Service & Solidarity Spotlight: New Poll Shows Two-Thirds of Americans Support SAG-AFTRA, WGA Strikes
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.
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler released the following statement in response to the new nationwide poll, conducted by Data for Progress—showing a strong majority of voters support the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA—as members continue their strikes and negotiate for fair pay and employment protections.
“This latest poll confirms what we’ve been hearing across the country: The American people strongly support the striking writers, performers and other media professionals, and overwhelmingly agree that they should be compensated fairly and protected from studios using AI to replace human workers,” said Shuler. “Voters understand that this isn’t just about one industry—this is about all of us—and unions need to have a seat at the table to take on the existential threat AI poses to our livelihoods and economy.”
Read more details on the poll.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/22/2023 - 09:43Service & Solidarity Spotlight: CWA Members Take Over Airports with Rallies for Fair Contracts
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.
After a year of stalled negotiations for a new contract, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) and passenger service members of the Teamsters (IBT) at American Airlines rallied outside 10 airports as part of a national day of action to demand better pay, more job security and better working conditions.
“Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, passenger service workers risked their own health and safety to continue serving the flying public and aided the airline industry’s economic recovery along the way,” said CWA President Claude Cummings Jr. “These workers deserve respect and they deserve a contract that recognizes their value to the company and the industry. It’s time for American Airlines to stop stalling and get serious at the bargaining table.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/21/2023 - 12:12Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IBEW Local 4 Reaches Agreement with St. Louis NBC Affiliate KSDK, Ends Boycott
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.
Members of the Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 4 ratified an agreement with St. Louis NBC affiliate KSDK that ends a monthslong boycott by the union. The new contract includes raises, new jobs and a guarantee to hire union members to replace retirees. Local 4 led a boycott of the station until a fair contract was secured. “Going into this contract negotiation we had concern about the ongoing reduction of our bargaining unit we’ve experience[d] in the last few years that was contrary to what they had assured us when we gave them some allowances a few years ago,” said Local 4 business manager and financial secretary Mike Pendergast. “The real issue for us was putting a thumb in the dam to stop that work from going away.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 08/17/2023 - 08:43Service & Solidarity Spotlight: New Jersey Labor Movement Rallies with Striking Nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
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.
United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-200 nurses on strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital were joined on the picket line by New Jersey State AFL-CIO officers—President Charles Wowkanech (IUOE) and Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan (Workers United)—hundreds of union members, union leaders, activists and elected officials. The message was clear: management needs to bargain in good faith and offer a fair and equitable contract that includes safe staffing ratios for essential health care workers.
“The pandemic clearly illustrated the dedication and resilience of these workers who risked their health to battle COVID on the front lines of patient care” said Wowkanech. “Now, with the pandemic behind us, we see even more clearly how understaffed hospitals are and how this is having a direct adverse impact on patient care and hospital staff.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/16/2023 - 09:52Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Philadelphia Orchestra Members Join AGMA After 20-Month Campaign
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.
A majority of members of the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir signed union authorization cards and will become members of American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). The process took 20 months to accomplish. “Unionizing was really just about us being part of that larger picture with the Philadelphia Orchestra and all the other brother and sister unions that work in that house,” said alto Megan McFadden. “When we’re on stage now, we’ve always been equal musicians, but now we’ll also be a bargaining unit, along with everyone else."
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/15/2023 - 10:00Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Maine AFL-CIO Leads Efforts to Open Labor Center
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 surge in union membership across the state of Maine is giving a boost to efforts to open the Charles Scontras Center for Labor and Community Education. The center will offer free classes and workshops on organizing and leading a union, building appreciation for Maine’s robust labor history; recognizing what individual workers’ rights look like in Maine; and helping immigrants adjust to the state’s workforce system. “It was a need that people have seen for a long time to have a creative space for workers to come together, to learn, to share their experiences with one another and to partner not only with organized workers, but also unorganized workers in the community,” said Maine AFL-CIO Organizing Director Sarah Bigney McCabe
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/14/2023 - 09:38Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Rhode Island School Transportation Workers Secure Wage Boost, Bonuses in 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.
United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 328 members who work at Durham School Services in Cumberland, Rhode Island, voted unanimously to approve a new three-year contract. Starting wages will increase to $25 an hour for drivers, $19.75 for aides and $19.25 for bus monitors by the end of the contract. The contract also includes an annual retention bonus, monthly attendance bonuses for all employees, an improved longevity bonus and an additional paid holiday.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/11/2023 - 09:46Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Ohio State Respiratory Therapists Become 50th AFT Organizing Victory This Year
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.
Respiratory therapists at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center voted overwhelmingly to unionize, joining with the Ohio Nurses Association and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to fight for the pay and conditions they deserve. The win brings the number of new AFT organizing victories this year to 50, a record for the union, with more than 8,000 new members. “I am so excited for all respiratory therapists at [Ohio State]. We worked long and hard to get our union. With our union we are looking forward to creating positive changes, improving working conditions, and ensuring our contributions to healthcare are valued and respected,” said Julie Barnes, a respiratory therapist.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 08/10/2023 - 10:02Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Ohio Labor Drives Victory Against Attack on Democracy
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.
On Tuesday, Ohio voters overwhelmingly rejected Issue 1, a measure put forth by extremist Republicans in the state Legislature to make it harder for citizen-driven initiatives to amend the Ohio Constitution.
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s major newspaper, called the Ohio AFL-CIO labor campaign “the backbone of the ‘No on Issue 1’ campaign” and with good reason. The state federation, along with central labor councils across the state, worked with affiliates and allies to execute a comprehensive voter outreach campaign in a very short period of time. Through canvasses, mailings, phone banks, worksite actions, postcard writing and more, labor activists and volunteers provided much of the muscle for the campaign and, in the end, it showed.
“We are grateful for the union members and activists who over the last nine months exposed the hypocrisy and dishonesty of the proponents and their fraudulent issue, and turned-out working people in massive numbers to protect the principle of one-person, one-vote,” said Ohio AFL-CIO President Tim Burga (USW) after the issue was defeated.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/09/2023 - 08:08Service & Solidarity Spotlight: More than 1,700 Nurses on Strike at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
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.
More than 1,700 nurses at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, went on strike Friday morning. The nurses, members of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 4-200, are seeking improved pay, better staffing, and a cap on medical insurance costs and copays. The nurses say that recruiting and retaining nursing talent should be a priority, to make sure that patient care is at its maximum levels.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/08/2023 - 11:04Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Frontier Communications Workers Vote to Grant Strike Authorization
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.
Workers at Frontier Communications in West Virginia and Ashburn, Virginia, members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), voted to grant strike authorization to union leaders on Friday. Negotiations for the 1,400 CWA members began last month. The current contract expired Aug. 5. The major bargaining issues include job security provisions that keep jobs local and limit the use of subcontractors in expanding broadband in West Virginia. “The public investment in broadband is an investment in opportunity for West Virginians, and we’re eager to help build it,” CWA Local 2007 President Rick McKinney said. “Public dollars should be used to build high-quality networks, and that means using an experienced union workforce, not temporary workers or subcontractors who often do not have adequate training and can put the public in harm’s way.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/07/2023 - 09:49Economy Gains 187,000 Jobs in July; Unemployment Little Changed at 3.5%
The U.S. economy gained 187,000 jobs in July, 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 the continued success of President Biden's policies.
July's biggest job gains were in health care (+63,000), social assistance (+24,000), other services (+20,000), financial activities (+19,000), construction (+19,000), wholesale trade (+18,000), leisure and hospitality (+17,000), and professional and business services (-8,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; retail trade; transportation and warehousing; information; and government.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate for Asian Americans declined to 2.3% in July. The jobless rates for teenagers (11.3%), Black Americans (5.8%), Hispanics (4.4%), adult men (3.3%), adult women (3.1%) and White Americans (3.1%) 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 July and accounted for 19.9% of the total people unemployed.
Jobs numbers are good and show unemployment is near record lows, but data also shows fewer women of childcaring age are working or looking for work - and it's clear universal childcare could be a force in getting women back in the workforce. #careeconomy https://t.co/5x0mzcq5bp
— AFL-CIO ✊ (@AFLCIO) August 4, 2023 Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/04/2023 - 13:21Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Michigan Registered Nurses Demand Safe Staffing Levels
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.
Registered nurses in Michigan, who are members of National Nurses United (NNU), are pushing for legislation known as the Safe Patient Care Act that would set safe limits on the number of patients nurses can be assigned, curb excessive mandatory nurse overtime, and require hospitals to disclose their RN staffing levels. The goal of the legislation is to keep patients safe in Michigan hospitals, and build and retain a strong nursing workforce across the state. “Health care is in crisis because of years of hospital understaffing. Every year, the situation gets worse. We have reached the point now where almost 40 percent of current nurses say that they are planning to leave within the next year,” said Jamie Brown, a critical care nurse and president of the Michigan Nurses Association. “Hospital executives have failed to fix the problem for over a decade. The only way to keep patients safe is through meaningful action that will hold corporate executives accountable.”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/04/2023 - 10:20
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Strike Summer! UAW Members at Thombert in Iowa Walk Off Job to Demand Fair 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.
Workers at Thombert, members of International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) Local 997, in Newton, Iowa, went on strike Tuesday. The UAW said Thombert refuses to negotiate in good faith for a fair contract with higher wages. Thombert is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of polyurethane wheels and tires for narrow aisle lift trucks.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 08/03/2023 - 10:02Service & Solidarity Spotlight: TSA Workers Win Largest Pay Increase in Agency’s History
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.
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workers have long been among the lowest-paid members of the federal workforce. But relentless effort by TSA workers, members of AFGE, means those workers saw their paychecks increase 31% recently. This is the first major pay raise in the agency's 21-year history. “Today is a turning point for TSA, for the workers, for the administration, for America,” said AFGE President Everett Kelley. “Today’s paycheck is more than a monetary incentive. It’s a symbol of respect. It’s a symbol of dignity.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/02/2023 - 09:35Service & Solidarity Spotlight: A Good Book Is Always Better With a Union!
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.
Workers at Washington, D.C., bookstore Solid State Books voted unanimously to ratify their first union contract. Solid State workers learned from their fellow United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400 members at Washington, D.C., bookstore Politics and Prose, who recently won a union. Negotiations for Solid State workers were completed in only 17 days. “We got here quickly, and we owe that in large part to our union siblings at Politics and Prose,” said Kiara Martinez, a bookseller at Solid State Books who served on the committee that negotiated the contract. “While we are incredibly proud of the work we’ve done, our journey is only just beginning. It’s our hope that we inspire others to begin theirs.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/01/2023 - 10:06Service & Solidarity Spotlight: IATSE Hosts Food Drive for Striking Performers and Writers
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.
Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) teamed up with the Los Angeles Food Bank and the L.A. County Federation of Labor on Friday to host a food drive in support of striking workers. The drive was open to affected union members and their families and was held at IATSE's West Coast office. The L.A. food drive is among other growing efforts to support industry workers affected by the work stoppage.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 07/31/2023 - 10:02Service & Solidarity Spotlight: International Documentary Association Workers Ratify Historic First 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.
More than a year after Documentary Workers United (DWU), affiliated with the Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 9003, was voluntarily recognized by the International Documentary Association (IDA), workers have ratified their first contract. The two-year deal increases the employer's retirement fund contribution level, boosts work-from-home stipends, and institutes reproductive health, pandemic leave policies and gender-affirming language. “Our contract, our union, and our victorious ratification is a labor of love and care that would not have been possible without the continuous work of IDA workers, past and present,” said DWU in a statement. “We are workers who defied the odds and who, despite continued challenges, have stayed committed to our union’s mission of equity and justice.”
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 07/28/2023 - 09:56Service & Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO Sports Council Applauds Rugby Players’ Organizing Drive
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.
Professional rugby players are seeking to organize as the U.S. Rugby Players Association (USRPA), and the AFL-CIO Sports Council has pledged to support the effort. The union is seeking to bring in-game safety, job security and strength to professional rugby athletes. Major League Rugby has unilateral control over issues important to the players and having a voice in the workplace will not only help players individually, but will strengthen the league and the sport. The league has been around for five years and has faced bumps in the road, such as disbanding two teams, that have affected the lives of players and their families.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 07/27/2023 - 09:53Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Yellowstone Workers First to Organize a National Park
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.
Workers at Yellowstone National Park have elected the National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE), an affiliate of the Machinists (IAM), to represent America’s first established national park. The new unit includes interpretive park rangers, educators, researchers, fee collectors, first responders, firefighters and other staff working for the Department of Interior’s National Park Service. “Working to protect and preserve Yellowstone for ‘the enjoyment of the people’ is a much more difficult and precarious career than people realize,” said the Yellowstone organizing committee in a statement. “Due to low pay, unmanageable workloads, high rent, a stifling hierarchy, and many other issues, the workforce here is struggling. The resulting high turnover negatively affects the park and the public’s experience of it.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 07/26/2023 - 10:04
