Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
LABOR AND ECONOMY
U.S. Moves to Bar Noncompete Agreements in Labor Contracts
The New York Times
By Noam Scheiber
Jan. 25, 2023
In a far-reaching move that could raise wages and increase competition among businesses, the Federal Trade Commission on Thursday unveiled a rule that would block companies from limiting their employees’ ability to work for a rival. The proposed rule would ban provisions of labor contracts known as noncompete agreements, which prevent workers from leaving for a competitor or starting a competing business for months or years after their employment, often within a certain geographic area. The agreements have applied to workers as varied as sandwich makers, hair stylists, doctors and software engineers.
JOINING TOGETHER
Seven Stars Bakery union reaches first contract
Providence Business News
By Jacquelyn Voghel
Jan. 5, 2023
Seven Stars Bakery employees and management have reached their first contract agreement, the union announced on Thursday, which includes immediate and future pay increases, guaranteed minimum hours and other improvements to employee benefit packages. The contract was approved unanimously and gives all employees an immediate wage increase of $2 to $4 per hour, with an average increase of $3.72; additional 7.3% and 7% increases in 2023 and 2024; a $6 hourly increase to base pay over three years; and longevity increases, said United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 328, which represents the Seven Stars workers.
After five months, strike continues at Ingredion Cedar Rapids
The Gazette
By Marissa Payne
Jan. 5, 2023
Union workers still are in negotiations with Ingredion officials to end their strike against the company’s Cedar Rapids facility, according to the union president. After a round of negotiations Dec. 4 with officials from the multinational ingredients maker, “we thought we had a deal” to end the strike, which began Aug. 1, according to Mike Moore, the principal and president of Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union Local 100G.
UAW members set to vote on CNH’s ‘last, best and final’ offer this weekend
KWQC
By Hernan Gutierrez
Jan. 6, 2023
After being on strike for nearly 250 days, United Auto Workers at Case New Holland plants in Burlington, Iowa, and Racine, Wisconsin, could vote to end it on Saturday. The union went on strike against the agriculture manufacturer on May 2, 2022. About two weeks later on May 19, CNH, presented the union with what it called a “Final, all-encompassing, comprehensive” offer. However, union members did not vote on this deal, because union leaders didn’t feel it covered the cost of inflation. After several failed attempts at bargaining, in late September the company presented its “Last, best and final offer,” to the union. At that time, the UAW failed to secure ballot locations before CNH’s deadline for a vote.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
‘More than we could have ever expected’: RTA employees brighten holidays for Dayton kids
WDTN
By Sarah Bean
Jan. 5, 2023
RTA employees made the holidays a busload brighter for Dayton children this year. According to a release by the Greater Dayton RTA, employees filled two busses with over 80 coats, 16 bicycles and a variety of other clothes and toys for the Boys and Girls Club of Dayton on Tuesday, December 20. This donation opportunity was a team effort led by both the RTA and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1385 (ATU). According to Roland Caldwell, RTA’s chief transportation officer, they selected the Boys and Girls Club of Dayton as it was a “good fit, seeing what they were doing for kids with their programs.”