AMAZON
Sanders pressures Biden on Amazon unions: ‘The time for talk is over’
Politico
By Burgess Everett and Eleanor Mueller
April 26, 2022
Union allies are hailing Sanders moves this week as welcome moves to push Biden further. AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler said that “Biden has been, from the bully pulpit, supportive of Amazon workers.” But, she added, “could there be more? Always.” “I’m glad the senator has weighed in, because we need voices from all corners coming down hard on Amazon’s union busting tactics,” Shuler said. “As we’re picking up momentum, it will be even more important to have that voice.”
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY AND CLIMATE
New law could boost labor union presence in Maine renewable energy projects
Maine Public
By Fred Bever
April 26, 2022
As Maine continues to expand its investments in renewable energy infrastructure, organized labor is notching some policy victories aimed at boosting union workers' presence in the green economy. This week, Gov. Janet Mills allowed a new law to go into effect without her signature that will require developers to pay prevailing wages to workers on commercial, mid- and large-scale renewable energy projects. And it will also allow regulators to give extra weight to bids for big public renewable energy projects that include agreements with unions or employee-owned contractors. "Maine is becoming a national leader in making sure we tackle climate change and inequality together and making sure we have a worker-centered plan for climate action," says Matt Schlobohm, executive director of the AFL-CIO.
JOINING TOGETHER
Hundreds of workers at Red Wing Shoe facility file petition for union election
Labor Tribune
April 25, 2022
Workers at a Red Wing Shoe facility in Potosi, Mo., filed a petition today with the National Labor Relations Board to hold a union election. The employees at Red Wing are filing a petition to join United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655, a union representing workers in St. Louis and across the eastern half of the state. UFCW currently represents workers at two Red Wing facilities in Minnesota. The Potosi facility has about 250 employees working in shoe manufacturing.
Film Forum Workers File to Unionize With United Auto Workers Local
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
April 26, 2022
Workers at the legendary Greenwich Village movie house Film Forum have filed a petition for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board in an effort to join a United Auto Workers Local. Film Forum workers filed the petition on Tuesday in a bid to have around 50 workers be represented in collective bargaining by UAW Local 2110, the New York-based culture and education-focused Local behind unions at Barnard College, the Bronx Museum of Arts, the ACLU, HarperCollins and Columbia University, among others. The staff members in the union’s desired bargaining unit include full- and part-time workers in theaters, administration, facilities, programming and publicity. The Local says an “overwhelming majority” of workers petitioned the NLRB.
IN THE STATES
AFL-CIO, local leaders to host rally in support of Bartlett Maritime project
The Chronicle
By The Chronicle-Telegram
April 26, 2022
Several local and state trade unions will rally in support of a proposed submarine dry dock facility in Lorain. The Ohio AFL-CIO, the State Building and Construction Trades Council, the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department, and Barlett Maritime Corporation will hold a rally in support of Barlett Martime’s proposed projects in Lorain and Lordstown at 10 a.m. May 2 at Black River Landing in Lorain.
Labor leaders to speak at Friday ceremony
Yahoo! News
By Keith Lawrence
April 26, 2022
The Owensboro Area Central Labor Council will observe Workers Memorial Day with a 6 p.m. ceremony Friday at the Workers' Memorial Monument on the corner of Third and St. Ann streets. Bill Londrigan, president of the State AFL-CIO, and Jamie Link, secretary of the Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, are scheduled to speak. The 2020 service was canceled by COVID-19, but the event, which has been observed locally since 1999, returned last year.
Western Wisconsin AFL-CIO to host Annual Workers' Memorial Day April 28
La Crosse Tribune
April 26, 2022
Families and friends of workers will gather together at 5 p.m. Thursday at Green Island Park in La Crosse to honor workers who perished while at work and to call for action on dangers that cause needless injury, illness and death. La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds will read a formal proclamation proclaiming April 28 as Workers Memorial Day in the city. This year’s featured speaker will be State Sen. Brad Pfaff, D-District 32. More than 50 years ago on April 28, Workers Memorial Day went into effect, promising every worker the right to a safe job.
North Carolina Justice Center
By Blaise Drew-Davi
April 26, 2022
On Thursday, local workers, union members, and community leaders will gather outside the North Carolina State Capitol to mark Workers’ Memorial Day, renew the call for strong safety protections, and remember workers who have died or suffered illness or injuries while on the job. At the interfaith press conference and solemn memorial service, participants will toll a bell 189 times – once for each person in North Carolina who died while working for a better life in 2020, the most recent year for which the full death toll is known. For the first time in over 20 years, the North Carolina Department of Labor will participate in the event. Commissioner Josh Dobson and NC State AFL-CIO President MaryBe McMillan will discuss ways they will work together to advocate for workplace safety.
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Portland-area TriMet boosts starting pay to counter severe staffing shortage
OPB.com
By Kristian Foden-Vencil
April 26, 2022
During the pandemic, transit agency TriMet dramatically reduced bus and light-rail service, and hundreds of drivers left as part of a nationwide great resignation. Under an agreement with the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 757, bus drivers can reach a top pay rate of $68,000 after three years of work. They can earn substantially more if they work overtime. ATU Local 757 spokesman Bill Bradley welcomed the pay increase. He said drivers left for many reasons including: wanting a better work-life balance; too much overtime during the pandemic; retirement; and an uptick in physical and verbal assaults on drivers. But Bradley pointed out the pay raise is temporary. “It could be rescinded, should it become ineffective or doesn’t get renewed during bargaining,” Bradley said. The union expects to start contract negotiations with TriMet at the end of the year.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Post office helping ‘Stamp Out Hunger’
Derby Informer
April 26, 2022
The 30th annual Letter Carriers’ Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will be held on May 14. Traditionally held on the second Saturday in May, to participate Derby residents can leave non-perishable donation items in a bag by their mailbox. The letter carriers will pick up the donations and deliver them to a local food bank, with the goal of helping feed the hungry across America.
Local labor movement’s solidarity vital for MFT
Workday Minnesota
By Steve Share
April 26, 2022
Striking Minneapolis educators appealed to the broader labor movement for help. And they got it. More than $500,000 in donations for the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers strike fund came in from local and national donors, large and small, from individuals, local unions, and the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association. Donations to the strike fund continue to be distributed to MFT members to help with rent, utility bills, medical bills, and other pressing expenses. The fund is being administered by Working Partnerships — the community services arm of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation, AFL-CIO.