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Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Help Win Fair Wages for Union Members at CBS News Streaming
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Writers Guild of America, East, members at CBS News Streaming are currently in negotiations with CBS for a renewed contract. Determined to get a fair deal, these workers are facing a challenge in securing fair wages, and they need your help.
The workers at CBS News Streaming deserve a fair contract that reflects industry standards and the rising cost of living. CBS management is still holding out on items important to the CBS News Streaming Union, including salary minimums in line with current salaries and fair wage increases.
Now is a critical time in their campaign. Please join their fight by sending a letter to CBS management today, demanding they agree to a fair contract with fair wages.
Send a letter to CBS management now.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/24/2023 - 07:39WATCH: Julie Su’s First Hearing
Julie Su just overcame her first big hurdle on the road to becoming our next secretary of labor, and workers are standing behind her. We thought you’d be interested to hear how it went.
Here are some of our highlights:
Julie Su's story is a firsthand account of what so many across the globe endure in search for a better life.
We want a Secretary of Labor who can look working families in the eye & honestly say "I understand” over a shell for corporate America.#StandWithSu pic.twitter.com/UEzTrblNHP
With Julie Su as Deputy Secretary of Labor, the @USDOL has RAPIDLY expanded apprenticeship opportunities for all Americans, from the trades to cybersecurity to teacher apprenticeships.
These life-changing opportunities must continue & another reason why we #StandWithSu! pic.twitter.com/LeXV5CN1xn
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The results with having a pro-worker @USDOL Secretary of Labor speak for themselves: Our U.S. economy has added a record 12.6 million jobs, unemployment is less than 4 percent. All while labor force participation has returned to pre-pandemic levels. #StandWithSu! pic.twitter.com/lZcqqzYsQH
— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) April 20, 2023Workers deserve a labor secretary who will fiercely defend working people. Join more than 10,000 union members and sign our petition to #StandWithSu.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 04/21/2023 - 14:12Service & Solidarity Spotlight: BCTGM Files Charges Against Aspire Bakeries for Flagrant Labor Violations
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
BCTGM Local 37 (Los Angeles), has filed federal charges against Aspire Bakeries, for multiple labor law violations committed during an organizing campaign at the company’s Ontario, California bakery. Aspire Bakeries produces Otis Spunkmeyer, La Brea Bakery and Oakrun Farm Bakery brands, and is owned by the private-equity firm Lindsay-Goldberg.
Not long after workers at the California bakery approached Local 37 organizers, the company hired a high-priced union busting firm to put a stop to the employees’ efforts. According to BCTGM Organizing Director John Price, the company’s union busters committed numerous offenses including spying on union activities, harassment and intimidation of union supporters. “These are clear and outrageous violations of federal labor law. Employees were denied their legal right to join the BCTGM because of the company’s blatant disregard of federal law,” Price said.
BCTGM called on Lindsay-Goldberg to put a stop to Aspire’s use of union busters, but Lindsay-Goldberg executives refused to meet or speak with the union.
“Lindsay Goldberg management refused to talk to us, despite the fact their Aspire Bakeries subsidiary was knowingly violating federal laws and denying their workers the protected right to a free election,” said BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton. “Private equity companies like Lindsay Goldberg are used to hiding behind their portfolio companies and acting with impunity. Those days are over. Lindsay Goldberg owns Aspire Bakeries and is responsible for Aspire’s anti-worker actions.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/20/2023 - 10:17Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Actors' Equity Members and League of Resident Theatres Ratify New Agreement
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Actors’ Equity Association, the national union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, and the League of Resident Theatres (LORT), the largest professional theatre association of its kind in the United States, have ratified a new four-and-a-half-year agreement.
“This agreement demonstrates that despite the hardships of the pandemic, we can build a stronger theatre industry for the workers,” said Equity Assistant Executive Director Andrea Hoeschen, who served as lead negotiator for the union on this agreement. “We are grateful to LORT for working with us to create an agreement that increases wages and job opportunities as well as expanding worker protections. We are optimistic that this agreement will also afford LORT opportunities to recover from the pandemic and expand their audiences moving forward.”
The contract includes meaningful salary increases and growth in all three job categories: chorus, principals and stage managers. It also widens equity, diversity and inclusion protections, including regarding hair styling and costuming, and expands protections against bullying, discrimination and harassment. It also expands flexibility in media and community outreach, enabling theatres to rebuild and grow audiences, and it creates additional opportunities for the development of new artistic work at LORT houses.
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Hawaii State AFL-CIO Brings 'Labor of Love' to Dole Intermediate School
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On April 15, the Hawaii State AFL-CIO and Labor Community Services Program held their annual Labor of Love event, which selects a Title 1 public school to support annually. This year, more than 300 volunteers from 23 unions and teachers, staff, students, businesses, and community partners volunteered at Dole Intermediate School.
Hawaii State AFL-CIO President Randy Perreira (AFSCME) said: “At a time when our community is facing ever-increasing costs and new challenges, Hawaii’s labor unions remain committed to fighting to raise living conditions and improve the quality of life for all citizens. Our Labor of Love project is where all unions bring their talents and resources together to improve a school in need. Today our union members proudly demonstrate that labor unions in Hawaii are more relevant than ever as we showcase our skills and commitment as valuable members of our local community.”
When students returned to school, they found new benches, lunch picnic tables, fresh paint on portions of their campus, new AC units, a laundry room for those who do not have regular access to wash their clothes, a courtyard area outside of the cafeteria, and an updated bathroom. The estimated value of the contribution to Dole Intermediate School is $80,000.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/18/2023 - 10:05SIGN: Confirm Julie Su for Labor Secretary
Julie Su’s record speaks for itself. As a young attorney representing trafficked Thai garment workers outside of Los Angeles, she won $4 million in stolen wages. Her case set a huge precedent, and that was just the beginning of a storied career.
What’s most impressive about Su is that she understands the nuances of labor law so thoroughly and translates that knowledge to meaningful policy that changes lives.
She has made a career out of representing not only workers, but the most vulnerable workers in America.
The problem is that well-heeled lobbyists and corporate special interests are spending big to block her confirmation when it comes up for a committee vote in the Senate on April 20. Simply put, Su needs our support.
Workers deserve a labor secretary who will fiercely defend working people. Will you say you stand with her?
What stands out about Su, beyond her expertise in labor law and policy, is that she believes so deeply in what she does. Prior to her predecessor, it had been decades before workers even had a union member at the helm of the Labor Department.
In short—Su’s confirmation will be a game changer for working families. Please take a minute to sign the petition and show you support Julie Su.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/17/2023 - 13:44Demanding Better Security: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
Women Need Julie Su as Our Next Labor Secretary. The Labor Movement Is Ready to Fight for Her: “We need leaders in Washington who understand that union difference—and who are committed to labor laws rooted in fairness, justice and equity. Julie Su is that kind of leader. She was confirmed by the Senate just two years ago for her role as deputy labor secretary and has done nothing but incredible work since as acting secretary of labor. Alongside Secretary Walsh, she has taken historic steps to support labor and workers: Driving through legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act. Protecting vulnerable workers. Strengthening support for those who are unemployed and freelance workers.”
Actors’ Equity and Broadway League Reach Tentative Agreement Over New Touring Contract: “Actors’ Equity has reached a tentative agreement with the Broadway League over a new touring contract. The deal comes after the union, which represents more than 51,000 stage managers and actors, had announced a strike threat against the Broadway League, which represents industry producers, presenters and general managers, on April 3, at which time a resolution seemed far off. The two parties had been negotiating since mid-January to create a new touring contract.”
How Philadelphia’s Local Unions Are Trying to Make Building Trades More Diverse: “Philadelphia’s building trades unions have tens of thousands of members, who have historically been overwhelmingly white and male. But labor leaders in the region are making efforts to increase the number of young women and people of color entering the trades, where they can pursue careers with ample opportunity and a tangible path toward middle-class income without a four-year degree and the debt that entails.”
Citing Violence, Bus Drivers Demand Better Security: “A union that represents transit workers said Thursday that two stabbings and a shooting have occurred on public buses in the past couple of weeks. In another recent case, a driver was verbally abused so badly that she had to go home. And instead of addressing the safety concerns, the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada disciplined the driver for an attendance infraction, said Terry Richards, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1637. ‘We get spit at, we get stuff thrown at us, we get all kinds of things that happen to us,’ said Sandra Adams, the union’s vice president, who has been a bus driver for 12 years.”
Union Hotel Workers in New York Suburbs Score Biggest Pay Raise in 100 Year: “A New York hotel union has reached a deal with hotel owners and operators that will boost the wages of hospitality workers by $7.50 an hour, the largest increase in the union’s 100-year history. The agreement covers 7,000 members of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council who work at 87 suburban hotels spanning from Princeton, N.J., to New York’s Albany region and Long Island. The five-year pact has already been ratified by the employers and is expected to be ratified by workers this month, according to union President Rich Maroko.”
World Bank Cafeteria Workers Struggle to Afford Food or Rent, Union Says: “Many of the 140-plus workers preparing and serving meals for the World Bank, a D.C.-based international institution whose mission includes fighting poverty, struggle to afford rent or food, according to their union, UNITE HERE Local 23. The union contract for the World Bank cafeteria employees with the Compass Group expired at the end of January. Local 23 and the company are in the middle of contract negotiations, with the union hoping to secure a minimum wage of $20 per hour, says its president Marlene Patrick-Cooper. That would increase the pay floors for most job classifications, including food runners, baristas, and lower-level cooks, from what was in the previous contract. Local 23 did recently secure the $20 minimum wage in a new contract for Senate cafeteria workers—who are employed by a subsidiary of the Compass Group, Restaurant Associates.”
Thousands of Cub Foods Workers Ratify New 2-Year Contract: “Thousands of grocery store workers in Minnesota on Tuesday ratified a new two-year contract with Cub Foods' parent company, UNFI. Last Friday, a last-minute tentative agreement was made before about 3,000 union workers at 33 Cub Foods locations in the Twin Cities area were set to begin a strike. The workers had been working for a month without a contract. The union, UFCW Local 663, called the new contract a ‘historic win" for its members. ‘This is a union of people who sacrificed beyond imagination, to keep Minnesotans fed during the pandemic. It is no surprise, then, that these grocery workers were able to organize the most powerful contract campaign the Twin Cities grocery industry has seen in decades,’ UFCW Local 663 President Rena Wong said when the tentative agreement was made. ‘The bargaining committee believes that this tentative agreement respects, protects, and pays our members fairly. We look forward to sharing the agreement with the thousands of UFCW Local 663 members, and continuing to welcome new members who are working to organize their own workplaces.’”
UFCW Launches Picket as Contract Negotiations with Wilmington Nursing Home Stall: “The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local 27 began picketing a Wilmington nursing home this week as contract negotiations drag on with new management. The three-year contract with workers at Kentmere Nursing and Rehabilitation Center expired in February, and negotiations for a new one are at an impasse. During the most recent bargaining session, management walked out on UFCW negotiators. The union's bargaining unit is currently working under an extension of the last contract. Spokespeople representing the roughly 60 UFCW members working at the facility claim new leadership—an administrator hired last year—hasn’t been prepared to answer questions during negotiations, and shop steward Luis Ortega says other sticking points remain, including fair wage concerns and a proposed contract clause the union argues would give management too much authority to set work rules without union input.”
Strike Authorization Vote Now Underway at Writers Guild, with Current Contract Due to Expire May 1: “The Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) Board and Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) Council this week are conducting a strike authorization vote (SAV), which could authorize the organization to call a strike after the current Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) expires on May 1. Asking for a SAV is a step that unions take ‘to demonstrate resolve and support for the bargaining agenda, and to prepare for a possible strike, particularly in negotiations where critical issues are at stake,’ according to the guild’s website.”
What a Landmark Sweatshop Case Tells Us About Julie Su’s Approach to Labor: “In 1995, dozens of garment workers, most of them women, were freed from a California sweatshop. The lawyer who is now Biden’s nominee to head the Labor Department took their case. That lawyer, Julie Su, was nominated last month to head the U.S. Labor Department, tasked with enforcing laws involving workers, workplaces and labor unions. Jaknang, 64, described Su as a ‘kind and hard-working woman’ who empowered her to fight for justice at a vulnerable time. This early episode in Su’s career, supporters say, illustrates something important about Su: that the daughter of Chinese immigrants has cultivated a passion for advocating for the nation’s most vulnerable workers, including those who are low-wage, who are immigrants and whose English is limited.”
Rutgers University Faculty Members Are Striking Over a Contract Dispute: “Three faculty unions representing around 9,000 workers at Rutgers University, the state university of New Jersey, went on strike Monday morning. The three labor organizations—the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, which represents part-time lecturers; the AAUP-AFT, which represents full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates and counselors; and the AAUP-BHSNJ, which represents faculty in the health and sciences departments—announced the strike on Sunday. It is the first time Rutgers University faculty has ever gone on strike throughout the institution's 250-year history, according to WHYY. The unions said they had been trying to renegotiate a contract for at least a year but that the university was blocking their attempts.”
Workers Behind the Scenes of Iowa’s Biggest Productions Seek ‘Voice, Power and Protection’ Through Unions: “Following a unanimous vote of 13 in favor, and with support from management, the Englert Theatre’s stagehands are in the process of joining IATSE. ‘We started making a concerted effort a year ago; we signed authorization cards in the summer and the union approached the theater at the end of August to let them know that we were seeking representation,’ said Justin Comer, a production technician at the Englert who also delivers copies of Little Village.”
AFSCME Highlights Voices from 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike, Says Issues Persist Today: “A new podcast from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees tells the story of the strike. The 'I AM Story' recognizes the legacy of strikers from AFSCME Local 1733, who marked their protest with signs reading ‘I AM A MAN.’ The podcast also honors the role of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a key supporter of the movement, who was assassinated while in Memphis to help the striking workers. AFSCME, a union that represents 1.4 million public service workers, still includes sanitation workers today. The five-episode series, which features interviews with workers who led the strike, is meant to connect the civil rights struggles of the era with today’s labor and racial justice movement. AFSCME President Lee Saunders talked with Waste Dive about the legacy of the 1968 strike and how the waste industry can apply its lessons to today’s operations. The industry has made major health and safety gains in the 55 years since the strike, he said, but racial inequities—as well as pay and safety issues—are still concerns for workers in unions across the country.”
Black Unemployment Rate Hits Record Low 5 Percent: “‘This is a victory,’ said William Spriggs, chief economist for the AFL-CIO and a professor at Howard University. ‘It’s not only that Black unemployment is low. It’s also that, for the first time, a higher share of Black people are working than White people.’”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/17/2023 - 09:58Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Tech Workers at findhelp Join OPEIU Local 1010
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Tech workers at findhelp (formerly Aunt Bertha) voted 95–52 in an election certified by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for their labor union, the findhelp Solidarity Network. The union will now form a bargaining committee and negotiate its first union contract.
“Today’s an exciting day for all findhelp employees—our union gives us a seat at the table and provides us a voice in our working conditions,” said Leah Norman, community engagement manager and organizing committee member. “Findhelp Solidarity Network looks forward to collaborating with findhelp management to negotiate a contract that fosters our ability to do our best work and support as many people as possible. As the labor movement grows in the tech industry, we are excited to be a part of it!”
The union includes more than 165 curators, engineers, salespeople, business analysts, as well as production support, customer success and other classifications headquartered in Austin, Texas, and they will be represented by OPEIU’s Tech Workers Union Local 1010.
“The workers of findhelp have spoken, and today we have shown that organized labor has a place at findhelp and in tech,” said Keith Young, a software engineer and organizing committee member. “I am optimistic we can look forward to a constructive and fruitful bargaining process between the Collective Bargaining Committee and management—the workers of findhelp deserve nothing less.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/17/2023 - 09:58Service & Solidarity Spotlight: New Jersey State AFL-CIO Stands with Striking Rutgers Workers
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Rutgers AAUP-AFT Academic Worker Union represents graduate workers, faculty, postdocs and EOF counselors. These workers have been without a contract for 287 days and are on Day 4 of a strike. Their priority is resolving a contract that will serve as the foundational agreement for future generations of Rutgers AAUP-AFT members.
The New Jersey State AFL-CIO, led by President Charles Wowkanech (IUOE; pictured, far left) and Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan (Workers United, not pictured), is standing in solidarity with the Rutgers workers. In a statement, they said:
“The New Jersey State AFL-CIO, along with our brothers and sisters, community allies and elected officials, are out in record numbers on the picket line showing their support.
“We will continue to stand on the right side of history and demand that the Rutgers’ Administration pay the faculty and staff what they are truly worth. We demand they stop the stalling tactics of, 'we don’t have the money' while they are giving excessive raises and salaries to a chosen few as recently as this year.
“The union members are fighting for items, including equal pay for equal work, a living wage for graduate workers, job security and access to decent healthcare. These are just a few of the issues that are on the table, however; Rutgers’ offer doesn’t even come close to salaries or benefits negotiated by faculty at other universities.
“Rutgers’ Administration anti-union behavior, headed by President [Jonathan] Holloway, is not only insulting to the members who work at Rutgers but to all of us who live and work in New Jersey.
“We demand that Rutgers engage in real good faith negotiations with substance and settle with the union on a fair and decent contract.”
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AFSCME’s Saunders Says 911 Dispatchers Deserve More Than Recognition for Their Service; They Deserve Action
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
AFSCME President Lee Saunders released the following statement recognizing National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which is happening April 9–15:
“This week, we celebrate the essential workers who are the first to answer our call in times of crisis. When we dial 911, we count on the person on the other end of the phone to get us the help we need. Their quick response under duress saves lives and keeps our communities safe and healthy. They are true heroes, and they deserve more than recognition for their service. They deserve support and sufficient staffing to ensure they’re able to do their jobs best.
“An estimated 240 million calls are made to 911 centers each year, but in many places across the country, there aren’t enough workers to ensure that the phone is being answered quickly. Chronic short staffing places an unbearable burden on workers who then face exhaustion and burnout. With the right backup and support, these courageous heroes can make an even greater difference within the communities that depend on them.
“That’s why AFSCME members are mobilizing to recruit and train new workers to take on vital roles protecting our communities. This National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, let's commit to staff the front lines.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/12/2023 - 09:52Extending the Organizing Wave: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
Apprentice Tells Her Story at the Capitol: “North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU) was looking for panelists for a March 8 presentation to members of Congress and their staff, and asked the Oregon Building Trades Council to find someone to take part. United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 290 nominated Kasey Finegan as someone who sets an example of participation in her union. The panel would be a chance to tell her story. The event took place in a Capitol conference room during Women in Construction Week. NABTU president Sean Garvey introduced the panel, followed by national AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler. Women have doubled in the construction workforce in the last decade, Garvey said, but that means going from 2% to 4%. There’s a lot of room for growth, and Finegan told members of Congress that she feels like she’s part of a culture change.”
Barnes & Noble Education Workers Seek to Unionize, Extending Organizing Wave: “Barnes & Noble Education Inc. employees at a New Jersey store are petitioning to make theirs the company’s first unionized location, extending a wave of organizing in the U.S. retail sector. Workers say they’ve signed up most of the roughly 70 employees at the store on Rutgers University’s campus. After announcing their organizing campaign to local management, they plan to submit a filing Thursday asking the US National Labor Relations Board to conduct a unionization election. Employees are petitioning to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, which currently represents retail workers at Macy’s Inc., H&M Hennes & Mauritz AB and, most recently, Recreational Equipment Inc., where it first secured a foothold last year in New York City.”
For the First Time in Its 257-year History, Rutgers’ Faculty and Grad Student Unions Will Go on Strike: “For the first time in Rutgers University’s 257-year history, the unions representing its 9,000 faculty and graduate student workers—virtually its entire teaching force—have called a strike, beginning 9 a.m. Monday. The decision, which affects all three Rutgers campuses in Newark, Camden and New Brunswick, follows a meeting of union leaders Sunday evening and 10 months of unsuccessful negotiations, including more than two weeks of full-day sessions. ‘We intend for this new contract to be transformative, especially for our lowest-paid and most vulnerable members,’ Rutgers AAUP-AFT President Rebecca Givan said. ‘But our proposals to raise graduate workers and adjunct faculty up to a living wage and establish meaningful job security for adjuncts are exactly the ones that the administration has resisted most.’”
Strike at New York’s Hispanic Society Enters Second Week as Museum Pushes Back Long-Planned Reopening: “Staff at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library in New York City have been on strike since 27 March, with union members, representatives of their United Auto Workers (UAW) local and local lawmakers joining the picket line at the institution’s Washington Heights campus. The strike comes as members of the museum’s union, which formed as part of UAW Local 2110 in 2021, seek to reach an agreement with museum administrators on their very first contract. The timing is especially significant as the Hispanic Society’s museum—home to a world-class collection of art from Spain, Portugal and their former colonies in the Americas—was due to reopen on 6 April after a six-year closure for extensive renovations.”
The Fed Could Easily Drive Black Unemployment Much Higher than the Overall Jobless Rate: “As such, the Fed’s tightening efforts could easily drive the Black unemployment rate much higher than the overall jobless rate, said William Spriggs, an economics professor at Howard University and chief economist to the AFL-CIO. ‘If the Fed continues to use unemployment as its measure of labor force slack, and thinks they want a 4.5% unemployment rate—to make that happen, the Fed would have to induce net job loss in the labor market,’ Spriggs told CNN in an email. ‘If we go through two months of negative job growth, all bets are off. The Black unemployment rate will easily get to 9% in that scenario.’”
AFL-CIO: Janet Protasiewicz’s Victory in Wisconsin State Supreme Court Election: “It is with great pride that the Wisconsin labor movement celebrates this victory. Union activists across the state mobilized and rallied working people to engage in the election and carefully consider the qualifications of the candidates. In the end, it was Janet’s judicial record of standing up for fairness and equality that put her over the top.”
Actors’ Equity National Council Authorizes Strike if Tour Deal Cannot Be Met: “On April 3, the National Council of Actors’ Equity Association authorized the union’s executive director and lead negotiator, Al Vincent, Jr., to call a strike on all Broadway League tours should he deem it appropriate. The union, which represents over 51,000 professional theater actors and stage managers, has been in bargaining sessions for the past two months regarding a new touring agreement. The current contract expired on February 5 and union members have been working according to terms of the out-of-date contract.”
MLB Owners Unanimously Ratify CBA with Minor League Players: “Major League Baseball owners voted unanimously to ratify the new collective bargaining agreement with minor league players, formalizing the landmark agreement that will more than double player salaries. Players late last week overwhelmingly voted in favor of the tentative agreement, with thousands backing a deal that also improved housing, transportation and medical rights of players. Upon the players' ratification of the agreement, MLBPA executive director Tony Clark said in a statement: ‘The agreement represents a giant step forward in treating minor league players as the elite professional athletes that they are. It's a historic day for these players, their families and the entire player fraternity.’”
Chicago REI Workers File Retailer's 4th Union Petition: “Workers at the REI store in Lincoln Park, Chicago, have taken steps to unionize, filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board indicating their desire to affiliate with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. If the organizing drive succeeds, the Chicago REI will be the fourth location of the retailer—which sells clothing and equipment used for outdoor activities—to unionize. The staff of REI's New York City and Cleveland stores are represented by the RWDSU, while the staff of the company's Berkeley, California, store is represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers. RWDSU spokeswoman Chelsea Connor said one of the key issues the Chicago workers organized around was fairness in scheduling, as many employees aren't assigned to work enough hours to ensure consistency in their earnings. ‘At this store, there's a particular concern around scheduling fairness and hours, so it's less wages and more ensuring there's enough hours to have spare wages,’ Connor said, noting that wages were an issue in the Cleveland and New York City campaigns.”
Under Biden, U.S. Sees Unions as Key Ally in Democracy Agenda: “‘Unions are the largest civil society organizations in any country, they are membership-based, sustainable, and are themselves examples of democratic practice,’ said Shawna Bader-Blau, the executive director of the Solidarity Center, a nonprofit aligned with the AFL-CIO, the biggest grouping of American unions. ‘Weak or strong, they have elections.’ Their capacity to mobilize, act collectively, strike and force political change far outweighs whatever smaller nongovernmental organizations can muster, she said. The focus on organized labor comes at a moment of political and economic crisis. Studies point to years of democratic decline, including in the West, while the coronavirus pandemic reversed decades in global progress in fighting poverty. Economic inequality has further ballooned.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/11/2023 - 14:20Service & Solidarity Spotlight: South Sound Labor School Teaches Young People to Organize
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On April 5, the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Counties Labor Council and the Pierce County Central Labor Council held a joint meeting of young and emerging members to discuss partnering on a broader labor council project designed to recruit and develop young union members. To date, the Thurston-Lewis-Mason Counties Labor Council has created the South Sound Labor School, which will offer organizing and other training to young members, as well as plan community events designed to attract young adults and families both inside and out of the labor movement, the first being an exciting, new annual May Day event in Olympia, the capital of Washington state.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/11/2023 - 09:34Economy Gains 236,000 Jobs in March; Unemployment Little Changed at 3.5%
The U.S. economy gained 236,000 jobs in March, and the unemployment rate was little changed at 3.5%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This strong jobs report shows there is still room to expand job opportunities for Americans. Wage growth continues at levels that are consistent with low levels of inflation.
In response to the March job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
#JobsReport #NumbersDay The share of Black workers holding a job exceeds the share for white workers holding a job for the first time in March. @AFLCIO @rolandsmartin @CBTU72 @BobbyScott @NAACP @DerrickNAACP pic.twitter.com/9DQleZTkbL
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023#JobsReport #NumbersDay The slowing of of hiring in construction specialty trades in March may be showing the initial effects of @federalreserve destroy the labor market policies (higher rates slow home improvements and repairs). Let's hope it was more weather related. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/C9Dao6B2uq
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023The increase in labor force participation by prime age workers is a good sign for the economy. https://t.co/MB7Igyu3eI
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023#JobsReport #NumbersDay Lowest Black unemployment rate in over 50 years at 5.0% in March @AFLCIO @rolandsmartin @BobbyScott @NAACP @DerrickNAACP @CBTU72 pic.twitter.com/hK4WoLAiNX
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023#JobsReport #NumbersDay In March, the share of adult (over 20 years old) Black women who were employed finally recovered to its pre-Great Recession peak!! We should always sprint to full employment and run marathons on inflation @federalreserve has its priorities reversed @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/UwegpiDBWR
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023#JobsReport #NumbersDay At 4.2% the unemployment rate for adult (over age 20) Black women reaches its lowest point in over 50 years!! @AFLCIO @NPWF @IWPResearch @AprilDRyan @LVBurke @NAACP @DerrickNAACP pic.twitter.com/4Ke8s1mhvA
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023#JobsReport #NumbersDay In March, local government hiring continues to recover from its pre-Pandemic levels. A good use of ARPA of 2021 funds would be to get back to levels to be more resilient in the face of violent weather patterns local governments need to respond to. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/WUu6QRmMFX
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) April 7, 2023March's biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+72,000), government (+47,000), professional and business services (+39,000), health care (+34,000), social assistance (+17,000), transportation and warehousing (+10,000). Retail trade declined in March (-15,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; information; financial activities; and other services.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Hispanics (4.6%) decreased in March. The unemployment rates for teenagers (9.8%), Black Americans (5.0%), adult men (3.4%), White Americans (3.2%), adult women (3.1%), and Asian Americans (2.8%) showed little or no change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) was little changed in March and accounted for 18.9% of the total people unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/10/2023 - 10:13Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Tacoma School Board Member Returns to Speak with Path to Power Students
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On March 29, former Washington State Labor Council Path to Power student Chelsea McElroy, a member of the Tacoma Public School Board and SEIU Local 925, spoke with some 30 students in the 2023 Path to Power class. One of the primary concerns the students voiced was the financial costs of campaigns. When asked for her advice about how much money a campaign requires, McElroy said, “Child care workers are broke, so I ran broke and I won broke, and I’m going to keep running and winning!”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/10/2023 - 09:58Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AFSCME Releases Podcast Detailing History and Legacy of 1968 Memphis Sanitation Strike
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
On Tuesday, AFSCME released the first episode of “I AM Story,” a new podcast detailing the history and legacy of the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike. Fifty-five years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated there while supporting the strike. The comprehensive series will examine the origins of the strike and events leading up to King’s death, and the aftermath of the strike.
“The deaths of Robert Walker and Echol Cole in the back of a garbage truck on that cold, rainy day in 1968 set off a strike in Memphis like no other,” said AFSCME President Lee Saunders. “Black sanitation workers took a courageous stand, a stand that drew the American labor movement and the civil rights movement together to change the course of our history.”
Today, the fight continues for fair wages, safe working conditions, collective bargaining rights and more. We also are still fighting to ensure that our children are able to learn this history, with radical politicians banning books like Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop from school shelves.
Underscoring the lasting impact of this moment on AFSCME’s history, Saunders said, “In order to move forward, we cannot forget what happened in Memphis. The sanitation strikers put their lives on the line for dignity and respect on the job—not just for themselves, but for everyone being mistreated and everyone whose rights were being denied. We will continue to educate our communities and organize around the strikers’ iconic slogan, ‘I Am a Man,’ which still holds so much power after all these years.”
Listeners can find the podcast on all major platforms, including Spotify, Pandora, Apple, Amazon and Chartable.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 04/06/2023 - 10:05Happy Easter!
The AFL-CIO extends heartfelt greetings to our Christian members, their families and the Christian community during this Easter season.
Easter is celebrated on Sunday, April 9, and April 16 by Eastern Orthodox churches. On Easter, Christians around the world celebrate their belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, which forms the foundation of the Christian faith.
Through the Resurrection, Christians believe that new life is possible, even in the face of death and despair. So the spirit of Easter is about hope, love, joy and new possibilities.
May this Easter be an occasion for you to enjoy time with your families and give you renewed vision to see the challenges before us and the courage to rise and address them.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 04/05/2023 - 17:39Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Happy Passover—Chag Pesach Sameach!
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The AFL-CIO, representing 12.5 million workers in 60 national and international unions, extends our heartfelt greeting to our Jewish members, their families and the Jewish community as a whole. The beginning of Passover, which is celebrated all over the world, occurs this year from April 5 to April 13. With the start of spring, a time of renewal and hope, Passover retells the ancient Jewish story of liberation. The story of the exodus, which led the Jews out of bondage in ancient Egypt, has been a central theme of Jewish life and an inspiration for all who struggle for freedom and dignity.
For working people, both Jews and non-Jews alike, Passover has a special meaning because it commemorates the ancient Israelites’ escape from forced labor. Many of the rituals of Passover, from the words in the Haggadah to the bitter herbs that are served as part of the holiday meal, emphasize the pain of slavery and injustice at work that were imposed millennia ago on the ancient Israelite slaves.
These memories resonate with us today—not only within our own labor movement, but also wherever people labor—because the struggle for human freedom and for justice at work is worldwide and unceasing.
This year, when Passover is celebrated within the state of Israel, the holiday will have a special meaning, with its arrival soon after the massive strike of Israeli working men and women, called for by our sister labor federation, the Histadrut, in defense of democracy and judicial independence in that country—essential pillars of any struggle for workers’ rights.
Passover, wherever, however and by whomever it is observed, is a powerful reminder of the deep connections between the Jewish community and the labor movement as well as our shared values, which span centuries.
We wish the entire Jewish community, both near and far, a happy Passover. Chag Pesach Sameach!
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 04/04/2023 - 08:23In Defense of Public Education: The Working People Weekly List
Every week, we bring you a roundup of the top news and commentary about issues and events important to working families. Here’s the latest edition of the Working People Weekly List.
AFT President Randi Weingarten Delivers Major National Address 'In Defense of Public Education': “American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has issued a clarion call to defend public education, transform learning and support children as the institution comes under existential threat from extremist, culture-war peddling politicians. In an address to the National Press Club, the leader of the 1.7 million-member union urged civil society to fight for the future of public schools and help kids learn in the face of relentless attacks from the far-right intent on dismantling the schools that 90 percent of kids attend. ‘Attacks on public education are not new. The difference today is that the attacks are intended to destroy it. To make it a battlefield, a political cudgel,’ Weingarten said.”
Medieval Times’ Sound and Lighting Technicians Plan to Unionize: “The rebellion inside Medieval Times’ Southern California castle has spread to another wing. The castle’s sound and lighting technicians informed the company Tuesday that they intend to unionize, filing a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board. The castle’s show cast formed a union of their own last year and have been on strike since February. The workers said they plan to join the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 504, the union that represents stagehands at Disneyland. In their letter, the workers said they want Medieval Times to pay better attention to safety and increase wages to ‘meet industry standards.’”
Lawmakers to Reintroduce Federal Nurse Staffing Ratio Bill: “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the struggles of front-line healthcare workers including long-standing issues like staffing shortages and burnout. Some workers have taken action through union organizing, picketing and strikes to secure new contracts with terms to quell challenges—especially regarding staffing levels. National Nurses United is among the unions lobbying for federal staffing standards, arguing that safer conditions are needed to keep nurses from ‘leaving the healthcare field in droves’ and making the crisis worse for workers who remain, NNU President Deborah Burger said at a Thursday press conference.”
United Airlines Reaches Tentative Labor Agreements with Ground Workers Union: “The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers said the two-year tentative agreements cover ‘industry-best’ wage rates, as well as job protection and certain guards against outsourcing roles. The specific terms of the contracts were not disclosed.”
MLBPA and Major League Baseball Agree on CBA for Minor League Players, Per Report: “Major League Baseball and the minor-league players in the MLB Players Association have reached an agreement on a Collective Bargaining Agreement, the first in history that will apply to minor-league players, according to ESPN's Jeff Passan. The CBA will have a five-year duration, as is the usual for CBA in the world of baseball, and will at least double pay at all levels.”
Workers of Color Made Up 100% of Union Growth in 2022: “Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the number of unionized workers in the United States increased by 200,000 from 2021 to 2022. And that growth came entirely from workers of color. There was an increase in 231,000 unionized workers of color last year, while white unionized workers actually decreased by 31,000. Further, of all racial and ethnic groups, Black workers have continued leading unionization rates, at 12.8%, higher than the figure of total unionized workers.”
Actors' Equity Association and League of Resident Theatres Reach New Five-Year Agreement: “Actors' Equity Association and the League of Resident Theatres have reached a tentative agreement for a new five-year contract. The agreement remains subject to ratification by both Equity members and LORT members. ‘We are pleased to have come to a tentative agreement with LORT that guarantees fair wages while also making significant gains reflecting the hard work of stage managers, understudies and actors who play musical instruments on stage,’ said Actors' Equity Association Assistant Executive Director Andrea Hoeschen, who served as Equity's lead negotiator on the agreement. ‘The mutual respect between Equity and LORT was palpable throughout the bargaining process, which resulted in an agreement that benefits both sides.’”
Iowa Federation of Labor Against ‘Child Labor’ Bills: “The Iowa Federation of Labor calls two bills moving through the legislature ‘gross’ and ‘extreme’, saying they’ll put Iowa’s kids in dangerous jobs. Both bills change child labor laws, expanding what younger teens can do for work as well as expand work hours.”
The Bosses Still Aren’t Back in Charge: “‘The people who are actually making the lattes and restocking the grocery shelves and shipping all those packages that enabled us to stay home are rising up and saying we’re not going to take it anymore,’ Shuler said.”
Unions Praise Whitmer for Signing Right to Work Repeal, Prevailing Wage Restoration Bills: “‘After decades of anti-worker attacks, Michigan has restored the balance of power for working people by passing laws to protect their freedom to bargain for the good wages, good benefits, and safe workplaces they deserve,’ said Ron Bieber, president of Michigan AFL-CIO. ‘Ten years ago, Governor Whitmer was standing side by side with well over ten thousand working people who showed up in Lansing to protest the devastating attack on their rights. Today, she has demonstrated yet again her unwavering commitment to putting working families first. After decades of attacks on working people, it’s a new day in Michigan, and the future is bright.’”
Pay Transparency Is Spreading. Here’s What You Need to Know: “U.S. employers are increasingly posting salary ranges for job openings, even in states where it’s not required by law, according to analysts with several major job search websites. Following new legislation in New York City, California, Washington, Colorado, and elsewhere, employers across the country are becoming more transparent about pay in order to stay competitive with companies in states that require employers to post salary ranges, experts say. A tight labor market and significant increase in remote work have also contributed to the rise.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/03/2023 - 10:19Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Disney World Workers Secure 37% Pay Raises, Other Benefits
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The 45,000 Disney World workers made it clear to the big mouse that they won’t work for crumbs. After standing strong for eight months and rejecting Disney’s piecemeal proposal in February, the Services Trades Council Union (STCU) won a historic contract with an $18 minimum wage. Workers still must vote on the proposal, but if approved, the workers will immediately see a bump in pay to $17 an hour (the current minimum wage for those employees is $15). The minimum wage will rise to $18 by the end of 2023. Over the next three years, the wage will go up another $2.50 to $5.60 an hour.
The workers are members of six unions that make up the STCU. Those unions are Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 631, TCU/IAM Local 1908, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1625, UNITE HERE locals 737 and 362, and International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 385.
“Sticking together works,” says Eric Clinton, president of UNITE HERE Local 362, whose members include attraction workers who run rides, custodial workers and ticket sellers at the parks. “In 2018, the starting wage for Disney cast members was $10 an hour. And five years later, at the end of this year, it’s going to be $18 an hour. That is a pretty tremendous statistic when you think about it.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 04/03/2023 - 10:06Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Washington State AFL-CIO President Sims Appears on PBS
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we'll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
April Sims (AFSCME), president of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, appeared on the KBTC/PBS program "Northwest Now," where she discussed young workers boosting union organizing, registered apprenticeship programs, non-compete contracts, how racial divisions are stoked to exploit the working class, and other topics. The segment also featured Peter Kuel, president of the Drivers Union/Teamsters Local 117, discussing recent pay raises and workplace protections won for ride-share drivers by their union.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 03/30/2023 - 08:57