Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFT Settles Student Debt Lawsuit, Wins Big Gains for Borrowers
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The American Federation of Teachers (AFT), AFT President Randi Weingarten and eight individual AFT member plaintiffs reached a landmark settlement last week with the U.S. Department of Education in the case Weingarten v. DeVos, and, as a result, tens of thousands of student loan borrowers can expect imminent relief from their student debt. Under the historic agreement, all Public Service Loan Forgiveness applicants who were denied relief will have an opportunity for their cases to be reviewed, setting public employees across the country, including teachers, nurses and firefighters, on a path to a life-changing reduction or elimination of their crushing student debt burden.
“Congress pledged relief to those who dedicated their lives to serving the public, but 98% got a debt sentence instead,” said Weingarten. “Today is a day of vindication for the millions of borrowers who took the government at its word but were cruelly denied through no fault of their own.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/19/2021 - 09:32Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Tennessee AFL-CIO Joins BCTGM Members on Strike Against Kellogg
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Some 1,400 members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) at the Kellogg Co. are taking a stand on the future of their workforce by going on strike at four different cereal plants. One of these plants is in Memphis, Tennessee, where members of BCTGM Local 252G have been on strike since Oct. 5. Members of the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council joined striking Kellogg workers Wednesday on the picket line.
“I’ve been in the labor movement for a long time, and what I saw earlier this week was truly something special. The energy and solidarity on the picket line in Memphis is powerful,” said AJ Starling (ATU), secretary-treasurer of the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council. “It truly feels like one big family that’s gathered to support one another. Community leaders, elected officials, and countless union members have all stopped by to show their support for BCTGM Local 252G and all Kellogg’s workers who are on strike across the country. At a time when the company is making record profits, management’s ongoing attempt to enact a two-tier wage system and divide the workforce is inexcusable. These hard-working employees deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and fairness on the job. As I said on Wednesday, all 60,000-plus members of the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council are standing in solidarity with BCTGM Local 252G and will continue to do so for the duration of the strike.”
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/18/2021 - 09:30National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Camila Turrieta
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Camila Turrieta.
First Officer Camila Turrieta is committed to helping others overcome barriers and obstacles to achieve their dreams of flying through her work as chair of ALPA’s President’s Committee for Diversity & Inclusion. When she’s not out flying the line for JetBlue, Turrieta advocates for diversity, equity and inclusion on the flight deck, with a particular focus on reaching out to communities and those with backgrounds historically underrepresented within the piloting profession and the larger aviation industry.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/15/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Redmond Promotes BIT Construction Project Putting Union Members to Work
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond went to Chicago on Wednesday to meet with union members and leaders. He toured Wolf Point South, a groundbreaking new construction project in the heart of the city that’s putting hundreds of union members in the building trades to work. Like all other AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust (BIT) projects, Wolf Point South is 100% union-made. The BIT invested in all three phases of the development, which, when complete, will have generated more than 6 million hours of work for union construction trades on the site.
“The work of the AFL-CIO BIT, supporting projects like Wolf Point and others across the nation, is personal to me. I want every worker to have the same chance as my family, the chance to join a union, to work on projects like Wolf Point, and to succeed in achieving all their dreams. I want every working family to feel the power of the labor movement as a change agent for prosperity,” Redmond said. “Wolf Point South, along with the other BIT construction projects, is a testament to what we can achieve together as a movement.” Click here to read more about the event.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/15/2021 - 09:31#Striketober: In the States Roundup
It's time once again to take a look at the ways working people are making progress in the states. Click on any of the links to follow the state federations on Twitter.
Alaska AFL-CIO:
Statement from President Joelle Hall thanking the Anchorage Assembly for passing an emergency ordinance to deal with COVID-19. #ANCgov pic.twitter.com/vVFscxc4Ju
— Alaska AFL-CIO (@AKAFLCIO) October 14, 2021Arizona AFL-CIO:
Join Marilyn in the fight to #PassThePROAct! "I didn't fight all those years in the military to have people treated wrongly when they worked so hard to take care of their family. I would like the PRO Act to pass because one job should be enough and it's not right now." pic.twitter.com/e2tWCPVGi3
— Arizona AFL-CIO // #PassThePROAct (@ArizonaAFLCIO) October 12, 2021California Labor Federation:
Workers will never be defeated#Striketober #UnionStrong #1u https://t.co/mwNNeajKxg
— California Labor Federation (@CaliforniaLabor) October 13, 2021Connecticut AFL-CIO:
.@SEIU1199_NE members who work as frontline caregivers at group homes run by Sunrise in Connecticut are on #strike demanding livable wages, affordable health insurance and a secure retirement! Join the lines in Hartford, Danielson, Columbia & New London pic.twitter.com/tUAP5XZ8Iu
— Connecticut AFL-CIO (@ConnAFLCIO) October 13, 2021Florida AFL-CIO:
"And through the pandemic, the nation was reminded of the essentialness of labor—not the labor of Wall Street; rather, the labor that drives our hospitals, our groceries, our mail, our livelihoods."https://t.co/dLymzEOkJ0
— Florida AFL-CIO (@FLAFLCIO) October 12, 2021Georgia AFL-CIO:
If you can’t afford to pay your workers and sustain a healthy work environment, perhaps being an employer isn’t for you ? https://t.co/skpQOk8tNX pic.twitter.com/D85n3HYqJC
— Georgia AFL-CIO // Pass The #ProAct (@AFLCIOGeorgia) October 13, 2021Indiana State AFL-CIO:
STRIKETOBER https://t.co/X3dNaQ7e2F
— Indiana AFL-CIO (@INAFLCIO) October 13, 2021Iowa Federation of Labor:
The latest Iowa Daily Labor News! https://t.co/irM17nEzQ0 Thanks to @IAFFNewsDesk @MachinistsUnion @AFTunion #taxtherich #1u
— Iowa AFL-CIO (@IowaAFLCIO) October 13, 2021Kentucky State AFL-CIO:
The Kentucky State AFL-CIO and the @AFGENational proudly observe today, Oct. 14th as Augusta Y. Thomas Day.
Thomas, a veteran labor & civil rights leader from Louisville, capped her union career as AFGE’s National Vice President for Women & Fair Practices. pic.twitter.com/7mq8oqyjHJ
Maine AFL-CIO:
IN THIS EDITION OF MAINE LABOR NEWS:
Bates College Educators & Staff Launch Union Organizing Drive@IATSE481 Members Vote to Authorize Strike
And.. vaccines, the 1862 Saco Firemen's strike & more!https://t.co/6Iq2rZrTdi #1U #mepolitics #Solidarity
Massachusetts AFL-CIO:
#1u #solidarity https://t.co/1YJA8tedew
— Massachusetts AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@massaflcio) October 14, 2021Michigan AFL-CIO:
“Fair wages are absolutely foundational to building a strong middle class, and state contracts are no exception.” @GovWhitmer https://t.co/hNxKr5hmG4
— Michigan AFL-CIO ?? (@MIAFLCIO) October 8, 2021Minnesota AFL-CIO:
Local postal workers voice concerns about new policy slowing mail delivery https://t.co/QTRvaHXAaV #1u @APWUnational pic.twitter.com/JSTHD3HnJg
— Minnesota AFL-CIO (@MNAFLCIO) October 13, 2021Missouri AFL-CIO:
Union workers, labor leaders, and pro-union politicians are pushing for the passage of the bipartisan #infrastructure bill. https://t.co/uXFfM4b9Pu
— Missouri AFL-CIO (@MOAFLCIO) October 13, 2021Montana AFL-CIO:
Protect Montana's Apprentices and Journey Workers! Proposed changes to apprenticeship ratios will lead to more workplace hazards, depressed wages throughout the trades and a lower standard of training and development for new workers. #mtpol #unionstrong https://t.co/NuJWtK0K26
— Montana AFL-CIO (@MTaflcio) October 5, 2021Nebraska AFL-CIO:
In our 65th year of dedication to improving the lives of all working people and their families, bringing fairness and dignity to Nebraska's workplaces. #1u #SOLIDARITY pic.twitter.com/i5pqKcy8OW
— NE State AFL-CIO (@NEAFLCIO) October 8, 2021Nevada State AFL-CIO:
Apprenticeships are CRUCIAL to expanding and educating our workforce, and helping to provide good-paying union jobs across our state! https://t.co/fPbx9rSEiR
— Nevada State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct (@NVAFLCIO) October 13, 2021New Hampshire AFL-CIO:
— NewHampshire AFL-CIO (@NHAFLCIO) October 6, 2021New Jersey State AFL-CIO:
— New Jersey AFL-CIO (@NJAFLCIO) October 13, 2021New Mexico Federation of Labor:
What #BuildBackBetter means for #NewMexico.@NABTU @AFTNM @afscme18 @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/3sLQwYTCHE
— NMFL \\ Pass the PROAct // (@NMFLaflcio) October 8, 2021New York State AFL-CIO:
The New York State AFL-CIO Celebrates First Farmworkers Union in NYS. “Today we welcome our first farmworker siblings into the labor family,” said New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento.” #UnionStrong @Local338 @RWDSU https://t.co/NJTFlAZIf0
— NYS AFL-CIO // #UnionStrong (@NYSAFLCIO) October 6, 2021North Carolina State AFL-CIO:
“We talk about the Civil Rights Act as if it’s a done deal, but if we sleep on it, we will lose it.” @aflcio Civil, Human & Women’s Rights Director Clayola Brown kicking off day two of convention! #CountMeIn pic.twitter.com/wCABZj0XzU
— NC State AFL-CIO // Pass the #PROAct! (@NCStateAFLCIO) October 14, 2021North Dakota AFL-CIO:
Letter: "We'd like to foster children, but day care is unavailable in our rural community." https://t.co/WXVLmaRRCJ
— North Dakota AFL-CIO (@NDAFLCIO) October 13, 2021Ohio AFL-CIO:
In a story you will never see in corporate media: Worker #solidarity is on the rise because we should all have #DignityOfWork. As great at this is, workers across the country would have a fair shake to #Organize if we #PassThePROAct https://t.co/5RzBMTiKfy
— Ohio AFL-CIO (@ohioaflcio) October 12, 2021Oregon AFL-CIO:
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day our intention is to take a positive step forward in recognizing the legacy of discrimination that Native Americans face and honoring their culture, history, contributions, and resilience in this country. pic.twitter.com/IOmE1uxBjA
— Oregon AFL-CIO / PASS THE PRO ACT (@OregonAFLCIO) October 11, 2021Pennsylvania AFL-CIO:
On the @lancbctgm374g picket line. One day longer. One day stronger. ✊@BCTGM #NoGainsNoGrains #NoContractNoCrispix #STRIKETOBER #Solidarity pic.twitter.com/ex3EwTPt9S
— PA AFL-CIO (@PaAFL_CIO) October 14, 2021Rhode Island AFL-CIO:
The Rhode Island AFL-CIO is saddened to hear about the passing of Ray Sullivan. Ray was a champion for working people and for everyone who sought a more just world. #RestInPower@RaySullivan pic.twitter.com/0d4gCxnyrd
— Rhode Island AFL-CIO (@riaflcio) October 13, 2021Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council:
"In short, laborers are demanding their due. And it is infectiously spreading from workplace to workplace." #Striketober #1u https://t.co/qYVko1cZGm
— Tennessee AFL-CIO (@tnaflcio) October 14, 2021Texas AFL-CIO:
#HB25 is heading to the House floor today in the #TXLege.
We urge legislators to vote NO against this dangerous and discriminatory bill. #LetKidsPlay #ProtectTransKids https://t.co/lSAL5oydmY
Virginia AFL-CIO:
Standing in solidarity with our brothers & sisters in @IATSE #IASolidarity https://t.co/6W1GQW0NbE
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) October 4, 2021Washington State Labor Council:
Standing in solidarity with our brothers & sisters in @IATSE #IASolidarity https://t.co/6W1GQW0NbE
— Virginia AFL-CIO (@Virginia_AFLCIO) October 4, 2021Wisconsin State AFL-CIO:
Federal infrastructure program could help Wisconsin address 'forever chemical' contamination, aging roads and bridges https://t.co/4t9DKcUzmV
— WI AFL-CIO (@wisaflcio) October 12, 2021 Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/14/2021 - 13:35Workers Strike Back: 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.
Workers Strike Back: “The pace of strikes slowed when the pandemic hit. Now there are signs picket lines are bouncing back amid fresh worker angst. What's new: Production has been halted at Kellogg cereal plants across America after 1,400 workers walked off the job in a bid for better benefits (and worries about job outsourcing). The last time a cereal workers strike hit the company was nearly 50 years ago.”
Moms Are Back to Work, but Child Care Resources Are ‘Laughable’: “While many of these mothers have returned to the work force, somewhere between 900,000 and one million have stopped working to support their families, and according to Heggeness, these mothers tend to be in dual-income households where their families could survive on one salary. In single-parent families and families that need two incomes to keep the lights on, mothers have returned to their jobs—but they have done so while day care and aftercare options are scarcer than they were pre-pandemic.”
Kennedy Center Stagehands Authorize Strike, Putting ‘Hadestown’ and Other Scheduled Shows in Jeopardy: “The stagehands who work behind the scenes at the Kennedy Center authorized a strike Thursday morning, more than a year after their contract expired, saying that ongoing talks seem unlikely to result in a new deal. The two sides remain at odds over several key issues, including staffing levels, wages and overtime pay, according to the union. The unanimous vote by members of Local 22 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) comes days before the Broadway hit ‘Hadestown’—the first major touring show to play at the Kennedy Center since the pandemic—arrives in Washington for a three-week engagement.”
Kellogg’s Workers Strike Isn’t About ‘Me’, It’s About ‘We’: BCTGM Local Union President: “Trevor Bidelman, BCTGM Local Union President, joins Yahoo Finance to discuss Kellogg’s workers strike. Bidelman: ‘Well, this fight is really about the future. They want to make a two-tier benefited system that does not include the premium health care that we have, nor the pensions that we have. They want to take that away from a portion of our current workforce that already has that coming, and they want to make sure that any future workforce does not have that.’”
Fed Up by Pandemic, U.S. Food Workers Launch Rare Strikes: “A summer of labor unrest at U.S. food manufacturers has stretched into fall, as pandemic-weary workers continue to strike for better pay. Around 1,400 workers at Kellogg Co.’s U.S. cereal plants walked off the job this week, saying negotiations with the company over pay and benefits are at an impasse. Meanwhile, in Kentucky, a strike by 420 workers against Heaven Hill Distillery is in its fourth week.”
Taking the Lead at the AFL-CIO: “Liz Shuler’s ascension to AFL-CIO chief comes at a critical time for the nation’s largest labor group, which is grappling with declining union membership, union-busting corporate giants and a Democratic Congress that is struggling to pass pro-worker priorities. Part of Shuler’s mission is to redefine the labor movement as being for workers of all backgrounds and in every industry. She often notes that of the federation’s roughly 12.5 million workers, nearly half are women. ‘I think it’s important to have a woman in this role so that women in the workforce see the labor movement as the movement for them,’ Shuler said. ‘We’re the largest organization in the country of working women, and I don’t think a lot of people see us that way.’ Shuler aims to expand the labor movement to growing parts of the economy that remain largely nonunionized such as the tech sector, including gig economy firms that are circumventing the traditional employment structure.”
Baltimore Museum Employees Are Planning to Unionize as a Nationwide Labor Movement Takes Hold in U.S. Art Institutions: “Workers at the Baltimore Museum of Art have announced plans to form a union, making the employees the latest in a nationwide push for better working conditions and higher pay at art museums, a field that suffers from drastic inequities. In a statement, the Baltimore Museum organizers noted that the museum’s mission is to provide ‘artistic excellence and social equity,’ and that the members were now ‘channeling this passion and energy to form a union.’ Among the changes the union is seeking is better job security, fairer wages, and a say in decisions that affect them, according to the union’s website. The organizers of the union announced their intention to join the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) local council 67 in a blog post. AFSCME represents around 10,000 museum employees across the U.S.”
New NPR SAG-AFTRA Contract Expands Parental Leave, Includes DEI Provisions: “Members of NPR’s Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists union voted overwhelmingly Thursday to approve a new three-year contract. The contract increases paid parental leave from eight to 20 weeks and provides an annual 2.5% pay raise. It awaits final approval from the SAG-AFTRA executive committee and would retroactively go into effect Oct. 1 upon approval. The contract covers 521 employees at NPR, including hosts, reporters, newscasters and other audio and digital staffers. The unit’s members voted 324-4 in favor of the contract.”
IATSE Members Vote to Authorize a Strike with Over 98% Support: “Signaling overwhelming support for its union’s battle with studios over two expiring contracts, as widely expected, IATSE members have voted to authorize an industry-wide strike. This marks the first authorization of a nationwide strike in the union’s history. Over 98% of eligible members from 36 Locals voted to authorize a strike in the momentous contest for the union—which bargains on behalf of over 150,000 crew members internationally, including cinematographers, operators, grips, editors, costumers and writers assistants, among others. This strike authorization vote concerns around 60,000, or about 40%, of those workers. Meanwhile, about 90% of eligible voters cast a ballot.”
Is a New Labor Movement Brewing?: “Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, argues that we are in the beginning stages of a modern labor movement. In an op-ed in the Chicago Sun-Times, she wrote that ‘a modern labor movement begins by putting good jobs and working people at the center of our national conversation—back where it used to be, when work was respected culturally and rewarded economically.’ ‘Marketplace’ host Kai Ryssdal spoke to Shuler about labor policy and the makings of a modern labor movement. The following is an edited transcript of their conversation.”
‘Too Little, Too Late’: Union Workers at Mercy Hospital Go on Strike as Talks Fail to Yield Deal: “About 2,000 nurses, technical and clerical employees at Mercy Hospital in South Buffalo went on strike this morning after Catholic Health System and the workers’ union failed to reach an agreement overnight. Hundreds of workers, members of the Communications Workers of America Local 1133, gathered outside the hospital this morning, carrying picket signs, as the strike began at 6 a.m.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/14/2021 - 11:01National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Gilbert Sedeño
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Gilbert Sedeño.
AFM member Gilbert Sedeño is a Houston-based pianist, composer, arranger and producer fluent in a variety of musical styles, such as jazz, Latin, R&B, pop rock, salsa, country and Broadway. He toured with Grammy-award winning producer and vocalist Steve Tyrell for more than three years and with country music legend Ray Price for more than seven years, performing in 48 states. He received AFM's Diversity Advocate Award in 2019.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/14/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Unions Rally to Support New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is one of the most pro-union governors in the country, having signed expansive workplace protections for workers during the pandemic and standing up for workers’ rights throughout his time in office. With the governor’s race on the ballot this November, working people across the Garden State are mobilizing for a win come election time. The New Jersey State AFL-CIO hosted a rally for Murphy on Tuesday evening, ahead of the candidates’ debate at Rowan University.
“Hundreds of our brothers and sisters from every sector of labor and every part of the state sent a powerful message before Tuesday’s debate: Phil Murphy is the most pro-union governor New Jersey has had in many years, and we enthusiastically support his re-election,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech (IUOE). “We need his decisive leadership and a pro-labor state Senate and Assembly, with elected labor candidates representing us in the state House. That’s how we continue to improve the lives of working families and build stronger communities throughout our state.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/14/2021 - 09:30National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Luke Carlos O'Reilly
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Luke Carlos O'Reilly.
As a pianist, organist and composer, Luke Carlos O'Reilly had a prolific pandemic year, moving beyond the bandstand with the formation of his multidisciplinary collective, Revivals of Blackness, and the release of an eponymous film, which blends multidisciplinary journeys through diverse African diasporic music and dance traditions into informed cultural dialogue with Capoeira Angola, Afro-Cuban rumba, Afro-Brazilian samba and maracatu, among others. His album, "I Too Sing America: A Black Man's Diary," is an artistic and activist response to our cultural moment.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/13/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Alaska Union Members Win Big in Local Elections
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Union member candidates scored a series of victories in local elections held Oct. 5 in Alaska. Seven union-endorsed candidates won their elections, including Fairbanks North Star Borough Mayor Bryce Ward (IUOE) and three other current and former union members. The Alaska AFL-CIO led a strong ground game, knocking on nearly 800 doors and making thousands of phone calls to voters in Fairbanks. Elections were also held in Juneau and Kenai Peninsula. Political action is growing in Alaska, which is a battleground for passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act.
“Building union power starts by getting our members elected at the local level and driving program from the ground up,” said Alaska AFL-CIO President Joelle Hall (UFCW). “We are thrilled to have elected a strong slate of pro-worker candidates to public office, especially in a town like Fairbanks with a long, storied history of worker power. We will continue to work hard to build a political movement in Alaska that’s rooted in the Workers First Agenda.”
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/13/2021 - 09:33National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Maria Starr Van Core
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Maria Starr Van Core.
Mention the name of Maria Starr Van Core in any public circle and people will automatically relate it to activism, organization, union, voter registration and all around unity. And it comes with no surprise because she has earned recognition for her exemplary civic and community service in Michigan. A proud UAW Local 652 member, she retired from General Motors with 30 years of service. She is a member of her local's Civil and Human Rights and Women’s committees. She transcended her experience in these committees and her position as the present president of the Greater Lansing Area chapter of LCLAA. She practices the union’s mission to improve and promote the quality of life for all working people.
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/12/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: Electrical Workers Run Innovative Drive-Through Picnic
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Last year, Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 48 sadly canceled their traditional summer picnic. Not wanting to miss the beloved event again this year, Local 48 Communications Director Tracey Powers suggested a drive-through picnic. The idea caught on and the Local set out to make it happen.
“Everyone was so happy,” Powers said. “It was a very fun environment. We haven’t gotten to see our members in almost two years.”
Nearly 1,700 members picked up meals for their families. Food included barbecue and side dishes from a family-owned business, McKillips. Families in attendance also participated in a raffle that included prizes like tablets, televisions, drills and others. Local high school baseball and volleyball players were recruited to package the meals in exchange for donations to their teams.
“The organizers did a great job. They had the flow going perfectly,” said Bryan Sutherland, a retired journeyman. “I think of it like a jobsite—our people are organized, they are smart, and they know how to get things done.” He said that the picnic “was one more thing that makes me proud to part of the IBEW.”
Kenneth Quinnell Tue, 10/12/2021 - 09:30National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Paula Martinez
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Paula Martinez.
Paula Martinez has been a union member for 30 years. Active in AFSCME Iowa Council 61, Martinez also has served as president of AFSCME Local 3013, secretary-treasurer of AFSCME Council 61, the 3rd District chair of PEOPLE and as a delegate and trustee of the South Central Iowa Federation of Labor, where she was elected president in 2021.
Kenneth Quinnell Mon, 10/11/2021 - 10:00Economy Gains 194,000 Jobs in September; Unemployment Down to 4.8%
The U.S. economy gained 194,000 jobs in September, and the unemployment rate declined to 4.8%, according to figures released Friday morning by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In response to the September job numbers, AFL-CIO Chief Economist William Spriggs tweeted:
Job numbers in September fell modestly from August, payrolls gained just 194,000 jobs. Labor force participation remained steady--the loss the boost to UI benefits did not create a rush to new job searches. Can we please put the nonsense on the benefits to rest?
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) October 8, 2021
Job gains returned to leisure & hospitality and to retail, but fell for education. Job gains (going to the right) were otherwise wide spread across industries for both high wage (going up) and low wage (going down) industries pic.twitter.com/dfe2gLKaCF
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) October 8, 2021
The long term unemployed are a declining share of the unemployed, but remain at very high levels to declare we are any where near "normal" economic conditions. Matching long-term unemployed to jobs is hard for both workers and employers. @AFLCIO pic.twitter.com/I0efzUqhdd
— William E. Spriggs (@WSpriggs) October 8, 2021Last month’s biggest job gains were in leisure and hospitality (+74,000), professional and business services (+60,000), retail trade (+56,000), transportation and warehousing (+47,000), information (+32,000), social assistance (+30,000), manufacturing (+26,000), construction (+22,000), wholesale trade (+17,000), and mining (+5,000), while local government education (-144,000), private education (-19,000), health care (-18,000) and state government education (-17,000) saw losses. In September, employment showed little change in other major industries, including financial activities and in other services.
Among the major worker groups, the unemployment rates for Black Americans (7.9%), adult men (4.7%), adult women (4.2%) and White Americans (4.2%) declined in September. The jobless rates for teenagers (11.5%), Hispanics (6.3%) and Asian Americans (4.2%) showed little change over the month.
The number of long-term unemployed workers (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) decreased in September and accounted for 34.5% of the total unemployed.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/08/2021 - 10:39National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Melissa Reyes
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Melissa Reyes.
Melissa Reyes has been a member of IBEW Local 379 for six years. She serves as an officer of the local, a trustee for the Southern Piedmont Central Labor Council and is the district rep for RENEW, an IBEW young worker initiative. Reyes is a passionate advocate for labor and works to inspire others to do the same.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/08/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: AFL-CIO HIT Investments Build Human Infrastructure
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The debate over human infrastructure—the societal and economic fundamentals that allow working people to prosper—is heating up. While many would prefer to focus solely on physical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, workers know that basic needs like child care are just as important so people can work. Building affordable housing and creating good construction jobs are perfect examples of why Congress must invest in human infrastructure, said AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT) CEO Chang Suh. “At its most basic level, the infrastructure debate is about the level of importance we as a nation place on how we drive forward—both literally and in the broader sense,” Suh wrote in a column published in HousingWire.
He emphasized the benefits of using union labor to build affordable housing, drawing on the example of HIT’s Old Colony project in Boston. For years, HIT has been working to restore and reimagine the public housing project. Suh said: “The reinvention of Old Colony is the product of union [members] earning wages and benefits on which they can support a family. In partnership with the Boston Housing Authority, local labor organizations have sponsored job training and apprenticeship preparation for young people and displaced workers seeking new career opportunities. It is a success story in human infrastructure, which has reaped benefits for workers, residents and citizens throughout the city’s economy.” Click here to read more.
Kenneth Quinnell Fri, 10/08/2021 - 09:32Your Story Matters: What Working People Are Doing This Week
Welcome to our regular feature, a look at what the various AFL-CIO unions and other working family organizations are doing across the country and beyond. The labor movement is big and active—here's a look at the broad range of activities we're engaged in this week.
A. Philip Randolph Institute:
Good morning APRI family! Today is World Day for Decent Work and the purpose is to highlight the impact of Covid on garment workers and the global campaign to achieve social protection for this workforce.https://t.co/LAN7bfkRFA
— APRI National (DC) (@APRI_National) October 7, 2021Actors' Equity:
Equity Assistant Eastern Regional Director Russell Lehrer told News 6, "The reopening of shows really indicates the long-term commitment that Walt Disney World has to the Orlando community and to our members."https://t.co/iyOK0xiflt
— Actors' Equity (@ActorsEquity) October 7, 2021AFGE:
Congratulations are in order!
Twenty-one AFGE members and their families are finalists of the 2021 @FedsHelpingFeds merit-based scholarship competition. #1u https://t.co/v7rCpvlxCE
AFSCME:
Today’s actions by @POTUS Joe Biden and @SecCardona will ensure that the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program finally delivers on its promise to alleviate crushing student loan debt for more than half a million public service workers. #PSLF https://t.co/Vqh6k70bIy
— AFSCME ✊ Pass the #PROAct (@AFSCME) October 6, 2021Alliance for Retired Americans:
We must save USPS for the millions of Americans, particularly seniors, who rely on the post office for delivery of critical goods and services.
It's not optional. #FireDeJoy #PostalBanking https://t.co/1xOeYxonV7
Amalgamated Transit Union:
Accessible, safe, and affordable #publictransit is critical for rural communities where many don’t have cars. https://t.co/gGOrc6SPVR #1u #Transit
— ATU, Transit Union (@ATUComm) October 7, 2021American Federation of Teachers:
Poverty can threaten children’s physical and emotional foundation. An expanded #ChildTaxCredit cuts child poverty in half. Tell Congress to make the investment & pass the #BuildBackBetterAct. #ThinkBabiesandAct pic.twitter.com/QysnvmYVUw
— AFT (@AFTunion) October 7, 2021American Postal Workers Union:
1 in 5 households is underbanked. #Postalbanking could fix that & generate much needed revenue for the @USPS https://t.co/OeLjdZ80yS
— APWU National (@APWUnational) October 4, 2021Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance:
Today's the day we make sure at least THREE other people in our lives are #VoteReady.
Ask them (1) are they registered to vote and (2) do they have a vote plan.
Check out everything you need here: https://t.co/n7vVjGlRzN pic.twitter.com/VS3FpMsFaf
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA:
The month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Early detection of the disease remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. When breast cancer is detected early with adequate diagnosis and treatment, there is a good chance that breast cancer can be cured.
— AFA-CWA (@afa_cwa) October 1, 2021Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers:
Kellogg Locals are still working on establishing their strike funds. At the moment we have 2 of the four linked here: https://t.co/IqPUwHAtS5
Will update as others go up!#KelloggStrike #1u pic.twitter.com/ScgkMEoFBm
Boilermakers:
This is worth some ? credit!
L-13 (Philadelphia) #Boilermaker Charlie Long won 2nd place in Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control Division of Fish and Wildlife’s 2020/2021 Hunting Photo Contest! https://t.co/Vdc1URSORm#BoilermakersUnion pic.twitter.com/F5AjOGVqhi
Bricklayers:
Best hands in the business! #skilledtrades #1u https://t.co/rAJM26WoQz
— Bricklayers Union (@IUBAC) October 6, 2021Coalition of Labor Union Women:
It’s #InternationalSafeAbortionDay and past time to remove policies like the #HelmsAmendment that restrict access to abortion. No matter where they live, people need access to #reprohealth services, including abortion because #AbortionIsEssential. #28Sept #RepealHelms pic.twitter.com/verIGCFis2
— CLUW National (@CLUWNational) September 28, 2021Communications Workers of America:
Today, @CWAUnion, @SEIU, & @UNITEHERE airport workers will speak with Members of Congress to share the impact low wages and inadequate benefits have on their lives, passengers, and the overall safety and effectiveness of the nation’s aviation system. https://t.co/TqElfeYqiW
— CWA (@CWAUnion) October 7, 2021Department for Professional Employees:
"Borrowers who devote a decade of their lives to public service should be able to rely on the promise of Public Service Loan Forgiveness. The system has not delivered on that promise to date, but that is about to change for many borrowers." #PSLF https://t.co/tZ5vENQdiE
— Department for Professional Employees (@DPEaflcio) October 7, 2021Electrical Workers:
— IBEW (@IBEW) October 7, 2021Fire Fighters:
Enter the IAFF Best Pink T-Shirt Design Contest #IAFFinPinkhttps://t.co/KrC7G8hcWK pic.twitter.com/jbDR3QPAc0
— IAFF (@IAFFNewsDesk) October 7, 2021Heat and Frost Insulators:
Mechanical insulators provide installation and maintenance services for a wide range of projects from nuclear power plants to car manufacturing facilities. Find out more about the trade and the possible career opportunities here: https://t.co/DxgG8H911q
— Insulators Union ? (@InsulatorsUnion) October 6, 2021International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers:
"This month is [when] I pause to acknowledge the contributions of those who have fought for #livingwages, #workersrights, and #equity in my lifetime. These traditions are aligned with the labor movement...to this day."#HispanicHeritageMonth #UnionPride pic.twitter.com/ieZ7POOo33
— IFPTE Local 21 (@IFPTE21) October 4, 2021Ironworkers:
Iron Workers Local 29 Training Center in Portland held a hands-on event to celebrate SteelDay in partnership with the AISC. Engineers and other professionals tried their hands at being an ironworker for a day! https://t.co/1dzdVrUEdn
— Ironworkers. (@TheIronworkers) October 5, 2021Jobs With Justice:
3...2...1...and here we go ?
The 17th annual Jobs With Justice Awards Celebration is underway ???
Follow along on this thread as we honor those who brought #EssentialWorkers into the spotlight ?#AC2021 pic.twitter.com/bVJxrzFLkj
Labor Council for Latin American Advancement:
Our country’s caregiving crisis has been exacerbated by Covid-19 and much of that responsibility has fallen on women. President Biden's proposed public investments in care could get women back to work and fuel economic recovery. Read about it belowhttps://t.co/Bm5LahSMZr
— Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (@LCLAA) October 5, 2021Laborers:
Our nations infrastructure cannot wait! #LIUNA members have been waiting for an #infrastructurebill like the #BIFDeal for over a DECADE. Get it done! #LIUNABuilds #BIFDeal #USProgressives pic.twitter.com/7C3VYmuaQZ
— LIUNA (@LIUNA) October 7, 2021Machinists:
✊ Let's send some solidarity to @DistrictLodge54 members in West Virginia! #1u ✊https://t.co/SMAWrK5Zuh
— Machinists Union | Pass the #PROAct (@MachinistsUnion) October 1, 2021Metal Trades Department:
Did you know that of the US workforce that Latin and Hispanic female workers are the fastest growing labor force population. Latin and Hispanic women make up 16% of the female population in the workforce. 62.8% are mothers working full-time as well.#HispanicHeritageMonth
— Metal Trades Dept. (@metaltradesafl) October 5, 2021Mine Workers:
Thank you @RepAndyLevin for your support! These miners and their families are facing some of the worst tactics since the days of company towns and company stores. #warriormetswrong #onedaylonger https://t.co/zLMcl4Ck74
— United Mine Workers (@MineWorkers) October 1, 2021Musical Artists:
The AGMA Opera and Concert Choristers Caucus (OCCC) invites ALL AGMA singers to a discussion on maintaining vocal health with TWO industry professionals. Monday, Oct. 25 at 6:30 p.m. ET. Register here: https://t.co/S9I0e6eLCp pic.twitter.com/q0mrIOU3d2
— AGMA (@AGMusicalArtist) October 6, 2021National Air Traffic Controllers Association:
The dates for the 18th Biennial Convention in Houston are now set: It is scheduled to begin on Thursday, Dec. 9 at 1 p.m. CST and then conclude the next day, Friday, Dec. 10, no later than 2 p.m. CST. Here are answers to other questions you might have: https://t.co/jlWPt09Zpu
— NATCA (@NATCA) October 6, 2021National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians-CWA:
ABC Master Agreement Negotiations - Bulletin #7#nabet #union #negotiations pic.twitter.com/vMFvJTa4Mw
— NABET-CWA (@NABETCWA) October 2, 2021National Association of Letter Carriers:
Letter carriers who are disabled military veterans are guaranteed certain rights associated with medical appointments for service-related conditions. Learn more.
? Read: https://t.co/TBluhPvH9A
? Listen: https://t.co/MTv43u8ImO pic.twitter.com/pTXegTEgPD
National Day Laborer Organizing Network:
For the past 3 consecutive months, workers from across CA have launched a 12 mile Caminata Por Respeto y Papeles – a 12 mile march demanding respect for the 12 million immigrant workers denied equal rights. #CaminataPorRespeto #WorkerMigrantJusticehttps://t.co/ZbEf7Euu3u
— NDLON (@NDLON) October 5, 2021National Domestic Workers Alliance:
Jamie left her job because she had to take care of her daughter with disabilities. The story she told @VP is shared by millions of women across the country. Congress needs to do the right thing and fully fund care infrastructure. https://t.co/IYo0sea8dN
— Domestic Workers (@domesticworkers) October 7, 2021National Nurses United:
"Time and again, people have let their guard down only to see the virus take hold again."
Nurses know: We can emerge from this pandemic if take a multiple-measures approach to infection control. #GetVaccinated #WearAMaskhttps://t.co/llx4GMd11t
National Taxi Workers Alliance:
Day 19.@NYCCouncil is here for stated meeting and so are we ? ? ? pic.twitter.com/o4UzMQ10K6
— NY Taxi Workers (@NYTWA) October 7, 2021NWSL Players Association:
This is not business as usual. #NoMoreSilence pic.twitter.com/9GKkZW09g3
— NWSLPA (@nwsl_players) October 6, 2021NFL Players Association:
Kicking off our Week 4 #CommunityMVP runner-ups is @Iamxavienhoward, who made sure Miami youth stayed fresh and cool by donating backpacks filled with school supplies and treating them to Italian ice at his IcyyExpress shop.
?: @FinsOffTheField pic.twitter.com/5FWJJyCRVt
North America's Building Trades Unions:
“The fact is that union #BuildingTrades jobs are for ANYONE.”
Take a few minutes and watch our newest tradeswomen recruitment video!
?: https://t.co/3NOORvDtbs pic.twitter.com/LOf9PRvSBq
Office and Professional Employees:
Museum employees are sick and tired of being exploited. Solidarity with @BMAUnion in their fight for job security and fair pay! #1uhttps://t.co/qAnoHLdnoi
— OPEIU ║ #PassThePROAct ✊ (@OPEIU) October 6, 2021Painters and Allied Trades:
"I'm a drywall finisher by trade that started out non-union fresh out of high school, then I got into our union's apprenticeship program. Our union changed my life. I was able to buy a home and provide for myself and my family. That's what our union did for me." pic.twitter.com/jn6AWr7pXD
— IUPAT | Pass the PRO Act! (@GoIUPAT) October 7, 2021Plasterers and Cement Masons:
The Cement Masons Joint Apprenticeship Training Program is a proud participant in the St. Louis Building Union Diversity (BUD) pre-apprenticeship program, which graduates 91% of students and places 82% in construction trade employment. A great success!https://t.co/fGEROrJhsD
— OPCMIA International (@opcmiaintl) October 2, 2021Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union:
Throughout the pandemic, essential workers have faced unprecedented hazards on the job. It’s never been clearer that we must prioritize health & safety for all workers! #HealthSafety4All #WDDW2021 pic.twitter.com/jhOAGuRybT
— RWDSU (@RWDSU) October 7, 2021Roofers and Waterproofers:
Falls are preventable! https://t.co/yxaaxjPo0t has a number of resources to help you prevent falls, including videos and webinars on a variety of fall-related topics. To view the collection, visit: https://t.co/T2ZVKmKfAD #roofersafety365
— Roofers Union (@roofersunion) October 6, 2021SAG-AFTRA:
We are here to support SAG-AFTRA members navigating an experience of sexual harassment in the entertainment and media industry. Your story matters. You are not alone.
Go to https://t.co/0i4cJQwSbd to learn more. pic.twitter.com/b7AMZK2uAu
Seafarers:
SIU's Heindel Among 2021 AOTOS Honorees - Seafarers International Union https://t.co/S19EBp9N6l #aotos #maritime #1u
— Seafarers Union (@SeafarersUnion) September 30, 2021Solidarity Center:
"The #COVID19 pandemic has upended all our lives, and threatened the health and wellbeing of nearly everyone on the planet...it has changed how we all live in our lives and vitally, put workers’ rights firmly on the agenda"—Mary Robinson, former pres of Ireland @BHRRC event pic.twitter.com/jP6w7OMOux
— Solidarity Center (@SolidarityCntr) October 7, 2021The NewsGuild-CWA:
"Journalism is a pillar of democracy. If journalists feel threatened doing their jobs, important stories may go untold, and democracy is undermined." https://t.co/poN17g9bx8
— NewsGuild-CWA (@newsguild) October 6, 2021Theatrical Stage Employees:
With members working across the country if you are on a job with work place abuse, please contact the @IATSE safety hotline.
(844) 422-9273 https://t.co/XH5oVHVr4K
Transport Workers Union:
We need the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act now! The future of Amtrak and passenger rail depends on it. https://t.co/mxx6cFi81o
— TWU (@transportworker) October 7, 2021UAW:
#BBBA, #UNIONMADE #DemsDeliverJobshttps://t.co/3Wshk78BTe
— UAW (@UAW) October 5, 2021Union Veterans Council:
Did you know-Union vets earn over $12k more annually then union non union vets?
“So our challenge is, in the labor movement, to connect the dots for people to show that when you stand up through a union, that you’re better off”-@lizshuler #1u https://t.co/I53lkfxfmJ
UNITE HERE:
*** UPDATES ON THE @HELLOFRESH UNION DRIVE // HOW YOU CAN HELP ***
1) HelloFresh workers in two factories have filed for an NLRB election. This means they have indicated to the boss that they need a union! ✊?
2) Since then, HelloFresh has used anti-union tactics. ??
United Food and Commercial Workers:
As the co-founder of @UFWupdates, César Chávez dedicated his life to fight for the rights of workers, immigrants & Latinos.
To honor #HispanicHeritageMonth, we're spotlighting Latinx activists whose contributions helped shape the labor movement.
Learn who they are:
United Steelworkers:
In 2020, @AboutKP @KHNews @KFF @KPMemberService made $ 2.2 BIL in operating profit while frontline workers @AHCunions @Steelworkers fought daily life or death struggle & now are forced to fight for RESPECT! #FairContractNow! #BestJobsBestCare #SafeStaffingSavesLives pic.twitter.com/ae6kMXVXMN
— United Steelworkers (@steelworkers) October 7, 2021Utility Workers:
“The dangers of lead to the human body have been well-known for decades, but the process of removing old lead service lines from private property has crept along slowly — primarily due to lack of funding.” https://t.co/HG8nNwRZiA pic.twitter.com/pymrv44d2b
— UWUA National (@The_UWUA) October 6, 2021Working America:
Today, the White House Labor Taskforce meets to discuss how the Administration can use existing rules and new policies to boost union organizing in the workplace. It's a welcome priority that working people desperately need to see fulfilled. #1u https://t.co/lqt3SBsCJg
— Working America | Pass the #PROAct (@WorkingAmerica) October 7, 2021Writers Guild of America, East:
Tonight, Oct 7, 7pm ET / 4pm PT
Inclusion Through an Animated Lens: Balancing the Brand with the Story
(via Zoom)@WritersGuildF, @mpac_national & @wia_animation host a discussion on how diversity is an integral part of storytelling, casting and more. https://t.co/4tPcfFo8V5
National Hispanic Heritage Month Profiles: Ricardo Castañeda
Throughout National Hispanic Heritage Month, the AFL-CIO will be profiling labor leaders and activists to spotlight the diverse contributions Hispanics and Latinos have made to our movement. Today's profile features Ricardo Castañeda.
Ricardo Castañeda is an outstanding member of the midwestern music community. He has a distinguished performance career as a soloist (National Symphony of El Salvador), orchestral musician (Chicago Sinfonietta, Broadway in Chicago, Mexico City Philharmonic) and educator (Northern Illinois University, Benedictine University), and continues to work tirelessly toward enriching the musical lives of young people in his role as the program director at the renowned Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Wisconsin.
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/07/2021 - 10:00Service + Solidarity Spotlight: APWU Opposes USPS Changing Mail Delivery Standards
Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has implemented changes as of Oct. 1 that will slow down mail delivery for tens of millions of people and affect billions of pieces of mail. That date marks the first day of the new service standards for first-class mail and periodicals, which USPS management is implementing as part of its 10-year plan. The changes lengthen the delivery target from the previous two- and three-day standard to as many as five days for many pieces of mail, depending on distance of travel. The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) called it a step backward for USPS and for the millions across the country who rely on speedy mail service.
“The people deserve the prompt, reliable and efficient mail service promised under the law,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “Postal workers are proud to serve our communities every single day. We believe management’s response to months of poor performance should be to improve service and regain the public’s trust, instead of this focus on moving the goalposts and slowing service standards. We’ll stay united with the public until the service standards and postal performance reflect the needs of the public for quality and fast service.”
Kenneth Quinnell Thu, 10/07/2021 - 09:30A Decadeslong Struggle: Worker Wins
Despite the challenges of organizing during a deadly pandemic, working people across the country (and beyond) continue organizing, bargaining and mobilizing for a better life. This edition begins with:
In Historic First, RWDSU-UFCW Organizes Farmworkers in New York: The New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) certified Local 338 of the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) on Sept. 27 as the union to represent 12 agricultural workers employed at Pindar Vineyards in Peconic, New York. This is the first union certification for farmworkers in New York since the 2019 passage of the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act, which grants agricultural and farmworkers the right to collectively bargain. Local 338 first filed to represent the vineyard’s field workers on May 28 of this year. “For the first time we can call farmworkers in New York State union members. For far too long, farmworkers have worked to nourish our communities without necessary workplace protections for themselves or their families,” said RWDSU-UFCW President Stuart Appelbaum. “It was a decades-long struggle to win farmworkers’ right to organize in this state, and now workers at Pindar Vineyards are seeing the seeds they planted come to fruition by becoming the first in the state to be recognized as a union.”
SAG-AFTRA and Telemundo Agree to Tentative Three-Year Deal: SAG-AFTRA members working at Telemundo have agreed to a tentative new contract that expands residuals and other forms of pay, enhances overtime and rest periods, and strengthens protections against sexual harassment and abusive behavior. “The fact that Telemundo is the largest employer of Spanish-language talent in the United States makes this agreement all the more significant and impactful,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “It contains meaningful and tangible gains—both in terms of safety provisions and compensation—that can improve the quality of members’ lives. Thank you to Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland for his great work on behalf of members.”
UAW Members at John Deere Reach a Tentative Agreement with Significant Gains: The UAW announced on Saturday that the union has reached a tentative agreement with John Deere for a new contract. The union said it has made significant progress in negotiations, though more details have not been released as the proposed contract now goes to UAW members for a vote on Oct. 10. “Our UAW–John Deere national bargaining team worked tirelessly to create substantial gains for members,” said UAW President Ray Curry. “We want to thank the UAW bargaining team and their families who sacrificed time apart on behalf of UAW members.” “Substantial hard fought gains and protections were achieved due to the efforts of the UAW negotiators supported by the solidarity of our members,” said Chuck Browning, UAW vice president and director of the union’s agricultural implement department. Last month, UAW members who work for John Deere had voted to authorize a strike. More than 12,000 workers will be covered under the new contract.
Doctors Hospital of Manteca RNs to Join California Nurses Association/NNU: Some 200 registered nurses at Doctors Hospital of Manteca in California voted overwhelmingly last week to join the California Nurses Association/NNU (CNA/NNU). “We are so proud of our RN colleagues at Doctors Hospital,” said CNA/NNU President Cathy Kennedy, RN. “In joining together with the 100,000 other CNA members across California, you have taken a bold and dramatic step to strengthen protections for your patients, your families, your co-workers and all Californians.” Insufficient staffing and wages, and eroding patient care motivated the Manteca nurses to seek union representation. They join the 5,500 registered nurses represented by National Nurses United (NNU) at 14 hospitals operated by Tenet Healthcare, one of the largest for-profit hospital chains in the United States.
SAG-AFTRA and NPR Agree on New Nationwide Contract: More than 500 National Public Radio (NPR) audio and digital public media professionals, represented by SAG-AFTRA, overwhelmingly approved a new successor contract last week. Highlights from the contract include significant gains in fully paid parental leave, commitments on advancing diversity and inclusion in hiring practices, a more equitable salary system, more transparency in the promotions process, and wage increases. “Congratulations to SAG-AFTRA members at NPR on their new contract,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “The power of collective action was on display for all to see with the successful ‘Wherever we are, we make NPR’ social media campaign. It demonstrates what’s possible when members stay engaged and stand together. We thank NPR for recognizing the significant contributions of our SAG-AFTRA members.”
CWA Scores First Combined Organizing and Contract Victory in Banking Industry in 40 Years: Workers at Beneficial State Bank, who are members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA), set the example for how to organize in the banking industry to become the first union of bank workers to successfully form a union and negotiate a contract in 40 years. CWA predicts this will be the beginning of a larger trend in the industry and that other workers will copy the example set by the Beneficial State employees. The bank employees organized to improve poor conditions that include chronic understaffing, unreasonable employee performance metrics and dehumanizing company policies.
USL Players Association Reach Landmark Agreement with USL: Players in the United Soccer League (USL) announced they reached an agreement in principle on a collective bargaining agreement for the USL Championship, its top division. The new framework would continue through 2025, and the USL Players Association (USLPA) said the new agreement will increase the league’s investment in players and improve the overall experience for players. The agreement establishes a minimum compensation structure for players, new standards for player contracts, per diem rates and public appearance fees, new requirements for working and living conditions, and a new grievance procedure. “Today is a great day for the growth of soccer in North America,” said USLPA executive committee members Tommy Heinemann, Connor Tobin and Trey Mitchell. “This Agreement is the culmination of nearly three years of work and negotiation towards meaningful progress for players. It will elevate the status and professional standards of the USL, and significantly improve the compensation levels and working conditions of professional players. The unwavering commitment and engagement from the player pool have allowed us to secure an agreement that will substantially change what it means to be a USL Championship player.” The USLPA was recognized as the official representative of the players in 2018 and is the largest professional soccer players association in North America.
Brookings Institution Staff Secure Voluntary Recognition of New Union: Workers at the Brookings Institution have secured voluntary recognition by management of their new union, Brookings United. The union is a member of the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union Local 70, an affiliate of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Employees (IFPTE). The Brookings United Organizing Committee said in a statement: “We are extremely excited to begin this new chapter in Brookings’s rich 100-year history. This has been a team effort since the beginning, and we are incredibly proud and inspired by the hard work it took to get to this turning point. With the recognition of our union, we will be setting a new standard for representation in the workplace. Our strength as contributors is rooted in our shared mission of promoting workplace diversity and inclusion, ensuring Brookings is competitive among peer organizations, and expanding work opportunities for staff to better prepare the next generation of leaders. This union is a much needed step forward in achieving those goals. We are looking forward to beginning contract negotiations with our colleagues in service of our mission.”
Shoal Creek Strike Leads to Victory for Miners: Members of the Mine Workers (UMWA) Local 1948 ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Peabody Energy, which runs the Shoal Creek coal mine in Alabama. The workers had been on strike since Oct. 4, 2020. More than 60% of the members voted to ratify the new agreement, which includes wage increases, health care protections and a ratification bonus. "This will provide an economic boost not just for our members and their families, but also to the communities where they live," said UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts. "And it provides a roadmap to settling the six-month strike at Warrior Met Coal in the same region."
New Contract Secured by IBEW Local 1253 Includes Pay Raises: After months of stalled negotiations with the National Electrical Contractors Association, an arbitration panel has approved a new three-year contract for members of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1253 in Maine. “It was very tough going, but the negotiating team of [Local] 1253 was steadfast, we didn’t waiver and we didn’t settle,” said Chuck Fraser, the lead negotiator on the bargaining team. The contract includes raises of 3.7%, 3.4% and 3.3% over the next three years. “The decision didn’t reach our targeted goal, but it’s acceptable. We were shooting for $6, but we’ve had some pretty significant raises in recent contracts,” Fraser said. “For the history of the local, what we’ve received is pretty unprecedented.” The arbitration panel settled on a $5.30 per hour increase over the course of the contract.
45,000 TSA Officers Win Right to Appeal Adverse Actions: After 20 years of fighting for the same right to appeal adverse actions, transportation security officers (TSOs) at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have finally won. AFGE has pushed for decades to make sure that TSOs get full workplace protections, better pay and unconditional access to appeals at the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board for adverse actions such as removals, lengthy suspensions and demotions. Managers at TSA and most federal workers already have the ability to appeal covered adverse actions, and now TSOs will finally have the same rights. “Today is an exciting day for our union and TSA officers across the country,” said Hydrick Thomas, president of AFGE TSA Council 100, which represents more than 45,000 TSOs at nearly 450 airports across the country. “For 20 years, we’ve been fighting to have the same appeal rights as our managers and fellow federal employees at different agencies throughout the government. We’ve been fighting to be treated as equals, nothing more, nothing less.”
Ohio Chemical Workers Overcome Employer Opposition to Join UFCW and IBT: More than 140 workers at two INEOS Pigments plants in Ashtabula, Ohio, joined the International Chemical Workers Union Council/UFCW (ICWUC/UFCW) and the Teamsters (IBT) on Aug. 27. INEOS is a global chemical company, and INEOS Pigments is one of the largest producers of titanium dioxide in North America. This organizing victory is the result of a five-year effort to organize workers at INEOS Pigments. The company refused to recognize the ICWUC/UFCW or the IBT, and its efforts were supported by the previous administration’s National Labor Relations Board. INEOS Pigments also hired union-busting lawyers to hold captive audience meetings at the plants. Despite these obstacles and intimidation tactics, these workers persevered and formed a union because they wanted a voice in the workplace and the same benefits as some of their unionized colleagues, who are represented by the United Steelworkers (USW). “In spite of the company’s anti-union tactics, these workers stood together for a better life,” said ICWUC/UFCW President Lance Heasley. “We look forward to working with the Teamsters and having the support of the Steelworkers as we begin to negotiate a strong, first contract for these workers.”
BCTGM Ratifies New Contract with Nabisco: Members of the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers (BCTGM) overwhelmingly ratified a new contract over the weekend with Nabisco, ending a strike that started last month and spread to five different Nabisco worksites across the country. Workers who make Nabisco products were demanding a fair contract that recognizes the hard work and the sacrifices they have made throughout the pandemic. “This has been a long and difficult fight for our striking members, their families and our union. Throughout the strike, our members displayed tremendous courage, grit and determination,” said BCTGM International President Anthony Shelton. “We offer our deepest gratitude to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler for directing the full resources and power of the AFL-CIO at the federal, state and local levels in support of our striking members and our union. This support was critical to the success of the strike.”
AFGE National Leader Appointed to Defense Business Board in Historic First: AFGE reported that its national vice president, Cheryl Eliano, has been appointed to serve on the Defense Business Board. It’s the first time a union representative has ever served on the panel, which provides the secretary of defense and other senior leaders at the Department of Defense (DOD) with independent advice on best business practices for application by the department. “I am proud to be the first and only union representative ever asked to serve on the Defense Business Board,” Eliano said. “The Defense Business Board is a strategic partner in helping the Department of Defense improve its business practices, and ensuring that the voice of rank-and-file workers is included in those discussions will be an asset. I look forward to working with the other board members to develop proposals that further the interests of DoD’s mission, its employees, and the public.”
Working People Turn Back California Recall Effort: The results of the California recall election are in and we have decisively defeated the anti-union side. As of publication time, 68% of the votes have been counted and nearly 64% of voters rejected the effort to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom, compared to 36% who supported it. The labor movement helped lead the “No” campaign on the ground in the state as Newsom pursues a strong pro-worker agenda. More than 2,500 volunteer union members from across the country helped make over 1.3 million phone calls to union families in California. This result would not have been possible but for the nationwide solidarity of the labor movement. Now, our attention turns to the important policy battles ahead as well as the upcoming elections in New Jersey and Virginia.
SAG-AFTRA in Philadelphia Win First Contract After Two Years of Negotiations: SAG-AFTRA members at radio station WHYY-FM in Philadelphia overwhelmingly approved their first contract after a two-year fight. The union represents public media professionals who create content for all areas of the station, including radio, television and digital. Highlights of the contract include pay raises for more than half the unit, six weeks of paid parental leave, increased flexibility in work options and comp time and other benefits. “The wage structures we’ve set up in this contract create a path forward where one never existed before,” said shop steward Nina Feldman. “We’re proud to guarantee some mobility for our colleagues and future employees alike, ensuring that WHYY can become a sustainable place to build a career.”
CWA Wins Voluntary Recognition for Workers at EveryAction: More than 200 workers at EveryAction, a company that provides nonprofits with customer relationship management, donor management and fundraising software tools, won voluntary recognition on Sept. 3 after a supermajority of the workers signed union membership cards. The new bargaining unit includes software engineers, product managers, members of the sales team and other staffers. The EveryAction workers are now members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). “As workers at EveryAction we are committed to making the world a more just, inclusive and democratic place through technology,” said Gabby Weiss, a digital content editor at EveryAction and member of the EveryAction Workers Union-CWA. “EveryAction is a leader in the progressive tech industry and our union joins the growing movement of unionized tech companies that are ensuring their workers have a real voice on the job in order to build workplaces that reflect our values and empower all of us.”
Workers at ZF International Strike for Union Recognition: The UAW reported that workers at ZF International in Marysville, Michigan, went on strike for recognition, after the company reneged on a neutrality agreement to recognize a majority sign-up for their union. The auto parts manufacturer had employed Stellantis LLC workers at the ZF International plant in Marysville. Workers there have clearly indicated they expect to join the UAW, as the current Stellantis workers who are members of the UAW move to other locations. A majority of the workers have signed up to join the union, but ZF did not accept voluntary recognition. “It is unconscionable that the company would choose to put workers through delay tactics and efforts to avoid the union when a majority of their employees have agreed to it,” said James Harris, director of UAW Region 1. “ZF must cease these union-busting tactics and honor their workforce’s wishes by recognizing the employees’ right to bargain at this site, which has been a union shop.” It will be easier for new union members to win recognition with passage of the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act.
NNU Members at MountainView Hospital Ratify New Contract with Additional Workplace Protections: RNs picket outside MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas Registered nurses (RNs) at MountainView Hospital in Las Vegas have overwhelmingly approved a new collective bargaining agreement with HCA Healthcare that includes important new provisions for infectious disease control protections, according to National Nurses United (NNU). “We are pleased to have achieved additional health and safety protections that we have been pressing for from HCA management,” said Nicole Taylor, an RN at MountainView and a member of the nurses’ negotiating team. “These protections are essential to ensure safer conditions at our hospital.” NNU said that under the new agreement, all patients suspected of being infected with COVID-19 will be treated the same as confirmed COVID-19 positive patients, which means nurses will be provided with the same level of protection for both suspected and confirmed cases.
Actors’ Equity Reaches Contract Agreement with the Off-Broadway League: Actors’ Equity Association announced on Aug. 11 that it has reached a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with the Off-Broadway League. Equity and the League both said the agreement reflects a shared commitment to deliver a contract that addresses the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and includes new workplace safety guidelines and long-term financial stability for actors, stage managers and producers. The agreement also has new provisions that strengthen diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and protocols for addressing issues of harassment and discrimination. “The Off-Broadway League agreed that simply returning to work is not enough; the work needs to be safe and sustainable,” said Equity Executive Director Mary McColl. “Together we have made important inroads on wages as well as worker safety—both on COVID-19 and as it pertains to bullying, harassment and discrimination.”
Virginia Kroger Workers Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract: Working people at Kroger stores in Richmond and Hampton Roads, Virginia, voted 358-12 in favor of a new contract. The new agreement includes $27 million in wage increases, more vacation time, health care protections and other benefits. The contract, which covers 3,100 workers, was secured after the members of United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 400, held a series of demonstrations outside local Kroger stores. “We were very surprised and happy with the changes made to the contract,” said Kroger employee and bargaining committee member Nicole Turpin.
Workers at Greenlight Bookstores and Yours Truly Stationery Stores Win Recognition to Join RWDSU-UFCW: The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union-UFCW (RWDSU-UFCW) announced on Thursday that workers at Greenlight Bookstores and Yours Truly stationery stores have won recognition for their union. Now workers at Greenlight and Yours Truly will head to the bargaining table to secure fair treatment in the workplace and fair compensation in their first union contract. “I’m excited to be an RWDSU member, especially during this wave of unionization efforts happening across the country! I’m proud to work alongside people who are committed to supporting each other and our collective well-being,” said Ienna Fernandez, a Greenlight Bookstore worker. “It’s time that Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly, Brooklyn workers are empowered to define what a safe, just, and equitable workplace looks like—especially for the most marginalized among us.” The workers’ union recognition was finalized on Aug. 23. RWDSU-UFCW will represent about 40 workers at Greenlight Bookstore and Yours Truly locations in Brooklyn, New York.
AFM Local 802 Secures New Contract with the Met: The members of the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) Local 802 ratified a new contract with the Metropolitan Opera on Tuesday, paving the way for performances to resume for the first time since the pandemic started. Contract negotiations had been ongoing for months and were contentious at times. Local 802 President Adam Krauthamer and members of the Met Orchestra Committee released a statement: “We are thrilled to be returning to regular performances very soon and look forward to reconnecting with our audiences at the Met, at Carnegie Hall, on tour, and at our newly established chamber music series at Weill Hall.” The new opera season is set to start in late September.
WGAE Wins Union Election at MSNBC in a First for Cable News: It was announced on Tuesday that the workers at MSNBC have voted by more than a 2–1 margin in favor of forming a union with the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE). The newly formed union said on Twitter: “Together, we have made history. This victory is the first of its kind in cable news, and we are so proud of what we’ve all accomplished together.” The 300-member bargaining unit includes writers, producers, booking producers and other editorial staff at every program airing on MSNBC and The Choice on Peacock. The AFL-CIO joins in congratulating the new members of WGAE and wishes them every success as they negotiate their first union contract with MSNBC.
Workers Win Union Rights at Colectivo Coffee: Workers at Colectivo Coffee officially won their union vote earlier this week. As a bargaining unit of about 500 workers in Chicago and Milwaukee, they had lost their first union election in a tie after a brutal anti-union campaign from Colectivo involving terminations. Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 494 contested the result and demanded the challenged ballots be counted. On Monday night, those ballots were counted and workers officially won the election by a vote of 106–99. These workers should have had the union nearly six months ago, but they've been in limbo since then as their employer dragged out the process. “Workers at Colectivo Coffee first started organizing years ago,” said Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale (AFT). “The delays and obstacles to forming a union that Colectivo workers faced demonstrate the need for the U.S. Senate to pass the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act to modernize our labor law. This will ensure every worker can exercise their right to form a union, which is the only way to strengthen the American economy.”
IAM Reaches Tentative Agreement at Southwest Airlines: The Machinists (IAM) union reported last week that it has reached a strong new tentative agreement at Southwest Airlines for some 7,000 IAM-represented customer service employees. “This is a tentative agreement that will place our members at Southwest Airlines back at the top of the industry,” said Richard Johnsen, IAM chief of staff to the international president. “The IAM negotiating committee deserves the credit for fighting to ensure our members at Southwest Airlines receive the wages and benefits they bargained for at the negotiating table. I am extremely proud of our members and the negotiating committee for their patience during this process. Our members are an integral part of Southwest, and this agreement shows their value.”
Digital Producers at the Atlantic Digital Optimization Team Win Union Vote: Digital producers at the Atlantic Digital Optimization Team (DOT) have voted to be represented by The NewsGuild of New York, CWA Local 31003, in an election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board that concluded Wednesday, Aug. 11. The 21-person unit, named The Atlantic DOT Guild, consists of digital producers across five states that make up Gannett’s Atlantic Region. The vote followed an aggressive anti-union campaign by management that prompted the New York local to file unfair labor practice charges against the company, which alleges that managers illegally offered benefits to workers in exchange for rejecting the union.
ATU Metro Transit Workers in Minneapolis Vote to Approve New Contract: Members of Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU) Local 1005 overwhelmingly voted on Sunday and Monday to ratify a new three-year contract. Some 71% of members voted in favor of the contract, which establishes a 6.5% wage increase, improved sick leave and a one-time bonus of $1,000. “We got here because Local 1005 members mobilized again and again, in the sweltering heat and freezing cold, to push back against a pattern of abuse, disrespect, and greed at Metro Transit,” ATU Local 1005 President Ryan Timlin said in a statement to the Star Tribune. Timlin added the union was disappointed that hazard pay did not make it into the agreement, as the goal of the contract was to recognize the brave contributions of the members throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenneth Quinnell Wed, 10/06/2021 - 16:00Tags: Organizing
