Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
JOINING TOGETHER
Staff for Rep. Andy Levin form first ever Congressional office union
Federal Times
By Molly Weisner
Sept. 26, 2022
The federal labor movement reached a major milestone on Monday after staff in the office of Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) voted to unionize, creating the first congressional office union in history. The vote was unanimous, according to Congressional Workers Union, an independent organization created to represent the staffers of Congress.
CNN
By Kaanita Iyer
Sept. 26, 2022
Staffers in Michigan Democratic Rep. Andy Levin’s office voted unanimously Monday to form the first union for a congressional office in Capitol Hill’s history, the Congressional Workers Union tweeted and Levin’s office confirmed. “Today, my staff became the very first in the 233-year history of the U.S. Congress to form a union,” Levin told CNN in a statement. “I’m proud of their bravery and initiative, and I look forward to bargaining a just contract with the Congressional Workers Union.” This move comes after the House in May passed a bill, which was sponsored by Levin, to allow staffers on Capitol Hill to unionize for the first time.
Worker protests at airports spread nationwide over staffing and pay
Washington Post
By Lauren Kaori Gurley
Sept. 26, 2022
Cashiers, baristas, bartenders, cooks and lounge attendants at San Francisco International Airport launched an open-ended strike Monday over staffing levels and wages, shutting down most of one of the nation’s busiest airport’s food concessions. Flight attendants at United and Southwest airlines on Tuesday are expected to demonstrate at 21 airports around the United States, including Guam, as well as in London, to draw attention to workplace problems made worse by understaffing.
United Flight Attendants to Picket LAX Over Short Staffing, Travel Disruptions
Aviation Pros
By Kevin Smith
Sept. 27, 2022
Dozens of United Airlines flight attendants plan to picket LAX on Tuesday, Sept 27, claiming a shortage of crew schedulers, caterers and other service workers often leaves them stranded for hours waiting to know when they'll be headed out for their next flight. The workers, represented by the Association of Flight Attendants (AFA-CWA), say staffing shortages throughout the company have heavily impacted travelers as a result, with 67,485 flight delays and 6,780 cancellations since May. "The company hasn't staffed enough people since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when they were furloughing employees or letting them go," said Kimberly Burckhalter, a United flight attendant for 29 years and president of AFA Council 12 at LAX.
1,000 food workers at San Francisco airport are on strike
CNN
By Chris Isidore
Sept. 27, 2022
Workers who provide food and drinks to travelers at San Francisco International Airport are on strike, seeking what they say would be their first raise in four years. The 1,000 strikers are members of Unite Here Local 2, a Bay Area union with 15,000 members. The airport workers work under a multi-employer joint labor agreement that covers 30 different employers spread among 84 different locations at the airport. “Passengers should bring their own food and grab coffee before arriving at SFO,” said Anand Singh, president of the union, who said the union has been in negotiations for nine months.
Union rallies at Ohio University for higher pay and more employees
WOUB
By Gabriel Scotto
Sept. 27, 2022
Members of the union representing Ohio University’s culinary, custodial and maintenance staff rallied on campus Friday for increased pay and hiring. According to Ted Linscott, president of the Southeastern Ohio Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, the university once employed over 900 people in culinary, custodial and maintenance positions. By 2020, he said, this was down to 550 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. At present, he said, the university employs 440 in these positions. Despite record fall enrollment, Linscott said, the university has not reversed cuts made to staff during the COVID-19 pandemic. “These are the folks that are cleaning the buildings, preparing the food, maintaining the buildings, keeping the heat on and doing all these kinds of jobs that keep this place rolling,” he said. Sean Grayson, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Ohio Council 8, said it’s difficult for employees to do their jobs effectively given inadequate resources and staff allocated to them by the university.
IN THE STATES
Former WV AFL-CIO President Jim Bowen dies at 87
WDTV
By WDTV News Staff
Sept. 27, 2022
Former West Virginia AFL-CIO President Jim Bowen passed away on Tuesday at the age of 87. Bowen dedicated his life and career to the betterment of working men and women across the state of West Virginia and the entire country. “I struggle to put into words how important Jim Bowen has been to the labor movement here in West Virginia,” said WV AFL-CIO President Josh Sword. “He was a mentor to me and so many others who strive to help workers secure good paying, safe jobs and have a powerful voice in the workplace.” Jim served as president of the WV AFL-CIO from 1997 to 2004.