iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Reposted by Toby Higbie

Lilly Irani @gleemie.bsky.social · 03/10/2026

We can build new institutions. This institute will have community appointees on the board helping decide, alongside scientists and academic workers, what science gets prioritized for funding.

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University of California Faculty Associations @cucfa.org · 03/10/2026

Thanks to the advocacy of hundreds of faculty who joined the fight through their Faculty Associations, the $7.5B California Research Fund (SB 895) is now headed to the 2028 ballot where this funding decision will be in the hands of California voters. cucfa.org/ca-research-...

A win for research! Governor Newsom Signs SB 895 California Science and Health Research Bond Act

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Brian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Some good news for a change: Overcoming a massive and aggressive tech lobby and a squeamish, Silicon Valley-friendly governor, the labor movement has managed to pass a raft of first-of-their-kind AI laws aimed at protecting workers in California.

bloodinthemachine.com

California just passed the strongest AI labor laws in the US

Finally, some good news

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Larry Glickman @larryglickman.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Trump is doing his best to weaken and undermine higher education, an area in which the United States has been a global leader since World War II, with economic and other benefits that extend far beyond the students, staff, and faculty at universities.

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LaborLab @laborlab.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

BREAKING 🚨 A strong and powerful group of Autozone workers have won the first ever union at the nationwide company!!!

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Erik Loomis @erikloomis.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

This Day in Labor History: September 24, 1969. President Richard Nixon issued the Philadelphia Plan, forcing building trades unions to allow black members into their ranks. Nixon did this to divide the building trades from the Democratic Party and in no small part his cynical move worked!

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UCLA IRLE @uclairle.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

In our first State of the Unions webinar, a worker-organizer with @sbworkersunited.org shared this inspiring message. Join the UCLA IRLE and @uclalabor.bsky.social for PART II revealing why securing a first union contract can take so long. RSVP at irle.ucla.edu/webinar

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

How hard is it to get a first union contract in California? Join researchers and union leaders for a discussion on 9/23 12 noon.

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UCLA IRLE @uclairle.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

No contract, now what? In a new article, Kit Smemo, professor and labor historian, explains the Faster Labor Contracts Act. Learn more about what the bill means for workers and why it earned support on both sides of the political aisle in the full article below. irle.ucla.edu/2026/09/21/f...

irle.ucla.edu

The Faster Labor Contracts Act, Explained

Learn more about what the Faster Labor Contracts Act means for workers and why it earned support on both sides of the political aisle

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Erik Loomis @erikloomis.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

This Day in Labor History: September 22, 1946. The Food, Tobacco, Agricultural & Allied Workers of America (FTA) reached a contract agreement with the Piedmont Tobacco Company, marking an early victory in the CIO’s Operation Dixie campaign. Let's talk Operation Dixie and why it eventually failed!

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Center for American Progress @americanprogress.bsky.social · 20/09/2026

It's been nearly 7 months since the Trump administration began its reckless war with Iran, and Americans at home are paying the price at the pump. See how much gas prices have risen in your state: ampr.gs/4yEp6bo

"Gas and diesel prices have risen in every state since Trump's war on Iran started." Red arrows pointing to the right demonstrate the increase in prices per state.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Am just catching up on the controversy in research mathematics. The message here echoes the revelations in the NYT v OpenAI lawsuit—the idea that the tech is built on theft of human labor and they know it, but also they are eager to substitute the tech for human culture and knowledge

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

”But solving problems is only a tool and proxy for achieving the primary goal of conceptual understanding and insight.… Indeed, the mass production at faster and faster pace of "true/false" statements could destroy fertile ground instead of breathing life into new ideas.” mathandai.org

mathandai.org

Declaration — Math and AI

Read the declaration and add your name.

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Reposted by Toby Higbie

Britt Paris @hellobrittparis.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Join us Monday for our second @aaup.org AI pushback toolkit webinar on Monday 9/21 1pm ET. If you’ve ever wanted to find out what your admin signs away in tech vendor contracts to organize around it, this is for you. www.aaup.org/event/foias-...

aaup.org

FOIAs for Better Shared Governance Around Technology

This webinar provides examples of how to conduct public records requests to gather and analyze information pertaining to an institution's technology contracts, correspondence between institutional adm...

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

“Labor share—the fraction of economic output that accrues to workers as compensation in exchange for their labor—in the nonfarm business sector was 52.8 percent in the second quarter of 2026, the lowest level ever recorded.” Seems like a bad stat for the current administration

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Great thread on Occupy Wall Street from historian Erik Loomis. Not so much a blow-by-blow of Zucotti Park occupation as a reflection on high neoliberalism, social mov’t dynamics, and mainstream politics. He sees OWS as a catalyzing event that was key to the leftward shift of the Democratic Party

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Asheesh Kapur Siddique @asheeshks.org · 16/09/2026

AI has exposed the austerity con game in higher ed. For years, we have been told there is no money for students, faculty, staff, capital improvements, libraries. But somehow universities have suddenly come up with the money to pay for AI services??

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Veena Dubal @veenadubal.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

“The AAUP calls on UCLA Chancellor.. to withdraw his public repudiation of the UCLA School of Law symposium..& to reaffirm the academic freedom of..faculty to organize scholarly events, select speakers…without fear of institutional condemnation.” www.aaup.org/news/aaup-ca...

aaup.org

AAUP Calls on UCLA Chancellor Frenk to Defend, Not Undermine, Academic Freedom

The AAUP calls on UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk to withdraw his public repudiation of a UCLA School of Law symposium and to reaffirm the academic freedom of UCLA faculty.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

You can really see this in the Wisconsin governor’s race where the Dem, David Crowley (w/ support from the trades) has a moderate approach to data centers compared to his progressive primary opponent who called for a moratorium. Now the GOP candidate is cynically adopting anti data centers themes

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Construction unions are supporting the data center buildout because a lot of union workers are getting those jobs. That complicates campaigns for a data center construction moratoriums and potentially splits groups that could be otherwise aligned around progressive goals.

apnews.com

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

In August, Blackrock and a consortium of hyperscale datacenter investors signed a deal w/ the major building trades federation (NABTU, which is separate from AFL-CIO) setting up a framework for apprenticeships and workforce development intended to lead to more union jobs. nabtu.org/press_releas...

nabtu.org

NABTU, BlackRock, and AI Infrastructure Partnership Launch Strategic Collaboration to Support America's Infrastructure Workforce - NABTU

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 10, 2026 — North America’s Building Trades ...

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

For construction workers, big projects are meaningfully transformative. Construction work is project based. Workers don’t get paid when not working, obviously. Steady work, high wages and overtime builds wealth that goes into home ownership, family stability, thru the down times. That’s the logic

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

Are construction jobs enough? After building trades unions ink deals w/ tech and private equity giants for hyperscale data center workforce, office worker union head argues for moratorium and wider view of economic impact on workers generally, climate, and public finances.

theguardian.com

Labor unions must unite against AI datacenters | Tyler Turner

Workers should start with a moratorium against building until our livelihoods and communities are protected

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Asheesh Kapur Siddique @asheeshks.org · 15/09/2026

Has anyone considered orienting college education around the practice of sitting together and discussing real books, read on paper? www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...

nytimes.com

Universities Sound Warnings About A.I. Even as They Embrace It

As A.I. upends education, university leaders have been all over the map about how to respond. It can be very confusing for students.

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Reposted by Toby Higbie

UCLA IRLE @uclairle.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

UCLA IRLE's "State of the Unions" KEY FINDINGS thread🧵 KEY FINDING #1– California unions grew in 2025, adding more than 100,000 workers and increasing the share of the state’s workforce represented by unions to 16.7%. Learn more at bit.ly/SOTU-25

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

NYC establishes an Office of Worker Power to connect working people with resources for organizing. Let’s do this in Los Angeles!

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 05/09/2026

How would Supreme Court term limits work given the Constitution grants appointments during "good Behavior"? One proposal would divide life appointments into 1) 18-year "active" term & 2) "senior" status for the rest of life. Each president would nominate 2 new active justices per term. Sounds good.

brennancenter.org

Supreme Court Term Limits

Staggered 18-year terms would bring regular turnover to the bench. The result would be a Court that better reflects prevailing public values.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 03/09/2026

Despite disruption at the NLRB, California private sector unions continued to grow in the first year of Trump's second term. California was also a hub of strike and protest activity newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/sta...

newsroom.ucla.edu

State of the Unions on Labor Day: California organized labor grows despite headwinds

A new report from the UCLA Institute for Research on Labor and Employment chronicles a year of union growth, worker activism and mounting challenges.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

More Labor Day reading! Everything you need to know about anti-union "right to work" laws, a.k.a., "right to work for less" laws.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 02/09/2026

“I didn’t really understand the physical reality of how institutionalized the brutality is in America” he said, adding: “It’s like everybody that’s arrested is an MS-13 gang member, and it hurts a lot more than it looks like on television.” Well, now you know.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

University of California faculty, students, and alumni: if you care about the value of a UC degree, you should be worried about the Trump admin's effort to rewrite the rules of college accreditation. Join the UC Unbowed Teach-In to learn how you can defend the UC: actionnetwork.org/events/teach...

Event flyer: Fight Back against Trump's Secret Accreditation Weapon. Learn how we can fight back against the proposed accreditation changes that would threaten academic freedom, put federal student financial aid at risk, and exert political control over universities. Thursday, September 10, 6-7 PM. Featuring Jonathan D. Glater, Prof of Law and Assoc Dean, UC Berkeley Law. Register: tinyurl.com/ucunbowedteachin

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Yes, even Yale faculty are getting organized! What are you waiting for? Join your union today! Pictures from today's @aaupyale.org teach-in on academic freedom, shared governance, free expression, and Yale’s autonomy from unlawful federal coercion.

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Reposted by Toby Higbie

California Fast Food Workers Union @cafastfoodunion.org · 01/09/2026

50% of Los Angeles fast food workers, including Starbucks workers, reported working consecutive closing and opening shifts in the prior month, also known also as “clopenings.” At the same time, LA has some of the strongest labor laws in America, but often workers who don't know their rights!

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Just in time for Labor Day, our new report looks at California unions in the first year of Trump II. Union membership held up despite a dysfunctional NLRB and California remained a center of union activism in the U.S. Plus, case studies of local union campaigns from across the state.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

How are unions doing during Trump II? Sign up for our post-Labor Day conversation w/ Memo Durgin of the AFL-CIO, labor lawyer David Rosenfeld, and Starbucks Workers United activist Amber Gonzalez.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

Ironically, a union for faculty could address the author’s gripe about the impact of postdoc and grad union contracts on faculty grant budgets. Rutgers faculty union contract requires the university to cover those cost increases centrally. Otherwise, just another anti-union diatribe

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Stacy Fahrenthold @sfahrenthold.bsky.social · 29/08/2026

I don't know what Evan is on about, the the schtick about "apprentices" not being workers is an union busting trope so old that even the mentor he must have watched so admiringly many decades ago would have been familiar with it.

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California Nurses Association @calnurses.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Happening Thursday: The largest coordinated, national actions our nurses and allies have organized to date against Palantir. 👀 Join us in L.A. or Palo Alto to get Palantir out of hospitals and out of our society! nnu.org/Palantir-Out-DOA

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

Maybe if the newsletter was funded by plumbing contractors trying to drive down labor costs?

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 24/08/2026

“Mom populists” are linking the fights against school vouchers and data centers, bringing together unlikely allies especially in rural America, says @jenniferberkshire.bsky.social. She predicts school boards will be next wave of opposition to data centers educationwars.substack.com/p/data-cente...

educationwars.substack.com

Data Centers are a Public Education Issue

The opposition to data centers is scrambling education politics

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Should be a flashing red light for moderate Democratic candidates and construction unions supporting “reasonable” data center build out. Data centers now a symbol of wider anti-tech backlash, condensing hatred of and anxiety over AI, social media, climate breakdown and power of tech oligarchs

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Data center construction still a major issue in Wisconsin governor’s race. GOP candidate cynically pivots to anti-data center position after voting previously supporting. Moderate Democratic candidate who won on electability getting hammered as pro-data center wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/08/18/d...

wisconsinexaminer.com

Data centers become a focus as governor’s race takes off • Wisconsin Examiner

Tiffany and Crowley are focusing in on data centers, which have become a source of great concern for Wisconsin voters.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

California Republican voters not sold on the “MAGA” brand, according to UC Berkeley IGS poll. 70% more inclined to vote for candidate labeled as “a Republican” vs 46% more inclined to vote for MAGA candidate. Only 27% of 18-39 year old Republican voters more inclined to support MAGA candiate

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

Suggestive new poll on impact of ideological labels on California voters: Among Democratic voters, 18-39 year olds, Latinos, and union households much more open to voting for a democratic socialist or a progressive. Less inclined to vote for “mainstream Democrat.” escholarship.org/uc/item/0p72...

escholarship.org

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

How did California unions fare in the first year of Trump II? Our State of the Unions report (out soon) has the data. Join us Sept 9 for a conversation about organizing, labor law, and how unions are organizing when the federal labor system is highly dysfunctional

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 20/08/2026

Watching the "Little House" reboot on Netflix? Check out this perspective: Rebooting the Frontier Myth. This show is not "just a story about the past but an argument about it" www.historians.org/perspectives...

historians.org

Rebooting the Frontier Myth – AHA

Netflix’s new Little House on the Prairie adaptation gives life to one of America’s most durable pieces of frontier mythology.

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

In Minnesota feds sent undercover agents to public meetings, tried to entrap organizers, scoured union financial records, and used facial recognition AI to link union leaders and activists to a so-called ”conspiracy.” Nothing but solidarity

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

A post-primary assessment of Democratic opportunities: “It would be a huge mistake for the Crowley campaign, having pulled off its narrow victory, not to try to connect seriously with the grassroots energy that animated Hong’s supporters.”

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Toby Higbie @thigbie.bsky.social · 14/08/2026

Another powerful gathering of union and community researchers led by @profczm.bsky.social and his team. Keynote speech by @flyingwithsara.bsky.social was inspirational!

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