MUST READ
Report exposes racial disparities in workplace safety
Richmond Free Press
By Stacy M. Brown
May 2, 2024
“These alarming disparities in workplace fatalities among workers of color are unacceptable, symptomatic of deeply ingrained racial inequity and the need to pay increased attention to the dangerous industries that treat workers as disposable, remarked AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler in a statement.
TRANSPORTATION
FAA Reauthorization Bill Backed by Aviation Community, Labor
Everett Post
By Marcee Maylin
May 2, 2024
“The bipartisan agreement reached to reauthorize the FAA is a victory for workers across the aviation industry, and the AFL-CIO urges its prompt passage. From production to operation and maintenance, our aviation affiliates, owning their power as essential contributors to the American economy and way of life, made their voices heard. This agreement shows that lawmakers listened. The agreement’s array of provisions advances the rights of workers, from growing the workforce to improving safety and health on the job. And, to boot, these improvements will help keep the flying public safe. On behalf of our 12.5 million members, we are grateful to our allies in Congress who pushed for the reauthorization of this critical agency, and we look forward to Congress sending it to President Biden’s desk,” said Liz Schuler, President, AFL-CIO.
POLITICS
Congress Has the Opportunity To Keep Millions of Americans Connected
Next TV
By Shane Larson and Kathy Grillo
May 2, 2024
The internet is one of America’s greatest success stories and is now an essential part of daily life for millions of people around the world. Through significant investment, innovation and the hard work of thousands of people building modern and innovative broadband networks, we’re close to making the internet accessible to all Americans — regardless of where they live. The digital divide is a persistent challenge, but it’s one Verizon Communications and the Communications Workers of America are committed to solving.
INTERNATIONAL
Hotel workers march in 18 cities on May Day
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
May 2, 2024
Hotel workers in 18 cities marched on May Day, the international workers holiday, for new contracts with significant raises. Marshalled by the union, Unite HERE, workers at major convention city hotels in Boston, San Francisco, San Jose, Detroit, Philadelphia, Toronto, Baltimore, New Haven, Conn., and elsewhere demanded better wages and working conditions from three major hotel chains: Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt. Bargaining has begun with managements in D.C., Boston and Honolulu. The Illinois AFL-CIO urged marchers on nationwide by reminding workers, in a tweet, that “In America, the international Labor Day originates from an 1886 Chicago protest for an 8-hour workday.” The protest was Haymarket, leading to a travesty of justice with eight workers’ leaders wrongly convicted of responsibility for throwing a fatal.
ORGANIZING
Over 2,000 OHSU research workers join AFSCME
Northwest Labor Press
By Staff
May 2, 2024
Oregon AFSCME has submitted union authorization cards signed by over half of the more than 2,000 research workers at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU). The cards were turned in to the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB) April 26. Under the state laws for public sector unions, once ERB verifies the cards, OHSU will be required to recognize Oregon AFSCME as the workers’ bargaining representative.
Want to understand America's labor movement? Head south
NPR
By Staff
May 2, 2024
If you measure success in headlines, the last 12 months have been a major win for organized labor. There were strikes by Hollywood writers and actors where they wrested concessions from major studios. There was a deal for UPS workers that Teamsters general president Sean O'Brien called their most lucrative ever negotiated. And last fall, the United Auto Workers waged a strike against the Big 3 automakers and won big.
Aurora Portillo's workers vote to unionize, becoming second location to do so
WBBM
By WBBM Newsradio Staff
May 2, 2024
Workers at a Portillo’s in suburban Aurora voted to unionize on Tuesday. They were the second of the food chain’s more than 70 locations to do so. In a press release from Arise Chicago, which has helped Portillo’s workers in Addison and Aurora unionize over the past few years, officials said workers at both locations “look forward to making progress in their first contract.” The Portillo’s employees will join Iron Workers Union Local 853. Tuesday’s vote came after six months of organizing, and Arise Chicago officials accused Portillo’s management of holding anti-union meetings with workers during that time.
Largest US federal workers’ union adds nearly 200 Army employees in Germany
Stars and Stripes
By Rebecca Holland
May 2, 2024
Almost 200 U.S. Army civilian workers at two locations in Germany became the latest to approve membership in the largest U.S. labor union for federal employees. As a result of the Wednesday vote, 163 non-appropriated fund employees at the Army’s Edelweiss Lodge and Resort in Garmisch-Partenkirchen and 36 information technology staffers in Kaiserslautern will be represented by the American Federation of Government Employees.
JOINING TOGETHER
Minneapolis schools support staff set May 14 strike date; contract talks continue
MPR News
By Elizabeth Shockman
May 2, 2024
Education support professionals in the Minneapolis Public Schools have filed a notice to strike that could lead to them walking off the job as soon as May 14 if district and union leaders can’t reach a new contract deal. The unionized staff, who do a variety of classroom support work in the state’s fourth largest district, say they want a wage increase, more affordable health care and contract provisions that allow for automatic salary schedules based on years of experience. After a scheduled mediation session on Wednesday failed to produce a contract, union leaders filed an intent to strike. It’s not clear when the next negotiation will happen. “This is what we need to retain ESPs and keep the students learning, safe and engaged. Negotiations shouldn’t be this hard,” Catina Taylor, president of the ESP chapter of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, said in a statement emailed to journalists.
IATSE’s United Scenic Artists Names First National Director
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
May 2, 2024
For the first time in its roughly 130 years of existence, the national crew union representing designers and scenic artists across film, television, commercials and theater has a national director. On Wednesday the IATSE-affiliated labor group United Scenic Artists, Local USA 829, announced that it was elevating Josh Austin to the newly-established role. The Local’s former communications director, Austin will be tasked with overseeing the union’s daily operations and financial health, collaborating with the board, organizing programs and implementing a recently approved strategic plan focused on building influence, engaging members and improving equity at the Local.
Fortune
By Chloe Berger
May 1, 2024
The stewards of the skies have long petitioned for a bit of cushioning under their wings. And that’s what Southwest Airlines flight attendants just received, thanks to their efforts with the Transport Workers Union (TWU). Last week, Southwest flight attendants ratified a new four-year contract that stipulated a greater than 33% pay raise—and starting Wednesday, Southwest flight attendants will get a 22.3% raise, followed by 3% raises in the next three years.
DC hotel workers march for better wages, better workload
DC News Now
By Anna Chen
May 1, 2024
Over 1,000 unionized D.C. hotel workers rallied for higher wages and better workloads Wednesday. Workers marched in Northwest D.C. as UNITE HERE Local 25 has been working to bargain for its new contract with 22 hotels in D.C. According to a news release, despite the hotel industry rebounding after the pandemic, hotel workers say their wages are not high enough to support their families and they are still understaffed, leading to heavier workloads.
Tri-City nurses say staffing shortages are putting patients at risk
NBC San Diego
By Audra Stafford
May 1, 2024
Nurses at Tri-City Medical Center in Oceanside voiced their concerns about what they say are ongoing staffing and health and safety concerns during a demonstration outside the hospital Wednesday. About two-dozen Tri-City nurses held signs reading, “Save Lives. Safe Staffing Now,” while several spoke up about the issues they said are affecting not only them, but their patients.
Gemtron employees and IUPAT members strike after company decided to eliminate pensions
My Wabash Valley
By Zach Stidham
May 1, 2024
Wednesday morning was the start of a union strike at a glass factory in Vincennes. Employees with the Gemtron Corporation said this was necessary after they believed that the company failed to bargain in good faith after deciding to eliminate employee pensions. Gemtron employees and International Union of Painters and Allied Trades members were joined by a giant inflatable rat and a pig in a suit smoking a cigar as they picketed outside of the Gemtron factory. The business manager for IUPAT Ryan Schweizer said that is something they have been working towards for their entire life.
STATE LEGISLATION
Short legislative session features some big victories
The Stand
By Staff
May 2, 2024
The Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO has published its 2024 Legislative Report, which summarizes this year’s legislative session and shows how state legislators voted on bills of importance to Washington’s working families. (Download the full 18-page 2024 Legislative Report or just the 4-page 2024 Voting Record.) WSLC-affiliated unions will be receiving printed copies of the 2024 Legislative Report soon in the mail. Printed copies also will be provided to delegates at the WSLC’s COPE Endorsement Convention on May 18 in Seattle and its 2024 Constitutional Convention on July 16-18 in Wenatchee.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
'IBEW Local 98 members are our foundation'
Philly Voice
By Mark Lynch
May 2, 2024
IBEW Local 98 recently celebrated our 30th annual Scholarship Banquet at our brand new home at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. The family-focused event provides financial scholarships to the dependent children of our members for their continuing education. Local 98 values family above all else. The event also provides the current Local 98 leadership team and membership with the opportunity to thank and honor those who came before us and established this local union as one of the finest in the nation. This year’s first retired honoree was Harry Foy, our longtime former president and father of our current president, Jim Foy. Harry entered into the Local 98 apprenticeship in 1967. In his early years, he proudly served as an area foreman and steward.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Workers Memorial: a solemn reminder
Northwest Labor Press
By Don McIntosh
May 2, 2024
Every year, the national AFL-CIO produces a report on the state of worker safety and health in America. Titled Death on the Job, it’s released in conjunction with Workers Memorial Day. The AFL-CIO declares that a day to honor workers who died on the job and commit to fighting for safer workplaces.
UNION BUSTING
Boeing says it will LOCK OUT its fire fighters
The Stand
By Staff
May 1, 2024
In the midst of the greatest safety crisis in the company’s history, the Boeing Co. is threatening to lock out its front-line safety workers — its unionized fire fighters — in a contract dispute. Boeing says it will force the fire fighters to leave their stations at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, May 4. That’s exactly 60 days after more than 80 percent of the members of International Association of Fire Fighters Local I-66 rejected the company’s “final” contract offer for the first time. The firefighters voted to reject the offer again last month.