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Why the United Auto Workers Union Is Poised to Strike This Week (Maria)
The author writes, “About 146,000 US auto workers are set to go on strike this week if General Motors, Ford and Stellantis fail to meet their demands for big pay raises and the restoration of concessions the workers made years ago when the companies were in financial trouble. Shawn Fain, the combative president of the United Auto Workers union, has threatened to strike any of the three companies that hasn’t reached an agreement by the time its contract with the union expires at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time Thursday. Both sides began exchanging wage and benefit proposals last week. Though some incremental progress appears to have been made, a final agreement could come too late to avoid walkouts by UAW workers. … ‘Our union,’ Fain has said, ‘isn’t going to stand by while they replace oil barons with battery barons.’”
Donald Trump Made Millions Selling Merchandise With His Historic Mugshot, But Legal Expert Says He May Have Violated Copyright Law (Reader Jim)
The author writes, “Shortly after he left the jail, Trump’s campaign started selling merchandise with his booking photo, including T-shirts and mugs, among other items, CBS News reported, an effort that has helped him rack up millions. Other people also took advantage of the opportunity and started selling mugshot merch on online marketplaces like Amazon and Etsy. However, legal expert and Case Western Reserve University professor told Spectrum News that it’s a potential copyright infringement violation.”
WA Court to Hear Case That Seeks to Stop Ballot Signature Rejections (Reader Steve)
From The Seattle Times: “A lawsuit seeking to stop Washington from rejecting ballots where a voter’s signature appears to differ from the one on file — a practice that disproportionately tossed the votes of younger people and people of color — has prompted heated pushback from elections officials, who contend it could leave the state wide open for voter fraud.”
‘Threatened and Vulnerable’: Cop City Activists Labeled as Terrorists Pay High Price (Laura)
The author writes, “Protesters say classification as ‘domestic terrorists’ for opposing planned Georgia police facility has upended their lives.”
South Africa Paid Double EU Price for COVID Vaccines, Unredacted Contracts Reveal (Sean)
From Politico: “Unredacted COVID-19 vaccine contracts between several pharmaceutical companies and the South African government reveal ‘pernicious pharmaceutical bullying,’ claim civil society organizations, with the country paying higher prices for some of their COVID vaccines than the EU. The public release of the contracts between the South African government and four vaccine providers — Johnson & Johnson (J&J); Pfizer; the Serum Institute of India; and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance — follows a court case brought by NGO Health Justice Initiative, which resulted in the South African government being forced to hand over the agreements.”
Jobless, Divorced, on Probation; a Pandemic Hobby Turned His Life Around (Russ)
From The New York Times: “Danny Cortes was at rock bottom when Covid hit. Then a craft hobby to stay sane during lockdown blew up on social media — and in auction houses.”
A Rare Encounter of a Black Tiger Marking Its Territory in India (Mili)
The author writes, “In the video, a lone black tiger sniffs around a tree. Once inspecting it, the tiger stands on its hind legs and marks the tree with claws and urine. After which it peacefully strolls away. A camera trap captured the video in Similipal Tiger Reserve, where authorities protect tigers from poachers and deforestation.”
