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Amazon Workers Strike at Multiple Facilities as Teamsters Seek Labor Contract (Maria)
The author writes, “Workers at seven Amazon facilities went on strike Thursday, an effort by the Teamsters to pressure the e-commerce company for a labor agreement during a key shopping period. The Teamsters say the workers, who authorized strikes in the past few days, are joining the picket line after Amazon ignored a Sunday deadline the union set for contract negotiations. Amazon says it doesn’t expect an impact on its operations. … The International Brotherhood of Teamsters say they represent nearly 10,000 workers at 10 Amazon facilities, a small portion of the 1.5 million people Amazon employs.”
Blinken Says Iran Had Bad Year, but Nuclear Negotiations Possible (Sean)
From Al Jazeera: “The United States has suggested that Iran should rethink its foreign policy and focus on its economy after apparent setbacks this year. Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Israel has succeeded in damaging Tehran’s allies, Hezbollah and Hamas, as well as Iran’s own military capabilities in a direct strike in October. ‘There’s no doubt this has not been a good year for Iran, and we’re seeing that play out every single day,’ Blinken said. He added that now Iran has to make ‘fundamental’ choices.”
Sen. Bernie Sanders Says Biden Should ‘Very Seriously’ Consider Preemptive Pardons (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on Sunday described President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to jail members of the House Jan. 6 Committee as ‘an outrageous statement’ and said President Joe Biden should consider preemptive pardons for committee members. ‘This is what authoritarianism is all about. It’s what dictatorship is all about,’ Sanders said. Asked on NBC News’ Meet the Press whether Biden should consider preemptive pardons for committee members — seven House Democrats and two House Republicans, then-Reps. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., and Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill. — Sanders said, ‘Well, I think he might want to consider that very seriously.’”
Florida Workers Died in the Heat. Their Deaths Were Kept From Authorities (Dana)
From the Tampa Bay Times: “Florida banned local governments from providing increased oversight for workers exposed to high temperatures earlier this year, saying businesses and federal regulators alone could keep laborers safe. But the Tampa Bay Times found far more workers have died from heat across the state than authorities even know. The missing deaths bring recorded heat fatalities in Florida to at least 37 over the past decade — double the number federal regulators had tallied during the same period.”
These Climate Advocates Are Tapping Their Spiritual Reservoirs to Continue Their Cause (Laura)
From Inside Climate News: “Donald Trump was elected to his second term as president with the help of eight out of 10 white evangelical Christian voters, some of whom see the Florida businessman as the fulfillment of a divine mandate. But there are millions in the country who consider themselves people of faith who now find themselves worried more than ever about where Trump will lead the United States, particularly how the Republican’s ‘drill, baby drill’ agenda will hinder global efforts to stall climate change.”
Kay Patterson, Who Rose From Janitor at Segregated South Carolina Capitol To State Senator, Dies (Reader Steve)
The author writes, “Former South Carolina Sen. Kay Patterson, who rose from cleaning offices at the segregated Statehouse to serving as a state legislator for over 30 years died Friday. He was 93. The South Carolina Democratic Party announced Patterson’s death saying he ‘left an indelible mark on our state. Senator Patterson commanded everyone’s attention with his wit and wisdom.’ The statement did not list a cause of death.”
