IN THE STATES
Michigan House passes right-to-work repeal, prevailing wage restoration
The Detroit News
By Beth LeBlanc
March 8, 2023
Jonathan Byrd, president of the South Central Michigan AFL-CIO, noted there weren't the same thousands of people protesting repeal Wednesday of the right-to-work law as there were when it passed in December 2012 when Republicans controlled the Legislature. He called right-to-work "un-American." "We don’t want the government telling two private parties what they can agree to in negotiations," Byrd said. "That’s what right-to-work does.”
JOINING TOGETHER
Minnesota Historical Society, union reach tentative agreement on first contract
MPR News
By MPR News Staff
March 8, 2023
Workers at the Minnesota Historical Society have reached a tentative agreement on a first union contract. The three-year deal between the historical society and AFSCME Local 3173 follows months of negotiations that started after the employees moved to unionize. It still needs to be ratified by union members.
Walt Disney Animation Studios Production Workers Launch Union Drive With IATSE
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
March 8, 2023
The Animation Guild has set its sights on unionizing the Walt Disney Animation Studios’ production workers — a move that organizers say the family-friendly company is resisting. IATSE Local 839 revealed Wednesday that the union is attempting to form a bargaining unit composed of around 78 production coordinators, production supervisors and production managers at the Encanto and Wish studio. According to the union, the studio has denied its request to voluntarily recognize the group of workers, preferring a National Labor Relations Board Election, and is attempting to exclude production supervisors and production managers from the group that could participate in a vote, arguing that they work as managers.
Chicago State University Faculty Begin Strike Vote Ahead of Possible Walkout
WTTW
By Matt Masterson
March 8, 2023
Faculty and staff at Chicago State University have begun a vote to determine whether they’ll go on strike following months of contract negotiations. The CSU University Professionals of Illinois announced its membership is taking a strike authorization vote that will last from Wednesday until Friday. If workers do opt for a work stoppage, the union’s bargaining team could then call a strike.
Twin Cities Pioneer Press
By Frederick Melo
March 8, 2023
Frontline workers from three St. Paul departments — Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and St. Paul Regional Water Services — voted Wednesday night to authorize a strike, the latest salvo in city contract negotiations that have stalled over wage increases. The vote does not mean a strike is imminent. It triggers a notice to the Minnesota Bureau of Mediation Services, followed by a 10-day “cooling-off” period and a mandatory meeting between contract negotiators. The strike authorization vote, held at the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 union hall in St. Anthony, drew more than 100 members of the St. Paul Tri-Council, which represents workers from IUOE Local 49, Teamsters 120 and Laborers International Union of North America 363. “Over 50% of the bargaining unit showed up and 100% of them voted to authorize a strike,” said AJ Lange, business manager with LIUNA 363, shortly following the decision of membership.
Keolis, union find little common ground as transit strike nears 2-month mark
Loudoun Times Mirror
By Coy Ferrell
March 8, 2023
Several dozen Loudoun County Transit workers have been on strike since Jan. 11 amid ongoing collective bargaining agreement negotiations between Keolis North America, the private contractor that employs them, and Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, the union that represents them. Union members still haven’t voted on any contract offer from Keolis. Now, neither side can even agree if the standoff constitutes an “impasse” – much less what a fair contract offer looks like.