Ben Serber
@mentalengineer.bsky.social
#1u Contract Enforcement Staff, @taup4531.bsky.social; @newsguild.org Local 38010 member; prev. @ndunited.bsky.social, FSU-GAU. You are not required to complete the work; neither are you free to abandon it. All opinions my own.
Reposted by Ben Serber
Union stewards are expected to wear many hats. But instead of doing all the work yourself, find ways to spread the work around. That builds union strength—and will pay off in the long run. labornotes.org/blogs/2025/0...
November 26, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Union stewards are expected to wear many hats. But instead of doing all the work yourself, find ways to spread the work around. That builds union strength—and will pay off in the long run. labornotes.org/blogs/2025/0...
Reposted by Ben Serber
THIS: "Tenure-track as well as non-tenure track faculty do now need collective bargaining rights. But faculty won’t get them or get the public on their side or be clear about what to do once they have them unless they tell their stories, and never stop telling them, and never stop acting on them."
November 26, 2025 at 2:34 AM
THIS: "Tenure-track as well as non-tenure track faculty do now need collective bargaining rights. But faculty won’t get them or get the public on their side or be clear about what to do once they have them unless they tell their stories, and never stop telling them, and never stop acting on them."
Reposted by Ben Serber
Again the first crisis of capital was a flight by from location (globalization, containerization etc), the second was a flight from time (easy credit, financialization, etc), and the ongoing third is a flight from reality, which is unique in that it’s both top down and bottom up
Trump supporters are also making shitty AI videos of Trump arresting Mamdani in the Oval Office.
They don't know how to process what just happened in real life, so they're making the version they prefer with AI.
They don't know how to process what just happened in real life, so they're making the version they prefer with AI.
November 22, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Again the first crisis of capital was a flight by from location (globalization, containerization etc), the second was a flight from time (easy credit, financialization, etc), and the ongoing third is a flight from reality, which is unique in that it’s both top down and bottom up
Reposted by Ben Serber
It's painful to read plans from a century ago that perfectly formulate how to build a world class transit system yet today we still need years of redundant studies to even build a bus lane
November 22, 2025 at 12:36 AM
It's painful to read plans from a century ago that perfectly formulate how to build a world class transit system yet today we still need years of redundant studies to even build a bus lane
Reposted by Ben Serber
Workers from @sbworkersunited.org put their bodies on the line today, shutting down Starbucks' distribution center in York, PA, the largest in the US
Stand in solidarity with these working-class heroes, DON'T BUY STARBUCKS ANYWHERE UNTIL THEY WIN THEIR STRIKE
Stand in solidarity with these working-class heroes, DON'T BUY STARBUCKS ANYWHERE UNTIL THEY WIN THEIR STRIKE
November 19, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Workers from @sbworkersunited.org put their bodies on the line today, shutting down Starbucks' distribution center in York, PA, the largest in the US
Stand in solidarity with these working-class heroes, DON'T BUY STARBUCKS ANYWHERE UNTIL THEY WIN THEIR STRIKE
Stand in solidarity with these working-class heroes, DON'T BUY STARBUCKS ANYWHERE UNTIL THEY WIN THEIR STRIKE
Reposted by Ben Serber
The exact plan isn't detailed in this article, but we know what the plan is: relegate as much of what the Department of Education does to the private sector so the rich can get richer — and because undermining education makes it easier for authoritarian regimes to rule.
Exclusive: The Education Department plans to move multiple parts of the agency to other federal departments, an unprecedented effort to dismantle an agency created by Congress to ensure all Americans have equal access to educational opportunity.
Trump administration to announce dismantling of much of Education Dept.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in March seeking to close the department, but only Congress has the power to do that.
wapo.st
November 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The exact plan isn't detailed in this article, but we know what the plan is: relegate as much of what the Department of Education does to the private sector so the rich can get richer — and because undermining education makes it easier for authoritarian regimes to rule.
Or getting them hired elsewhere, away from colleagues/students and into *more* power. An internal hush-up might make you a deanlet. If you're bad enough to be quietly sent away, you might become a provost or president!
If you haven’t worked for a university, you might not know that one of the primary ways universities manage sexually violent faculty is promoting them away from students and into power.
It isn’t a coincidence. It’s the system working as designed.
It isn’t a coincidence. It’s the system working as designed.
November 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Or getting them hired elsewhere, away from colleagues/students and into *more* power. An internal hush-up might make you a deanlet. If you're bad enough to be quietly sent away, you might become a provost or president!
Reposted by Ben Serber
If you haven’t worked for a university, you might not know that one of the primary ways universities manage sexually violent faculty is promoting them away from students and into power.
It isn’t a coincidence. It’s the system working as designed.
It isn’t a coincidence. It’s the system working as designed.
November 18, 2025 at 6:07 PM
If you haven’t worked for a university, you might not know that one of the primary ways universities manage sexually violent faculty is promoting them away from students and into power.
It isn’t a coincidence. It’s the system working as designed.
It isn’t a coincidence. It’s the system working as designed.
Universities whose workers understand this and build unions on this basis survive. Where that doesn't happen, the university ceases to exist, replaced by a vaguely sad eldritch horror wearing the campus buildings as a skin suit.
One of the most important lessons you have to learn about what a university "is" is a very vulgar marxist distinction between its *managers* (directly or indirectly appointed by capital and/or state government) and its *labor,* who come to the university out of love and idealism.
November 15, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Universities whose workers understand this and build unions on this basis survive. Where that doesn't happen, the university ceases to exist, replaced by a vaguely sad eldritch horror wearing the campus buildings as a skin suit.
POV: You just told this cassowary that "this is the first I've heard" about the @sbworkersunited.org strike and you're wondering if it believes you.
November 14, 2025 at 3:06 AM
POV: You just told this cassowary that "this is the first I've heard" about the @sbworkersunited.org strike and you're wondering if it believes you.
Reposted by Ben Serber
The cave caucus COULD say "we'll get people fed and paid through the holidays, give the American people the gift of the Epstein files, and take up the fight in the new year" but they're saying "we had a generational electoral victory and nothing we were doing was working so we quit"
November 10, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The cave caucus COULD say "we'll get people fed and paid through the holidays, give the American people the gift of the Epstein files, and take up the fight in the new year" but they're saying "we had a generational electoral victory and nothing we were doing was working so we quit"
Sign me up for the fundraiser to move ILR to a place that deserves it.
Breaking News: Cornell University reached an agreement with the Trump administration that would restore hundreds of millions in funding to the university. It's expected to pay a $30 million fine to the government and to invest $30 million in agriculture and farming programs.
Cornell Reaches Deal with Trump Administration to Restore Research Funds
The Ivy League university had warned of layoffs after the Trump administration stripped it of funds this year. The cuts were among the deepest in higher education.
nyti.ms
November 7, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Sign me up for the fundraiser to move ILR to a place that deserves it.
Reposted by Ben Serber
The City of Brotherly Love is turning out to defend academic freedom and fight for higher ed for all!
Thank you @fsfccp.bsky.social, @apscuf.org, @aaup-penn.bsky.social TAUP, UAP, and the Philadelphia AFL-CIO for turning out for today's higher ed day of action. #HigherEdBenefitsEveryone
Thank you @fsfccp.bsky.social, @apscuf.org, @aaup-penn.bsky.social TAUP, UAP, and the Philadelphia AFL-CIO for turning out for today's higher ed day of action. #HigherEdBenefitsEveryone
November 7, 2025 at 5:12 PM
The City of Brotherly Love is turning out to defend academic freedom and fight for higher ed for all!
Thank you @fsfccp.bsky.social, @apscuf.org, @aaup-penn.bsky.social TAUP, UAP, and the Philadelphia AFL-CIO for turning out for today's higher ed day of action. #HigherEdBenefitsEveryone
Thank you @fsfccp.bsky.social, @apscuf.org, @aaup-penn.bsky.social TAUP, UAP, and the Philadelphia AFL-CIO for turning out for today's higher ed day of action. #HigherEdBenefitsEveryone
Reposted by Ben Serber
Something worth noting: Rockstar is leaning HEAVILY on the excuse that the unionising employees were "leaking private company information"
They want people to assume this means game info or assets.
But I will bet you CASH MONEY this translates to:
'they were comparing salaries and work contracts"
They want people to assume this means game info or assets.
But I will bet you CASH MONEY this translates to:
'they were comparing salaries and work contracts"
"Rockstar, Rockstar, you're disgusting, we charge you with union busting," the protesters declared.
'All you had to do was follow the damn law, Rockstar!': Workers are protesting outside Take-Two after GTA 6 dev's alleged 'brazen' union-busting
"They can get used to seeing us on their doorstep."
www.pcgamer.com
November 7, 2025 at 8:56 AM
Something worth noting: Rockstar is leaning HEAVILY on the excuse that the unionising employees were "leaking private company information"
They want people to assume this means game info or assets.
But I will bet you CASH MONEY this translates to:
'they were comparing salaries and work contracts"
They want people to assume this means game info or assets.
But I will bet you CASH MONEY this translates to:
'they were comparing salaries and work contracts"
Reposted by Ben Serber
The AFL-CIO should start throwing some money towards labor journalism. If it was done right (i.e. with them accepting that journalists must have full editorial control over what’s published, whether or not union leaders like what they have to say) it could really have such a hugely positive impact
November 6, 2025 at 8:21 PM
The AFL-CIO should start throwing some money towards labor journalism. If it was done right (i.e. with them accepting that journalists must have full editorial control over what’s published, whether or not union leaders like what they have to say) it could really have such a hugely positive impact
Reposted by Ben Serber
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
The only lesson any of these bastards learned from 2008 was to secure the bailout *before* the crash starts in earnest.
BREAKING: OpenAI is requesting US government support to help guarantee financing for the massive investments in AI chips and data centers it needs for expansion, per Bloomberg.
November 6, 2025 at 1:27 AM
The only lesson any of these bastards learned from 2008 was to secure the bailout *before* the crash starts in earnest.
Reposted by Ben Serber
BREAKING: After months of stonewalling by Starbucks, unionized baristas just voted 92% to authorize a ULP strike unless Starbucks finalizes fair contracts & stops union busting.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
Starbucks unionized workers say they'll strike on Nov. 13 if coffee giant doesn't finalize contract
Union members say they are ready to strike on the chain's Red Cup Day if Starbucks doesn't finalize a contract with their union by then.
www.cbsnews.com
November 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
BREAKING: After months of stonewalling by Starbucks, unionized baristas just voted 92% to authorize a ULP strike unless Starbucks finalizes fair contracts & stops union busting.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
If forced, our baristas will strike in dozens of cities on November 13 – the company's busiest sales day of the year.
Reposted by Ben Serber
Today's the big day — we're officially on strike all day! We'll be picketing from 8am to 8pm at 1776 Massachusetts NW. Come show your support! @wbng.org @newsguild.org
November 5, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Today's the big day — we're officially on strike all day! We'll be picketing from 8am to 8pm at 1776 Massachusetts NW. Come show your support! @wbng.org @newsguild.org
Pretty sure Eddie's a Sliwa voter just off the shared hater energy, but a guy can dream xD
November 5, 2025 at 3:07 AM
Pretty sure Eddie's a Sliwa voter just off the shared hater energy, but a guy can dream xD
Reposted by Ben Serber
We strongly condemn @CondéNast’s consolidation plans for Teen Vogue, a move that is clearly designed to blunt the award-winning magazine’s insightful journalism at a time when it is needed the most. More from our statement:
November 3, 2025 at 11:24 PM
We strongly condemn @CondéNast’s consolidation plans for Teen Vogue, a move that is clearly designed to blunt the award-winning magazine’s insightful journalism at a time when it is needed the most. More from our statement:
Reposted by Ben Serber
Enough is enough! Our union siblings at HACC EA are officially on STRIKE after three years of negotiating working conditions, student success, and community interest with administration.
Show your solidarity for HACC faculty! Sign HACC EA's petition: bit.ly/48MRlep
Show your solidarity for HACC faculty! Sign HACC EA's petition: bit.ly/48MRlep
November 3, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Enough is enough! Our union siblings at HACC EA are officially on STRIKE after three years of negotiating working conditions, student success, and community interest with administration.
Show your solidarity for HACC faculty! Sign HACC EA's petition: bit.ly/48MRlep
Show your solidarity for HACC faculty! Sign HACC EA's petition: bit.ly/48MRlep
Reposted by Ben Serber
if you ever wonder why the food system seems so broken & impossible to fix
imagine if we tried to fix the electrical grid by just sidelining the many capable electricians & engineers we have in this country
and instead just had a ton of IG accounts about the romance of DIY linework
imagine if we tried to fix the electrical grid by just sidelining the many capable electricians & engineers we have in this country
and instead just had a ton of IG accounts about the romance of DIY linework
November 3, 2025 at 4:42 PM
if you ever wonder why the food system seems so broken & impossible to fix
imagine if we tried to fix the electrical grid by just sidelining the many capable electricians & engineers we have in this country
and instead just had a ton of IG accounts about the romance of DIY linework
imagine if we tried to fix the electrical grid by just sidelining the many capable electricians & engineers we have in this country
and instead just had a ton of IG accounts about the romance of DIY linework
Reposted by Ben Serber
Something maybe worth noting is that all the frog costumes and signs and good-natured memeing came about because a wide spectrum of Americans saw someone in direct, brave confrontation with ICE—getting pepperballed and standing their ground—and thought “that’s awesome. That person is a hero”
October 18, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Something maybe worth noting is that all the frog costumes and signs and good-natured memeing came about because a wide spectrum of Americans saw someone in direct, brave confrontation with ICE—getting pepperballed and standing their ground—and thought “that’s awesome. That person is a hero”