Today's AFL-CIO Press Clips
JOINING TOGETHER
Workers at Spirit AeroSystems begin strike as contract talks resume
KCUR
By Daniel Caudill
June 24, 2023
Around 6,000 workers at Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita went on strike Saturday after rejecting a contract offer from the company. It’s the first time workers at the facility have gone on strike in nearly three decades. Striking workers stood in picket lines across Spirit's massive Wichita campus. Holding signs and blowing whistles, they encouraged drivers to honk their horns as they passed.
Deadline
By David Robb
June 24, 2023
SAG-AFTRA leaders told their members today that the guild’s ongoing contract negotiations have been “extremely productive” and that they “remain optimistic” that a fair deal can be reached with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. In a video posted on the guild’s YouTube channel, SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland gave their first update on the negotiations since bargaining began on June 7, two days after the guild’s members voted 97.9% in favor of authorizing a strike if an acceptable deal isn’t reached by the end of the month when the current contract expires.
Local union rejects contract offer from Schnucks, authorizes strike 'should it become necessary'
KSDK
By Connor Hart
June 23, 2023
United Food and Commercial Workers Local Union 88 — which represents more than 1,000 Schnuck Market Inc. workers across Missouri and Illinois — on Thursday said its members “overwhelmingly” voted to reject a contract offer from the St. Louis-based grocer. The local union said it has authorized leadership to call for a strike, should it become necessary.
Deadline
By Nellie Andreeva
June 23, 2023
Today is believed to be an important day in the negotiations. SAG-AFTRA is expected to respond to the most recent AMPTP proposal. If that happens, and depending whether it brings the two sides closer to a deal, they may agree to keep the talks going over the weekend (I hear negotiations also took place last weekend), and possibly discuss again extending talks past June 30.
SAG-AFTRA Leaders Say Talks Have Been ‘Extremely Productive’
Variety
By Gene Maddaus
June 24, 2023
With less than a week to go before their contract expires, the leaders of SAG-AFTRA are striking an optimistic note about the progress of negotiations. In a video sent to members on Saturday, union president Fran Drescher and chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland say they hope to be able to achieve a deal with the studios. If they do, that would avert a “double strike,” in which performers would join the Writers Guild of America on picket lines outside the major studios.\
Workers at Wilmington nursing facility reach new contract after months of tense negotiations
Delaware Public Radio
By Paul Kiefer
June 25, 2023
UFCW Local 27 Representative Jeffrey Hedrick says the new contract conditions include protections for workers with seniority; a quarter of the staff have worked at the facility for more than 10 years. “We did get some agreement that meant workers who had been there for a period of time – with seniority – would not be making less money than the new workers," he said. After unanimously ratifying the new contract on June 16th, UFCW Local 27’s membership also voted to add the facility’s licensed practical nurses to the union; whether those nurses will fall under the newly negotiated contract or a separate contract is still undetermined.
IN THE STATES
A year after the fall of Roe v. Wade, August election makes Ohio ‘ground zero’ in abortion fight
Cleveland.com
By Andrew J. Tobias
June 25, 2023
Tim Burga, president of the Ohio AFL-CIO, said the Facebook ads are just part of a “slow roll” that his group has planned for the coming weeks, along with direct mail, yard signs, buttons and more. The group’s opposition to Issue 1 is more about it being a “power grab,” and for now is neutral on the abortion issue. Burga said he wants to preserve organized labor’s ability to go to the ballot if the state legislature isn’t responsive to its issues.