Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips

JOINING TOGETHER
 

Costume Shop Workers At L.A. Opera Ratify First-Time IATSE Contract

Deadline

By David Robb

Jan. 31, 2023

Costume shop workers at the Los Angeles Opera, who are represented by IATSE Local 768, have voted unanimously to ratify a new three-year contract – their first with the Opera. Last September, they leafleted the Opera’s opening night gala in an effort to bring public awareness to their demands for a fair contract.

With negotiations at a stalemate, Temple graduate students go on strike

The Philadelphia Inquirer

By Susan Snyder

Jan. 31, 2023

After more than a year of unsuccessful negotiations, the union representing 750 graduate student teaching and research assistants at Temple University went on strike Tuesday, for the first time in the union’s history. Members are planning to picket around campus and hold a rally at 2:30 p.m. outside Charles Library before a scheduled board of trustees meeting, said Bethany Kosmicki, a member of the negotiating committee and past president of Temple University Graduate Students’ Association (TUGSA). The union is calling the strike “indefinite;” Kosmicki said they intend to remain out until the university offers a fair contract.

La Crosse bus drivers push for better pay amid inflation, tough job market

Wisconsin Public Radio

By Hope Kirwan

Jan. 31, 2023

La Crosse bus drivers are protesting a wage increase they say is inadequate to keep up with the impact of inflation and more disruptive behavior by passengers. Members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 519 picketed outside the La Crosse Municipal Transit Center in the city's downtown on Monday. Local union president Todd Strasser said city leaders have offered just under a 3 percent annual pay increase to drivers in their next contract, which he said is inadequate to attract and retain drivers.

IN THE STATES

Bill Expands Iowa Child Labor, Limits Teens’ Protection If Hurt

Iowa Starting Line

By Amie Rivers

Jan. 31, 2023

The legislation would be “a complete rewrite of our child labor laws,” according to Charlie Wishman with the Iowa Federation of Labor AFL-CIO, whose organization is registered against the bill. “Not only is this ripping up at least 100 years of child labor law that this labor movement has worked for, it seriously puts children at risk on job sites without having any form of legal liability protection,” he said.

Unions call bill that would reduce Missouri jobless benefits 'short-sighted'

News Tribune

By Ryan Pivoney

Jan. 31, 2023

A bill working its way through the Missouri Legislature would reduce the number of weeks unemployed workers can claim benefits. The state's largest union labor organization is taking notice. "I think it's very short-sighted legislation that's going to hurt the average Missourian at a time when they're most vulnerable in their lives," said Missouri AFL-CIO President Jake Hummel.

TRANSPORTATION 

Billions in rail grants let Biden hail his infrastructure wins

Politico

By Danielle Muoio Dunn, Alex Daugherty and Ry Rivard

Jan. 30, 2023

Greg Regan, president of the AFL-CIO’s Transportation Trades Department, praised the administration’s insistence that big-ticket projects like the Gateway Tunnel and Baltimore rail tunnels be constructed with collective bargaining agreements between building trade unions and contractors. “If you’re looking at what the administration’s done, there’s a clear focus on getting money out the door but getting money out the door in the right way,” said Regan.