public sector strike headed for third day

Published on February 9, 2012

Israel's banks, ports and stock market were closed in the second day of a general strike on Thursday that threatened to drag on for another 24 hours after negotiations between unions and government hit new obstacles.

Israeli workers launch massive strike

Published on February 8, 2012

Israeli workers launched an open-ended general strike. The strike launched Wednesday by the Histadrut, Israel's main labor union, closed down the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, stopped trains across the country and caused major delays at Ben Gurion Airport. The crippling strike also affected hospitals, government offices and banks.

Israeli workers strike cut short by court

Published on November 7, 2011

Israel's main labor union ended a brief strike that shut down major sectors of the economy on Monday, following a labor court injunction that limited the action to just four hours.

Israel union goes on strike, court limits scope

Published on November 7, 2011

Israel's main labor union declared a general strike on Monday, shutting down major sectors of the country's economy, but a labor court intervened issuing an injunction that limited the strike to just four hours, officials said.

Wis. governor’s plan threatens workers and Jewish values

Published on February 28, 2011

More than 100 Jews from all three Madison synagogues gathered Feb. 25 to celebrate Shabbat with services in the Wisconsin State Capitol. Four Madison rabbis led the services for the community members who had crammed into the North Gallery. Below us, the Capitol Rotunda was teeming with energy -- protesters from all over the state were waving signs of opposition to Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget repair bill.

I want my $5 back - a heartfelt letter to my bank!

By Julia Bendis
Published on February 4, 2011

Webcast: Former L.A. DWP chief Nahai defends 30YA amidst union controversy

By Karmel Melamed
Published on October 17, 2010

Extra Extra: How to get a SAG voucher

By Orit Arfa
Published on August 5, 2008

Israel’s teacher strike highlights cracks in the system

By Michele Chabin
Published on November 1, 2007

David Graniewitz is one of the more than 40,000 Israeli teachers taking part in a strike launched by the Secondary School Teachers Organization (SSTO) on Oct. 10 to demand higher wages and better working conditions. Organizers say the strike, which is affecting some 400 junior high schools and 1,200 high schools in the Jewish sector according to the Ministry of Education, could end tomorrow or last for months.

Berries, Pizza and a Smile

By Susan Freudenheim
Published on July 12, 2007

From October 2003 to February 2004, workers at those three supermarket chains went out on strike to ensure affordable health care, as well as to protect their pensions and job security. It was the longest strike in the history of the supermarket industry, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers' Web site, and the first major strike of the 21st century.

Is L.A. in the market for another grocery strike?

By Naomi Glauberman
Published on March 29, 2007

As the Jewish community nears the end of Passover on April 9, the second contract extension between the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and Southern California's major supermarkets -- Supervalu Inc.'s Albertsons, Kroger Co.'s Ralphs and Safeway Inc.'s Vons -- is set to expire at midnight.

A night at the homeless shelter

By Jackie Greenspan
Published on November 30, 2006

545 San Pedro Street is an address I will never forget.

It is the Union Rescue Mission downtown, inhabited by homeless individuals that reside in their designated corners on Skid Row. My school, Milken Community High School, offered a community service experience for 21 students, and I found myself at the Union Rescue Mission.

It happened one weekend ... at the Sisterhood

By Shoshana Lewin-Fischer
Published on November 16, 2006

"Something happens," I was told across the "first timers" table Nov. 2 at BJ's Restaurant in Woodland Hills. "When these women get together. I can't explain it, but something happens."

Arrested development: Young Jewish activists voluntarily go to jail in support of union rights

By Alex Collins-Shotwell
Published on October 5, 2006

Sarah Leiber Church and Laura Podolsky were part of a protest march that took place along Century Boulevard near Los Angeles International Airport aimed at hotels that allegedly have been preventing employees from unionizing.

United Teachers Los Angeles just says ‘no’ to Israel divestment push by union commitee

By Marc Ballon
Published on October 5, 2006

Under a tidal wave of pressure from the local Jewish community, the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) has decided to deny use of its headquarters to a UTLA committee planning to host a meeting to discuss the launch of a local boycott of sanctions against and divestment from Israel.

News Briefs from the Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Published on July 27, 2006

News Briefs

Nation World Briefs

Published on June 1, 2006

Briefs

Community Briefs

By Amy Klein
Published on April 20, 2006

Community Briefs

Questions Emerge Over School Board Candidate

By Howard Blume
Published on March 1, 2006

A leading contender in next week's L.A. school board race is at odds with USC and UCLA over his academic standing, the latest in a series of uncomfortable disclosures for Christopher Arellano.

Acts of Faith

By Amy Klein
Published on January 12, 2006

Acts of Faith

Activists Strategize on Hotel Contracts

By Bobbi Murray
Published on November 24, 2005

Set in front of the hotel on the Avenue of the Stars, which was blocked off, this banquet-in-the-street supported some 4,000 striking workers at seven Los Angeles hotels.

Books - ‘Love’ Tries to Solve Mystery of the Heart

By Sandee Brawarsky
Published on June 9, 2005

Masterfully, Krauss ties together the stories of Gursky and the young Alma as each searches for clues about "The History of Love."

Political Journal

By Idan Ivri
Published on March 24, 2005

This month's Political Journal is a tale of two labor disputes. One is dragging on and on; the other has come to a peaceful conclusion just when it seemed there might be a strike ahead.

Your Letters

Published on January 22, 2004

I was deeply disturbed to read Marc Ballon's article on "Low Wages Force Workers to Struggle" (Jan. 2). Where is the outcry from the community?

Abel Salgado Keeps the Challah Coming

By Gustavo Arellano
Published on January 1, 2004

Forty years after he first put on a white apron, Abel Salgado remains an anomaly in the Jewish bakery world, but not for reasons one might expect. Sure, when he joined Local 453 of the Hebrew Master Bakers and Confectioners Union in 1963, the Chihuahua native was maybe the second or third Latino ever to join the union, then 2,000 strong. And even today, Salgado is one of the few non-Jews involved in the Jewish bakery business, a profession that occupies a particularly sacred -- not to mention delicious -- place in the religion. But, Salgado noted, ethnicity and theology were the least controversial issues when he originally applied to join the union.

Protest for Labor Rights

By Orit Arfa
Published on July 29, 1999

For the past four years, the predominantly Latino hospitality and housing employees at the University of Southern California have been fighting for a written guarantee of job security. Now, union leaders representing the workers have turned to Jewish leaders to support what they consider a call for justice.

‘They Should Leave as Soon as Possible’

By Michael Aushenker
Published on January 7, 1999

What can be done to help Russian Jewry? Loads, according to Simon Frumkin. He should know.

Power, Politics And People

Published on February 5, 1998

Israeli lawmaker Alex Lubotsky was having a bad day on Jan. 29. Hehad come to Jerusalem's Ramada hotel to address a visiting group ofOrthodox Jews from America, to plead for their support of thecompromise conversion plan authored by Finance Minister YaakovNeeman.

Trouble in Paradise

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on October 9, 1997

Rabbi Neil Comess-Daniels received the surprising news during Rosh Hashanah morning services at Beth Shir Sholom in Santa Monica. The Rev. Sandra Richards of the Church in Ocean Park stood up in her seat to tell him: The Oct. 1 vote on whether to decertify the union at the Miramar Sheraton Hotel had resulted in a virtual draw.

Heartbreak Hotel?

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on October 2, 1997

The Miramar Sheraton Hotel is one of the jewels of Santa Monica.It sits astride a full block on Ocean Avenue and looks west, over thePalisades and the blue Pacific. Inside, there are lush gardens, aluxurious swimming pool and tanned guests who look as if they areemblems of Southern California.

The hotel is where President Clinton has often stayed duringvisits to Los Angeles.

And the Miramar Sheraton is the only Santa Monica hotel that isunionized.