Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
JOINING TOGETHER
Thousands of local hotel workers on verge of striking: ‘Living in L.A. is no longer an option’
Los Angeles Times
By Suhauna Hussain
May 31, 2023
A union is asking 15,000 workers at hotels in Los Angeles and Orange counties to authorize a strike during the height of tourist season. Unite Here Local 11 said contracts are expiring June 30 at 62 Southern California hotels, including luxury stays such as the Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles, the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica and the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills. Union officials say they are asking for the strike authorization vote on June 8 to jump-start sluggish negotiations and convince hotel operators to seriously consider pay increases for their workers.
Hundreds of movie, TV, and streaming actors preparing to strike
People’s World
By Press Associates
May 31, 2023
Does this sound familiar? One month after the movie studio, television, and streaming video bosses forced their 11,500 Writers Guild of America members to strike, that same association is forcing more than ten times as many SAG-AFTRA members to take a strike authorization vote—and over almost all of the same issues. The vote concludes June 5 and bargaining is scheduled to start June 7. The current contract between the union and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) expires June 30. The SAG-AFTRA board unanimously approved the strike authorization referendum, which needs a 75% minimum to pass.
NYC transit union approves contract, securing pay bump
Gothamist
By Clayton Guse and Phil Corso
May 31, 2023
Transport Workers Union Local 100 have approved a tentative contract with the MTA, giving roughly 40,000 New York City transit workers a pay bump of nearly 10% over the next three years. The deal also gives the workers a $4,000 “essential worker” bonus, a bump negotiated after MTA workers kept the city moving during the pandemic. That bonus will be paid out as $3,000 in hazard pay this year, and a $1,000 bonus next year, officials said. At least 150 transit workers in New York died of COVID-19. TWU Local 100 President Richard Davis said the deal was a win for all members. "These victories, and others you will see in this package, were not easily obtained," he said in a statement.
Deadline
By David Robb
May 31, 2023
The leaders of the Writers Guild, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE and the Teamsters have issued a “joint statement of solidarity” with the Directors Guild in its final scheduled week of contract negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, saying that they “stand alongside our sisters, brothers, and kin in the DGA in their pursuit of a fair contract.” Their statement comes on the 30th day of the ongoing WGA strike and 21 days after the DGA began its contract talks with the AMPTP.
'Pony up:' UAW leadership details priorities for Detroit Three contract talks
The Detroit News
By Jordyn Grzelewski and Kalea Hall
May 31, 2023
The United Auto Workers' bargaining strategy for upcoming contract talks with the Detroit automakers came into sharper focus Wednesday as union leaders spelled out their top priorities. They are: ending tiered wage and benefit structures; reinstating cost-of-living adjustments; and securing stronger job protections. The UAW's top five leaders detailed those goals during a union-wide town hall Wednesday on Facebook Live. “These companies have been extraordinarily profitable, and our members have created incredible value for these companies during some really hard and dangerous years," said UAW President Shawn Fain. "They can afford our demands, and we expect them to pony up.”
Charlottesville Area Transit votes to unionize
NBC29
By Braedyn Speight
May 31, 2023
Charlottesville Area Transit (CAT) has voted to unionize after gaining the right for collective bargaining in 2022. Of the 66 transit workers present at the vote, 57 voted in favor of unionizing. It has joined Chapter 1220 of the Amalgamated Transit Union in Richmond.
Chemours Fayetteville Works plant employees set to vote on unionization
WHQR
By Kelly Kenoyer
May 31, 2023
The Chemours Fayetteville Chemical Works Plant is attempting to unionize, with an official union election taking place this Thursday and Friday. Chemours is a chemical production company best known for producing PFAS, or forever chemicals. Edsel McDonald is the LIUNA Local 919 Business Manager, and is working with more than 200 Chemours employees who qualify. He said more than half have signed authorization cards, meaning they have signed their intention to form a union.
UAW leaders stress big Detroit 3 profits, promise 'constant' communication ahead of talks
Detroit Free Press
By Eric D. Lawrence
May 31, 2023
Offering a bit of motivation for what is widely expected to be a heated round of talks, UAW President Shawn Fain emphasized how much Ford Motor Co., General Motors and Jeep- and Chrysler-parent Stellantis have made in the years since the Great Recession and the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies forced major concessions on workers who now must contend with the impact of inflation.
IN THE STATES
Majority Rule Matters to Working People and We Will Preserve It
Paulding Progress
By Tim Burga
May 31, 2023
In short, the sacred principle of one person, one vote and majority rule matter a lot to working people, and we will win this fight to preserve it.
Master Lock employees protest announced closure of Milwaukee plant
CBS58
By Adam Rife
May 31, 2023
Members of UAW Local 469 walked the picket line for several hours Wednesday afternoon before gathering to make their voices heard. Wisconsin AFL-CIO President Stephanie Bloomingdale told the crowd, "It is spitting in the face of a community."