POLITICS
U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Leads Senate resolution commemorating Workers’ Memorial Day
WisPolitics.com
April 28, 2022
Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced a resolution honoring Workers’ Memorial Day, an international holiday commemorating workers who were killed, disabled, injured, or made unwell on the job. Workers’ Memorial Day is observed annually on April 28, the anniversary of the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) going into effect. “Workers’ Memorial Day is a solemn reminder of all of the workers who have been lost tragically on the job. They’ve left family and loved ones behind, and we must honor their memories by strengthening safety and health protections,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler. “There is still work to do to ensure that every worker has the right to go home safe at the end of a shift. We strongly urge the Senate to support this resolution.”
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation Safety, Supply Chain Top Agenda for House Panel
Bloomberg Government
By Lillianna Byington
April 27, 2022
The committee also said it plans to reauthorize the Surface Transportation Board, which was last renewed through 2020. Lawmakers are weighing further authority for the board as part of the legislation. The agency, which oversees freight rail rates and service, has been weighing action against railroads amid complaints of delays, worker shortages, and strained supply chains. It’s holding a public hearing this week about rail service complaints, and some have suggested it may need additional authority to address freight rail delays. “If the board requires more authority or clarity from Congress, it should request it,” Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO, said at the STB hearing Tuesday.
STB seeks ways to quickly ease railroad service problems
Trains.com
By Bill Stephens
April 27, 2022
They also said Wall Street’s focus on ever-lower operating ratios has led to relentless cost-cutting at the big railroads, with profits put ahead of safety and service. “Today’s freight rail network is not working for anyone other than railroad investors,” says Greg Regan, president of the Transportation Trades Division of the AFL-CIO. Jeremy Ferguson, president of the SMART-TD union, told the board that six years ago — prior to implementation of PSR — railroads had a robust workforce, an ample supply of locomotives and freight cars, and a put a priority on safety. That’s all gone now, he says.
JOINING TOGETHER
‘We are unified’: Maine Med nurses, supporters rally for fair union contract
Maine Beacon
By Evan Popp
April 28, 2022
Hundreds rallied in solidarity with nurses at Maine Medical Center on Wednesday morning, braving a steady rain to urge management at the state’s largest hospital to agree to adequate staffing levels, competitive benefits and wages, and other policies to improve working conditions and patient safety within nurses’ first union contract, which is currently being negotiated. The rally, which took place both Wednesday morning and evening, came nearly a year to the day after a strong majority of nurses at the hospital voted to join the Maine State Nurses Association (MSNA), overcoming an aggressive anti-union campaign by hospital leadership.
WisPolitics.com
April 28, 2022
On April 25, workers at three Dane County Starbucks locations filed for union representation with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1473. Stephanie Bloomingdale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO, released the following statement congratulating the workers at 2981 Tiverton Pike Drive in Fitchburg, 6512 Monona Drive in Monona, and 3515 University Ave in Madison on joining the wave of union organizing efforts currently being undertaken at workplaces across the state and nation. “Congratulations to Starbucks workers in Fitchburg, Monona, and Madison who are coming together and organizing a union with UFCW Local 1473,” said Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale. “Working people are demanding a seat at the table in order to have a say in wages, benefits, scheduling, safety and more. Starbucks workers are part of a growing wave of union organizing that is sweeping our nation in the wake of the pandemic. Now is the time to organize for strong unions and safe, good jobs for all.”
American Crystal Sugar Co., union set contract negotiations for June and July
KFGO
By Paul Jurgens
April 28, 2022
American Crystal Sugar Co. and a union representing production employees at its processing plants are preparing for contract negotiations. The current deal, approved in 2017, expires August 1. The Moorhead-based cooperative says talks are set for June and July. Bakery, Confection, Tobacco and Grain Millers Local 167G Union President John Riskey says he’s hopeful a fair agreement can be reached for employees and crystal shareholders. Riskey says Crystal is profitable and he feels good about the prospects for a collective bargaining agreement heading into the negotiations.
Nearly 200 Bergen County Social Services employees protest over contract talks
NorthJersey.com
By Kristie Cattafi
April 28, 2022
Nearly 200 Bergen County Board of Social Services employees protested outside their office Thursday after working without a contract for 14 months. Social Services employees have been working with an expired contract since December 2020, and there hasn't been a negotiations session since August, CWA Local 1089 President Dolores Phillips said. "Talks have broken off, and nothing is happening," Phillips said. "There's been no movement or talks. Since December, there's been no communication at all."
IN THE STATES
Wisconsin AFL-CIO: Honors workers killed on the job
WisPolitics.com
April 28, 2022
“On Workers Memorial Day, working people will come together at observances in Wisconsin to honor workers killed and injured on the job and to call for action on workplace hazards that cause unnecessary injury, illness, and death,” said Stephanie Bloomindale, President of the Wisconsin AFL-CIO. “As union workers, we continue the fight for stronger protections for all their workplaces and for stronger laws and better enforcement to hold employers accountable when they do not keep workers safe. A safe job is every worker’s right and the labor movement will fight until that promise is fulfilled.”
Johnson: As we remember fallen workers, we must protect others
Wyoming Tribune Eagle
By Tammy Johnson
April 28, 2022
Every year, Wyoming ranks as the worst or one of the worst states for on-the-job fatal accidents, and this year is no different. According to the latest data from an analysis from the AFL-CIO, America’s largest federation of labor unions, 35 people died at work in Wyoming in 2020, which is more than four times higher than the national average and the highest death rate in the United States.
Ceremony honors 189 NC workers who died on the job in 2020
WRAL
By Laura Leslie
April 28, 2022
Workers' families and labor advocates gathered at the state Capitol Thursday to remember the 189 people who lost their lives at work in 2020. Holding lists of names and pictures of victims, participants rang a bell once for each victim. "One hundred eighty-nine people who died simply trying to make a living, who went to work and never came home," said North Carolina AFL-CIO president MaryBe McMillan. McMillan said COVID-19 accounted for a significant number of those deaths, from nursing home staff to grocery clerks and first responders.
Five to be honored at Worker Memorial Day ceremony in Champaign
The News-Gazette
By Debra Pressey
April 28, 2022
It’s been 52 years since the Occupational Safety and Health Act took effect, but going to work still isn’t safe for everyone. In Champaign County, five people who died on the job will be remembered Thursday on Worker Memorial Day in a ceremony set for 5 p.m. in Dodds Park, 1501 N. Mattis Ave., C. Among the five are three — a police officer, a tow-truck driver and a teacher — who died in the past 12 months, along with two others who died decades ago and were previously overlooked for the memorial, according to Brad Diel, a Champaign fire lieutenant and AFL-CIO community service liaison.
Boston Herald
By Rick Sobey
April 28, 2022
“One work-related death is too many,” said Steven Tolman, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO. “Today, and every day, we stand united with the families whose loved ones have suffered a tragic loss. “We come together in a call for action to protect workers and renew the fight for stronger and safer worker protections,” he said, later adding, “Today, we mourn all those who have suffered a tragic loss, but we will never stop fighting for the living.” As in previous years, fatal injuries were concentrated in the construction industry — with 15 construction deaths accounting for about one-quarter of the 62 workplace fatalities.