Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
JOINING TOGETHER
United Auto Workers, Case to continue talks; Iowa Army Ammunition Plant avoids strike
The Hawk Eye
By Michaele Niehaus
Aug. 24, 2022
United Auto Workers Local 807 members convened en masse Monday outside of Case New Holland Industrial's Burlington plant to enjoy a cookout and the company of a large inflatable rat. wThe visit from the 15-foot-tall rat known as Scabby came 16 weeks after the union went on strike against Case on May 2 after the two parties failed to negotiate a new contract to replace the UAW's six-year contract with the company that expired April 30. Scabby was there on loan from another local union whose members avoided a potential strike themselves. It and eight other unions representing about 450 production, craft, and maintenance workers at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant reached a three-year contract agreement with American Ordnance LLC last weekend. "American Ordnance LLC is pleased to announce they have reached agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement with Local 1010 Machinist and Aerospace Workers, Local 238 Teamsters, Local 150 Operating Engineers and Local 13 Electrical Workers and five Craft unions at the Iowa Army Ammunition Plant," American Ordnance said in a statement sent to The Hawk Eye from a spokesperson at its parent company, Day & Zimmerman.
Delta pilots say negotiations with airline moving at “snail’s” pace
WSB-TV
By Justin Wilfon
Aug. 24, 2022
The Delta Airlines pilots union has taken a first step toward a potential strike, as contract negotiations with the airline drag on. Both sides agree that any potential strike is still a long way off, but a Delta pilot who spoke to Channel 2 anonymously, seemed pessimistic about where the negotiations are headed. The Delta pilots union confirmed to Channel 2′s Justin Wilfon that leadership at the union, known as the ALPA, voted unanimously this month to approve a possible pilot strike vote.
“What do we want? New Contract.”: Buffalo Teachers Federation rallies outside City Hall
WIVB
By Tara Lynch
Aug. 24, 2022
Buffalo teachers showed solidarity on Wednesday as they rallied outside of Buffalo City Hall for a new union agreement. The Buffalo Teachers Federation (BTF) took to the pavement calling on Superintendent Dr. Tonja Williams and the District to come to the bargaining table. The Union has not successfully negotiated a new contract with the district since 2019. They claim teachers in Buffalo are making less money than surrounding districts and that it takes Buffalo teachers longer to reach maximum salary than in other schools. They say they are not being paid a fair wage and that with inflation, the proposed deal by Buffalo Public Schools is a slap in the face.
NLRB
ANALYSIS: Biggest Influx of Union Workers Isn’t From Starbucks
Bloomberg Law
By Robert Combs
Aug. 23, 2022
"Unions prevailed in 639 NLRB elections in the first half of the year, according to Bloomberg Law’s just-released https://aboutblaw.com/4mG report. That’s the highest H1 win total for labor in nearly 20 years."
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
WeTrain Washington Celebrates Pilot Meat Cutting Program Graduates
South Seattle Emerald
By Ronnie Estoque
Aug. 24, 2022
On Thursday, Aug. 11, WeTrain Washington celebrated their Meatcutter Pre-Apprenticeship Program graduates at the South Seattle College Georgetown campus. Attendees enjoyed barbecued New York strip steaks at the event. WeTrain Washington is a new training and education nonprofit affiliated with United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW) 3000 and partnered union grocers. The UFCW 3000 provided seed money for program design and promotion. The pilot program was free for all the students, and graduates received a $200 stipend for completing and evaluating the five-week course. Several graduates from the program have landed jobs, and all received an interview preparation and resume workshop prior to commencement.
TRANSPORTATION
Violence and disruptive behavior on RTA buses sparks renewed calls for driver safety
Cleveland 19 News
By Jim Nelson
Aug. 24, 2022
In the wake of violence on city buses and at train stations, the head of the union that represents RTA drivers is renewing calls for safety of transit employees. “There’s not enough safety that you can put out there,” said William Nix, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 268. “People are coming on buses with guns and knives. There are no metal detectors to protect our operators from any of those individuals that want to come on there and bring havoc.”