Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
LABOR AND ECONOMY
Want your hotel room cleaned every day? Hotel housekeepers hope you say yes
NPR
By Andrea Hsu
May 11, 2023
In the tourism heart of Washington, D.C., ringed by posh hotels and globally famous landmarks, they marched to a familiar beat, chanting "What do we want? Clean rooms! When do we want it? Every day!" Their demand may have sounded simple: that the D.C. council extend a temporary ordinance that in effect required hotels to clean rooms daily, unless a guest opts out. (The council complied just days later.) But for the hospitality union UNITE HERE, that requirement is so important to its members, it's waged a fight over the issue across the U.S. and Canada.
JOINING TOGETHER
United Pilots Joke ‘When Is A Day Off Not A Day Off?’ When You Fly For United
Forbes
By Ted Reed
May 11, 2023
The leader of the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association expects thousands of pilots to demonstrate Friday as the union continues to seek quality of life contract. The contract, which covers 14,000 United pilots, became amendable Jan. 31, 2019. “We are four and half years past the amendable date, we have been negotiating for five years, and we haven’t had meaningful work life changes in 11 years,” said Garth Thompson, chairman of the United ALPA master executive committee, in an interview.
Film/TV Shoots at L.A. Hotels May Be Disrupted as Hospitality Workers Back Writers Strike
The Hollywood Reporter
By Gary Baum
May 11, 2023
Los Angeles’ powerful hospitality union is backing the writers strike, now in its second week. In a letter sent on May 11 to more than 100 area hotels its members work for, UNITE HERE Local 11 announced it “will not cross any picket line set up by the WGA.” By its account, many of the properties where the union represents workers “frequently serve as locations for film and television productions,” the organization wrote in a letter obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. These include the Millennium Biltmore and Westin Bonaventure hotels in downtown L.A. as well as the Chateau Marmont along the Sunset Strip.
Laborers’ Union Gathers to Protest Conditions and Pay at Local Building Sites
Jersey City Times
By Aaron Morrill
May 11, 2023
In a raucous, brightly colored show of strength, members of The Laborers’ International Union of North America (LIUNA) rallied at Journal Square on Monday to call for higher wages and better working conditions on construction sites in Jersey City. Union spokesman Rob Lewandowski singled out Eatontown-based contractor Concrete Rising for particular opprobrium. According to Lewandowski, almost 260 laborers — almost all immigrants — faced constant mistreatment and abuse on the Downtown LeFrak project called The Wave. “They were belittled and shamed on the job site, their wages were stolen, and their lives were regularly put in danger.”
Mayor Thao Proposes New Budget that Avoids Layoffs and Protects Oakland City Services
Post News Group
By Oakland Post
May 11, 2023
Oakland city workers represented by SEIU Local 1021, IFPTE Local 21, IAFF Local 55, and IBEW Local 1245 have released a joint statement in support of the mayor’s proposal. “We applaud the mayor for balancing a historic deficit while protecting essential city services, preventing layoffs, and making the largest investment in affordable housing in Oakland’s history, the unions’ statement said. “While we understand brownouts in fire services are a reality, we hope that as the budget improves, we focus on restoring services for residents,” said firefighter and paramedic Zac Unger, IAFF Local 55 President.
Writers Guild plans to picket BU graduation on May 21; protest Hollywood exec’s commencement speech
Boston Globe
By Martin Finucane
May 11, 2023
The Writers Guild of America, whose members are on strike, plans to set up a picket line at the Boston University commencement, where David Zaslav, president and CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, will be the speaker, a spokesman said. Jason Gordon, director of communications for the Writers Guild of America, East, confirmed Thursday that a protest was planned at the May 21 commencement at Nickerson Field. “With the support of Boston University students, New England-based WGA members, as well as other regional unions and community groups, the Writers Guild of America announced it will picket Warner Bros. Discovery President & CEO David Zaslav at Boston University’s 150th All-Student Commencement Exercises,” the union said in a statement Thursday night.
IN THE STATES
Speaker Vos: Act 10 was ‘Act of the People,’ Supreme Court to ‘lose legitimacy’ if relitigated
The Daily Reporter
By Ethan Duran
May 10, 2023
On the other end of the spectrum, the Wisconsin AFL-CIO said more people were organizing unions for a better life, Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale told The Daily Reporter. “As unions become increasingly popular across the country and in Wisconsin, more and more people are organizing unions for a better life. The last thing Wisconsin needs is Robin Vos’ political intrusion on a worker’s right to choose a union and bargain collectively. For the Legislature to endeavor on such a thing would be a fool’s errand,” Bloomingdale said in a statement.
Parents, providers ask Maine lawmakers to boost worker wages to alleviate child care shortage
Maine Beacon
By Evan Popp
May 11, 2023
At a press conference later in the day, Sarah Bigney McCabe, Maine AFL-CIO’s organizing director, said her family was on a waiting list for child care for about two years before they found a slot. Even now that they have child care, she said it costs almost as much as their mortgage, creating a significant financial strain.
Senate Labor Committee advances bill set to raise Louisiana’s minimum wage
Louisiana Radio Network
By Teiko Foxx
May 11, 2023
Legislation that would raise Louisiana’s minimum wage to $10 per hour next year and up to $14 per hour in 2028 was approved by Senate Labor Committee in a 3-2 vote. Louisiana is one of 21 states that sets its minimum wage with the federal rate which is $7.25 an hour. LA AFL-CIO Matt Wood says increasing the state minimum wage benefits working families.
LABOR AND COMMUNITY
IBEW Takes a Swing to raise money for ‘Cuidamdo los Niños’
KRQE
By Aleli Elizondo
May 11, 2023
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers is taking action against child homelessness in the community by stepping up to the home plate and taking a swing at raising funds for Cuidando Los Niños. The 2023 IBEW Softball Tournament Benefiting Cuidando Los Niños is June 2-4. They ask if you want to participate sign up by May 17. Entry fee $450, guaranteed five games, or entry fee $300 double elimination. If you would like to register contact Randy at 505-463-8485 or wotsupbro@g.com. For more information visit ibewsoftballtourney2023.funraise.org.
Postal workers want your help to Stamp Out Hunger
KPAX
By Justin Boggs
May 11, 2023
Saturday is the National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive, which is considered the largest single-day food drive in the U.S. Since 1993, the drive has collected over 1.82 billion pounds of food. Americans are asked to set out a bag of nonperishable food by their mailbox. Current and retired postal workers, in addition to volunteers, will help get those bags of food to local food banks. "Letter carriers see firsthand the needs of their communities," NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said in a message to postal carriers. "It's time to once again meet those needs on May 13 with our food drive, just as we’ve done for 30 years running."
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND HEALTH
Nurses & Healthcare Workers Call For Mandated Staffing Levels In Hospitals
Insider NJ
By Staff
May 11, 2023
Today, hundreds of unionized nurses, healthcare workers, community advocates and elected officials gathered in Trenton to urge Governor Phil Murphy and legislative leaders to pass and sign NJ-S304/ A-4536 – which will mandate enforceable staffing ratios in every hospital in New Jersey. “We’re calling on the legislature to listen to the essential workers and their constituents calling for them to take action on S-304, which establishes minimum staffing standards for hospitals and other healthcare facilities,” said New Jersey State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Laurel Brennan. “Our nurses are the backbone of our healthcare system. But current staffing levels are threatening our healthcare system’s ability to provide the level of care we need, and it is taking its toll on already strained healthcare workers. Unfortunately, some hospitals are opposed to improving staffing ratios because they are choosing to prioritize profits, even as we reach a post-pandemic healthcare staffing crisis point. S-304 would establish the fair patient-to-nurse ratios we need to improve our healthcare system.”
Librarians cite issues, demand safety measures at Metro Council meeting
WHAS11
By Taylor Woods
May 11, 2023
After several dangerous incidents at different library branches across the city, librarians took their safety concerns to Metro Council. Katherine Scaggs, AFSCME Local 3425 president, said they "felt it is important for our community to invest in our community and in the libraries, and that includes giving us the resources we need to be safe."
LABOR AND TECHNOLOGY
IATSE Creates Commission to Study Artificial Intelligence
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
May 11, 2023
As the technology rapidly develops, crew union IATSE is launching a commission to study the evolution of artificial intelligence and its effect on the Hollywood workforce. The group, comprised of union members and representatives as well as academics and tech workers, will be tasked with determining the “challenges and opportunities” that AI poses to the union, international president Matthew Loeb announced on Thursday. The commission will begin convening immediately and will present on its work at the union’s 2023 general executive board midsummer meeting, beginning July 31.