AFL-CIO Press Clips: July 1, 2022
TRANSPORTATION
Union leader asks senators to give STB more power to deal with rail service issues
Trains
June 30, 2022
The leader of a federation of rail and other unions has written a group of U.S. senators asking that Congress give the Surface Transportation Board more power to enforce railroads’ common-carrier obligations as a way to address ongoing service issues. Tuesday’s letter from Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Division, AFL-CIO — comprised of 37 unions, including some in the rail industry — urged a group of 21 senators to support legislation that would more clearly define the common-carrier obligation, which currently requires “reasonable service” at “reasonable rates.” “The non-specific language used, and lack of details, in the current statute has resulted in uncertainty for both shippers and carriers and made enforcement of the obligation extremely challenging,” Regan wrote. He included a joint statement by unions and rail shipper groups of common-carrier principles and urging legislative action to better define “reasonable service,” and to give the STB “an effective and expedited enforcement process.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Bally’s extends contract negotiations with union by two weeks
ABC6
By Sam LaFrance
June 30, 2022
“Bally’s employees are fighting for what they deserve: a fair contract so they can make a decent living, get back on their health benefits, and not feel exhausted after completing a work shift,” said UNITE HERE Local 26 president Carlos Aramayo last month.
Kaleida, unions agree to another 30-day contract extension covering 6,300 workers
The Buffalo News
By Jon Harris
June 30, 2022
Kaleida Health and the unions on Thursday said they have agreed to a second extension of the existing contract, which was set to expire May 31 before the two sides extended it until June 30. The latest extension runs through the end of July. Kaleida and the two unions, Communications Workers of America Local 1168 and 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East, have been negotiating since early March on a new labor agreement that would cover about 6,300 workers – or about two-thirds of Kaleida's payroll.
Delta pilots picketing at JFK, airports nationwide in contract push ahead of July 4 holiday weekend
ABC7
June 30, 2022
"Our contract was negotiated nearly six years ago, in 2016," pilot First Officer David Adler said. "It was a three-year contract, and so we're operating under the work rules and the pay rates that were decided in 2016." Delta's 13,900 pilots are represented by the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA), the world's largest pilot union.
GM, UAW reach tentative agreement to avoid strike at 4 Michigan plants
Detroit Free Press
By Jamie L. LaReau
June 30, 2022
About 15 minutes before a 10 a.m. strike deadline, GM and the UAW reached a tentative agreement for a new contract for about 600 of GM's Subsystems Manufacturing LLC employees. “This negotiation was drawn out and hard fought,” said UAW Vice President Terry Dittes, who is director of the union’s General Motors Department, in a statement. “We look forward to presenting the tentative agreement to members for their ratification.”
SUPREME COURT
Ketanji Brown Jackson becomes first Black woman on the Supreme Court
Boston Globe
By Annie Karni
June 30, 2022
Ketanji Brown Jackson took the judicial oath just after noon on Thursday, becoming the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court. Jackson, 51, was confirmed in April when the Senate voted 53-47 on her nomination. She is replacing Justice Stephen Breyer, 83, who stepped down at the conclusion of the court’s current term.