TRANSPORTATION
Infrastructure law demands new focus on transit worker assaults
Roll Call
By Jessica Wehrman
April 5, 2022
Transit operators and unions say they’ve seen a spike in violence against transit workers since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. And workers complain it’s hard to quantify that spike. Under the Federal Transit Administration’s prior definition, a worker was considered assaulted if, for example, they had to be hospitalized for more than 48 hours or if they had certain fractures, severe bleeding, or damage to nerves, muscles, tendons or internal organs. The FTA also does not separate customer assaults from assaults by fellow workers in the National Transit Database, according to the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. That the law creates a more specific definition of assault is important, according to Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO. Currently, “the way they define assault is really odd,” he said. “You could have a worker with a broken nose, and it would not be considered an assault under the current guidelines. Similarly, a driver who had hot coffee thrown on him would not be considered assaulted.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Hundreds rally to support Philadelphia Museum of Art workers’ contract fight
People’s World
By Perry Genovesi
April 5, 2022
Almost two years ago, Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) workers voted to improve their working conditions by affiliating with Local 397, part of District Council 47, which represents Philadelphia’s clerical and professional workers. The only problem? PMA management has stalled agreement on a fair contract for 20 months. On Friday, April 1 at 5 p.m., workers and community allies rallied to shine a light on the museum management’s foot-dragging. Orange-vested AFSCME marshals directed activists to the museum’s rear entrance, where cars from the union and supporters were unfurling huge banners. “Don’t be a Duchamp” posters—referencing PMA’s collection of artist Marcel Duchamp’s works—and “Museums Are Not Neutral” shirts studded the nearly 300-strong crowd.
Mass. Senate staff launch unionization push
WBUR
By Katie Lannan
April 5, 2022
Massachusetts Senate employees are hoping to become the second unionized state legislative staff in the country, announcing on Monday night their intent to unionize with Quincy-based IBEW Local 2222. IBEW representatives delivered a letter to Senate President Karen Spilka's office Thursday seeking voluntary recognition of the union "after successfully collecting authorization cards from a majority of the Senate staff who are part of the proposed bargaining unit," according to a press release.
Agreement reached in grocery workers' contract negotiations
KPBS
By City News Service
April 4, 2022
A tentative agreement was reached Monday in negotiations between the union representing Southern California grocery workers and stores including Ralphs and Vons/Pavilions/Albertsons, avoiding a potential strike. "Once our members have had an opportunity to review and vote, we will release more information on this historic and transformational deal. Nothing is final until our members decide," a statement from the seven United Food and Commercial Workers International Union locals representing the workers said. "We are incredibly proud of our essential grocery members, whose hard work and determination to stand together and willingness to fight for what they deserve, has made this agreement possible."
SAG-AFTRA And Ad Industry Reach Tentative Agreement On New $1 Billion Contract
Deadline
By David Robb
April 6, 2022
SAG-AFTRA said Tuesday night that it has reached a tentative agreement for a new set of commercials contracts with the Joint Policy Committee of the advertising industry. The deal, whose terms were not disclosed, now goes to the union’s national board for review and approval. A special meeting of the board has been scheduled for Saturday for a one-item agenda meeting to consider recommendations regarding the television and audio commercials contracts. If the board approves the pacts, as is expected, the deal will be sent to the union’s members for ratification.
IN THE STATES
Beaver County native elected president of PA AFL-CIO
Ellwood City Ledger
By Nicholas Vercilla
April 5, 2022
A Beaver County native will become the next president of the Pennsylvania American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). During a convention last Wednesday at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Frank Snyder was elected president, after running unopposed.He is the current secretary/treasurer of the PA AFL-CIO, and will assume the role as president on June 1.
WRTP: Awarded Mark H. Ayer’s Community Achievement Award by North America’s Building Trade Unions
Wis Business
April 5, 2022
BIG STEP (WRTP) and the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council (MBCTC) have been awarded the prestigious Mark H. Ayer’s Award by North America’s Building Trades Unions (NABTU). NABTU announced the award recently in response to the ongoing work by WRTP and MBCTC to engage women in careers in the trades. Mark H. Ayers was an American Labor leader and president of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Department from 2007 until his death in 2012. The award was established to recognize and honor programs and individuals that expand, grow, and open new doors that provide opportunities for all.
INTERNATIONAL
‘Tell American Students to Be Grateful': What Ukrainian Refugees Told AFT’s President
Education Week
By Madeline Will
April 5, 2022
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten traveled to Poland this week to speak with children and educators displaced by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—an experience, she said, that gave her a sense of what U.S. teachers can expect if they soon have a Ukrainian refugee in their classroom. The United States is preparing to welcome up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees and others fleeing the war. Education Week spoke to Weingarten, who heads the second-largest teachers’ union in the United States, about her visit as she was driven back to Warsaw from the Polish-Ukrainian border. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.