CORONAVIRUS
As Covid-19 Numbers Soar, Some Nurses Don't Have Adequate Protections, National Nurses United Says
Health Leaders
By Carol Davis
September 27, 2021
Hospitals and health systems must do more to be fully compliant with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) emergency temporary standard (ETS) to protect nurses and other healthcare workers from COVID-19, says the latest survey of 5,000 RNs conducted by National Nurses United (NNU). The ETS, which includes requirements on personal protective equipment (PPE), patient and visitor screening, and employee notification within 24 hours of the employer becoming aware of exposure, is the first-of-its-kind enforceable federal COVID-19 standard that went into effect July 21. "We are more than 18 months into the pandemic, yet hospitals are still not doing enough to ensure the safety of nurses, patients, and other healthcare workers,” NNU executive director Bonnie Castillo, RN, said. "COVID cases are surging to their highest levels yet in some areas of the country, and some ICUs are over capacity," Castillo said. "Nurses need optimal personal protective equipment. Healthcare employers must notify nurses as soon as possible when they are exposed and make it easier for RNs and other healthcare workers to get tested."
JOINING TOGETHER
IATSE Strike Explained as Hollywood Faces Biggest Union Walkout Since World War Two
Newsweek
By Emma Nolan
September 27, 2021
Hollywood is facing its biggest union walkout since World War Two as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) prepares for a strike vote. Talks have broken down between the IATSE and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers as the workers who support productions seek improvements to their standards of working conditions. The workers are campaigning for longer turnarounds between production days, improved rates on streaming projects and improvements on meal and rest periods. "We are at a stage where the employers have made this struggle about power, not reason. Therefore we are initiating a strike vote to authorize me to call one if necessary," IATSE president Matthew Loeb told his members. Two separate strike authorization votes will take place from October 1 to 3.
Yale reaches tentative labor agreement with two unions
New Haven Register
By Raga Justin
September 27, 2021
Yale University has reached a tentative labor agreement with two unions that represent over 5,000 university employees, the university said Monday. The agreement will cover more than 5,000 unionized staff members working in varied positions, including research, administration, facility and dining hospitality jobs.
Deadline
By David Robb
September 27, 2021
The AFL-CIO’s Department for Professional Employees said today that it stands “united with IATSE” in its fight for a fair contract. IATSE members will begin voting to authorize a strike against film and television productions on Friday. “We proudly stand in solidarity with our IATSE kin in their push for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions,” said DPE president Jennifer Dorning, treasurer Everett Kelley, and Fedrick Ingram, chairman of the DPE’s general board, whose organization represents a coalition of 24 unions – including IATSE.
UMWA Hopes Shoal Creek Agreement Will Pave Way For Warrior Met
Patch
By Ryan Phillips
September 27, 2021
Members of the United Mine Workers of America Local Union 1948 on Sunday ratified a new collective bargaining agreement with Peabody Energy, which operates the Shoal Creek metallurgical coal mine that has been idled by a labor strike since Oct. 4, 2020. The new agreement passed in the union hall with 63% of the vote. UMWA International President Cecil E. Roberts said the ratification will pave the way for the reopening of the Shoal Creek mine, in addition to sending several hundred UMWA members back to work after nearly a year on the picket line. "This will provide an economic boost not just for our members and their families, but also to the communities where they live," Roberts said. "And it provides a roadmap to settling the six-month strike at Warrior Met Coal in the same region."
IN THE STATES
First draft of new U.S. congressional districts in Texas released
KVUE
By Maeve Ashbrook
September 27, 2021
Texas lawmakers released a proposal for what the state’s U.S. congressional districts could look like for the next 10 years. The map, released Monday, is the first draft of Texas’ new congressional map. In this proposed version, Austin gets one new district, but one previous district no longer contains any parts of Austin or its surrounding areas. The Texas AFL-CIO also announced its opposition to the map. “This map is illegitimate, placing incumbency protection and seizure of power ahead of communities of interest and the changing demographics of our state,” said Texas AFL-CIO President Rick Levy. “While 19 of 20 Texans added in the last decade were persons of color, this map appears to draw one less Hispanic majority district and no district with an African American majority. It continues an unfortunate history of Texas drawing maps to seize power rather than represent all Texans. While there is speculation about who is going to run for which office, our focus for now will be on fighting to make sure this map never becomes law.”