AFL-CIO Press Clips: June 7, 2022
APPRENTICESHIPS
Mills announces $12M to more than double apprenticeships in Maine
Maine Biz
By Staff
June 6, 2022
Awards totaling $12.3 million to 14 organizations will expand apprenticeship opportunities across Maine in more than 50 new occupations. Gov. Janet Mills said the expansion is part of her administration’s effort to strengthen Maine’s workforce through the Maine Jobs & Recovery Plan. The funding is expected to reach more than 3,000 Maine people, doubling today’s total of 1,175 apprentices. Maine AFL-CIO plans to develop three new pre-apprenticeship programs focused on providing multi-craft core curriculum in partnership with IBEW 1253, New England Laborers Training Academy, Maine Building and Construction Trades Council, and RSU 19.
STUDENT DEBT
Unions lobby Biden for bolder approach to student debt relief
News AKMI
By Julie McMahon
June 6, 2022
The AFL-CIO announced last month its support for canceling student debt. So too have traditionally blue-collar unions, such as United Auto Workers, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and United Food & Commercial Workers, which all signed a letter last month urging Biden to cancel student debt “immediately.” The broad union backing may provide Biden with some political cover and help counter concerns, even from some Democrats, that student debt cancellation will be perceived as elitist by voters who never attended college. “This is a working people’s issue,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said during a town hall with young workers last month. “There is a sort of stereotype that we’re talking about Ivy Leaguers who have racked up all this debt. It’s absolutely not true.”
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Labor unions are seeing highest approval rating in over half a century
WTHI-TV
By Kit Hanley
June 7, 2022
People all over the nation are quitting their jobs due to low pay, lack of benefits, and zero job security. It is being referred to as "The Great Resignation," and it's contributing to an increase in people pursuing union jobs. According to the latest Gallup Poll -- 68% of Americans approve of labor unions.
Poor People's Campaign Demands Meeting With Biden As Millions Face Rising Costs, Stagnant Wages
Common Dreams
By Kenny Stancil
June 6, 2022
Dozens of unions representing millions of working people—including the AFL-CIO; American Federation of Teachers; American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees; American Postal Workers Union; Association of Flight Attendants; Communications Workers of America; National Education Association, Service Employees International Union; UNITE HERE; United Steelworkers; United Food and Commercial Workers Union; and United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America—recently released a video endorsing the upcoming assembly and march. "Working people are fed up and fired up, and in workplaces across the country, we are saying enough is enough," AFL-CIO president Liz Schuler said in a statement. "We are tired of the rich getting richer while breaking the rules as working families just struggle to get by... We will join together in D.C. to call for an end to poverty."
JOINING TOGETHER
Music Supervisors Want To Unionize; Seek To Join IATSE
Deadline
By David Robb
June 6, 2022
Film and TV music supervisors, fed up with deteriorating working conditions and stagnant wages, want to unionize with IATSE, which is calling on the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers to voluntarily recognize them after a large majority signed authorization cards to join the union. IATSE, however, said that the AMPTP indicated last week it does not intend to do so. “Every worker deserves to have rights and a voice in the workplace, regardless of how your employer values your work,” IATSE president Matthew Loeb said. “The workers have spoken, and the AMPTP should respect its workers and democracy by voluntarily recognizing Music Supervisors’ union immediately.”
Peace Coffee Workers Elect to Unionize in Minneapolis
Daily Coffee News
By Nick Brown
June 6, 2022
Amidst a wave of organized labor efforts in the specialty coffee industry, employees at Minneapolis-based Peace Coffee have formally elected to unionize. According to the Local 663 chapter of the United Food & Commercial Workers Union (UFCW), 17 employees of the company were part of the majority vote and will now comprise the bargaining unit in contract negotiations. As of this writing, the National Labor Relations Board, the federal agency that oversees union elections, had not yet published the final vote tally, although UFCW Local 663 Communications Director Jessica Hayssen told DCN that it was a “strong majority” in favor.