Today's AFL-CIO press cips
MUST READ
How women are changing labor unions
Politico
By Emma Cordover
May 24, 2024
Across the country, labor is having a moment: Historic United Auto Workers wins (and some losses) in the union-resistant South, Amazon factory organizing, Hollywood’s SAG-AFTRA strike and Starbucks workers’ union fight have dominated headlines this year. “I am riding that wave and loving every minute of it,” Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest federation of union workers, tells Women Rule. As waves of labor activism sweep the country, women of color are leading union growth, while union women in construction and manufacturing are raising labor and safety standards for all workers. Within unions — spaces once largely dominated by white men — leaders say they are pushing women of all races and men of color to take on leadership roles and incentivizing women to join previously male-dominated industries. Contrary to the stereotype of the flannel-wearing, work-boot-stomping union guy, Shuler, says “the reality is the labor movement is the largest organization of working women in the country. We represent 6.5 million women — so we are a women’s movement.”
CIVIL, HUMAN, AND WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists maps strategy for 2024 and beyond
People’s World
By Cameron Harrison and Eric Brooks
May 24, 2024
“Staying neutral means staying silent. It means risking the rights of workers and the civil rights of all. It means the continuation of unemployment and poor wages while the powerful continue to get richer.” That’s the warning from Fred Redmond, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO and the highest-ranking Black trade unionist in the country. Redmond was speaking to over 1,200 Black, Latino/a, Asian, Arab, Indigenous, and white delegates and guests at the 53rd International Convention of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) that filled the Houston Marriott Marquis Hotel convention center on Thursday morning. Founded in 1972, the CBTU has been a driving force for trade union militancy and diversity and has been holding the labor movement accountable since its inception.
LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
Industry Scrambles for Influence in Washington As Lawmakers Weigh AI Restrictions
The Wrap
By Esther D'Amico
May 24, 2024
The entertainment industry is pushing for a say as Washington lawmakers draft artificial intelligence legislation aimed at establishing federal protections against the unauthorized use of AI-generated images, voices and likenesses. The sense of urgency over AI is being felt across the industry — from the guilds to the studios to the tech companies themselves — all of whom are actively lobbying the federal government to make their voices heard.
APPRENTICESHIPS
Arizona gets $650,000 grant for construction apprenticeship program
Big News Network
By Alex Gonzalez
May 26, 2024
The State of Arizona has received more than $650,000 in grant awards to advance five construction and trade registered apprenticeship programs. Michael Dea, business manager and secretary-treasurer for Laborers' International Union of North America Local 1184, said Arizona is experiencing an "economic boom" thanks to federal legislation passed by the Biden administration.
ORGANIZING
UAW asks US board for new unionization vote at Mercedes' Alabama plant
Reuters
By Nora Eckert
May 24, 2024
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is seeking a new election at a Mercedes-Benz plant in Alabama after losing a vote there last week, according to a petition filed on Friday with the National Labor Relations Board. The union accused Mercedes (MBGn.DE), opens new tab of engaging "in a relentless anti-union campaign" including the firing of employees who were pro-union and holding frequent captive-audience meetings to spread anti-union views, according to the filing.
Houston Herald
By Herald Staff
May 24, 2024
City of Houston employees voted unanimously this week to join the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW 753) union out of Springfield. Four eligible employees did not vote. Those voting – 19 – did not include the electric department, which previously joined the union, the police department, city clerk and parks and recreation director.
U.A.W. Seeks a New Election at Mercedes-Benz Plants in Alabama
The New York Times
By Jack Ewing
May 24, 2024
A week after losing a hard-fought election at two Mercedes-Benz factories in Alabama, the United Automobile Workers asked federal officials on Friday to order a new vote, saying the German carmaker violated labor laws to suppress support for the union. Mercedes-Benz conducted a “relentless anti-union campaign” marked by “wanton lawlessness,” the U.A.W. said in a complaint to the National Labor Relations Board. Among other things, the union said, Mercedes fired four employees who supported the union, prevented pro-union employees from campaigning and forced employees to watch anti-union videos.
JOINING TOGETHER
Workers at Georgia school bus maker Blue Bird approve their first union contract
AP News
By Staff
May 24, 2024
A year after they voted to unionize, workers at a Georgia school bus manufacturer have approved their first contract. The United Steelworkers union and Blue Bird Corp. said union members at Blue Bird’s assembly plants and warehouse in Fort Valley have voted to approve a three-year contract between the company and the union. The union said the contract will provide all 1,500 covered workers with at least a 12% raise, with some of the lowest-paid workers getting raises of more than 40%. The union says the company will contribute to a retirement plan for workers, share profits, and improve health and safety. The negotiations had been closely watched by President Joe Biden’s administration, in part because Blue Bird has gotten $40 million in federal aid to build electric school buses. Biden released a statement Thursday saying acting Labor Secretary Julie Su had helped bring the negotiations to a successful agreement. Contract talks after a first union vote are often difficult.
Academy Foundation Workers Ratify First Union Contract
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
May 24, 2024
Nearly a year and a half after their union was voluntarily recognized, workers at the Academy Foundation — a nonprofit dedicated to protecting film history — have ratified their first labor contract. In results that were tallied on Wednesday, 64 workers voted “yes” to passing the new three-year agreement, while none voted against the deal. Eighty-six archivists, film preservationists, librarians, curators and others who work at the 501(c)(3) arm of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences are included in the union, which is called the Academy Foundation Workers Union. The contract went into effect on Thursday.
Blue Bird's Collective Bargaining Agreement Gets United Steelworkers Ratification
Market Watch
By Sabela Ojea
May 24, 2024
Blue Bird said its collective bargaining agreement has been ratified by United Steelworkers. The manufacturer of electric and low-emission school buses on Friday said that eligible members of the U.S. union voted overwhelmingly in favor of the three-year agreement. The CBA, which comes about a year after Blue Bird workers voted to join the U.S. union, covers more than 1,500 production workers at the company's Fort Valley, Ga. facility.
Salisbury’s city employees vote to ratify first-of-its-kind union
WMDT
By Hannah Cechini
May 24, 2024
The city of Salisbury is making history, as its employees have voted in favor of ratifying a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). It’s a first both for the City, and the Eastern Shore of Maryland. “They now have a seat at the table when it comes to their wages, hours, and working conditions, and their benefits. They didn’t have that in the past, and that’s a big change,” said AFSCME Maryland Council 3 President Patrick Moran. The CBA includes 6% in total raises for full- and part-time employees over two years. A 4% increase will go into effect on July 1st, with another 2% increase implemented in January of 2025. In addition, the contract establishes on-call pay and a pay premium for working during weather emergencies and Christmas. Pay premiums for those working evening and night shifts are also being expanded, along with workplace rights, protections, and benefits. Moran says this contract covers about 200 employees. He adds that AFSCME represents public employees across the country, and particularly in Maryland.
IATSE Sets More Bargaining Dates in June, as AI Remains Key Issue
Variety
By Gene Maddaus
May 24, 2024
IATSE has scheduled an additional three days of bargaining in June in which it hopes to wrap up a tentative agreement with the studios. The union told members Friday that it has reached “consensus” with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on some issues. But there is still work to do on artificial intelligence, and how best to protect workers whose jobs are displaced by AI. Under existing agreements, IATSE workers who lose their jobs permanently due to “technological change” are entitled to retraining and severance pay. The new contract is expected to address how that would apply in the case of AI.
Workers back Blue Bird contract with Steelworkers union
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
By Michael E. Kanell
May 24, 2024
More than 1,500 Blue Bird Corp. workers have voted overwhelmingly to approve their first union contract with the company, locking in higher wages, a plan for retirement savings and a start to profit-sharing, according to company and union officials. The three-year contract, which comes a year after workers voted to join the United Steelworkers (USW), was praised by leaders of both union and management of the iconic Fort Valley-based manufacturer.
IATSE Sets Additional Bargaining Dates for West Coast Locals
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
May 24, 2024
Hollywood’s major crew union and top studios and streamers have set a new date to return to shared negotiations on core issues for West Coast Locals. The 13 IATSE West Coast Locals — a group that includes the International Cinematographers Guild and the Motion Picture Editors Guild and bargains on behalf of around 50,000 workers — will resume talks covering wages, working conditions, benefits and AI on June 3 through 5, the union announced on Friday. General negotiations over the contract, called the Basic Agreement, broke off on May 16 after the two sides failed to come to a deal within their previously allotted window.
Mobilization for Justice strike ends after 13 weeks
NYN Media
By Phenix Kim
May 27, 2024
The union at Mobilization for Justice ended its 13-week strike, securing a new contract that honors major victories for the union, the labor movement said in a press release issued Thursday. Marking the end of the longest New York City legal services strike since 1991, members of the union returned to work at the nonprofit legal service agency, after 72% of participating members voted to ratify a new contract that secured core demands such as double-digit raises for lowest paid workers, expanded workplace protections, and no benefits givebacks.
Teachers, Students Rally For Schools Budget Bump
Patch
By Maya McFadden
May 24, 2024
“What do we want? Fully-funded schools! When do we want it? Now!” Those chants echoed down Mitchell Drive Friday morning as New Haven students, teachers, and paraprofessionals kicked off a day of action to rally support for increased funding for the city’s public schools.
‘They risk it all everyday’: Union renews push to increase James Is. firefighter pay
Live 5
By Meredith Blair
May 24, 2024
A labor union is calling out the James Island Public Service District for underpaying the firefighters people call in a time of need. James Island firefighters have a starting salary of $36,525,40, according to documents obtained by Live 5 News. The Charleston Firefighters Association took to social media to point out that’s the lowest salary when looking at several other nearby departments. They say a fully-staffed shift for James Island is 14 members, but there are nine vacancies, forcing an unhealthy and unsafe amount of overtime. When it comes to deciding how much James Island firefighters make, that’s up to the James Island Public Service District Commission, not the town. Professional Firefighters Association of South Carolina Board member John Baker said this makes him sad and disgusted, but he’s also optimistic. Baker wants people to understand why this is a big concern.
STATE LEGISLATION
Progressive Democrats and unions protest against Gov. Jared Polis' veto of wage theft bill, others
Colorado Politics
By Marianne Goodland
May 23, 2024
Three bills vetoed by Gov. Jared Polis last Friday prompted progressive Democrats and union allies to hold a boisterous rally on the west steps of the state Capitol on Thursday. The crowd of 500 people shouted at the governor, whose office is just feet away from the west steps. However, a Polis spokesperson said the governor was not at the Capitol Thursday. The rally was led by AFL-CIO's Dennis Dougherty and House Majority Leader Monica Duran of Wheat Ridge, who sponsored HB 1008 and HB 1260. She promised to continue talking to stakeholders and the governor for the next legislative session.
IN THE STATES
The Southland Journal
By Silence DoGood
May 26, 2024
Earlier today, the Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to protect workers from unwanted or offensive political and religious speech unrelated to job performance. If signed, Illinois would be the 8th state to enact legislation with these protections. The bill had the support of a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Illinois AFL-CIO, Chicago Federation of Labor, Equality Illinois, Planned Parenthood, Citizen Action, Women Employed, Shriver Center on Poverty Law, and Raise the Floor Alliance.
What labor bills passed and didn’t in Minnesota this year
Inforum
By Max Nesterak
May 26, 2024
Employers will face harsher penalties — up to $10,000 for each violation — for misclassifying employees as independent contractors to avoid paying for minimum wages, overtime, unemployment insurance and workers’ compensation.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
'We're just trying to make a difference.' UAW 933 clears trash on west side of Indy.
Indy Star
By Mykal McEldowney
May 27, 2024
Chasity Wiggins, a fabricating machine specialist and 13-year member of United Auto Workers Local 933, picks up trash Friday, April 26, 2024, from the median of Holt Road on the west side of Indianapolis. Wiggins says signed up to be a member of the groups women's committee when she joined the union in 2011. "I've just grown so much as a person," Wiggins said. "Now I sit on the executive board, and it's so rewarding to give back. I used to be afraid to be a spokesperson and now I, I talk to people. I am not afraid to stand up in front of a class and speak. And that's all because of the union sending me to classes to be an effective educator. And so it's rewarding. It is."
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 honors lifetime members
Labor Tribune
By Staff
May 27, 2024
Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 honored its latest Lifetime Members with 50 years of service to the local at its May 8 union meeting.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Bipartisan bill would require air quality filters for commercial airplane ventilations systems
WHIO TV
By WHIO Staff
May 24, 2024
Flight crews say most commercial planes use ventilation systems that could expose people to toxic fumes. Shannon De Witt said he is one of them. “It’s hell on earth,” he said. De Witt has been on medical leave for the last two years after he said he was exposed to toxic jet fumes during his 18 years as a flight attendant. “I’m still in recovery. I still have consequences of the fumes events over many years,” said De Witt.
LABOR LEADERSHIP
Brooke Shields Elected President of Actors’ Labor Union
The New York Times
By Michael Paulson
May 24, 2024
Brooke Shields, the model-turned-actor who has starred in films, television and onstage, has been elected as the next president of Actors’ Equity Association, the labor union representing stage actors and stage managers. Shields, 58, will take office immediately. She succeeds Kate Shindle, who had been the union’s president since 2015, and announced last month that she would not seek re-election. The position of Equity president is a volunteer job, and Shields was elected to a four-year term. There have been a number of other well-known performers who have served in the post previously, including Burgess Meredith, Ellen Burstyn, Colleen Dewhurst and Ron Silver.