You are here
AFL-CIO
Worker Wins: A Historic First
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Kalamazoo Planned Parenthood Workers Win Union Election in Historic First: Workers at Planned Parenthood’s Kalamazoo Health Center made history last week by voting to form a union with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951, making them the first to do so in west Michigan. The bargaining unit is composed of eight medical assistants at the medical center. Through joining UFCW, the staff is aiming to improve the workplaces so they can provide the best care possible for their patients. “I was happy to have a hand in organizing our clinic and to put my ‘yes’ vote in the ballot box for representation with the UFCW,” said staff member Deedee Rounds in a Local 951 media release. “My personal motivation was to strengthen the position of working-class people in my workplace. Without working people, the crops don’t grow, the trains don’t run and, in this instance, the clinics don’t open.”
Civic News Co. Staff Unanimously Ratify New Contract: Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members who work for Civic News Company unanimously voted on Monday to ratify their second contract since unionizing. The Civic News Guild unit includes reporters, story editors, engagement team and visuals staff at nonprofit publications like Chalkbeat, Votebeat and Healthbeat, which is set to launch this summer. The two-and-a-half year deal includes major wins for workers, including dedicated sick leave time, increased paid parental leave, new provisions around artificial intelligence, regular yearly raises, higher minimum starting salaries and more. “We’re proud to see our members at Chalkbeat, Votebeat and Healthbeat win a strong new contract. These members create essential news resources across vital topics, and they deserve union protections that reflect how important their work is,” WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said.
San Diego Convention Center Workers Secure TA, Averting Strike Before Comic-Con: San Diego Convention Center food and beverage workers, who are represented by UNITE HERE Local 30, reached a tentative agreement (TA) on Friday, averting a potential strike two weeks before the largest annual pop-culture convention was set to open. UNITE HERE’s negotiations have been with Sodexo Live, a food and beverage services company contracted by the convention center for events like San Diego Comic-Con, which draws in more than 135,000 attendees. The old contract covering 650 cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, servers, baristas and food concession workers at the event space expired on June 30 and, two days prior to the TA, more than 99% of members had voted in favor of authorizing a strike if they didn’t get a fair deal. And their unwavering commitment to one another has paid off: the TA ensures massive pay raises among other wins. Under the new agreement, non-tipped workers will get a $3-an-hour increase each year over the lifetime of the contract—that means the overall percentage wage boost for staff will range from 55% to 67%. The union also secured health benefits for a number of staff who currently don’t work enough hours to qualify for health insurance and an agreement related to a defined pension benefit plan. “We are happy to report that we just settled an amazing contract for our members,” Local 30 President Brigette Browning said. “We need to schedule ratification, but we are confident it will be approved by the membership.”
Biden Signs Fire Grants and Safety Act, Sending Millions to Local Departments: President Biden signed the Fire Grants and Safety Act last week, reauthorizing millions of dollars in grants for fire departments across the United States that will fund staffing, training and equipment. The bill reauthorizes the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA’s) Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants through fiscal year 2028 and extends the sunset for the programs to September 2030. Through nearly $700 million in annual funding, fire departments around the country rely on this assistance to hire and retain firefighters, buy modern equipment and provide training to keep members safe. The Fire Fighters (IAFF) union has worked tirelessly alongside lawmakers to ensure this legislative victory for both firefighters and the countless communities they serve. “To be sure, AFG and SAFER grants have saved the lives of people in every state, including the lives of firefighters,” said IAFF General President Edward Kelly. “These are critical funding sources that ensure our communities are protected by properly staffed, appropriately equipped fire departments. We are grateful to President Biden for his leadership and dedication to the fire service, and to Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Tom Carper (D-DE) and Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Thomas Kean (R-NJ) for their efforts getting this bill across the finish line and to the President’s desk.”
Vallejo City Council Approves New Contract with IBEW: The Vallejo City Council last week approved with near unanimity a new contract with the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245, which was overwhelmingly ratified by membership days prior. The memorandum of understanding (MOU) secures key wins like wage increases, improvements to medical benefits and more. Council members approved a two-part resolution—which recognized the tentative agreement and passed a notice of intent to amend the city’s 2024–25 budget and salary plan—and also took an opportunity to commend the dedication of city workers. The union credits this hard-won victory after months of negotiations to members’ commitment to making strong appearances at City Council meetings and to an outpouring of support from labor and faith allies in the community. “It’s a great day,” Local 1245 Business Manager Bob Dean said. “This is a victory that belongs to the hard-working men and women of the City of Vallejo and everyone who supported them.”
Workers at Second Better Buzz Location Vote to Join UFCW: Baristas, trainers and shift supervisors at the Better Buzz Coffee’s Mira Mesa location voted to join United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 135 on Monday, a second victory for workers at the regional coffee chain since May. Mira Mesa staff and their union member peers at the flagship Hillcrest location are organized under the name Better Buzz United. Workers have cited concerns about wages, benefits, scheduling and overall workplace safety as primary reasons for seeking union representation. These exciting and consecutive successes at Mira Mesa and Hillcrest are part of a larger effort to give workers the power to improve their conditions and wages as Better Buzz Coffee—which is one of the largest local coffee chains in San Diego County—rapidly expands across Southern California, Arizona and Nevada. “It’s a shame that a company boasting about its rapid expansion and plans to further grow continues to neglect the workers who are the lifeblood of their business,” Local 135 Organizing Director Maribel Mckinze said. “The employees at Better Buzz Mira Mesa have shown the strength workers have when they unite to fight for what they have rightfully earned. While the company has its plans for expansion, so does the union.”
Defenders of Wildlife Union Stage 2-Day Unfair Labor Practice Strike: Staff at Defenders of Wildlife, a national conservation nonprofit, held a two-day unfair labor practice (ULP) strike this week in response to management’s refusal to bargain in good faith—the first strike in the organization’s 77-year history. Workers voted overwhelmingly to join Defenders United—which is part of Office and Professional Employees (OPEIU) Local 2—in 2021. Last October, Defenders of Wildlife President and CEO Jamie Clark unilaterally revoked union members’ annual merit increases while giving nonbargaining unit staff the usual wage bump. Additionally, two months prior, management also refused to extend new parental leave benefits to union-represented workers. In response, the union filed ULP charges over the withdrawn raises and lack of access to new benefits, which are pending an investigation by the National Labor Relations Board. In recent negotiations, management has further insulted workers by insisting on a previously unannounced “salary cap” that would prevent at least seven bargaining unit members from receiving any raise—ever again. After voting in favor of strike authorization, staff picketed on July 9 and 10 in front of Defenders of Wildlife’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., in an effort to persuade management to bargain in good faith and restore union members’ access to raises and improved leave. Workers were joined on the picket line by other local union members as well as AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “Enough is enough,” said Kathleen Callaghy, a member of Defenders United’s Contract Action Team. “We work hard every day trying to save America’s wildlife, earning salaries that don’t keep pace with inflation. Withholding raises and extended maternity and bereavement leave specifically from unionized workers—the lowest paid staff in the organization—is, to us, clear discrimination and retaliation against unionized staff.” Sign the Petition: Tell Defenders of Wildlife Management to Bargain in Good Faith.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/23/2024 - 11:00Tags: Organizing
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Equity and Off-Broadway League Ratify New 4-Year Contract
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Members of Actors' Equity Association and the Off-Broadway League ratified a new four-year contract. The new agreement goes into effect July 28 and goes through 2028. The contract provides salary increases, changes to overtime calculation, increased compensation and requirements for understudies and stage managers, continued and expanded opportunities for digital exhibition of league productions, expanded time off and sick leave provisions, expanded diversity, equity and inclusion protections, and safe and sanitary provisions.
"The new Off-Broadway Agreement is proof of what can be accomplished at the bargaining table when both sides bring respect and a positive attitude,” said Bernita Robinson and Richard Topol, Equity’s co-chairs of the Off-Broadway Negotiating Team. “After hearing from our fellow members, we sat down to negotiate knowing what our ultimate goals were.”
“We as co-chairs are proud of the many gains made across the board with regard to wages, safety and working conditions, especially for stage managers and understudies. And we thank our partners across the table for working with us in such a positive manner. We are hopeful that this deal with help the Off-Broadway theatre community continue to thrive.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/23/2024 - 10:20The Rise of the ‘Union Curious’: 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.
UAW Slams Trump After He Criticizes Leader at RNC: “The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) slammed Donald Trump after he said its leader, Shawn Fain, should be fired for letting car makers build factories outside the country during his remarks at the Republican National Convention (RNC) Thursday night. The union clapped back in a post on X, formerly Twitter, shortly after, writing, ‘@realDonaldTrump is a scab and a billionaire and that’s who he represents. We know which side we’re on. Not his.’”
Hollywood Crew Members Ratify New IATSE Contract: “Film and TV crew members have ratified a new three-year contract with the entertainment companies following a relatively smooth bargaining period on the heels of two major Hollywood strikes. Members of the Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) approved the new Hollywood Basic Agreement this week by a ratification vote of 85.9% to 14.1%, with a ‘historically high’ turnout, according to the union. The basic agreement covers some 50,000 below-the-line workers based primarily in Los Angeles, including cinematographers, costume designers, set decorators, editors and lighting technicians. Union members also ratified the Area Standards Agreement, which covers 20,000 tradespeople working in other production hubs across the United States.”
U.S. Union Organizing and Unions’ Election Wins Are Surging, NLRB Says: “Unions are filing petitions to hold elections and winning them at rates not seen in decades, according to data released by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) on Wednesday, likely a reflection of the agency’s adoption of policies favored by unions during the Biden administration. The board in a release said it has already received more than 2,600 union election petitions during the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30, surpassing the total for the full previous fiscal year. NLRB regional offices have seen a 32% increase in the number of petitions filed compared with this time last year, the agency said.”
Support for Unions Growing Strong Among Young Workers: “Support for organized labor is at a high not seen since the 1960s, with 71% of Americans saying they approve of unions, according to Gallup. Among members of Generation Z, unions have a 64.3% approval rating, according to the Center for American Progress.”
The Rise of the ‘Union Curious’: “Americans’ approval of unions and willingness to vote for them at their workplaces have increased although union membership has continued to drop in recent years. Even more remarkable than the growth of union support has been the decline of outright opposition to unions and the rise of the ‘union curious.’ A large generational divide that was not apparent even a few years ago is emerging. Workers ages 30 and younger are far more likely than older workers to report both support for and uncertainty about unionization.”
Union Reaches Tentative Agreement with Altice/Optimum in West Virginia: “Members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) employed by Universal Cable Holdings, LLC, part of Altice USA, Inc., have reached a tentative agreement with their employer for a new contract covering CWA-represented employees working under the Optimum brand in West Virginia. The new agreement includes 7.69% compounded wage increase over the three-year contract as well as new minimum salaries for technicians, resulting in an average wage increase of 10.6% in the highest-populated technician title. A ratification vote is being scheduled.”
Civic News Company Writers Unanimously Ratify New 2.5-Year Contract: “The writers at Civic News Company have a new deal. The 29-member bargaining unit, which is represented by the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), unanimously voted to ratify their second contract since unionizing. The two-and-a-half-year contract includes ‘major improvements’ to paid sick leave, salary minimums and short-term disability, the guild says. ‘We’re proud to see our members at Chalkbeat, Votebeat and Healthbeat win a strong new contract. These members create essential news resources across vital topics, and they deserve union protections that reflect how important their work is,’ WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen said in a statement.”
Met Council AFSCME Workers Vote to Authorize Strike: “More than 700 employees of the Metropolitan Council could go on strike. AFSCME Council 5 and AFSCME Local 668 say 94% of union members voted to authorize a strike after not being able to reach an agreement on a contract. The hundreds of union employees represent many divisions of the Met Council, including wastewater workers, Metro Transit accident investigators, payroll, information technology and more.”
Eugene Symphony Announces Three-Year Contract with American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 689: “The board of directors at the Eugene Symphony has ratified a new three-year contract with its 82 players. The contract includes pay rises and provision to begin hiring for vacant positions and takes the orchestra through to 2027. By the end of the contract, players will have received annual raises totaling 10.5%. At present, 18 chairs in the orchestra are vacant, and hiring processes to fill those jobs will begin immediately. The contract also makes provision for greater flexibility, allowing smaller groups of players to perform concerts in the community.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/22/2024 - 10:20Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Bethesda Game Studios Workers Join Communications Workers of America
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at Bethesda Game Studios voted to join the Communications Workers of America (CWA). The workers consist of 241 developers, artists, engineers, programmers and designers who have either signed a union authorization card or indicated that they wanted union representation via an online portal. Microsoft has recognized the union.
“We are so excited to announce our union at Bethesda Game Studio and join the movement sweeping across the video game industry. It is clear that every worker can benefit from bringing democracy into the workplace and securing a protected voice on the job. We’re thrilled to get down to brass tacks and win a fair contract, proving that our unity is a source of real power to positively shape our working conditions, our lives, and the company as a whole,” said Mandi Parker, senior system designer and member of CWA.
The unionization at Bethesda is the latest in a surge of organization at video game companies, following Sega of America, Activision Blizzard, ZeniMax, Tender Claws and more.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/22/2024 - 09:56Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Kalamazoo Planned Parenthood Workers Unionize
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at Planned Parenthood’s Kalamazoo Health Center became the first Planned Parenthood site in West Michigan to unionize. They will be represented by United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951. They will start negotiating their first contract and they say union representation is a step in the right direction toward a lasting career.
“I was happy to have a hand in organizing our clinic and to put my ‘yes’ vote in the ballot box for representation with the UFCW,” said Deedee Rounds, medical assistant at Kalamazoo Planned Parenthood. “My personal motivation was to strengthen the position of working-class people in my workplace. Without working people, the crops don’t grow, the trains don’t run, and in this instance, the clinics don’t open.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 07/18/2024 - 10:08Service & Solidarity Spotlight: San Diego Convention Center Workers Secure TA, Averting Strike Before Comic-Con
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
San Diego Convention Center food and beverage workers, who are represented by UNITE HERE Local 30, reached a tentative agreement (TA) on Friday, averting a potential strike two weeks before the largest annual pop-culture convention was set to open.
UNITE HERE’s negotiations have been with Sodexo Live, a food and beverage services company contracted by the convention center for events like San Diego Comic-Con, which draws in more than 135,000 attendees. The old contract covering 650 cooks, dishwashers, bartenders, servers, baristas and food concession workers at the event space expired on June 30 and, two days prior to the TA, more than 99% of members had voted in favor of authorizing a strike if they didn’t get a fair deal. And their unwavering commitment to one another has paid off: the TA ensures massive pay raises among other wins. Under the new agreement, non-tipped workers will get a $3-an-hour increase each year over the lifetime of the contract—that means the overall percentage wage boost for staff will range from 55% to 67%. The union also secured health benefits for a number of staff who currently don’t work enough hours to qualify for health insurance and an agreement related to a defined pension benefit plan.
“We are happy to report that we just settled an amazing contract for our members,” Local 30 President Brigette Browning said. “We need to schedule ratification, but we are confident it will be approved by the membership.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 07/17/2024 - 09:57Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Workers at Jewish Family Services Secure Union
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Workers at Jewish Family Services voted overwhelmingly to join Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 6400 as Jewish Family Services Workers United. The victory comes after months of organizing and sustained union avoidance tactics from management. Workers cited high turnover and a toxic work environment among their reasons for organizing.
“We won both,” said Natashia Pickens, executive vice president of Local 6400. “This was a hard-fought win. They were pushing very hard to stop this, and it came down to the vote. We are very excited for the workers, and we are looking forward to building a collaborative process with Jewish Family Services. Workers will have a voice on the job, and a say in what happens to them in the workplace. And the company has to work with them on some of the issues they have there in the center.”
Jewish Family Services provides services for children, families and older adults designed to help alleviate hunger and improve mental health. They also operate the Harvey Kornblum Jewish Food Pantry and child abuse prevention programs.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/16/2024 - 08:34Tags: Organizing
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Vallejo City Council Approves New Contract with IBEW
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Vallejo City Council last week approved with near unanimity a new contract with the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1245, which was overwhelmingly ratified by membership days prior.
The memorandum of understanding secures key wins like wage increases, improvements to medical benefits and more. Council members approved a two-part resolution—which recognized the tentative agreement and passed a notice of intent to amend the city’s 2024–25 budget and salary plan—and also took an opportunity to commend the dedication of city workers. The union credits this hard-won victory after months of negotiations to members’ commitment to making strong appearances at City Council meetings and to an outpouring of support from labor and faith allies in the community.
“It’s a great day,” Local 1245 Business Manager Bob Dean said. “This is a victory that belongs to the hard-working men and women of the City of Vallejo and everyone who supported them.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/15/2024 - 10:03Building a Southern Economy for All: 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.
President Biden Attends Meeting with Union Leaders at AFL-CIO: “President Biden delivered remarks at a meeting with national union leaders at the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, D.C. ‘We’re gonna build this country from the bottom up and the middle out, not the top down,’ he said, and drew a contrast between himself and his Republican presidential challenger Donald Trump on plans for the economy and labor. He was introduced by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.”
Unions and Communities Are Building a Southern Economy for All: “Gov. Brian Kemp and five other Southern governors recently sent a chilling statement to working people in this state: Don’t you dare join a union. While politicians in the South have a long and sordid history of thwarting workers’ legal right to stand together in a union, these brazen and highly inappropriate threats no longer carry the weight they once did. Workers at the Blue Bird electric bus factory in Macon made history last year by voting to join the United Steelworkers and last month ratified their first contract, which included substantial wage gains, health and safety protections, and much more. These workers and many others in the South who choose to stand together in a union are sending a powerful message to anti-union governors like Kemp: We won’t be bullied.”
Three Ways Project 2025 Will Impact American Workplaces: “A 922-page document, the Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise, also known as Project 2025, has been a big topic of conversation as the presidential election draws near. The document, which contains a detailed right-wing proposal of drastic changes for the next Republican president to implement, was drafted by the conservative think tank Heritage Foundation. The leader of the Heritage Foundation, Kevin Roberts, stated in a podcast interview that Republicans are in the midst of ‘taking this country back’ and that the U.S. is currently in a second American Revolution that will ‘remain bloodless if the left allows it to be.’ Although several Trump administration officials contributed to the document, former president Trump has claimed to know nothing about it. Every American should understand Project 2025 and its potential long-term impacts. This article explores three major shifts that the authoritarian playbook will cause in the American workplace if implemented.”
Biden Administration Makes Largest-Ever Federal Grant to NY/NJ: Gateway Tunnel Is Finally Funded: “Yesterday, elected officials from New Jersey and New York announced that $6.88 billion in federal funding for the Hudson Tunnel Project has been obtained. The long-awaited project now has enough federal funding to begin the full construction phase. This is the largest federal funding commitment to a rail transportation project in over a decade. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO thanks the Biden Administration for delivering on their commitments to increasing the number of good paying union jobs, while investing in much needed improvements to infrastructure.”
Workplace Heat Rules Proposed by Biden Administration to Protect Workers: “A rule proposed by federal workplace safety regulators would offer some workers protection from extreme heat. The regulation pitched by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recognizes that climate change makes dangerous high heat days more common, said Matt Schlobohm, executive director of the Maine AFL-CIO labor union. ‘Employers obviously can’t control everything about the weather and the temperature, but workers deserve fundamental rights and protections and we need to adjust to this new reality and this rule is a great step in that direction,’ Schlobohm said.”
Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese Strengthen Players' Union Seeking Larger Piece of Financial Pie: “As the WNBA enjoys a surge in attendance and TV ratings, negotiates a lucrative media-rights deal and prepares to add four teams that will net tens of millions in expansion fees, the players want a larger slice of the pie. So here's what is likely to happen: Before the Nov. 1 deadline, the Women's National Basketball Players Association (WNBPA) will opt out of the existing Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) set to run through 2027, with added star power. Clark and Reese will be in the fold. The players' association is in a new position thanks to Clark, Reese and the rest of the WNBA's rookie class, said Gary Roberts, the former dean of the Indiana University law school whose expertise includes sports law. ‘This is really the first draft class that has gotten this kind of attention that would give the union some bargaining leverage," Roberts said. ‘And it’s all about leverage.’”
Advancement of Immigrant Rights Is a Win for ALL Workers: “The AFL-CIO lauds President Biden’s action to remove barriers to citizenship and good jobs for long-term members of our workforce, our communities, and our unions. Immigrant rights are workers’ rights, and any policies that strengthen protections for immigrants are key to our efforts to build worker power and lift standards in our industries. Until all workers, regardless of immigration status, have equal and enforceable rights in this country, employers will continue to underpay, mistreat, and misclassify the hardworking immigrants who help keep our economy running. In the face of decades of shameful congressional inaction, the Biden administration has taken a sensible and much-needed step forward.”
Biden to Extend Overtime Protections for 1 Million Workers: “President Biden is extending overtime protections to 1 million workers who make less than the median individual salary and is vowing to take more action if re-elected. The executive action announced Monday will extend protections to workers making less than $43,888 per year, the White House said in a statement.”
Biden Unveils $1.7 Billion to Boost EV Production at U.S. Auto Factories: “The Energy Department on Thursday unveiled $1.7 billion for retooling 11 auto factories to make electric vehicles and their components, with a focus on facilities that have shuttered or could close without federal help. The president met Wednesday with the executive council of the AFL-CIO, the country’s largest federation of trade unions. ‘Building a clean energy economy can and should be a win-win for union autoworkers and automakers,’ Biden said in a statement Thursday. ‘This investment will create thousands of good-paying, union manufacturing jobs and retain even more—from Lansing, Michigan to Fort Valley, Georgia—by helping auto companies retool, reboot and rehire in the same factories and communities.’”
U.S. Miners' Union Head Calls House Republican Effort to Block Silica Dust Rule an 'Attack' on Workers: “The head of the national mine workers’ union on Friday condemned what he characterized as an effort by House Republicans to block enforcement of a long-awaited federal rule directed at curbing workers' exposure to poisonous, deadly rock dust, calling it ‘a direct attack on the health and safety of coal miners.’ United Mine Workers of America International President Cecil E. Roberts said a budget provision—approved by a U.S. House subcommittee Thursday—prohibiting the Department of Labor from using funding to enforce a silica dust rule operators must be in compliance with next year is ‘morally reprehensible’ and that the action ‘undermines the principles of fairness and justice that our country stands for.’”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/15/2024 - 09:15Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Versant Workers Secure Strong Contract Gains, Job Security
Working people across the United States regularly step up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1837 members who work at Versant Power ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement after federal mediators were brought in. The contract includes significant improvements to wages, benefits, working conditions and job security. All workers will see wage increases of 4% in 2025, 3% in 2026, and 3% in 2027. Several positions will also see market adjustments.
"These targeted market adjustments are crucial to remaining competitive in the labor market," said Renee Gilman, assistant business manager for Local 1837. "We've seen ten first-class lineworkers leave Versant in the past year due to better pay offered by outside contractors. These adjustments help retain our existing workforce, ensuring we have qualified members on the system ready to restore power to customers when needed. It also helps to attract good, new talent to Versant."
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 07/12/2024 - 11:57Worker Wins: A Shared Vision for the Future
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Cannabis Workers in Arizona Ratify a First Union Contract: Workers at Local Joint by Zen Leaf and Zen Leaf–Chandler cannabis dispensaries in Arizona voted to ratify their first union contract last month with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 99. This marks a historic milestone as they become the first cannabis industry union members to do so in the state’s history. The ratification vote comes nearly two years after both dispensaries voted in favor of organizing with Local 99. In 2021, the locations were acquired by Zen Leaf’s parent company, Chicago-based Verano Holdings—a multistate operator that owns more than 120 dispensaries across 13 states. Some workers report that the buyout was a huge motivating factor for the union drive, giving them the voice on the job they needed. The four-year contract includes major wins like guaranteed wage increases, seven paid holidays, paid time off, paid bereavement leave, a 401(k) option, seniority and qualification-based promotions, and just-cause discharge. “Today marks a significant milestone not just for Zen Leaf employees, but for all Arizona cannabis workers,” said Local 99 President Jim McLaughlin. “With guaranteed wage increases and seniority-based promotions, workers at Zen Leaf can finally plan for their futures and forge a career path in the industry they helped build. This goes to show that Arizona’s cannabis industry works best when workers have a seat at the table.”
Biden Proposes New Rule to Protect 36 Million Workers from Extreme Heat: Last Tuesday, President Joe Biden proposed a new rule to protect workers from excessive heat on the job as tens of millions of people in the United States already have been under heat advisories this year. The Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA’s) new measure would establish the nation’s first federal safety standard addressing excessive heat in the workplace. The proposed rule includes requirements for identifying heat hazards, developing heat illness and emergency response plans and implementing work practice standards like regular rest breaks, access to shade and water, and heat acclimatization for new employees. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, from 1992 to 2022, a total of 986 workers across all industry sectors died from exposure to heat, with construction accounting for about 34% of all occupational heat-related deaths. “The AFL-CIO has long called for these prevention measures to be codified in federal law, and we are glad to see President Biden and Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su take the threat of extreme heat seriously with this important action,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in a press release. “We urge OSHA to work with unions to strengthen the rule’s provisions and finalize it as quickly as possible so that workers can return home safely to their families at the end of each work shift.” Read the full statement from the AFL-CIO here.
The Brookings Institution Staff Union Secures Landmark Three-Year Agreement: Brookings United—the staff union for workers at the nonprofit research organization The Brookings Institution—announced that members have voted to ratify a three-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The union is an affiliate of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union (NPEU), a local of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). Building on an initial yearlong contract reached in May 2023, the new CBA includes wage increases with set salary floors, extended paid family leave, improved retirement benefits and processes to strengthen communication pathways between management and members. “We are proud to have secured our first full collective bargaining agreement,” said Naomi Maehr, president of the Brookings United bargaining committee. “This milestone would not have been possible without years of hard work from countless organizers, bargaining team members, and stewards, as well as the support of our membership who unanimously ratified this agreement.” “Congratulations to the Brookings Institution and all of our Brookings United members on this monumental contract,” said NPEU President Amy Chin-Lai. “I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know this team throughout the bargaining process, and I am proud of the assistance that NPEU was able to offer to our members throughout these negotiations. By coming together around a shared vision for the future, you were able to negotiate an agreement that will have a positive impact on the working lives of Brookings staff for years to come.”
Biden to Extend Overtime Protections to 1 Million Workers: In an executive action announced Monday, President Biden extended overtime protections to 1 million workers; he has pledged to continue to further expand these safeguards if reelected. The new overtime protections stem from a rule finalized in April in a section of the Fair Labor Standards Act based on an updated Department of Labor (DOL) calculation. Now, workers making less than $43,888 a year are eligible for extra pay when they work long hours, putting more money in the pockets of workers. Additionally, the Biden administration has vowed to further extend these protections to another 3 million workers by increasing the overtime threshold to $58,656 next year. “For more than 80 years, the 40-hour workweek has been a pillar of fairness for American workers,” said Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su in a DOL news release. “Today, our rule to restore that balance by expanding overtime protections for our nation’s lower-paid salaried workers goes into effect. The Biden-Harris administration is giving millions a chance to reclaim their time and share in the economic prosperity that they help create, and we will continue to do good by the people that make this country great.”
Nurses Ratify New Contract with MyMichigan: Last week, after 18 rounds of bargaining over the course of six months, members of the Michigan Nurses Association—an affiliate of National Nurses United (NNU)—who work at MyMichigan Medical Center Sault voted to ratify a new contract. Nurses staged a strike in April, voted to authorize an additional work stoppage in June and held the line at multiple pickets in order to secure this victory. And their bravery has paid off. The new contract covers approximately 120 members and includes wage increases that will move the top-of-the-scale wage beyond $50 an hour by the end of the contract. “We’re proud of our solidarity and strength as a union that made this possible, as well as the amazing community support for which we are so grateful,” said Colleen Waucaush, RN, president of the Michigan Nurses Association local bargaining unit at the hospital, in a press release. “This journey was worth it to set up a better future for local nurses and our hospital, which ultimately means a better future for everyone in the eastern U.P. Nurses never lost our focus on providing the best care possible for our patients, and we’re proud that this contract will support making that happen every day at our hospital.”
Michigan Kroger Workers Ratify New Contract: Last week, members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 in Michigan voted to ratify a new Kroger contract that secures major improvements to wages and benefits. The three-year contract went into effect on Sunday, triggering immediate wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour. The agreement also includes provisions that ensure more paid time off for workers with 18 years of service, prevent increases in the weekly cost of health and welfare benefits for the life of the agreement and that establish improvements to workplace safety protocols. In total, the Local 951 bargaining committee secured a commitment from Kroger of more than $8 million in associate health care investments and more than $500,000 in investments for retirement benefits. “We fought hard for significant wage increases and an overall improved contract for the Kroger members,” said Courtney Phillips, secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 951. “I am proud of the members who served on the bargaining committee and worked together to achieve contract gains that improve the lives of their fellow members.” Jackie Davis, who works at a Kroger in Saginaw, Michigan, added in a news release: “I have been on the bargaining committee in the past and this is the most money I have ever seen from the company. I am very proud. The committee was able to come together and made decisions for what was best for all the employees.”
UAW Reaches Historic TA at BMW’s Regional Distribution Center in Pennsylvania: International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) members who work at the BMW Regional Distribution Center in Palmer Township, Pennsylvania, have won a historic tentative agreement (TA) that includes wage increases and an end to the two-tier wage system. The contract, if ratified, also would secure major improvements in areas of worker concerns like policies on time off, uniforms, overtime exemptions and attendance. This victory was made possible in part by members’ unwavering commitment to solidarity through the bargaining process. Before the TA was reached, workers flexed their power by voting 99% in support of authorizing a strike—sending a clear message to BMW that they were willing to do whatever it took to secure the provisions they deserve. Additionally, to keep the pressure on to win a contract before the current agreement’s June 30 expiration, workers organized red shirt days and held multiple rallies in front of the facility. “We knew that if we stuck together and refused to be divided, we could win,” said Zach Haas, chief steward and bargaining unit chair. “This agreement is going to mean a better life for me and my co-workers.”
IATSE Secures TAs on Area Standards Agreement and Basic Agreement: The Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) secured major wins last week with announcements of tentative agreements (TAs) on all issues for the Area Standards Agreement (ASA) and the Basic Agreement. The latest agreement between IATSE and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for the studios and streamers means that, if members vote for ratification, it will avert another summer of Hollywood strikes. The Basic Agreement TA comes after more than three months of bargaining and includes provisions like a 7% raise in minimums in the first year, followed by raises of 4% and 3.5% (which matches the terms won by SAG-AFTRA last fall). Other notable victories include increases to overtime compensation, new protections around artificial intelligence (AI) and more. The ASA TA was announced Thursday and came after two days of talks. The contract includes some identical language like the same scaled wage increases and improved overtime compensation as in the Basic Agreement, as well as wins like Juneteenth added as a holiday and improved bereavement leave. The remaining Hollywood negotiations that need to be settled before the July 31 contract expiration date are the AMPTP‘s contract talks with the Teamsters.
ATU Local 757 Reaches Tentative Agreement with TriMet: The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757’s bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement (TA) Tuesday with transit agency TriMet on a proposed new working and wage agreement. Operators, maintenance staff and other workers at TriMet are responsible for the daily functioning of bus, light rail and commuter rail service that connects the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Highlights of this new contract include a 13.64% wage increase over the lifetime of the agreement, two additional floating holidays, a new monthly child care subsidy, the first annual increase in hourly “longevity” pay in 25 years, an increase to the employer-sponsored retirement and more. “This truly is a landmark agreement proposal that will greatly benefit ATU 757 members in a variety of ways, including personally and financially,” said Local 757 President Shirley Block. “As my tenure with TriMet and leading the ATU Local 757 comes to a close, I know this contract leaves my union brethren in a much better situation and sets them up for a prosperous future.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 07/10/2024 - 10:41Tags: Organizing
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AFSCME Members Who Save Student’s Life Honored with Service Award
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Jushawn Rucker (left) and David DiPasquale (right), who are members of AFSCME Local 2419 (New York Council 66), have been awarded the union’s Never Quit Service Award for their heroism when a junior varsity basketball player collapsed during a game.
The award recognizes AFSCME members who go above and beyond to make their communities better. A perfect example of this unwavering commitment to public service is when Rucker—a school security officer—and DiPasquale—an athletic trainer—sprang into action last year at one of the schools in the Rochester City School District in western New York. The workers had been alerted that a student was having a medical emergency in the gym and they immediately came to his aid, performing CPR and calling for an automated external defibrillator (AED). By the time the paramedics arrived, the student was starting to show signs of revival and was taken to a hospital where he made a full recovery. Rucker’s and DiPasquale's quick thinking, CPR training and leadership instincts undoubtedly helped prevent the injury from becoming a tragedy. They are another powerful example of the everyday heroics of public service workers across the country.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 07/10/2024 - 10:33Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UA Local 562 Helps Nonprofit Housing Partnership Better Serve Clients
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Volunteers from United Association of Union Plumbers and Pipefitters (UA) Local 562, Bieg Plumbing, Frey Plumbing, Murphy Company and DeLuca Plumbing completed the conversion of a first floor closet to a functional restroom at nonprofit The Housing Partnership in St. Louis County, Missouri. The building previously only had a second floor restroom and the conversion will help the organization's clients, many of whom are older and have disabilities.
For 26 years, The Housing Partnership has provided residential development services, homebuying assistance, and home repair and modification for low-to-moderate-income residents of Affton and Mehlville.
This is the fourth volunteer initiative headed by Tom Madden, an active member of Local 562 and a Housing Partnership board member.
“Since I was an apprentice, Local 562 has always been involved in programs helping people who may not be able to do the work themselves or afford to hire a plumbing company,” Madden said. “We are blessed to have these skills that we learn in school and be able to use them to help people in our communities, which is not only rewarding, but the right thing to do.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/09/2024 - 08:57Economy Gains 206,000 Jobs in June, Unemployment Up Slightly to 4.1%
The U.S. economy gained 206,000 jobs in June and the unemployment rate was up slightly to 4.1%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
June's biggest job gains were in government (+70,000), health care (+49,000), social assistance (+34,000) and construction (+27,000). Employment declined in professional and business services (-17,000) and retail trade (-9,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; transportation and warehousing; information; financial activities; leisure and hospitality; and other services.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for Asian Americans (4.1%) and adult women (3.7%) increased in June. The jobless rates for teenagers (12.1%), Black Americans (6.3%), Hispanics (4.9%), adult men (3.8%), and White Americans (3.5%) showed little or no change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) rose in June and accounted for 22.2% of the total number of people unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/08/2024 - 09:08Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Michigan Kroger Workers Ratify New Contract
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Last week, members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 in Michigan voted to ratify a new Kroger contract that secures major improvements to wages and benefits.
The three-year contract went into effect on Sunday, triggering immediate wage increases of up to $1.50 per hour. The agreement also includes provisions that ensure more paid time off for workers with 18 years of service, prevent increases in the weekly cost of health and welfare benefits for the life of the agreement and that establish improvements to workplace safety protocols. In total, the Local 951 bargaining committee secured a commitment from Kroger of more than $8 million in associate health care investments and more than $500,000 in investments for retirement benefits.
“We fought hard for significant wage increases and an overall improved contract for the Kroger members,” said Courtney Phillips, secretary-treasurer of UFCW Local 951. “I am proud of the members who served on the bargaining committee and worked together to achieve contract gains that improve the lives of their fellow members.”
Jackie Davis, who works at a Kroger in Saginaw, Michigan, added in a news release: “I have been on the bargaining committee in the past and this is the most money I have ever seen from the company. I am very proud. The committee was able to come together and made decisions for what was best for all the employees.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 07/03/2024 - 09:59A Once-in-a-Lifetime Event: 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.
Kroger Union Members Ratify New Contract, Increasing Hourly Wages: “Kroger's unionized employees in Michigan and members of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 951 ratified a new labor contract earlier this week, which increases hourly wages and invests in benefits for employees.”
Machinist Union Strikes for 5 Days at NASA’s Stennis Space Center Over Wages, Benefits: “Around 200 union members working at NASA’s Stennis Space Center went on a strike for five days before the union voted to settle on Monday evening, accepting a compromise deal. The strike lasted for five workdays, said John Piatt, a business representative for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers union.”
The ‘Once-in-a-Lifetime’ Event That Will Reset the WNBA: “When the time comes to negotiate a new CBA, Women’s National Basketball Players Association executive director Terri Jackson said, WNBA players are ‘laser focused’ on specific salaries instead of a compensation model that currently gives players the opportunity to earn more through other means such as bonuses and marketing agreements. ‘All eyes on that deal and what it could set us up for next,’ Jackson said. ‘Many [players] crafted their contracts to give them greater opportunity to renegotiate something that is more appropriate and closer to their value, particularly in this new system that we have.’”
Hollywood Crew Members Reach Tentative Deal with Major Studios: “Film and TV crew members have reached a tentative contract deal with the major Hollywood studios after months of bargaining, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers announced Tuesday night. The resolution arrived before the current contract’s expiration date, finally permitting the entertainment industry to breathe a sigh of relief in the wake of two marathon strikes waged by actors and screenwriters. IATSE’s Hollywood Basic Agreement spans three years and covers some 50,000 craftspeople primarily based in Los Angeles.”
Ending Two-Tier Wage System Key Postal Workers Goal in Talks: “Eliminating yet another two-tier wage system and lifting the lowest ranks of its members out of the ranks of poverty-wage workers are among the key goals of the Postal Workers as they opened talks on June 25 on a new contract with the U.S. Postal Service. Any agreement, whether it’s achieved through collective bargaining, as APWU hopes, or by a pact which arbitrators impose, would be the largest single contract unions and bosses would achieve this year. The current contract, covering 190,000 workers, expires in September. The two sides in the talks appeared to have a very different focus. APWU President Mark Dimondstein emphasized raising wages, eliminating two tiers, and expanding the USPS into new lines of business to increase its revenues. He also pushed achieving safety, stability and better working conditions for union members, including an end to a management culture of toleration or worse of bullying and harassment on the job.”
Food 4 Less Workers’ Union Reaches Tentative Labor Deal with Grocer to Avert Potential Strike: “The union representing thousands of Food 4 Less workers reached a tentative contract agreement today with the grocery company, averting a potential strike. Workers had previously authorized a work stoppage if labor talks failed. But on Tuesday, representatives of United Food and Commercial Workers Locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442 announced that they had reached a tentative deal that includes 'substantial wage increases for all workers, more guaranteed hours and other contract improvements.’”
Joe Biden’s Climate Law Has Created More Than 300,000 Clean Energy Jobs: “U.S. companies have created more than 300,000 clean energy jobs since President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law in August 2022, according to a detailed new analysis from an environmental advocacy group. Climate Power, a left-leaning organization focused on combating climate change, has been meticulously tracking public announcements of clean energy jobs from the private sector since the law’s passage. As of May 31, it found that U.S. companies have announced or moved forward with projects accounting for more than 312,900 new clean energy jobs for electricians, mechanics, construction workers, technicians, support staff and others.”
AFL-CIO Celebrates LGBTQIA+ Pride Month: “This June, we celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring equity, dignity, and inclusion both in life and in the workplace. Collective bargaining remains the best tool against discrimination of any kind, which is why the AFL-CIO fights so that working people of all sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions can enjoy the protections of a union contract. We honor the legacy of queer organizers, whose contributions have too often gone underappreciated and unknown. From Bayard Rustin’s central role in the March on Washington to the ongoing advocacy of Pride at Work, queer leaders have always been at the cutting edge of worker advancements. Still, queer people face ongoing discrimination due to the lack of adequate federal protections in the workplace. Meanwhile, state legislatures continue to pass extreme, discriminatory laws that restrict both LGBTQIA+ rights, especially trans rights, and the freedom to join a union. This movement will never tolerate hate and will continue to be a force for progress whether it’s in the courts, on the streets or at the ballot box this fall. The AFL-CIO proudly stands in solidarity with the LGBTQIA+ community everywhere, this month and always.”
iHeartMedia Workers Vote to Ratify First Union Contract: “More than two years after negotiations began, iHeartMedia workers represented by the Writers Guild of America East have ratified their first labor contract. Ninety-nine percent of the 100-member group voted to ratify the contract in a recent vote, while one percent voted against. The WGA East represents writers, producers, editors and other people who work in storytelling at the audio company.”
Apple TV Visual Effects Workers File to Unionize with IATSE: “As it continues to press forward with its campaign to organize visual effects workers, IATSE has made a bid to represent a small group of these professionals who work on Apple television series. On Friday the union announced that it had submitted a petition to the National Labor Relations Board to represent 17 workers at six Apple Studios LLC shows including Bubbi, Jiminy, Foxtrot, Government Cheese, Surface and Blackbird. The union is seeking to represent roles such as VFX production supervisor/manager, VFX coordinator, VFX production assistant, VFX witness camera operator and VFX on-set supervisor, among other classifications. According to IATSE, a 'supermajority’ of the proposed bargaining unit has signed union authorization cards.”
Laborers Union Looking for Apprentices, Has Jobs to Fill: “They’re called ‘Construction Craft Laborers,’ but perhaps you know them through the work they do—residential, commercial and public project construction jobs. In Southern Illinois, these laborers are all part of Local 773 of the Laborers’ International Union of North America. The Marion-based branch has more than 4,000 professional members.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/02/2024 - 13:50Service & Solidarity Spotlight: After A Year of Negotiations, Louisville Fire Fighters Approve Contract with City
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 54 members approved a new contract that boosts firefighter pay by 24% over five years. The contract passed with 60% of the vote. After a 7% increase on back pay, salaries will go up another 5% this year, with a 5% increase following in 2025, 3% in 2026 and 4% in 2027.
"The dollars speak for themselves," Local 54 President Jeff Taylor said. "It makes us one of the highest, if not the highest paid fire department in the state of Kentucky."
After securing a new contract, Taylor's focus is on securing money for repairing the department's buildings, some of which are more than 100 years old.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 07/02/2024 - 10:18Worker Wins: When Workers Stand Together, We Win
Our latest roundup of worker wins includes numerous examples of working people organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life.
Potential Strike Averted as Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Workers Reach TA: The United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) locals representing thousands of Food 4 Less/Foods Co. workers reached a tentative agreement (TA) on Tuesday with the grocery company, averting a potential strike. For the past three months, members of UFCW locals 8GS, 135, 324, 770, 1167, 1428 and 1442 have been fighting for a fair contract at the bargaining table and in their communities with rallies, petitions, conversations with customers and more. This TA comes after workers overwhelmingly voted to approve a strike authorization after their previous contract expired without a new agreement in place. Members will soon vote on the deal, which includes substantial wage increases, greater guaranteed hours and other contractual improvements. “We are proud to announce a tentative agreement with Food 4 Less/Foods Co. that we unanimously recommend to our co-workers,” said the bargaining committee in a press release. “We are grateful for the solidarity and strength our co-workers have shown throughout negotiations as well as the overwhelming support we have received from our customers and community members. We could not have achieved this deal without them. Today proves that when workers stand together, we win. We look forward to discussing the details of this agreement with our co-workers before we make our voices heard during the voting process.”
A Pension Is a Promise: Biden Administration and Sen. Casey Announce Pension Protections for BCTGM Members and Retirees: Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) International President Anthony Shelton visited Hershey, Pennsylvania, last week—along with members and retirees of BCTGM Local 6—for a historic update on pension reform from White House Senior Advisor and American Rescue Plan (ARP) Implementation Coordinator Gene Sperling and Sen. Bob Casey. President Biden highlighted on Friday that 1 million pensions have now been saved under the ARP, protecting the promise of dignified retirement for people across the country. Assistance through the 2021 Biden administration stimulus bill will prevent benefit cuts for roughly 103,000 manufacturing, production, maintenance and sanitation workers, and retirees who are represented by BCTGM. These members already have earned their pension benefits over their years of service but were facing benefit reductions of approximately 45% by the end of the decade. Instead, thanks to ARP, the plan will now be projected to pay full benefits to workers and retirees through at least 2051. This is the second largest award to date through the ARP’s Butch Lewis Act. Over 52,000 Pennsylvanians, 71,000 Illinoisans, 71,000 New Yorkers, 62,000 Ohioans, 61,000 Michiganders, 39,000 Missourians, 33,000 Wisconsinites and many more Americans have had their pensions preserved by the Biden administration.
iHeart Podcast Network Workers Vote to Ratify First Union Contract: Writers Guild of America East (WGAE) members at the iHeart Podcast Network announced Monday that they have successfully ratified their first-ever collective bargaining agreement. The 100-member unit started negotiations with management after the union was voluntarily recognized in 2022. Members include writers, producers, editors and other staff who work in storytelling at the audio company. The path to this massive victory wasn’t an easy one—the union dealt with multiple insulting proposals from management over more than two years of bargaining. But ultimately, iHeart Podcast Union members’ solidarity paid off in their new contract, which provides nearly half a million dollars in immediate pay increases, new minimum starting salaries, severance of up to 16 weeks, the right to bargain over any implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in the workplace and so much more. In addition to the iHeart Podcast Network, the WGAE represents workers at other popular podcast production companies, including Crooked Media, The Ringer, Spotify Studios (formerly Gimlet and Parcast) and more. “With more than 30 million monthly listeners, podcasts have become an essential part of iHeartMedia’s business and their employees deserve to be fairly compensated and provided with workplace protections,” said WGAE President Lisa Takeuchi Cullen in a press release. “The contract won by Guild members at the iHeart Podcast Network sets a new bar for people who work in the podcast industry. The WGAE will continue to fight to raise industry standards in podcasting.”
NYC Utility Workers Secure Tentative Agreement, Averting Strike: Utility Workers (UWUA) Local 1-2 reached a tentative agreement (TA) Sunday with energy company Con Edison, averting a potential strike during a record-breaking heat wave. Con Edison is New York City’s primary power provider, servicing 10 million residents across the metropolitan area and Westchester County. Local 1-2 represents about 8,000 workers at the company, including electrical technicians, engineers, designers and administrators. Members were poised to walk off the job on Sunday—with picket captains ready at various locations—in order to secure a fair contract that reflects the critical role they play at Con Edison. The four-year tentative contract includes an improved general wage increase, an enhanced medical plan with minimal increases, an upgraded wage acceleration plan and increased various operational agreements. “This agreement reflects the hard work and dedication of both parties to reach an agreement that benefits all,” said Local 1-2 in an online statement. “Moreover, this agreement would not be possible without the unwavering support of the rank and file.”
Alaska Airlines Flight Attendants Win ‘Record’ Tentative Agreement: After a week of bargaining at the National Mediation Board (NMB), the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA) and Alaska Airlines bargaining committee announced on Friday that it had reached a “record” tentative deal with the carrier. The union credits the tireless efforts of activist-members throughout the negotiation process as a critical reason why it was able to strike a deal with the airline. Flight attendants have staged actions large and small over the course of bargaining, including wearing color-coordinated pins and lanyards on flights, participating in informational pickets, taking an overwhelmingly supportive strike authorization vote, pushing Congress to tell the NMB to end protracted negotiations, demonstrations at airports across the country and more. The next step in the process is for the negotiating committee to present the TA to the Master Executive Council, a body of member-elected local Executive Council presidents who are responsible for coordinating the activities of AFA-CWA across an entire airline, which will vote on whether it will be released for a full membership ratification. “[Member] actions over the last two years of bargaining, including gaining support from lawmakers for our right to strike, ensured we had the leverage to extract every last dollar from Alaska Airlines management,” read a mediation update statement from AFA Alaska. “The AFA Alaska Negotiating Committee would like to extend a heartfelt thank you for the support and efforts of Members and our Mobilization Volunteers over the past two years. With the solidarity and unity of our workgroup and the real, credible threat of a release, management felt the pressure needed to get this Tentative Agreement.”
IBEW Local 46 Strike at Limited Energy Ends: Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 46 members voted Wednesday to ratify a tentative agreement with the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) after bravely spending more than 10 weeks on the picket line. The contract was approved by a margin of 85% and included a total of $12.50 per hour in raises as well as a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to continue discussing paid time off provisions. Limited Energy electricians—who perform critical work to install and maintain systems like fire and security alarms, HVAC controls, emergency radios and more—went on strike in April. This work stoppage marked the first time since just after World War II that a Local 46 electrician unit had been on strike. Throughout the strike, members held the line in the face of multiple insulting proposals from NECA and displayed the true spirit of solidarity by cooking meals together, fixing each other’s cars and helping fellow electricians get to doctors’ appointments. “It has been a long journey,” said Local 46 Business Representative Megan Kirby in a statement posted to social media. “I cannot express how proud I am of this unit with their commitment and solidarity.”
Guthrie Theater Front-Facing Crew Votes to Join IATSE: Front-of-house workers at Minneapolis’ Guthrie Theater voted to join Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 13 earlier this month, with more than 70% of the ballots cast in favor of joining the union. These newly minted union members were supported by their organized colleagues throughout the campaign—Guthrie stagehands are also represented by Local 13 and the staff who handle set design voted overwhelmingly to join United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, IATSE in 2022. The venue produces a mix of classic and contemporary plays on three stages, and front-facing staff work across multiple departments, including Audience Services, Box Office, Environmental Services, Guest Services and the Kitchak Lounge. Despite management’s pushback at various points in the organizing process and refusal to voluntarily recognize the union, members of the Guthrie Front-Facing Staff Union refused to back down and the election results show a powerful unity among workers.
After One Year and One Day, IAPE and Dow Jones Reach TA on New Contract: The Independent Association of Publishers’ Employees (IAPE), Local 1096 of The NewsGuild-CWA (TNG-CWA), reached a tentative agreement (TA) Monday with Dow Jones on a new four-year contract. IAPE is composed of 1,400 journalists, technology staff, sales professionals, and administrative, production, and support staffers across the United States and Canada who make possible outlets like The Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones Newswires, MarketWatch, Barron’s, Factiva, and others. Highlights of the TA include a 16.25% wage increase over the duration of the contract, a lump sum payment of 4.25% of pay or $4,250 (whichever is larger), a ratification bonus, a freeze of health insurance premiums, enhanced parental leave benefits, an additional paid company holiday, and increase to the minimum pay scales and more. After a year and a day of negotiations, the workers who provide Dow Jones with award-winning reporting, record subscriptions and unprecedented profits have secured a hard-fought win after coming to the brink of a walkout for the first time in the 80-plus year history of the union.
D.C. Hospitality Workers Secure New Contract with Salary Increase, Benefits: Thousands of Washington, D.C., hospitality workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 25, ratified a new four-year contract last week, delivering historic wins to members on core issues. The bargaining committee spent several months solidifying this agreement with more than 20 D.C. hotels and restaurants. Roughly 4,000 workers will see an approximately 25% wage increase over four years; medical, vision and dental coverage for staff and their families; an expanded pension package; and more. This contract victory comes just weeks after Destination D.C., the official destination marketing organization for the nation’s capital, reported that 25.95 million total visitors came to the District in 2023, a 17% uptick from 2022 and a higher total than the pre-pandemic record set in 2019. “Everything in this new contract means so much to me,” Sarayia Johnson, a housekeeper at Marriott Marquis, said in a statement. “I love coming to work, I love the people, I love taking care of guests. But I have bills I need to take care of and food I need to put on the table. We needed more money, and I’m so proud we were able to win these raises.”
Residents and Fellows at UMMC Vote to Join Union by Overwhelming Margin: Residents and fellow physicians at the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) voted in a landslide victory on Thursday to join AFT-Maryland, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). Members of University of Maryland Resident & Fellow Alliance (UMRFA) work across multiple locations in more than 60 specialties and programs, and their final vote margin was a stunning 628 to 19. As the election got closer, workers won support from high-profile public officials, including Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott and Zeke Cohen, a City Council member who’s a candidate for council president. This union is the first of its kind in Maryland, and physicians are aiming to secure a contract that ensures higher wages, improved health care benefits and better retirement plan matching so they can better serve patients. “Our state federation is excited to work with these brilliant medical minds to deliver great outcomes for workers that will only result in a better UMMC,” Kenya Campbell, president at AFT-Maryland said. “Most importantly, better quality of care for the surrounding community that relies on residents and fellows to keep us healthy and safe.” “We have rewritten this chapter of our collective story and reclaimed some of the agency often denied to trainees and workers,” UMRFA announced in a press release. “We look forward to being a stronger voice and partner at UMMC advocating for the needs of residents and fellows so that they can ensure the people of Baltimore receive the best possible care.”
New Contract for Miami Solid Waste Workers Highlights the Union Difference: Despite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ramming extreme union-busting legislation through the state Legislature last year, AFSCME Florida members working at Miami’s solid waste department recently ratified a new three-year contract with the city that proves the power of collective action. The bill, S.B. 256, requires most public sector unions to maintain 60% dues payment rates, requires anti-union language to be added to membership cards, outlaws their right to receive dues via paycheck deductions, requires them to undertake costly auditing procedures, and more provisions aimed at undermining the rights of union members. But AFSCME Local 871 members refused to back down and resolved to retain their union through these attacks. They signed and re-signed every new card and were one of the first locals to pass the law’s 60% membership threshold. As of last week, nearly 85% of the workers in Local 871’s bargaining unit are AFSCME members. And that dedication has paid off: Their new contract is retroactive to October 2023 and maintains pension and health care costs, strengthens their voice on the job, and delivers an 18% wage increase over the life of the agreement. Other financial wins include a provision that almost doubles shift differential pay and language that establishes a new top pay grade that’s 5% higher above the previous highest level. “The past few years have seen public service workers come under attack, but this contract shows that when you stand up and fight for what is right, you are going to win more times than not,” said Joe Simmons Jr., a waste equipment operator and president of Local 871. “Our governor and his yes men in the legislature thought that when they passed the most anti-union, anti-worker legislation in Florida history…that we would just sit down and shut up. But they don’t have the sense God gave Adam because every time they say they support workers, stand up for families and want to give people a shot at the American dream, they are lying through their teeth.”
Workers at National Sawdust Successfully Vote to Join Union: Ushers at Brooklyn’s nonprofit music venue National Sawdust in New York voted overwhelmingly last week to join Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 306. Founded in 2015, National Sawdust is a Williamsburg-based cultural institution that commissions, produces and presents programming from multidisciplinary artists. With this successful vote, ushers will join the ranks of their front-of-house peers at iconic venues like New York City Radio City Music Hall, Richard Rodgers Theatre, Madison Square Garden and more. Staff started organizing in October of 2023 when they first reached out to IATSE with goals of securing a contract with quality health care benefits, robust safety provisions, mental health resources and avenues for professional growth. “I love working at National Sawdust; With the knowledge and support of a Union, I feel optimistic that we can work towards implementing positive changes that will enhance our roles and in turn quality of life,” said usher Marika Wolf. “Not only for the benefit of the longstanding Front-of-house workers who have contributed to National Sawdust’s success as it has grown but also for any future members who will join the team.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/01/2024 - 13:01Tags: Organizing
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: ATU Local 757 Reaches Tentative Agreement with TriMet
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our Service & Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 757’s bargaining committee reached a tentative agreement Tuesday with transit agency TriMet on a proposed new working and wage agreement.
Operators, maintenance staff and other workers at TriMet are responsible for the daily functioning of bus, light rail and commuter rail service that connects the Portland, Oregon, metropolitan area. Highlights of this new contract include a 13.64% wage increase over the lifetime of the agreement, two additional floating holidays, a new monthly child care subsidy, the first annual increase in hourly “longevity” pay in 25 years, an increase to the employer-sponsored retirement and more.
“This truly is a landmark agreement proposal that will greatly benefit ATU 757 members in a variety of ways, including personally and financially,” said Local 757 President Shirley Block. “As my tenure with TriMet and leading the ATU Local 757 comes to a close, I know this contract leaves my union brethren in a much better situation and sets them up for a prosperous future.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/01/2024 - 10:22Pride Month Profiles: Andres Morales
For Pride Month this year, the AFL-CIO is spotlighting various LGBTQ+ workers who have worked and continue to work at the intersection of civil and labor rights in the United States. Today's profile is Andres Morales of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA).
Andres Morales is a proud flight attendant for United Airlines based out of Houston, Texas. He is also a strong activist in his union, the AFA-CWA, serving as the human rights and equity chair for his airline. Morales says he got involved with the AFA-CWA because the flight attendants at United lost a flying partner and the political climate was and continues to be hostile toward people of color. When he found a space to use his concerns and passion to uplift his colleagues, he leapt at it. As an activist and advocate, Morales works to ensure that his flying partners, and especially those in the LGBTQ+ community, are seen, heard and respected as their authentic selves.
Kenneth Quinnell Sun, 06/30/2024 - 10:34Tags: Pride