Workers at dozens of Seattle fast-food restaurants became the latest to join a series of walkouts designed to rally support for higher wages and the right to collectively bargain. Joining in the walkout were employees of chains, including McDonald’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Subway, Arby’s, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Qdoba Mexican Grill and Jack in the Box. The Seattle workers were specifically asking for a raise to $15 per hour and the right to organize to form unions without being intimidated by employers.

On Friday, Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) signed the "Keep Jobs in Colorado Act," which would increase protections for the state's working families and help make sure that taxpayer money stays in the state. The bill reforms the state contracting system, requiring state agencies to focus on more than the bid in contracting and to include other factors that would help the state's workers, such as wages and benefits.

When word leaked out late last year that Walmart was eyeing a piece of the prime Springfield Avenue Marketplace project in Newark, N.J., more than 50 local community, faith, labor and other groups said the last thing Newark needed was a Walmart that kills local small businesses, replaces those jobs with low-paid part-time work and lowers community standards.

The collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River in Washington State on Thursday “is a sober reminder” to state lawmakers of the need for a transportation revenue package, says Washington State Labor Council (WSLC) President Jeff Johnson.

After the Chicago Board of Education approved a proposal from Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) to close 50 of the city's public schools, the Chicago Teachers Union vowed to take legal action to stop the closures and to challenge supporters of the mayor's plan with grassroots mobilization. The closures come despite widespread opposition to the plan and five days of rallies, sit-ins and other efforts.

Here's a look at some of the key battles in the states over the past week.

Lorena Gonzalez, 41, secretary-treasurer of the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, defeated rival Steve Castaneda on Tuesday in a special election to fill the vacant 80th Assembly District in California, the U-T San Diego reports.

Thanks to what Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller calls a “historic, robust” bipartisan effort, the Texas Legislature approved on Monday a "Buy American" provision for water projects that establishes a preference for iron, steel and manufactured goods produced in the United States. Says Moeller:

While, according to official government statistics, union density declined last year, there were a handful of states that actually saw an increase in membership. California placed at the top of this list.

AFSCME Council 5 sends us this exciting update from Minnesota:

After a debate that took nearly 10 hours over three legislative days, the Minnesota House of Representatives approved historic legislation Monday that extends collective bargaining rights to family child care providers and personal care attendants. The bill passed 68-66 after surviving 20 Republican amendments trying to undermine it. Gov. Mark Dayton promises to sign the bill.