Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
JOINING TOGETHER
Video Game Workers Get a Union Foothold at Microsoft
The New York Times
By Noam Scheiber
Jan. 3, 2023
Organized labor claimed one of its biggest victories at a U.S. tech company on Tuesday, gaining a foothold among about 300 employees at a video game maker owned by Microsoft. The Communications Workers of America, which will represent the employees, announced the result, and Microsoft issued a statement recognizing the outcome. “We look forward to engaging in good faith negotiations as we work towards a collective bargaining agreement,” the company said. Microsoft has no other unionized workers.
Video game workers form Microsoft’s first US labor union
AP
By Matt O’Brien
Jan. 2, 2023
A group of video game testers has formed Microsoft’s first labor union in the U.S., which will also be the largest in the video game industry. The Communications Workers of America said Tuesday that a majority of about 300 quality-assurance workers at Microsoft video game subsidiary ZeniMax Studios has voted to join the union. Microsoft already told the CWA it would accept the formation of the union at its Maryland-based video game subsidiary, fulfilling a promise it made to try to build public support for its $68.7 billion acquisition of another big game company, Activision Blizzard.
CNHI offers last, best, and final offer to UAW members on strike
KWQC
By KWQC Staff
Jan. 3, 2023
After nearly eight months on strike, UAW has announced CNHI offered its last, best, and final offer. UAW leaders say they will take this offer to Locals 180 and 807 for a vote. This includes members at CNHI in Burlington, Iowa, and Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. The exact times and locations have not yet been announced. Those will be announced by the local leadership.
Microsoft recognizes its first U.S. labor union as video game testers organize
CBS News
Jan. 3, 2023
A group of video game testers is forming Microsoft's first labor union in the U.S., which will also be the largest in the video game industry. The Communications Workers of America said Tuesday that a majority of about 300 quality-assurance workers at Microsoft video game subsidiary ZeniMax Studios has voted to join the union.
UAW workers to vote on CNH offer 8 months after strike began
The Washington Post
Jan. 3, 2023
More than 1,000 striking CNH Industrial workers will soon vote on an offer from the maker of construction and agricultural equipment for the first time since they walked off the job eight months ago. The United Auto Workers union said this week that it decided to put the company’s “upgraded last, best and final offer” to a vote, but the union didn’t offer any details of what is included in it.
NLRB
Union-friendly changes in the works at U.S. labor board
Reuters
By Daniel Wiessner
Jan. 3, 2023
The U.S. National Labor Relations Board's Democratic majority is poised to make a series of key changes to federal labor law in 2023 that will aid unions amid a surge in organizing that gained momentum during the COVID-19 pandemic. The NLRB and its general counsel, Jennifer Abruzzo, have signaled their interest in overturning a number of Trump-era decisions that were favored by business groups.
IN THE STATES
California workers get new protections in 2023. Here’s what you need to know
Los Angeles Times
By Margot Roosevelt
Jan. 3, 2023
Far-reaching new laws seek to better working conditions for a broad swath of Californians in 2023 from white-collar employees to blue-collar farm laborers, fast-food servers and construction workers. Measures expanding family leave, providing for bereavement leave and mandating pay transparency are among lawmakers’ “incredibly productive” record of accomplishment, said Mariko Yoshihara, legislative counsel and policy director for the California Employment Lawyers Assn. “But there’s still a lot more work to do.”