Tim Costello

Tim Costello (1945-2009). Labor Network for Sustainability Co-Founder Tim Costello passed away in December 2009. He had over 40 years of work and union experience in the area. He helped organize and served (until July 2005) as Coordinator of the Boston based North American Alliance for Fair Employment a network of 65 unions and community based organizations in the US and Canada. Costello was a truck driver and workplace activist for many years; following that, he worked on the staff of SEIU. He has extensive collective bargaining experience in a number of industries.

Open letter to Andy Stern

On May 1 2008, Tim Costello, a Labor Researcher and Author signed an open letter to SEIU president Andy Stern in protest at SEIU move to force its local United Healthcare Workers into trusteeship.

"We are writing to express our deep concern about SEIU's threatened trusteeship over its third largest local, United Healthcare Workers (UHW). We believe that there must always be room within organized labor for legitimate and principled dissent, if our movement is to survive and grow. Putting UHW under trusteeship would send a very troubling message and be viewed, by many, as a sign that internal democracy is not valued or tolerated within SEIU. In our view, this would have negative consequences for the workers directly affected, the SEIU itself, and the labor movement as a whole. We strongly urge you to avoid such a tragedy."

Boston DSA post election forum

On Nov.24 2008 Boston Democratic Socialists of America organized a post election forum at the [[Democracy Center]45 Mt. Auburn St. Cambridge, (Harvard Sq.) Speakers:

• Frances Moore Lappe, the author of several books, beginning in 1971 with Diet for a Small Planet. She helped launch the Institute for Food and Development Policy (Food First), and—in 2002—the Small Planet Institute, which promotes global democracy and environmentally sustainable development. U Decide 2008, a recent Institute project, targeted undecided voters with flyers comparing the records and positions of Obama and McCain on specific issues. She is also on the Advisory Board of the Union of Concerned Scientists, and was selected by the Women’s National Book Association as one of the 12 living “women whose words have changed the world".
• Tim Costello, is a longtime labor activist and former truck driver who helped organize the North American Alliance for Fair Employment, a network of 65 unions and community groups in the U.S. and Canada. He is currently on the Advisory Board of the UMass Boston Labor Resource Center, and is Co-Director of Global Labor Strategies (www.globallaborblog.org). Tim Costello is also co-author of "Global Village or Global Pillage: Economic Reconstruction from the Bottom Up".
• Frank Llewellyn, is the National Director of Democratic Socialists of America, and on the Board of NY Citizen Action.

Lui Cheng 2007 American tour

The American Center for International Labor Solidarity and the National Labor College recently hosted Professor Liu Cheng for Shanghai Normal University to discuss the evolution of the new draft contract labor law in China. Cheng’s visit to the NLC on March 27th was the culmination of a multi-state tour meeting with union leaders and members of Congress.

For the report by Global Labor Strategies analyzing the impact of transnational corporations on the first draft of the Contract Law go to: UNDUE INFLUENCE: Corporation Gain Ground in Battle Over Chinas New Labor Law

Liu Cheng's tour included nearly 45 events over 17 days, in the Bay Area, Boston, Amherst, New York and Washington DC.

Special gratitude is extended to Earl Brown of the Solidarity Center for his invaluable guidance and assistance, to Brendan Smith and Tim Costello of Global Labor Strategies for their serious and strategic research, to Eli Friedman for translation and logistical support, and to Harvard Law School / Labor & Worklife Program, SEIU and the AFL-CIO for financial support of the tour.

Kopkind Colony

The Kopkind Colony Program Advisory Committee, as of 2015; The Kopkind Colony Honorary Board, as of 2015; Angela Ards, Fred Azcarate, Jennifer Berkshire, Pamela Bridgewater, Francis Calpotura, Margaret Cerullo, Tim Costello, Kim Diehl, Heidi Dorow, Scott Douglas, Theo Emery, Laura Flanders, Ku‘umeaaloha Gomes, Joe Grabarz, Jennifer Gordon, Pronita Gupta, Muna Hamzeh, Amber Hollibaugh, Mary Howell, Janine Jackson, Si Kahn, Robin D. G. Kelley, KipuKai Kuali‘i, Brad Lander, Eric Mann, Nikki Morse, Scot Nakagawa, Debbie Nathan, Amy Newell, Rev. James Orange, Robert Pollin, Verandah Porche, Luis Rodriguez, Deb Schwartz, Barbara Smith, Makani Themba-Nixon, Jerry Tucker

Team

• Labor Network for Sustainability team, July 2018;
• Joseph B. Uehlein, Founding President of the Labor Network for Sustainability.
• Michael Leon Guerrero, Executive Director of the Labor Network for Sustainability.
• Jeremy Brecher
• Becky Glass
• Harley Mocker
• In Memoriam: LNS Co-Founder Tim Costello