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AFL-CIO Press Clips: June 10, 2022

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JOINING TOGETHER
Twin River employees fight for return to full staffing, higher wages

The Valley Breeze

By Nicole Dotzenrod

June 9, 2022

Employees at Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort are calling for Rhode Island’s flagship casino to recall all of its full-time workers and to pay them fair wages. In late May, more than 100 casino workers and members of the UNITE HERE Local 26 rallied at Providence City Hall and marched to Bally’s Corp. headquarters in demand for return to full-staffing and substantial raises. Their union contract expires on July 1. “We need more people back to work. That’s the main thing,” said John Gomes, a lead cleaner at the Lincoln casino.

 

Duluth nurses plan one-day, informational picket over pay, staffing levels

Star Tribune

By Jana Hollingsworth

June 9, 2022

Twin Ports nurses announced they will picket this month amid contract negotiations with the area's two biggest health systems. More than 100 nurses for Essentia Health and St. Luke's, clad in matching red face masks and Minnesota Nursing Association (MNA) shirts, gathered in downtown Duluth Thursday to announce a June 21 informational picket. Staff shortages, pandemic burnout and the safety of patients and workers were cited as reasons that nurses are leaving the field in droves and why better working conditions are being sought.

 

WGA East Members Approve Changes To Guild’s Constitution To Ensure “Balanced Representation” Amid Digital Gains

Deadline

By David Robb

June 9, 2022

WGA East members have voted overwhelmingly to approve changes to the guild’s constitution that are designed to ensure a more “balanced representation” of members by bridging the divide between those who work in film, TV and broadcasting, and those employed in digital newsrooms. The referendum, which was approved by a vote of 1,567-40 (98%-2%), includes the creation of three work-sector vice presidents covering members who work in Film/TV/Streaming, Broadcast/Cable/Streaming News, and Online Media.

 

Safeway Blames “Unforeseen Glitch” for Missing Wage Hike

Willamette Week

By Ethan Johanson

June 9, 2022

United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 555 filed a labor grievance last month against Albertsons and Safeway, alleging the company failed to increase wages in the time frame stipulated by a new contract. “Albertsons/Safeway has failed to implement wage increases by the time required by our contract,” Miles Eshaia, communications coordinator for UFCW Local 555, said in a statement. “UFCW Local 555 has filed a class action grievance demanding that they put the wage increases in place immediately and pay affected workers interest on the money they are owed.”

 

WGA East Strike Threat Looms On Monday, 300 Vox Media Staffers Sign Letter Pandemic-Shaming CEO Jim Bankoff

Deadline

By David Robb

June 9,2022

Gearing up for a potential strike on Monday, more than 300 Vox Media employees have signed an angry letter to their boss, CEO Jim Bankoff. They were pandemic-shaming him for asking for cost-of-living and 401(K) roll-backs in the media conglomerate’s ongoing contract talks with the WGA East. “We’re absolutely ready to strike on Monday,” said a guild source. “We don’t want to, but we’re absolutely ready to.” The guild’s ruling body, the Council, unanimously authorized a strike on Tuesday, and the bargaining unit is scheduled to take a strike authorization vote as soon as Friday.

 

‘We just want a say’: Two local New Seasons stores file to unionize

KOIN

By Amanda Arden

June 9, 2022

Two local New Seasons stores have filed to unionize. Their efforts are completely separate from one another, but both are going after the same goal: they want a seat at the table when it comes to deciding how their workplaces operate. The Seven Corners store near Southeast 20th Avenue and Division Street in Portland has chosen to form an independent union called the New Seasons Labor Union, while the Orenco Station store in Hillsboro is attempting to unionize with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 555. UFCW 555’s communication lead, Miles Eshaia, said the Orenco Station store began considering unionizing several months ago. The Seven Corners store employees said they started discussing the idea in April. 

 

DPS, transit union agree to raise wages for bus drivers and maintenance workers

The Denver Gazette

By David Mullen

June 9, 2022

Denver Public Schools unionized transit workers will receive a substantial raise over the next three years as part of an agreement announced Thursday between the district and Amalgamated Transit Union.  ATU represents drivers and operators, mechanics, vehicle maintenance technicians, vehicle service technicians, non-CDL drivers, and counter clerks for the district.