Unions, Protest | featured news

Michigan lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to legislation that would sharply limit labor rights, passing the measures over the objections of thousands of people packing the Capitol in protest.

Protesters targeted Wal-Mart stores on Black Friday as part of a campaign waged by a union-backed group against the company's treatment of workers.

What do a bunch of protesters camped out in city parks nationwide have in common with people who are the backbone of the government establishment? Enough that members of at least four federal labor unions rallied in support of the Occupy movement in a Lafayette Square demonstration Thursday.

Demonstrators are preparing to march on New York's financial district, with rallies also planned in several other US cities. Occupy Wall Street organisers hope to attract thousands of people to the rally in lower Manhattan, having won the backing of powerful unions. The demonstrations are now in their third week and show no sign of fading.

As many as 100,000 people protested at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Saturday against a new law severely restricting government unions, and they greeted as returning heroes Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to stall the measure.

Dozens of protesters camped overnight in the Wisconsin Capitol and vowed to be back in full force Monday after police backed away from threats to close the building, where demonstrators have held steady for two weeks to oppose Republican-backed legislation aimed at weakening unions.