MUST READ
Politico
By Derek Robertson
Jan. 12, 2023
Last week at CES I spoke with Amanda Ballantyne, the director of the AFL-CIO’s Technology Institute, who described how the past few years’ increased focus on American-made tech and manufacturing has been a salutary development for workers. But that’s not all labor wants. America’s major unions want to have a say in how new technologies are developed and implemented, with a mind toward incorporating feedback from the workers who actually have to work alongside their new robot colleagues. “There’s a set of really deep set of labor movement issues involved in just ensuring that algorithmic management systems actually follow the law, that there's openness, accountability, and a worker’s voice in the way that those systems are implemented,” Ballantyne told me, referring specifically to the kinds of algorithms that don’t just do various jobs, but track workers’ movements, set their hours and perform various other kinds of boss-like tasks.
JOINING TOGETHER
Nurses’ Strike Ends in New York City After Hospitals Agree to Add Nurses
The New York Times
By Sharon Otterman, Joseph Goldstein and Jenny Gross
Jan. 12, 2023
More than 7,000 nurses at two New York City hospitals ended a three-day strike and returned to work on Thursday, after they resolved what they said was the major sticking point in negotiations with the hospitals: too few nurses. The tentative contract deals the nurses reached with Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx early Thursday would also increase their pay, an agreement the unions and hospitals had largely nailed down before the strike began. The New York State Nurses Association, which represents more than 42,000 members, said in a statement on Thursday that for nurses at Montefiore, the tentative deal — reached at about 1 a.m. on Thursday morning — would include a 19.1 percent wage increase over three years and the creation of more than 170 new nursing positions.
Nurses at two NYC hospitals return to work as deal ends strike
Press Herald
By Jennifer Peltz
Jan. 12, 2023
Thousands of nurses at two New York City hospitals ended a three-day strike Thursday after reaching a tentative contract agreement that union officials said offers better working conditions, in addition to pay raises. The tentative deals at Mount Sinai Hospital, in Manhattan, and Montefiore Medical Center, in the Bronx, include raises totaling 19% over three years. Nurses began returning to work at both hospitals Thursday morning, with Gov. Kathy Hochul greeting returning nurses at Mount Sinai just before dawn. The nurses, represented by the New York State Nurses Association, walked out early Monday after negotiations with management ran aground. Each hospital has over 1,000 beds and 3,500 or more union nurses.
Loudoun Co. transit workers on strike, say they're 'fed up' with contractor over low wages
ABC7
By 7 News Staff
Jan. 12, 2023
Hundreds of Loudoun County transit workers employed by the bus contractor Keolis have been on strike since Wednesday morning. Workers say they are "fed up with a lack of progress in contract talks and unfair labor practices." The transit workers, represented by ATU Local 689, plan to remain on strike until an agreement is reached. Bus operators, mechanics, paratransit drivers, dispatchers and other transit workers voted over 96% in favor of authorizing a strike in November 2022.
Some workers at U.S. hospital giant HCA say it puts profits above patient care
NBC News
By Gretchen Morgenson, Natalie Jimenez Peel and Cynthia McFadden
Jan. 12, 2023
But some HCA workers are concerned the company’s profit focus is imperiling patient safety and care. Health care providers throughout the U.S. are experiencing hiring challenges. Still, 11 current and six former HCA employees in five states told NBC News they believe the company understaffs its hospitals as a practice, helping to keep earnings high but increasing the risks of adverse patient outcomes. Buttressing this view is a new study of HCA’s staffing by a union representing some of its employees. It found the company’s overall staffing levels recently were below the average for other hospitals in 19 of the 20 states where it provided care.All of the current and former HCA employees interviewed by NBC News — 12 at Mission and five at other facilities — said they consider the company’s staffing inadequate. Twelve of the workers are represented by unions — either National Nurses United or SEIU.
St. Louis Public Radio workers move to unionize
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
By Annika Merrilees
Jan. 12, 2023
The employees at St. Louis Public Radio took a step toward unionizing on Thursday. Workers said they submitted a statement of interest in joining a bargaining unit, which would be represented by Communications Workers of America. They are pushing for better pay, more communication between management and staff, and continued improvements in diversity, equity and inclusion.
IN THE STATES
New State Law Gives All Workers Five Days of Paid Time Off for Illness or Any Reason
River Bender
Jan. 11, 2023
“Every day, workers are forced to choose between job security and caring for themselves or family members,” said Tim Drea, President of the IL AFL-CIO. “We’ve fought hard to ensure that millions of Illinoisans have access to paid leave, and are grateful to Rep. Gordon-Booth, Sen. Lightford, Women Employed and the deep bench of advocates for listening to the needs of working families in our state.”
Illinois Passes Bill Guaranteeing Paid Leave for All Workers
NBC Chicago
By James Neveau
Jan. 12, 2023
The Illinois General Assembly passed the “Paid Leave for All Workers Act” this week, guaranteeing workers can earn up to 40 hours of paid leave per year. In a press release, the majority leader praised labor groups, including the Illinois AFL-CIO and SEIU, as well as the Illinois Retail Merchants Association, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Illinois Manufacturer’s Association.
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
State College labor council expresses concerns over worker safety
WTAJ
By Maria Cade
Jan. 12, 2023
A local labor council is speaking out about workplace safety and is looking for governments to help. This comes after OSHA proposed fines against Maryland-based construction company, Interior Specialists, Inc., after a worker died on the job at the site of the former State College Days Inn. Seven Mountains Central AFL-CIO Labor Council President Connor Lewis said with so much construction in State College, developers need to ask safety questions to their contractors themselves so workplace deaths don’t happen.
AMAZON
Amazon Labor Union Certified by U.S. Labor Officials
Vice
By Jules Roscoe
Jan. 12, 2023
The Amazon Labor Union has officially been certified by the National Labor Relations Board, the union announced on Wednesday night. Amazon is now legally obligated to start bargaining a contract in good faith with the ALU, nine months after workers first won their union election at the company’s mammoth JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island.