Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Staten Island Ferry Workers Win New Contract After 13 Years
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.
Approximately 120 Staten Island Ferry workers who have gone without a pay raise since 2009 announced a collective bargaining agreement that guarantees them an immediate salary increase of 28.55%. The bump is retroactive, which means six-figure sums in back pay. The workers, members of the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), work as engineers, captains and mates, and they voted 94% to approve the contract, which goes through January 2027.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 09/06/2023 - 10:01Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UAW Files Unfair Labor Practices Charges Against Big Automakers, Alleging ‘Willful Refusal to Bargain’
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 International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) filed unfair labor practice charges against General Motors and Stellantis, accusing the carmakers of illegally refusing to bargain in good faith. Contracts with the “Big Three” automakers (GM, Stellantis and Ford) are set to expire in two weeks. UAW is seeking a 46% wage increase over four years, more paid time off, and the elimination of tiers that leave newer workers with paltry pay and benefits.
“I'm sad to report that the Big Three are either not listening, or they are not taking us seriously,” Fain said. “Both General Motors and Stellantis have failed to give us any economic counters. GM and Stellantis’ willful refusal to bargain in good faith is not only insulting and counterproductive, it’s also illegal. That’s why…our union filed unfair labor practice charges, or ULPs, against both GM and Stellantis with the National Labor Relations Board.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 09/05/2023 - 09:08Economy Gains 187,000 Jobs in August; Unemployment Up Slightly at 3.8%
The U.S. economy gained 187,000 jobs in August, and the unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.8%, 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.
August’s biggest job gains were in health care (+71,000), leisure and hospitality (+40,000), social assistance (+26,000), construction (+22,000) and professional and business services (+19,000). Employment declined in transportation and warehousing (–34,000) and information (–15,000). Employment showed little change over the month in other major industries, including mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail trade; financial activities; other services and government.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rate rose for adult men (3.7%), White Americans (3.4%) and Asian Americans (3.1%) in August. The jobless rates for teenagers (12.2%), Black Americans (5.3%), Hispanics (4.9%) and adult women (3.2%) showed little change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or longer) edged up in August and accounted for 20.3% of the total number of people unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/01/2023 - 11:58Service & Solidarity Spotlight: University of Illinois Chicago Faculty End Strike After Reaching Tentative Contract Agreement
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.
Classes resumed at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) after faculty, members of UIC United Faculty/AFT, agreed to a tentative contract and suspended their strike that started last week. The four-year deal ends the faculty’s second strike in nine years. It increases minimum salaries for nontenure-track faculty to $60,000 and for tenure-track members to $71,500 in the contract’s first year. It also increases average annual salaries by 17.75% over the next four years and provides improved job protections for nontenure-track faculty.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 09/01/2023 - 09:59Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Shuler: State of the Unions Is Strong with Record Public Support, Unprecedented Activism and Organizing this Labor Day
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 and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond delivered an inaugural State of the Unions address on Tuesday where they released new polling, which underscores the American people’s support of unions—especially that of young workers—and their view of unions as critical to growing the middle class and providing opportunities for working people to thrive. Additionally, both officers stressed that with this unprecedented level of support, working people in unions are prepared to organize like never before, hold big corporations accountable and restore America’s promise for all.
“The idea of a union may sound complicated, but in reality, unions are just a group of people coming together. They are about each of us becoming the most powerful version of ourselves that we possibly can,” Shuler said. “And there is nothing better than finding that power alongside the people we work with and being a part of something bigger than ourselves. That’s all a union is. It’s that simple. People in this country have been searching for their power for a long time now, young people especially.”
You can read President Shuler’s full remarks here.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/30/2023 - 09:38Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Nearly 90% of Duke Graduate Students Vote ‘Union Yes’
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.
Duke Graduate Students Union won a historic, landslide victory, becoming one of the largest unions in North Carolina. Their union victory is the first such victory at a private university in the South and the largest union victory in North Carolina since 2008. The students campaigned for respect and the freedom to thrive while working at one of the wealthiest private universities in the nation, which fought to deny them their freedom to join together in a union.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 08/29/2023 - 09:38Service & Solidarity Spotlight: UAW Votes 97% in Favor of 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.
The 150,000 members of the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) voted 97% in favor of strike authorization if the Big Three automakers (Ford, General Motors and Stellantis) refuse to reach a fair deal.
“Our union’s membership is clearly fed up with living paycheck-to-paycheck while the corporate elite and billionaire class continue to make out like bandits,” said UAW President Shawn Fain on Friday. “The Big Three have been breaking the bank while we have been breaking our backs.”
The union demands wage increases, the elimination of tiered wages and benefits, the return of cost-of-living allowances and defined benefit pensions and retiree health care, the right to strike over plant closures, significant increases to current retiree benefits, and more paid time off.
“Our members’ expectations are high because Big Three profits are so high. The Big Three made a combined $21 billion in profits in just the first six months of this year,” Fain said. “That’s on top of the quarter-trillion dollars in North American profits they made over the last decade. While Big Three executives and shareholders got rich, UAW members got left behind. Our message to the Big Three is simple: record profits mean record contracts.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 08/28/2023 - 10:00Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Redmond: 60 Years After the March on Washington, Let’s Recommit to the Fight for Justice
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 the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond wrote an op-ed for Word in Black:
Sixty years ago this month, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and delivered perhaps his most famous speech to a quarter of a million people….
But what often gets lost in its brilliance is the why. Why were a quarter of a million people gathered on the National Mall in the first place? They were there for civil rights and economic justice, they were there for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.
When Dr. King finished his address, he handed the microphone back to A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin—prominent Black labor leaders and the chief architects of the March—recited a list of the demands the labor, faith, and civil rights movement leaders would deliver to President Kennedy.
They demanded equal access to jobs, public accommodations, and voting rights. They called for full employment and a raise in the federal minimum wage. And Randolph and Rustin led the tremendous crowd in a pledge to persist until every demand had been fulfilled….
But 60 years later, working people have seen so much of that progress stalled, reversed, and in some cases, completely erased.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 08/25/2023 - 10:02Service & Solidarity Spotlight: LIUNA Members in Columbia, Missouri, Secure Contract with 6% Pay Increases
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 Laborers (LIUNA) Local 955 in Columbia, Missouri, voted to ratify their new contract with the city and will see a minimum 6% pay increase if the City Council approves the final contract. The contract covers some 230 service and maintenance workers for the city, including public works, utilities and the airport.
“We are decently excited about this, we didn't get everything we wanted, there are still some concerns regarding wage compression next year, and we still have the issue of paid family leave,” union representative Andrew Hutchinson said. “The rallies and the community picnic that was held by union workers did this, because we know a quality workplace for us is a quality living space for the city of Columbia.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 08/24/2023 - 10:55
Service & Solidarity Spotlight: Supermajorities of Faculty at Howard and Frederick Community Colleges Vote to Join AFT
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 Howard Community College (HCC) and Frederick Community College (FCC) in Maryland filed for official union recognition on Aug. 21. More than 80% of the 170 faculty at HCC and 100 faculty at FCC petitioned the state Public Employee Relations Board to join the American Association of University Professors, the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and AFT-Maryland. HCC faculty are fighting for respect and job security. FCC faculty also are organizing for respect and an end to ever-increasing workloads, abusive management, unclear and inconsistent policies, and inadequate and stagnant compensation.
“I support FCC faculty’s unionization effort because the history of the institution shows that no existing organization, including FCC's board of trustees and various state and regional accreditation organizations, will protect faculty and other employees from abusive administrators,” said FCC math faculty member Greg Coldren. “The solidarity and power we are creating with our union will ensure our protection.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 08/23/2023 - 10:02
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 - 11:04
