POLITICS
Biden addresses inflation during Philly speech as economists predict aggressive interest rate hike
ABC 6
By 6abc Digital Staff
June 14, 2022
President Joe Biden on Tuesday sought to reassure the American people that tackling the worst inflation the nation has seen in decades remains a top priority as he addressed the AFL-CIO convention in Philadelphia.
President Biden Addresses Economy During Speech At Pennsylvania Convention Center In Philadelphia
CBS Philly
By CBS 3 Staff
June 14, 2022
President Joe Biden is on his way back to Washington D.C. after visiting Philadelphia on Tuesday morning. He spoke at the AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention in Center City at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Before the President took the stage, he was introduced as the most “pro-union President ever.” Biden addressed the economy, saying his administration is working to make “buy American” a reality, not just a slogan. The President also admitted gas prices are high, but he says he’s working to “Block Putin’s gas hike.” Although, he didn’t say how.
Labor’s 2022 election work to be driven from the bottom up
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
June 14, 2022
Organized labor’s political campaign this year will be driven from the bottom up, emphasizing issues, as state federations and central labor councils make the key political decisions and then fit candidates into the issue matrix for endorsement decisions. So says Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten, chair of the federation’s committee on relations with and responsibilities of the state feds and the CLCs. Weingarten and AFSCME President Lee Saunders are jointly working out that political plan, she told a small group of reporters at a June 13 q-and-a during the AFL-CIO Convention in Philadelphia. Saunders chairs the federation’s Political Committee.
IN THE STATES
Wisconsin AFL-CIO congratulates AFL-CIO President Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Redmond on election win
Wis Politics
June 13, 2022
Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement of congratulations to Elizabeth H. Shuler on her election as President of the AFL-CIO and to Fred Redmond on his election as AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer. AFL-CIO Officers were elected at the AFL-CIO’s 29th Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia. “Congratulations to AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler who is steering our fierce labor movement towards a bold, bright and cutting-edge future. As a long-time IBEW member, President Shuler has marched alongside Wisconsin workers and has repeatedly been on the ground over the years to listen with and engage workers from all backgrounds. Her steadfast passion for advancing the rights of all working people is unmatched. She brings a breadth of experience in organizing, mobilizing, and bringing workers together to fight for and ensure safe, good union jobs for this generation and the next. There is no one better to build the movement to meet the moment.
JOINING TOGETHER
Seven Stars Bakery employees in Providence file for union elections
Uprise RI
By Uprise RI
June 14, 2022
Today, United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local Union 328, which represents 11,000 workers in a variety of industries in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, announced that the hardworking baristas, counter staff, keyholders and re-stockers employed at three Seven Stars Bakery (SSB) locations in Providence, Rhode Island, filed for their union elections. On Friday, June 10th, workers delivered signed letters at each of their locations, calling on the company to respect their wishes to unionize and to voluntarily recognize their union. 50 workers, representing an overwhelming majority of employees, signed onto the letters. The company responded and stated they are currently undecided whether they will accept the workers request for voluntary recognition. While the workers await a response, they filed for their union elections with the National Labor Relations Board.
The Activision Blizzard Union Win Is Only a Beginning
Wired
By Megan Farokhmanesh
June 13, 2022
PENCIL IN ANOTHER win for collective bargaining efforts in the video game industry: On Monday, Microsoft and the Communications Workers of America formed a labor neutrality agreement, one that will allow workers to explore their right to unionize freely and without fear of retaliation. The agreement kicks in 60 days after Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard closes.
Palomar Health nurses, caregivers plan one-day strike for June 23
The Coast News Group
By Laura Place
June 14, 2022
Nurses and caregivers at Palomar Medical Centers in Escondido and Poway will go on strike on June 23 as a last resort to bring Palomar Health officials to the bargaining table. The decision to strike comes after failed negotiations over the previous year related to a new four-year contract. The California Nurses Association and the Caregivers and Healthcare Employees Union (CHEU) provided a 10-day strike notice to Palomar Health officials on June 13, just days after the Palomar Health union voted in favor of a strike due to unfair labor practices on June 7 and 8 at Palomar Medical Center in Escondido.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
AFT bookmobile brought 40,000 books to McDowell County to give away
Bluefield Daily Telegraph
By Charles Boothe
June 14, 2022
McDowell County children were given the opportunity to take home free books last Friday and Saturday in Welch. The Reading Opens the World project is sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and includes a large bookmobile that travels around the country. On Friday, it brought 40,000 books to give away in McDowell County. Rev. Leah Daughtry, chief of Staff for the AFT, and other AFT personnel, including national President Randi Weingarten, were in Welch for the official dedication of the 20-unit apartment building Renaissance Village for teachers and other professionals.
Fans available at area agencies
News-Press Now
By Ryan Hennessy
June 14, 2022
To help people during this wave of hot weather, the United Way of Greater St. Joseph has distributed 150 fans to agencies around town. AFL-CIO Community Services received 75 fans, InterServ received 50 fans and the United Way kept 25 at its Downtown location. Nichi Seckinger, the executive director at AFL-CIO, said they currently have a five-page waiting list for fans, so the drop-off helps at least 75 more families during the current heatwave.