Unfortunately, only in China.

Forming a union at Wal-Mart stores, which have been plagued by labor disputes in recent years, has proved incredibly difficult. For instance, the AFL-CIO has tried but failed to set up unions at Wal-Mart stores in the United States.

But exactly what it means to have a unionized Wal-Mart store here is unclear because unions in China do not have the history of bargaining power.

…

Independent unions are banned in China. But the All China Federation of Trade Unions — the government-controlled labor union — issued a statement earlier this week, suggesting that it would be able to contend with one of the world’s biggest companies.

The San Francisco Board of Education will be meeting on today at 8 a.m. The following items are on their agenda:

1. Approval of an Initiative on the November Ballot to Authorize up to $450 Million of General Obligation Bonds for the repair of school facilities. This will be SFUSD’s largest bond initiative.

At this meeting, there is a proposal to amend the bond language to 1) clarify that if a program at the address moves or closes, the work is still authorized at that location, and 2) authorize that landlords can pass through 50% of the resulting property tax to residential tenants which is the highest extent allowed by San Francisco law.

American Leftist points to warning signs that the US Military is gearing up to fight for oildemocracy in Latin America as well as the Middle East:

This is a fascinating story, because it suggests that the US military is adopting the doctrine that a rejection of neoliberal economic policies, as in Venezuela and Bolivia, constitutes a threat to the US justifying military action, especially when it involves oil and natural gas production.

It’s interesting to me to see the neoliberal conventional wisdom starting to crack.

Mainstream economists like Brad DeLong are beginning to realize that the free, unfettered flow of capital may not be the best thing for the world.

Canadians in particular are starting to see what the fuss was always about.

There are people, however, who had it figured out from the beginning.

The Chronicle is now claiming that there were only 30,000 people at the march in San Francisco yesterday.

Neither the San Francisco police nor the mayor’s office would provide a crowd estimate, but the Associated Press used an estimate of 30,000 from an unnamed city official.

I have to say, I think they are a bit off:

From m s a

Shot sequestionally from opposite sides of a building downtown by Todd Lappin.

Here’s my last batch of pix, these from this evening’s rally outside the Federal Building.

I don’t understand why the Chronicle says “thousands” turned out. That’s a drastic understatement, I think. Beyond Chron suggests the number was 100,000, which might be a little high, but I think is much closer to the truth. I was at 6th and Market for an hour today, and the march was passing the entire time.
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Today’s 11am march is gigantic. Just monstrous. Robert sent a couple phonecam pix, I took a bunch that I’ll post later.

Here are some pitctures from this morning’s 8:30 rally.

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My friend, Robin Saunders (a music teacher for SFUSD) urged me to come early to the Elementary School Music. It was a good tip-a hour before the concert was to begin, Lincoln’s large auditorium was filled with excited musicians, their parents, their grandparents and their brothers and sisters.

Rob Daniels, Program Administrator for Visual and Performing Arts, called up the first year violinists by showing that he was a pro at these type of concerts with the advice “Put your violin in your cases before you come up to the stage.”

On March 12 and April 12, I sent under the CA Public Records Act a letter requesting information about the District’s professional development budget. Under the CA Public Records, the District is to respond within 10 days. As of today, I have not gotten a response from the District.

Here is the letter.

April 12, 2006

Matt Kelemen, Office of Teacher Relations
San Francisco Unified School District
555 Franklin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

RE: Public Records Act Request

Dear Dr. Kelemen: