AFL-CIO Press Clips: May 25, 2022
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Women in construction say they find their work rewarding. Why are there so few of them?
Democrat & Chronicle
By Amorette Miller
May 24, 2022
In the construction sector, by contrast, the statistics are drastically different. Preliminary U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data for February show that 13.9% of the 7.6 million employed construction workers are women, said Gary Steinberg, an economist for the agency who is also from Brighton. By comparison, women filled 74% of public education jobs at the beginning of this year, he noted. "Women taking on a skilled trade is not typically encouraged in American society and gender roles are ingrained in our culture," said electrician apprentice, Natalia Reyes of Rochester.
Reyes studies at a local International Brotherhood of Electricians, IBEW 86, training center once a week, and on other days she learns on the job at the O-AT-KA Milk Products plant in Batavia.
Downtown Cleveland Starbucks votes to form union
Fox 8
By Jen Steer
May 24, 2022
“Today marks a great victory for the workers at the West 6th Street Starbucks, and for the entire greater Cleveland labor movement,” said North Shore AFL-CIO Executive Secretary Dan O’Malley, in a statement.
A new ‘zeitgeist’: Union activity increase in Madison area follows national trend
Madison.com
By Emilie Heidemann
May 23, 2022
“We are at a pivotal point in history for the American worker, and we are seeing people saying we have had enough,” Wisconsin AFL-CIO president Stephanie Bloomingdale said. “We definitely expect this unionization push to increase as more workers join together.”
Employees at New Jersey’s Largest Smoke Shop Chain Submit Landmark Petition in Favor of Unionizing to National Labor Relations Board
Street Insider
May 24, 2022
Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 360 announces the submission of a groundbreaking petition to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) by the employees of Wonderland Smoke Shop, New Jersey’s largest cannabis accessories business. Wonderland Smoke Shop now becomes the first cannabis accessories business to formally ask the NLRB to conduct an election to unionize. Such businesses are not covered by current New Jersey legislation requiring cannabis license holders and bona fide labor groups to mutually attest that a labor peace agreement is in place.
Alaska Air pilots take strike vote over 'stalled' contract negotiations
Reuters
By Rajesh Kumar Singh
May 24, 2022
Hundreds of pilots at Alaska Air Group Inc (ALK.N) are submitting their final votes on whether to authorize a strike over "stalled" contract negotiations, underscoring growing labor tensions in the U.S. airline industry. The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents over 3,000 pilots at the Seattle-based carrier, said the strike authorization vote is aimed at moving what it has describes as "stalled" negotiations forward. The ballot opened on May 9 and is due to close on Wednesday May 25.
SAG-AFTRA Reaches Tentative Agreement On Network Code TV Contract
Deadline
Patrick Hipes
May 24, 2022
SAG-AFTRA said Tuesday that it has reached a tentative agreement with Big Four broadcast networks and other producers on a new National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, or Network Code. The union said the two sides reached a deal Friday, May 20 on the code, which generates more than $200 million a year in covered member earnings across nearly all non-primetime and non-dramatic primetime TV and digital media programming. The proposed three-year agreement will now go before the SAG-AFTRA National Board for consideration, and then if approved to the membership for ratification.
IN THE STATES
Wisconsin union accuses American Red Cross of bargaining in bad faith
NBC15
By Juliana Tornabene
May 24, 2022
A Wisconsin union representing employees of the American Red Cross are accusing the agency Tuesday of bargaining in bad faith. AFSCME Wisconsin announced it had filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board Tuesday morning. AFSCME Local 1205 and 1558, which represent 300 Red Cross employees in Wisconsin and Iowa, say their most recent contracts expired on Sept. 30, 2021, and Red Cross management has canceled or rescheduled up to 21 sessions of meetings with employee bargaining committees. Management has only met with the two committees once time each, according to the union.
RAISING WAGES
Camden Yards retail, food workers rally for $15 minimum wage
Baltimore Business Journal
By Matt Hooke
May 24, 2022
Food and retail workers at Camden Yards are demanding a $15 an hour wage as they bargain for a new union contract, saying their current agreement doesn't do enough to meet the increased cost of living. Workers with Unite Here Local 7 rallied outside of Camden Yards Monday afternoon, arguing that low wages are impacting concession workers, who are paid $12.50 an hour, said Tracy Lingo, Unite Here Local 7 staff director. The workers are currently operating under a 2017 contract that was extended into 2021, but negotiations for a new agreement are ongoing.