Today's AFL-CIO press clips
JOINING TOGETHER
Spotify Podcast Union Is Ready to Strike Over Contract Terms
Bloomberg
By Ashley Carman and Josh Eidelson
April 4, 2022
A Spotify Technology SA podcast union said its members are willing to walk off the job if the company doesn’t meet its contract demands, complicating the streaming giant’s effort to build out that business. The Parcast Union, affiliated with the Writers Guild of America, East, is meeting with management for final contract negotiations this month and said outstanding issues include staff diversity, control of intellectual property rights and pay.
Workers at St. Louis medical marijuana dispensary vote to form a union
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By Jack Suntrup
April 4, 2022
Workers at a St. Louis medical marijuana dispensary have voted to unionize, becoming the first cannabis workers in Missouri to do so, a local chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers announced on Monday. All eight workers in the bargaining unit at the Root 66 dispensary on South Grand voted in favor of the UFCW representing them in contract negotiations with management, a news release from the union said. “Cannabis workers across the country are voting to join a union because they know it’s the best way to secure good wages and benefits on the job,” said David Cook, president of Local 655 of the UFCW.
SoCal grocery store workers postpone rally in Orange County as contract negotiations continue
ABC 7
By Jessica De Nova and Sid Garcia
April 4, 2022
A rally planned in Orange County Monday by grocery store workers did not come to fruition as contract negotiations continue in hopes of avoiding a strike against several major supermarket chains. For more than 24 hours straight, negotiators have been at the bargaining table trying to prevent a strike by grocery workers. "I don't think the companies want to see us go out on strike, but they've gotta do the right thing by the workers in this contract," said Andrea Zinder, UFCW Local 324 president. "It's our turn."
Southern California grocery workers union signs tentative wage hike agreement, averting strike
Los Angeles Times
By Margot Roosevelt
April 4, 2022
A union representing 47,000 Southern California grocery workers tentatively signed a new three-year contract with Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions, averting a strike they had authorized last week. The contract will be put to a vote this week by rank-and-file members of seven United Food and Commercial Workers locals representing workers at 540 stores from San Diego to San Luis Obispo. The union delayed releasing details of the agreement until its members vote on it.
Union workers on strike at Sheboygan manufacturing company
NBC 15
By The Associated Press
April 4, 2022
More than 265 union workers at a manufacturing company in Sheboygan went on strike after the two sides failed to a agree on a labor contract that expired Friday. United Auto Workers Local 1472 members began picketing Monday at Vollrath Co., which specializes in design, engineering and manufacturing for foodservice and custom and specialty products. The union says the initial five-year contract proposal from Vollrath was rejected by 74% of UAW Local 1472 members. The workers cite wages and the equitable elimination of tiers as primary complaints.
‘We’re not disposable’: Massachusetts Senate staff move to form union
WGBH
By Tori Bedford
April 4, 2022
Senate employees at the Massachusetts State House launched a petition to form a union this week, hoping to become the second collective bargaining unit of legislative staff in the nation after workers in Oregon unionized last year. “We are not disposable. We are people who provide a valuable service to the commonwealth and deserve workplace protections,” said Evan Berry, an organizer and communications director for Sen. Becca Rausch. “At the end of the day, we're still trying to put food on our tables and get by paycheck to paycheck.” Union organizers secured a majority of support for the effort and are organizing with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers local 2222. The nearly 300-person workforce of legislative staffers is hoping to negotiate a contract for better pay, a more transparent and equitable pay structure, a workplace free from sexual harassment and identity-based discrimination, and health insurance benefits starting on the first day of employment. State House staffers currently face a 60-day delay in eligibility for health insurance benefits.
IN THE STATES
Maine Department of Labor works to help low-income residents
News Center Maine
By Jackie Mundry
April 4, 2022
It's a process with the goal of eventually getting Mainers back to work, especially minority groups and low-income residents who were hit the hardest. The Maine Department of Labor is working with community groups like AFL-CIO and Maine Equal Justice to help people in their communities. "What we found is that people often respond best when they can work with someone they know, someone they have a relationship with, someone they've built trust with," Matt Schlobohm, AFL-CIO executive director, said.