MUST READ
AFL-CIO’s Redmond visits Teamsters picket
The Stand
By David Groves
December 8, 2021
As a group of 330 Teamsters who transport sand/gravel and concrete for six different construction companies remain on strike, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond joined Teamsters Local 174 Secretary-Treasurer Rick Hicks, Washington State Labor Council President Larry Brown and Secretary-Treasurer April Sims, and other Washington labor leaders on the picket line Tuesday outside Stoneway Concrete to express their solidarity. They urged the striking Teamsters to keep fighting “one day longer” than their employers until they get a fair contract.
IN THE STATES
Lakewood City Council President O’Malley named to Cleveland Mayor-elect’s transition team
Cleveland.com
By John Benson
December 8, 2021
Among the 75 “emerging and experienced leaders” serving on Cleveland Mayor-elect Justin Bibb’s recently announced transition team is Lakewood City Council President Daniel J. O’Malley. The appointment is tied to O’Malley’s day job as North Shore AFL-CIO executive secretary, where as a member of the Open Government sub-committee he’ll help shape Bibb’s priorities for the first 100 days of his administration.
JOINING TOGETHER
Starbucks workers in Buffalo to decide this week whether to form coffee chain’s first U.S. union
CNBC
By Amelia Lucas
December 8, 2021
Starbucks workers at three cafes in Buffalo, New York, voted this week on whether to form a union, a choice that could have far-reaching implications for the coffee giant and broader restaurant industry. Mail-in voting concludes Wednesday and the National Labor Relations Board will begin counting votes Thursday afternoon. Roughly 100 employees who work at the company-owned locations are eligible to participate in the election, based on the voting list drawn up by Starbucks.
Tensions Rise at Columbia as Strikers Fear Retaliation From University
The New York Times
By Ashley Wong
December 8, 2021
The scenes of protest dotting the campus on Wednesday came six weeks into a strike by the Student Workers of Columbia, a United Auto Workers Local 2110 union with about 3,000 graduate and undergraduate students. The strike, which is being waged over higher pay, expanded health care and greater protections against harassment and discrimination, has embroiled the campus administration in a lengthy struggle with its own student body. Wednesday’s action brought one of the largest turnouts since the strike began, as union members were joined by members of student worker unions and faculty from New York University, Fordham University and the City University of New York, and labor unions such as Teamsters Local 104.
Special Metals strike entering day 70; Union remains hopeful for an agreement next week
WCHS
By Anna Saunders
December 9, 2021
Thursday marks 70 days on strike for the 450 workers at Special Metals who walked out on October 1 over contract negotiation. However, union officials with United Steelworkers Local 40, who represent the workers, are hoping by the end of next week, they will have some good news. After two days of what Local 40 President Chad Thompson called productive negotiations last week, he says he feels good about their upcoming dates that a fair contract could finally be coming.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Adopt-A-Family program looks to adopters for donations
News Press-Now
By Ryan Hennessy
December 8, 2021
Each family can vary in size, which is why if you break down their numbers into individuals, around 1,880 people have submitted Christmas lists to AFL-CIO’s Executive Director Nichi Seckinger. “We had a group several years ago that lost a young man in their household, and the whole family decided that they couldn’t do Christmas,” Seckinger said. “Instead they were going to do Christmas for other people ... I think they adopted eight families between all of them.” The number of folks asking to be adopted will likely increase in the coming weeks, as families are still pending approval. The current number of approved and pending families sits at 717. If you are thinking of adopting a family, Seckinger estimated that one child will cost an adopter between $50 and $100.