MUST READ
President of Key Teachers’ Union Shares Plea: ‘Schools Must Be Open’ in Fall
The New York Times
By Dana Goldstein
May 13, 2021
Randi Weingarten, president of the nation’s second-largest teachers’ union, called on Thursday for a full reopening of the nation’s schools for the next academic year, saying: “There is no doubt: Schools must be open. In person. Five days a week.” “It’s not risk-free,” Ms. Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, which has 1.7 million members, said. She argued that the health risks can be managed through a range of practices — some of them relatively simple, such as masking and handwashing, and some of them more difficult to achieve at scale, such as decreasing class sizes to maintain distance and procuring additional spaces to meet outside cramped school buildings.
JOINING TOGETHER
Want a Healthier Workplace Culture? Unionize.
In These Times
By Jennifer Dorning
May 13, 2021
A workplace’s culture is shaped by many factors. In my personal experience — as both a labor advocate and a manager —a positive workplace culture starts with employees knowing that their contributions are appreciated by management. Unfortunately, this is not the case for far too many working people who have no collective voice on the job. The exceptions are the 14.3 million workers — including more than six million professionals — in the United States who are represented by unions. These workers are able to secure respect by creating a healthy and collaborative workplace culture through negotiating with their employers.
Americans are more pro-union – and anti-big business – than at any time in decades
The Guardian
By Emily DiVito and Aaron Sojourner
May 13, 2021
Today, public feeling toward labor is more positive, and public feeling toward big business more negative, than at any time in five decades. What’s more, workers increasingly want to be in unions: over half of Americans say they would vote for a union at work, while only 11 percent of US employees currently belong to one – largely because labor laws remain stacked in favor of big business.
Top teachers union calls for all US schools to fully reopen by fall
New York Post
By Lee Brown and Selim Algar
May 13, 2021
The head of the national teachers union on Thursday called for all US schools to fully reopen with universal masking and social distancing by the next academic year. “The United States will not be fully back until we are fully back in schools,” American Federation of Teachers (AFT) president Randi Weingarten said in a Thursday address. “Any my union is all in.” Weingarten — whose union has 1.7 million members and previously lobbied to put the brakes on getting kids back in classrooms — said the plan is not “risk-free” and that mitigating measures must remain in place.
Teachers union leader calls for ‘fully reopening’ schools this fall
Politico
By Juan Perez Jr.
May 13, 2021
American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called for schools to reopen full time and in person this fall and set out a multimillion-dollar outreach campaign to coax families back to campuses, as President Joe Biden’s administration presses for a quick resumption of regular classes.
THREE CHEERS FOR SCABBY THE RAT
The Verge
By Zoe Schiffer
May 13, 2021
Since the late ‘80s, unions have been using Scabby to shame business owners who won’t negotiate a fair contract with workers. “From the very beginning, you could be picketing in front of a business, have workers out there in tents in the winter, and a barrel full of wood, and a fire to keep warm. You wouldn’t get as much attention from the owners as you did when you had Scabby, because it’s an attack on their brand,” says Jim Sweeney, president of IUOE Local 150. Scabby embarrassed business owners, drawing unwanted attention from passersby. And embarrassment turned out to be a powerful force for union organizers.
IN THE STATES
Lamont's nursing home wage offer is close to union demand
CT Post
By Julia Bergman
May 12, 2021
Workers at six other nursing homes authorized a strike for May 28. In total, 4,000 nursing home workers, including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, certified nursing assistants, receptionists, dietary aides, housekeeping and laundry staff, across 39 Connecticut facilities are planning to strike this month. In addition to the nursing home employees, about 2,000 group home workers, also from SEIU District 1199, voted to authorize a strike effective May 21 — with many of the same demands as the nursing home workers. The nursing home industry and state have warned that these strikes are costly, and at the expense of state taxpayers. Friday’s strike would cost the state nearly $2 million on the first day to fund replacement workers and other strike costs at the iCare nursing homes, alone, said Skoczulek, the iCareHealth VP.
With First Local Contract Secured, Unions See Fertile Ground in Cannabis
Voice of San Diego
By Jackie Bryant
May 13, 2021
Workers at San Diego-based cannabis dispensary chain March & Ash have formed a union and ratified a collective bargaining agreement with UFCW Local 135, which represents workers in the grocery, health care, retail and cannabis industries, among others. The contract vote, held at the chain’s Vista, El Centro and City Heights locations, took place on May 12. Workers at each location voted to ratify the contract, which was the result of years-long negotiations between management and union representatives. Left out was March & Ash’s flagship Mission Valley location, which workers, union representatives and management say they hope can be added at a later date.