MUST WATCH
AFL-CIO President discusses the energy outlook under the Biden Administration
Yahoo! Finance
April 22, 2021
Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO President joins the Yahoo Finance Live panel to discuss the "Green Economy" under President Biden.
AMAZON
Amazon’s dystopian antiunion working conditions are not what Philadelphians deserve (Opinion)
The Philadelphia Inquirer
By Kim Kelly
April 21, 2021
Over the last two months, I’ve spent about five weeks in Bessemer, Ala., chronicling the fight for unionization at an Amazon warehouse, interviewing workers, chatting with organizers, and documenting their struggle. The stories these workers shared with me broke my heart, and filled me with rage.
JOINING TOGETHER
New York Times Tells Tech Workers to Put Union Effort to a Vote
The New York Times
By Katie Robertson
April 22, 2021
The New York Times Company said on Thursday that it would not voluntarily recognize a newly formed union of tech and digital employees, instructing the group to put the matter to a formal vote through the National Labor Relations Board. The Times Tech Guild, a group affiliated with the NewsGuild of New York, had asked the company for recognition on April 13, when it announced that a majority of tech workers had formed a union. The group includes software engineers, data analysts, designers and product managers.
POLITICS
Maine AFL-CIO Urges US Senate Passage Of PRO Act
Maine Public
By Mal Leary
April 22, 2021
Maine AFL-CIO President Cynthia Phinney called on Collins to support the legislation and join the five House Republicans who supported the bill. “The PRO Act seeks to restore and support the rights of workers to act collectively and together to hold a meaningful seat at the table where decisions about their work lives and communities are made,” she said.
IN THE STATES
Back pro-union bill to boost our economy (LTE)
Herald-Tribune
By Richard Cannon
April 22, 2021
It was the strong unions formed in the 20th century that built the American industrial juggernaut and made us the envy of the world. But today, if workers want to form a union to collectively bargain for better conditions, they face harassment and possible firing. That’s against the law, of course, but the penalties for the employer are no more than a “tsk, tsk” from the courts. Proposed legislation, the PRO Act, would strengthen a worker’s hand when asking for his rights and make it easier to unionize the workplace. The House passed the Protecting the Right to Organize Act in March.
Bill mandates COVID safety rules for private employers; workers to oversee compliance
Newsday
By James T. Madore
April 22, 2021
Private-sector employers would have to follow safety protocols aimed at slowing the spread of diseases such as COVID-19, and employees would have a role in enforcing the rules under bills adopted by the State Legislature. New York's top union leader, Mario Cilento of the state AFL-CIO, said the legislation would ensure "employers take every reasonable measure necessary to keep [employees] safe on the job."
Bills would raise North Carolina's minimum wage to $15 an hour
ABC15
By Karen Zatkulak
April 22, 2021
"North Carolinians shouldn't have to wait on an act of Congress to get a long overdue raise," said MaryBe McMillan, President of the NC AFL-CIO. "Our state lawmakers need to act, as numerous states and cities have already done, and pass an increase in the minimum wage to $15 an hour. A recent poll shows 75% of North Carolinians support raising the minimum wage. Economic progress is happening in places with higher wages, and North Carolina needs to keep up."
TRANSPORTATION
Bill would create aviation response plan for pandemics and study disease transmission on airplanes
The Washington Post
By Lori Aratani
April 22, 2021
Democratic leaders on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee introduced legislation Thursday that would require the transportation secretary to develop an aviation-sector plan for managing disease outbreaks. The bill is co-sponsored by 15 other Democratic lawmakers and has the support of several industry groups, including the Airport Council International, the Coalition of Air Line Pilots Associations (CAPA) and Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO.