Union drive at IKEA plant in US takes aim at Swedish furniture giant’s worker-friendly rep
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on July 24th, 2011 4:35 am by HL
Union drive at IKEA plant in US takes aim at Swedish furniture giant’s worker-friendly rep
RICHMOND, Va. — The union attempting to represent workers at IKEA’s only U.S. plant is challenging the Swedish furniture giant’s vaunted corporate ethos, accusing the retailer of paying its American workers low wages and tolerating unsafe working conditions.
Approximately 320 workers at IKEA’s Swedwood Danville plant will vote Wednesday whether to join the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.
The machinists union has put IKEA’s reputation as a labor- and environment-friendly Swedish employer at the forefront of its organizing drive as it attempts to organize workers at the company’s subsidiary, Swedwood. They assemble the sleek, low-cost bookshelves and coffee tables that the big-box retailer sells in its distinctive, cheery, blue-and-yellow stores.
Oregon’s Rep. Wu faces sex allegation
Rep. David Wu spoke with House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Saturday about his future after reports in his hometown newspaper that a young woman called the congressman’s office this spring complaining of what was described as an “unwanted sexual encounter.”
The woman, whom the Portland Oregonian did not name, reportedly left a distraught voicemail accusing Wu (D-Ore.) of aggressive sexual behavior.
The Oregonian, citing anonymous sources in the congressman’s office, said Wu has acknowledged a sexual encounter with the woman but said that it was consensual. The congressman separated from his wife in 2009 and has been seeking a divorce.
Huntsman shifts campaign strategy to take on GOP rivals, Obama
Jon M. Huntsman Jr. is overhauling his struggling presidential campaign, aides said, with plans to strike a more aggressive tone against his GOP rivals and President Obama, step up appearances in key states and emphasize his conservatism.
That represents a clear shift in strategy for the former Utah governor, who has presented himself as a candidate eager to follow a more civil style of campaigning and appeal to voters in both parties.
Since Huntsman entered the race with great fanfare last month, he has not converted initial excitement about his candidacy into support, either in polls or among major Republican officials.
Three GOP leaders with three ideas on the debt
For Republicans, the debt talks have shown three leaders calling three different plays, each trying to push and pull congressional Republicans in his direction. So far, all three have failed to find a plan that all of them can support.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declared on June 19 that there wasn’t enough time to approve any of the plans to raise the government’s debt ceiling by the Aug. 2 deadline. He proposed a short-term hike to buy more time.
Two days later, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) declared short-term deals a non-starter and said “there are no votes” for any grand bargain including higher tax revenue.
