AFL-CIO Press Clips: June 1, 2022
MUST READ
AFL-CIO town hall features young worker ideas for unionizing
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
May 31, 2022
When you assemble a group of young activist workers, there’s no shortage of new ideas for unionizing, or of new priorities for unions. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler learned that in a Minneapolis “Town Hall” roundtable with seven of them in late May. “People think we’re old and stodgy, but that’s not true,” Shuler said, explaining her call for advice and ideas. “But what can I take away from this?” Answers were many and varied.
JOINING TOGETHER
Union says CNH's latest offer included pay below living wage
The Journal Times
By Adam Rogan
May 31, 2022
CNH/Case employees in Racine and Mount Pleasant, said that the company’s most recent offer included wages below a living wage. Neither side has been specific about the offers made have been. CNH (Case-New Holland) Industrial says it is negotiating in good faith and that its most recent offer was “all-encompassing” and “comprehensive.” UAW (United Auto Workers) Local 180 President Yasin Mahdi called CNH’s offer “bologna.” UAW’s strike in the Racine area as well as in the Iowa community of Burlington began May 2. It could take months to resolve.
Autoworker union accuses GM joint venture of denying access to organize workers
CNBC
By Michael Wayland
May 31, 2022
The United Auto Workers union is accusing a new General Motors joint venture of denying access to workers to conduct a preliminary organizing vote. UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, in a letter to union leaders Tuesday obtained by CNBC, said leaders of the joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, called Ultium Cells, have “flat out rejected” the union’s proposal of a “card check agreement” to organize. Dittes said the agreement would allow union officials into the joint venture’s battery plant in Ohio to collect organizing cards, as one of the first steps to establishing UAW representation at the facility.
Union Representing Atlantic City Casino Workers Warning Families Summer Plans Could Be Affected By Labor Dispute
CBS Philly
By Brandon Goldner
May 31, 2022
The union representing Atlantic City casino workers is warning families their summer plans may be affected by a labor dispute. Union contracts at seven major casinos, including the Borgata, Caesars, Golden Nugget, Harrah’s, Hard Rock, Resorts Casino and Tropicana, ended on Tuesday. UNITE HERE Local 54, which represents Atlantic City casino workers, are demanding higher wages amid a competitive job market and inflation. According to a 2022 union survey, 67% of nearly 2,000 casino workers said they’ve struggled to pay for housing at least once in the last year, while 37% of workers had trouble paying utilities and 32% of workers struggled to pay for food.
UAW pushes to represent battery plant workers in Ohio
The Detroit News
By Kalea Hall
May 31, 2022
The United Auto Workers said it's moving forward with attempts to unionize a joint-venture battery cell plant after pushback from Ultium Cells LLC, a company General Motors Co. and partner LG Energy Solution own. UAW-GM leadership attempted to establish a card-check agreement with Ultium Cells that would give the union access to the facility to collect cards as a way to organize the plant, UAW Vice President Terry Dittes told local leaders in a letter Tuesday obtained by The Detroit News."If the majority is established by an independent third party, the union would be recognized and negotiations would commence," Dittes said. "This process has been agreed to by many employers for a smooth and peaceful recognition of the UAW. Ultium has flat out rejected those simple, basic features of a card check recognition we proposed."