MUST READ
The Union Fight for the Future of Work—and the Democratic Party
Newsweek
By Daniel Bush
Dec. 13, 2023
"That stereotype of the sort of industrial, hard-hat labor movement is an old stereotype," Shuler told Newsweek in an exclusive interview in which she shared new details of the AFL-CIO's plans to expand into the South and target clean energy and other emerging markets. "That's where the labor movement's challenge is. We're trying to actually expand and modernize, so we can be relevant and meet the needs of the future workforce."
POLITICS
Biden Rule Mandates Collective Bargaining for Major Federal Building Projects
Common Dreams
By Julia Conley
Dec. 18, 2023
"The labor movement is putting high-wage, high-road labor standards into action and workers are rebuilding America, union strong," said the AFL-CIO. About 200,000 U.S. construction workers will benefit from new collective bargaining requirements announced by President Joe Biden and Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su on Monday, as the administration unveiled a final rule implementing an executive order that was introduced last year.
JOINING TOGETHER
Yale grad students approve first union contract
WSHU
By Melinda Tuhus
Dec. 18, 2023
After a fight that lasted more than 30 years, graduate workers at Yale University approved their first union contract over the weekend. It passed with support from 99.4% of those voting. Local 33 of the union UNITE HERE will now represent the university’s 3,200 grad student employees. The contract, which runs through July 2028, includes improvements to health care, major raises, a comprehensive grievance procedure and improved benefits for families and dependents, among other gains.
Lawrence Community Shelter union workers demand improved wages, support
The Lawrence Times
By Maya Hodison
Dec. 18, 2023
Lawrence Community Shelter workers are now official members of the Communication Workers of America Local 6400 labor union, and they announced their bargaining demands in a news release Monday. The workers, who have named their branch of the union Lawrence Shelter Workers United, are pushing for higher pay — specifically $30 per hour — as well as job security, paid time off and ceremonial time off for Indigenous employees. They’re also requesting health care, dental and vision coverage. The lowest-paid shelter employees currently make $16.25 per hour, according to information discussed during a recent shelter board meeting.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
AFL-CIO's Adopt-A-Family 2023 comes to a close
KQ2
By Nicole Scott
Dec. 18, 2023
The AFL-CIO's Adopt-A-Family program started the holiday season on October 30th with the opening of applications, and now with Christmas day officially seven days away, the program is coming to a close. AFL-CIO's Executive Director, Nichi Seckinger spoke with KQ2 on Monday, December 18, 2023, about the amount of applications they received, families that were adopted, and the number of applicants left. According to Ms. Seckinger, the AFL-CIO received 880 applications between the opening of the process on October 30th to the close on December 4th at 5 p.m.