JOINING TOGETHER
Actors' Equity Association Organizes Lecturers at the Griffith Observatory Planetarium
Broadway World
By Chloe Rabinowitz
Sept. 19, 2022
When Shakespeare said, "all the world's a stage," he wasn't thinking big enough. Today, the entire universe becomes a stage, as Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live entertainment, has filed with the Los Angeles City Employee Relations Board on behalf of the planetarium lecturers at Griffith Observatory. The entirety of the planetarium's lecture staff have signed union authorization cards. As a result of the unanimous support, Equity is seeking voluntary recognition from the City of Los Angeles.
WPI graduate students the latest seeking to unionize
Telegram & Gazette
By Jeff A. Chamer
Sept. 19, 2022
After rallying support for their unionization efforts on the sidewalk near Boynton Hall on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus Monday, members of the WPI Graduate Workers Union walked into the administration building to file their union recognition paperwork. The group, which has been working with the United Auto Workers Region 9A the last two years, is looking to get, among other things, an increase in wages, improved health care coverage, and protection from harassment and bullying.
Griffith Observatory’s planetarium storytellers petition to unionize with Actors’ Equity
Los Angeles Times
By Jaimie Ding
Sept. 19, 2022
The astronomical tour guides whose job it is to point out the Big Dipper and explain the big bang to visitors of Griffith Observatory have petitioned to join a union better known for representing stars of the theatrical variety. The dozen observatory lecturers at the Los Angeles institution have unanimously signed union authorization cards with the Actors’ Equity Assn. A petition was presented to the city’s Employee Relations Board during a meeting Monday morning, kicking off a formal feedback period before the board makes a decision in a few months.
USW urging U.S. Steel to improve pensions
NWI.com
By Joseph S. Pete
Sept. 19, 2022
As negotiations with U.S. Steel continue, the United Steelworkers union is objecting to a lack of improvement in pension benefits at a time of record profits and increased cost of living. U.S. Steel is proposing no increase in pension contributions for employees hired after 2003, or who used to work for National Steel. It currently makes a $3.50 contribution per hour, resulting in a monthly benefit of $110 per calendar year for workers once they've retired.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
United Way of Greater Niagara to hold annual awards breakfast & campaign kickoff
Niagara Frontier Publications
Sept. 19, 2022
United Way of Greater Niagara will hold an awards breakfast and campaign kickoff at 8 a.m. Friday, Sept. 23, at Niagara Riverside Resort. A press release stated, “In addition to serving as the official start of United Way’s annual campaign across Niagara County and the Tonawandas, this event will honor many local organizations and individuals who have helped to make a difference in the Greater Niagara Community over the past year. This year’s awards and honorees include the President’s Award to the AFL-CIO Niagara/Orleans Central Labor Council, the Horizon Award to KeyBank, the Shining Star Award to Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, the Service Cup Award to Youth Mentoring Services, the Norman Sinclair Humanitarian Award to Robert Kazeangin, the Joseph C. Weber III Think Positive Think United Way Award to Melissa Mazzarella, and the recently renamed AFL-CIO Russell Quarantello Community Services Award to Denise Abbott.”