LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
Tech to the global economy: Let's stay together
Politico
By Derek Robertson
Jan. 6, 2023
Attendees at this year’s CES are sharply attuned to the sea change of the past several years in America’s approach to trade and manufacturing. I spoke this morning with Amanda Ballantyne, the director of the AFL-CIO’s Technology Institute, on the heels of a labor-centric tour through CES that included the federation’s president Liz Shuler, UNITE HERE president D. Taylor and Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su, among others. “I think it's a tremendous, important trend to be onshoring, and to be conscious about developing these industries,” Ballantyne told me. “We need this kind of technology and industrial policy, and we need rigorous planning around how to develop these competitive industries, and it’s critical that labor be a core component of that.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Musicians Sue NBC for Wages on ‘The Kelly Clarkson Show,’ Other Live Broadcasts
Rolling Stone
By Nancy Dillon
Jan. 6, 2023
The largest union representing professional musicians is suing NBC Universal for allegedly stiffing members who worked on some of the network’s biggest live broadcasts, including episodes of The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and even morning news juggernaut Today. “NBC owes musicians probably hundreds of thousands of dollars in wages. Unfortunately, whenever AFM attempts to resolve these claims in good faith, NBC denies, disrespects, and drags its feet. Meanwhile, we have musicians who have been waiting more than two years for their paychecks,” Jennifer P. Garner, the AFM lawyer who filed the lawsuit, says in a statement to Rolling Stone.
A bill giving Chicago principals bargaining rights is headed to the governor’s desk
WBEZ
By Nader Issa
Jan. 6, 2023
The legislation, approved with bipartisan support in a 45-7 vote, would recognize a Chicago principals and assistant principals union and put them across the table from senior district leadership for contract negotiations. The bill, if signed into law, would not allow a principals’ union to strike. CPAA membership has been optional for school administrators. The organization provides legal support and advocates on behalf of principals. It’s an affiliate of the American Federation of School Administrators and the AFL-CIO. But Illinois law identified principals as managers and bars managers from collective bargaining. Thus, principals and assistant principals have not had an exclusive bargaining unit to represent them. Under the bill, principals would be reclassified from managers to supervisors, a distinction based on the fact that principals do not negotiate collective bargaining agreements with worker unions, such as the Chicago Teachers Union.
World of Warcraft support studio to form third union under Activision Blizzard
Polygon
By Nicole Carpenter
Jan. 6, 2023
As two unions under Activision Blizzard move forward into contract negotiations, a third subsidiary studio is organizing. Workers at Boston-based World of Warcraft support studio Proletariat are unionizing under the Communications Workers of America, just like Raven Software and Blizzard Albany before them. Proletariat’s group of 57 workers, which includes all of the studio’s positions except management, is called Proletariat Workers Alliance. They announced their petition in late December.
CATS operators in union vote to authorize potential future strike
WCNC
By Jesse Pierre
Jan. 6, 2022
After months of failed contract negotiations, Charlotte Area Transit System bus operators are weighing out their options. Sources told WCNC Charlotte’s Jesse Pierre that two contracts were rejected by operators who are represented by the SMART union. Late Saturday night, a source told Pierre that union members voted 254-14 in favor of striking. This does not mean members are striking immediately, however -- but it does mean a strike could happen in the future should union members decide to do so.
NYC hospitals brace for potential nurse strike amid salary, staffing negotiations
Axios
By Shawna Chen
Jan. 6, 2023
National Nurses United, a labor union comprised of more than 175,000 members across the country, organized several strikes in January to push the hospital industry to "invest in safe staffing."
Jan. 8 - Striking musicians accuse Fort Wayne Philharmonic management of unlawful actions
Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly
By Lisa Esquivel Long
Jan. 8, 2023
A day after Fort Wayne Philharmonic management said they had offered striking musicians a final offer on a 4-year contract, the union said it had made an unfair labor practice filing. American Federation of Musicians Local 58 filed an unfair labor practice charge with Region 25 (Indianapolis) of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Fort Wayne Philharmonic management on Jan. 7,on behalf of striking Philharmonic musicians, according to a Jan. 8 announcement by musician spokesperson Campbell MacDonald. "The charge alleges that the Fort Wayne Philharmonic unlawfully coerced individual employees by 'interrogating them about their intention to engage in a strike,'” according to the announcement.