Mass layoffs, AI anxiety, and corporate surveillance have heightened interest in unions among IT professionals. Organizers who've been through it explain how to get started -- and what to expect.
The Pentagon insists the Strait of Hormuz remains open, but after weeks of renewed Iranian attacks on ships, traffic through the vital waterway has slowed again, pushing up global oil prices. ... President Trump threatened Wednesday to "bomb and destroy" an Iranian bridge or power plant for every new attack by Iran on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz.
Paramount's owners were planning to have secured firm control of Hollywood rival Warner Bros. Discovery by the end of this week. read more
A nondescript facility south of Cleveland has become an early staging ground for the auto industry's next supply-chain pivot: replacing vehicle hardware from China. The plant belongs to Eagle Wireless, a maker of electronics that was formed in late 2025, largely in response to a federal rule that bans certain Chinese connected-car software and hardware in U.S. vehicles by the end of the decade.
A special prosecutor on Wednesday dismissed felony criminal charges against Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, who was indicted on accusations of threatening the jobs of New Orleans officials who fought a Republican-led overhaul of courts in the heavily Democratic city.
Yeah, prior automation forays have targeted those who did the work. Can you say Unimation?[1] I knew you could.
But now, automation, driven by AI, is going after those who sit for a living.
So, there should be no surprise that those folk want to unionize.
1 - Unimation - en.wikipedia.org
... Unimation was the world's first robotics company.
It was founded in 1962 by Joseph F. Engelberger and George Devol and was located in Danbury, Connecticut.[1]
Devol had already applied for a patent an industrial robotic arm in 1954; U.S. patent 2,988,237 was issued in 1961.[2][3][4] ...
Related ...
A brewing battle: More IT workers want unions. The industry doesn't.
www.computerworld.com
... Rising anger over widespread layoffs, disillusionment with Big Tech, and threats of mass displacement by AI have tech pros taking a good, hard look at unions.
Until recently, many tech professionals viewed themselves as a special and respected worker class: highly educated, hard-working, well paid, and in demand.
"They considered themselves above unions," says Zak Thompson, senior software engineer at Kickstarter and union steward at Kickstarter United.
Big Tech issued aspirational mission statements that motivated workers, workplaces were seen as meritocracies, and employees were encouraged to speak out if they were unhappy. If workers didn't like where they worked, they just moved on: other employers would be falling over themselves to hire them.
How times have changed.
Now, fed up with mass layoffs, disillusioned with Big Tech's direction, and stunned by bold management proclamations that AI will displace huge numbers of people in many tech jobs -- starting with programmers -- interest in unions has risen sharply among tech professionals. Workers in some organizations, including Kickstarter, have already taken the plunge. ...
Trump's Saudi nuclear deal risks igniting a Middle East arms race, lawmakers warn
www.politico.com
... The agreement, which could let Riyadh enrich its own uranium within a decade, is sparking warnings that Turkey, Egypt and others could soon demand the same deal, unraveling years of U.S. nonproliferation policy. ...
@#29 ... Now, if I was in charge I'd eliminate food stamps entirely - and replace them with a much larger no questions asked cash benefit. And institute a wealth tax to pay for it. ...
OK, I admit that I am not yet fully there with that opinion.
But I'm close.
Then, I see things like this ..
Sweden's Opposition Bloc Retains Solid Lead as Election Looms
www.bloomberg.com
... Sweden's Social Democrat-led opposition bloc still holds a clear polling lead ahead of a September general election, bolstered by pledges to invest more in healthcare, schools and social services. ...
@#3
Rubio and Chinese Diplomat Make Plans for Trump and Xi's Washington Summit
www.nytimes.com
... Secretary of State Marco Rubio spent much of a meeting with China's foreign minister discussing the summit, but did not bring up President Trump's claims of election interference by China. ...
Saw this today ...
EU approves Paramount's $81 billion Warner Bros. mega merger deal with conditions
economictimes.indiatimes.com
... The European Union approved Paramount's Warner Bros. Discovery takeover with specific distribution conditions.
This approval clears a major regulatory hurdle for the significant media merger. However, a US federal judge has temporarily halted the transaction for two weeks.
This pause stems from a lawsuit filed by eleven US states seeking to block the deal. Paramount has received other international regulatory clearances while facing ongoing US legal challenges. ...
imo, it is not "yet another reason."
There is one reason, and only one reason, why the US needs universal health care.
What is that singular reason?
Simple: It helps US citizens to stay healthy, happy and productive.
What other reason is needed?