Author: Caroline Grauman-Boss
Caroline Grauman-Boss has an M.Phil. in Political Theory from Columbia University and an M.Sc. in Political Philosophy from the London School of Economics. She taught history and politics at the collegiate and high school levels and contributed to multiple history and humanities textbooks. She is currently a college counselor at a small, rural independent school on San Juan Island, where she lives with her daughter and husband.
How would you feel if you were told, after having worked your whole life, the pension benefits that you and your employer agreed to 30 years ago no longer exist? To some 10 million members of multi-employer unions, it’s not a rhetorical question.
To some 10 million members of multi-employer unions, including the Teamsters, the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, and the National Electrical Contractors Association, it’s not a rhetorical question.
Fewer things are of greater concern than one’s paycheck, especially during these times of stagnant wages. So if being paid adequately is important, why be squeamish about talking with co-workers about it? Maybe because you’re afraid you might lose your job if you did?
History demonstrates that immigrants—whether they came to America in shackles, indentured, or free—built our country. So why is there so much angst around immigration? By the volume and apparent popularity of hateful speech among presidential hopefuls like Donald Trump, one might think that a majority of Americans are ignorant, hateful, racist, and xenophobic. But, is that really the case?
Many women struggle to come to terms with their body following mastectomy. Some prefer not to undergo further surgical treatment, but for a growing number, breast reconstruction is the answer. They may, however, worry over the cost of this elective surgery. But what they may not know is that there is a range of choices available to them—choices that the federal government insists they have.
According to Sara Horowitz, founder and executive director of the Freelancers Union, MacArthur Foundation “Genius” fellow and Deputy Chair of the Federal Reserve of New York, there are now 53 million freelancers driving $715 billion dollars into the economy every year. So why is it that 77 percent of them don’t get paid or get paid late? Why can’t they afford health insurance, even with the Affordable Care Act?
What does a county clerk in Kentucky who won’t issue gay couples marriage licenses have in common with a flight attendant who won’t serve passengers alcohol? Answer: a case of acute confusion about where civil rights, religion, and professional responsibility connect.
The Washington State Supreme Court just set a new precedent for bad timing. As of 3:55pm on September 4, 2015—just days before thousands of kids would go back to school—a 116- year-old decision (School District No. 20 v. Bryan) suddenly became the single most important document in the battle for school choice in Washington State. Surprise!