UNION BUSTING
Union Busting: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (Video)
HBO
November 15, 2021
John Oliver discusses the mechanics of union busting, why the companies who do it face so few consequences, and what it really means when your manager wants to talk to you about “your attendance.”
John Oliver rips union busting by companies: ‘It’s all about killing momentum’
The Guardian
By Adrian Horton
November 15, 2021
John Oliver explored the many sinister and effective methods through which US companies bust unionization drives on Sunday’s Last Week Tonight, at one of the worst times for organized labor in the country’s history. Though nearly half of non-union workers say they would like to be in a union, only 10.8% of American workers belong to one, just above half the rate of unionization in 1983. The host then offered a few potential fixes, starting with the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or Pro Act, currently working through Congress, which would outlaw captive audience meetings and prevent employers from protracting negotiations for years. “Perhaps most importantly, it would put real financial penalties in place to prevent companies from violating workers’ rights without consequence,” Oliver said. “But until that law is passed, and it should pass, one of the most important things a worker could do is to try not to get disheartened during a campaign,” he added, “which I know isn’t easy, but union busting is all about killing momentum, splintering unity, and exhausting workers’ spirits.”
JOINING TOGETHER
The factors driving 'Striketober' (Audio)
NPR
By Michel Martin
November 14, 2021
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Jasmine Kerrissey, professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, about the recent wave of strikes and what it says about labor in America.
Alabama Miners Are Still on Strike After 8 Months
Jacobin
By Nora De La Cour
November 8, 2021
Last week, more than 500 coal mine workers picketed in New York City, joined by a diverse army of other labor movement members and supporters. The mine workers, who extract coal for steel production, are now in the eighth month of their strike against Warrior Met Coal in Brookwood, Alabama. Their aim is to force Warrior Met to restore the pay, benefits, and schedules they had before their previous employer, Walter Energy, declared bankruptcy and auctioned off its assets in 2016.
Hollywood crew union narrowly ratifies new contract with industry producers
CNBC
By Sarah Whitten
November 15, 2021
Members of a union that represents film and television crews have ratified two contracts with Hollywood’s studios that address the union’s call for better working hours, safer workplace conditions and improved benefits. On Monday, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees said 56% of the 641 delegate votes from all 36 locals voting for the basic and area standards agreements were in favor of the deal, while 44% voted “no.” “From start to finish, from preparation to ratification, this has been a democratic process to win the very best contracts,” said Matthew Loeb, IATSE’s international president. “The vigorous debate, high turnout, and close election, indicates we have an unprecedented movement-building opportunity to educate members on our collective bargaining process and drive more participation in our union long-term.”
IN THE STATES
Iowa Poll: Majority of Iowans support Deere workers over the company as strike enters second month
Des Moines Register
By Tyler Jett
November 15, 2021
Most Iowans support United Auto Workers members over their Deere & Co. bosses in the 10,100-worker strike in Iowa, Illinois and Kansas, a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll finds. Fifty-eight percent of Iowa adults say they mostly side with Deere workers. Sixteen percent of respondents say they mostly side with the employers, while 19% are unsure and 7% support neither group.
WORKPLACE EQUALITY
Athlete Group Tests NCAA Player Rights With Labor Complaint
Bloomberg
By Josh Eidelson
November 12, 2021
A new advocacy group has filed a U.S. labor board complaint against the National Collegiate Athletic Association, in what could be the first step in determining whether the government will treat college athletes as employees with union rights. The National Labor Relations Board filing accused the NCAA of violating federal labor law by misclassifying its players as “student-athletes,” rather than employees with workplace protections. The complaint was filed Wednesday and assigned to the labor board’s Indianapolis office, according to the agency’s docket.
INFRASTRUCTURE
How will CNY Benefit from Massive Infrastructure Bill?
WAER
By John Smith
November 15, 2021
How will the massive trillion dollar infrastructure package help the local labor force and transit services? Greg Lancette is the President of the Central & Northern New York Building & Construction Trades Council. As the infrastructure projects are built, he says it’ll bring economic stability and the workforce will want to stay here. AFL-CIO President, Anne Marie Taliercio says the federal dollars will extend to many more workers beyond the construction sites. “What’s happened here today is the middle class that we all strive to get up to or stay a part of is now secured through that many more workers. Because when the economy does good, people go to work.”
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 654 collecting Toys for Tots
Delco Daily Times
By Kathleen E. Carey
November 14, 2021
It may be a little early to break out the Christmas tunes but the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 654 is asking the community’s help to help make the holidays brighter for those less fortunate. The IBEW is collecting new, unwrapped toys for a distribution extravaganza featuring 93.3 WMMR’s Jacky Bam Bam as toys are distributed throughout the Delco community. It all started out with one Marine and a pandemic food drive. When the pandemic hit and everything was shut down, IBEW members made a choice.