AFL-CIO Press Clips: May 23, 2022

EQUAL PAY

The U.S. women’s national team notches its most deserved victory yet  (Opinion)
The Washington Post
By the Editorial Board
May 19, 2022

The U.S. women’s national soccer team is no stranger to winning — yet this week’s victory closing the gender pay gap between the squad and its male counterpart must taste especially sweet. The battle was as hard-fought as any match, and the prize is worth more to all of sports than any trophy. The U.S. Soccer Federation announced on Wednesday that collective bargaining with the men’s and women’s national teams had resulted in a deal to equalize salaries and bonuses. This final hurrah comes after years of argument between the women’s team and the national governing body, including a lawsuit settled last year for $24 million. During this confrontation, the athlete-employees continued working hard for their employer on the pitch — defeating the globe’s best time and time again with their usual panache. The United States is now the first country to reach equal pay for its men’s and women’s soccer teams. Ideally, it will be far from the last.

 TRANSPORTATION 

Autonomous transit buses will still need skilled operators, researchers say
Smart Cities Dive
By Dan Zukowski
May 20, 2022

“There’s a reason why we still require qualified pilots because that’s the safest way to operate an aircraft,” said Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.  “Technology can be really helpful in improving safety, but it needs to be along the lines of improving the operator’s ability to do their job in a safe manner.” There are 162,850 transit operators currently employed in the United States, many of them represented by TTD member unions. Regan said unions have not been “anti-technology.” Rather, he explained, “We want to make sure that as technologies are integrated into our system, that it is done in the safest possible way.”

JOINING TOGETHER

Kahler Hotel employees continue to push for better working conditions
KTTC
By Beret Leone
May 21, 2022

Unite Here! Local 17 represents employees at Kahler Hospitality Group, which encompasses about 150 to 200 employees between several hotels in Rochester. “These workers make the hotels run, and they need to be compensated for it,” Unite Here! Local 17 president Christa Mello said. Workers were joined by delegates who were at the DFL state convention, many of whom, are staying in Kahler Hotels for the weekend. Included in the list of speakers, was MN AFL-CIO President, Bernie Burnham and Minn. Attorney General Keith Ellison. “There are workers at the hotel that have been working there 30 years, that are still making $15 an hour,” Burnham said. “These wages are unlivable, especially with the cost of living skyrocketing across the state, especially right here in Rochester. You said it. That ain’t right.”

AMAZON

Amazon accused of firing North Randall worker who was trying to unionize fulfillment center, NLRB investigating
Cleveland.com
By Sean McDonnell
May 20, 2022

But while details are lacking, the charge does point to one thing. Unionization is at least being discussed at North Randall’s Amazon facility. Dan O’Malley, leader of the North Shore AFL-CIO, said Amazon has tried to stop unions in the past. “Although we are still learning the details of this particular incident in North Randall, Amazon’s illegal and merciless union busting tactics are well documented,” O’Malley said.

IN THE STATES

Illinois prioritizes equitable access to green jobs on its path to 100% clean energy
Daily Herald
By Laura Aka
May 22, 2022

"We're creating literally tens of thousands of new jobs in the green energy space," says Pat Devaney, secretary-treasurer, Illinois AFL-CIO. The union represents some 900,000 workers and 1,500 affiliates across the state. With its history in fossil fuels, Devaney says it's important to engage the union membership. "The first real piece that we did with our affiliates was an education piece and an acknowledgment that, 'Hey, we believe climate change is a thing and we know we need to transition to a greener energy economy.'"