MUST READ
Taking the lead at the AFL-CIO
The Hill
By Karl Evers-Hillstrom
October 5, 2021
Liz Shuler’s ascension to AFL-CIO chief comes at a critical time for the nation’s largest labor group, which is grappling with declining union membership, union-busting corporate giants and a Democratic Congress that is struggling to pass pro-worker priorities. Part of Shuler’s mission is to redefine the labor movement as being for workers of all backgrounds and in every industry. She often notes that of the federation’s roughly 12.5 million workers, nearly half are women. “I think it’s important to have a woman in this role so that women in the workforce see the labor movement as the movement for them,” Shuler said. “We’re the largest organization in the country of working women, and I don’t think a lot of people see us that way.” Shuler aims to expand the labor movement to growing parts of the economy that remain largely nonunionized such as the tech sector, including gig economy firms that are circumventing the traditional employment structure.
JOINING TOGETHER
Kellogg's workers go on strike at Battle Creek plant
News Channel 3
By Chris Yu
October 4, 2021
Employees of the Kellogg's plant in Battle Creek went on strike early Tuesday morning after their contract expired, a move that was expected at Kellogg's facilities in other states as well. The Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers Union, which represents employees of the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, Memphis, Tennessee, Omaha, Nebraska, and Lancaster, Pennsylvania, said their master contract expired at 12 a.m. Tuesday.
Washington Spirit CEO resigns amid reckoning in National Women’s Soccer League
The Washington Post
By Molly Hensley-Clancy
October 5, 2021
“Players are achieving what NWSL couldn’t figure out,” Meghann Burke, the executive director of the players’ association, told The Post. “That’s what it means to take our power back.”
Omaha Kellogg's plant workers walk out on strike
KETV
October 5, 2021
Around 500 union employees of the Kellogg's plant in Omaha walked out on strike early Tuesday, joining colleagues at three other Kellogg's facilities across the country in a dispute over wage disparities. It's the first strike at the Omaha plant since 1972. Workers established a picket line outside the Omaha facility just after midnight with signs reading "on strike against Kellogg company for wages, benefits and conditions of employment" Kellogg's contract with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union expired early Tuesday.
California Nurses Association to represent 200 at Manteca hospital after RNs approve union
The Sacramento Bee
By Cathie Anderson
October 5, 2021
Registered nurses at Doctors Hospital of Manteca voted 121 to 8 to join the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United, the union announced last week. CNA/NNU will now represent roughly 200 RNs at the facility, a unit of for-profit Tenet Healthcare, as they negotiate their first contract. The union already represents 5,500 registered nurses at 14 Tenet hospitals in Arizona, California and Texas. “It’s a new day for Doctors’ nurses, patients, and our entire community,” said Kamal Kaur, a registered nurse at Doctors Hospital. “We are thrilled to join with our Tenet RN ... colleagues at other facilities who have achieved important gains and continue to work to set new standards for all Tenet RNs.”
Art Net News
By Caroline Goldstein
October 5, 2021
Workers at the Baltimore Museum of Art have announced plans to form a union, making the employees the latest in a nationwide push for better working conditions and higher pay at art museums, a field that suffers from drastic inequities. In a statement, the Baltimore Museum organizers noted that the museum’s mission is to provide “artistic excellence and social equity,” and that the members were now “channeling this passion and energy to form a union.” Among the changes the union is seeking is better job security, fairer wages, and a say in decisions that affect them, according to the union’s website. The organizers of the union announced their intention to join the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) local council 67 in a blog post. AFSCME represents around 10,000 museum employees across the U.S.
IN THE STATES
Maine Public
By Robbie Feinberg
October 5, 2021
Labor advocates are mostly encouraged by the effort, too. Maine AFL-CIO spokesperson Andy O'Brien said that he's glad to see that the new training will focus on sectors including education, manufacturing and healthcare, but he also wants to be sure that workers are being trained for quality jobs with living wages and benefits. "The training is important. But It needs to be coupled with strong labor standards," O'Brien said. Both business and labor advocates say that training is only one piece of the puzzle in getting more people into jobs — and that barriers including childcare and transportation are still preventing many people from being able to return to the workforce.