JOINING TOGETHER
Disney unions negotiate new contract as workers share financial struggles
Florida Politics
By Gabrielle Russon
Aug. 10, 2022
Unite Here 737 held the event that was attended by Orange County Commissioner Maribel Gomez Cordero, a union-endorsed candidate running for re-election, who said she was there to listen and pledged to help. The local represents about 18,000 hospitality workers at Disney World, the Orange County Convention Center and a few other hotels and restaurants.
Remaining Victory Gardens Theater Staff Move To Unionize With IATSE
Broadway World
By BWW Staff
Aug. 10, 2022
Staff at Chicago's stories Victory Gardens Theater, which has been engulfed in accusations of 'toxic behavior' and a 'lack of transparency' are seeking union representation. The remaining 16 employees, who remain in a standoff with the theatre's board of directors, have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board. The remaining staff are represented by IATSE locals Stagehands Local 2, Treasurers and Ticket Sellers Local 750, and Wardrobe Local 769. "Unionization gives us the power of collective bargaining and a stronger support system than we currently have access to as individual, at-will employees. Unionization guarantees us a seat at the table, as well as leverage to push for worker safety measures that will benefit all employees of Victory Gardens." the group told the LA Times in a statement.
At Harrisburg School Board meeting, district staff protest wages, await delayed union agreement
The Burg News
By Maddie Gittens
Aug. 10, 2022
A group of Harrisburg School District employees attended the district’s board meeting on Tuesday night in protest. The group of around 15 employees, represented by AFSCME Council 13, the local labor union, were at the meeting in silent protest, holding signs asking for increased wages. “The kids need us, and we know that, but every year [the district] is putting more and more responsibilities on us,” said Tanisha Hawkins, a paraprofessional at Foose Elementary School. Currently, the district is still in the negotiation process with AFSCME for this year’s collective bargaining agreement, according to Receiver Dr. Lori Suski. The meeting between the two parties was supposed to be held earlier this month, but was moved to Sept. 1. AFSCME represents over 200 of the district’s security and food service personnel, paraprofessionals, office assistants and custodians, among other support staff.
IUOE Local 150 wins big after seven week strike
Liberation
By Hersch Chaim
Aug. 10, 2022
After walking the picket lines for seven weeks, 300 members of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150 voted unanimously to adopt their new contract. Among the contract improvements IUOE members won from their strike are a minimum wage increase of 16% throughout the life of the three year contract, stronger layoff language, stronger seniority language, and 100% employer paid healthcare. The contract victory was achieved through immense struggle and unwavering solidarity between IUOE members, the local labor movement and the broader Chicago community. On June 7, 300 IUOE members walked off the job to protest unresolved Unfair Labor Practices that the union filed against the three employers it was bargaining with – Lehigh Hanson, Vulcan Materials and Lafarge Holcim.
EDUCATION
Low pay, stress and burnout: U.S. schools face severe teacher shortage
CBS Evening News
By Elise Preston
Aug. 10, 2022
Still, three out of four educators surveyed would not recommend the job to others, according to the American Federation of Teachers, the nation's second largest education union. "Teachers are twice as much, have twice as much stress as other workers in the workplace," Randi Weingarten, president of the union, told CBS News. "So, yeah, teachers are burnt out."
NLRB
Second labor complaint filed against Nintendo
Axiosy
By Stephen Totilo
Aug. 10, 2022
The National Labor Relations Board has received a new workplace complaint against gaming giant Nintendo and a firm it uses for contractors in its main U.S. office. Why it matters: This is the second time this year that a worker has filed such a complaint against the maker of Mario and Zelda, as labor activism in the gaming industry intensifies. Details: The complaint filed on Monday was against Nintendo and contracting firm Aston Carter, which recruits customer service and administrative workers for the game company. It alleges that the companies established “coercive rules” and in some way retaliated, discharged or disciplined a worker for engaging in protected activity with others. While the publicly available details are vague, such allegations generally involve workers saying their employer has interfered with their ability to discuss working conditions or form a union.