Today's AFL-CIO press clips
POLITICS
Lynn Rhinehart chronicles journey from Midland to U.S. Dept. of Labor
Huron Daily Tribune
By Victoria Ritter
Feb. 17, 2022
Every day, Midland native Lynn Rhinehart looks at her grandfather’s union pins before she starts her workday. The union pins of a Dow Chemical mechanic are a gentle reminder of the importance of Rhinehart’s work at the U.S. Department of Labor as well as her Midland roots. As a senior counselor in the Office of the Secretary in the U.S. Department of Labor, Rhinehart supports Secretary Marty Walsh, who is the vice chair of the White House Task Force on Organizing and Empowerment. After college, Rhinehart began looking for jobs that dealt with labor movements. She was employed as a paralegal at Bedhoff & Kaiser, one of the leading labor law firms in the country. She then worked at the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) in the health and safety department and as a lawyer.
IN THE STATES
Lost taxes and salaries: RI unions kick off a campaign to make wage theft a felony
The Providence Journal
By Patrick Anderson
Feb. 16, 2022
The paper's authors, Russell Ormiston of Allegheny College and Tom Juravich of UMass Amherst, conclude that changes in state labor law "offer considerable promise in restoring worker rights and ensuring greater justice in Rhode Island’s workplaces. The first is to make wage theft a felony." That's music to the ears of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO, which has put making wage theft a felony offense at the top of its legislative priorities for this year. "As the report makes clear, wage theft is a growing problem in Rhode Island. We believe a key reason is under the status quo, unscrupulous employers know they can cheat the system without real punishment," AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Patrick Crowley wrote in an email. "Making wage theft a felony will make employers think twice about taking advantage of working people."
Insider NJ
Feb. 17, 2022
On February 9, 2022, AFSCME Local 2286, joined by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, protested Trenton City Council’s failure to pass an ordinance to fund raises for city employees agreed to in a 2021 contract. In response to the protest, City Council voted to retaliate against the union by authorizing a lawsuit against AFSCME Local 2286. Additionally, Councilwoman Robin Vaughn called for an investigation into AFSCME Local 2286, the city employees, and elected leaders who attended the rally. New Jersey State AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech and Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan issued the following joint statement in support of AFSMCE Local 2286: “The New Jersey State AFL-CIO stands by AFSCME Local 2286’s rights to free speech, peacefully protest, and collectively bargain. The members of AFSCME Local 2286 are the frontline workers who kept the City of Trenton operating during the COVID19 Public Health Emergency and continue to deliver critical services to all City residents.
R.I. AFL-CIO makes the case for making wage theft a felony
Boston Globe
By Edward Fitzpatrick
Feb. 17, 2022
A study commissioned by the Rhode Island AFL-CIO calls for making wage theft a felony, saying the state is becoming a “hot house” for worker misclassification and off-the-books employment. “This report provides clear evidence that payroll fraud is rampant in Rhode Island,” the report states. “Data provided by the Department of Labor and Training are unequivocal in identifying that worker misclassification exists in every corner of the state economy.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Akron Metro approves contract with TWU
Mass Transit
Feb. 17, 2022
Akron Metro Regional Transit Authority (RTA) Board of Trustees approved the final agreement Feb. 16 with Transport Workers Union of America Local No. 1 (TWU) membership for a three-year contract during a special meeting. TWU ratified the contract on Feb. 8, 2022. The contract has a retroactive effect date from June 1, 2021 and will expire on May 31, 2024.
Grocery workers union reaches tentative deal with Safeway
9News NBC
By Angela Case
Feb. 17, 2022
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 reached a tentative agreement Thursday with Safeway and Albertsons stores in Colorado and Rock Springs, Wyoming. The union represents more than 5,400 Safeway workers. A Safeway spokesperson said the agreement covers 51 stores. "This industry leading contract is the richest Safeway/Albertsons contract in the country," Local 7 President Kim Cordova said in a statement. "This agreement, which was secured without the need for a strike, ensures that workers receive paid sick leave, fair pay, a safe workplace, and access to affordable health care." Local 7 said contract ratification votes are expected to take place next week throughout Colorado and Wyoming.
Baristas on strike at Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co. “making unique labor history”
WDET
By Russ McNamara
Feb. 17, 2022
Workers at Great Lakes Coffee Roasting Co. walked the picket line Wednesday demanding the owners of the Midtown Detroit café recognize their union. Among the complaints, the 13 workers at the café were unhappy with inconsistent COVID-19 mitigation efforts and protocols. If recognized, UNITE HERE Local 24 is set to represent them. UNITE HERE Local 24 President Nia Winston says this type of labor action doesn’t happen too often. “These workers are making unique labor history,” Winston says. “This is the only coffee shop drive organizing campaign in the country that is leading a recognition strike. And let’s talk about the City of Detroit and the Detroit area. That has not been done in decades.”
Warrior Met Coal strikers ‘keep this company profitable,’ union president tells US Senate
AL.com
By William Thornton
Feb. 17, 2022
Today is the 323rd day of the strike, and Wright, along with Cecil Roberts, president of the United Mine Workers of America, was in Washington to bring attention through the hearing. About 1,100 miners with the United Mine Workers of America began a strike against Warrior Met Coal last April 1. Roberts told the committee that Warrior Met has advertised job openings around the country to replace the union members on strike, offering higher pay and benefits. “I think it’s disgraceful that these workers have been on strike for this long a time,” Roberts said. “There are 800 of these families that have suffered through this strike, but they have suffered for five years because of what happened to them when these investors rolled into town, couldn’t spell coal, couldn’t tell you what color it is...all they knew was that there was some money to be made here, and they’re gone now. Now we’re tasked for how we keep this company profitable.”
Oxford firefighters’ path to unionization
The Miami Student
By Sean Scott
Feb. 17, 2022
As Miami University faculty embark on their unionization journey, the Oxford Fire Department (OFD) has just signed its first labor agreement with the city. The OFD union, named Oxford Professional Firefighters Local 5272, is almost two years in the making. In June 2020, after months of conversations, OFD’s full-time employees officially signed the paperwork to join the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) as Local 5272. After holding an official vote through the State Employment Relations Board (SERB), Smith and the eight other union members began negotiating a contract with the city in January 2021. “[It] took essentially a full year of negotiations,” Smith said. “A lot of that had to do with the fact that it was a first contract, so we had to negotiate everything.” From pay increases to time off to grievance procedures, the union and the city manager’s office spent a year deliberating on every aspect of the expectations for firefighters laid out in the contract. City Manager Doug Elliott said despite a few sticking points, the negotiation process was successful for both parties.