POLITICS
Pass the PRO Act to Demand More for ALL Workers (Opinion)
Common Dreams
By Brianna Westbrook
September 22, 2021
Unions and strong labor laws help to prevent employers from violating civil rights as protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. They also help reduce income equality, which the LGBT community faces at much higher rates than the non-LGBTQ community. Though the National Labor Rights Act (NLRA) began holding employers accountable, the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act strengthens the power of the people to improve their workplace conditions, pay, and benefits.
JOINING TOGETHER
Union workers strike outside Kone's Coal Valley facility
WQAD
By Shelby Kluver
September 20, 2021
Union workers at Kone were on strike on Monday, asking for changes to the company's pay and retirement systems. More than two dozen union members were outside of Kone's Coal Valley facility, off of Rt. 6. The "Local 1191" of the International Machinists Union say they Kone's two-tiered payment system creates too much of a gap between employees.
Art Institute employees gain majority support for union, ask museum for voluntary recognition
Chicago Tribune
By Robert Channick
September 22, 2021
Backed by majority support from employees, organizers at the Art Institute of Chicago announced Wednesday they are asking the museum to voluntarily recognize the first labor union at the iconic cultural institution. Union organizers began collecting signature cards from about 640 employees at the Art Institute and the School of the Art Institute last month, and after gaining a “solid majority,” delivered letters Wednesday to leadership at the museum and school requesting recognition without a formal vote. The Art Institute of Chicago Workers United would be the first major museum union in Chicago.
Workers win, ending Mondelez Oreo cookie strike
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
September 22, 2021
Key issues were not just raises, but working conditions. Those sometimes included back-to-back 12-to-16-hour shifts, BCTGM said. The workers at the firm’s five U.S. snack plants, including Portland and Chicago, didn’t get all they wanted, but they got a lot from the firm and overwhelmingly ratified the contract, said union President Anthony Shelton. “This has been a long and difficult fight for our striking members, their families and our union. Throughout the strike, our members displayed tremendous courage, grit and determination,” he said Sept. 18.
IN THE STATES
Minnesota AFL-CIO wraps 55th convention with call for solidarity
Workday Minnesota
By Michael Moore
September 22, 2021
During a pandemic-shortened convention that gaveled to a close this morning, delegates from the Minnesota AFL-CIO’s affiliate unions reflected on the importance of solidarity during times of crisis, and reaffirmed their commitment to building a just, inclusive labor movement capable of fighting for all working Minnesotans. “No matter what we look like or where we come from, we all should have the freedom to come together and negotiate,” Secretary-Treasurer Brad Lehto said in opening remarks Monday. Held virtually, the statewide federation’s 55th convention featured guest speakers, resolutions and reports on local unions’ organizing and political work. During a special presentation, frontline workers discussed their experiences keeping the state running during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ryan Ellison, a grocery store worker and member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1189, recalled tense interactions with customers about masks and widespread fear about coming into contact with the virus.
Lawsuit filed over same-day voter registration bill
NBC Montana
By Jonathan May
September 22, 2021
The Montana Federation of Public Employees (MFPE), the Montana AFL-CIO, the Montana Association of Centers for Independent Living, and several Montana citizens filed suit Wednesday against the Montana Secretary of State. The lawsuit addresses House Bill 176, which would eliminate same-day voter registration. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Gianforte after the 2021 Legislative Session.