Today's AFL-CIO press clips
JOINING TOGETHER
Unionizing REI Workers Want Their ‘Progressive’ Employer to Pay a Living Wage
Vice
Lauren Kaori Gurley
Jan. 27, 2022
Last Friday, 116 employees at the Soho store in Manhattan filed for a union election with the Retail Warehouse and Department Store Union, the first of the retailer’s 15,000 employees nationwide to seek to form a union. REI has long cultivated an image as one of the nation’s most progressive retailers, shutting down stores on Black Friday for the past seven years and offering workers annual incentives that kick in when stores hits sales targets. But REI workers in Soho have many concerns that reflect the general precarity of working a non-union job in the retail industry. In particular, they want full-time status and benefits, COVID-19 protections, and guaranteed hours after the holiday season.
Contract talks between Kahler hotels and union to start
Post Bulletin
By Jeff Kiger
Jan. 27, 2022
The leadership of the Kahler Hospitality Group and Unite Here Local 17, which represents workers at KHG’s downtown Rochester hotels, will soon start negotiations for a new labor contract. Local 17 field organizer Lenny Cain said the talks are scheduled to begin on Feb. 14 and Feb. 15. The contract covers 150 to 200 Kahler employees that work at the Kahler Grand Hotel , the Towers at the Kahler Grand, Kahler Inn & Suites, the Rochester Marriott and the Residence Inn Marriott. KHG is led by health care executive and real estate investor Javon Bea , of Oronoco.
Super Bowl halftime show producers will now pay professional dancers following backlash
PennLive
By Deron Dalton
Jan. 27, 2022
“SAG-AFTRA and the producers of the Super Bowl Halftime Show have met and had an open and frank discussion, and have agreed that no professional dancers will be asked to work for free as part of the halftime show. SAG-AFTRA will be advising our professional dancer members that they should not be rehearsing or working on the Super Bowl Halftime Show without compensation. It is important to note that Roc Nation had always contracted for 115 paid SAG-AFTRA professional dancers as part of the stage show. We are grateful to Roc Nation, their producer, and in particular our member Jay-Z, for their collaboration and commitment to professional artists.”
Hennepin County, AFSCME employees reach tentative deal, avert strike
KSTP
By Kyle Brown
Jan. 27, 2022
Hennepin County and workers represented by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) reached a tentative agreement on a new contract Thursday, avoiding a potential strike. Five of the seven bargaining units affiliated with AFSCME Council 5 ratified the county’s last and best offer in December, which included annual 2.5% wage increases over the course of the three-year deal, cash bonuses, expanded bereavement leave and 51 wage classification adjustments.
IN THE STATES
Coalition fights effort to repeal collective bargaining for public service workers
Augusta Free Press
Jan. 27, 2022
A coalition of labor unions is fighting back against Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s goal of repealing a 2020 law that to date has resulted in a number of public service workers gaining the freedom to collectively bargain for a contract through their unions. “Public service workers across Virginia are asking for a seat at the table and a voice on the job,” said Doris Crouse-Mays, president of Virginia AFL-CIO. “Teachers, fire fighters, sanitation workers, social workers and support staff have helped power us through this pandemic, and we need them now more than ever as we navigate Omicron. Through collective bargaining, these workers can secure the conditions and equipment they need to better serve our children and communities. Our coalition represents thousands of public service workers and we will fight tooth and nail against Governor Youngkin’s effort to silence their voices.”
POLITICS
Deadline
By David Robb
Jan. 27, 2022
A coalition of entertainment industry unions and associations is urging Congress to include the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act in any omnibus legislation that may come before the House and Senate for fiscal year 2022. In a letter sent Thursday to leaders of the House and Senate, supporters of the legislation say it would “restore tax fairness for middle-class creative professionals” by updating the current Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction and “meaningfully impact the lives of creative professionals and their families.” Backers of the legislation include SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, Actors’ Equity, the WGA East, the Motion Picture Association, the Recording Industry Association of America, the Broadway League, Carnegie Hall and the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO. See the full list of signers below.