INFRASTRUCTURE
Wisconsin Leaders Comment on the Passing of the Infrastructure Bill
Milwaukee Courier
By Ana Martinez-Ortiz
November 13, 2021
Bloomingdale is the president of Wisconsin AFL-CIO. This is the biggest infrastructure investment in America’s history, she said, adding that the last infrastructure investment of this size was passed by former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. “We have lived for far too long with crumbling bridges, with roads we can’t drive on, we can’t get to work on time, with water that is not clean and that is filled with lead laterals, with broadband that doesn’t work and a transportation system that leaves us behind on the world stage,” she said. “This infrastructure bill will help us to regain our competitiveness in the world.”
How Congress’ massive infrastructure bill will impact Wyoming and its residents
The Sheridan Press
By Victoria Eavis
November 16, 2021
Union workers are expected to benefit. Many of the jobs added through the bill will “largely be union jobs,” Tammy Johnson, executive secretary of the Wyoming AFL-CIO, said in an email to union workers.
JOINING TOGETHER
Poll shows 74% of voters OK strikes for higher pay, benefits
People’s World
By Mark Gruenberg
November 16, 2021
The Data for Progress survey cited the recent forced strikes by United Auto Workers members against John Deere and by Bakery, Confectionery and Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers against Nabisco and against Kellogg. All three profitable firms demanded concessions and either offered skimpy raises or demanded pay cuts. UAW members have rejected two John Deere contract proposals so far. “Strikes are leading indicators that our country is heading in the right direction—a healthy response to imbalances of power created by employers who believe they should be able to squeeze more and more out of the workers who make their companies profitable,” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said in a statement. The poll in mid-October—or, as the fed called it, “Striketober”–had a sampling error of plus or minus 3%. It showed 35% of respondents strongly approved of strikes, including 49% of Democrats, 32% of independents or third-party members and 22% of Republicans. Another 39% somewhat approve, including 38% each of both parties and 40% of independents.
Harvard Graduate Students Union reaches tentative contract deal with university
Boston Globe
By Jeremy C. Fox
November 16, 2021
Harvard University and the union representing graduate student workers have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract that forestalled a strike, and that the university says will increase union members’ compensation and benefits by $23.5 million. The agreement, reached Monday after eight months of negotiations, provides the more than 4,500 members of the Harvard Graduate Students Union-United Automobile Workers with annual raises, expanded medical benefits, and a new legal fund to support workers in employment disputes, according to statements from the union and the university. The union’s bargaining committee unanimously approved the agreement on Monday night; it must now be ratified by a vote of the full membership. Voting will begin Thursday and end Nov. 27, the union said.
Wyndham Philadelphia hotel workers protest ahead of contract negotiations
Philly Voice
By Maggie Mancini
November 16, 2021
More than a dozen workers at the Wyndham Philadelphia Historic District demonstrated outside the Old City hotel Monday, the eve of contract negotiations between their union and the hotel's owner, RLJ Lodging Trust. The workers are part of UNITE HERE Local 274, which represents hotel, airport and other food and hospitality workers across the Philadelphia region. They authorized a strike in late October. After two weeks passed without an agreement, they demonstrated outside the hotel, located at 400 Arch St. in Old City.
IN THE STATES
Nevada Democrats tout signing of bill bringing billions to the state
Nevada Current
By Michael Lyle
November 15, 2021
Susie Martinez, the executive secretary-treasurer of the Nevada State AFL-CIO, said Biden made good on his promise to not only pass the bill but “to put our union brothers and sisters first. “This bill will bring billions of dollars to our state and create more than 140,000 jobs — putting Nevadans to work and allowing them to see the union difference for themselves with better wages, benefits, and working conditions,” she said. “President Biden is a lifelong supporter of workers and is once again standing with the labor movement by supporting this legislation and signing this bill into law. Next stop: the Build Back Better Act.”
TN Labor Leader Eddie Bryan Dies At 88
Patch
By Tennessee Lookout Staff
November 16, 2021
A Nashville native and graduate of Hume Fogg High School, Bryan began his career as an installer and repairman for South Central Bell, joining Communication Workers of America Local 3808 before working his way into labor leadership. He served as deputy commissioner of Labor for the Tennessee Department of Labor 1975-1979 in the administrations of Democratic Gov. Ray Blanton and Republican Gov. Lamar Alexander. In 1981, he was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Tennessee AFL-CIO and held the position for more than 30 years. "Tennessee's labor movement lost a legend early this morning. Eddie was a larger-than-life figure who never met a stranger and always had a smile on his face. It is truly impossible to not associate the fight for workers' rights in our state with his name. No words can adequately describe how grateful we are for all of his contributions to our labor family throughout his remarkable life," said Tennessee AFL-CIO President Billy Dycus and Secretary-Treasurer A.J. Starling in a written statement.
Maine.gov
November 16, 2021
“Registered apprenticeship is a tried-and-true method to ensure that workers earn while they learn and that we develop a highly skilled, local workforce for jobs that exist. Apprentices learn a skilled trade, land a good union job and develop a solid career without incurring debt. As Maine builds a clean energy economy and tackles climate change, it is more important than ever that we ensure those are good quality jobs with strong apprenticeship opportunities. We applaud Governor Mills and the Legislature’s strategic investment in registered apprenticeship in the Maine Jobs and Recovery plan legislation,” said Matt Schlobohm, Executive Director of the Maine AFL-CIO.