MUST READ
More than 600 nurses in Wichita could form a union
KMUW
By Daniel Caudill
Oct. 4, 2022
Nurses at St. Francis hospital in Wichita have filed for a union election. If successful in their union drive, about 625 nurses will form a new bargaining unit with the National Nurses United (NNU). The NNU is the largest nurses union in the country, with more than 175,000 members. Overall, about 20% of registered nurses in the U.S. are union members. The Kansas State Nurses Association says there are more than 50,000 registered nurses in the state. St. Francis is one of the biggest hospitals in the state and is a part of the Ascension Via Christi network.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
FAA Sets 10-Hour Rest Break Rule For Flight Attendants
Law360
By Linda Chiem
Oct. 4, 2022
The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday finalized a long-awaited rule requiring U.S. flight attendants to have at least 10 consecutive hours of rest between shifts, a bump up from the current nine-hour rest break rule. The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, which represents approximately 50,000 flight attendants at 19 airlines, lauded the Biden administration for delivering the final rule Tuesday. "Five years ago, after decades of action by AFA members, science to back up our alarm on flight attendant fatigue, and relentless efforts with lawmakers, we achieved an overwhelming bipartisan vote to equalize minimum rest with commercial airline pilots," AFA-CWA President Sara Nelson said in a statement.
JOINING TOGETHER
WestRock, unions preparing for possible strike at Russell County paper mill
WRBL
By Chuck Williams
Oct. 3, 2022
A potential work stoppage is looming this week at one of the largest employers in Russell County. Talks between WestRock and its three unions have stalled. And the current agreement expires this week. The agreement between WestRock and its unions expired 11 months ago. Extensions have been issued. Contract talks have been ongoing. But there is no new agreement. Three unions affiliated with the United Steelworkers — Local 971, Local 1471 which works with the trees, pulp, and front end of the process; and Local 1972, which represents the maintenance workers – represent the unionized labor force. Leaders of those unions say talks with WestRock have stalled and the company and the unions are preparing for Thursday’s work stoppage.
Fred Meyer Workers in Richland Reach 1st Ever Union Agreement
KFLD
By John McKay
Oct. 4, 2022
For the first time, Richland Fred Meyer workers have bargained a contract with management over a variety of issues. According to information released by Percussion Strategic and other sources, store workers have reached their first-ever tentative agreement for improvements in store security, health and safety, and higher wages.
TARTA and TAAP UAW Local 5242 reach three-year contract agreement
Mass Transit
Oct. 4, 2022
The Board of Trustees of the Toledo Area Regional Transit Authority (TARTA) has approved a new three-year contract with the Toledo Association of Administrative Personnel (TAAP) UAW Local 5242, which represents about 40 employees at TARTA and its paratransit agency, TARPS. The agreement brings pay scale to or near industry standard and also places every TARTA employee under the same unified health plan. “We’ll continue to work with members and TARTA to advocate and support market value wage increases,” said TAAP/UAW Local 5242 President Emilio Ramirez. “It’s important to all of us that these team members know that they are a valued part of what’s happening at TARTA, and that they have a contract which reflects that.”
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
Golf tournament raises $17K for local charity
Soo Today
By SooToday Staff
Oct. 4, 2022
The annual United Steelworkers Charity Golf Tournament raised funds for the Twinkie Foundation, a local charity helping families with expenses associated with travelling for their children's medical appointments. The United Steelworkers would like to extend our thanks to all the golfers, sponsors and volunteers who helped to make the event such a success.